Eco-Adventure Trek Koyna Valley "A Trekkers Dream"  covering - Koyna Nagar - Passing Jungle Jaigad - Dicholi Village - Vasota Fort and Jungle - Tapola.

Transport covering - Train - Bus - Jeeps - Ferry - Volvo - Trekking

Chilling Koyna Adventure – Tentative Schedule

Write-up on Koyna given after the schedule

Schedule:

Start Date: January 24, 2007. (Wednesday)

8:20 pm – Board Mahalakshmi Express Train from CST  (Train no. 1011).

8:40 pm – Board train from Dadar Station

January 25, 07 (Thursday)

Arrival at Karad Station early morning.

Board bus for Koyna Nagar.

Forest Department Formalities

Board Jeep for

Trek from Koyna Nagar by passing Jungli Jaigad to Dicholi Village or Zhodole. This area is more densely forested than Vasota and with lots of wild life especially Bears and Indian Gaur (More popularly know as Bison locally).

Stay for the night at Dicholi or Zhodole.

Take ferry (Trawler) for Vasota Base (40 km);

Trek to Nageshwar

Dinner chilling out in Camp Fire

January 26, 2007 (Friday)

Early Morning Nature Trek leading upto Vasota Fort;

Exploring Vasota Fort; Enjoying View of Babu Kada (2nd largest kada in Maharashtra) and Old Vasota Fort

Back to Base Camp Vasota for Lunch

Evening Exploring Forest around the lake

January 27, 2007

Exploring Forest Around Vasota region.

January 28, 2007. (Saturday)

Early morning – Board Ferry for Tapola.

Take Bus or Jeep from Tapola to Mahabaleshwar.

Shopping in Mahabaleshwar market if time permits.

Board Bus from Mahabaleshwar to Mumbai

Expected back in Mumbai January 28, 2007 late evening or Night.  

A Brief Background about the place; more details will be provided shortly.

Nature Knights Team for Koyna Valley Expedition.

1)      M Asif - M; 2)      Nimesh Patel - M; 3)      Dnyanesh Golatkar - M; 4)      Vipin - M; 5)      Vandana Rao - F; 6)      Yugandhar Madidi – M; 7)      Ketan - M; 8)      Ketan’s Friend - M; 9)      Shitu - F; 10)  Shitu’s Friend – F; 11)  Rubina – F; 12)  Jay - M; 13)  Gautam – Tentative

Only few more seats left.

Expedition includes train travel by bus, Jeep travel, Ferry, ST and Volvo; Trekking and Scrambling through Dense Forest to Explore Forts; Caves; Remote Temples; Camp Fire etc. ...

Be prepared to rough it out for the tough eco-adventure outing.

We will be having 1-team meetings before the trek; where we will discuss in details preparation required. Last date for registration is January 10, 2007.

Koyna Forest Reserve.

Koyna region is trekker’s fantasy come true; Koyna river nests high up in the valleys of Sahyadri, is the region around which Koyna reserve lies. Koyna reserve was declared a sanctuary in 1985 covers over the talukas Javli and Patan covering over 422 square kilometers, extending upto Ratnagiri.

Koyna is accessible from Mahabaleshwar and Satara. Bamnoli is the nearest town to Koyna. The ferry ride fom Bamnoli to Koyna is an experience of sheer beauty passing through Shivsagar lake, which one has to cross to reach the foothills of Vasota Fort. The distant peaks of the Sahyadris seem to be watching you and wishing you a good journey. The lake is encircled by a ring of thick green, and your eyes will wander over the soothing scene till your soul is complete at peace.

One tongue of the Shivsagar lake touches the foothills of Vasota fort. This is where the boat will dock. Alight from the boats, and you will see a narrow nala or canal, traversing through fronds of trees. If you walk along the edges of this canal, you could startle a bison, a bear, or some other animal, behind any bush.

If you cross the nala, you can walk up to the Indal checkpoint at Vasota Fort. There are remnants of ancient buildings here. The karvad abounds. A short brisk walk will help you catch up with the nala, which again makes an appearance. There is a dilapidated stone temple of Lord Maruti some distance ahead. The evergreen forests of Koyna now begin to envelop you.

The jungles of Koyna are so thickly wooded, that at times you are cocooned in a dark green tunnel with barely any sunlight filtering through. The sky too is not visible. Whenever the sun touches the ground, it is in the form of a shaft of light that looks magical. A wide variety of trees (Anjan, Hirda, Savar, Behda, Ain, Mango, etc); both common and are found here along with shade loving medicinal plants (Karvy, Kadipatta, Shikakai, tamalpatra, vavding and others).

The Koyna reserve has three sections – Vasota, Maharkhor and Indavli Met. All the major forest of Indavli, Kusavli, Sindhi, Bavla, Morvi Valley have been included in this park. The natural protection which the boundaries of the Shivsagar lake have been blessed with, has made the Koyna reserve an excellent example of a forest that can endure anything. The presence of the massive lake supports a large variety of animal life. Tigers, Leopards, Bears, Bison, Wild Cats, Wild Boars, Saayal, Byenas, Wild Dogs, Monkeys, Hares, and many small species, all add to the magnificent variety of this park. Hunting obviously is not allowed and there are strick instructions against disturbing the environment.

The Vasota fort is located centrally. The rivers of Koyna, Kaandatki and Solshi are visible from the reserve. The area receives an annual precipitation of 200 inches, and thus form a breeding ground for various birds and insects.

