Name: Harishchandragad Trek & Camping
Brand: Trekhievers
Availability: InStock

Overview

The fort is quite ancient. Remnants of Microlithic man have been discovered here. The various Puranas (ancient scriptures) like Matsyapurana, Agni Purana, and Skanda Purana includes many references to Harishchandragad. Its origin is said to have been in the 6th century, during the rule of the Kalachuri dynasty. The citadel was built during this era. The various caves probably have been carved out in the 11th century. In these caves are idols of Lord Vishnu. Though the cliffs are named Taramati and Rohidas, they are not related to Ayodhya. Great sage Changdev (one who created the epic Tatvasaar), used to meditate here in the 14th century. The caves are from the same period. The various constructions on the fort and those existing in the surrounding region point to the existence of diverse cultures here. The carvings on the temples of Nageshwar (in Khireshwar village), in the Harishchandreshwar temple, and in the cave of Kedareshwar indicate that the fort belongs to the medieval period since it is related to Mahadeva as a totem of tribes Mahadev Koli. They were controlling the fort before Moguls. Later the fort was under the control of Moguls. The Marathas captured it in 1747.

A panoramic view from the basement

Notable Places of Interest

Saptatirtha Pushkarni

To the east of the temple is a well-built lake called “Saptatirtha”. On its bank are temple-like constructions in which there are idols of Lord Vishnu. Recently these idols have been shifted to the caves near the temple of Harishchandreshwar. These days many trekkers have been responsible for the sad plight of this place, as they throw plastic waste and other things in the pond. 7 years back the water was potable, and now it isn't suitable even to swim. (However, this water is so cold in summer that you can actually feel like you are standing in a refrigeration unit.)

Kedareshwar Cave. Local legend holds that when the fourth pillar breaks, the world will come to an end.

Kedareshwar Cave

Towards the right of Harishchandreshwar temple, there is the huge cave of Kedareshwar, in which there is a big Shiva Linga, which is completely surrounded by water. Its height from the base is five feet, and the water is waist-deep. It is quite difficult to reach the Shiva Linga because the water is ice-cold. There are sculptures carved out in the cave. In the monsoon, it is not possible to reach this cave, as a huge stream flows across the way. Actually, this is the origin of River Mangalganga.

As can be seen from the picture, there is a huge rock above the Shiva Linga. There were four pillars built around the Shiva Linga to support the cave.

Another interesting thing about this place is that water seeps into this temple from the four walls on an everyday basis. And owing to the water being very cold, it's difficult to reach inside too. The water continues to seep in during all the seasons during the year, except during the rainy season, and surprisingly, it is also said that there is absolutely no water during the rainy season.

Kokankada

Kokan Kada (कोकण कडा)

This cliff faces west and looks down upon the Konkan. It provides views of the surrounding region. The cliff has an overhang but has been climbed many times. Sometimes a circular rainbow (the Brocken specter phenomenon) can be seen from this point. It can be seen only when there is a bit of mist in the valley, and the sun is right behind the person facing the valley. One phenomenon that can be observed at this place is the vertical cloud burst, in which the clouds nearing the cliff get sucked into the pitfall area below and are thrown vertically into the sky reaching more than 50 feet (15 m), creating the impression of a wall that is rising straight from the edge of the cliff without entering the landmass area.

Taramati peak

Also known as Taramanchi. This is the topmost point on the fort (1429 meters). Leopards are seen in the forests beyond this peak. From here we can have a glimpse of the whole range of Naneghat and the forts near Murbad. From this Taramati point, we can have a glimpse of forts till Siddhagad near Bhimashankar in the south and Napa twin peaks, Ghodishep (865 meters), Ajoba (1375 meters), Kulang fort (1471 meters) in the north near the Kasara region.

A panoramic view from the peak

Caves on Harishchandragad

These caves are spread out all over the fort. Many of these are situated at the foot of Taramati peak and are the place of accommodation. A few are near the temple, whereas some are near the citadel, and some are far away in the forests. A 30 feet (9.1 m) deep natural cave is on the northwestern side of the fort, to the right of Kokan Kada. Many other caves are still said to remain undiscovered.

Nageshwar temple near Khireshwar

This is a great antique construction, and diverse artistic works are seen on this. On the ceiling of the temple are carvings. The main attraction of the carvings here is the 1.5 m long sculpture of Lord Vishnu in the sleeping posture, popularly known as "Sheshshayi Vishnu" in Marathi. It is rare and hence holds a lot of importance. There are a lot of legends told about this sculpture. There are caves near the temple.

