Kokankada-Harishchandragad

Most Fame & Loved Cliff in Sahyadri region

For all of us it’s quite simple that, Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart but that’s OK. Some journey leave marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart that’s eventually makes adventure worthwhile.

It’s been Mantra for us in last few years, we often trek 7-8 forts per year. After ending last year (2018) with bang doing numerous treks now we have decided to take break for a while as summer is approaching ahead.

It is very hard to convince people for a company with us in such hot summer. I personally think there is no season where one freelancer feels exhausted about trek plan but keeping others thought about summer trek in mind usually we don’t make trek plan in these season of HOTTEST.

However though in 2019 we didn’t plan any trek until February end is here. Suddenly out of blue discussion, we planned or rather we would say finally agreed to trek most beautiful and well knowing place on March 1st weekend

We as squad (not everyone) always have unusual strong desire, novelty to trek through route with rocky terrain with a combination of small to colossal rocks, climbing vertical degrees, steep slope with rock patches where the rocks are loose, even fear of biggest of them can come tumbling down 😀 or any moment or place where one has to measure their steps before trying to get proper foot and hand holds.

Just when thought something to do, all the fantastic and scary places comes into existence.

1. Harishchandragad
2. Alang – Madan – Kulang
3. Night trek to Kalsubai
4. Bhairavgad

All of them on Bucket list. Then with considering time & availability of all we (in total 7) soon agreed that Konkankada – Harishchandragad calling us once again. We did it before via khireshwar way 2 years back.
Mentioned name evokes sudden responses and few of the first things that come to one’s mind are the Mighty Konkankada (Konkan Cliff), the 5 feet tall Kedareshwar Shivalingam, the Taramati Peak.

There are several different paths up to the fort mentioning down the three routes to reach the base from Mumbai:-

1. From the North via Bhandardara to Paachnai (Easiest way to Trek)
2. Malshej Ghat to Belpada (Tough Route)
3. Via Khireshwar Route (Moderate)

As Trek through Nali-Chi Vaat being most daunting one for sure & that’s what we looking after for a while. There is reason why it is considered as one of the tough, onerous & less travelled trek route owing to the fact that difficulty level it possess. We are ready to experience evil & demons valley have in it.

The literal translation of Nali Chi Vaat is “The Gorge Path” where “Nali” in Marathi means “Gorge” and “Vaat” means “Path”.

So on 1st March 2019, Friday Night, we left for the trek. We had to reach Belpada (or Valhiware) to start our trek which is approx. 70-75Km from Kalyan. We gathered at Kalyan Bus stand @ 10.15 pm to catch so called RED AIRWAYS 😉 (ST Bus / LAL Dabba) flying towards Ahmadnagar (via Malshej Ghat).

People usually carrying a tag of “I am Late comer” were also on time as they reach just seconds before departure of scheduled ST Bus timings.

Our next destination was Moroshi Phata & bus conductor was well aware about the Moroshi phata which is situated at the start of the Malshej Ghat so we got down their without any buzz.

We reached Moroshi at 12.30 am Saturday Midnight. We have even pre-booked further transport to Belpada. Due to Low network coverage, we moved ahead, enquired a little about Belpada & nearby places with only opened available shop at Moroshi naka. We asked them for foodstuff as few of us were hungry. Some of us were from Pune & some came directly from scheduled office time straight for trek. So they have every right to ask for some food to keep their hunger quiet for a while.

Soon after we were unable to contact a person who had to drop us till Belpada, he actually appeared in front of us in 15 Min time and journey to Belpada on dumpy road started which lasted for 20-25 minutes. Journey seems amazing under billions of star with company of amazing squad.

A Sky full of Stars and us in a breezy cold Night is an attention to our Outstanding Plan.

Belpada welcomed us by quite familiar musical band of barking dog “Bhow Bhow” 😀

After reaching, we firstly amazed after seen halted ST Bus out there. Thanks to MSRTC for providing services to even such remote place of state.

It was already 1.30 am so we decided to settled down for a night at one of the house where we already arranged in advance for everything that will help us for further journey. It took another hour to get some sleep thanks to all lame jokes, scary less stories & snore of others.

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock and it was 06.30 am Morning in Belpada,

Right in front of us we got the first glimpse of mighty Konkankada!!! Awesome view though!!!

We had morning rituals, breakfast & tea. Clock ticked 7.30 am and we all set for adventure with (our newly mate Kashinath – guide) friend.

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As we had no idea about the route, so we have to rely on him (guide) for further journey of mountains. One can feel low after seeing how he was climbing and we are just ordinary one in front of him. We had difficult time to match his speed. However after crossing some distance, we realized that there was no need to take guide. We just need to follow the river route. (Route is well marked)–But safety come first.

