Raigad - Capital of Swarajay...

Raigad - Capital of Swarajay...

It was here that Shivaji built his capital city in the 14th century, and here that he crowned himself Chatrapati.

Raigad is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad district of Maharashtra, India.

The Maratha king Shivaji made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha.

The erstwhile capital of Chathrapati Sivaji, Raigad is famed for its rich heritage, ancient monuments and rocky terrain. Literal meaning of the term Raigad is 'the king’s fort'.

Raigad, a remote locale placed at an altitude of 2851 feet above the sea level, is gifted with a mountainous terrain.

Nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range this lovely place offers breathtaking views of natural splendour.

The fort was built by Chandrarao Mores in 1030. fort's ruins today consist of the queen's quarters, consisting of six chambers, with each chamber having its own private restroom with plumbing.

The king's public Durbar has a replica of the original throne that faces the main doorway called the Nagarkhana Darwaja.

This enclosure had been acoustically designed to aid hearing from the doorway to the throne.

The convoy of the king and the king himself used the Palkhi Darwaja. To the right of Palkhi Darwaja, is a row of three dark and deep chambers. Historians believe that these were the storages for the fort.

A secondary entrance, called the Mena Darwaja, was supposedly the private entrance of the royal ladies of the fort; it leads to the queen's quarters.

A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji is erected in front of the ruins of the main market avenue that eventually leads to the Jagdishwar Mandir and his own Samadhi (tomb) and that of his dog Waghya.

    
The fort was looted and destroyed by the British upon siege.

For six years up to his death, Raigad remained the capital of the Marathas with its broad gates and magnificent monuments.

For its immence beauty, Raigad remains a hiker's paradice.The formidable Pratapgad fort with its equestrian statue of shivaji is an interesting excursion. 

The main palace was constructed using wood, of which only the bases of pillars remain. Ruins of three watch towers can be seen directly in front of the palace grounds overlooking an artificial lake called Ganga Sagar Lake created next to the fort.

Today a rope-way exists to reach the top of the fort.

                                     

Shivaji's impregnable capital, the place where he was crowed and where he died. Besides the fort, you'll find his samadhi and the remains of his palace. 

                                        

Adorned with a hilly terrain and natural foliage, Raigad’s awesome beauty gained her a prominent place in the tourism sector.

Strategically perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western Ghats and inaccessible from three sides.

There was only one pathway leading to the top, and prizes were offered to those who scaled the fort through unconventional methods.

Watch the both the live video shoot while going upwards and coming down from Raigad.

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Yogesh Shinde.

Reach me @ a2yshindephotography@gmail.com

Ctc: 9822008403.

Dukes Nose Rain Trek 2011

Dukes Nose Rain Trek 2011

This would be my first experience of posting the blogs with the experience that people have shared with me after the Trek, for the first time I have introduced my office colleagues to treks and I am posting their experience in their words only......

Therefore I request to all my readers to post there comments and suggestions on every post under the heading "Comments" so that I could bring some more variety and aliveness while reading the post.

This year again I had chance to be with Yuvashakti for the most awaited trek of the year that is Dukes nose.
Along with my office colleagues I enjoyed a lot... Like the last year this year too Bala gave me his beautiful company...

All together we where 10+3 + yuvashkati with more that 450 members.... As per iternary every thing was as planned but we missed one more new trecker from my office due to laziness and could not woke up at 5.00 am.

As per schedule we started at 6.30 am with Sinhgad Express and got down at Khandala Station by 7.45am. After having the breakfast and allowing Indrayni express to pass the track we left the station at 8.30 am and the new experience begins for the year 2011.

On the way with lots of jokes and comments we started the trekking through dense forest and a beautiful fog. At the first halt on the center Plateau we had lots of snaps and enjoyed a dense fog. Due to fog this year we where not able to view the valley.

Comparative to last year we experienced very low rainfall even in the mid of July. Due to dense fog I was not able to shoot the mountains as more that 95% of mountain was covered by Fog. 

