http://nitinshitole.blogspot.com/2016/11/bhairavgad-patharpunj-trek-from-helwak.html
Bhairavgad-Patharpunj Trek from Helwak-Koyna Nagar.
This is very challenging trek route, from Helwak-Koyna nagar to Bhairavgad around 25-30 KM. walking in dense jungle.
First we reached Helwak from Vita (Dist. Sangli). via Karad.
We are group of four enthusiastic member, who are always ready for trek.
Swarup, Rituraj, Anis and myself Nitin.
We started trekking towards Bhairavgad, after 1 hour walking we reached small village, Dhangarwada.
We filled our water bottle here and started our journey toward Bhairavgad.
After 30 Minute walk from Dhangarwada towards West, we reached Ramghal, its a old natural cave, where Ramdas Swami meditate, here also small waterfall. it is very beautiful place in dense Jungle
From that place we seen breathtaking views of Sahyadri Mountain range.
I am attached here google map screenshot of Ramghal for those trekkers who want to trek from this route for Bhairavgad.
After 15 Minute photo shoot break we started walking towards south west direction.
in this area there is no route, you have to find route in dense jungle, you have to walk towards south west direction.
After walking one and half hour we take lunch break, then we started walk towards Bhairavgad. after 30 Minute walk, we reached top of the mountain. this is the highest place in that are of Sahyadri mountain range. we are top on the mountain, near 1100-1200 Meter from sea level.
we used compass for search direction because there are no network so we cant use our map application on smartphone, so we give advice for those trekkers who want to trek Bhairavgad in this route, please carry Compass and print out of maps of Helwak and Bhairavgad region.
On top of the mountain we find small path and direction signs of those trekkers who used this route for reach Bhairavgad.
We follow this small path and direction sings with help of our map, we reached watch tower and small base camp of Forest department. This is also top point of Sahyadri mountain range in that region. Forest Department make this watch tower for seeing beautiful view and observation of jungle area.
In this area you see breathtaking view of Sahyadri mountain and dense
jungle. We have also view of small river on that point. We take 30
minute rest on this base camp and started our journey towards
Bhairavgad.
Now we walking downstairs of mountain. On the route we seen big footprint of Bison.
Now we are foothill of mountain, we seen wild buffalo's group. They block our route so we found another alternative route.
Then we started walking towards West. We reached small river which are we seen on top of the mountain.
We drink water and filled our water bottle and started walking, the time was 6 pm, now we have to search camping area which are safe and secure from wild animals, Walking towards west on small path we seen Viper snake-(Marathi name- Ghonas). it was very big snake, and it was scary experience for us.
After 30 Minute walking we found good place for camping, first we collect firewood from jungle and make fire then we started making of tent. we brought tent material from us, we make very simple tent it take only 15-20 minute time, and our tent was ready for secure us from wild things in that dense jungle. We cant explain this experience in words. making tent in this kind of wild, isolated place and spend all night , this is wordless experience we ever had.
We gave name " Tent Point" for this area because it was safe and secure area from wild animals and plenty of water source and firewood nearby, so we called that area "Tent Point".
We spent night peacefully, we woke up early morning and make maggi and coffee, and started journey towards Bhairavgad. After 1 hours walking we found ancient structure, it was Samadhi of reputed person in this region, its ancient structure aroundv 300 to 400 years old but we have not idea what exactly that was, so we keep exploring that thing, first we clean this area, there is Shivling on top of that old structure, we clean this Shivling, This Shivling made from Red color rock, it was very beautiful Shivling.
Some old marathi word type on this ancient structure but we cannot read this all word so what exactly type on this structure it was suspense.
After spending one and half hour for cleaning this old structure we started walking towards Bhairavgad, we walk just 15 minute and we understood that we have lost our route, we have not chance to return back, so we keep walking toward dense forest with the help of compass, it was very scary experience for us because it was very dense forest, sunlight not reach to earth, we keep walked towards north west, there is no route, we was moving forward to make route, we climbed 2 small water fall, this was thriller experience, when we was reach top of the waterfall, we seen amazing view of nature. it was very beautiful views.
2 hours walking we reached Patharpunj Bhairavgad route, after two days we seen route and human being, it was very nice experience for us. after that 45 minute walking, we reached Bhairavgad.
