VISIT TO RAJGAD

Hello guys

Welcome back to the blog.

This blog is all about the trek to Rajgad fort. The fort was the capital of the Maratha Empire under the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to the Raigad Fort. It’s all started as the one of the usual day we (mean me & my two friend Aniruddha Chudhari & Ganesh Mahajan) were at the aniruddha place in Warje in pune. As there is nothing much to do so we decide to visit the fort as suggested by Aniruddha. As none of us has still Visited this place.

It was 24th  Feb 2018 with a sunny morning we all are having a cup of tea in the living room and suddenly we have an idea to visit this fort. As of its not possible to book a cab in such short notice so we decide to go there by Bikes. The fort is just 65 Km from where we were staying. So at  9 O’clock we Left towards our destination, the journey was very good and relaxing as we were enjoying the mountains road and the deep valley across the way and the nice and green farms along the sides of roads & also clicking some nice picture of our self’s.

View of mountains on the way

As we have not done our breakfast so we decide to do our breakfast before 5 km from the base of the fort in the small hotel as there are not many hotel in this way from where we have enroute our way . There is also another way via satara. So there we order some poha (Flatten Rice flakes) and Pakoda (bhajiya) along with the Bhel (made with  puffed rice and sev ). The hotel is surrounded by the farm from all three sides and the nice breeze of fresh air flowing there by make the breakfast more amazing

Poha

Pakoda

After finishing all our breakfast we made our way towards the base of the fort. The road from the hotel  was not good it does not have a proper tar road it’s a full dirt road looking like a full off roading track with lots of stones and pebbles and narrow way along with stiff slopes and lots of twists and turns. Still we however managed to reach the base of the fort on our bikes.

View of Fort from the Base of mountainit situated

Now the most interesting fact step in front of us. That we were unknown about the long and a stiff trek of 2 Km from the base. We thought it should just a short and a fun trek of about 20 to 30 minutes. However we started to walk towards the fort which is situated on the top of the hill.

We have started the trek in the afternoon at about 12 O’clock. Slowly and steady we were climbing up the hill through the small foot road in the mountains. The sun on the top is pulling out all the energy from our body as the temperature is almost 38 to 40 degree Celsius. we  are carrying two bottles of water along with us but we thing its won’t be sufficient for us as we were very tried and our throat is drying due to the high amount of heat .while  climbing we have almost take 5/6 time break and rested of 5-5 minutes . I and aniruddha is quite tired but the third on us Ganesh is walking with the full flow on the top. I want to ask Ganesh what is a “secret of your energy?”

This fort does not have the footstep from the beginning only the 20% of the way has step rest is full of stiff slope. We have lost our hopes in between and make our mind to return back to the base of the fort but however Ganesh has reached far above. So we have to continue our trek and anyhow we have to reach the entrance of the fort. So we gather all our courage & Energy and again stared to walk with double our effort.

Finally we manage to reach the entrance of the fort which is called “Pali Darwaja” which is situated to the south of the fort. Its take more than 1 hour 45 minutes to reach here. Then we took a long break of about 20 minutes, drink some water & rested and then we think it’s just a while to climb more to get to the main fort (RAJ MAHAL) but it’s almost a next 45 minutes trek to main fort. So now we have decided that now we’ll not go there we would explore the down nearby area in the fort.

southward entrance of Fort

Internal door of Fort

This fort has three sections on the top of the hill which is called as “Machie” or the observation points. This fort lies in the Sahyadris range. The fort lies 1,400 m (4,600 ft.) above the sea level. The diameter of the base of the fort was about 40 km. which made it difficult to lay siege on it, which added to its strategic value. This fort was built on a hill called Murumbadevi Dongar (Mountain of the Goddess Murumba). Rajgad boasts of the highest number of days stayed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on any fort.

View from the base of the Fort of Rajmahal

So we rested near the “Sadra”( Place for minister During the ruling period ) there we found out the “Ambarkhana”, “Darukotar” & “Rajwada” all the thing were damaged and not proper care is taken by the government to restore this historical monument of such great importaces. 

                         

There are very few people on this fort such as visitor and the water bottle seller. There is nothing to eat on this fort on the two local ladies which were selling water bottle were present there. The cost of the one bottle of 1liter water is 40 Indian rupees sold by them. We were really surprised to listen this but still need is everything and they are making that available that is more important.

Finally we make our way down the hill and it takes us about 45 minutes to climb down the hill where we have parked our bikes. We are extremely exhausted and not in a condition to drive back home but still managed to drive back to our place. In between we take a water break at the same hotel where we have taken our breakfast in the morning & then straight we made our way to our place.

Things you keep in mind while visiting such forts:-

1) Carry plenty of water with you: - As we have only 2 bottle of water which cause us the shortage of water

2) Try to visit such place in the monsoon or in early winter: - due to high temperature in the atmosphere it cause our body more exhausted.

3) Try to go by your private vehicle: - roads before 10 km from the base of the fort are not good.

4) Try to carry some good food along with you: - there is nothing in the fort once you reach on the top try to carry protein bar as well.

How to reach:-

You can easily reach Pune by Air, Road & Railway and then by road through

1) Pune- Warje- Khadakwasla- khanpur- pabe ghat-vejeghar-rajgad fort (Internal road about 50 km)

2)Pune-katraj-shindewadi-nasarpur-didghar-Ambavane-margasani-vejeghat-rajgad fort(Highway road about 65 km)

The route we followed

So that’s all about the trek to rajgad. Please let me know about your views and suggestion. Also you can suggest me some destination to visit in the future. So comment down below in the comment section.

Hope you all like the blogs and I am sorry for not posting the blogs from so long and thanks to the people who contacted me regarding the blogs and showing your affection #prem.

Also follow me by clicking the follow button in the right corner of the webpage

Contact:-bhavsharkk@gmail.com