Harishchandragad:

My first & favourite & best trek, this the place I would love to spend more time

  Region: Malshej ghat

  District: Ahmednagar

  Range: Harishchandragad

  Height: 4671 feet

  Grade: Moderate/Difficult (depending on the chosen route)

   Duration: 2 days   

 Stay: There are nearly 9 caves in total inculding 2 big caves on Harishchandragad which  can  accomodate around 100 people.

Routes to Harishchandragad:

        1) Khireshwar (Tolar Khind, Rajmarga)

        2) Belpada (Nalichi vaat, Rajmarga, Sadhleghat)

        3) From Pachnai

        4) From Pune 

 1) Khireshwar (Tolar Khind, Rajmarga)

Mumbai - Kalyan - Khubi phata- Khireshwar
Catch a local going towards Kalyan (on Central Line). Get down at Kalyan Station.

The ST depot is just besides the station on the west side. 

Catch any ST going towards Alephata (strictly going via Malshej Ghat)

Ask conductor to stop at khireshwar stop (generally bus doesnt halt there) if he is not ready ask him  for  Khubi Phata. Khubi Phata is just 5 mins after the Malshej Ghat ends.

Get down at Khubi Phata and start walking on the 6 km long dam that just starts besides the road.

Sharing jeep ply from main highway to khireshwar village 

If you are lucky you may get a jeep or just keep walking , beautiful view of dam

Once you reach the base village Khireshwar, the actual trek for Harishchandragad starts !!!

2) Belpada (Nalichi vaat, Rajmarga, Sadhleghat)

Mumbai - Kalyan - Savarne- Belpada

Mind it, this is a very tough route and not at all recommended for freshers !

Ask the ST conductor for a ticket of Savarne. Savarne comes just before the start of Malshej Ghat.

The straight 1 hour walk from Savarne takes you to the base village Belpada (now Walivare)

From Belpada, the trek to Harishchandragad via Nalichi vaat or Rajmarga or Sadhleghat begins !!

3) From Pachnai

Reaching Pachnai from Mumbai is fairly difficult as one has to change several buses and loses a lot of time in transit.

4) From Pune 

Catch an ST from Pune towards Alephata

Pune - Ale phata - Khubi phata - Khireshwar

Get down at Alephata & catch another ST moving for Kalyan (strictly going via Malshej Ghat).

To trek Harishchandragad via Tolar Khind (Khireshwar), get down at Khubi Phata. Khubi Phata comes just before the Malshej Ghat.

Best & recommended way to do trek is via Khireshwar

Food & Stay at top

A few villagers at the top of the fort make the food arrangements. The meal includes bhakri, bhaaji, daal, bhat, etc. along  with snacks such as kanda bhaji, pohe, tea, etc. They stay in a couple of caves near Harishchandreswar temple. Call Pundalik: 9869054960

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Will write about the story soon..