Western Ghats is a great area to unwind and keep you on your toes. The trekkers of Maharashtra are everywhere on the Sahyadris on weekends, and exploring the mountains during the glorious monsoon weather.
It is said that the Sandhan Valley is one of the most well-known treks in Maharashtra. The rugged terrain and massive boulders make it a thrilling hike to take. Explore an adventure-filled journey through Asia’s second biggest valley, located in our very personal Western Ghats. A different popular name Sandhan Valley is famous for is the Valley of Shadows or the Valley of Suspense. The beautiful mystique valley lies at 183 km away from Mumbai and 198 km from Pune and 90 km from Nashik and just 62 kilometers from Igatpuri. It is located within the grounds of Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary
The village that is the base of Samrad is easily accessible by roads. Particularly if you’re traveling from
Igatpuri, get on the buses that travel to destinations like Pune and Bhandardara.
Its central location permits the visitor to discover famous locations that are located in nearby regions. These include:
Ratangad Fort
The hill fortress trek will take you back to the past. The 2000-year-old hill fortress is believed to be captured by the famous Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivji Maharaj. It is renowned for its stunning view of the valley, and the unique rock cave at its summit, called Nedhe by the locals, which roughly means the eye of needle. The fortress has four entrances within the grounds, which are Ganesh, Hanuman, Trimbak and Konkan.
Camping Sites
There are a lot of camping spots within this Sandhan Valley area. One is right at the point at the point where the hike to in the Sandhan Valley begins. The area has a rappelling activity around the canyon, which permits adventurers to participate in this game. The campsites are easily accessible by foot. Bhandardara is a trekking paradise.
Reverse Waterfall
A little bit away from Shadow valley reverse waterfalls draw your attention with its powerful force of water crashing into the earth. The views from the reverse waterfall in monsoons are awe-inspiring to take in. It is a once chance experience that all visitors should take in while visiting this area. Sandhan Valley.
Kokankada Ghatghar
Just beside located right beside the Ghatghar Dam, Kokankada is an ideal hiking spot for short walks.The views from the apex are breathtaking.The area is accessible to visitors in all seasons, but the locals are of the opinion that monsoons show the best aspects of the area. Take a drive to this stunning spot near Bhandardara and sip the hot tea while taking in the stunning panorama of Sahyadris.
Bhandardara
Bhandardara is a paradise of adventure and natural beauty in one location for hikers of Maharashtra. The region is a dream in the monsoon season with its lush forests and refreshing waterfalls, as well as pristine rivers and lakes. The abundant nature of Bhandardara draws a large number of hikers during weekend at the camping sites. The winters are mild and comfortable, making it perfect to camp in the wilderness.
This is the main spot for other hill forts located in Sahyadris and. If you’re in the region, make sure to visit Alang, Malang forts, Ratangad reverse waterfalls, Bhandardara and camping areas, or simply drive along the endless highway. The western ghats make a wonderful spot to be in at the time of Maharashtrian monsoons. The entire area is completely drenched and you will see an entire shift in landscape: open green lands with foggy white clouds that encircle the mountains and pathways of the old hill forts as well as the waterfalls that emerge from the clouds.
The majority of the hill forts located in Sahyadris are easy to moderate levels of difficulty. There are some extreme locations such as Harihar fort, which is reserved only for daredevils. The ideal timing to go to Sandhan is without doubt during the monsoon season and during the post monsoon season. However, the monsoons can cause the terrain to be slippery and dangerous to walk on, it is still safe to hike. The post monsoon season begins with the month of November, so traveling during winter months is also an option for trekkers.
Take along energy bars, plenty of drinking water, snacks that are dry as well as trekking gears.
Sandhan Valley is an extraordinary natural beauty in the Sahyadris region. A trip to this spooky valley is likely to stay in your mind for the rest of your life. It is not likely to come across these rock formations in valleys where light catches up to reach the ground. It’s also a hotspot for photographers wanting to capture the extraordinary beauty of the western ghats.