Hey guys this is Arunesh from Nashik, Maharashtra,INDIA. I am an engineer who loves to travel a lot. Not just travel, I also love to Trek a lot. I go to Trek once or twice a month with my friends. Every time we went to any Trek the feeling we got while trekking always wanted to have something more next time. In the month of October 2018 ,I with my friends decided to go for a trek.
So i came up with the Aundha fort. By watching the reviews on Youtube and google,being near the Patta Fort (Vishram Gad) it was filled with Windmills and had a quite a reputation of a Difficult trekking spot. So like some thrill hungry person everyone very quickly accepted to give a visit to the fort.
For those who Don't know about Aundha fort. The fort is situated in Nashik, Maharashtra. In a Village of Aundhewadi. This fort was an Maratha Fort , after them fort was captured on 11 January 1688 by Moghul army headed by Matabarkhan. He appointed Shyamsingh as the chief of the fort. Later this fort was captured by Peshwas in 1761. Finally in 1818 this fort was won by the British.
We decided to go on Saturday of month of October, when all the rain had gone to rest and left the awesome scenery and atmosphere behind. Well this was our first time to visit this place for any of us. So nobody knew how was the road or had any contact to know about the way, but everyone had that positive attitude that whatever happens we will reach the Fort. So we decided to meet at Pathardi Phatta at 9.00 am morning and selected the shortest way to go to Aundha Fort which was from Bhagur and carry out 2 water bottles each with some medikit and some food from home.
The day arrived, it was a awesome weather with some rain at night. So everybody gathered at Pathardi phatta till 10.00 am an hour late. Without arguing about the time, We started on our way to Aundha Fort. We took a break for a tea after nonstop one and half hour of travelling at Agustkhind Village. We asked the about way to the fort to the localities over there. They told us we have head on straight road, which will lead to a footpath like road and climb a mountain with our bikes. After hearing about the way, we had a concept that path would be broad as he told us to climb a mountain with bike to the fort. So after tea break we started our trip on straight road toward the fort. After a while we hit on footpath road. It was just like a way we used to trek on any mountain. I mean literally the way even had the natural rock steps that we thought would only be way of walking from there. but our friends insisted on going on bikes. So listening them we went ahead, sometimes the way was so cozy and steep that person sitting at the back had to push the bike ahead and the biker had to take care to not to let the bike fall during the climb.
Road after we left Agustkhind Village in Bhagur
But after an experience like dirt bike track, we finally reached at the top of the mountain from where we could see the destination ahead of us. so we continued to follow the foothpath.
This image we took after we climb our way through bikes from steep and rocky way coming from Aguskhind Village
Soon after sometime we hit on a good fine tar road while forwarding toward the Aundhewadi Village. While heading towards village we could see windmills on the way.
Within 10- 15 Minutes we arrived at Aundhewadi Village. Localities of village seamed to be of very kind nature so we asked them for the way ahead and for spot to park our bikes. After Listening to the way we immediately started our trek. The Fort was right behind the village but before it we had to climb a mountain before it.
AUDHEWADI VILLAGE
After climbing the first mountain we saw windmills beside road we were talking on the way. That road was connected to Konambe Village which was the easiest route to this fort. After moving further we saw piles of rocks covered with forest grass and plants covering mountain way to the Fort. Seeing this as a challenge we climbed those rock piles. While climbing there was a fear coming to my mind that if even a single rocks falls on me, I would get injured and as a matter of fact hospital is way to long from here. So i was very careful while climbing. i think this thought must have been in everyyones mind but nobody wanted to talk about it. After sometime we climbed the piles of rocks and steep rock stairs climb started.
While climbing we saw some small children's of 5th or 6th std coming down from the Fort. Seeing them we got motivated and started to think that if small children could climb this fort, than we adults could also do it more easily. after this there came a steep rock with iron chains which we saw on Youtube. Everybody looked thrilled and one by one climbed up with those iron chains. Thank god the iron chains were present without it, Climbing would have gotten more difficult than it was.
After moving more futher we saw another iron chain on the rock, but this time the climb was not steep but straight like we could have done rappling on it, it was that straight about 11 -12 feet straight vertical.
While climbing due to no proper balancing i slipped a little injuring my fingers a little but a minor injury didn't stop me from climbing. After climbing we saw a cave and a bell with some statues of gods i guess and also a water tank where some sadhus were already staying for some reason. At that time all our supply of water was drained. Sadhus told us the water was drinkable so we took our chance to drink those water and the water was so cold and fresh and tasty that we filled all the bottles with, knowing we would come this way again. But anyway we filled it and started to climb again.
After climbing we finally reached at the peak of the fort. the scenery was so awesome that i cant describe in words. Greenery , Lake View, C shaped Mountains and Sun was about set. Everybody started to take photos, Selfies to make the memory. Wandering above we saw a staircase leading to a gallery where previous Maratha's or Mughal's must have there watch post over there. From those post you could see a wonderful C like shape of mountains and the Patta fort (Vishram Gad)
Staircase Leading to the watch post Gallery
After this we eat our food and started descending to our bikes. By now it was around 5 pm means we had to ascend very fast before the night falls or the way we came could be more difficult at night.
But what can you say when we reached to our bikes it was night. Even though we had a choice of going safely from Sinner but due to it took more 20 km all decided we should go we came. Well imagine the road you were barely managing to climb on rocks by bike with the help of copilot pushing now you are returning from there in cold dark night. But Somehow with some courage, and talent of driving we did it. The thrill we got just experiencing those roads and the climb made my day a life experiencing day that i will remember till i live. The memories of this day means a lot to me, it teached me a lesson of life that- Even if I don't know the way but have a goal, the Friends i made will always help me to reach it, giving courage to me to take steps that even I am not sure of. Thanks to all my Friends and family.
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