Monsoon Bhandardara - Hills and Valleys Tours & Adventures

Picturesque Parikrama of the Bhandardara Dam

For an instance, I felt like i was witnessing the great Himalayan range, except for the fact that these were without the snow caps. I’m not saying that I have great experience of travelling in the Himalayas, but this view somewhat adjusted my mental image of such glorious range. It was pouring heavy and I could spot the beautifully nested dam between the magnificent Kalsubai range of the mighty Sahayadris, which looked like a thin rumpled sheet of aluminium foil. The pillars stood tall all around the dam, seemed like they were protecting its beauty from the urban intruders. This was Bhandardara Dam(Wilson Dam).

Located in the Ahmednagar district, it boarders itself with Nashik district and is bearly 90Kms from Nashik. It was a heavy raining monsoon Saturday when I was riding on my 500cc machine to this paradise to experience the energising beauty of the region. Bhandardara, as the place is commonly referred to as is actually a small relocated village, placed near to the massive wall of dam. I routed my ride on Nashik-Mumbai Express Highway till Ghoti and then moved towards Bhandardara, following the curvy narrow roads finding its path along the base of the highest peak of Maharashtra, Mt. Kalsubai. The sights were amazing all along. The ascend was gradual ceasing the sights of flat lands and putting forth the hilly curves floored with fresh green carpets all over.

My route was planned but not the experience. I reached Shendi village(the start village of my Bhandardara Dam Parikrama) and stopped over for light breakfast and some hot tea at my friends hotel, Hotel Amruteshwar. Sipping the hot tea served by my friend Mr.Rathod, I enjoyed the rains washing out the region.

As I started further, and crossed the forest check port, I made my way along the zig-zag path till Murshet Village to enjoy the panoramic view of the complete region. I was aware of this spot as I had my campsite just below the place where I was standing near the banks of dam backwater. I could barely spot Mt. Kalsubai, and the mighty neighbours Alang, Madan, Kulang, commonly referred as AMK, as they were dressed with dark clouds and were all set to take bath. The mountains around were rolling down 100s of waterfalls whilst the farm lands were filled like infinity pools, some were overflowing resulting a stopover for me to take a quick shower in the icy cold water.

I headed though the mountains into a thick fog when I could hardly see a meter ahead. I slowed down and switched on my bike’s lights. As I crept along, I could occasionally spot the precipices. I decided to ride cautiously or I would have careened over into the valleys juxtaposed the narrow road.   Somehow I made my way till Konkankada, my next stop. The visibility of the valley was poor due to the thick fog, but I could feel the freshness of the place.

I decided to drop Ghatandevi temple due to the foggy weather and instead drove towards Samrad village. Parked my ride at my friends’ place, Kunde, and had a hot tea with him along with long chats. He asked me to visit the Sandhan Reverse Waterfall which was situated near Sandhan Valley (Patilji, please do one, after tea just walk your way till Sandhan Valley and turn right to witness a marvel of nature). I immediately made my way towards the waterfall after all the description put forth by Kunde. In the meanwhile I asked him to make garam bhajis and tea for me because I knew I was going to be drenched in the waterfall. The waterfall is approximately a Km walk from Samrad Village. A complete pack of natures’ marvel, when I reached the spot I could see the giant waterfall flowing against the gravity. Nearly ¾ of the water was moving in opposite direction. The water that travelled anti-gravity was falling on the people standing near the railing to enjoy the natures wonder. It seemed like someone was throwing water with the help of bucket on everyone. The sight was enthralling and I was soaked in its beauty. I then made my way through jungle towards the beautiful Sandhan Valley which had already started collecting water, hence making itself not accessible. On getting back to Samrad, I enjoyed the ‘garam bhajis’ and thanked my friend for the recommendation.

Next was the 2000 year old beautifully built temple in back stone at the foothill of the once strategic Ratangad Fort, the Amruteshwar Temple. It is a temple of lord Shiva in the small village of Ratanwadi. The environment of the temple is very serene and once can find solace by sitting in the temple area. I enjoyed the views of Ratangad fort and its neighbours whilst they were wrapped with the dark clouds. It was 03:30PM and I had to continue with my ‘Parikrama’. Next pit stop was on the sight of the huge Necklace Waterfall. It is so called, because it falls in the shape of a necklace tied around a lady’s neck. It is massive and engrossing. The drive along the back water of Bhandardara dam which I call the Parikrama of Bhandardara had highlights of hundreds of waterfalls, some accessible and otherwise. Adding to this was yet another waterfall, Nanhi Waterfall (Bridge waterfall – because there is a bridge constructed near the waterfall for tourist to enjoy the same from near). Indeed, standing on the bridge is quite a thrill. Garam Bhajis & Chai were available near the waterfall, but I avoided as I was already stuffed a lot of it.

