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Lohgad
Place: Lohgad
Nearest town: Lonavla, Pune
Distance: 100 Kms to-and-fro from Pune(Wakad)
Attractions: Fort, Architecture,Waterfalls and rain(In monsoon)
This trip was long overdue. We visited many one day picnic spots in the previous years, but somehow never visited this fort. When I left for Mumbai last week on one week vacation, I went on bike. Sometime in the week I requested my group that we should go for a trip on coming Sunday. Anyway I was coming back from Mumbai on bike, so we could meet someplace between Mumbai and Pune and have a nice one day picnic.
After a couple of venues in mind, we zeroed on Lohgad, near Lonavla. For those cursing me for not going there in monsoons, I’m Sorry that still is a pending venture. Anyway, we met at Lonavla and started the bike journey to the base of the fort.
None of us had ventured that path before so we were clueless. So we started by asking auto drivers for direction. The distance of Lohgad is not that far from Lonavla, It would hardly be around 8-10 Kms. The road till the Lohgad diversion is quite nice as well. Cruising at 40-45 kmph we soon reached a mountain pass, as I could remember one of the auto drivers telling me that we would be encountering a mountain pass and the turn to Lohgad is quite near to it. We waited in that pass for a while, clicked a few photographs. Towering ridges of stone and a small road going through it, it was a nice view, reminded me of the Pass of Caradhras. There weren’t any problems for us though, and our fellowship just sailed through. At a very later point of time, we did realise that the way towards Lohgad was not through the Pass but before it. But by the time we did comprehend the same we had already gone a good 4-5 Kms ahead towards Paud. The Trip ahead was not a perilous one as the backwaters of Pavna Dam, added a soothing experience to that section of a road full of potholes.
As per a native elder’s instructions we did find the actual way to Lohgad, that’s when the hazards started. Before those descriptions you must know that we rode on one Honda Shine, One Scooty Pep+ and one Lord of the Streets (Okay, Yamaha FZ16) and 4 of us. We just waited for a while at the start of the climb. A Tourist minibus overtook us at the diversion and started the slope upwards. Much to the driver’s dismay and the inhabitants’ nightmares, it could not climb that ascent. He had to come back gradually where we stood contemplating about how to start the climb. Somehow the bus went back in reverse and waited at the base. The fourth member of the group was on Honda shine till that point, but as we guessed, the poor little 125cc engine could not handle the weight of two. I told others to wait and I went ahead to check the road, more so to see would the poor ol’ Scooty would endure or perish.
The road was actually under construction, the clay and small rocks made the climb even more difficult. I thought our vehicles would handle the once and while pressure of Performance, and we started the journey. The fourth member was obviously on the Lord now. That is the time when my respect for my Royal Steed doubled. It had to struggle but it didn’t give up. Though on 1st gear we managed to cross that bad patch and reached the base of the fort.
Just as we reached the base of the fort, we could see a few tourist vehicles parked on an open space and a few huts selling wafers and mineral water bottles, a feeling of accomplishment took over and just then we heard a loud horn. We looked in the direction and saw that the Bus driver hadn’t given up. The driver went ahead and parked in the open space, all the passengers alighted and celebrations followed. We looked at each other and smiled about the road till there. We locked our helmets on bikes adjusted our bag packs, and set foot on the first step of the fort.
The fort has around 300-400 odd steps. Very well set out. Lohgad is considered to be an elementary school for beginners; it’s even simpler than Sinhgad. The well set steps take you to the heart of the fort. As you continue the climb, you can see marvellous architecture on your sides. If you like history and the ancient times of kings and queens, such a simple road would open your mind to endless imaginations about how it would have been in those days. You can imagine how the Leader of Maratha Resistance would have stood there, wind brushing his face, and a hand on sword hilt.
Such architectures often put me in bewilderment, the Strength of which stood intact for decades, centuries. To my amazement and happiness I did not see any disfigured walls as well. May be this site is not that popular yet to be a tourist destination and lose its charm or We trekkers have learned to respect the legacy of such monuments, my hope lies in the second.
Apart from the superb entry there is not much left on the fort as such. You can see a couple of tombs, a few water reservoirs and a way to the mountain ridge-Vinchukata(Scorpion Tail) fortification. We went a little farther just to have a sniper view of that ridge. It was around 1330 on the clock and I could see the signs of displeasure on the faces of fellow travellers.
