Hairshchandragad, a historic hill fort under the lovely skies-Konkan kada.
Harishchandragad Camping Under the Skies – Rainbow Arcs, Fragmented Clouds & Green Valleys
It’s 150 million years ago during the Gondwana age, before the Himlayas, the Sahyadri mountains were formed. Rich in biodiversity, spouting waterfalls and greenery. Harishchandragad is one of the most scenic and beautiful places one can visit. Residing in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, it’s popular amongst trekkers.
Harishchandrgas is a historical fort that has its origin back to the 6th century.The Kalchuri dynasty, Moguls and the Marathas laid their history with its cultural and religious importance. Winter is the best time to visit Harishchandragad fort. It’s very pleasant and in cool weather it drops down to 10 -20 degrees. The mighty misty mountains that bloom in yellows and greens. Where the Sky is clear and stars are near. The view will awestruck you. Well, sounds just so magical, doesn’t it? But yes, it isn’t that tough to reach here if you choose the Panchai route and chuck Khireshwar.
Dendrophiles would really appreciate the trail full of yellow little flowers, the smell of the grass with scenic sunsets and sunrises. You can stay in the cold caves and do a bit of camping under the night sky. There is a special bliss in the mornings with gets blissful with not your alarm but the sounds of the chirping birds.
Harishchandragad -A Place to be, A place to see!
Walking alongside the yellow blooms, you will come across Hairshchnadragad’s great history and structures built since the 6th century. Harishchandreshwar, Shiva temple, has been there since the Kalachuri dynasty. It is built in the Hemadpanthi architectural style. It’s the oldest pilgrimage. It was protected by the Yadavas and captured by Maratha leaders like Shivaji Maharaj.
Kedareshwar Cave temple also holds a vital place as it has a 5-foot Shiva Lingam. It’s quite aesthetic and unique as it represents the 4 ages of man through its pillars and Yugas. These are mentioned in various Hindu scriptures. This cave was carved out in the 11th century.
Harishchandragad is an ancient hill fort. It was controlled by the Mughals and later developed by the Marathas. It’s very popular for its trekking route. It has a breathtaking landscape view and especially the Konkan Kada.
Konkan Kada has a massive sem–circular cliff. It’s a dramatic drop where rappellers can easily jump down nd rock climbers can explore it thoroughly.
The most unique natural prodigy one can experience is the fragmented apparition! meaning you will get to see a circular rainbow, and if you’re lucky, you will also experience a perpendicular cloud burst with its mist all around the range. An epic picture of you at the cliff of Konkan Kada is a must-do thing.
You can camp it out at night with a small stove and make your Maggie and hot soups. The nearby village locals also help you by providing some meals at their home stay and house kitchens. Taste the local Maharastrian stavik meals and have a good rest.
Saptatirtha Pushkarni is a well-built historic lake. It’s at the Harishchandreshwar temple. It was a source of portable water in those times . It is surrounded by 14 temple-like structures that have Lord Vishnu idols. These idols have been moved to the nearby cave. Since the water is quite polluted, we wouldn’t suggest you dive in, and also note that it gets very cold, so we won’t recommend you jump in it.
How to reach here Harishchandragad ?
From Mumbai or Pune, you can do a road trip in your personal vehicles or do a tempo travel for your group. You need to look for Pachnai on your Google map, as that’s the base village, which is definitely a good pick for beginners. You can also take the moderate route that Khireshwar or Belpada which is quite a challenge.
There is no other way to the top other than walking and trekking, so don’t expect a road to the fort for your fellow friends who aint ready to climb up. The best time to visit is from June to March, but yes, you know the winters will be cold and fun, so definitely go there with your hoodies on and oh yes! The best time for rappelling and rock climbing will also be in winter. The Monsoons shall offer you lush green scenery, but do take care on the slippery trails with some grip shoes.
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