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Prachitgad Fort and Kandar Doh Falls
With Shrirang Deshingkar
Sangameshwar – Shringarpur – Neradwadi (5 Km) – Prachitgad
(6 hours) – Kandar Doh (6 hours, unmarked route through thick forest and
volcanic fields)
See this area on a Map
Prachitgad and adjoining Chandoli
Abhyaranya is one of the wildest regions of the Western Ghats. This was
our second attempt to reach the Prachitgad plateau, the earlier attempt failing
due to unseasonal rains that made the climb dangerous and obscured the route
(see first photo). Prachitgad is a ruined fortress at the western boundary of
the Chandoli forest. The first view of this remote fortress never fails to
amaze. As a bonus, we sighted a wild bison (gaur)
standing right in front of the fort (see photos 6 and 7).
We were lucky to have as
our guide the only person who knows the route east of Prachitgad. This involved
walking almost 75 Km in three days and hacking our way through thick, thorny
forest in some places. We had to cross huge volcanic fields (Sada) to
reach the Kandar Doh waterfall. We spotted bison (photo 19), wild boar
and had to be cautious about other predators (bears, leopards, tigers). Had to
sleep around a fire to keep wild animals away, particularly when we spent the
night near a water hole in the deserted village of Rundiv.
The Chandoli forest is infested with leeches in the wet months. They get into your socks/boots and enjoy a good drink. We did not see leeches in the dry weather, but had to deal with a nastier enemy - small ticks that give you itchy sores (see last photo of a tick and what it did to my leg). These sores last for months, and do not respond to any medication. I know this from previous hikes to Vasota and Jungli Jaigad in the Koyna/Chandoli region (sigh !!)
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20 images