Mangad fort is situated in Borwadi in Mangaon taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Mangad fort is situated in Borwadi in Mangaon taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra. The base village for the fort is Mashidwadi.

Bastions at the entrance of Mangad Fort

The directions to this fort are tagged on google maps. There are signboards on the road to, so you sure that you don't go off track.

We parked the car near Mashidwadi. Mashidwadi is a small village comprising of around 20 to 30 houses. It is also the base village to Mangad fort.

By the time we reached Mashidwadi village, it had already started raining. The time was now 3:30  PM on watch. We didn't get any rain cover, but that didn't stop us from visiting the fort premises.

Temple of Goddess Vinzai

There are signboards on the way, but we still managed to get lost uphill and were travelling in the wrong direction uphill, finally 

Dominic took a de tour and met a villager and then we traveled via the stone boulders to reach the Temple of Goddess Vinzai. The villager had informed us to keep the gate of the temple closed else the monkey's go enter the temple premises.

From the temple one has to travel via the stone cut rocks , walk on a tall grass patch and again on stone cut rocks to reach the Main Entrance of the fort.

View from atop Mangad Fort

As it was raining, the stone was wet and had turned slippery due to which we were not able to get a good grip on the rocks, there was also moss growing on the rocks which was making the journey difficult.

Dominic went uphill, he then motivated Manohar and Me to join him, we finally gave in and managed to climb the fort.

The fortification near the main entrance is intact. There is map of the fort here.

Sculpture of Maruti atop Mangad Fort

A orange painted sculpture of Maruti (Hindu God) is present here. There are a couple of water tanks (water is not portable) and a cave on the fort premises. The cave can be used for lodging purposes.

The thick vegetation atop the fort premises and the rains made travel difficult for us. We then made our way and reached the orange colored flag posted on the fort premises. The view from here of the neighboring forts and valleys is just amazing. I am just hoping that my phone doesn't get too wet in the rain and stop working. Still managed to get a couple of shots.

Cave and water cistern atop Mangad Fort

Map of Mangad fort, on the fort premises

Ideal time to climb up the fort is around 45 minutes, 20 minutes to see the fort and another 30 minutes to return to base.

Tall grass near a water cistern atop Mangad Fort

By the time we reached the base the time was around 6 PM.

Saffron flag atop Mangad Fort

We had one more fort to conquer, the Surgad fort near Pali, but we decided to skip that fort as we were running short of time, we then decided to head back to Mumbai.

On the outskirts of Mashidwadi village we noticed the remains of the Mahadev Mandir, the podium of the temple is made of black stone. Nothing much remains except for the statue of Nandi.

Remains of Mahadev Mandir

Statue of Nandi at Mahadev Mandir

Out of all the fort we saw today, Avchitgad and Talagad was the best as it had a lot of ruins atop of it, Birwadi fort just had the Main Entrance which was intact, felt sad as we couldn't explore Ghosalgad in entirety, Kude Caves no doubt were a good and clean set of caves, the actual adventure part was when we climbed the Mangad fort. 

The entire journey  starting and ending at Ghatkopar Station, inclusive of food, stay and travel cost us just Rs.2155 each. 

Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Birwadi Fort is located very near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra. Jai Bhawani Mata Mandir (Birwadi) is located very close to the fort premises. After exploring Avchitgad Fort near Medhe village, we traveled to Roha, as it was afternoon we decided to break here for lunch.

Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

The distance from Avchitgad fort to Birwadi fort is around 25 KM away. The directions are tagged on google maps.

We had fish and chicken thali at Hotel Krishna, the food was finger licking good.

Chicken Thali at Hotel Krishna at Roha

FishThali at Hotel Krishna at Roha

 Around 3PM we were at the entrance of Jai Bhawani Mata Mandir (Birwadi), if we climb up the steps we reach the temple. we met a villager there, we asked him for directions to visit the fort, he informed us that there are two ways of reaching the fort premises, the tricky one is from behind the temple premises, he requested us not to go via that route and instead walk on the green grass to the left of the temple. He informed us to walk till we see a farmhouse on our right, from there onwards start climbing the fort premises.

Water tank at Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

Again, the trek route consists of loose soil, small boulders which are slippery, so we had to travel with extreme care so that we don't slip. Mind the tree roots on the way, finally we saw two bastions on either side of the main entrance. The bastions had banyan trees growing over them. That all the fortification that is left.

View from Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

We saw a water tank on the fort premises (water is not portable). It took us around 20 minutes to reach the top. 15 minutes to see. Not sure if we missed anything on the fort premises as we were surrounded by thick vegetation.

That's Me at Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

Again the fort premises offers a fantastic view of the hills, valleys, fields, cluster of houses.  The greenery around was soothing to my eyes.

View from Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

History states that the fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj in the 16th century.

View from Birwadi Fort located near to Chanera in Raigad District of Maharashtra

There is no provision for food and water at Birwadi, but the same is available at Chanera, the next village.

