Monsoon season in Maharashtra is every adventure-lover’s delight. The state that lies in the western peninsular region and occupies a substantial portion of the Deccan plateau abounds with forts, hills and waterfalls.
Saydongar trail
Locasted around 15 kilometres away from the Karjat station, this is one of the lesser-known hidden trails in the Sahyadri region and takes a maximum of four hours to reach the hilltop. “It is the same route that used to connect the coastal plains, Konkan and Deccan plateau that is now the Pune area, in the bygone era. It was the shortest route between Mumbai and Pune in those days. And the trail is still used by the locals to access between the hilltop and the base,” shares Yatin Namjoshi, Assistant Manager at Countryside, an event management company. The trail that is very rarely frequented, is a gradual hike and gives people a good view of some of the hidden valleys, once atop. Apart from this, one will also come across a couple of small streams enroute.
Jawhar
Once an ancient princely city, Jawhar in the Palghar district is touted as the mini Mahabaleshwar. While it does boast of having six waterfalls, the place also has a rich tribal culture woven intricately into the fabric of Jawhar. Vaibhav Gholap, founder Jawhar Tourism who works closely with these tribal areas has set-up home stays with them. “People can live, eat and work with these tribals. One can even go around the farms and visit the Hanuman and Sunset point,” he says.
Garbett Plateau
The city also comprises the Jai Vilas palace that was the residential palace of the King of Mukne’s family. “The palace has portraits of the Mukne tribe and is also renowned for film shooting. And from Hanuman point, you see the whole palace,” he adds. Another historical aspect of the place is Shirpamal, a structure created at the top of a hill. It is believed that the structure was built three centuries ago when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj chose to camp here en-route to Surat.
Garbett Plateau
Part of the popularly known hill station Matheran, this adjacent plateau is one of the lesser-known spots. “The unique feature of this is its flatness and you don’t have to climb for it or cross any hill. This is so long in itself that you can do the entire trek just there,” says Kunal Patil, founder HuntFor Spot. With an eye-pleasing top, one can have an eagle’s view of Matheran. While Sondai dam surrounds one side of the plateau, on the other side is the Matheran hill and Sondai fort.
Dabhosa waterfall in Jawhar
“Even if one starts at six in the morning from Pune or Mumbai, they can complete the hike by evening six and spend quality time in the greens,” he adds. The top view also gives the view of the mountains of Karjat region. Also, for those keen on trekking in the monsoon but are not regulars, expert say this plateau is a perfect fit for them.
Kalsubai
The highest point to climb in Maharashtra, Kalsubai is located in the Bhandardara region near Igatpuri. From Mumbai, one reaches the base at Bari village and from there, it takes around three to four hours to reach the top. “The climb earlier was difficult but now it is one of the moderate level treks. The rocky patches have now been replaced with iron stairs. From the top, one can get a panoramic view of the entire Bhandarada region, only if there are no clouds. Otherwise one will enjoy the high point among the mist and clouds,” smiles Manish Mishra, co-founder Altitude Quest. The Alang, Mandangad, and Kulang fort are also visible from the top.
Tapola
Tapola
Some 25 kilometers ahead of Mahabaleshwar, this village is called as the mini Kashmir of Maharashtra owing to its raw and untouched natural landscape. A climb to the top makes for a great view of Koyana Dam, one of the biggest dams in the state. Another breathtaking view is that of the flowerbeds that blossom during the monsoon. However, the main attraction as per the regular travelers is Shivsagar Lake. Surrounding the area are various strawberry farms and Gerbera nurseries. Tapola is also a hotspot for people wanting to embark on a jungle trek, especially at the Vasota Fort.
