Ajinkyatara Fort.

After exploring sajjangad, i came back to Satara city where in the Ajinkyatara fort is located.

Ajinkyatara

Ajinkya-tara literally means "The Impregnable Star" and is one of the seven mountains surrounding the city of Satara. (Saat-tara)
This fort served as a watch tower for monitoring activities in south maharashtra.

Located in the heart of the city, it's a good respite from chaotic and idiotic two wheelers of the city.
Its 5 kms ride from city square.
We continue straight from Chaar bhinti's which leads to the base of Ajinkyatara fort. Vehicles reach at the base of this fort. The entrance is not as impressive as Sajjangad. The landmark of this fort is the big TV tower located bang on the fort.

There are some paintings and stone sculptures depecting gods and scenes from hindu epics.
Pics;

First view of Ajinkyatara fort.

The Maruti carved out on the wall.

Krishna and Radha.

Mammoth Darwaja of the fort.

Small temple at the beginning of the fort.

There is a big TV Tower, right in the middle of the fort. I feel it as RIDICULOUS.
Behind that TV tower, to the right is one small temple dedicated to Lord shiva.
As you walk in, a TV tower is always in the sight. This TV tower is located bang on the middle of fort. I felt it was ridiculous. Behind this tower, is a small shiva temple. The temple looks ancient. This temple was surrounded by marshy land so no pics from outside. But there's a lingam inside. The temple is overlooked by a bull which confronts you while entering the temple.

The Nandi aka Bull.

The Lingam inside

After brief prayer sessions, its time to return to the TV tower. To the left hand side, there is a Mangla devi temple.
On the way, you come across a deserted structure and another medieval temple which has fallen in ruins. It is still a active place of worship. And mind you, it has a Ladakhi flavour to it!!!

The deserted administrative office!

Follow the foot trail, you cross a thick jungle. Somewhere there i saw this hidden medieval jewel! From this foot trail, only its top was visible. I was just curious to know what it is and discovered that it is a temple!

The old temple in ruin.

Have a look at its walls! Its crumbling walls look lovely, isn't it!

Ruined walls.

As i said earlier, this temple is an active place of worship. And the proof it isthe lighten incense sticks.

The temple from inside

This is the Ladakhi surprise i was talking about!

Prayer flags Ladakhi style!

Some more flags!

Inside the forest are some mammoth banyan trees!

Mammoth banyan trees!

The jungle gives way to clear land. You can find this commanding view of South Maharashtra!
The vigil men would overlook for intrusion from here!
No wonder, they would also praise mother nature along with their job!

View from fort!

10 mins walk and you reach mangala devi temple.

Mangla devi temple

There is a board which says "Ajinkyatara" in marathi, which is written in devnagri font. (Zoom in the first pic of Ajinkyatara) But it is inverted! So i inverted it in a picture manager!

Board inverted

This is the end of the fort. You have to return back to the parking lot. Self start the bike and bid adeau this fort. The next obvious stop was the "Char bhinti" or the wall of policy.

The policy!

Finally! That FLAG FLIES HIGH, MAKES ME FEEL PROUD! :)

My love!

Thats all on this trip. As usual, i would like to give you few tips. It would help you plan accordingly.

Important tips;
1) Fort type: Hill fort
2) Trek rating: Very easy
3) Location: Vehicle can reach upto the base.
4) Best time: Any time of the year. Monsoon and winter most preferred
5) Distance: Sajjangad 12kms from Satara, Ajinkyatara located in city itself
6) Nearby excursions: Kaas plateau (Valley of flowers of Maharashtra), Thoseghar waterfall, Tapola, Wind mills, Kaas lake.
7) Time: 2hrs each fort
8) Local transport: Available are State buses and shared mahindra jeeps from satara bus depot.

Other tips;
1) Do not litter, keep satara clean
2) Do not drink and drive.
3) In rains, fort floor can get slippery. All the flooring is made out of chiseled stones. Sole with strong grips are advised.
4) Take back some authentic "Satari Kandi pedhe" a sweet item for which satara is famous for.
5) Take back the values of Ramdas swami, we'll need them in this superficially civilized world which is suffering every minute due to lack of spirituality.
6) Take back some wonderful photos! Leave only your foot prints behind and not plastics.

You live only once, so go out there and explore :)

Kaas Plateau A Floral Fantasy!

 everyone! This is a short report on Kaas plateau.
Kaas plateau or Kaas pathar, is also called as "Valley of Flowers" of Maharashtra.
It is famous for variety of blooming flowers, especially at the end of Spring season. 


Located in the heart of Sahyadri's, at a striking distance from Mahabaleshwar, in the hustle bustle city of Satara, lies a jewel. 
Jewel of yellows!
Jewel of Pinks!
Jewel of Whites!
Hail mother nature!!! 


Getting there:
Getting to Kaas is very easy now a days. Special thanks to Govt of Maharashtra for building Makkhan smooth "Mumbai-pune expressway" and bypassing pune, by katraj by-pass.
It takes 5 hours from Mumbai in pvt vehicle, 6 hours by public transport.


Alight at satara, and follow the not so wide roads, full of not so big potholes to Bamnoli.
20 kms away is the kaas plateau, and kaas lake.
Surrounded by mist, on a flat table top, dots of yellow and pinks arise out of the greens, that's jaw dropping stuff!. 


Two flowers species are abundant there.
The yellow ones called as Smithia hirusta and the Pink ones, called as balsams.