The narrow road then made me reach the actual massive wall of Bhandardara Dam and then to Shendi Village, where I completed my Parikrama of the Bhandardara Dam.

People, this is a must visit destination especially in the monsoons. It is undeniably flooded with beauty, freshness and energising atmosphere. The sights of the paddy farms are a real treat for eyes, and working in them with the fellow farming friends is worth a try. It’s a place to experience.

Important Places to cover:
1) Konkankada
2) Ghatandevi Temple
3) Sandhan Reverse Waterfall
4) Sandhan Valley (If possible & accessible)
5) Amruteshwar Temple
6) Necklace Waterfall
7) Nanhi Waterfall (Bridge Waterfall)

8) Bhandardara Dam

# Good place for  food (particularly Non-veg) – Hotel Amruteshwar near MTDC Bhandardara
# Good place for food/Snacks in Samrad Village (Veg/Non Veg) – Mr Kunde (he owns a grocery shop next to the road)

For more details and tours please visit: www.hillsnvalleys.co.in | info@hillsnvalleys.co.in

Naneghat Trek Experience of our traveller Mr.Sangram Borse

We are grateful to you for taking out your time and writing a review of your experience at our trek to Naneghat on 14th June'15. Thank You!

NANEGHAT TREK

At 2461ft above sea level, looking onto the horizon, with a cliff on one side and dense fog coming in the other side was the best way to start the monsoon season. Naneghat, also known as Nanacha angtha(Nana's thumb) is a mountain pass that connects konkan and deccan region. "Toll" was collected from the traders who used the route, hence the name Naneghat (Nane- coin and Ghat - Pass).

Now a days, one can definitely check out such places by themselves. Get on Google maps and head out.  That is all you need. Everything is at your finger tips. But, what you won't get is, the convenience of getting everything pre- planned. A group of people pre-scouting the path not just once, but twice! Getting in touch with the right locals to get hot food delivered in the middle of the forest at the right time. This is exactly what Hills and valleys Tours & Adventures did for us. Lead by Paresh Patil, Naneghat trek was a perfectly laid out trek for the 13 of us.
With 3 Bikes and 2 cars we left Nashik at 6 pm sharp.  At Approximately 150 kms from Nashik, we were on a tight schedule. With a quick tea break at Kasara ghat and a breakfast break at the foot of Naneghat, we began out ascend at 11 am. The trek was exhausting. Not because it was steep climb or a long walk but mostly because how terribly out of shape we were. But the climb was nothing less than pure fun because of the diverse company and our leader, Paresh. Occasional stops with small sips of water, small snacks, and random photos made the 2 hr climb unforgettable.

Half way through, we finally broke into a slightly chilly part of the atmosphere. It wasn't hot and humid anymore. The dense forest with trees growing into each other provided cover through most of the ascend. And finally after 2 hrs of intense climb we were at the top.

Surrounded with caves, Naneghat offers the most stunning view of the valley. Small pockets of fresh water was the only source of natural drinking water at that height. We needed to rest. After snacking a bit we clicked a few pics around the huge container( pot make from stone) The pot that they used to collect the toll and it was time to start our descend. That is when we got hit by the most dense fog I have ever seen which was followed by heavy rains! Our first monsoon rains. Couldn't have timed it better. Of course, safety was our first concern and we were looking after the person right next to us. There were a couple falls but nothing serious.

Covers and Tents were already set up; by the time we reached our base camp. Homemade chicken was being heated. Exactly what we all wanted to walk into. Fortunately the rains had receded by then. A quick change of clothes and we all dove into the delicious food. I think, every single person ate twice may be three times as much as we usually do. Completely stuff, barely able to move, but it was worth it. But now, It was time for us to head back to Nashik.

We had a 3 hr bike ride back to Nashik. We set out at around 7:00 pm . We were in Nashik at our meeting point at 10 30. Hugs were exchanged; we said our goodbyes, promised to get together next month for a new adventure and headed home.

