Trek to Ratangad fort - the heaven of Western Ghats!

Located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, the Trek to Ratangad fort is quite a popular one amongst those who seek adrenaline rush. The trek is not a tough one in most seasons, but during the monsoons, it's quite a challenging one and not many go there. Of course, we didn't know about this and went there quite confidently, and came back with some amazing stories - some of fear, but mostly of fun :)

trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
An illustration of the last leg of the trek. Courtesy Vikram Tej :)

Its a random collection of thoughts from an amazing weekend of trekking. The five of us (Manoj, Vikram, Abhishek, Bijoy and me) had the best of our time walking and slipping through the Sahyadris. The following are some tiny snippets from the trip, the first ones that come to my mind, in no order whatsoever. More will follow in the days to come. The pictures are random too, since we could take none during the trek due to the rains...






trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
The only picture of us all!

trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Part of the gang, Manoj busy clicking us selflessly :)

The Climb to the fort


trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Bijoy from Bijoy's camera!

trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Abhishek sliding down fast into us!
As I climbed up the second stairs, I was left confused as the trail led nowhere. There was just a steep hill with a recess and lots of water falling down directly on my face. The guide called back again from behind me and asked me to continue walking. Surely we were not expected to climb up on this steep rock cut! I moved on, having little choice and no clue about how to move forward. It’s great when survival instincts take over and lead you, the mind works independently and leads the body. 

The few tense minutes passed, so did the climb up on the rocky and extremely slippery steps leading up to the fort in constant rain. We were relieved, till it dawned upon us that tomorrow morning’s climb down would be even more challenging. Abhishek flatly refused any further walking and insisted that we call a helicopter for a rescue operation :)

The bonding moments (through the night)


trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
We saw the vibrant colors in the cave only later, the night was too dark to notice anything!
trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Sleeping comfortably, before Tej and Bijoy also squeezed in!
Lack of preparation ensured that the five us had to sleep in a tent originally meant for only two grown up men. A few clicks and some random jokes later, we were ready to sleep around 8 pm in the cave temple in the fort. Manoj, Tej and me continued talking for a while more, while Abhishek constantly complained about falling water, while Bijoy snored loudly. I was stuck in the middle between the huge frame of Manoj and absolutely unrelenting Tej, and had to wake them both up through the night to even turn! The cold weather, gushing water, pitch darkness and crushed bodies came to define our long night of bonding!


trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Tej's body hair ensure nothing else is seen in the picture.


The trek


trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara waterfall
The disappearing falls...
trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara farming
Plastic bags working in the fields!
The dog had no name, but it surely was faithful. It followed us through everything on the way, including some crazily flowing water in the rivers on the way. His faithful partner also gave us company. We were wet right from the beginning as it rained insistently. Soon we didn’t even notice the water, as our eyes strained to look beyond the mist at the hills, trees, falls and each other. The heavy bags too disappeared as our body accepted them as part of our bodies, only to reappear towards the end. The small meadows, the steep climb, the slippery stones, falling bodies and lack of camera was how the trek went. 

The ride to Ratanwadi


trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Trying to be a dude!
trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Tej the dacoit!

trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Bijoy after a close call with a villager's potty!
trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Tej doing his trademark jump!

Nashik to Ratanwadi is one of the most beautiful drives, especially in the monsoons. The greenery all around rejuvenates the senses, while the constant rains whet them. A punctured tyre, funny raincoats, chai with more than a ton of sugar, and constant jokes set the tune for the trip. Ratanwadi was our base camp and as the trek to Harishchandragad failed to take off due to excessive rains and overflowing rivers, it became the end of our trek as well.

trek ratangad fort western ghats bhandardhara
Manoj missing again, we at Bhandardhara

P.S. Almost all images are courtesy our official photographer for the trip Manoj and his D5100 (with 55-200 VR lens). The rest are by Bijoy (through his Nokia), Tej (Sony) and Handu (our guide)...

Note: Do read about our other trip together to Dediapada almost an year back...

Comments

  1. I just love the first illustration to this trip!!!:)

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  2. Wow.. Awesome..! I like the trademark jump..!. Must have been a thrilling and fascinating trek..I am sure..!

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  3. Lovely pictures all around and that art is super!

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  4. wow! what a trek! loved the illustration!

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  5. @ola: Absolutely...its just awesome :)

    @Sridharan: haha...yes, there r more of his pics on the blog with the jump :)

    @mridula: :)

    @Anu: It sure was quite a trek!

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  6. You guys are ready for reality TV and we would want to be sure to get the joys of sleeping in the cave on the show!

    Love the disappearing falls and the bright-colored plastic bags in the field.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  7. What a great adventure! Sounds like an excellent trek. Maybe next time take a larger tent? But then sometimes its more of a laugh to just be totally unorganised like that and to just get on with it - well that's if you get enough sleep!

