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mahabaleshwarbooking · 2 years ago

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Exotic Places In The Vicinity Of Mahabaleshwar You Must Explore

Mahabaleshwar is one of the exotic hill stations in Maharashtra that people from all over the country visit. Set amid the mountain range of Sahyadri, it is strategically located and well-connected to the two big cities, Mumbai and Pune.

Since it is approachable and the weather is decent throughout, the place is crowded. Except rainy season, when it is difficult to go out, this place is pleasant. The summer is not extreme, and the mornings and evenings are pleasant. Winter is also moderate, and one can enjoy the trip carrying light woolen.

When we say Mahabaleshwar, it is not only the hill station, but many places around can be clubbed in the tour program.

If you are interested in Exciting Locations Near Mahabaleshwar, You Must Visit the vicinity of Mahabaleshwar, then read this blog.

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar boasts of having one of the few evergreen forests in India. The history of Mahabaleshwar goes back to the 17th century. But it came into light during the colonial era. The British rulers always searched for new avenues on mountains and hills to spend scorching summers. That is the reason British officers explore the majority of hill stations.

They also explore Mahabaleshwar, which is why all major points are named after British army officers or their family members. Not only that, but old buildings also reflect British Architecture.

If you want to spend three to four days near nature, then Mahabaleshwar is the best place. You need to book a hotel or resort beforehand as there is always a crowd in Mahabaleshwar. You can book a package tour that covers accommodation, commutation, and food.

As far as major attractions in Mahabaleshwar are concerned, you can find exotic points, beautiful lakes, and exciting waterfalls.

Elephant's Head Point, Chinaman's Falls, Arthur's Seat, Dhobi Waterfalls, Venna Lake, and Wilson Point are popular places to enjoy in Mahabaleshwar.

Book a tour to book any of the popular Mahabaleshwar tour packages from Mumbai.

Tapola

Tapola is located just an hour's drive from Mahabaleshwar. It is a must-visit place for nature lovers and trekkers. It is so beautiful that people call it the Kashmir of Maharashtra.

There is a lake in Tapola that is called Tapola Lake or Shiv Sagar Lake. It is ideal for a half-day picnic. If you love Kayaking or swimming, Tapola is a place you should never miss.

If you are an experienced trekker, then Vasota Fort is ideal. The hike to this fort is considered one of the most difficult treks. However, your efforts get rewarded as you reach the top. It offers breathtaking vistas and superb natural beauty. After the monsoons, the slopes of Tapola turn purple when the flowers in the Kas Valley bloom.

For tourists, Tapola is one of the Exciting Locations Near Mahabaleshwar. You Must Visit.

Panchgani

Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are called twin hill stations because they are closely located and have similar natural beauty. Panchgani is popular among honeymoon couples, college students, families, and senior citizens.

It is because you get a tranquil environment and serene surroundings. The lake is best for boating.

The strawberries of Panchgani are very famous. If you visit there in the peak seasons, you will get to pick tasty and juicy strawberries.

Also, the place offers a great chance to enjoy a bird's eye view of Panchgani while paragliding over the hills. Adventure enthusiasts can relish it.

Panchgani is one of the thrilling Places to visit near Mahabaleshwar.

Satara

If you love history and historical places, Satara is right for you. It is located a few kilometers from Mahabaleshwar. The travel time is a couple of hours' drive.

The place of Satara carries a great historic past, and the city has many temples and forts. The most popular and famous fort is the Ajinkytara Fort. When you trek up the hills to visit, the fort will reward you with a magnificent view of Satara City.

Other famous places in Satara are Sajjangad Fort and the Vasota Fort. Both of them display the grace and grandeur of the Maratha style of architecture.

Not only historical forts, Satara also brings a beautiful fall known as the Thosegarh Falls. It brings a magnificent view during the Monsoons.

Do not forget to taste the famous non-vegetarian food of this region. And the Kandi Pedhe of Satara is one of the famous items you must taste.

Whether you love historical places or adventure, Satara is one of the Exciting Locations Near Mahabaleshwar You Must Visit.

Khandala

Khandala is around 60 kilometers from Mahabaleshwar. It is one of the famous duo of hill stations- Lonavala and Khandala. People admire it as one of the most favorite weekend gateways from Mumbai. If you love trekking, then Khandala can be an ideal spot. It is a trekker's dream destination. Whether you walk through the scenic valleys or get a bike and cycle through them, it will be an overwhelming experience.

Khandala is an ideal picnic spot where you can spend a day from morning to evening.

Regarding famous places in Khandala, you can visit Duke's Nose, The Bhushi Dam, Ryewood Park, and Amrutanjan Point.

