Chandragad, Arthur's Seat on 11 Jan 2009

Ameya, Zaheer & I took Thane-Khed-Sheldi Bus from Khopat Bus Stand at 10.30 pm on 10th Jan. Zaheer did not have a reserved seat. Ameya enquired with Driver, if he can seat in Driver's Cabin. ST Driver calmly replied "ST cha Surakshitata ani Saujanya Saptaha chalu aahe, aaj shevatcha divas aahe, udya pasun basale tar chalel......" We reached Poladpur at 3.00am. Killed time till 4.45 am, drinking Tea and eating Omlets, Burji-Pav near ST Stand. From Poladpur Autos are available for Dhavale & charge Rs. 350/- for 3 seats. In our hired jeep, we reached Dhavale at 6 am.

We met our group here. Shri. Dinkar More was kind enough to make our group’s arrangement at his relative’s (Mrs. Vandana More) place. After a brief rest, we started for Chandragad (Chandragad is to the east of Dhavale) at 8.00 am., at 8.10 am reached a small water source, filled water bottles & started climbing Chandrgad. Our group split here. Pratish & Varsha decided to go to Arthur's Seat skipping Chandragad, Maruti Salvi (Guide) accompanied them. Ameya, Aniket (Goldie), Zaheer, Supriya, Suryansh, Kaustubh, myself & Shankar More (Guide), were to climb Chandragad first and then Arthur's Seat. Climb to Chandragad is steep and needs tackling lot of scree patches on exposed route. Fortunately, we did not climb down the same way. After climbing an easy rock patch we entered Chandragad. All along the way Boards with “Om Namah Shivay” are placed still a guide is mandatory if you are thinking of trekking upto Arthur’s Seat from here. It was 9.45 am by then. View from Chandragad is breathtaking. A magnificent panorama of Sahyadri's ruggedness is seen from Chandragad. The valleys of Raireshwar (Nakhinda) and Koleshwar fall straight 3000 / 3200 ft in Konkan. Top of Chandragad is small and 30 minutes are enough to see the top. An open shiva temple is on top. There are two tanks on northern end (one seems perennial), few on Western side (below the shiva temple) and one near the Shiva Temple.

Raireshwar from Chandragad

We started descending at 10.45 am. We reached the col between Chandragad and adjacent Mountain and descended on (opposite side i.e. Eastern side of Chandragad) Dhavale - Arthur's Seat Route through a dry nallah. This, not-so-good-through-the-Karvi route was our Guide's find to save time traversing. On reaching the proper route we had our lunch of Methi Kharis, Fruits & Fruit Juice. Except Ameya and me, no one had carried anything to eat, either over-estimating themselves or under-estimating the trek. Luckily for them, anticipating their poor logistics we carried lots to eat & drink.

Post Lunch we started at 1 pm. I was getting intimation of non-cooperation from the body which was not used to such treacherous trek/activity since past more than a year. I reduced my pace drastically and started taking breaks frequently anticipating that cramps are the next thing to happen, if I rush. Kaustubh was with me. After an hour we had Goldie for Company. He was in a bad shape than mine. He told our guide to carry my sack & I happily gave it to him. Now there was no trace of the other group who was far ahead of us. Slow and not very steady was our progress. We initially climbed the hill (which is to the south of Chandragad) and then traversed the hill which was on our left. From here Chandragad was seen some where deep in the valley. This whole route has a dense tree cover. Again a climb and we reached on West-East ridge coming down from Arthur’s Seat. On South we could see Madhu-Makrandgad & Pratapgad. Here at 4.15 pm we met the other group that was resting just before the Jor-che-Pani. Jor-che-pani is supposedly only water source between Dhavale and Arthur’s Seat.

Chandragad (looks small compared to surrounding mountains)

After a break we reached Jor-che-Pani at 5 pm. Some Idols are placed here & the water is little up from here on the way to Arthur's Seat. One route (Left) from here goes to Jor. Our guides went back from here to Dhavale. We rested here for a long time & it was obvious now that we would reach Arthur's Seat in dark. Two things were on our side, one - Moonlight & other - I faintly knew the route from here till Arthur's Seat.

We started last patch at 6 pm. Now, we were in one group. The last patch goes along the ridge that descends from the Arthur's Seat. There are two small humps that we traversed from their left. While traversing the first hump we were lost in the jungle for a while but with some efforts, were again back on the trail. All of us climbed a small rock patch in the dark without any problem. It took us 3 hours to reach Arthur's Seat. Prateesh and Varsha, who reached there at 2 pm, were continuosuly flashing light for about 2 hours to guide us.

Our vehicle was waiting for us at Arthur's Seat. We left Arthur's Seat at 10 pm.......... suddenly, Prateesh shouted " Gava…..Gava….. !!". 3 Bisons crossed our way but most of us could see only one who stopped, when we flashed a light at him. We saw him from a very close distance, not more than 50 ft. This was a lifetime experience.

Approx. 5 kms. from Arthur's Seat we were stopped by a Forest Dept. Barricade. No one is allowed to enter beyond this point after Sunset. After small Q & A session we were allowed to go. We had dinner at Hotel Aaswad (good food - poor service) on Satara Highway. Reached Thane at 5.15 am on 12th Jan.