Vasota Fort lies deep in the forest of Koyna reserve at a height of 3840 feet above mean sea level. The fort is covered by thick forest and number of water bodies. Its history dates back to Raja Bhoj in 1170, when Raja Bhoj of Kokhapur’s Shilahar dynasty constructed it. This fort was captured by Chatrapati Shivaji in 1665. During the peshwa rule, the fort was used to keep jailed British soilders. In 1817, the British capturing it using full force attack in the process destroying most of the fort.

To trek the for one option is to take a 15 km ferry ride upto foothills of Vasota fort in Shivsagar Lake. One mouth of the river forks into the forest around Vasota. The rivulet that flows down the sides of Vasota empties into the Shivsagar lake. Following the rivulet takes you to the Handal post. This was important toll gate and checkpost. Today, only stone ruins remains. The canal continues further to snake past a dilapidated temple of Lord Hanuman.

Trek to Vasota will test any trekkers fitness….so be prepared for a good trek.

More information on Makrantgad will be provided by me on my next version of update.

Writeup on Jungli Jaigad

A small and little known fort near the Koyna dam. It is situated in the thick forest infested with wild animals. From Bombay proceed to Karad by rail or by bus. Take morning bus from Karad to Chiplun and get down at Koynanagar and ahead to Navja (11 Km). From Navja walk northwest to a rain gauge down to about 15 m long and 1 m wide. This is also cracked due to an earthquake. This is the entrance to the fort, Kumbharli ghat joins Chiplun to Helwak and Karad by a motorable road.

South of Jungli Jaigad and the Koyna dam lies the most unknown part and thick forest of the range. Immediately after the Karad-Helwak-Kumbharti ghat-Chiplun road, lies Bhairongad. Going further south it goes all along in some of thickest and animal infested forest. The track goes from Helwak to Bhairongad 12 km, Patharpunj, 5km – Rundiv 13 km – ona kuchha road along the ghat to Chandel, 15 km ghote, 12 km Udgir, 15 km to Lavala, 16 km. Lavala is on the Kolhapur – Kalkapur  - Ambe ghat – Sakharpa road. South of the road is the Panhala – Vishalgad range.

The southernmost motorable road is Phonda ghat, south of this range.

This is a relatively unknown and unspoilt area. A long trek would offer a delightful time.

Mahabaleshwar the Monsoon Poetry and winter dance.

I never was a poet and possibly might never be, but last time I spend a week in Mahabaleshwar during monsoon almost made me one. There is no other place more magical and poetic in monsoon than the Mighty Mahabaleshwar the highest hill station in Maharashtra residing at well over 4500 feet above sea level.

The pleasant breeze tickles your belly, the clouds sets stage for something mysterious to happen. The rains and gushing waterfalls have enough power to flush out the toughest toxic in your body, mind and soul. A Mahabaleshwar trip leaves you as fresh as it’s carrot.

You may get tempted to take a dive into the into the river of clouds covering the valleys to see if you can swim in it or even challenge the powerful breeze to throw you back if you dive in it.

Nowhere will you find as many beautiful valleys the mighty Koyna Valley, Krishna Valley, Veena Valley and Blue valley.

You may sit in a strawberry garden having a crush of strawberries or sip a cup of coffee at Veena Lake educating you with rich history of Mahabaleshwar or just do noting.

I thought of giving myself another chance to be a poet, would you also like to try your experience with Poetry, History, Geography or simply doing nothings.

Recreations at Mahabaleshwar.

Sir B. D. Petit library. Hindu Gynkhana. The Mahableshwar Club. Parsi Gymkhana. Horse Riding.

Photography. Walking. Boating in Venna lake. Bird watching. Study of Botony.

Various points at Mahabaleshwar.

1. Wilson Point also called as Sunrise point. The highest point. 4710 ft above sea level. It is a vast plateau. There are three masonary round platforms to see the sunrise. You are advised to see sunrise from platform no:2. You can see sunset also from this point.

2. Connaught peak: The second highest point. Presents panoramic view of a green carpet. You can see sunrise as well as sunset from this point.

3. Elphiston point: The first point of M'war/ Overlooking two valleys, koyna on the left & savitri on the right.

4. Marjorie Point: shoes several ranges of the Sahyadri range.

5. Castle Rock: On the way to the Arthur's seat shows savitri valley.

6. Arthur's Seat: Queen of all points. Some compare the stractification of rocks on southern side to the world famous stratification of rocks of the Grand Canyon of Colarado. USA. It is facinating to see the barren deep valley Savitri on the left & shallow green valley on the right. It is more facinating to know that Arthur's seat is the only place showing geographical distinction of kokan & Desh (Deccan), two territories of Mahabaleshwar, so clear & so near.

If you go by the steps you come across a spring known as Tiger's spring which is supposed to be the source of the river Savtri. Immidiately below the seat is window point. You have to go deep by steps to reach the window point.Kates Point: Offers breathtaking view of krishna valley & deep waters of the dhom dam. From southern side it looks like an elephants head. There is also an echo point.

7. Baghdad Point: A very beautiful point. It goes past village Moleshware on the way. You see a superb scenic view of the back waters of koyna dam on your left, river solshi in front of you with tiny villages as if sqatting on river banks & vast green slopes of M'war plateau on your right.

8. Babington Point: Presents a view of saddleback & Koyna valley.

9. Northcote Point: Presents koyana valley view & saddle back.

10. Falkland Point: & below it the Artists Point also called as lovers point by some nature lover, presents beautiful koyana & valley below you.

11. Carnac Point: is on the same way of falkland point.

12. Fitzgerald Point: same view of Bombay point.

13. Bombay Point: very popular sunset point. Shows the sahyadri range koyana valley & pratapgarh.

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