Achala-Saptshrungi-Ahiwant

Base Village: Acchla – Pimpri
Ahiwant - Daregaon
Date: 12th-13th Sept’09
Group: Chakram Hikers

12th Sept’09: I got onto Tapovan Express at 7.15 A.M. at Kalyan and met all other members of the trek. Parag was leader and it was good to get introduced to new faces. It was good to meet Kiran and Vinay after quite some time. I settled down and game of cards was rolled out. We were playing judgement. We had a breakfast of cutlet, vadapav and tea. We got down at Nasik Road Station by 9.50 P.M. Parag had booked a Tavera and Qualis to go to Acchala Pimpri a base village of Acchala.

We reached base of Acchala by 11.30 A.M. and Sun was at its peak. Facing Acchala, On right of Acchala on the ridge is a temple whose flags are visible from base village. Take path to reach this temple and then from this temple take a path on left towards Acchala that is in center of the trunk. Climb for some time and you will reach a plateau. We were all sweating like pigs by this time. Vaibhav decided to not complete trek and went back to base. Our water bottles were also finishing soon. We walked on right of plateau keeping Acchala on left and came across a very small stream of water and road ahead was lost. We realized we are on wrong way. But we took rest and Vinay made Jaljeera and we refilled our water bottles. Parag, Ameya and Saurabh were looking for the route. Finally we could not find a route and decided to climb across the right face of mountain till the rocky mastiff. We climbed and thank god we found steps carved out in rocky mastiff to go to top. The top has a temple and few water tanks. Only one tank has potable water. We had our lunch near water tanks and immediately we started climbing down. While climbing down we realized actually straight climbing on trunk of mountain is correct route. So guys next time anyone you visit reach the temple on ridge and directly climb straight on trunk till you reach rock and then keeping the rock face on left walk parallel till you reach steps.

We climbed down very fast but towards end we received little rains and that made lot of mud. Out shoes and sandals started becoming very heavy due to mud sticking to them. We reached base village and washed out sandals and shoes thoroughly and had tea. We then started towards Saptshrungi where our night stay was scheduled. Sapshrungi is an enchanting mountain and looks very different due to its big rocky patches. We crossed Vani ghat to reach there and while passing through this ghat one can see a ‘nedha’ in mountain on left. Its quite big and heard it is approachable. We reached Saptshrungi and booked rooms in ‘Bhakt Niwas’. We had balconies of all rooms facing ‘Markandeya’ and on edge of valley. We had our dinner in ‘prasadalay’ just at 7 bucks per person and then had a round of card games in our room. We then dozed off as early morning we had to visit Saptshrungi temple and Ahiwant.

13th Sept'09: We woke up early morning and had amazing photography of Sunrise from our balconies in front of ‘Markandeya’. One of the snap is shown here. If you observer neatly you may even see ‘Dhodap’ behind. We then quickly went to Saptshrungi temple and had breakfast. We then booked a single jeep to travel to base of Ahiwant called Daregaon. I travelled by holding on to rod outside jeep and my feet on foot rest meant for climbing in to jeep. This was really exciting. I was thinking this time has been different. Just few days back I had travelled on top of Bus when we were in Jawahar and now I was dangling outside jeep for the travel. Things which you generally don’t get to do in life. It was thrilling. We reached ase and got one guide from village to show us Ahiwant as time was short. We had 6.00 clock train from Nasik Road Station to catch.

The village guide was really fast and our first climb was too heavy as it was steep and sun was trying its best to make it tougher. The plan was to climb from opposite end of Acchala and climb down from opposite end. After intial climb, We reached a ridge and then had Jaljeera and started towards Ahiwant. You look at Ahiwant and you will realize it stands by its name i.e. it is really big. The complete ‘c’ shaped; very large plateau. The climb to top is from almost behind the face you see from this ridge. Take a path which keeps Ahiwant Rocky mastiff on left and walk parallel. In between you will find a path which goes to top through this mastiff. You will first hit some cave or rooms carved out of rock and path ahead takes you to top of plateau. We reached the first end of ‘c’ and had a sigh of relief as our water was almost to finish but there was a water tank nearby with potable water. The water in tank was really cool and good. We again had round of Jaljeera and filled our bottles. We started exploring the plateau. You walk straight and you reach a much larger plane from this tank and a small mountain emrging in between the plain. Go to right hand side of this mountain i.e. closer to Acchala. Here there is another well whose water is full in all seasons and some old statues. Walk little ahead straight to edge of valley and you will find a path to go down to a cave. Take left from here and walk more to reach a small pond. Ahead of this you will come to place where lot of stones in cubes are scattered proving some structures existed and have collapsed. After this walk straight to reach the other end of ‘c’ where you can also see the ‘nedha’ which could be seen while going to Saptshrungi. Walk straight and you will reach some rock cut steps and on opposite mountain more steps and some stone walls to prove this was fort. The path downhill is between the two mountains. The path downhill was too entertaining courtesy Vinay and Manas.

