“MY FIRST EXPERIENCE TO RAIGAD FORT”

Bike Ride from Pune - Raigad Fort - Mahad - Dapoli - Pune

King of all forts and Capital of Maratha Empire during Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s time. Raigad Fort. Lot of information about this fort is available in internet. I have visited this fort twice and will be narrating my experience during my visits to this fort. Both visits were different kind. One was during extreme summer and one was during heavy rain. Summer visit was with my friend and rainy season visit with my family. Both the visits are so memorable that I can not stop myself writing down my experiences here. I am not providing the separate how to reach section but will be covered in detail while narrating my experience in this blog. I will put driving directions though.

I am follower of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from childhood and love to read history of Maharaj which provides energy, inspiration and motivation for life.

My First experience to Raigad Fort…… -

Part I – To Raigad Fort

One day myself and my friend Manohar, decided to go to Raigad and return to home on the same day. Total km to cover from our home was (170+170= 340 ) approx. We thought if we start early in the morning we will manage to return on the same day.

I was having Hero Honda passion and Manohar was having The Great Pulsar 150. So obviously we decided to take Pulsar for ride since this was pretty long drive and has to cross Tamhini Ghat on the road.

Started Journey With Full Tank

Mulshi Dam Backwater

To our great destiny, first challenge comes in the morning before we could start the journey. Manohar called me and in low voice said, “Yaar clutch plate geli” (Dude clutch plate gone). We decided a while and within 2 minutes decided not to stay back and continue with 100 cc passion plus which I had. DONE! But yes this has delayed our start time and we started our Journey at around 7.30 in the morning. We were bit disappointed but committed to visit Raigad Fort today only. We carried just a towel, our jackets, helmet, shoes, goggle, one bag and some Money. Journey started from Nigdi to Raigad via Tamhini Ghat. Road was average. We took the road from HInjewadi to Paud and from Paud straight towards Mulshi. It was around 9.30 when we reached to Tamhini ghat. Both of us decided to take break for some time. Since it was summer time we preferred to take rest for 10 min below the huge tree. Road was average and at some places it was terrible. We crossed the Tamhini ghat and took tea at small hotel at the junction where one road goes straight to Khopoli and one towards Mangaon via Nijampur. I visited first time in 2006 and that time we have to go to Mahad and from Mahad to Raigad fort. This route is 170 km from Nigdi. Nowadays direct route from NIjampur to Raigad via Pachad takes you to raigad fort, which is just 135 km from Nigdi.

Spotted Boy Studying on the Road

First Nature Break

That's My Bike

After taking cup of tea we started our journey again and reached at Mangaon on Mumbai Goa Highway. It was around 11.30 to 12.00 noon. Without wasting any more time we continued our journey on Mumbai Goa highway and reached at Mahad at around 1.30 pm. We were hungry by the time we reached Mahad. A clear signboard directs you towards Raigad fort from Mahad. We took left turn and decided to have lunch on Raigad since we heard that Authentic Maharastrian food is available on fort. At around 2.15 pm we reached at base of Raigad. We were skeptical to go by walk on the fort and decided to take Raigad Rope Way route. It was charging around 150 Rs per head. Now I guess it increased to 175 returns fair. That was my first experience for rope way and very much excited to take a tour. Ropeway started and we were hanging in the middle of the route. Started capturing the land below in camera’s which was almost disappearing as we were moving up and up. In just about 10-15 min we reached at the top of the fort.

