Kothaligad Trek

Kothaligad fort ( Peth fort)

Kothaligad is one the most scenic popular fort. It is also known as fort of Peth named after base village Peth. Its very photogenic because of its 'Bell-Shaped' look.

 How to Reach : Its about 140km from Pune.

Pune-Lonavla-Khandala-Khopoli- exit from right turn to Karjat-Posari-Kadaw-Takawe-Kothimbe-Jambhawali-Kothaligad base

Public transport is to the base village Jambhvali is available from Karjat, Kadawe and Panvel.

Food : Food and water available at Jambhawali & Peth. There are veg and non veg restaurants are there at Jambhawali. You can order food and can have it when you back from trek.No food on the top of the fort. 

Parking : Non paved parking is there at Jambhawali for buses, cars and bikes beside 

restaurants, which may be chargeable. 

Stay : Home stay available at Jambhwlai and Peth village. 

About The Trek :

The trek starts from Jambhwali village after parking. It will take almot 2.30 hrs to reach on the top of the fort. Total time for trek to return parking may need 7/8 hrs for normal groups.

Follow the trek route and go to left in case of divergent. After 10 mins there is a forest check post there. They charged Rs.50 per head from us.Then ascending starts with snake turns. 

After 40 mins you will reach on the top of plateau. The view is spectacular and your steps will slow down to watch it. The beauty of Kothaligad and its bell shape is visible from this plateau. In monsoon, there are many waterfalls parallel to the edges and makes the fort more scenic and photogenic. 

There is a small temporary restaurant  is 

found here on weekends in monsoon. Here you can spend 20 mins easily for taking photos because its most photogenic point on the route with backdrop of the fort.

 After chilling out here proceed to Peth village which will be there after 20 mins.

There is Kaccha road upto here from Jambhwali village. Local uses this road for bikes and bull-kart. Peth village is at the foothill of the fort. There are small restaurants and homestays are here too. Guides can be taken from the village. Villagers are friendly. 

Then real fort ascend starts from Peth village. It is very steep and vertical. Since its a popular fort,you will come across many groups and foreigners too during trek. Because the route is narrow go with cooperating each other. Help girls, kids, senior citizens and foreigners. 

There are almost 80 degree slanted steps to the ceiling to go on the top. Its a windy and narrow way, so go slowly and carefully. Its most risky section of the fort. In normal conditions you will need 5/10 minutes to cross this section.

Water bottles and Limbu sarabat stalls are there on the whole trek.

 

On the Fort : Finally, after 2 hrs and 30 mins,you will be on the narrow top of the fort. You can see lots of waterfalls around the region including Bhimashakar region. The wind energy project adds spectacular view. 

There is a small temparory stall here selling water and Limbu sarabat here on weekends.

Keep calm and click photographs, as many as you can.

Its a plain top with no cover. Groups can eat there tiffin here. 

Nearby Places : Khanadal, Lonvla, Zenith waterfall, Mathran, Bhimashankar, Prabalgad, Karnala fort etc.  

( Recently i visited with 11 members with my trekking Paltan group Pune and carried out cleanliness campaign Friendship Day 05/082018)

Pandavgad Fort Trek

Pandhavgad 

Pandavgad is not well known fort for trekking ! You will hardly meet any trekker on the fort. It is one of easy trek. The fort top is a private property, how dont know. 

How to Reach :

Its about 75 km from Pune. There are two way to reach the base village  Gundewadi.

1. Pune-Bablore Highway-Shirwal-Surur-right turn to Wai- from Wai city go to Mandhardevi-at the beginning Mandhardevi ghat-Gundewadi village-park vehicle ( 95 km)

2.PuneBanlore highway-Kapurhole- right turn to Bhor - Bhor city-take left turn from Shivaji maharaj statue in Bhor city to Mandhardevi road-ride up to Mandhardevi ghat-take right turn on the top of ghat to Wai road-ride down the ghat-at the end of the ghat you will reach Gundewadi-the base village- park vehicle (75 km)

From both side roads are in good condition.

Parking : No specific parking place, but villagers have kept place for parking for trekkers in theor farms with no charge.

Food and Stay : Carry your food with you. No food and water at the base and on the fort as well. Although there are many restaurants nearby area of 5 km to the fort e.g. Mandhardevi ghat and Wai city.

About Trek :

The trek is simple. It will take around an hour to reach on the top. There is medium ascend. Start from the house near the road. Ask them in case not find a path.

 Once you get a path follow the trail which is ascending in zigzag manner. after 40 to 50 minutes you will be on the top. There is house of care taker of the owner of the fort. You need to make write your name and contact numbers in entry registration. Then Explore the fort.

What to See : 

There are not much left on the fort.  There are many water tanks (Taake) on the fort.take left after care taker's hut to proceed the Main Darwaja of the Ballekilla of the fort which tall but fallen with top ark. The Darawaja is in good condition. Further you will see wall of the ballekilla. Its called the Nana Fadavis wada. Then there is a Temple of Lord Hanuman. Nearby there is a grinder made of stone. Take a right side path which takes you to a Temple of Pandajaidevi temple.

There is one buruz at the east side from where you can see beautiful landscape of Wai Panchagani area.
The fort top is vast and plain like a plateau. From the fort we can see Panchgani, Wai, Dhom dam, Menvali village, Mahabaleshwar, Kamalgad fort, Mandherdevi temple, Rohida fort, Kenjal fort and Raireshwar fort etc.
There are cave on the other base village i.e. Dhavdi village.

Nearby Places :
Following places can be visited during you visit of Pandavgad fort - Bhor, Bhatghar dam, Neera devghar dam, Varandhaghat, Rohida fort, Raireshwar fort, Kenjal fort, Wai Lord Ganesh Temple, Shooting points of Menwali, Dhom dam, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Kamalgad fort, Mandhardevi ghat and temple etc.

Our Activity :
I visited on 24th June 2018 with my team mates of Trekking Plaltan group. Trekking platan group is self motivated group of members who loves trekking and loves to forts, so we make destination clean from harmful components to  environment. In this trek following members of Trekking Paltan group participated in the campaign - Sainath Jagdale, Parhuram Bhangare, Hanumant Londhe, Sandip Jadhav, Nitin Kulkarni and Hemant Patil. We carried out cleanliness campaign on the fort. We collected plastic bottles, food rappers and carry bags etc.
We also clean the holy walls of Pandajai devi temple on which names of lovers, mobile numbers and vulgar words written on it by careless tourists.

Dr.Suresh Isave,Hemant Patil,Hanumant Londhe,Parshuram Bhangare,Sandip Jadhav,Sainath Jagdale