Temple of Harishchandreshwar

Temple of Harishchandreshwar

Ganapati, Harishchandreshwar Temple

This temple is a marvelous example of the fine art of carving sculptures out of stones that prevailed in ancient India. It is about 16 m high from its base. Around this temple, there are a few caves & ancient water tanks. The river Mangal Ganga is said to originate from one of the tanks located close to the temple. The top of the temple resembles the construction of the north-Indian temples. A similar temple is situated in Buddha-Gaya. Here we can see many tombs, in which a typical construction is seen. These are built by well-finished arranging stones one on top of the other. There are three main caves near the temple. The cisterns near the temple provide drinking water. A short distance away, another temple called Kashitirtha is located. The fascinating thing about this temple is that it has been carved out from a single huge rock. There are entrances from all four sides. On the main entrance, there are sculptures of faces. These are the faces of the guards of the temple. On the left side of the entrance is a Devsnagsri inscription, which is about saint Changdev.

Batches :

January: 7, 14, 21, 26, 28
February: 4, 11, 18, 25
March: 4, 11, 18, 25
April: 1st, 7th, 8th, 15th, 22th, 29th
May: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

Event Fees:

Mumbai (Kasara): Rs 1700/-
Pune: 2050/-
Base Village: 1000/-

1 Night 2 Days 25 Mar, 01 Apr, 08 Apr, and more Pachnai, Harishchandragad

Offers

Use any one code to avail this offer

GROUP 3

- Flat ₹50 on group of 3 and above

GROUP 5

- Flat ₹100 on group of 5 and above

GROUP 10

- Flat ₹150 on group of 10 and above

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Calendar

Itinerary

MUMBAI-

Saturday,

Take 08:33 AM Kasara Fast Local
08:33 AM: CSMT
08:48 AM: Dadar
08:59 AM: Ghatkopar`
09:15 AM: Thane
09:38 AM: Kalyan
10:48 AM: Kasara
11:00 AM: Report at Kasara ( https://goo.gl/maps/mcqSN6qsjjaUHskE8 )
11:15 AM: We board privately booked vehicles and head to Dhaba for Lunch Break after Quick we move to Pachnai, where we will be commencing our trek. It’ll take approximately 3 hours to reach the village.
03:00 PM: We reach Base Village, from where you can get a glimpse of Harishchandrgad Kokankada
03:30 PM: Gear up, pack your bags and get your Shoes to lace up! It’s gonna be a memorable trail to the top. We will make a few halts on the way where you can grab your snack or a drink.
05:30 PM: Reach Campsite on the top of Kokankada and enjoy the sunset view from Kokankada.
07:00 PM: Get involved in tent pitching activity and learn how to pitch a tent.
09:00 PM: Prepare for a night under the sky and have Delicious Local cuisine for Dinner, let the Arijit Singh in you come out, play a few games, share stories (especially ghost stories), make new friends & enjoy the Bonfire Nights.
11:30 PM: Off to the tents for sound sleep( for those who are very sleepy)

Sunday,

05:00 AM: Wake up and fresh up
05:15 AM: Start our trek to Taramati Shikar
06:30 AM: Reach Taramati and watch the sunrise
08:00 AM: Reach Kokankada and have breakfast
08:00 AM - 09:30 AM: Relax and explore fort Kokankada and Harishchandragad
10:30 AM: Start descending via the same route
01:00 PM: Reach base village and have lunch
02:00 PM: Depart for Kasara Station
06:00 PM: Reach Kasara Station (Arrival Time Depends on Pace of Group and Traffic)
06:18 PM: Take CSMT Fast Local to Mumbai

PUNE-

Saturday,

08:00 AM: Report at Starbucks FC Road ( https://goo.gl/maps/53XNsyDPwcSVReZW9 )
08:30 AM: Pickups from Kasarwadi ( https://goo.gl/maps/fpMtVDhNwiFyVdBm6 )
03:00 PM: We reach Base Village and have Lunch. (Kindly have your breakfast in the morning before boarding the bus)
03:30 PM: Gear up, pack your bags and get your Shoes to lace up! It’s gonna be a memorable trail to the top. We will make a few halts on the way where you can grab your snack or a drink.
05:30 PM: Reach Campsite on the top of Kokankada and enjoy the sunset view from Kokankada.
07:00 PM: Get involved in tent pitching activity and learn how to pitch a tent.
09:00 PM: Prepare for a night under the sky and have Delicious Local cuisine for Dinner, let the Arijit Singh in you come out, play a few games, share stories (especially ghost stories), make new friends & enjoy the Bonfire Nights.
11:30 PM: Off to the tents for sound sleep( for those who are very sleepy)

