Nitin & Sharad suggested celebrating their promotion
parties as over-night trip instead of the routine Hotel Parties. Nice idea.
We came to our company at Pimpri in our company buses. We
had booked a Tavera from our company gate at 5.00 pm in the evening.
Now started our hunt for the venue. Pawan-Khind,
Koyana-Nagar Dam, Raigad Rope-way and Malshej Ghat. We were 8 of us. And this
time luckily nobody backed out at the last moment.
We left at 5.45 pm – 8 of us – Nitin, Sharad, Tushar,
Vishal, Mayur, Sagar, Sourabh and myself. From Moshi we joined the Pune-Nashik Highway
There are two ways how we can proceed to Malshej Ghat. Take
a left from Narayangaon (30 kms from Rajgurunagar) or else go ahead and take a
left from Ale Phata (45 kms from Rajgurunagar). The overall Pune-Malshej
distance is 120 kms for former route and 140 kms from latter route.
 |
| From Narayangaon - 120 kms |
 |
| From Ale Phata - 140 kms |
However since we were unaware of the road conditions from
Narayangaon route we decided to take the longer Ale Phata route. This is the
NH-222 (Kalyan-Ahmednagar); being a highway, road conditions might be better.
But both the roads are in good condition. Hence it is better to go from
Narayangaon route. Distance is anyway less by 20 kms; but there are good
possibilities of food joints (hotels) since you pass from Junnar.
We had planned that we would be having Dinner near Ale Phata
as we were not sure of good hotels on NH-222. However, there are no any good
hotels either near Ale Phata. The hotel we went was pathetic – Hotel Ashoka
Palace
At Ale Phata, take Left towards Kalyan, Murbad. There are
very few hotels on this route. Even petrol pumps are scarce the one we saw was just
before the Malshej MTDC (about 40 kms away). Better you have your tank full on
NH-50 itself.
The MTDC resort is 45 kms away from Ale Phata. Just before
the Ghat descend starts there is a board for turning to Right side when coming
from Ale Phata.
19° 20' 28.96" N 73° 47' 26.90" E
19° 20' 28.96" N 73° 47' 26.90" E
We reached MTDC at 12.00 am. Nobody was there. Even we
ourselves opened the gates, parked the vehicle, started roaming in the resort
to find somebody. We woke him up and then we completed our check-in
formalities. We had booked a 15 bedded dormitory through MTDC website. However,
the phone number mentioned never works or even if it rings, no one attends to
it. So if it’s a family trip, better to call MTDC office in Mumbai, Pune or any
other. We had gone directly and our booking was there.
Room was nice, 15 beds with pillows and sheets. Most
importantly & surprisingly for me bathrooms were clean. If one is comparing
MTDC with some Starred Resort, it will be disappointing to you. But the reason
of booking it here you will come to know when you get outside towards the
valley to have a breath-taking view of the Ghat. And secondly, there is no
other place to stay in the nearby area. Only one we saw was the board of Hotel
Su-Shant. But don’t have any idea about it.
After much TP, a round of dance and jokes we went to sleep
by 1.00 am.
Next morning at 6 am, all of us were awake, surprisingly.
After getting freshen-up we went for a stroll. This was the most amazing
experience of the whole trip. What we could never though of or expected in the
dark yesterday when we came, we saw those emerald studded mountains and
valleys, waterfalls in between, sparkling yellow flowers all across, fog
appearing from nowhere sometimes. And all this at a stone throw distance from
the Resort.
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| MTDC location |
 |
| MTDC Restaurant |
 |
| MTDC inside passage |
 |
| MTDC cottage |
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| MTDC play area |
 |
| MTDC Restaurant inside |
We came to know that this area is used in many film and
advertisement shootings eg. The Fevicol Ad Shoot,
This was mostly a photography session for me. After about
couple of hours, we retired back to our room, had a bath, got some tea and
biscuits and then we decide to take round in the ghat.
We took about 11 kms descend in the ghat and back. On the
way our photographic appetite was being satisfied by the tunnel in between, a
water fall, a thumb rock which just by the side of the tunnel (just a caution:
we came across a snake on that rock, Sagar was on the rock for a photograph,
when Tushar saw it. It was I think a Rat Snake - धामण). We had a Vada-Paav and
Tea in between on the road side.
 |
| Golden Emperor Moth |
 |
| A Rat Snake (धामण) |
Then we decided to go for the Khireshwar which is about 10
kms from Malshej Ghat. It is the base village for Harishchandragad Fort.
Vehicles can go till here and then there is a jungle trek. We had no intentions
of a trek but there is temple
of Lord Shiva
 |
| Malshej MTDC to Khireshwar |
 |
| Pimpalgaon Joge Dam |
 |
| Khireshwar Village |
 |
| Pimpalgaon Joge Dam |
Road from was nice; narrow but plain. This road connects the
NH-222. From here Right is Malshej and Left is Otur, Ale Phata. What could have
been a mere 10-15 kms travel, we landed up doing some 20-25 kms due to
Khireshwar. However, photography opportunities were available. Dams are the
great place for photography really.
