AMEYA THE TREKKER

You Stepped in Ameya's world. Myself Ameya Kantilal Jagdale. I am doing my Master degree in Information Technology (MSc.IT) ,from the VIVA COLLEGE at VIRAR.

I am very crazy about Computers and related Technology as well as i want to become a JAVA Developer. I am a Fun loving guy so i like to go out with my friend's and make several activity which becomes Funny.

Trekking is my hobby for that i am very Crazy. I like thrill which always exiting me. Life is not exits without Adventures and thrill so do i have this in me.

I have Curiosity in everything sometime without any reason. so guys take look at my blog and enjoy it. I have kept interesting Snaps and readable stuff on this.

About Trekking

An ideal trekking expedition has all the elements of thrill and enthrallment as seekers of the unexplored plunge into a journey along nature’s trails. Though a sporting activity, trekking does not require prior training or practice, except that the trekker should be in good physical condition. Further, trekkers must carefully choose treks as per individual stamina as some treks may be more difficult or may involve high elevation trekking. Besides the trek should also not be too rapid, as it will kill the fun with quicker exhaustion.



Definition :

Trekking is a journey led on foot mostly, but in some cases, we drive too. Trekking includes the exploration of hamlets, culture of the people, sightseeing, crossing snowy passes, climbing hills and climbing mountains up to 5500 meters.

Requirement List :

Required items Warm jackets, trekking boots, sleeping bag, warm caps and other day-to-day personal items. Except trekking fine boots and personal items.

Prospective trekkers :

Trekking is either for short distance and or for long distance. Those who enjoy walking on foot and get far better experience of mountainous view, hamlets, and green hills can attempt it. The short trekking is comparatively easier than the long trekking. However, for long trekking, the trekker should have proper physical fitness. So much so, the trekker has options to choose the areas that best suit him.

Apart from this i have done the Trekking on the Forts which is situated in the state of Maharashtra.

1. Rajgad Fort (Pune).

Rajgad fort is located around 80km from Pune, its one of the most strongest, biggest and significant forts that Chatraptai Shivaji Maharaj built to strengthen Maratha empire. One can stay in a temple situated on top of the fort. During monsoon you will come across very beautiful views on the way.Very good for trekking. Very beautiful place to visit.

2. Raigad Fort (Mahad).

Raigad was the capital of the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Britishers named it 'Gibralter of the East' as the well-fortified structure atop a hill that had repeatedly defied attackers. Shivaji built the fort in the 14th century. Chit Darwaja, also known as Jit Darwaja is at the foothills near village Pachad.

Khoob Ladha Buruj is a strategically located tower, from where any attacker from both the side could be defended. Maha Darwaja is at a distance of nearly a mile ahead after a difficult climb. This 350 years-old main entrance to the fort stands so majestically. Mena Darwaja is a special entrance for the royal ladies and the queens.

Rani Vasa or Queens' Chambers is to the left of Mena Darwaja. The royal ladies were using these six rooms. In front of the Rani Vasa is the Palkhi Darwaja, special entrance for the convoy of Shivaji Maharaj. There is a row of three dark chambers to the right of Palkhi Darwaja. There is the palace of Shivaji Maharaj to the right of the granaries.

3. Daulatabad Fort (Aurangabad).

Devagiri (Daultabad of the later period), 11kms north-west of Aurangabad, is a famous for its formidable hill fort. The fort is situated on an isolated cone-shaped hill rising abruptly from the plain to the height of about 190 metres. The fortification constitutes of three concentric lines of defensive walls with large number of bastions. The noteworthy features of the fort are the moat, the scarp and the sub-terranean passage, all hewn of solid rock. The upper outlet of the passage was filled with an iron grating, on which a large fire could be used to prevent the progress of the enemy. The Chand Minar, the Chini Mahal and the Baradari are the important structures within the fort.

The Chand Minar, about 63 metres in height, was erected by Alauddin Bahman Shah in 1435 AD to conquest of Daulatabad. Opposite the Minar is the Jumma masjid, whose pillars originally belonged to a temple. Close to it, there is a large masonry tank. The Chini Mahal at the end of the lower for is the place where Abdul Hasan Tana Shah, the last king Golconda, was confined by Aurangzeb in 1687 AD. Nearby is a round bastion topped with a huge canon with ram’s head, called Kila Shikan or Fort breaker. The Baradari, octagonal in shape, stands near the summit of the fort. The principal bastion at the summit also carries a large canon.

