Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharashtra

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Tala Fort is located near to Tala Village in Raigad district in Maharashtra. The fort bastion and the orange flag swaying in the wind can be seen from a distance.

Watchout for this signboard while trying to reach Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

Bastion at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

After visiting Kude caves we traveled for around 12 KM to reach Tala Village.

We asked the locals for directions to trek up to the fort. Watch out for this signboard at the village. Note there is no provision to park vehicles here, but food and water provision is available in the market area.

Path to reach Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

There are no steps but the stones are placed like steps to climb up the fort premises. Now watch out for this second signboard, the way up the fort leads from here.

We walked over loose soil and small stones to reach the fort premises.

Narrow path leading to Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

Water tank atop Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

As we get near to the entrance of the fort, the climb becomes a bit tricky, the rock cut stairs get narrower and to top it they were wet. Which made or climb difficult. But we still managed to reach the main entrance.

Orange flag at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

Maruti temple on the way to Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

At the main entrance, there is sculpture of Maruti (Hindu God) Painted Orange. Near is  a cave. Currently water is filled in the cave premises, but it can offer refuge when dry.

We then walked to one of the bastions of the fort. The bastion offers a fantastic view of the surrounding. As there was little to no wind and hot sun, we decided to go up to the top most point of the fort for exploration.

Cave at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

From the bastions a series of steps takes one to the top of the fort.

Atop the fort are placed a couple of water tanks (water not portable), broken structures and a Shiv Temple.

Dominic, Manohar and Me at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

There is no shade atop the fort, no trees up here.

Atop one of the bastions sways the orange flag, we then crossed the water tanks and walked to the other end of the fort.

Bastion at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

We were not able to spot cannons atop the fort.

The fortification is not intact and broken in certain places.

Ruins at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

It took us around 30 minutes to reach the top, 30 minutes to explore and another 20 minutes to reach the base.

Structure at Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

History doesn't state as to who built this fort, but Adilshah of Bijapur, Shivaji Maharaj, Siddhis of Janjira, Peshwas and finally British had control over this fort.

View of the hills and valleys from Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

Fortification of  Tala Fort located near to Tala Village in Raigad District in Maharastra

The time was now 11:30 AM on my watch,  we braked for lunch at Indapur. There we decided that we would travel to Nizampur from there inorder to see the Mangad Fort. 

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Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Monday, February 5, 2018

Kude Caves are located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra.

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashta

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Kude Caves is around 12 KM away from Tala Village, directions to the same are tagged on google maps, so one cannot get lost.

River Body enroute Kude Caves

Dominic, Manohar and Me near Kude caves

The journey offered breath taking photos of the surroundings. the hills in a distance capped with due, the long winding roads were just amazing to travel on.

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Stupa at Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Stupa at Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

One has to park the car on the main road and then walk on the muddy road to each the caves premises. The road comprises of loose soil and small rocks and it is uneven, so it is best not to get a vehicle here, else the tire can get punctured. After walking for 30 minutes we then get a glimpse of the caves.

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Note, there is no provision for food and water here.

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

History states that these caves were built in the 1st century.

The caves looked identical. The first cave, had a Stupa within its premises. At the entrance we could see coconuts broken and kept and some garlands, meaning that the villagers offer prayers here. We also saw inscription on the cave walls, not sure what they meant though.

Frogs at Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

The small water tanks near the caves, had gigantic frogs sitting next to them, they didn't even budge when they saw me coming close to them to take a photo. The water from the water bodies doesn't seem portable.

Carvings on the walls of Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Carvings on the walls of Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

The cave which had the face of the elephant, was the best amongst the caves. It had sculptures near the elephant head, artwork at the base of the cave, writings on its walls, sculptures within the cave and also a Stupa. I am guessing that this was the main prayer hall.

I find myself at peace here. There is no noise in the caves, total silence. Hence caves were built by the monks in the wilderness. 

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Some caves are located on base level and a few caves are located on the first level, a series of steps takes one to the first level.

The caves are being looked after, there is no graffiti nor litter around the cave premises.  Guess what I found a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan banner here.  

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

Kude Caves located in Rahatgad in Tala Taluka in Raigad district in Maharashtra

It too us around 30 minutes to see the caves, post that we walked for another 30 minutes to reach the car. We then headed over to see the Tala Fort located near Tala Village.



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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. 


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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. 


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