In conclusion, the trek was not that important. Doesn't matter what the location is, the hospitality of Hills and valleys Tours & Adventures was out of this world. This was my second outing with them and Paresh's passion clearly shows in every single act of creating an out of this world experience. Unlink some groups in Nashik, weather it may be a bike ride, a trek, rafting or just a casual outing, there are no limitations as to who can join. I humbly request to all you people out there, give them a try. For once, there is a tours and travel company that are driven by passion. As for me, as long as I am in Nashik, Hills and valleys Tours & Adventures is whom I will be travelling with. It's a home away from home.

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-   Sangram Borse

Founder & CEO, Regh Animations

What is Offbeat Travelling?

Offbeat Travelling..!

It is no wonder that many people love to travel. It is very common, nowadays, for people to just get away on a vacation trip any time. Some even consider travelling as part of their routine lifestyle. Perhaps, the reason for its popularity is because more people have come to realize the benefits of travelling, namely, travelling sharpens the mind, changes ones perspective, meet new people, discover and learn new things and so on.

But there is another way in which one can travel and get the most from it, and that is Offbeat Travelling. Now, to explain what exactly offbeat travel means, I will put forth some points, which will be self explanatory, and these are:

- Offbeat Travel destinations are destinations which are not very popular among regular travellers

- Usually offbeat travelling is not to major pilgrimage or shopping destination.

- They don’t form a part of the tour operator’s itinerary

- One may not be able to find many accommodation options while travelling offbeat

- It will include travelling by cycles, horses, walking, in local buses/jeeps and so on

- \And this destinations are mainly chosen by the foreign tourist

Offbeat travelling is mainly for those who possess the character of exploring some place, tasting the local cuisines, discovering the untold history, and is not for everyone. It has many benefits apart from those mentioned above.

- One gets to know the unique culture of the destination, the rituals & traditions followed in the laid back areas

- The foodies get to try their hands out in the local eating joints or at some locals house as not many commercial restaurants are available

- The home stay can be experienced well while travelling offbeat. Or maybe one can find themed hotels which depict the local architecture

- When you travel offbeat, you get to be like the locals, which helps you explore the destination with more ease and opens up ways to many unknown locations

- These destinations are usually less crowded, therefore Less Crowd = More Calmness = Peace

In other words, Offbeat travel is where one can connect with the destination, one can travel at his/her own pace and experience the destination the local way.   

History of Vijaynagara(Hampi, Karnataka)

History of Vijaynagara

The dynasties that ruled the Vijaynagara Empire from 1336 to 1565, with Hampi as their capital, constructed many forts, ramparts, temples and statues. What they have built then have come to be acknowledged as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO today.

Within a span of five years after Allauddin Khilje entered the Devagiri kingdom in 1296 AD, the South Indian Territory witnessed a major religious and cultural upheaval. Hinduism faced a threat from foreign invasion. It was at this time that a few sons of the soil got united to build a strong army that would liberate South India from the tyranny of foreign invaders and fulfil the aspirations of the locals. The kingdom they founded came to be known as the Vijaynagara Empire, which survived for over two hundred years. Vijaynagara was ruled by kings belonging to four different dynasties. Vijaynagara Empire was founded by(Harihara) and Bukka, also called the Sangama brothers. The empire consolidated under Harihara I and began to expand and prosper under Bukka Raya.

The foundation of the Vijaynagara Empire in the 14^th century is an epoch making event not only in the history of Karnataka, but also in India. The founders of the Vijaynagara Empire were selfless and broad minded. They gave preference to the welfare of the nation. Their first and foremost objective was to safeguard their heritage and culture. They gave more importance to the traditional system of education, the development of different departments of science, diffusion of knowledge, development of language and literature, and the development of fine arts.

Royal Emblem:
The founders of Vijaynagara Empire had Varaha, the pig, embossed on their seal. Mythology has it that when Hiranyaksha, the demon king, stole the earth and hide it under the ocean, Lord Vishnu in the form of Varaha(Pig) retrieved it from the ocean. The founders of Vijaynagara Empire choose the Varaha as their symbol to show that they also were interested in saving the earth from the ill-effects of cultural hybridization at that time.

