Hi Friends,
We at Trek Mates India are inviting you on its 2nd birthday celebration. TMI has arranged an overnight trek to Bhandardara-Region (Ratangad-Sandhan Valley) on 12th -13th Feb’11.
Little info about the fort.
Type: Hill Fort
Height: 4255 feet
Grade: Medium - easy
Base Village: Ratanwadi/ Samrad
Ratan means Jewel in Hindi. This hill fort is indeed jewel in all the hill forts here in Sahyadri. It is located in the district of Ahmednagar and is located about 4255 feet above sea level. It lies in the Ajoba mountain range surrounded by great mountains of Kulang, Alang, Kalsubai, Katarabai, Ajoba and Ghanchakkar.
Geographically Ratangad is at the banks of Bhandardara lake of Ahmednagar district. With views of lake and highest mountains in Sahyadris looks very much lost in time.
At the base of this fort is an ancient Lord Shiva (Amurteshwar) temple. About 1000 years old temple of Lord Shiva, the Amruteshwar Temple at Ratanwadi, is an absolute paragon of high class architecture of our ancestors.
Ratangad has still the remains of fortress with bastions and stone walls. Cave on the top is cut from the rock face and can easily accommodate 25 people at a time. Water cisterns are usually filled with water throughout the year and trekkers use them as water source. Eastern side of the fort has some fortification left; one can see Rani Mahal here. From the southern side on can see Katrabai and Ajoba fort very close. This side has also some fortification left, but most of it is damaged. Climbing up on the northern side, one can see natural orifice (hole in rock, locally called nedhe) in the rock face, mostly made by wind. This orifice is big enough to be seen from base of the fort and can accommodate about 6-7 people at a time. Strong winds can be experienced at this orifice. Climbing down the nedhe to the western end of the fort leads closest to the Khuta pinnacle via triambak Darwaza.
Day one
Take first Kasara local and get down at Kasara,
From Kasara take Akole (7.05am) bus and get down at Shendi (9.00am)
(We need to rush to catch this bus else we will miss everything)
Breakfast,
From here reach Ratanwadi by boat through back waters of Bhandardara Dam (11.00am),
Visit Amruteshwar Temple.
11.30pm start the trek,
Reaching atop by 2.30pm,
Lunch break,
Fort exploration (Nedha, Konkan Darwaja, Water tanks, Gol Buruj and reach the Bastion at Katrabai cliffs),
Start descending via Trimbak Darwaja by 5pm.
Reach Samrad in next two hours.
Evening refreshment, dinner and retire for the day at Samrad.
Day Two
Day stars early morning at 6 am.
After tea and breakfast we will be visiting Sandhan valley.
Explore Sandhan valley and places nearby.
Return back to Samrad for lunch.
Start our return journey.
We will be returning to Mumbai by 9.30-10.00pm tentatively.
Identity Proof (Must),
Lunch for Saturday (Must),
2 liters of water,
Candles and TORCH with extra batteries (Must),
Towel, a napkin, Extra Pair of clothes,
Good trekking shoes, extra pair of socks,
Good Bedding (Sleeping bag / Two bed sheets etc) (Must),
Camera (Optional),
Cap, etc,
Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc,
Medicine those if u require usually (Optional),
A haversack to put in all the things to be carried....so that one has ones hands free while trekking.
(Please do not carry sling bags or Jholas.)
Please avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments.
Travelling from Kasara to Kasara,
Food and shelter facilities, (Except lunch on Saturday)
(Don’t miss this local or else we will miss our 1st bus from Kasara)
Train No. N-3
Departure Slow
MUMBAI CST 4.05
DADAR 4.23
THANE 5.02
KALYAN 5.32
KASARA 7.01
Please keep 10 min time in buffer as there may be fluctuations in train timings.
Train No. N-3
Departure Slow
MUMBAI CST 4.05
DADAR 4.23
THANE 5.02
KALYAN 5.32
KASARA 7.01
Please keep 10 min time in buffer as there may be fluctuations in train timings.
