The Western ghats or Sahyadri Ranges with its low heights and easy accessibility from various cities especially Mumbai and Pune have made the region a trekking Mecca. The other great part about trekking in the region is that you do not need any specialist equipment and it is more of fun filled exercise with scenic locations, exquisite flora and fauna. Some tour operators do offer such equipment. T
he Trekking Options in Sahyadri are numerous; probably one can find a trek each weekend. The most frequented are located in Malshej Ghat region, Igatpuri region, Pune region, Lonavala region, Bhandardara region and Bhimashankar region. Malshej Ghat Region. Malshej Ghat, at a distance of 154 kms from Mumbai and similar distance from Pune is the favorite region of trekkers. The treks can be planned based on time or distance and level of difficulty. Bhairavgad – Kunjargad –Harishchandragad with maximum elevation of about 4700 feet with a time requirement of around one and half week would fall in the moderately difficult category. The Jivadhan – Naneghat – Chavand trek would fall in the easy category with max elevation of 3700 feet. There are many other peaks like Karkai, Bhairoba, Balubhai, Nhapta, Kaladgad etc. and you can choose your own itinerary as per your convenience. Igatpuri Region. This region has the highest peak of the Sahyadri ranges, the Kalsubai and located in the Ahmadnagar district of the state. The tough would like to scale this peak. Shirpunja – Ratangad – Kalsubai is one popular tough trek in this region with the maximum height of 5400 feet. Kulang – Madan – Alang is also a difficult trek with maximum height reaching 4800 feet. Both of these would be about a week with fair amount of rest. The trekking in this region is generally popular with the college students of Pune. The National Defence Academy cadets regularly climb various peaks for training. The Singhgad – Rajgad – Torna route with a maximum height of around 4700 feet is a good ten day trek here. The Singhgad is the easiest of the three with gentle slopes; however one can try scaling the Fort wall a-la Tanaji with just one rope. Lonavala Region. The famous week end itinerary of Mumbaikers and Puneites has numerous options for trekking. Visapur – Lohgad – Karla Caves and Lonavala – Korigad – Dhangad are two fairly easy treks for the novices with a time penalty of about a week. Individual peaks can also be attempted for a weekend fun. The communication is generally good in the region so one can plan even a two to three hour trek with family and friends. Bhandardara Region. This region offers great views of Bhandardara Lake from top and three treks circling around the lake are Ratangad – Katrabai – Aajoba, Bhairavgad – Ghanchakar – Bhairavgad and Bahndardara – Pabargad – Bhairavgad. One religious trek to Balmiki Ashram from Ghatghar via Chonda Ghat is also famous with middle aged trekkers. The region offers easy to normal difficulty treks with heights ranging from 2000 to 3000 feet. Bhimashankar region. The Bhimashankar, the famous religious destination of Hindus is a Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The temple on top of the Ghat has a huge bell reminiscent of the religious tolerance of the Portuguese who installed it in the temple. The trek route from Peth to Bhorgad via Bhimashankar is an enjoyable one with maximum height of around 3700 feet. The trek can be planned both from Mumbai and Pune. These are just a few suggestions; Maharashtra has hundreds of peaks and each with its own special flavor. One good book “The Treks of Sahyadri” by Kapadia gives details of all the available treks and is generally available at all the Crossword book stores. However if you are a Western tourist then the recommended option is to book a tour with any of the operators. There is hardly any rescue service in the region and any unforeseen accident can be a nightmare. The monsoon in the Sahyadri hills brings torrential rains and the best period to trek is in the winters from November to February. The adventurous would love the rainy season but be effectively protected against tropical diseases especially malaria or carry large supplies of mosquito repellent lotions and sprays. The Monsoon months offer picturesque views of the hills and one gets a feeling of walking in the clouds. The tropic sun is also not extreme as it gets shielded too often by the clouds. So be adventurous, take your ruck sack and hit that trail.