First we went into the temple of Bhairavnath,
Then we decided to climb Bhairavgad Fort, the fort is above 200-300 meter height from Bhairavnath temple.
this was very narrow route to reach to fort, after 15 minute walk we reached bastion of fort, its was breathtaking view of Sahyadri Mountain,
Then we started climbing the fort, after 30 minute walk we found Kund, fresh water well. for those trekkers who spent night on top of the Bhairavgad fort this Kund provide fresh water source for them. This Kund was situated on the middle of two mountain, on the below right side from Bhairavgad temple.
Now we reached the Bhairavgad, and we seen the Bison (in marathi " Rangava" or "Gavareda")
This is very challenging trek route, from Helwak-Koyna nagar to Bhairavgad around 25-30 KM. walking in dense jungle.
First we reached Helwak from Vita (Dist. Sangli). via Karad.
We are group of four enthusiastic member, who are always ready for trek.
Swarup, Rituraj, Anis and myself Nitin.
We started trekking towards Bhairavgad, after 1 hour walking we reached small village, Dhangarwada.
We filled our water bottle here and started our journey toward Bhairavgad.
After 30 Minute walk from Dhangarwada towards West, we reached Ramghal, its a old natural cave, where Ramdas Swami meditate, here also small waterfall. it is very beautiful place in dense Jungle
From that place we seen breathtaking views of Sahyadri Mountain range.
After 15 Minute photo shoot break we started walking towards south west direction.
in this area there is no route, you have to find route in dense jungle, you have to walk towards south west direction.
After walking one and half hour we take lunch break, then we started walk towards Bhairavgad. after 30 Minute walk, we reached top of the mountain. this is the highest place in that are of Sahyadri mountain range. we are top on the mountain, near 1100-1200 Meter from sea level.
we used compass for search direction because there are no network so we cant use our map application on smartphone, so we give advice for those trekkers who want to trek Bhairavgad in this route, please carry Compass and print out of maps of Helwak and Bhairavgad region.
On top of the mountain we find small path and direction signs of those trekkers who used this route for reach Bhairavgad.
We follow this small path and direction sings with help of our map, we reached watch tower and small base camp of Forest department. This is also top point of Sahyadri mountain range in that region. Forest Department make this watch tower for seeing beautiful view and observation of jungle area.
Now we walking downstairs of mountain. On the route we seen big footprint of Bison.
Now we are foothill of mountain, we seen wild buffalo's group. They block our route so we found another alternative route.
Then we started walking towards West. We reached small river which are we seen on top of the mountain.
We drink water and filled our water bottle and started walking, the time was 6 pm, now we have to search camping area which are safe and secure from wild animals, Walking towards west on small path we seen Viper snake-(Marathi name- Ghonas). it was very big snake, and it was scary experience for us.
After 30 Minute walking we found good place for camping, first we collect firewood from jungle and make fire then we started making of tent. we brought tent material from us, we make very simple tent it take only 15-20 minute time, and our tent was ready for secure us from wild things in that dense jungle. We cant explain this experience in words. making tent in this kind of wild, isolated place and spend all night , this is wordless experience we ever had.
We gave name " Tent Point" for this area because it was safe and secure area from wild animals and plenty of water source and firewood nearby, so we called that area "Tent Point".
We spent night peacefully, we woke up early morning and make maggi and coffee, and started journey towards Bhairavgad. After 1 hours walking we found ancient structure, it was Samadhi of reputed person in this region, its ancient structure aroundv 300 to 400 years old but we have not idea what exactly that was, so we keep exploring that thing, first we clean this area, there is Shivling on top of that old structure, we clean this Shivling, This Shivling made from Red color rock, it was very beautiful Shivling.
Some old marathi word type on this ancient structure but we cannot read this all word so what exactly type on this structure it was suspense.
After spending one and half hour for cleaning this old structure we started walking towards Bhairavgad, we walk just 15 minute and we understood that we have lost our route, we have not chance to return back, so we keep walking toward dense forest with the help of compass, it was very scary experience for us because it was very dense forest, sunlight not reach to earth, we keep walked towards north west, there is no route, we was moving forward to make route, we climbed 2 small water fall, this was thriller experience, when we was reach top of the waterfall, we seen amazing view of nature. it was very beautiful views.
2 hours walking we reached Patharpunj Bhairavgad route, after two days we seen route and human being, it was very nice experience for us. after that 45 minute walking, we reached Bhairavgad.
