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. 

Ghosalgad Fort located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

Friday, December 8, 2017

After visiting Birwadi Fort, we traveled for another 32 KM to reach the Ghosala Village, the base village for the Ghosalgad Fort.

Scenic View from Ghosalgad Fort located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

Directions to the fort are tagged on google maps.

There is no information, as to who built this fort, the villagers were not aware of it either, all they knew was that Shivaji Maharaj had ruled over this fort.

Entrance to Ghosala Village, Fort on hilltop located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

The time was now PM on my watch. we parked the car at the entrance of Ghosala Village and then asked the locals about the whereabouts of the fort, they pointed to the hill behind the village, saying that is Ghosalgad fort. They informed us that the trek route starts from the temple located a couple of feet up.

Water tanks near the Temple at Ghosalgad Village

We reached the temple, there is a small trek route between the temple and the water tanks, if you travel by this route and check the trees for arrow marks then you will reach the top.

Temple at the foot of the hill fort Ghosalgad

As it was the end of the rainy season, we were not able to see the route and hence we started climbing via a small path, which is not the route to the top. We stumbled upon loose soil, thick vegetation on the way. Finally in about 30 minutes we were at the top.

Note, there is no Main Entrance to visit the fort, one reached the fort premises by crossing the broken fortification, the steps near the fortification are quite tall, but due to the thick vegetation growing around it, we were hardly able to see it.

Fortification of Ghosalgad Fort located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

Now, how do we go about was the next question, we saw a small cave here and also the Chor Darwaza. Once you enter the Chor Darwaza a steep descend takes you down the hill. Is this all that the fort had to offer. NO. As I saw a lot of fortification, on the blogs I had read, Dominic tried to check for trails to lead somewhere on the fort premises, but sadly we were out of luck, due to the thick vegetation, that made travel even more difficult.

Cave in the fort walls at Ghosalgad Fort located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

After spending a couple of minutes there, we finally decided to head back as it was 6PM on my watch and that we had to be down before sunset.

Chor Darwaza in the walls of Ghosalgad Fort located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

On our return we two villagers near the temple, they informed us that the way up the fort is via the second wall, on which a banyan tree is growing. we did  see a banyan tree there, but were not aware that we had to climb it to walk on the fort walls to reach the top.

They informed us that there is nothing much to see up there apart from water tanks, a cannon and some fortification. They informed us that the entire fort premises can be seen in 30 minutes time. They also informed us that a steep climb, takes one to the top most point of the hill, the view from there is amazing.

Banyan Tree growing on the fort walls of Ghosalgad Fort located near Roha in Raigad District in Maharashtra

We then walked down to the base village, there is provision for food and water here. No hotels for accommodation though. We saw tum tum plying people but there was no sign of a ST bus.

The village premises were decorated for celebrating Navratri in the night.

Navratri being celebrated in Ghosala Village

We then decided to travel to Tala Village, the base for Tala Fort. 


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

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.