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Initial climb for 1 hrs was regular one like other trek. Simply up and down trodden route facing in front “mighty wall” of Konkankada all the way with you where life seems very ease. But suddenly you find yourself in different zone of rocks. It was slated rocks which is extremely fragile. Grip of them were in doubt always. You need to be careful for climbing those small rock patches in-between; still we will say easy ones.

We came across huge flat rock structure let say it as 6 ft in length 25 ft in width lets name it as “big step”. 1st obstacles on route. Cross – Easily Cross – Done.

Somewhere in the corner of heart said “It’s just beginning.” And we find it soon – heart often says just right thing.

We kept doing crumbling, tumbling, fumbling steps after step & climbed stones after stone, patches after patch keeping in mind NAAL is somewhere just around corner for what we all are here. Those chatter box – Laughter are enough to keep us moving ahead inch by inch.

We have one Novice Trek Partner – New to most of us – Probably most energetic – All the way through ahead of everyone – shouting “chala chala late jhala ahe” (in Marathi)/hurry – hurry we are getting late.

And then one at last – behind everyone – Taking rest for fun – saying I will lead from back – Weak link.

Only girl in squad saying us – “Not all girls are made of sugar and spice, and everything nice. Some of us are made of adventure and no fear. “(She didn’t actually said it)

In interval, we had snacks & lemon juice. Just after Lemon juice break around 10.15 am. we were at base of NAAL (Humongous Path)

Photo session took little long here as from every corner NAAL was just looking prettier & same time dreadful & dismal. (I know one thing can’t be pretty & dreadful at same time ;-))

The position in which we were standing (Facing Naal) was almost nothing familiar to us. Actually we were about to experience this for the very first time.

Even we felt NAAL was laughing to us & silently saying “Welcome to my Place” but even we smiled back to her saying “Take us into your arms- Abhi Nahi toh Kabhi Nahi” and we marched ahead.

From here, you enter NAAL, the route goes through Sadhleghat. Each one here has to climb a straight rock patch on which natural grips are provided. One can see a spectoral view of Rohidas fort to your right while passing through Naal. The beside trail take you to Rohidas Fort – Trail Known as Vaanar/Makad/Monkey (English) Vaat.

We as a squad came here and travelled through the valley which is truly a measure for endurance testing. She tests every aspect of your soul, but at same time having great squad to share those experience is a gift like no one have. Everyone was busy in making their own way however even making sure of each other’s safety. Inspired each other’s to take leap forward so that we keep moving as sun was taking toll of every step. We were all hungry, thirsty and taking small small breaks more often. It took us 2-2.30 hrs. approx. to pass through Naal. To the most of trail, we have to keep moving to left hand side.

Now we came across 2 rock patches with whom we have to deal with. On 1st look we didn’t find them difficult to climb. But soon we do come to know that it was seriously just a wrong thought. However proper safety is needed as we are not an expert climbers. Our Guide did take care of everything what was needed. We cleared both patch with least ease one by one. We did take some videos of ascend too which looks very scary at some point of time. There was no room for any kind of mistake. But WE DID IT!

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But WE DID IT !!!

P.S. – “People surrounded to you are who someone makes it easy to believe in yourself, who will force you to level yourself up.”

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Now we all were on top of patch around 12.45 pm – distress, fatigue. Still happy looking faces (we did take selfie out their) after all those efforts, courage to taste experience to the utmost. We were overjoyed now. From 2nd rock patch it’s another 1 hour to reach the top – Konkankada Cliff. Last 1 hour was more hectic as everyone was running low on energy. We felt shortage of water en-route even though carrying enough of it. Around 2.20 pm, we made it to the top of Kokankada. First we filled ourself with lots of water & settled down for a while in house (which was pre-booked) located just to the side of Konkankada.

After having lunch we visited Shivling temple. Even we took bath (temp ~5-6 degree) out there near Shivalingam, did some pheras around Shivling & returned to place to put tents for stay. Hurried actually, we don’t want to miss sunset at Konkankada. Recalling Day-Summary with those bunch of people in front of setting sun was really an amazing experience.

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Followed by Camp fire, Dinner & further Discussion we turned off our lights on a Happy Note.

After waking up in the morning, the view we actually saw from Kokankada was a kind of short cut way to reach heaven. No feelings, no words can describe those beautiful hazy, surreal view. People were like “BADALO PE PAV HAI”

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We started descending through Tolar Khind – Khireshwar route.

There are so many if and buts, why to do it, we were able to do it or not, is it worth? (Not to us but to others – who lying with pillow on those soften beds in home)

For all of us it was simple we knew that, Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s OK. The journey leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart that’s eventually makes adventure worthwhile.

If we’ve learned anything that day is to hang in, stay connected, fight against odd, Don’t walk away, don’t be distracted, don’t be too busy or tired, and keep faith in being together. “Powerful stuff.”

Work, Travel, Save, Repeat

Companions:- Gaurav G, Pranit D, Shrivijay S, Saurabh G  , Pooja P, Ganesh S, Akash B