    Glad you made your way down safe. I've been stuck on cliff faces before and I know that feeling of thinking 'oh jeez, how do we get down' all too well.

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  8. Ole to your adventurous trip, i liked TEJ doing a jumping jig

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  9. Super Illustration by Tej....n manoj nice clicks....:)

    Tej ne more surprises on ur creativity?????????

    Joshi ur solo pic is mast...;)

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  10. Thank you guys about the illustration. This trip is awesome trek. i wish we had two tents.

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  11. @Aparna: You bet!

    @Genie: Hahahaha...we are absolutely ready for that, maybe next trip we'll make some videos as well and share as a series :)

    @Josh: Surely next time there would be a larger tent, but you are right about the unplanned treks. They are unexpected and that adds to the fun!

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  12. @Deguide: :) We all love Tej and his jump, though next time we'll ask him for a new style!

    @vishakha: You are right, the illustration makes the post fabulous and even more exciting looking :) And thanks for liking me in the pic, but trust me its only the early morning light which does the wonders :)

    @Tej: Next time, we'll let you sleep on your own in the sleeping bag outside the tent :) But then it won't be so much fun inside...hahahaha!

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  13. Indeed it was an awesome trek and an amazing experience. I think what made it more exiting was that we were not prepared well and didn't knew what is waiting us on the way and there at the top.and a big big Thanks to "Handu" for guiding all the way to the top of the cliff and back to the village safely.

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  14. wow!! did u actually live in the caves...i like the plastic bags and the disappearing falls..the weather looks awesome for some adventures too...Cool! i super likes!

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  15. mast illustration hai re babaaaa....
    the only good thing we missed, was wine in nashik..
    @bijoy - your effort in the bus ,kept us HIGH in the best times of trekking...thanks for that..

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  16. Awesome trek..getting higher and higher...none of us believed we could get back alive..sid kept saying "why are we doing this?"....seriously now we know why we did it..:)

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  17. Tej... the illustration is really good.Was talking to Manoj about how I am missing out on all the fun..and he told me it was just the boys gang trip.hmmm I can see that in those pictures..:) Tej that jump snap is too good.Although I can see more of you..:P...When is the next trip..and if girls are allowed count me in..:D..Sid.. keep writing..you are good at that..:)

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  18. @bijoy: That's absolutely right, the unexpected made it all the more awesome!

    @HajiBijBij: Now that we are back to our comfortable rooms, I can say that it was fantastic living in the cave :)

    @abhi: Yes man, we missed the wine! I somehow still don't understand how!!! What were we doing?

    @MAG: Yes man, now we know why what looked suicidal then was actually so much fun :) So when are we packing our bags and leaving the town for the hills once again? :)

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  19. @Shweta: Once you are here, we will surely plan a trip to include you too in it :) And I will surely keep writing and writing and writing :)

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  20. Wow, the boys on a trek!
    NICE!!
    Love the illustration at the top as well.
    Looks as if you had a brilliant time! :)))

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  21. Sounds like an awesome time! Doing things like this with friends is the best =)

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  22. What a splendid work, the illustration tells a lot of stories. Words are almost unnecessary except for details. Looks like a fun trip, but the climb looks a little rough.

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  23. What a post and what a place. Wow!
    Wonderful work.

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  24. @DeeBee: We did have a brilliant time, thanks a lot :)

    @inspiringtravellers: You are so right, such take outs with friends are the best of the times!

    @eyeinthesky: Yes, the illustration is just wonderful, especially because we couldn't take any pictures due to the rains and the steep climb!

    @fotokarusellen: Thank you :)

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  25. It's so tough to trek especially in the rains..tried Nevada falls at Yosemite....shivering, slippery...it was a challenge.

    But the pictures are breathtakingly beautiful and Tej is brave :)

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  26. What a great adventure at an amazing spot! The photos are fantastic and I also love the illustration on top. Great post!

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  27. Looks like the harsh weather was worth it!

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  28. Interest and beautiful said. Great pictures!

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  29. @Purba: I agree, rains make any trek much more adventurous :) And Tej is surely brave, and currently very flattered with all the comments coming his way!

    @JM: Thank you :)

    @Halcyon: Absolutely worth it :)

    @Phivos: Thank you :)

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  30. lots of graphic imagery in my head right about now..u're right about tej's chest hair taking away from the rest of u in the picture..

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  31. @Dhiraj: Thanks man!

    @Roshni: What kind of graphic imagery is this? But knowing you, I can be judgmental now and guess it well :)

    As for Tej's chest hair, well he framed the shot well to get it all in it, and mind you he is extremely proud of it so no dubious comments on it here :)

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  32. Your photos are amazing!

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  33. very nicely written. I recently visited RatangaD and it was just fanTastic. Cheers

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