4. Nandgiri Fort (Satara).

5. Ajiinkyatara Fort (Satara).

Ajinkyatra Fort is in Satara, Maharashtra. The fort is located at Ajinkyatara Mountain, which is 3,300 feet high. As the fort is in the higher altitude, visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of the entire Satara city. There are number of water tanks inside the fort for storing water. So, there is no scarcity of water even as the fort is in the higher place.

Viewing the Ajinkyatara Fort from far Yawateshwar hill too is so nice. Main attractions of this place are hiking, trekking and mountaineering. For the best view, one must start breasting up the hill from the base of Ajinkyatara at around 3.30 pm.

In 1708, Shahu Maharaj won Ajinkyatara, remained with the Marathas till 1818. The Ajinkyatara fort is a major historic place of Maharashtra, and was very vital as one could keep watch of the entire South Maharashtra.

Visitors can also visit the temples of Devi Mangalai, Lord Shankar and Lord Hanuman on the northeast side of the fort. Nandgiri and Chandan-Vandan forts on the east and Jarandeshwar and Yawateshwar hills on the west can also be seen from the fort. Satara is well connected by rail and road with Pune, Sangli, Miraj and Kolhapur. One can stay at the hotels in Satara.

6. Pratapgad (Mahabaleshwer).

Pratapgad Fort is a mountain fort built by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The fort is at a distance of 24 km from the hill station of Mahabaleshwar. The fort holds a sturdy view of coastal Konkan. The Bhavani Temple and Afzal Khan's tomb are other places of interest.

Pratapgad consists of two forts - an upper fort built on the top of the hill and a lower fort immediately below on the south and the east. Surrounding areas can be easily taken guard from the fort on almost all the sides. The southern side is rocky while the eastern side has a strong outwork ending in the Afzal Buruj.

The famous minister More Tirmal Pingale on the command of Shivaji Maharaj to control the rebellious satraps of the surrounding Javali Basin built Pratapgad Fort in 1656. It is believed that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja was blessed with a shining sword at the temple of Goddess Bhavani here.

The historic battle between Chatrapati Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate fought here. Bhavani Temple and Afzal Khan's Tomb are major attractions where are situated near the fort.

7. Panhala Fort (Kohlapur)

Panhala or Panhalgarh, about 19kms north-west of Kolhapur, is possibly the largest and most important fort of the Deccan. Roughly triangular in shape, the hill fort stands at a height of about 850 metres and has a circumference of approximately 7.25kms. Half of its length is protected by a natural scarp reinforced by a parapet wall and the remaining half is surrounded by a strong stone wall strengthened with bastions. The fort had three magnificent double walled gates, out of which two have survived. The Teen Darwaza to the west is an imposing and powerful structure. There are a number of ruined monuments in the fort. The most impressive among them are the three huge granaries. The largest among them, the Ganga Kothi, cover nearly 950 sq m space and 10.7 metres high. In the north-east corner there is a double story building, called Sajja Kothi, where Shivaji had imprisoned his errant son, Sambhaji.

Panhala was the capital of the Shilahara king Bhoja II during 1178-1209 Ad. It was successively held by the Yadava and Bahamani Kings. In 1489 AD, the fort and the territory was taken over by the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur. Shivaji seized the fort in 1659 AD. It was from here that Shivaji, when encircled by the forces of Siddi Johar, escaped one rainy night to Vishalgarh. Later, the fort remained with the Marathas, except for a short period in between, when it went to the Mughals. The fort remained with the Kolhapur State till India achieved independence.

The famous Marathi poet Moropanta (1729-94Ad) was bron and brought up at Panhala. There is also the Samadhi of Ramachandra Amatya, the author of Ajnapatra, an important work on statecraft, including for construction. Today, Panhala is a sort of hill station and provides all the necessary facilities for tourists.

8. Vasai Fort (Vasai).

The Vasai Fort, Mumbai situated in Mumbai was established by the Portuguese as the headquarters of their Indian operations in 1534. This fort was earlier known as the Bassein Fort. This fort is precisely located in North Mumbai near Vasai. The Portuguese used this fort for their operations in India till 1739. Now the fort has turned into ruins. But these ruins still stand as the reminder of their occupation on the islands. But there is a contrary view to this history. Some say that Bahadur Shah who was the sultan of Gujarat built this fort. It was built so as to guard the coast against the Portuguese and the pirates. But this fort fell into the hands of the Portuguese then into the hands of the Marathas and then in the hands of the British.

