Vairtagad Fort Trek Sept_2019

 Vairatgad 

Vairatgad is one of the fort near Satara district. Local people told that is also known as Viratnagari/Viratgad. It is a simple fort for trek of around 60 minutes suitable for all ages. Three hours to eat and explore. Total 7 hours are enough for whole trek i.e. parking to parking. You can see Satara, Wai, Mahabaleshwar and Pune region from the Top. Best season is July to January. 

I visited in September 2019 with my Trekking Paltan friend Sudhakar Koli. 

How to Reach :

Pune to Vyajwadi - It is about 90 km and 2 hours journey from Pune, on Pune -Satara highway. Most of journey is on highway about 80km, so travel is comfortable.  

Pune-Surur-Joshi Vihir-Bhuinj-Pachavad-leave highway and turn to right on Wai-Satara road- Kumbharwadi-Asle-Kadegaon-Ask here to turn left for Vyajwadi Village. 

Distance between Panchwad to Vyajwadi is about 10 km. which connected with good road. 

Food and Parking :

Park your vehicles in Vyajwadi village as per convenience of the people. Bus, car or bikes can be parked in open space. Food can be provided in Vyajwadi on pre order. Contact - Mr. Manoj Shinde - 7517368081 

About the Trek: 

There are routes from Asle village & Saratale village as shown in the map. We went via Vyajwadi and  I recommend the same for you.  It take almost one hour to reach on the top from Vyajwadi village. 

Vyajwadi Village, Trek starting point

Trek Route

Temple - take left from here

Enter in the dense tress with straight hike. Be careful, be on proper trail. Trails going in different direction. 

Trail form Base

Follow these flags to stay on the proper trail. We had seen two flags. Take left after flags.

See, Vyajwadi at the base. 

Go straight  

Turn right side and start final ascend. 

This portion before the fort entrance is little risky. It is very slippery due water in rainy days and due to grass in other seasons. 

Entrance of the Fort

Vyajwadi from the entrance 

One you reach on the top, you will see vast plateau region left side far distance Lord Shiva temple and right hand side Lord Hanuman temple nearby. I suggest you to take right side and go across, you will see Lord Hanuman tample, Few small ponds, secret entrance and a bastion. Then take round with fortification and come to Lord Shiva temple for meal. I have uploaded the photos with the same sequence. See the trail shown in the below image. 

Lord Hanuman Temple

left side form the entrance Lord Shiva Temple.

right side Way to secret entry

Eco system in the pond

Secret way

Secret way, don't get in, it is risky.

View of the Entrance 

View from the Fort 

Pandvgad fort view

Panchgani view

Pune-Satara Highway

Sudhakar Koli and Suresh Isave at the base after the trek

Kumbhe Waterfall Oct_2019

Kumbhe Waterfall is one of the unknown waterfall in the remote Sahyadri. One the most spectacular waterfall in the monsoon season.  I visited in October 2019 with my Trekking Paltan friend Vilas Karpe.  

Kumbhe Waterfall 

How to Reach : Its is about 110 km from Pune with 3 and half hours ride via Tamhini Ghat. Bikes and cars can reach to the waterfall. 

Pune-Paud-Mulashi-Tahmini Ghat-After Ghat- Bhagad MIDC road-Mangaon road-Nizampur-Take left to Pachad road which goes to Raigad fort-Ghotewadi - leave right side Pachad road - Go straight to Borawadi - the road becomes rough and narrower, the road is lonely, hardly any vehicle can be seen- Stay on Kumbhe Hydro power project road- There is small but risky Ghat here- landslide prone area- drive safely !

When you reach on the top of the Ghat, there is rough tunnel there. The Kumbhe waterfall is there on the other side of the tunnel. There are no lights in the tunnel. Road is rough. 

Tunnel just before waterfall 

Waterfall side of the tunnel 

After the tunnel, the waterfall is there immediately. Find a place for parking. We cant see fall of water from this location. We need to cross the stream which is very risky. In the rainy days the water force is too much. Don't dare to cross it. Just watch from the road side. We could cross it, because we visited in October when water force is very low. 

On the Edge, you can't reach here in rainy days. 

If you want to see the view of the Kumbhe waterfall you have to go further with the road. You can take your vehicle near View point.. See the map. A small Ghat section is there. After 10 mins drive you will reach on the plain terrain.

Vilas Karpe and Me

You can see some left houses, incomplete structures around. You have to park your vehicle here. 

Enter here to go the waterfall view point. The trail may not be so clear. Take care of grass which is big and slippery. After five minutes walk you will be on waterfall view point. Be aware of grass, because you may not get idea about where your are keeping your legs. The surface is uneven. 

Beautiful view of Waterfall 

Precautions : 

• It is remote and lonely place, so go with group. 
• Carry all food and water with you.
• Roads are lonely and help is available at the base i.e. Borawadi village which is far away.
• Keep anti-puncture material with you. No shops around. 

TVS Ntorq

Me and Vilas at Plus Valley, Tamhini Ghat