I wanted to visit the ridge fortification of the fort, coming back without seeing that structure is like going to Ajanta-Ellora and saying, ‘nay, I’m not interested in Buddha carvings’. I tried convincing people about at least going near the ridge but sleep-deprived and frustrated as they all were strongly rejected the mere idea of venturing ahead. Finally I gave in to the unity and accepted my defeat, and we started the return journey
Going down was even more fun. If I haven’t mentioned already, like all the hilly regions on the Sahyadris, this too was a habitat of our ancestors, and generally they are not pleased with the visit of civilisations. All the way down we encountered monkeys staring at us, as if they would leap at you at any instant. Trying to ignore their gaze, we managed to reach back to the bikes again.
Especially in/on a vehicle the time when you think that the ascent is tough, always remember that the descent will soon change your assumptions. If the ascent did not render you enough helpless, the descent will. As you can see the twists and turns ahead of you, going down like in the abyss, it does scare you. Same happened with us. We started coming down slowly with bikes put on 1st or 2nd gear at max.
The person riding scooty was the first to fall for the scare tactics. She stopped dead in tracks like a deer on sight of lion and no where to escape. Her Shining friend then took the responsibility of the rescue. He parked his vehicle in gear and took the scooty till the end of the slope and again gave it back to her. Not all slopes were done yet. I had told everyone to take the longer possible path to minimise the slope. One more descent ahead and it would have finished, and there she stopped again. I was a few meters upper side looking at the fellow bikers. Since she was dumbstruck and stopped in tracks the Shining steed just behind had to brake hard to avoid collision. The Disc did its job precisely well and the front wheel skidded. The rider screamed at the scooty to go ahead and she did, here the rider and the pillion both tried to stop the shining vehicle from skidding. Aghast as I stood few paces behind could not do much but to pray and watch. Fortunately as we say what ends well is all well, nothing serious happened. The brave knight could control his shining steed and fluently they went ahead of the danger zone. I soon joined them and then it was done.
The back journey to Pune was a quick one. Near the ridge on the road below I could see the towering fortification which I had missed in this trip. I could see the flag proudly talking with the winds on top. It tempted me to go back again. I had to restrain myself, with an assurance to my mind that I will be back, someday, when the rain would be pouring. The deafening sound of the torrential waterfalls would call me, captivated, enchanted I will return, I shall stand on those very monumental steps of the astounding foyer. The Minas Tirith Shall Rise again.
Nearest town: Lonavla, Pune
Distance: 100 Kms to-and-fro from Pune(Wakad)
Attractions: Fort, Architecture,Waterfalls and rain(In monsoon)
This trip was long overdue. We visited many one day picnic spots in the previous years, but somehow never visited this fort. When I left for Mumbai last week on one week vacation, I went on bike. Sometime in the week I requested my group that we should go for a trip on coming Sunday. Anyway I was coming back from Mumbai on bike, so we could meet someplace between Mumbai and Pune and have a nice one day picnic.
After a couple of venues in mind, we zeroed on Lohgad, near Lonavla. For those cursing me for not going there in monsoons, I’m Sorry that still is a pending venture. Anyway, we met at Lonavla and started the bike journey to the base of the fort.
None of us had ventured that path before so we were clueless. So we started by asking auto drivers for direction. The distance of Lohgad is not that far from Lonavla, It would hardly be around 8-10 Kms. The road till the Lohgad diversion is quite nice as well. Cruising at 40-45 kmph we soon reached a mountain pass, as I could remember one of the auto drivers telling me that we would be encountering a mountain pass and the turn to Lohgad is quite near to it. We waited in that pass for a while, clicked a few photographs. Towering ridges of stone and a small road going through it, it was a nice view, reminded me of the Pass of Caradhras. There weren’t any problems for us though, and our fellowship just sailed through. At a very later point of time, we did realise that the way towards Lohgad was not through the Pass but before it. But by the time we did comprehend the same we had already gone a good 4-5 Kms ahead towards Paud. The Trip ahead was not a perilous one as the backwaters of Pavna Dam, added a soothing experience to that section of a road full of potholes.
As per a native elder’s instructions we did find the actual way to Lohgad, that’s when the hazards started. Before those descriptions you must know that we rode on one Honda Shine, One Scooty Pep+ and one Lord of the Streets (Okay, Yamaha FZ16) and 4 of us. We just waited for a while at the start of the climb. A Tourist minibus overtook us at the diversion and started the slope upwards. Much to the driver’s dismay and the inhabitants’ nightmares, it could not climb that ascent. He had to come back gradually where we stood contemplating about how to start the climb. Somehow the bus went back in reverse and waited at the base. The fourth member of the group was on Honda shine till that point, but as we guessed, the poor little 125cc engine could not handle the weight of two. I told others to wait and I went ahead to check the road, more so to see would the poor ol’ Scooty would endure or perish.