Sunday,

05:00 AM: Wake up and fresh up
05:15 AM: Start our trek to Taramati Peak
06:30 AM: Reach Taramati and watch the sunrise
08:00 AM: Reach Kokankada and have breakfast
08:00 AM- 09:30 AM: Relax and explore fort Kokankada and Harishchandragad
10:30 AM: Start descending via the same route
01:00 PM: Reach base village
01:30 PM: Have lunch
03:00 PM: Depart for Pune
10:00 PM: Reach Pune (Arrival Time Depends on Pace of Group and Traffic)

Inclusion:

Travel from Pune / Mumbai by Private bus as per govt COVID guidelines
Day 1: Lunch (Only for Pune)
Day 1: Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast
Day 2: Lunch
Forest Charges.
Expertise Charges.
First Aid Charges.

Exclusion :

Travel till pickup points
GST (5%)
All kinds of Extra Meals/snacks/soft drinks/ Mineral water purchased for personal consumption
Any kind of personal expenses
Any kind of cost which is not mentioned in the cost includes above
All expenses incurred due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances like roadblocks, bad weather
Any medical / Emergency evacuations if required
Any kind of Insurance

Things to do:

Harishchandreshwar Temple: This temple is famous for its carved sculptures and intricate artwork. You will fall in love with the beauty of this temple. The beautiful artistry inside the temple attracts a lot of visitors. This temple is best for all visitors to explore the artistic beauty of this historical temple.

Kedareshwar Cave: Kedareshwar cave is an enormous cave that houses a Shiva-Linga. The Shiva-Linga is surrounded by water, and it is a major attraction for people visiting here. Caves attract several visitors who love ancient and historical places and if you are one of them you will surely love this place.

Konkan Kada: It is one of the highest peaks in Maharashtra and gives a challenging experience to all trek enthusiasts. It is at a height of 3500 ft and has a beautiful view from the top. You will witness the most astonishing scenic beauty from here. If you love trekking or natural beauty, then you should visit this place to have a wonderful experience.

Saptatirtha Pushkarini: Saptatirtha Pushkarini is a pond located near the Harishchandreshwar temple. It has a beautiful idol of Lord Vishnu. It is a popular place for sightseeing, and you can also swim in the pond.

Things to carry:

(Highly Required and Mandatory Things)

ID proof
backpack (waterproof or covered with waterproof cover)
trekking shoes or any sports shoes with a Good grip
Trekking pants (compulsory), 2 T-Shirts (Preferably full sleeves or Half T-shirt with sleeves), Raincoat/ waterproof jacket/ windcheater, Handnapkin/Towel, etc
Water 2-3 liters.
Ready-to-eat food like plum cakes, Dry fruits, dry snacks and biscuits, Chikki, chocolate bars, etc.
Torch
Personal Medicines and Personal First aid

(Required but Optional Things)

To change after trekking - Facewash, Extra pants/ shorts, Extra T-shirt, sleeper/ floaters, an extra bag to carry your trekking shoes, innerwear, etc
Sweater For bus journey
Electoral or Glucose D powder.
Portable Phone Charger, Earphones, etc.
Sun protection cap, sunglasses, Sunscreen lotion, toothbrush-toothpaste, etc
Proper face mask or shield
Sanitizer
Extra Pair of clothes.

(Note: Please wear Full sleeves and Full Track Pants, this will protect your body and skin from Sun / Thorns / Insects / Prickles, etc)

COVID Guidelines :

Mask and maintaining social distance with others are mandatory throughout the trip.
Buses will be fully sanitized before use.
Carrying your own sanitizers, gloves, face shield and mask is compulsory.
Food will be freshly cooked and packed as per WHO guidelines.

Trekhievers Policies:

Seats will be reserved only after Online booking with full payment.
Fees paid are non-refundable but transferable to another person for the same event.
The complete schedule of the trek will be given later to registered participants on the WhatsApp group
Organizers have all the right to modify or change the schedule of the event in case it is required due to and according to any technical, or environmental circumstances like govt. rules and regulations, weather, etc
Organizers hold the right to cancel any event and refund with prior notice to the participants
We strictly follow a no alcohol, no drugs, and no litter policy.

Cancellation Policy:

75% refund if notified via phone conversation 8 or more days prior to the event date.
50 % refund if notified via phone conversation 4 to 7 days prior to the event date.
No refund if the cancellation requested is less than 3 days prior to the event date
No show No Refund.
Event Tickets cannot be transferred to another date against cancellation.
Event Tickets can be transferred to another person against cancellation.