trekking in maharashra

Trekking in Maharashtra

Trekking in Maharashtra might not be that adventurous and risky like any Himalayan trekking. It is calm and easy; still it is enjoying and thrilling giving a lifetime experience. Sahydris is the most important trekking region in the state.

Sahyadri is known to be a trekker's paradise with green hills, dotted lakes and forests all around. This region is popular for its incredible historic forts and wonderful ancient Buddhist caves.

Having exotic natural locations, Rajmachi Fort too is famous for trekking. This beautiful place is a historic site as well. Rajmachi can be reached via the town of Lonavla along the Khandala plateau. Fort trekking can also be done at Karla Caves and Bedsa Caves. This trekking is long trekking involving different caves.

Trekking in Rajmachi Fort

Rajmachi Fort is famous for trekking. The beautiful place is has exotic natural locations as well as it is a historic site. Rajmachi can be reached via the town of Lonavla along the Khandala plateau. Lonavla is an important train station on the Indian rail network. It is most convenient to start the trekking from the morning itself at around 11am.

Near Kalbhairavnath Temple, there is some space that can be used as a campsite. Those who do not want to stay outside can stay inside the temple. There is a tank, which is 100m away on a path to the left of the temple, water is available here. One has to cook his own food or buy some village-made food of Bhakri and Chutney. Once the trekkers reach the fort, one will realize that the climb was really meaningful.

Opposite to Kalbhairavnath Temple, there is another fort called Shreevardhan. The fort has lots of secret tunnels leading to battlements. There is a place called Manranjan behind the temple that gives one a nice view of the plains. Trekkers who want to explore the area can go the base of Manranjan where there are some simple rock-cut caves. Return route is easier to follow; still trekkers are to be careful while getting down from the steep slopes.

Trekking in The Sahyadris

In Maharashtra, Western Ghats is called Sahyadri in local Marathi language. Sahyadri is known to be a trekker's paradise with green hills, dotted lakes and forests all around. This region is popular for its incredible historic forts and wonderful ancient Buddhist caves.

Sahyadris are not very high hills but they are extremely rocky. This can give some with some unique, formidable pinnacles for the avid rock climber. Trekking in the Sahyadri would make the trekkers to the medieval forts. These treks are classified according to region as - Nasik region, Pune region, Koyna-Satara region and Warna-Amboli region, which are still unexplored by people.

Trekking in Waki Woods

Waki Woods is just 30 km away from Nagpur on Saoner Road near Warki Dargha. This resort offers activities like bird watching, boating, archery, riding etc. So, this place is regarded to be very much suitable for trekking. Large numbers of trekking lovers flock here for a wonderful trekking experience. Facilities like furnished-tented accommodation, electricity, water, and telephone make the experience more comfortable.

There are also other lakes, wild life and bird sanctuaries, picnic spots and places of tourist interest within driving distance of Nagpur city.

Trekking at Karla Caves

Karla caves is not that tough to trek. This 2000-year old caves have lots of Buddhists architecture. Karla was built in 2nd century BC. These caves are the best-known examples of the rock cut caves in Maharashtra. These caves are mostly Buddhists monasteries. Having largest cluster of Chaitya caves, Karla Mountains are old as to 160 BC. The mountain has appropriate terrain for a rock climber to reach up to the top. Such types of architectures can also be seen at Sahyadris and Bedsa caves. These Buddhist caves served as monasteries

Trekking begins when one reaches Kamshet station by local train either from Pune or Lonavla. From here, one has to catch a bus or a jeep for Bedsa village. A steep trail, which takes about 45 minutes, leads to the top of Bedsa hill from Bedsa village. Then one must move towards Visapur fort and Lohagad fort.

Then trekkers reach Bhaja forts, the way from Bedsa to Bhaja might sometimes be complicated but one can pay a villager from Bedsa to escort up to Bhaja. It is advisable to leave early in the morning during summer, as it is a hot 5-hour walk.

But from Bhaja caves, it's an easy 10-minute walk to Bhaja village along steps built into the hillside. Here, one can buy food or provisions and make telephone calls. A twenty-minute walk will bring one to Malavali station. This road will cross the railway track and the Bombay-Pune highway and eventually get one to Karla caves in about an hour and a half.

Bhandardara, another popular adventure is at a distance of 180 km by road. This place has a stunning lake surrounded by hills.