Raigad Rope Way Website - Raigad Ropeway

Finally at Raigad Ropeway

Map of Raigad Fort in Marathi

Raigad History in Marathi

Braking Mechanism of Ropeway

When we touched to the fort soil has some different kind of energy which took away all our tiredness and we were ready to explore the complete fort. We started from Meena Darwaja which is opposite of the Mahadarwaja (Main door) and reached near the Rajwada Parisar (King palace area). We visited and tried to relate what is what based on the information provided there and based on our readings in the past about this fort. Rajwada parisar has its ruins today consist of the queen's quarters: six chambers, with each chamber having its own private restroom. In front of it creatively constructed Shivaji Mahraja’s darbar attracts everybody’s attention. Construction is such that if you speak from Sinhasan, voice can be heard at the entry of the darbar which is almost 80 m away from there. There are three watch towers still in good shape gives the idea about how the location of watch tower was selected. Next to watch tower there is lake to take care of water needs of people residing at fort. This is named as Gangasagar Lake. We continued out walk and reached at the Bajarpeth (market) (Peoples selling and purchasing goods / food and all required material). Big statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sitting on sinhasan can be seen there. From market we walked towards Jagdishwar temple (This is lord Siva temple). This is still in very good shape. Next to this Chantrapati Shivaji Maharaja’s samdhi take your all attention. We were speechless and spent half an hour there calmly. With all respect we saluted that Samadhi and walked back to other part of fort called Takmak Tok. During that day’s punishment given was being executed at this place called Takmak Tok. Now days railing are provided for safety reasons. Its steep and single rock starting from top and ending straight at the base.  In between we took Limbu Sarbat (Juice) to get some energy. By the time we finished seeing Takmak toak it was around 4.00 pm without having any food.

Way to Rajdarbar

Rani Mahal - Queens Palace

Manohar and Me

Rajwada - King Palace

Watch Towers

Tof - Weapons at Shivajai Maharaja's time

Could not move it by a Inch

Rajdarbar

CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ

JAGDISHWAR TEMPLE ON FORT

SHREE SAMADHI

TAKMAK TOK 

We met one local person the fort who advised to have food hat his small hotel.  Without thinking anything we moved towards his hotel and eat Authentic Tandul Bhakari, Pithale, Thecha and Oniion Bhaji. Ahaha… It was that feeling after we had our late lunch.

By the time it was clear for both of us that its difficult travel back to home and we have had to stay somewhere that night. While climbing down from fort we took the route from Mahdarawaja and avoided rope way. There are some old Tof (That time’s weapon) can be seen on fort at various locations. We returned at the base at around 6.00 pm. Since it was summer day, sunset used to happen at 7 or 7.15pm. Immediately we walked towards ropeway base and took our vehicle. With all respect we salute to capital of Maratha Kingdom Fort Raigad and started to ride back.

We finalized to stay at Mahad city which is an 45 min away from the fort. On the way we visited Jijamata Samdhi at Pachad and spent some 10 minutes there.

TIRED MANOHAR PREFERRED TO LAY ON THE WAY

TATBANDI OF FORT - TREKKING ROUTE

WE PREFERRED TO GO DOWN BY STEPS - AT MAHADARWAJA

JIJAMATA SAMADHI AT PACHAD VILLAGE

VERY TRUE

SUNSET FROM THE BASE OF RAIGAD

I was tired so asked my friend to ride bike towards Mahad and I took pillion seat. We reached at Mahad at about 7.15 pm and started searching good lodge to stay for night. To our good fortune we manage to get a good lodge just behind S.T. stand in just rs 400 for night. We entered in the room and just relaxed on bed for a while.

I started wondering about each and every aspect of the fort, its architecture, how Maharaj selected that fort only to be capital of Maratha Empire, how that big weapons carried on the fort, and slowly I started getting all the answers after visiting the fort. Most of the big and important forts can be seen from Raigad fort and it was difficult for any enemy to attack and take hold of Raigad fort due to its geographical location. It’s at very remote location.

Then we realized that we have to eat something. Lodge was serving only Veg food and since both of us were fond of Non Veg food we moved out of the lodge and started searching for Non Veg food in the market. Took Biryani packed with some rice and got the parcel back to Lodge. We finished our dinner at around 11.00 pm. Without wasting a minute we decided to move towards Dapoli early in the morning and went for memorable sleep.

