Torana Aka Prachandagad

Fort: Torana Aka Prachandagad
Difficulty Level: Medium
District : Pune
How to Reach: Sahyaadri / Torna

Rainy season on it's Ending, with the rains hiding just around the corner, is it possible to resist the temptation to go on a trek??? I don’t think so …

I was little busy with my new Job, since long time (almost 30 day I was not went for trek. Can’t control Temptation, made a plan for coming weekend, though DJ was not available for this time, I ask vin about trek and his get ready almost on one leg.

The fort that called out to me was Torna.. supposed to be one of the most difficult forts to conquer….(I had very bad experience on the first trek in the month of june, due to bad weather I was unable to reach at the top. That was the first time in my life, I was return from the trek without touching the summit and this things crunch my mind day by day.) and the one that Shivaji conquered right in the beginning of his career. Situated at approx 65kms from pune, the trek to torna is easily a one day trip..


our day started in the morn at 7 am.. After about a 2 hr on the road, we reached the village at the foot of the fort, called velhe, at abt 9:30ish… after a hearty bfast and chai at the restaurant in the village, we set out for the fort at arnd 10:30 am. Right from the beginning the fort showed us why is it a difficult fort to conquer… most of the faces are really steep, even the route we took was considerably steep for the foothills of a mountain..

The climate was just rite for a trek… no sun.. Loads of cloud cover.. and the possibility of a shower.. Real soon… see for urself..

The climb to the top takes about 3-4 hrs at an average-to-slow speed.. with the tonnes of pit-stops we took enroots.. it took us more.. :)

About 3/4th of the way up.. Came this plateau.. With really strong cross winds.. and loads of cloud..and rain…. :D from then on, we climbed up in clouds. Crouching down when the winds got really strong..

The top of the mountain was completely in clouds… the fort does have loads of points to see.. this fort is considered important strategically because is can see 6 or 8 other forts o a clear day.. but the dense clouds prevented us from seeing.

For More Pics of Torna

Rajgad

Fort: RajGad
Difficulty Level: Medium
District : Pune
How to Reach: Sahyaadri / Rajgad

Every trek of mine was planed as well as pre decided organized trip, since long time I think about Rajgad trek, but few reason I was just washed out my trek plan for Rajgad. This time I was very determined and focused to trek on Rajgad. Just casually remind DJ about week end plan, as usual he was just say don’t worry mate I will be their on time.

<- Padmavati Macchi) Me Satya, Sagar, Bala (my cusion Bro) & DJ gather Swarget Bus staion around 8:40 am. We just missed Velha bus by few min and as per ST Scheduled next bus was available by 9:30 pm. The swarget bus stand flooded with ppl, some how we were mange to grab seat and headed towards Margasne. We reached Margasne by 12 pm, from their one local jeep fetch us to the base of Rajgad - Gunjavane (which is 8 Km from magasni). We reached Gunjavane at about 12:30 . If you want to take the Chor darwaja, you have to go to Gunjavane or else you can go to Vajeghar and climb by the Pali darwaja.

For our surprise ( Suvela Macchi - >) the volunteer of Abhinav Nirman Prathisthan (www.abhinavnirmaan.com) checking each trekker very strictly. If they found (wine, Tobacco content material, non veg food etc.) they were kicked on concern person’s asss .. Their Work is really appreciated. I was proud on them and ask about membership for volunteer and other activity they carried.

We start our trek by 1 pm, the sun is roaring very strongly though this was just last week of Jan we was felt the heat it was so hot. The surrounding of Gunjavane is really amazing, after climbing few steps we felt hungriness, it was our first official break.

We made it to the top in another hour or so. The experience of trekking on Rajgad was awesome; the fort was crowed due to adjutant weekend holidays. (24, 25, 26 jan). Every after few moments we heard the roaring sound of joyful Trekkers. The atmosphere feels with Joy Eagerness, Courage, Determination & appreciation and respect with salute to great king Shivaji.

The experience ( Balle Killa - > to trek the Balle killa was awesome, this is really tough rock patch, just remind me the Bhimashankar’s Shidde Ghat trek. The Rock patch with slant edges make it very hard. Trekker should specifically take care while climb down. On the top of Balle killa we can point out easily the surrounded fort like Torna, Sinhagad, Raigad, etc.

We started getting down at about 5.30 from Chor darwaja. We reached at the bottom by 7 Pm, where we come to know that the last local jeep was left just 10 min before, and which was last source to reach Margasnee. Some how I Manage to convince other local jeep wala (after all I m marketing guy yaar). He dropped us on margasnee and from there we was pick other jeep to katraj.

The Memories of Rajgad Trek till fresh as fresh as like flowers.

For More Picture of Rajgad : Click Here