Tala Village in Raigad District of Maharashtra

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Tala Village in Raigad District of Maharashtra.

Tala Village is around 16 KM away from Ghosala base village for Ghosalgad fort. Directions to reach are tagged on google maps.

By the time we reached Tala Village, the time was around 730 PM. The village has shops on either side of the road, selling fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and chicken broilers for meat lovers, there were sweet shops, clothiers and  footwear shops too. It was like a mini market. There is BOI branch too.

The village also houses a petrol pump and motor repairs shops. The petrol rate is Rs.2 higher than the price in Mumbai.

There were many tum tum here. There is also a small ST bus depot here. Buses ply to Roha from here. No buses go to Murud. We were amazed to hear that buses ply to Mumbai too from here. Time table of the bus depot attached. The time table is subject to change.

ST bus stand at Tala Village

Bus time table at Tala Village ST bus depot

There is also a Sulabh Sauchalaya in Tala Village, it is next to the tum tum stand, from the outside it looks shabby but the toilets are clean within. Urinal free and stool is Rs.5. Rates subject to change.

Now we had to find a place to stay for the night, we learnt from the locals, that there is just one hotel in Tala. MTDC hotel (Shinde Plaza) located on the outskirts of Tala Village. The rooms were not that great, they quoted a price of Rs.1000 for Non AC and Rs.1700 for AC rooms. The rooms have hot water facility and western toilet. One cannot make choices as it is the only hotel. We managed to get a room here. We did try negotiating but were informed no negotiation.

Accomodation at Shinde Plaza near Tala Village

Beer is available near MTDC hotel. Though we didn't have Beer, this is FYI.

We had Indian Chinese cuisine for dinner and it was finger licking good.

Dinner (Chinese) near Hotel Shinde Plaza

The next morning, we woke up, had breakfast in the form of vada and kanda bhaji along with tea at Hotel Sai Kripa and started our journey to Kude Caves located around 12 KM away. 


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

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.