Route we took till now as below – 

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Part II – From Raigad to Dapoli – Back to home

We woke early in the morning at around 5.30 and were ready by 6.15. I enquired to locals for shortest route to Mahad till the time Manohar was doing check out formalities. We have been advised and directed to go from shortest route and that was our next back luck. We avoided Mumbai Goa highway and took short cut route which was unknown to us, we could not find anybody on that route for almost 25 km stretch. We have come across one Ghat which was looking haunted. Addition to that I doubted Manohar and asked what if our vehicle gets punctures here, nobody to help us. We were wondering why not a single vehicle (either motorcycle or car) passing by on this road) And we got the answer when we started riding down the Ghat. Big stones were spread on the road and work was in progress. If somebody rides on that stones surely tyres were going to get punctured. We stopped for a while and suddenly two Peacocks crossed road in front of us. That was nice scene. I asked Manohar to get down from bike and start walking till we cross the rocky patch. It was 2 km rocky patch on road which Manohar crossed by walk and I was slowly moving with bike from that patch and successfully without any damage to vehicle we crossed patch and Ghat finished. Ah… Some sort of relief. We decided again to join back to Mumbai Goa highway and not to take the shortcut. I do not remember rote name but somehow we managed to join Mumbai Goa highway and rode straight to Khed where we took turn for Dapoli. 

ONCE AGAIN STARTED JOURNEY IN THE MORNING TO DAPOLI

PRETTY SAFE SPEED

POOR ROAD

TRIED TO CAPTURE PEACOCK WHILE RIDING

CHECK OUT OUR HAUNTED ROAD IN GHAT - SURVIVED

AT DAPOLI BEACH

 

POSING FOR PHOTO  ON BEACH

RETURN JOURNEY - FORT PRATAPGAD DARSHAN SPOT

FINALLY REACHED IN PUNE

It was 10.00 am and we were thinking whether to proceed for Dapoli or take u turn and start return Journey for home. We stayed at that junction for 10 min thinking about whether to go or return because Dapoli beach was about 30 km from there. We were 230 km away from our home which required 6-7 hour ride considering 100 cc bike and ghat regions in between. Still we decided to go ahead and visit Dapoli beach. Within 45 min we managed to touch Dapoli beach. It was worth visiting that beach, Clean and calm. We spent about half an hour on beach without any conversation looking at endless sump of water. Then we released that its 12.00 am now and sun was almost on the top of our head. It was time to start return journey. We took some snacks on the beach and started our return journey.

I put a wet cloth on my head and then a helmet, goggle and jacket and started riding back. We decided to touch the Mumbai Goa highway as early as possible and continue the road till Mangaon without wasting any time in between. Since it was summer, we were feeling heat and thought what if tyre gets punctured due to continuous ride? So as and when we were getting stream of flowing water we were stopping there and refreshing ourselves and also throwing water on engine, tyre and vehicle.

RAIGAD ROPEWAY BOARD ON HIGHWAY

No one of us interested to take lunch in-between due to heat and preferred to take fruit juices while riding back to home.  Time was passing by we reached till Mangaon. We crossed around 100 km and once again took Lilbu Sarbat on the junction. I asked now Manohar to take front set and start riding. That was quite relief for me. He started riding and we reached at the base of the Tamhini ghat at around 4.00 pm. We decided to cross the ghat and reach Pirangut before 6.00 pm. Road in the ghat was very poor and so we reached at Pirangut at 6.15 pm. Manohar was screaming because he started getting backache due to bad road and we were riding since morning. Then I took the control of bike and finally reached to Home at 7.00 pm.

We thanked my bike not giving any trouble anywhere on the road and ended our memorable ride. BY this time we were hungry and tired too. I took bath, eat and went for sleep.

We targeted 340 km and ended up with 540 km.

Route for Part II -

View Larger Map

This trip educated me that if you really want to visit some place / do something and things which are out of your control interrupting you, don’t be disheartened, get courage and find way out. This remembers me one dialogue from Movie Om Shanti Om, Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko agar dil se chaho to saari kayanath tumhe usse milane ki koshish me lag jaati hai.(If you really like / want something from bottom of your heart, nature will mae sure you will get that thing).

I could not get time to write about this before this so narrated my experience here today. I am putting down here few pictures of our journey here.

My second experience with my family is completely different and each and every member of my family cherish this experience in their lifetime. In short this experience started with excitement, met with surprises, filled up with real trill, again met with beauty of nature and ended up with lot of memories.

I will be posting it soon. Stay tuned!

Keep travelling and keep exploring same places and different way. 

- महेश  आवटे