We reached base by 2.00 P.M. and had a bath at hand pump and then a delicious lunch was awaiting us. I was too happy to have ‘Bhakri-Pithla and Mirchi cha Thecha’ Also Vaibhav had got Amrakhand. Our Jeep to Panchavati arrived and we left by 3.30 towards Nasik Road. We had a round of cards on platform and then in train. It was really wonderful Trek. I loved the mountain range there hoping to get back to do Markendeya-Rawlya-Jawlya-Dhadop-Ikhara.

Chandan-Vandan

Base Village: Banwadi/Ibrahampur

Members: Avinash, Deepak, Purvesh, Saurabh
Date: 6th Sept’09

5th Sept’09: I travelled with my Ex-Boss Mr. Partha to Talegaon from Mumbai in his Wagon R. Saurabh and Deepak came to pick me up at Expressway-Talegaon phata. We did some time pass and then Avinash came down. We were supposed to go to Pune and do some TP with chaitanya bit everyone else was bored to go to Pune. So we decided to stay back at Talegaon and start next day towards Satara. Chaitanya and Manoj called up and told us that they were joining us for dinner. We went to Urban Spice on Old Bombay-Pune Highway and had a great time. We all stayed at Saurabh’s place and had a good Chitchat. We convinced Avinash to join us for trek next day and take leave from office.

6th Sept’09: We staretd early 6.15 A.M. towards Satara in Saurabh’s car from Talegaon. The road was good and we reached Shirval soon. We had some vadapav for breakfast. After this we came to Bhuinz phata and took left towards Chandan-Vandan which were now visible at some distance. Asking for Banwadi we travelled through few villages to reach there. Last 2 K.M. road was bad and finally we managed to reach Ibrahampur. We parked out car near temple and a handpump was nearby to fill our bottles. We started climbing Chandan from a path which goes from behind temple.

The path is easy and you can reach Chandan in an hour. There are lot of small flowers on the way on both sides. There is a small temple inside fort and then there are 2 strcutures of stones kept one over other. We did some photography here. Then we moved ahead and went towards Masjid. We moved around Masjid and went at back of fort. Here you can see some old walls and a temple that seems to have fallen and lot of garbage put there by people visiting the Masjid. Go ahead and you will come across a narrow stretch and right before eyes will be Vandan separated by a ridge. We cannot go to Vandan from here. We returned and started climbing down Chandan. Almost you climb down 75% and there is a shade build by villagers with help of iron poles and iron sheets. Just below this is electricity pole from where path moves towards right. Follow this path to traverse Chandan and you reach a small white color temple. From temple of right side there is path again parallel to Chandan towards the ridge between Chandan-Vandan. On the way I happen to take some close shots of brown pegion. In 45 mins you can reach the ridge between two forts. The wind here is gusty and cool. We did some photography here and moved towards Vandan.

Move towards Vandan on the same path on ridge and follow straight keeping Vandan on right and exposed valley on left. Move ahead and at top you will see bastion of Vandan fort and a Darwaja. In half an hour you can reach the Darwaja. Vandan is quite bigger and also has Masjid and few Maqbaras. Also are few ponds which are dirty and a well. Nothing great to look around we started our; descend soon after taking some pictures. We decided to have lunch at the small white temple. We had great time during lunch and it was great to be with my old time pals. We then moved to our car and changed and got fresh with lift pump water. We decided to take longer route as road we came was bad to join Satara Highway. We halted at Kamath’s on the way little ahead of Shirval. Mind you guys though it is Kamath never stop here. Food is pathetic and ridiculous. We reached Hinjewadi phata by 7.15 P.M. and then started most thrilling part of my journey.

I got a lift in Mitsubishi Lancer till Kalyan Phata from Hinjewadi. I was too happy and was enjoying but my happiness was short lived. The headlights of Lancer stopped working and we had nightmare. On Expressway we drove at decent speed following vehicles and using my small torch to show way. My heart was beating faster and butterflies were in my stomach. I and driver were sitting in front and driving. Sometimes we could not chase a car and suddenly everything will blacken out and driver will apply urgent brakes in center of road. It was too scary and risky. Then a car would come and we would follow it. Only good thing was parking lights were working and hence nobody banged us. Somehow I managed to reach Kalayan Phata. The driver thanked me for all support and help. He said if I wouldn’t have been there he would have parked and slept and started next day. In mind I cursed him but also I enjoyed as it was a lifetime experience. Never would anyone travel Pune-Mumbai in night without lights and this thought itself tingle my adventure bone to jump for the risk!!!