Indragad fort near Pali Karambeli in Gujarat (India)

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Indragad is located in the village of Pali Karambeli, can be reached while travelling on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway. Exit the highway and travel to Bamanpuja Cirle and then to Pali Karambeli.  

Bastions of Indragad fort

Direction on Google Maps

Please refer to  the route on google map, which I have attached so that you don't get lost. 

After crossing the railway line at we traveled on a narrow road, basically in the interiors of Gujarat to reach Bamanpuja Circle. 

Snacks enroute to Indragad

On route we stopped for some road side snacks. We had bhajiya and miniature vada. They were quite filling for a price of Rs. 50. 

We then traveled by the same road and stopped outside a small store. There is a road from here, that leads to the fort. We asked the locals and they informed us that it would take us around 30 minutes to reach the top. We parked out bikes there and then decided to visit the fort by foot. 

Make shift temple near Indragad Fort

Entrance to Indragad

A little ahead, a girl standing by the side of the road informed us about a muddy patch that leads to the top. She informed us that cars and bikes travel up the road. We turned around to walk to the bikes, I saw Horatious, on his bike. He was the fast.

It was a bit difficult to travel on the muddy road, the bike skid a couple of times till we reached the top. As we traveled by bike, we reduced the journey by 15 minutes. 

Stairway to reach the fort walls of Indragad

We parked the bikes near a make shift temple located outside one of the bastions of the fort. No idea as to who the temple is dedicated to, but it has a white flag stop it. 

From where we parked the bikes, the fort walls looked amazing. Raj the led us to the entrance of the fort. It can be reached after walking for around a minute.

Fortification of Indragad Fort

At the entrance we see a staircase leading up the wall. What better way to see the fort, then walking on the fort walls. We did the same. The fort very small in size. It is square shaped with bastions on each of the four ends. As the fort is atop the fort, it offers a wonderful view of the surrounding hills and valleys below.
The fort walls were broad enough for us to walk on them. There is also a extension on one of the sides of the fort. There are ruins of walls and water tanks in the fort premises. As it was densely populated with wild growth of trees, we decided not to venture in it. 

That's Me

I saw a snake escaping to safety on seeing me. It gave me an intimation that there are snakes here. It was a good decision not to walk in the fort premises. It had bumped into a snake , when I had visited Kille Pardi near Parnera Hill near Valsad. 

It took is around 20 minutes to see the entire fort. We then traveled by the same muddy stretch to reach the base. We had refreshments there. 

That's Us atop Indragad Fort

Note : There are no refreshments available on the fort premises, but in the base village. 

Panoramic View from Indragad Fort

I wanted to know about the Dhinsu fort in Phanse village. The locals told me , that the fort is in complete ruin, and it would be a waste of time if we headed there. The internet connection is so slow here, that even Edge doesn't load up. Lol. We are talking about 4G with VOLTE. Lol. 

Ruins within the fort premises

The time on my watch was 2 PM. Our options were to either head to Daman for lunch or head back to Mumbai. When Martina told me about the Satmaliya Deer Sanctuary in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. 

Ruins within the fort premises

Bastions of Indragad Fort

We traveled a little bit further, till we got a better internet signal. She immediately started her GPS and we managed to get directions to the Sanctuary. It was around 30 KM away from where we were. But we still decided to go visit it.

Ballalgad fort in village Kajali near Talasari near the Maharashtra Gujarat border (India)

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Ballalgad is a small hill fort located in village Kajali near Talasari near the Maharashtra Gujarat border. The village of Kajali is located very close to the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway.

View from Ballalgad Fort

Fathima and I had visited Valsad, last week to explore the forts of Parnera, Kille Pardi and Bagwada aka Arjungad Fort. Due to shortage of time, we couldn't explore Indragad and Dhinsu For located near Vapi. 

Raj wanted to do bike trip. We decided to explore these forts in the bike trip. As it was a one day trip, we decided to explore Ballargad near Talasari, Indragad near Moti Daman and Dhinsu Fort near Phanse village, again near Moti Daman in a day's time.

Watch out for this signboard on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway

I had asked Martina, another friend of mine, if she would be interested in joining us, to which she readily agreed. So on Saturday morning we set out. Raj and me on his Royal Enfield, Martina and Horatious on their Yamaha Fz.

This is my second bike trip on a Royal Enfield, the first one was with Massey to Indurigad near Pune. To read about Indurigad click on it. We had a great time on that trip. 'This trip should be nothing less, I said to myself.

That's us at GHORAKH CHINCHA’ (African Baobab) near Ballalgad Fort

We all met at 6:15 AM in the morning at Borivali at Anupam Superstore, from there we headed over via the Dahisar flyover to the Western Express highway. We got stuck in traffic at Hotel Fountain. But the traffic was just for 15 minutes,after crossing Hotel Fountain, we were on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway. The roads were clear so we managed to accelerate on the highway. As it was early in the morning, it  was cold but that didn't stop us from accelerating on the highway. We were hoping the sun to come out and shine, to make us warm. 

That's us atop Ballalgad Fort premises

We braked at Simla Inn around 8 AM, near the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway, to have some snacks and hot tea. But the weather was so cold, that our teeth were chattering. We had snacks followed by hot tea, took a couple of selfies and then headed on the road to Ballargad near Kajali, the first fort on our itinerary. 

After crossing Talasari, watch out for a signboard stating Kajali on the left hand side of the highway. After traveling for around 5 minutes on the bike we reached a small school. The trek to the top of Ballargad starts from near the school, but on the opposite side of the road.  ‘GHORAKH CHINCHA’ (African Baobab) trees near the school premises. They would be the perfect prop for a haunted tree. Lol. 

Fortification of Ballalgad Fort

There are a couple of houses near the school premises. We asked for directions and started on our trek. Walked a little and reached a dead end.

I immediately walked to the school and asked if the boys could accompany us to the top, to which they readily agreed. It was a smart move to take the boys along, else we would have been lost on the hills.

Fortification of Ballalgad Fort

It took us around 25 minutes to reach the top. It is a easy trek.  Again there is no proper route to go up, so make your way uphill.
We finally reached the fort walls, though portions of it are broken. The fort is very small in size and can be seen in 15 minutes. The fort is in complete ruins. There is wild growth within the fort premises. It has a small water body within its premises. It is currently filled with huge stones. The boys informed us that during Navratri, water appears at one corner of the water body and disappears post Dassera.

Looking at the size of the fort, I guess it might have been a watch tower to guard over the land. As it offers a fantastic view of the land below. 

Spot to sharpen swords on the rocks atop Ballalgad Fort

We could see the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway from here. The sound of the trucks was audible even at this height. 

We walked on the other side of the fort walls, the boys should us a two stones, as per them one has bullet marks on it and the other was used to sharpen the swords. The boys also told us that a couple of the stones are worshiped by the locals. Not sure how much of it is true, or if it is just a tale told by the village children. 

Bullet marks on the rocks atop Ballalgad Fort

Stones used for worship atop Ballalgad Fort

I am not aware of the history of this fort. 

After exploring we headed back to the school, where our bikes were parked. It took us 20 minutes to reach base (school). 

The school at Kajali Village

There are no hotels here, so one has to carry food and water.
Also not sure if there is any public mode of transport to reach their village. The closest rail station is Talasari and Bhilad. 

The motobikes

We then headed off to see Indragad near Pali Karambeli the next on our itinerary.