The riders : Vivek + Navroze + Kapil & Me

The pillions : Benny & Namrata

Destination : Raigad

Date : 10th  & 11th July

Distance Covered : 400 kms

Experience : Looking beyond the façade of a place and allowing its true colours to seep in can result in the most beautiful of experiences..

more to come..

Mahuli Fort At 2815 ft., this is a sought after trekking destination. I first visited this place last year with my friends for a trek and then again for some Waterfall rappelling. The trek is an intermediate one,totally depends on what route is taken to reach the summit. This is one place I’m sure I’m gonna be visiting every year during the monsoons and  This is one fort in Maharashtra every trek lover has to visit atleast once.

It is the highest point in the Thane district. The forest surrounding Mahuli has been declared as a sanctuary. Once Shahaji Raje, father of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had this fortress under his belt.

Getting there

The nearest railway station to Mahuli is Asangaon. One can catch either Asangaon or Kasara Local from Mumbai CST, which could also be caught at Kalyan Junction. 4 km walk from Asangaon station will take you to the base temple in 1-1/2 hours. 3 hours trek will take you to the summit.
Asangaon on Mumbai-Nashik highway (91) km from Mumbai. 5 km inside on to the left is the Mahuli village.

History

The creator of this fort is unknown. In 1485 this place came under rule Nijamshahi dynasty. When Shahaji Raje became the secretary of Nijamshahi, Mughals of Delhi tried to end Nijamshahi. In 1635-36, Shahaji Raje transferred himself with Jijabai and Shivaji to Mahuli. When Khan Jaman attacked the fort, Shahaji asked Portuguese for help, who refused and Shahaji surrendered.

Shivaji took this fort from Mughals on 8 Jan 1658. In 1661 it was given back and was won again by Shivaji. In treaty of Purandar, in 1665, Marathas lost these forts again. In Feb 1670, Shivaji Maharaj tried to conquer Mahuli, but failed, thanks to an alert Manohardas Gaud, who was the in charge of the fort. A thousand Marathas were killed. Manohardas Gaud, soon gave up his position and Alveerdi Beg took over. On 16 June 1670, after two months, Moropant Pingle conquered the forts and Mahuli, Bhandargad and Palasgad became part of Swarajya. Till 1817, Shivaji’s dynasty owned the fort but later on it was controlled by the British Raj.

Kolad is someplace i have been visiting every monsoon for the past four years and am absolutely in love with this sanctuary. Its one place where anyone and everyone will fall in love with. Once am there and checked in at the farm I’ve done my bookings with,its just time for my camera and me. I usually make camp at Sai Farm, find the folks out there very homely plus the pricing out there is very comfortable on my pocket.I usually pay Rs.450 for a day (including all meals) and about Rs.1100 for an overnight there. The farm is just on the banks of the Kundalika river and about 15mins of trekking to the waterfalls. Trekking in the rains and kayaking are my favorite activities out there.Another place called Doctors farm is just next door to it..

Kolad is a village, in Raigad district, Maharashtra. It is located  in the southern direction from Panvel to Goa on NH 17 connecting Nagothane – Kolad – Mangaon. It lies on the banks of River Kundalika.

You could also approach the same via Mumbai Pune Express Highway – Pay toll and take left at Khapoli exit. Head through the over bridge towards PALI. Pass through SH 96 – pali famous for its Ganpati temple. Towards Bhira you drive on to SH 60 which towards the right leads to KOLAD.

Places out there.

- Resorts in the wilderness near and around the river and dams (Bhira dam, popularly known as Tata Power house dam & Dholwal Dam, a high utility Dam for irrigation purposes of the surrounding regions).
- Ghosala fort situated in between the Revdanda and Salav creeks.
- Kundalika river river rafting and camping throughout the year.
- A small village Kuda, famous for the Buddhist caves, is placed at the fabulous Janjeera hills near Kolad at a height of 150 to 200 feet above the sea level.
- Situated in the backdrop of the majestic Sahyadris, the beautiful Sutarwadi Lake in Kolad is a bird watchers delight.
- Tamhini ghat waterfalls, also known as Valse, are a pretty attractive tourist destination near to Kolad
- Water falls on state highway 60 towards Pune in the rains.
- Adventure sports Rafting, Rappling, Jungle camping, kayaking, Para sail, Aeromodeling & all kind of outdoor activities.

The monsoon season forms one of the best times to visit Kolad. This is because during this time, the entire place seems to be covered in the shade of mint green, with its locales presenting a very pristine and beautiful sight. Infact, during the months of August and September, the weather is also at its best – being neither warm nor cold. It is that time of the year when the cascading waterfalls flow with ice cold water. In the winters, the misty surroundings add to its splendor.Apart from its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, Kolad is also known for its rich and varies fauna,waterfalls and the famous Kundalika river.
Adventure lovers, especially trekkers and hikers, will find Kolad a blessing. The unending expanse of rolling hills & fields provides them with the perfect opportunity of undertaking long treks. Whether they want to go uphill, scaling the peaks of the hill, or downhill, exploring the intricate jungle paths, they wouldn’t get disappointed here.
So, if you want to escape from the exasperating hubbub of city life, Kolad is just the place for you. It is well connected with the cities like Pune and Mumbai and you will hardly face any difficulty in reaching here. As far as accommodation is concerned there are many resorts and farms like Sai Farm and Doctors Farm where accommodation is easily available,bookings here need to be in advance though.

Definitely going there this year too. Feel free to join me