Entrance to Shri Jai Bhawani Mata Mandir at Birwadi

We then descended the fort, as we had one more fort to conquer, Ghosalgad fort.


NOTE: Please click on the words in large font in the blog to read about them. 

Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Monday, December 4, 2017

It's been a long time, since I had been on a trek. By trek  I meant climbed a fort, as of lately I have been visiting land forts around Maharashtra, so I decided to do some easy treks between Roha and Mahad in Maharashtra.

Maha Darwaza to enter Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

I asked Manohar and Dominic, my usual partners in crime and they readily agreed to join in.

As I was the man in charge of the itinerary, we decided to visit Avchitgad Fort, Birwadi Fort, Ghosalgad Fort, Kuda Caves, Tala Fort, Mangad Fort and Surgad Fort in a three day trip.

The well enroute Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

It had not been raining for the last couple of days, so we were hoping that it would be dry and sunny on the trip. Fingers crossed.

There are two ways of reaching Avchitad Fort. The directions to the fort are tagged on Google Maps. One can either travel via the Mumbai Pune Expressway (Toll Road) like we did, exit at Khalapur and from there crossed, Durshet, Pali, Bhise and finally Medhe the base village for Avchitgad Fort.

The other route is the Old Goa route, from Panvel, cross the Karnala Fort, Pen Nagothane , Bhise and finally Medhe the base village for Avchitgad Fort.

Map of Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

We reached Medhe Village around 10:15 AM. The reason why it took us time, is because we braked for breakfast on the way. Parked the car near the temple. Inquired with the locals regarding the directions to the fort.

It was a sunny day, we decided to carry 2 liters water to quench our thirst, after all we were climbing hill forts after a very long break.

View of the land, enroute Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

History states that Avchitgad Fort was built by the Shilahar Dynasty. It was later taken over by the Nizam of Ahmednagar, Shivaji Maharaj, the Peshwas and finally the British.

Though it was not raining that they, it might have rained before as the soil was damp.

We crossed two wells made of black stone, the water in it is not portable though. The trek to the fort leads from here.  One has to travel on loose soil, small boulders to reach the top. To top it we had thick vegetation and mosquitoes for company as we were wearing shorts.

Veergali, enroute Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Midway up the fort, we saw a couple of stones placed near each other.  One of the stones had a garland placed around it. As stone had the word "Veergali" written on it in Marathi (local language). Maybe it is created in remembrance of soldiers who died fighting on this fort. Here, we saw another route which leads to the fort from Pingalsai Village. 

Green cover all around enroute Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

We took a couple of breaks midway, finally in about 50 minutes we were at the top of the fort. How do I know, I saw the bastion (though it was not intact, it had banyan tree growing over it).

Banyan Tree on the fort bastion at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

We crossed the Maha Darwaza, there were no wooden doors, just a arc shaped entrance to visit the fort premises. Next to the Maha Darwaza we spotted this animal inscribed on the rock. Not sure which animal it is. If you know then please mention in the comments below.

Animal inscribed on the rock at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

The fort offers a fantastic view of the surroundings,  blue skies, white clouds,  shades of green on the hills and valleys below, the closest railway station Nidi (Konkan Railway), cluster of houses in a distance. The view was just amazing.

That's me at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

We wasted no time, we started exploring the fort, on the fort are placed three cannons at different locations, the first and the third can be easily located. I want you to visit the fort and find the second cannon.

Cannon no. 1 at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Cannon No. 2 at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Cannon No.3 at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

We then saw a octagonal shaped pond, it has steps to reach the base of it, it was filled with water, the water is not portable.

Octagonal Pond at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

There is a Shiv Mandir in the fort premises, with a statue of Nandi, Ganpati and another two deities (not sure who those deities are)

There are a series of water tanks, placed near each other (water is not portable). There is also a stone carving (that of a God, not sure the name of the God)

Shiv Mandir atop Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

There is fortification within the fort premises, though the exterior walls have broken down.  There is a flag hoisted near one of the bastions of the fort. Some more water bodies on the fort premises.

It took us around an hour to see the fort premises. The wild vegetation made it a bit difficult for us to travel on the fort premises.

Water tanks atop Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

The sun had now hid itself behind the dark clouds, we decided to descend the fort, before it starts raining.

Dom, Manohar and me at Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

As we were descending the fort, we met a couple of trekkers who too had come to visit the fort premises.

Another Darwaza within Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Another Darwaza within Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

In about 35 minutes we were at the base (temple, where the car was parked).

View of the land from Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

View of the land from Avchitgad Fort near Roha in Raigad district in Maharashtra

The car parked near the Temple at the village

There is no provision for food and water at Medhe Village, if one comes to the main road, then it is available.We refreshed ourselves and then headed to visit BirwadiFort.We did see buses playing from Roha and Pali on the main road.


NOTE: Please click on the words in large font in the blog to read about them.