Daarya Ghat दाऱ्या घाट

Daarya Ghat दाऱ्या घाट 

(Based on the latest visit in October 2017)

Its an off beat monsoon destination. Not so known or so popular in tourists. Generally tourist goes to Naneghat which is more popular and developed comparatively. So Darya ghat is lonely and isolated place not full of crowd. If you searching for calm palace in monsoon, Darya ghat would the right choice.

How to Reach :

It is about 120 km from Pune. Pune-Junnar 100km, Junnar to Darya ghat 20 km.

Easily completed in a single day from Pune.

Pune - Manchar -Narayangaon -take right turn to Junnar-Junnar(100 km)- to Shivaji maharaj statue- go straight to Aptale road- Surale village- Aptale village (right side road goes to Naneghat)- take left side road - Wanewadi-Keldare-Utchil-Amboli-Amboli is the base village for Darya ghat trek

Pune to Daarya ghat

Junnar to Darya ghat

You can do both Naneghat and Darya ghat in single day. It is about 25 km and would take one hour to reach from one ghat to another. 

Food and Stay :

The home made veg/non-veg food is available in Amboli village. Place your order then go to Darya trek. The food will be ready when you back. The home stay available as well in the village.

No Hotels or restaurants near Amboli but can be found at Aptale village and Junnar too.

  

Parking :

Park your vehicle any where in open space, no parking lot.

About the Trek :

It is easy and simple trek. Carry food and water on the trek. It is 4 hours round trip. The trails are not so clear because on less trekkers, so carefully find a right trail. small streams are beautiful in monsoon. Green rice farms, white water stream, foggy moist and crashing waterfalls will make this trek memorable. Mobile coverage is poor. One and half hours would enough to reach the V-shaped valley of Daarya Ghat.

Daryaa ghat trek route

What to See :

The waterfall and the V-shaped valley are two major attractions in Daarya ghat.

The Darya ghat is the V-shaped valley in the Sahyadri. When you reach on the spot you will be in the huge vertical walls of the rocks. The narrow trail will be disappears in the valley. Just be on the top of the valley. An open temple of lord Shiva is there on the edge. Pind and Nandi are there on the temple.

No need to descend the valley. Enjoy the glory of nature. There is dense forest in the valley. tiny flowers make it more photogenic. Because of the V-shape the views are not wider, but the depth is horrible.
A huge waterfall is very attractive on the left side of the trail. It has steps like structure. So many tourists can sit in the waterfall and enjoy the flow of waterfall. 
There is one temple in the waterfall. Go only if the flow of the waterfall is less. 

Trek-safety :

• Off beat location, so go in the Sundays of monsoon.
• Go with the groups.
• Before proceeding for the trek make arrangement of food in the village. 
• Safer time for the trek would be 7 am to 5 pm.
• The slope of the valley is steep and vertical, it is sleepary in monsoon, so be alert in the Daarya ghat.
• Take every care on the waterfall when enjoying in it. Be alert about the amount and force of the water. 

( My latest visit was in Oct 2017 with Prof. Mayur Mire, Prof. Satish Jadhav, Nitin Kulkarni and Hanumant Londhe )

Prabalgad (Muranjan Fort) Trek

Prabalgad प्रबळगड  ( मुरंजन गड )

I went in 21 November 2016 with my students of  B.Ed. course of Tilak College of Education, Pune-30 from Pune and conducted cleanliness campaign on Prabalgad. Parshuram Bhagre, Nitin Kulkarni, Sainath Jagdale, Dinkar Pathawe, Karan Bidve, Hanumant Londhe, Sandip Jadhav & Prasad Wanjale were participated in the campaign of collecting non-degradablematerial spread on the fort. 

How to Reach : About 140 km from  Pune.

Pune to Mumbai highway - Panvel - Right turn from Bharat Petrol Pump - Shedang  - Belvali - Vardoli Village. - Parking spot

                                 

Food and Parking :

Parking place is available at Vardoli village supervised by  local people. Its next to village. sufficient place is for bus, car and bikes.

No restaurant found at base. But available at the trek after first phase at Thakurwadi. You will get food, accommodation and guide to go on Prabalgad and Kalvanteen Bruruz. 

Trek : The trek has two phases. First phase start from Vardoli village parking to Thakurwadi. Its steep ascend from turns and jungles. Lemon juice seller are there on spot by spot. It will take up to one and half hour to reach the Prabalmachi, one hotel with Veg-Non-veg food, accommodation and camping facility is available. You can have breakfast over here.

There are two options you have for trek. Left side trail goes to Kalavantin Buruz and left side trail goes to Prabalgad fort. Prabalgad is well covered by forest and Kalavantin buruz is like tower exposed to sunlight. 

Thakurwadi/Prabalmachi to Prabalgad - Take guide from village because difficult to find a way to Prabalgad from deep forest. Prefer Belshing way for trek. It will take one and half hour to reach on the top and two hours to explore the fort. 

Trek is difficult and test the strength and stamina of trekkers. Ascend is high and up. Huge rocks works as steps which may loose. So take care of each step. Most care should be taken when descending. 

What to See : The fort plateau has great extent with fully covered with forest and insects. Follow the instructions by the guide with you. Lord Shiv and Ganesh temple, remians of Rajwada (Palace), Water tanks, Kala (black) Buruz, Matheran view point and Kalavantin buruz view point. Once you reach on top, take left turn for Kalavantin Buruz view point. After 15/20 minutes you will reach at the edge and will be enchanted to see spectacular view of Kalavantin Durg/buruz ! You can see to long distance up to Panvel. On the way you can see the Kala-Buruz and historic water tank. Take care ! there is no safety guards or wall here ! 

Come back and proceed to right hand trail to see Lord Shiv & Ganesh temples, Kala buruz top, remains of the 'Wada' and Matheran view point from dense jungle. Don't explore without guide. Once you back to the thakurwadi, take rest, have some food then proceed to Kalavantin Durg.

Thakurwadi to Kalavantin Durg/Buruz : Its a tower like mount. Its very steep, near vertical ascend. There is no safety guards. No chance of mistake. There are steps but those are smooth. If someone is not sure, don't force him/her to proceed. Its a life -death risk. Give way to descending trekkers. Keep coordination coming-going trekkers.Make a way to each other. Give hand of help on risky steps.  Last step before top is highly risky. It may take 30/40 minutes to reach on the narrow top.This will give you memorable satisfaction. More care should be taken when descending. 

Do this job seriously, over enthusiasm may risk your and others life. 

Safety : 

• Take a guide from village. 
• No Mobile Coverage. 
• Less Number of trekkers. 
• Dense and deep Jungle. 
• Huge extent of the fort.
• Preserve your energy ! 
• Slop is steep and vertical ! Keep every step carefully especially on Kalavantin Durg !
• Difficult to reach rescue and help on the spot. 
• Insects and animals may be encountered. 
• Keep water and food for emergency ! 
• Keep distance from insects and animals ! 
• Don't bring Kids , over confidence and over enthusiastic friends and physically weak persons. 
• Don't litter on the fort. Carry all plastic bottles, rappers, plates, carry bags etc.back with you !

Best Season : 

From October to January ! From Parking to parking it may take 8 to 10 hours to complete both treks of Prabalgad and Kalavantin durg. Better to take halt and do a camping !

Parking

restaurant at Prabalmachi

Thakurwadi

Kalavantin Durg

Remains of Wada

Prabalmachi