The best time to go to Khandala is between October and May. Monsoon is not the appropriate time to go there as the region has heavy rains.

Chiplun

Chiplun is one of the famous places in the Konkan region. Located 100 kilometers from Mahabaleshwar, this is a picturesque and calm place. The prime attraction of Chiplun is the Gowalkot Fort. It was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1670.

If you are an adventure lover, Chiplun is a great place to enjoy boating and adventure activities on the Vashishthi River.

Book a comprehensive travel program from the Best Travel Agency In Mumbai.

#Tours Operators #Mahabaleshwar in One Day

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ourratnakarblog-blog · 8 years ago

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“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean”. John Muir

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Our boats will take us to Met indavali which is base of Vasota and Nageshwar. It takes around 1 -1.5 hrs to reach to Met Indavali from Bamnoli. Though 1.5 hrs is a long period, the traveling is not at all boring. Whole journey offers you great views on both banks of Koyana river.

We reached Met indavali at around 10 a.m. As soon as you reach Kyona Tiger Reserve, you need to make an entry at the entrance gate. We had to declare all the items which includes camera, water bottles, plastic wrappers etc. I loved the way this tiger reserve administration is giving their best to keep it clean. Vasota fort route is very well marked and it’s not at all confusing. The trail is displayed with many boards explaining which animals can be found in this reserve forest. This also confirms our trail and there is little chance of getting lost in the forest. List of animals found around this area includes Wild Dogs, Bears, Leopards and even Tigers. Even though there is dense forest, Vasota Trek is not confusing because Path is clearly marked by stones and there is clear trail. You enter the forest through a huge gate. In front of the gate there is forest office of Met indavali.

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From this forest office, right side path leads us to the Vasota fort. The jungle was so dense that at 12 in the afternoon it looked like its 4 pm. There was very little sunlight touching the base of the jungle. It was a beautiful trek with inclinations, steps and more inclined walk. The jungle was full of different varieties of birds and trees. We were told that there are animals but they don’t come close to the trekking path as they keep away from people. We followed the track in the forest and after forty-five minutes of continuous walk, we reached an open temple of Maruti. There is a natural water stream in this place. To the right of the idols is a dried-up stream. Although it is dried up now, the stream must be a roaring-monster during the monsoons. All the greenery in and around the stream makes this evident!. We took some rest at this point. After crossing this stream, you will enter the dense forest of Koyana. The whole trail from this point on wards is covered with huge and dense cover of trees and literally blocks the sun rays from entering the ground. So, unlike the other Sahyadri treks, here Sun won’t affect you much which is the best part of this Trek. On the both sides of the trail, you will find trees like Anjan, Pisa, Nana Behada, Amba, Kumbhi, Jambhul etc. Since this part of jungle is full of dense tree cover and bushes, we may come across some wild animals like Bison, Bhekar, Bear etc. It is highly advised not to make any noise and disturb the natural environment of nature and scare these animals. Watch the beautiful and mesmerizing nature while trekking. There are few patches having steep climb but I won’t say it was hard to climb but for the first timers it was difficult. There were few first-time trekkers with us who started cursing themselves for coming for this trek. 😉

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After trekking this beautiful trail from the jungle for next one hour or so, you will come across “Y” fork of the jungle. The trail which goes straight leads to the Vasota Fort and the trail on the right side will lead you to the Nageshwar Temple Caves. We took the Vasota Fort Trail as decided. There are stairs which are carved in the stone which will take us to the cliff. After 20 minutes of walk from here we reached a rock patch which is without much trees and it was very hard to walk it under afternoon sun. We could see the fortification from here.

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Once thru this rocky patch you could see old stone stairs to the fort. There are two entrances to the New Vasota one of which is in a dilapidated state and the fort can be entered through only the second entrance. After climbing the stone carved stairs for few minutes, we enter the Vasota fort through a shattered main entrance gate. As you climb the steps of Vasota’s main entrance you cannot help but feel sad for the bad condition of the fort neglected by people and the government in general. The bastions and gates destroyed by the Britishers when they captured the fort still take you back to those days.