Mumbai was earlier used for building ships in the 15 th century. It was a strategic place in the western coast of India. The Portuguese understood the importance and captured the fort and remodeled it according to their wish. Nowadays most of the part of this fort is in ruins. Most of the walls are hidden by the brushwood and palm groves. The roots of these trees have damaged a lot of the portion of this fort.
This fort needs a lot of attention so as to protect the last remains of this fort so as to preserve the glorious past of India.

9. Arnala Fort (Virar).

Anara Fort is located at Arnala Islands, which is at a distance of 8 miles north of Vasai in Maharashtra. As it is surrounded on all sides by water, Arnala Fort is also known as 'Jaldurg' or 'Janjire Arnala'. Anara Fort is mainly on the north side of Anara Island. The main entrance is on the northern side, while the fort has broad and strong high walls with three gates.

Steps are made that lead to ramparts (walls), so one can take a walk around the entire boundary wall. To allow entry in the small rooms and storehouses below, the ramparts have number of small openings in its broad walls. Villagers use some of these storehouses to store their paddy crop. One would come across a canon ball still stuck on the inner side of the west side of the wall near the temple.

It is believed that Shivaji built this fort under the leadership of Kanoji Agare. Arnala Fort came under the British control in 1803 after Bajirao II Peshwa signed the infamous Treaty of Vasai. The fort also has a 'Shankar Temple' and a Mosque where religious festivals are celebrated every year. The villagers grow vegetables on plots inside the fort, as well as on the western side out side the fort.

10.Goa Fort (Goa).

Fort Aguada, the largest and most well preserved fort in Goa today is the most prized and crucial fort of Portuguese. The fort is so large that it envelops the entire peninsula at the south western tip of Bardez. Situated atop the Sinquerim plateau in Bardez Taluka, overlooking the vast expanses of Arabian Sea, the fort marked a reference point of ships. Built on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was strategically located and was the chief defence of Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas.

The fort got its name 'Aguada' from the word Aguada (Portuguese for water), because of the three fresh water springs inside it. Built in 1612, it was once the grandstand of 79 cannons, a moat around the fort also protected it.

As you move around and inside this fort, it opens itself to you layer by layer and you can't help getting fascinated about the poweress it had once exulted. Some of the interesting features you will come across in the fort are a lighthouse which once housed a gigantic bell, an enormous vaulted cistern that could store ten million litre fresh water, and a prison in the basement interestingly the largest in Goa.

11.Lohagad Fort(Lonaval,Pune)

Lohagarh fort is 7kms south of Malavali station on the Pune-Mumbai railway line. Situated on a side range of Sahyadri mountains, if divides the basins of Indrayani and Pavana rivers. Close to Lohagarh, on its eastern side, there is another fort, called Visapur. The approach to Lohagarh is from the village Lohadwadi, situated in the depression between Lohagarh and Visapur. Climbing from the north towards the village, one can see on the left side the famous Buddhist caves of Bhaja. The four large gats of Lohagarh are very intricately arranged and are still intact. In the later Peshwa period, Nana Fadanis (1742-1800 AD) built several structures in the fort including a big tank and a step-well (bawali). There is also a small temple and grave of a muslim pir. On the west side of the fort there is a long and narrow wall like fortified spur called Vinchukata in Marathi (scorpion sting) because of its natural shape.

12.Rajmachi Fort(Lonaval,Pune)

Rajmachi consists of two beautiful peaks namely 'Shrivardhan' and 'Manaranjan'. Rajmachi is very famous fort near twin hill stations in Maharashtra - Lonavala and Khanadala. Rajmachi fort is nearby 18/20 Kms from Lonavala but a nice way to reach the fort is from Tungarli Lake. This trek is very good for the beginners.

Shrivardhan and Manaranjan can also be considered as two separate forts. There is one small platue in between them. A temple of 'Bhairoba' is very beautiful. Shrivardhan is 'Bale killa' of Rajmachi. It is almost 3000 feet high. But it was mainly built to keep watch on Konkan area. The other - Manaranjan is 2700 feet high. Manaranjan consists of strong walls, 3 doors and many water tanks. One can see Ulhas river, Dukes Nose (Nagphani), Karnala ,Matheran, Mahuli and Bhimashankar etc. The old caves of 'Kondhavi' on Rajmachi fort are worth to see. The way to fort is long but truly with a good view. One can enjoy a nice forest, Tungarli lake and many waterfalls as well. Truly, Rajmachi is one of the good places to visit around Pune. And the trekkers especially the beginners enjoy the way to fort.