Prologue:
It was March 2nd, 2011 when i lost my beloved uncle forever. 
In sept, there is a ritual called as "Bharna" for first year, the second year onwards it is called as "Shraddh"


So i went to my village. The ritual was at Saturday. The next day being sunday, was free. So i decided to go to Kaas.
My village is on Panchwad-Panchgani route, so Kaas is some 60 Kms from my place. 20kms to Panchwad, 20 more to Satara, and rest 20 to Kaas.


The Sunday arrived with a brisk rain in the morning. There was Smithia hirusta in full bloom at my village premises. The green mountain plains had already turned yellow. This is a reliable indicator that Kaas would be in full bloom. And i was right!! 
Here's the video of Smithia in foll bloom at my village.

Started at 8:30am solo on my bike, Hero honda CD Deluxe. Driving at 40kms per hour, reached satara at 10.30 and then to kaas.


Kaas has been in news for sometime now. So these days, the authorities have awakened. They are strict than they were ever. 
First i was stopped at a "Naka" 10kms before kaas, showed up the license and there i go!
The point to note was, every vehicle was scrutinized irrespective of size and people inside. So carrying legal papers and license in a must to avoid any trouble. It was a easy go for me coz my surname coincides with another persons surname, who was once a Shivsena district head, and he is from my village!

Enroute Kaas.

Continued ahead.and there comes the first plateau of yellows!
Smithia hirusta in full bloom! I posed my self and my bike on road to the yellow fever!
It was so refreshing! I felt my senses being tuned up, which were dismantled due to Mumbai pollution!

Smithia hirusta.

My bike and yellow stuff!

The bed of yellow!

Some more yellow! Those are not Smithia

10 mins later, some 5 kms before kaas, pvt vehicles were stopped, they were asked to abandon their vehicles at a parking lot and then carry onward to the flowerzone in a ST bus. (Dont puke  yet, there are pvt buses sponsored by NGO's too!). 
I was allowed although! This time it was not my surname, it was my bikes number plate, which read as MH-11! MH-11 is code for vehicles from satara district.
Only satara vehicles were allowed, rest had to abandon their vehicles. Later on, everybody was allowed. Infact this is a better option for those who are on 4 wheels. Why?? Keep reading and scrolling down! 


The first view of the plateau:
My imagination of kaas valley was a bit different. I was there, in summers 5 years ago, and it was just another table top like Panchgani. I was expecting something browny browny.
But it was Pinky!!! 


Frankly, i always thought that Kaas is a hype. It confirmed when i saw that yellow sheets before kaas! But i was stunned seeing the plateau in pink! Oh yeah it was balsam. Balsam are there at my village too, but not so concentrated. It was an amazing site!

First view of Kaas!

Violet Balsam

Violet ones!

A rare find!

"The edges of the road were muddy,
The narrow roads when two vehicles confronted, both have to go to the muds, crossing the tar line,
The red tape bearing the sign of "Caution", "Do not cross",
Those 60 guards, each at distance of 30 mtrs,
Childrens wearing red t-shirts sponsored by NGO, whistling all the way to manage traffic,
The Pinks, where the road cuts through,
The misty clouds at what it seems like the end of the plateau,
The mood spoiler, the sun, which was overpowered by the clouds later,
the Brisk rainfall,
The Marathi speaking guards, not allowing me to park my bike near the flowerzone"


So i was forced to park my bike where the plateau ends. 
The moment i slowed my bike, the guard would whistle, OMFG! 
No choice, i parked my bike, and came back walking one km back to the plateau.


The first observation was, the plateau was filled with Nature photographers, and the old guns! Most of those old guns were retired, and were in large groups.
Nature photographers, carrying tripods waist height, camera gear on whole body, sleeping on the grass, posing wierd was a common site.

Weird poses!

Do not cross!

If you stand on road facing kaas lake, the LHS of the road was not in full bloom, Although the signs of full bloom were already evident. The RHS was concentrated with flowers.
A close look, they are not! So it's good for landscapes.

The pink carpet RHS!

Most people would walk along the rusty and muddy mahabaleshwar road, for 500mtrs and then turn back. I was just curious to know, what lies the other side..
So i went ahead. The was a horizontal dug out portion for laying cables from where most people generally turn back. I continued crossing the same, and VIOLA!!! 


You wont beleive, i came across a mind blowing landscape!  
The flowers here were more concenrtrated, more evenly distributed. and the edge of the plateau were some weird shaped trees, a wonderful opportunity for composing landscapes!
Even i did!

The Landscape!

Close look!

2 hrs is what it takes to explore the plateau. It was 1.30 already. so i decided to head back to home. With brief stopovers for biscuit and chai session, i hit the NH-4 and took the left to panchgani, which leads to my village!


Before i wind up, i would like to add some tips and rules you MUST know.


1) DO NOT LITTER. 
2) DOn't carry plastic. Drink less water, coz there are no toilets on the flowerzone .  Women should take this advice seriously. Plus there is a constant sun and cloud game, so clouds attract bladders, to promote fluid loss!
3) Beware of snakes. There are many! 
4) Dont walk on flowers. Stick to the basics, stick to the trails. 
5) Parking in NOT allowed on flowerzone. It is better to park your vehicles 5kms before the plateau and take ST bus, coz they are the only ones allowed to alight on flowerzone.
6) Don't drink and drive.  
6) Leave only your foot prints, remember we have to preserve mother nature for our grand childrens.


Thank you! :)
"You live only once, so go out there and explore!"