The road was actually under construction, the clay and small rocks made the climb even more difficult. I thought our vehicles would handle the once and while pressure of Performance, and we started the journey. The fourth member was obviously on the Lord now. That is the time when my respect for my Royal Steed doubled. It had to struggle but it didn’t give up. Though on 1st gear we managed to cross that bad patch and reached the base of the fort.
Just as we reached the base of the fort, we could see a few tourist vehicles parked on an open space and a few huts selling wafers and mineral water bottles, a feeling of accomplishment took over and just then we heard a loud horn. We looked in the direction and saw that the Bus driver hadn’t given up. The driver went ahead and parked in the open space, all the passengers alighted and celebrations followed. We looked at each other and smiled about the road till there. We locked our helmets on bikes adjusted our bag packs, and set foot on the first step of the fort.
The fort has around 300-400 odd steps. Very well set out. Lohgad is considered to be an elementary school for beginners; it’s even simpler than Sinhgad. The well set steps take you to the heart of the fort. As you continue the climb, you can see marvellous architecture on your sides. If you like history and the ancient times of kings and queens, such a simple road would open your mind to endless imaginations about how it would have been in those days. You can imagine how the Leader of Maratha Resistance would have stood there, wind brushing his face, and a hand on sword hilt.
Such architectures often put me in bewilderment, the Strength of which stood intact for decades, centuries. To my amazement and happiness I did not see any disfigured walls as well. May be this site is not that popular yet to be a tourist destination and lose its charm or We trekkers have learned to respect the legacy of such monuments, my hope lies in the second.
Apart from the superb entry there is not much left on the fort as such. You can see a couple of tombs, a few water reservoirs and a way to the mountain ridge-Vinchukata(Scorpion Tail) fortification. We went a little farther just to have a sniper view of that ridge. It was around 1330 on the clock and I could see the signs of displeasure on the faces of fellow travellers.
I wanted to visit the ridge fortification of the fort, coming back without seeing that structure is like going to Ajanta-Ellora and saying, ‘nay, I’m not interested in Buddha carvings’. I tried convincing people about at least going near the ridge but sleep-deprived and frustrated as they all were strongly rejected the mere idea of venturing ahead. Finally I gave in to the unity and accepted my defeat, and we started the return journey
Going down was even more fun. If I haven’t mentioned already, like all the hilly regions on the Sahyadris, this too was a habitat of our ancestors, and generally they are not pleased with the visit of civilisations. All the way down we encountered monkeys staring at us, as if they would leap at you at any instant. Trying to ignore their gaze, we managed to reach back to the bikes again.
Especially in/on a vehicle the time when you think that the ascent is tough, always remember that the descent will soon change your assumptions. If the ascent did not render you enough helpless, the descent will. As you can see the twists and turns ahead of you, going down like in the abyss, it does scare you. Same happened with us. We started coming down slowly with bikes put on 1st or 2nd gear at max.
The person riding scooty was the first to fall for the scare tactics. She stopped dead in tracks like a deer on sight of lion and no where to escape. Her Shining friend then took the responsibility of the rescue. He parked his vehicle in gear and took the scooty till the end of the slope and again gave it back to her. Not all slopes were done yet. I had told everyone to take the longer possible path to minimise the slope. One more descent ahead and it would have finished, and there she stopped again. I was a few meters upper side looking at the fellow bikers. Since she was dumbstruck and stopped in tracks the Shining steed just behind had to brake hard to avoid collision. The Disc did its job precisely well and the front wheel skidded. The rider screamed at the scooty to go ahead and she did, here the rider and the pillion both tried to stop the shining vehicle from skidding. Aghast as I stood few paces behind could not do much but to pray and watch. Fortunately as we say what ends well is all well, nothing serious happened. The brave knight could control his shining steed and fluently they went ahead of the danger zone. I soon joined them and then it was done.
The back journey to Pune was a quick one. Near the ridge on the road below I could see the towering fortification which I had missed in this trip. I could see the flag proudly talking with the winds on top. It tempted me to go back again. I had to restrain myself, with an assurance to my mind that I will be back, someday, when the rain would be pouring. The deafening sound of the torrential waterfalls would call me, captivated, enchanted I will return, I shall stand on those very monumental steps of the astounding foyer. The Minas Tirith Shall Rise again.
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