Best Trekking Places in Maharashtra
Trekking in the Sahyadris is a different experience altogether. And its charm gets multiplied during the Monsoon season. It is the best season to trek in Maharashtra.
The entire surroundings turn lush green, and water streams crisscross the trails. Innumerable seasonal waterfalls cascade down the mountain face. Thousands of colorful wildflowers are around, and the lakes get filled with clear water.
If you are looking for Maharashtra’s Best Trekking spots, here are some of them.
Sandhan Valley
Sandhan valley is one of the greatest canyons in the Sahyadri range of mountains in the Maharashtra state. It is a thrilling combination of a valley and a canyon. It is situated in the Nagar district. The famous historical fort of Ratangad is near this place. Sandhan Valley is surely a valley of suspense. It is around two kilometres long and more than 200 feet deep.
When trekkers walk through the narrow streak of valley with 200 feet of rock walls along both sides, it is an unforgettable experience.
Especially youth enjoy it a lot. It is possible to plan an outing and an overnight stay under the starry sky beside the reservoir. The famous Bhandardara region is near this valley. You can see the famous forts Alang, Madan and Kulang, the toughest trek in Sahyadri.
It is one of the superb Maharashtra trekking places for trekking lovers.
Bhimashankar Trek
The Bhimashankar trek is a delight for a person who loves nature. It takes you into the heart of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. The trail goes through thick forests. The Bhimashankar trek is full of adventure because ladders, rock climbing, and stream crossings are bundled into one trek. The altitude of Bhimashankar is around 3000 feet, and it takes around 3.5 to 4 hours via Shidi and Ganesh Ghat. You need two hours to descend. Its trek gradient is moderate to difficult.
The base village for the Bhimashankar trek is Khandas. About 500 m after crossing Khandas village, there is a small bridge at a T-junction. The road to the left goes to Shidi Ghat. The road on the right-hand goes to the Ganesh Ghat walkway. It is a tough trek for people who lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle.
Harishchandragad Trek
If you are going to the Harishchandragad trek for the first time, you should know that it is one of the most challenging treks in the western ghats of Maharashtra.
Though it is one of the popular Maharashtra trekking places that offer a variety of adventures to all kinds of trekkers, you need to keep this fact in mind. This hill fort is in the Ahmednagar district, situated in the Malshej Ghat.
The altitude of the trek goes up to 4,670 ft. This ancient fort has its origin said to have been in the 6th century during the rule of the Kalchuri dynasty. But the caves on the top that we can see today might have been carved out in the 11th century. The constructions on the fort and the surroundings show diverse cultures.
Harishchandragad trek has several routes. It can be approached from 3 different villages – Khireshwar, Pachnai, and Walhivale/Belpada village.
The trails from Walhivale/Belpada village are quite tough and challenging. Three separate trails are there from Belpada via Nalichi Vaat, Makad Naal, and Sadhle ghat.
Some trekkers choose the combination of Sadhle ghat and Bhailghat. But they are for experienced trekkers only because you need equipment like rope and a carabiner.
The trail starts from Pachnai and is the quickest and easiest for beginners. The trail from Khireshwar is for people that have some trekking experience.
Andharban Trek
Andharban is a word in the Marathi language which means ”Dark Dense Forest”. This trek is the most beautiful and refreshing trek during the Monsoons.
It is the most beautiful attraction of the Sahyadri range that connects the Tamhini Ghat to the famous Konkan region. Andharban trek is 60 kilometres from Pune. The trek is the perfect place for every trekker who wants to experience wandering deep jungles with enthralling views. It is indeed amongstΒ Maharashtra’s Best Trekking places.
It is a lifetime experience walking through the nature trails deep into the jungle, surrounded by the sounds of nature. Since people prefer this trek during the monsoon season, lush green grass and densely shaded forest are around.
It is a moderate-level trek that requires good endurance. It is better if you have prior trekking experience. The only difficult part is crossing water streams during the rainy season. Sometimes, the streams become turbulent. This 13-kilometre-long trail is at an altitude of 2000 feet. It takes around 6-7 hours to finish the trek.
It is an approachable Maharashtra trek from Mumbaiand Pune both.
Sinhagad Fort trek
Sinhagad, or Kondana, is one of the significant forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. There is a fortress at the top of the hill at an elevation of around 1312 meters above sea level. The peculiarity of this place is that it has breakneck slopes that protect it from all sides. The two entrances are at the North-East side and the South-East side. They are Pune Darwaza and Kalyan Darwaza, respectively.
The Sinhagad Maharashtra trekking fort is classified as an Easy-Moderate grade trek. It is because the altitude gain is not very much. However, people who lead a sedentary lifestyle might find it difficult.
The trek can be divided into two parts- the first stretch is a tar road from Donje Gaon that climbs up to the parking spot for two-wheelers. The second half of the trek is steep. However, it is quite exciting when you reach the top.
Raigad Fort trek
Raigad trek is at the height of around 820 meters. This fort is perched on the Sahyadri mountain range in the Mahad district of Maharashtra. This grand fort is accessible only from one side. It is through a pathway that has more than 1700 steps. There is a deep valley around the other sides. It is Maharashtra’sMaharashtra’s Best Trekking place.
The level of difficulty of the Raigad fort trek is Medium. It will take approximately one and a half hours to reach the top. Raigad trek is also ideal for a 2-day trek with camping at night. There are many closed shelters where you can spend the night. Even staying in the MTDC resorts available on the fort is possible.
Book the Best Trek Organisers mumbaito get the best deals for the Raigad trek.