On the First Halt every one was enjoying the nature, I saw one Grasshopper came flying and reside in those small tiny grass.... after a small search I was able to see the grasshopper with my eyes and I started moving my camera closer to it... slowly slowly gaining his confidence and moving more closer with my camera I was close to him with my MACRO settings, Steering at my lenses and after confidence that I will not be hurting him he gave me a beautiful shot. 

After this shot I was more exited to go forward and shoot many good shots as there was minimum rain. Internally I was happy that at least this time I would able shoot lots of mountains. But Fog could make my dream came true. Next Year ..... sure.....

Walking through dense forest we reached the most beautiful destination guess....... Ahha... I know you all know about that....... 


WATERFALL...... WATERFALL...... WATERFALL..... 

We all enjoyed a lot in the great great huge waterfall which is exactly in center of the complete trek. huge huge and deep waterfall made another memorable moment in each of the trekker's life and for the fresher it was like god's gift....... the chilling water,splashing, roaring sound, lashing through stones..... no more words to describe....!

Hi,

First of all Thank to YUA SHAKTI Group.It was my first experience of thistype of mountain trekking in my life. It was really so amazing trip with fullof enjoyable adventure and heavy rain. We all are full enjoying at every placeson way.Almost on middle of way we found a waterfall and  we all are just get in with some full immersion jumps (dubki‘s) . Finally when we reached on top  and had some lunch in a very cold weather with rain at  Shiv’ji’s mandir .

All in all - A fun to vouch for every year and I must go. So  if you are stressed out from the busy  routine just go and enjoy it.And now Aati kya Khandala (a favorite song) became more favoritefor me!!!

Rakesh Kr.

Hi Yogesh,

It was really enjoyable to be a part of this tracking.The most enjoyable part throughout the tracking was valley crossing.Thanks to Yuva shakti for experiencing me the glimpse of nature with a huge landscape, valley waterfalls.

Varun Valecha.

Hi

Here is my experience……

It was the trip of Dukes Nose in Khandala which was breathtaking, chilling. We really enjoyed the trekking part while going up the hill in the rain coming sometimes or the other and the waterfall which was mind-boggling. In other words, we enjoyed the climb of Cobra’s hood.The walk to the Duke's Nose's base during monsoon is more enjoyable. 

On the way, we have to ford many small streams. From the base, a trail winds up and takes you to the top. At the top, we found a Shiva temple, wonderful views and steep slope to the valley below but it was all fog and it felt like we are on the high clouds. I must say this one is simple and not time consuming around 4 hours but take good care of your steps if you have no experience. All the best… FUN....

Udit Shah .

Hi Yogesh(Sir),

Firstly i would like to thank you for making my first life Trek so much memorable.I enjoyed the trek too much. Yuvashakti had also organised it very nicely.The way they had chosen to reach the top of duke's nose was also too good. As this was my first trek in life,i enjoyed it very much and now i have decided to go for more such treks also.

Swapnil Vankudre.

It's not the destination that's important . . . . . But it’s Journey

this was the first thought came in mind at the end of my recent trek at Duke’s Nose (Khandala).  It was amazing to start the trek by walking on the railway track. It was great feeling to climb in dense forest by playing in muddy water. The only song I remember while I was climbing that is “Khandala ke ghat ke upar photo kich ke ayege”.  It was pleasant to climb through and above the clouds.  At few moments I was in confusion like, Shall I concentrate on climbing on slipy rocks or shall I enjoy the beautiful nature which was in front of me. 

     And when we reach at the top I came across my first ever experience of. . .    Having Lunch under the rain.

So, chalo . . chalo . . chalo . . chalo . .     We will go there once again !!!

Don’t say   Nahi re..  Nahi re.. Nahi re.. Nahi re..

