Manikgad - A Fort of Traverses

Manikgad
Base Village : Vadgaon
Members:

• Saurabh
• Gangaram
• Kavita
• Ravi
• Jitendra
• Purvesh

Date: 26th July'09

Me and Dad started at 7.15 A.M. from home on my bike. We reached chowk by 8.15 A.M. I tried reaching Saurabh, who was coming from talegaon in car with some friends but could not get through is phone. Finally I called his home to ask what time they have started and came to know they started by 8.00 A.M. So I knew we are going to be late and hence went to main Chowk diversion and waited for Saurabh.

Saurabh and others came by 9.15 A.M. to chowk. We had vadapv and tea and moved ahead towards Vadgaon. We have to take road towards Vashivli from Chowk, just after patalganga refinery or before you enter vashivali there is a left to Vadgaon. This is base of Manikgad. We parked our vehicles here.

We loaded our water bottles and started the trek. First you have to walk towards fields and take right from Vdgaon towards a mountain. Climb this mountain and you will find some rock cut steps on way. After this climb and some walk we reached katarwadi. It takes almost 1hour 15 mins to reach here. From here walk straight towards plateau. The plateau was lush green and was too big. Cricket sathi yogya jaga....We crossed the plateau and came across a place of flowing water and a well. cross this and continue walking till you finally reached the base of Manaikgad fort. Walk into jungle for some time and you will come across a diversion on left. if you walk straight you will reach another plateau and also see pinnacle of Manikgad i.e. Maniklingi on left. So dont walk straight but take the left diversion, the route will take you behind Manikgad and again bring near front and will also keep climbing. Keep following till you reach col between Manikgad and Maniklingi. From here take left to move towards the fort and climb on till you reach top.

We reached top after so many traverses in 3.5 hours almost. We had some small timepass lunch here. Wind was blowing very violently that you had to firmly hold yourself on ground. We made jaljeera too and then we started seeing the fort walls. We reached inside fort in 10 mins and looked around. There are few remains and a door and few water tanks on fort. No shelter. Then we begin climbing down.

When we reached near katarwadi i.e on plateau we saw a big fat mongoose running around. we came near well and I was damn hungry. Also Ravi and Kavita had ventured straight in forest instead of coming to well. So Saurabh and others called them and located them. Good thing range was available!!! I settled for sandwiches on a rock and then everybody had a lunch. After this we climbed down fast and reached vadgaon. I kick started my bike and bid bye to the friends and started towards Dombivli. I had wore shorts on trek and was cursing myself as mosquitoes and spider bit me and i was having red rashes all over my legs for 2 days. The satisfaction of going to Manikgad was more than everything esle....Now I am awaiting my next trek.