Trekking and Photography: May 2009

Raigad…!! A self contained name which is inspiring us since its existence. You can just imagine the threat of this fort unless you actually visit it. After coming here and standing at its base, you can feel it. It’s so huge, tall and vertically straight from almost all sides that it is truly said about this fort – “Only water can come down and wind can climb upwards”. This is the reason; I decided to visit this fort on the auspicious occasion of Maharashtra Day to attend the Indian Tricolor Flag Hosting which is done thrice a year (15 Aug, 26 Jan and 1 May). Another secrete reason was, I have got a new camera (Nikon P80) and wanted to start it off with a memorable trek. I will try not to repeat the already posted information about this fort here.

If you are planning to visit Raigad, take my suggestion of visiting on your own vehicle (may that be bike or car). When I visited this place, on all my visits, I faced problem in reaching the fort base from Mahad. It costs you more than what you had planned as there are very few state transport buses running in between and smaller auto doesn’t agree to go till base following a hard Ghat. You may have to have a private auto/rickshaw which may cost you Rs/- 300.00 for full auto to reach the base village (Hirkani Wadi/Rope Way Station). I believe, you know the ways to reach Mahad by now. After reaching base, you can either go by walkway or ropeway. Ropeway will cost you Rs/- 150.00 per head for two way (going up and coming down) and Rs/- 100.00 for one way. Walkway is of course free…!! Here, I would suggest, go by ropeway and come down by walkway so as to feel less tired. You can also book the room at upper ropeway station from Here in Pune. It will cost you starting from Rs/- 300.00 to Rs/- 900.00 per room for 24 hours stay. MTDC rooms are also available on fort but they are little costlier. After reaching the top, I suggest, not to eat and drink anything at the canteen of ropeway or MTDC as they are not worth it from cost and taste perspective. Better you go to the people living on the fort and they can serve you at their best taste and your best price. Specially, if you buy water from canteen, it will again add up to your expenses, better you take it from these guys, you will get clean, cool and natural water from Hanuman Taka. Please remember to leave some tip, may be Rs/- 20.00 to 30.00 for 4-5 bottles of water. The lunch/dinner will cost you Rs/- 30.00 per plate which includes 2 Bhakari and either Pithala or Bhaji along with Kanda and Chatani. If you are staying on the fort for a day or two and missing sunset and sunrise then its criminal offence against the nature of Raigad…!! Few places where you can catch best sun shots are Holicha Maal, Takmak, Shiv Samadhi and Jagadishwar Temple. Another important thing to mention is, remember to see the Bhavani Tok, BaraTaki, Wagh Darwaja and other untouched spots on fort as these places are visited by very few trekkers.

Note : For more information about how to reach the base and top of fort and what things to see there along with measures to take while trekking Raigad, please visit - This Page. I hope, the information posted in these two pages helps you to explore and enjoy the fort at its best. I am posting some of the pictures taken by me when I visited this fort on May Day (1 May, also known as Maharashtra Day in India as the state was formed on this day in 1960).