Treks in Sahyadri: September 2021

Andharban : The Jungle Trek

About the Trek : The trek is full of exciting. not much ascend and descend but walk much. The trek is one sided. One side is Bheera dam and other side in Pimpri Dam near Kundlika Valley. Means you start from one side and goes to other end and not return to start destination. So you can not bring own vehicle, because it could be left at starting point. When you carry a vehicle with driver tell him to wait on end point.

Total 8-10 hours are required for normal trekkers from one side.

Avoid rainy days because there are strong water streams on the way, if they water level raised you may be trapped there. Also trails disappear during rainy days which may trouble you to find a right route.

The jungle is having wild animals like leopard, hyena, snakes etc. so be alert and awarded.

How to Reach - About 70-80 km and 3 hours journey from Pune. Pune-Paud-Mulshi-Tamhini- right turn to BhamburdeLonvla road- Kundlika valley.

Click on the link - https://goo.gl/maps/SyjTcG78m8eev7j46

Andharban Start point is marked on Google map. click to see it.- https://goo.gl/maps/YA9oL8UgH8CSHLRo6

Things to carry : No Food and water available on the route. So better to carry required food, water and medical supplied with you.

About My Trek :

We went on 29.11.2020 with a group of 20 trekkers. We started from Pimpri Dam-Kundlika Valley around 7:30am and reached Bheera dam around 4:00pm. We went with tourist bus. After leaving us driver took the bus to Bheera dam to wait for us.

See the virtual tour of Full Andharban trek

Trail on the Map

Phase 1 - Alongside of Valley through the Jungle : 7:30am - 9:30am (2 hours) - The trek starts from left side of the Pimpri dam. Follow the electricity towers to reach at the end of the valley. Trail is clearly visible. You will trail on the edges of the Kundlika valley. It is a kind of 'V' shaped direction. There are 2-3 big water streams are there. You may need rope to cross it in rainy days.

Kundlika Valley

Trek start from Bheera dam

Breakfast

Kundlika Valley

other side of the valley

enters in the Deep and dark Jungle

walk through the jungle for one hour

Phase 2 : Open Fields to Hirdi Village 10:30am to 11:30 ( One hour) - After a the jungle walk we reached an open fields. jungle ends here. This is a confusing phase. The trails is not much clear. You have be very careful to select a right path. see the virtual tour video I shared in the blog to avoid confusion.

We came out from the jungle and looking back.

Take a right hand side trail to move forward.

You may find some farming fields here. Go across by keeping in mind that you have go right hand side.

We reached here near a small pond

See the direction to march further

Then after 30 min we reached on the place from where we could see the Kaccha road with electricity polls. These polls will take you to Hirdi Village.

Reaching nearer to Hirdi Village.

Palm trees are indication of Hirdi Village.

At Hirdi Village

Hirdi is a small village of 15-20 houses. Water and Home made Food is available here. homestay are also availed here. The local people asked us the donation for the renovation of a local temple. We did it. There are fresh water taps in the village. We refilled bottles. Took a rest for 20-30 mins. Then proceed further for the last phase.

Phase 3 : Hirdi to Bheera 12:00pm - 3:00pm (3Hours) - Last phase starts from the village to Bheera Dam. There is descending slope after village. Because there is a small valley.

After Hirdi village we have to cross this valley. So first a descend then ascend then great descend after a peak. Bheera dam is all-time visible.

Recharge break

A small descend

Hirdi Village on the top of the hill visible ahead.

Devkund waterfall inside the valleys

Ghangad and Tailbaila visible from the trail

Great descend begins through jungle

This is last part of the trek where descend starts. We found no clear trail here. Deep jungle is here on the slop. There were many trails. We tried many by keeping the direction of Bheera dam. There were trees fallen which created more confusion of right path.