Thanks

Saurabh

Dukes Nose -

First trekking of my life, Heavy rain, muddy path, 24 km of walk in a day, steep hills, and pleasant breeze with my wonderful group of friends under the cloud made me go on cloud nine. It was a very well planned and an organized event, kudos to Yuva Shakti group. They had thought of and planned everything, right from the morning breakfast to returning back to home. At all point of time there was a helping hand present from their group. Highly recommended to all. Thanks Yogesh for sharing this event with us!!!!! All of you should consider doing this at least once and once you do it you will be addicted to trekking, just like me J

Regards,

Anubhav Bansal

To view some more snaps for the Day you can click on below Url

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Thanks and Regards

Yogesh Shinde.

Reach me @ a2yshindephotography@gmail.com

Ctc: 9822008403.

Trek Jivdhangad -Naneghat

Trek Jivdhangad -Naneghat

Naneghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats range near Junnar in Pune district .During the reign of the Satavahana (200 BCE–190 CE), the pass was extensively used as a trade route between Kalyan and Junnar. Literally, the name nane means "coin" and ghat means "pass". The name is given because this path was used as a tollbooth to collect toll from traders crossing the hills.

At Nane Ghat the inscription, the steps, the rock-cut rest houses, and the cisterns show that as far back as the 1st century B.C., this route was frequently used. Even now , it carries heavy trade traffic of local tribal people.

History

The inscriptions in the caves indicate that they are the work of rulers who came into prominence after the fall of the Mauryan empire.It is believed that a powerful woman ruler Naganika, the wife of Satakarni (180–170 BCE) of the Satavahana family commissioned the cave, the statues and the inscriptions. Inscriptions in the cave mention her and her family members. Though the statues adorning the sides of the rectangular cave are now gone, the inscriptions still record some of the achievements of the dynasty. The Naneghat records have proved very important in establishing the history of the region

 This is one of the old trade route connecting Konkan to Ghats.

This practice was so successful that a huge stone dime-collector was built which amazingly, still is intact. Rulers which kept on changing with passage of times-but almost everyone felt need and importance of this vital GHAT and a well built staircase was built and managed which enabled heavy loads to come from Konkan plains to Upper region which is approximately 700-850 m high.

An important historical hill fort Jivdhangad standing at the edge of the ghats. To the west it’s rock walls drop a sheer 1000 m into the Konkan. It has a prominent isolated pillar, about 60 m high, known as Vanar Lingi (Monkey’s Point) OR Khada Parsi. It commands an excellent view across the Nane Ghat. It has Caves, cisterns and Mohammedan construction on the top.

On Jivdhan fort Kalyan Darwaja, Beautiful rock cut steps, Old Granary that still carries the ashes of the grains burnt in 1818, Jivai Devi temple, other remnants.

A flight of around 72 rock cut steps takes us to the base of a small patch where the 


steps have been blasted during the 1818 raid by the British. However, there are 


small rock-cut niches along the way to make the climb easy.

Water availability:
Million dollar water as they utter! Wonderful potable water tanks on the top of Jivdhan fort provide water all round the year. One can fill the water bottles from Naneghat or Ghatghar village. No water in between for about 2 hours unless one reaches the top.

Shelter:
One can stay on Jivdhan in the outer yards of Granary if at all required. However, there is no other roofed shelter on the fort and it is feasible to stay at Ghatghar or in the cave of Naneghat.

Description:
Jivdhan was a very impregnable and majestic fort in those times and it is clearly evident by the sheer cliffs and vertical walls that render invaluable services to it. The Granary is worth a see and water tanks and other ruins on the fort suggest that it was a strategic fort in those days. The rock cut steps along the vertical cliffs is a treat and the magnificent view.

The fort offers magnificent view of Khadaparsi pinnacle, Naneghat, Hadsar, Chavan, Manikdoh waters, Durg, Dhakoba, Gorakhgad-Machhindragad, Siddhagad.

One must be very careful while visiting Jivdhan in monsoons. Primarily because the steps can get slippery, especially via the Ghatghar route the patch can be a bit tricky. Also the blinding fog can easily disorient the trekkers!

   


To view more 327 snaps for the day you can click on below Url

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Thanks and Regards

Yogesh Shinde.

Reach me a2yshindephotography@gmail.com 

Ctc: 9822008403.