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A Day trek to Ratangad
“Ratan” means Jewel in Hindi. This hill fort is indeed jewel in all the hill forts here in Sahyadri. Geographically Ratangad is on the banks of Bhandardara lake in Ahmednagar district at a height of 4255 feet above sea level. With views of lake and highest mountains in Sahyadri looks very much lost in time.
A 1000 years old temple of Lord Shiva, the Amruteshwar Temple at Ratanwadi, is an absolute paragon of high class architecture of our ancestors, is at the base of this fort. Ratangad has still the remains of fortress with bastions and stone walls. Water cistems are usually filled with water throughout the year and trekkers use them as water source. Eastern side of the fort has some fortification left; one can see Rani Mahal here. From the southern side on can see Katrabai and Ajoba fort very close. This side has also some fortification left, but most of it is damaged. Climbing up on the northern side, one can see natural orifice (hole in rock, locally called nedhe) in the rock face, mostly made by wind. Strong winds can be experienced at this orifice. Decend to the western end of the fort leads closest to the Khutta Pinnacle via Trimbak Darwaja.
Trek Name: Ratangad Fort
Height: 4255 ft approx.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Base Village: Ratanwadi
Trek Fees: ₹1050
Trek Date: 11th September, Sunday
Highlights:
Ø Amruteshwar temple, at Ratanwadi, India (the Hemadpanthi style, 16th century)
Ø Huge Cave on the Top
Ø Needle Hole point
Ø Backwater view of Bhandardara Dam
Ø View of Sandhan Valley and Kaslubai Peak
Itinerary:
Day 0: Saturday night, 10th September
Mumbai Local Train Schedule:
23.04 Dadar
23:12 Kurla
23:17 Ghatkopar
23:31 Thane
23:54 Dombivali
00:03 Kalyan
01:18 Kasara
Day 1: Sunday, 11th September
01:30 Assemble at Kasara Railway Station
01:45 Travel Kasara to Ratanwadi by ST / jeep
06:00 Reach base village
06:15 Freshen up, Tea & breakfast
06:45 Start trek towards Ratangad
11:30 Reach On Top Of Ratangad,
12:00 Have Pack Lunch
12.30 Explore the Fort
13:30 Start descending the fort.
16:00 Reach Ratanwadi
16:30 Travel Back to Kasara
Cost Includes:
Transportation from Kasara to Kasara by local Transport
Breakfast & Lunch, Equipment, Guide and Expertise cost
Cost Excludes:
Anything not mentioned above is excluded.
For booking and further details of the trek:
Mumbai Participants may call
#Ashish - 9773595039
#Sharath – 8898909062
Pune Participants may call
#Shashikant – 8446547614
Regards,
EightyDegree Adventure Spots
“Live on the Edges”
(A Company Registered under Ministry of Corporate Affair)