One Day Trek to Manikgad on 23rd June 2013

First shower of monsoon will be arriving and a green carpet will soon get spread all over the mountains in Sahyadries. We at Nisarga Bhraman are glad to announce our first monsoon trek to the fort Manikgad in Karjat - Panvel region which offers a good hike of 3 Hrs approx from the base.

Photo By: Bhavin Africawala

Type: Hill Fort
Grade: Medium
Height: 1867 Feet above MSL
Region: Karjat / Panvel

Manikgad is situated on a hill in North Konkan near Chawk and can be seen while travelling on Mumbai - Pune Highway. The fort has coupld of water cisterns and remains of settlements and fortification. The fort was used as a watch tower and offers a commanding view from top. Forts like Karnala, Irshaal, Prabal, Kalavantin can be seen from top.

Note: There is no water source on the way from base village to Manikgad top. So carry ample amount of water with you.

Plan:

Sunday, 23rd June 2013 - 
Meet at Panvel Railway Station at 7:30am sharp. We will be taking a Slow train to Panvel reaching Kurla at 6:48am, Vashi at 7:07am, reaching Panvel at 7:37am
Travel to base village by public transport
Breakfast, Introduction, Rules and Regulations
Start Trek to Fort Manikgad at 9:00 am
Explore the fort and lunch atop at 1:00 pm
Start descend at 2:00 pm 
Back to the base village at 5:00pm
Travel back to Panvel by 6:00 pm
Reach Mumbai by 8:00 pm

Note: For Pune Participants, transport can be arranged from Karjat provided sufficient number of participants. One has to reach Karjat by 8:00am

The cost of this trek for registered members is Rs. 350/- and Rs. 30/- extra for others.

To register for this event, contact our Team - 

Sameer Patel: 9820972043
Hemant Naik: 9819786136
Parag Vartak: 9167966042

Here is a list of things to be carried for the trek -

1. Haversack to put in everything to be carried for the trek
2. Water 3 Liters at least (Compulsory)
3. Lunch for the day (Compulsory)
4. Windcheater, napkin, towel, extra clothes
5. Camera and something to munch on (Optional)
6. Personal medicines required if any
7. Wear proper footwear. Avoid Chappal, Sandal etc.
8. Identity Proof

Few rules that we would like people to follow:

1. Alcohol will strictly not be permitted on the trek. Anyone found in possession of the same or consuming it will be expelled from the trek.
2. Smoking will only be permitted after consultation with the Leader and the person will have to move away from the group to smoke. Smoking will only be permitted while we stop at a clearing and not otherwise. 
3. The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained.
4. Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.
5.  Please do not wear any jewelry or gold chains/rings. 
6. Please do not litter, we believe in the saying, “When you go to the mountain leave only your footprints and bring back only memories”

Fireflies Special Trek to Rajmachi on 15th June 2013

The cool monsoon winds will start blowing in from the sea’s to quell the summer heat, the looming black clouds will start to make their presence felt. Soon the rains will arrive in their full glory to quench the thirst of the parched earth.

The small window in time just before the rains arrive gives us the opportunity to witness a beautiful spectacle of dazzling fireflies. It’s the mating season for these fireflies & as a result thousands of them light up around trees and shrubs making it a rare and beautiful sight.
We, at Nisarga Bhraman, would be heading for a Trek through the forest of Rajmachi to try and capture this scene in our eyes and camera if possible.

Shrivardhan Fort of Rajmachi                                                                               Photo By: Sameer Patel

Manaranjan Fort          Photo By: Sameer Patel

Here is some info About Rajmachi:

Type: Hill Fort

Height: 2710 Feet above MSL (Approx)
Grade: Easy

Endurance: High (3.5hrs Trek)
District: Pune
Region: Karjat/Lonavla
Base Village: Kondivade/ Tungarli
 
Plan:

Rendezvous: Meet at 06:30AM (Sharp) on Saturday, 15th June 2013 at Dadar station on Platform number 4 at the extreme Karjat end of the platform, for the uninitiated: The Motorman’s end of the platform!.
We will be taking the 07:03AM fast local for Karjat. The train halts at Kurla, Ghatkopar, Thane, Dombivali, & Kalyan, onwards on all stations. Those staying enroute can get in at these stations.