For more enquiries and Registrations, please contact
Mumbai Co-ordinators:
Nilesh Patil: 0829 133 1234.
VikramSingh: 86520 28262
Manoj Kalwar: 98707 75633
Pune Co-ordinator:-
Zeenat: 9881736231/ 9272182577
For more of Trek Mates India on the Net Please visit us@
Blogspot: http://trekmates.blogspot.com/
TMI Diaries: http://trekmatesdiary.blogspot.com/
Orkut Communities:
TMI Mumbai: www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=58853326
TMI Pune: http: www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=106377144
FaceBook Groups:
TMI Mumbai: www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=76034705414
TMI Pune: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=155919984426659
To get Upadates about our trek on mobile, sms 'join TrekMates_123' to 92195 92195
Few rules we would like our participants to follow: We follow a strict policy of "no trace" trekking, "Take nothing but memories and photographs, leave nothing but footprints".
Blogspot: http://trekmates.blogspot.com/
TMI Diaries: http://trekmatesdiary.blogspot.com/
Orkut Communities:
TMI Mumbai: www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=58853326
TMI Pune: http: www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=106377144
FaceBook Groups:
TMI Mumbai: www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=76034705414
TMI Pune: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=155919984426659
To get Upadates about our trek on mobile, sms 'join TrekMates_123' to 92195 92195
Few rules we would like our participants to follow: We follow a strict policy of "no trace" trekking, "Take nothing but memories and photographs, leave nothing but footprints".
Do Not Litter: Participants are requested to carry the waste back to the city and dispose it off in dustbins.
No Smoking, tobacco and alcohol: Smoking cigarette, chewing tobacco or related products and consuming alcohol is strictly prohibited on the trek. Anyone found in possession of the same or consuming it will be expelled from the trek. NO REFUND will be provided.
(Smoking will only be permitted before the trek starts and after the trek is over with prior consultation of the Leader and the person will have to move away from the group to smoke.)
(Smoking will only be permitted before the trek starts and after the trek is over with prior consultation of the Leader and the person will have to move away from the group to smoke.)
Respect the Heritage: Participants should not deface or damage any monument by writing or scribbling on them. Please help us to conserve and preserve our heritage along with our trek mates.
Be a group: It is of utmost importance that all participants stick together in the group, in the event of any ‘deviation’ by the participant without the consent of the ‘Trek Leader’, he/she/they will be considered as ‘Independent/s’ and will no longer be considered as a part of the group.
Pay attention: Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.
In case of any injury, sickness, accident, death or any other casualty or loss or damage of valuables or luggage or any equipment; Trek Mates India, it’s instructors, organizers, volunteers or any other person involved wholly or partially, either individually or jointly, shall not be responsible in any manner for the same and no claims of the participants, parents, guardians, relatives or friends of participants will be entertained.
Any violation of the above rules will be dealt with seriously, and may involve expulsion from the trek or event, and no refund is admissible in such cases.
Adventure activity is arranged considering normal weather. In case of occurrence of any natural calamities, if event is cancelled, in such circumstances NO REFUND will be provided.
The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained. Trek mates India reserves all the right to change/deviate/cancel the plans without prior notice. No arguments or refunds will be entertained.
Pay attention: Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.
In case of any injury, sickness, accident, death or any other casualty or loss or damage of valuables or luggage or any equipment; Trek Mates India, it’s instructors, organizers, volunteers or any other person involved wholly or partially, either individually or jointly, shall not be responsible in any manner for the same and no claims of the participants, parents, guardians, relatives or friends of participants will be entertained.
Any violation of the above rules will be dealt with seriously, and may involve expulsion from the trek or event, and no refund is admissible in such cases.
Adventure activity is arranged considering normal weather. In case of occurrence of any natural calamities, if event is cancelled, in such circumstances NO REFUND will be provided.
The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained. Trek mates India reserves all the right to change/deviate/cancel the plans without prior notice. No arguments or refunds will be entertained.
Thanks and Regards,
Team - Trek Mates India.