On our left, we will find a trail going along a fortification which takes us to the two water tanks. Actually, it is one water tank but a wall is built in the middle so it is separated in two water tanks. The reason for this may be the water conservation, keeping one tank as buffer tank. This is the only water storage tank which supplies water to the fort for entire year. From this water tank, we followed the straight trail which goes up to the top of the fort. When you reach the tip of the fort, you can see Babu Kada. The sight of Babu Kada reminds us the great Konkan Kada of Harishandragad and Shailkada of Salher. From this point, we can view Old Vasota fort. Now Trekkers cannot visit old Vasota as there is no way which can lead us to the Old Vasota fort and the presence of wild animals in the area makes it impossible to visit there. The valley between Babukada and Fort Vasota is fearful and deep. Strong wind force gushing through the valley can be felt here. After watching this wonderful natural creation of nature, we return back and move ahead where we will find remains of fortification and a lime kiln constructed in the stone. Near this kiln, you will find a roofless temple of Maruti. The stairs and the arch of this roofless temple are still in good shape. On the west side from here, we also can see some remains of a mansion. The foundation of this mansion is constructed in molded stones and we can just imagine the hugeness of this mansion. The mansion is clean cut and has a square inside with walls which have fallen.

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We proceeded from this place further and walked to the right side of the fort. On the way, we can see a dry lake. Walking further we will come to the temple of Bhavani Goddess. In the temple, we can find Shivlinga in the sanctum instead of Bhavani Goddess. The temple is well constructed and is still in good condition. When we walk further at the lower stage of the fort, we will find a Machi resembling the Scorpion Claw of Lohagad fort. It is called as a Thane (Place) of Kalakai. The first gate of this Thane has fallen down but the bastion still exists. When we descend further from the stairs, we see an arch. Proceed towards the machi, which has no construction remains on it. From this point, the surrounding nature is outstanding. After watching the beautiful nature, we returned back from this point.

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This completes our trek to Vasota Fort. You will require around 2 hours to explore the fort.

This trek definitely tested our stamina and patience but gave us deep sense of joy. Memories of sleeping under the sky full of stars, amazing boat ride amidst the mountains and turquoise water, walking through the dense forest , view of Konkan from the top, towering Babu kada, tortuous and never-ending rocky route while climbing down would remain with me for a long, long time.

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Visit Vasota to experience its mightiness and beauty. Breathtaking view of babukada, deep valleys, dense jungle will make you to fall in love with the Sahayadri.

Please make sure that you complete your trek before 5.30 pm. because it is not allowed to stay in Koyana forest after 5.30 p.m , as wild animals gets active after sunset which makes this a very dangerous place.

Try walking as silent as you can ,it will increase your chances of capturing any wild animal in your camera.

Proper precaution should be taken against leach while visiting Vasota during monsoon.

Bye for now…

Happy and safe trekking…

Ratnakar Salunke

PS: Please do not forget to comment on this blog. Your comments are important to me.

Trek to Vasota Fort: Wilderness Trek in Koyna Wildlife Sancturay Part-II (Concluding) “Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.

#adventure #Babu Kada #Base Village #Endurance #hiking #Koyana #Met Indavali #Vasota Fort Trekking Blog

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ourratnakarblog-blog · 8 years ago

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“Mountains are not Stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion…”- Sir Anatoli Boukreev

Type : Forest Fort

Fort range : Mahabaleshwar

Height : 1171 meters (3614 feet)

Base village : Bamnoli (near Satara)

Difficulty : Medium

Endurance Level : Medium to High

Distance from Pune : 140 km

District : Satara

Situated in dense forests surrounded by river Koyna is the fort of Vasota, which according to the ‘Dnyaneshwari’ means a resting place. This fort is also known by the name of Vyaghragad. Vasota fort is situated on the banks of the Shivsagar dam. Met Indavali is the base village of Vasota. From here the forest path leads us to the top of Vasota. It takes two to three hours to reach the top. It is a gradual climb and through dense forest. It is an ideal trek in winter and summer. The view from top is breath-taking. The fort is covered by a thick reserved forest. On the east side are the backwaters of Shivsagar dam. After that one can see the mountain range of Kas Mahabaleshwar. Steep falls or cliffs on the west side of the fort and the mountain ranges add to the beauty of the place. Nageshwar cave is visible on the north of the fort. It is a two hours’ trek from Vasota.

History:

This fort got its name from Vashishta rishi. This is enough to prove that this fort has a long history. This fort is situated at banks of Koyana River and is surrounded by thick forest and deep valleys and due to its strategic location later this Mountain was fortified.

This fort got its importance during Shivaji Maharaj’s Jawali raid. Recent study shows that this fort was not won by Shivaji Maharaj during his Jawali raid. When Shivaji Maharaj defeated Chandrarao More his troops took Javli and other forts in the Konkan region excluding Vasota. But on June 6, 1660 Vasota became a part of Swarajya, it was a period when Shivaji was trapped in Panhalgad.

Marathas found 26,000 rupees on the fort. After Shivaji and Sambhaji Maharaj era the fort was under Pant Pratinidhi control. In 1706, Tai Telini brought the fort under her control. The very next year Peshwa conquered the fort. In 1818 along with other forts of Marathas, this fort came under British control and hence got destroyed.