NOTE 1: Please ensure that you Purchase return tickets till Karjat.
NOTE 2: Late comers will have to board Deccan Express leaving Dadar @ 07.20AM from PF.5. The Local tickets are not valid on the express which will halt only at Thane, Kalyan, & Karjat.

The Itinerary for the trek is as as given below:

Saturday 15th June 2013 - 

• Train from Dadar to Karjat (~2.0hrs)
• Rules and Regulations, Breakfast (~0.20hrs)
• Walk to Sri Ram Pul (~0.25hrs)
• Rickshaw to Kondivade (~0.5hrs)
• Trek from Kondivade to Tamarind Tree (~0.25hrs)
• Break (0.15hrs)
• Trek from Tamarind Tree to First Plateau (~0.25hrs)
• Trek from First Plateau to Mezzanine Plateau (~0.25hrs)
• Break (0.15hrs)
• Trek from Mezzanine Plateau to Second Plateau (~0.25hrs)
• Break (0.15hrs)
• Trek from Second Plateau to Overhang Rock (~0.5hrs)
• Trek from Overhang Rock to Third Plateau (~0.5hrs)
• Break (0.15hrs)
• Trek from Third Plateau to Fence (~0.5hrs)
  
  
• Break (0.15hrs)
• Walk to Rajmachi/Udhewadi village (~0.15hrs)

On getting to the village, a sumptuous unlimited veg meal awaits us.Relax & Proceed for sightseeing of Manaranjan Fort in the early evening.
After dusk, we will proceed towards the forest to see the fireflies.


Dinner would have an option of Veg/Non Veg.

Lake at Rajmachi                                         Photo By: Sameer Patel

Sunday 16th June 2013 -

• Morning bells would be sounded at 6.00AM Sharp 
• After morning ablutions, we would head for sightseeing to the forts Srivardhan
• After summiting the fort, we would head back to the village for Breakfast and we get ready to descend back to Kondhane Village
• Visit to Kondhane Caves if time permits
• Veg Lunch at village House
• Rickshaw to Karjat

We would be reaching Karjat by 4.30PM on Sunday & take the local for Mumbai CST.

The cost of this trek for registered Members of Nisarga Bhraman would be Rs. 650/-for Veg food OR Rs. 700/- for Non veg food and Rs 50/- extra for others. 

Fireflies Show                                    Photo By: Hemant Naik

> Travel from Karjat to Kondivade & Back by Private Transport
> 2 Breakfast & Tea
> 2 Unlimited Veg Lunch & 1 unlimited Veg/NonVeg Dinner.
> Homestay in a village house @ Rajmachi

If interested, please contact on the nos. below for registration.

Rohit Nayak: 9167416873
Hemant Naik: 9819786136
Sameer Patel: 9820972043

Here is a list of all the things that need to be carried for the trek:

1. 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. 
2. At least 1 set of spare clothes with a towel and napkin
3. Soap and other accompaniments
4. Optional: Camera & something to munch on
5. At least 3 liter of water (COMPULSORY)
6. Windcheater
7. A good torch with a 2 spare set of batteries (COMPULSORY).
8. Sleeping Bag/Mat to sleep on, Blanket or Chaddar to pull over in the night
9. Personal medicines if any
10. Wrap everything in plastic

Few rules that we would like people to follow:

1. Alcohol will strictly not be permitted on the trek. Anyone found in possession of the same or consuming it will be expelled from the trek.
2. Smoking will only be permitted after consultation with the Leader and the person will have to move away from the group to smoke. Smoking will only be permitted while we stop at a clearing and not otherwise. 
3. The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained.
4. Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.
5. Please do not wear any jewelry or gold chains/rings. 
6. Please do not litter, we believe in the saying, “When you go to the mountain leave only your footprints and bring back only memories”

Here are some photographs of the earlier trek when we visited this fort couple of years back.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rohitvnayak/NBTrekToRajmachiOn28thOct2006#
http://picasaweb.google.com/hemant.treks/Rajmachi26Jul09#