First we went into the temple of Bhairavnath,
Then we decided to climb Bhairavgad Fort, the fort is above 200-300 meter height from Bhairavnath temple.
this was very narrow route to reach to fort, after 15 minute walk we reached bastion of fort, its was breathtaking view of Sahyadri Mountain,
Then we started climbing the fort, after 30 minute walk we found Kund, fresh water well. for those trekkers who spent night on top of the Bhairavgad fort this Kund provide fresh water source for them. This Kund was situated on the middle of two mountain, on the below right side from Bhairavgad temple.
Now we reached the Bhairavgad, and we seen the Bison (in marathi " Rangava" or "Gavareda")
There are three Bison, it was amazing experience for us, we seen bison
first time in our life, that time we feel our trekking was truly
successful. that was amazing scene, we never forget in our life.
Now we are top of the Bhairavgad fort, we successfully trek Bhairavgad
fort From Helwak. it was total 25-30 KM. walking distance from dense
forest, it was amazing experience for us, We cross Sahyadri Mountain
range from Helwak to Bhairavgad fort. This night we spent in Bhairavnath
temple, we wake up early morning and started our journey toward
Patharpunj, we reached Patharpunj after one hour walk.
we take tea in villager house, and started our journey towards our home town Vita (Sangli.)
"घाट"
हा शब्द आठवला की आपल्या डोळ्यासमोर सर्वात आधी कोणतं चित्र उभं राहात
असेल ?? डोंगराच्या कुशीतून सळसळत आणि सर्पाकृती वळणं घेत गेलेला काळा
कुळकुळीत डांबरी रस्ता,त्यावर निवांतपणे प्रवास करणारी वाहनं,आजूबाजूला
असलेले सुंदर धबधबे आणि या सगळ्या वातावरणाला पोषक आणि पूरक ठरणा-या
कांदाभजीच्या गाड्या !!! हो ना ?? पण सह्याद्रीत मनमुराद आणि पायाची लाकडं
होईपर्यंत भटकंती करणा-या ट्रेकर्सच्या लेखी मात्र घाटाची परिभाषा काही
वेगळीच आहे !! घाटमाथ्यावरून कोकणात कोसळणा-या कड्यात खोदून काढलेली एक
अरुंद पायवाट,कधी नैसर्गिकरित्या तयार झालेली तर कधी मानवी हातांनी
घडवलेली.....त्यावर गवसणारे गतवैभवाचे पुरावे...आसमंतात नजर फिरताच
सह्याद्रीच्या दुर्गम गडकिल्ल्यांनी आणि रौद्रभीषण कडेकप-यांनी धरलेला फेर
आणि या सगळ्याच्या आकंठ प्रेमात बुडालेली काही वेडी मनं !! घाटवाटांचं खरं
महत्व म्हणजे पूर्वीच्या काळी दळणवळणासाठी वापरली जाणारी पायवाट. यातल्या
अनेक घाटवाटा अत्यंत मोक्याच्या ठिकाणी असल्याने त्यांच्यावर नजर
ठेवण्यासाठी संरक्षक किल्ल्यांची बांधणी केली गेली.त्यामुळे या
डोंगरवाटांचं महत्व अगदी इतिहासकाळापासून अधोरेखित झालं आहे. अगदी आजच्या
काळातही कदाचित गाड्याही जाऊ शकणार नाहीत इतक्या वेगात आणि कमीत कमी वेळात
घाटावरची माणसं कोकणात आणि कोकणातली माणसं घाटावर प्रवास करतात. आजही या
वाटांचा उपयोग व्यापारासाठी केला जातो आणि म्हणूनच ट्रेकर्सच्या लेखी
घाटवाटांचा मान हा अबाधित आहे !! महाराष्ट्रदिना निमित्त सादर होत असलेल्या
या फोटोफिचरमधे आपण अशाच काही अपरिचित, दुर्गम पण वेडावून टाकणा-या काही
निवडक घाटवाटांचा धांडोळा घेतोय आणि या वाटांवर मार्गदर्शकाची भूमिका पार
पडणार आहेत मायबोलीवरचे आपलेच काही अस्सल भटके...तेव्हा पोतडी भरा आणि तयार
व्हा एका भन्नाट सफरीला.....