Dynasties that ruled Vijaynagara Empire:

The Sangama Dynasty (1336 - 1486)
- Harihara I
- Bukkaraya I
- Harihararaya II
- Bukkaraya II
- Devaraya I
- Veera Vijayaraya
- Devaraya II
- Mallikarjuna
 Virupaksha

The Saluva Dynasty (1486 - 1503)
- Narasimha I
- Narasimha II

The Tuluva Dynasty (1503 - 1571)
- Veera Narasimha
- Krishna Devaraya
- Achutaraya
- Sadashivaraya

The Araveedu Dynasty (1572 - 1680)
- Sri Rangaraya I
- Immadi Venkatapathiraya
- Sri Rangaraya II
- Ramadeva
- Venkatapathideva II
- Sri Rangaraya III


We have offbeat guided tours for the mentioned destination
For any details please call +91 9561440405 | +91 9422976625
hillsnvalleys@outlook.com

A walk in the history of India

Bellary Fort, Karnataka

Bellary Fort is situated at the hilltop of the Ballari Gudda (Fort Hill) in the historic city of Bellary, in Bellary District, Karnataka. Ballari Gudda is presumed to be the second single rock mountain in the world. Bellary Fort is one of those historical sites that turn a history of over 3000 years. It was built in two parts namely, the Upper Fort and the Lower Fort.

Hanumappa Nayaka constructed the upper fort during Vijayanagar Empire. In 1769, Hyder Ali captured the fort and revamped it with the help of a French engineer and constructed the lower fort. The main attraction of the Bellary Fort is that it has been built on a monolithic rock. After Hyder Ali it was Tipu Sultan who ruled Bellary Fort.

The Upper fort was originally constructed during the Vijayanagara times. The multilateral Bellary Fort is with a single entrance. This part of the fort consists of a fortress, cisterns, temple, many pools and cells. It is said to have a tunnel that links to the cities of Mysore and Sriragapatna. A single rock-strewn way will lead the travellers to the top of Bellary Fort.

Hyder Ali constructed the lower part of the fort. This part lies in the eastern base of the rock. Measuring half a mile it once had armoury and garrisons. There are two entrances to access the Lower fort facing the eastern and the western directions. Outside the eastern gate there is a temple of Lord Hanuman.

Bellary Fort is a major tourist attraction in the Bellary district. Recently the fort has been embellished with light and it is spectacular to witness the huge structure at evening. 

P.S. We, Hills and Valleys Tours & Adventures have tour packages of 3D/2N to BELLARY.

Please call +91 95 614 40405 or +91 94 229 76625 for more details

write us at hillsnvalleys@outlook.com | hillsandvalleysnashik@gmail.com

Mesmerizing Naneghat

Naneghat

Naneghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats range near Junnar in Pune district of Maharashtra, India. During the reign of the Satavahana (200 BCE–190 CE), the pass was extensively used as a trade route between Kalyan and Junnar. Literally, the name nane means "coin" and ghat means "pass". The name is given because this path was used as a tollbooth to collect toll from traders crossing the hills.

History

The inscriptions in the caves indicate that they are the work of Satavahana rulers who came into prominence after the fall of the Mauryan Empire. It is believed that a powerful woman ruler Naganika, the wife of Satakarni (180–170 BCE) of the Satavahana family commissioned the cave, the statues and the inscriptions.

Nane Ghat is situated at about 55 km from Kalyan. One can reach the base village Vaishakare by boarding the state transport bus passing through Malshej Ghat. From Vaishakare it's about 1/2 an hour walk along the road to Malshej Ghat to reach the divergence for Nane Ghat. There is a board indicating the divergence so finding the divergence is not difficult. Naneghat offers different beauty in different seasons.

Getting there:

1)   Base Village: Vaishakhare village

Route from Nashik –

Nashik – Shahapur – Saralgaon – Vaishakhare – Naneghat Trekking Point (Landmark - A huge concrete board on the left indicates that the route is as old as 250 BC)

2)    Base Village: Ghatghar (Via Malshej Ghat)

Route from Nashik –

Nashik – Shahapur – Saralgaon – Vaishakhare – Malshej Ghat – Pargaon – Bagadwadi – Khaire – Hirdi – Ghatghar – Naneghat

By this route you reach directly on the top on Naneghat

P.S. The above route runs from Kaacha roads. Not advised for night journey

One can even drive from Junnar – Aptale route (roads are better compared to the above)

For more details or bookings contact +91 9561440405 | +91 9422976625