This fort was mainly used as Military Station or as resting place for Soldiers. Due to its difficult location and accessibility this fort was also used for storing wealth of Swarajya.

On Sajjangad which is in Satara there is a letter stating that when Auranzeb attacked Sajjangad , people from surrounding region went to Vasota fort for their safety. People were aware that it is impossible for any outsider to win this mighty fort which is well protected by Sahyadri itself.

Fort Vasota comes under Tiger Project (forest department). We have to take prior permissions from the forest authorities and can be done on the same day as you plan your trek from Bamnoli. There are two forts actually. The old Vasota and new Vasota. The old Vasota is not easily accessible. We were supposed to hike new Vasota.

How to reach:

There are two major routes to reach to Vasota fort. First rout goes from Bamnoli village which is in Satara. Second route goes from Choravane village which is in Chiplun. As per the Forest departments rule we cannot stay at Vasota fort as well as on Nageshwar.

From Bamnoli:

Bamnoli is in Satara District and is about 30 kms from Satara city. This is the easiest route to reach to the top of Vasota. As the Vasota and Nageshwar both falls under Sahyadri Tiger reserve you need to take permission from forest office of Bamnoli to enter the Sahyadri Tiger reserve. On this route, we have to cross Koyana Dam backwater which is called as Shivsagar Lake. From Bamnoli we need to travel to Met Indavali by Boat which charges around 3,200/- for 12 people. The boat takes around 1.5 hrs to reach Met Indavali. Met indavali is the base of Vasota and Nageshwar. In Met Indavali there is another Forest office. Take a guide from here if needed.

Bamnoli Forest office opens at 8.00 am so the first ferry boat from Bamnoli to Met Indavali starts at 8.30 a.m.

From Choravane:

Choravane is in kokan region. You need to go to Chipalun >> Choravane. From Choravane it takes around 5-6 hrs to reach Vasota. This route is damn tiring. And there is no water on the way so one has to carry his own supply.

The Trek:

We, a group of 28 trekkers started from Pune on a Saturday night at 11.30 pm by a private bus to Bamnoli village. Making the night journey and reaching early at Bamnoli village would help us to get a complete day for completing the Vasota Fort trek comfortably. Since it was March and the summer has just started, the drive itself was amazing with open highway and sky full of stars. Sometimes dozing a bit in the bus and sometime just looking outside the window, our time passed quickly and we reached our destination early in the morning at 3.30 am. After a travel of 4 hours, we reached Bamnoli village. Bamnoli is a small village where passes are issued to reach the base of the jungle by the forest department. We had plenty of time and a quick power nap was advisable to shrug off the sleepless tiredness. So everybody hurried towards Bhairav Mandir, the place where some people can sleep for a while. The sleep took over quickly on everybody and we got up at 6.30 am again to prepare ourselves for the early trek to Vasota fort. We had hot Pohe and Chai for breakfast and after a quick breakfast, a look in our backpack for correctness of things was carried out. Everybody was excited for the day ahead and waited for the trek leader’s instructions. A quick introduction round was carried out followed by trek leader’s instructions for the trek.

Finally, it was time for our boats to arrive and there came our two lovely boats. The scenic beauty of Sukhsagar lake water was amazing. So many boats waiting for the trekkers to board. The faint looking mountain in the background is Madhu-Makrand Gad and there is Tapola (famously called the mini Kashmir of the west is a rustic hamlet with a magnificent lake – Shivsagar. on the other side). We boarded the boat with 14 persons (maximum capacity) in each boat and our boat journey to Vasota started with the picturesque setting all around. Everybody was enjoying the boat journey with spectacular views all around. There is a dense forest around lake inhabiting many wild animals. Many of these animals come to drink water in this lake. The boat ride was amazing, with clouds and sun playing hide and seek, it formed beautiful patterns on water. Excitement to reach the jungle was growing with every passing minute. After boat journey of more than an hour, finally Vasota became visible. Almost 75% of Vasota is covered by dense forest and only 25% is exposed. Views all around were so beautiful and everybody was clicking pictures.

Bye for now…

To be continued in Part-II

Please click here for Part-II

Ratnakar Salunke

PS: Please do not forget to comment on this blog. Your comments are important to me.

Trek to Vasota Fort: Wilderness Trek in Koyna Wildlife Sancturay : Part-I “Mountains are not Stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion…”-

#Bamnoli base village #Chandrarao More #Forest Fort #Javali #Koyana #Met Indavali #Nageshwar cave #Shivsagar dam #Vasota Fort Trek

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