Neelkantheshwar

Neelkantheshwar
(Based on latest visit in November 2017)

Nilkantheshwar is a popular religious place for Hindus. It has a temple of Lord Shiva, called 'Nilkantheshwar'. Late Shri. Shankarao Sarje mama started the development of the temple.
The hundreds of statues of Indian Mythological Gods are the main thing of attraction e.g. Ramayan, Mahabharat, Purana etc.

How to Reach :

About 40 km from Pune. It would take apprx. 100 mins. to reach because last 8-20 km road condition is not good.

Pune-Warje-Shivne- OR- Pune - Sinhgad road- Dhayri - Nanded city - Kirkitwadi - Khadakwasla village- take right turn to dam wall - NDA road 
Then - 

- NDA-Peacock bay (15km)- parallel to Khadakwalsa dam back water -Kudje-Mandvi-Splendor country-Sangrun- Bahuli -Katawadi-take left turn board (25km) - cross a small bridge (its very rough road) - then take trun left - Davaje- take right turn from Jambali (35 km)- its little ascend- then after village little rough road- parking of Nilkantheshwar.

Parking : 

The paid parking place is available for buses, cars, bikes etc. A restaurant, wahsroom and Sarje mama paduka temple situated at the parking place.

 

Food and Stay : 

Small restaurants are there at the parking and on the top too. Parking restaurant open only on Sunday and religious days. Veg food, pakode, poha, tea, bottled water etc. are available. The vast shades are built near the temple for big groups especially for school students to eat tiffins. Stay facility is available for pilgrims. (Dharmashala). Many local people come to this place on special occasions.

About Trek :

Its a small trek of 30/40 minutes. Kids and senior citizens can ascend on it easily. The trekking route is well shaped and broad unlike forts. 

   

What to See :

You need at least 2 hours to see the temple, statues and surrounding view.

The temple of Lord Shiv named Nilkantheshwar is well maintained. It is situated on the top of the hill which is surrounded by the forest especially of Neelgiri trees.

Many statues of Hindu Gods are constructed telling stories from Hindu mythology from Puranas, Ramayan, Mahabharat etc.

You can see Panshet Dam, Varsgaon dam, Khakwasla dam,Confluence of river Mutha- Ambi river and Ambi-Mose rivers, Sinhgad fort, Torna fort and Rajgad fort.

 

Pratapgad Fort

Pratapgad

How to Reach :
About 150 km from Pune. About 20 km from Mahabaleshwar. 
Pune- NH48- Satara Road- Shirwal-Khabataki ghat-( Keep vehicle slow and left side because the the divergant to Mahabaleshwar is not visible clearly  from running vehicle. The board is small.) Suroor- turn to right side under the  over bridge - right turn for Wai leave highway-Wai-Pasarani ghat-Pachangani-Mahabaleshwar- take right turn from Mahabaleshwar bus stand to Poladpur road-Ambenali ghat-Jawali village- right turn for Pratapgad ghat (through the The Welcome Arch) -Pratapgad Parking.

You can see the fort from Ambenali ghat. The ghat is single road with rush.  The ghat has lots of  and sharp turns with not so maintained road. Generally visitors from Mumbai, Konkan and Goa come from this ghat. There are many waterfalls in the ghat. Tourists park their vehicle near it which creates more trouble to traffic. You need to drive carefully. The ghat is on its most scenic view between July to November. 

 

 

Poladpur to Mahabaleshwar (Ambenali Ghat)

Pratapgad fort from Ambenali Ghat

 Welcome Arch

Parking :
The paved parking place available,  although not enough on weekends, holidays and vacations. May have to park before parking in the ghat. The parking is FREE.

Parking

Food and Stay :
Many Veg restaurants are available for individuals and groups. They give special concessions to educational visits. Bottled water available. 

About Trek : Hardly any trekking possibility. All visitors goes by vehicle. Vehicles reach near to the steps. So this fort is not for trekking.

What to See :
There are official guides available at the entrance of the fort. Its worth t take guide who narrates the history and features of the fort in Hindi, Marathi and English.

The fort is full of restaurants and houses from historic period. People lives on this fort. You have find the historical signs in the crowd. 

The Tehalani Buruz ( Watch Bastion) is very famous of the fort, which has become most attractive place of the fort. The fort is pictured by the image of this watch bastion.

The Shivai temple, Handicraft centre, Bhavanimata temple, Statue of Shivaji Maharaj, Kadelot tok ( Death Punichment cliff), Mahadarawaza (Main Entrance gate), Chorwat ( Hidden paths and Balekilla ( Small and Most safe part fort) etc. are the other places to visit on the fort.

You need at least 3 hrs to see whole fort.

 Restaurants on Pratapgad

चोरवाट 

Ambenali ghat

Mahabaleshwar from the fort

 

Jawli village from fort 

 टेहाळणी बुरुज 

 शिवकालीन खेडे 

 शिवकालीन खेडे 

You can see scenic panorama of Mahabaleshwar (Arthur seat point, Savitri point, Elphiston point, Sunset point( Bombay), Lodwick point(Elephant head point), Makarand fort, Ambenali (Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar) ghat, Koyna dam back water, Savitri river, Chandragad, Raigad fort, Torna fort, Rajgad fort, Jawali forest etc from the fort.

Trek-Safety :

• Driving on Pasarani ghat, Ambenali ghat, Poladpur ghat and Pratapgad ghat should be done carefully. All ghats are single and rushed with traffics.
• Should avoid in heavy rainy days.
• Half of the fort is crowdy upto Shivaji Maharaj Statue, next to that the fort is lonely. Rarely visitors go there. So go in the group.
• Don's throw plastics and other wastage on the fort.