Chavand - Shivneri Trek

Fort1: Chavand
Base village: Chavand
Height : 3490 ft (above MSL)
Grade : Easy

Fort2: Shivneri
Base village: Junnar
Height: 3500 ft (above MSL)
Grade: Very Easy

One thing I have learnt - never plan with people. Either they fizzle out or have some reason not to come on trek. This trek was no different. I had planned to go with Vik because Deep was not there. Purvesh and Saurabh were going to Ankai-Tankai and Hadbi chi shendi.

Morning I receive a call from Vik , he's not coming. I was angry for a moment but then realized that he must have a strong reason not to come. So undeterred , I started out all alone for the trek. The initial plan was to do Chavand and Hadsar but when I reached Junnar I realized that they are way away from each other so I decide to do Chavand first.

The bike ride upto Junnar was ok on the 2-lane Nashik Highway and then the turn from Narayangaon to Junnar. Went ahead to the road towards Ghatghar after confirming with sau on which road to go over phone , some distance ahead the road deteriorated. Was broken in many places and was being laid at many. However I chugged on. Some distance ahead I could see a hill to my right but I couldnt figure out if it was a fort , Sau had said the same thing, watch out for a hill to the right.

I went some distance ahead on the road and saw a board Chavand to the right , so entered right and ahead went into the village. Post enquiry I parked my bike at a place near some houses and started on the trek. Initially the trek winds up over a small hill and goes ahead from where I could see the iron railings on the rock cut steps. Reached that place and went up on the steps.

Steps are pretty steep but thanks to the railings we can hold and go up. Once up there is a small cannon on the steps which juts out and going ahead there is a plateau from where I could see the fort walls and more steps going up. Walking up the steps is tiring but once you reach the top the tiredness goes away and the eagerness comes in to explore the unknown ahead on top.

The main door is well hidden and intact. Post some photos entered the fort. There are a lot of ruins on top and steps still surviving. Going ahead I saw two trekkers from Talegaon who initiated a conversation with me and we exchange pleasantaries and went ahead. The views from top are amazing.

Going some distance ahead I saw the coolest sight , 7 water tanks arranged near each other full of water. Nice view. Taking some photos moved towards the other end of the fort. Nothing much , all barren top. Many water tanks. Made a move to goto the top end of the fort where there is a temple. The route to the top is pretty good but dont missed the main trail , the bushes are very pricky on the sides and stick to your clothes and may bruise you.

The temple is a small one with some remnants on its sides and a small idol of devi inside it. Post darshan I climbed down the hillock by a non conventional way and had a bad time in between the bushes but anyhow came down fast. I reached the door side once again. Post some photos and some lunch which my aunty had given and some self timer shots because I was alone started down to the village.

It was around 1pm now and the heat was searing , post some slips on the scree I came down safely into the village and to my bike and started back to Junnar. Gave lift to an old man enroute who had to go to a village around 5 km ahead. Going ahead I saw the Shivneri fort again so I thought why not visit it too so that this part will be done now.

At the Shivaji statue in Junnar I took the right and went ahead on the route to Shivneri. Shivneri is the birthplace of the great Maratha warrior , Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Post some ghat road I reached the entrance and parked my bike.

The time read 1.30pm and it was very hot now. The initial climb onto the steps was torturous but I anyway made it to the main door and ahead it was flat plain walk for sometime. Going ahead more steps and stuff later reached the top of the fort. Looked like many people had come being a sunday and a weekend.

The top of the fort is renovated now leaving all old structures as it is and new pathways have been reconstructed. There is a new structure for a light and sound show on top. The water tanks Ganga and Jamuna are awesome and have amazing cool water. The heat on top was unbearable thanks to the sun beating down but however i went ahead.

Going ahead I came across the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This place is well known and seen by almost everyone in their history books. This place has a special aura around it. Something mysterious. Entering the building there is a narrow alley to get to the top where there is a small room and a balcony. Coming down just in front of the entrance there is a locked room , supposedly the place where the legend was born. I became emotional at this place. This is the place where the great warrior was born and spent his initial years.

Post that I went to see the kadelot tok where prisoners , thieves , murderers were pushed down the cliff as a punishment. The view from there is indeed heartstopping. Coming back , I came back to the parking took my bike. The heat had taken a toll on me now. Riding the bike and getting hit with some air gave some relief.

Started at around 3pm from there and post joining the highway reached home by 5pm. Nice day and nice trek indeed.