Just before Otur, there is a cross road named Bankar Phata.
We took right for Junnar. There is Right again in between for Lenyadri, one of
the Ashtavinayakas.
 |
| Khireshwar to Lenyadri |
Parking space is available. You need to climb about 300
steps. I counted 302 to be exact. You need to be extremely of monkeys. Keep you
belongings properly, if possible do not bring hand bags with you. Careful if
you purchase any Coconuts, Flower Garlands for Lord Ganesha. Monkeys were
mostly interested in that. Obiously one needs to take care of the camera.
Dolis are also available for carrying elderly worshippers.
Rs. 300 per person are the charges. There is a vehicle entry fee of Rs. 10 and
another Rs. 5 per person before climbing the hill. Steps are however very well
maintained.
 |
| Steps outside the Sanctum Sanctorum - towards right is the Ganesh idol |
On the mountain there are about 30-40 Buddhist caves used as
halls for prayers and for living. Immediately after you climb on the top there
is cave with Buddhist Stupa carved inside. Above this cave is one big cave with
the Lord Ganesha. All other caves are simple rock cut rooms.
 |
| View from Lenyadri Hill |
19° 14' 26.44" N 73° 53' 14.42" E
There are shops that sell toys, photos and photo-frames, decorative articles, Pooja Material, etc at the bottom of the hill.
There are shops that sell toys, photos and photo-frames, decorative articles, Pooja Material, etc at the bottom of the hill.
 |
| Lenyadri to Ojhar (through Junnar) --- 26 kms) |
From Lenyadri, we decided to go to Ojhar. Actually
Lenyadri-Ojhar is some 10-12 kms, but since it was already 1 pm we decided to
go to Junnar first for Lunch and then to Ojhar. This made our journey to about
20 kms.
 |
| next to Junnar S T Stand |
 |
| Shivneri Fort --- seen from Junnar |
There is very good hotel just next to Junnar S T Stand – Hotel Poonam. Taste was good and service was quick.
We then moved ahead to Ojhar. I’d been there some time in 2000-2001 on two-wheelers. Hence I was able to recollects few things. The place has been extremely well-developed. A Bhakt-Niwas is made next to the temple. Cleanliness needs to be applauded. There was not a single scrap of paper seen on the streets. Water of the Yedgaon Dam by the side was clean as a crystal. I could see that the temple has been renovated from inside. Rs. 20 per vehicle that they collect at the entrance is being put to correct use.
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| Bhakta-Niwas --- see the level of cleanliness on streets |
 |
| the level of cleanliness on streets |
 |
| Temple complex view over Yedgaon Dam |
Similar to Lenyadri, here also there the shops that sell
almost the same articles outside the temple.
19° 11' 27.60" N 73° 57' 19.99" E
19° 11' 27.60" N 73° 57' 19.99" E
 |
| Ojhar to Narayangaon |
From here we decided to get back on our return journey. We
moved towards Narayangaon and on NH-50 marched towards Pune. Just after
Rajgurunagar there is a nice hotel by the name Indrayani (on right side when
going towards Pune). We had a cup of tea here.
Then after dropping to our friends at Pimpri, we moved
towards Pune. I reached by about 7.15 pm in the evening. We clocked about 320
kms this journey.
Odometer readings are:
Day 1
0 Pune
City.
20 Tata Motors,
Pimpri.
41 Hotel
Vedant (about 8 kms before Rajgurunagar)
65 Khed Ghat
81
Narayangaon (Left from here also will take you to Malshej GHat via
Junnar)
94 Ale Phata
(Take Left; Straight will take you to Nashik, Right to Ahmednagar)
A road
from Junnar joins about 8-10 kms prior to MTDC.
There
are no Petrol Pumps on this route. The only one we saw was of HP just after
this Junnar road connect. Also Hotels are scarce on this road. Better to have
food near Rajgurunagar / Narayangaon.
140 MTDC,
Malshej Ghat
Day 2
22 kms round in the Malshej Ghat
162 MTDC
164 Left for
Harishchandragad & Khireshwar (along the Pimpalgaon Joge Dam)
At the “T” section Left goes for Harishachandragad; Right to
Otur via the same NH-222. We took Right.
At the connection to the NH-222, take Left.
192 Bankar
Phata (Before Otur). Take Right to Junnar, Shivneri, Ojhar, Lenyadri, Nane
Ghat, Chavand, Jeev-dhan. Straight takes you to Ale Phata.
201 Right for
Lenyadri (3 kms) and Shivneri Fort.
202 Right for
Lenyadri; Straight to Shivneri Fort (8 kms) and Junnar, Ojhar
There’s an entry fee of 10 Rs per vehicle.
204 Lenyadri (at
the foot of the hill); you need to climb 300 odd steps.
Return back on the same road after the darshan and take Right
for Junnar, Ojhar, Shivneri.
At “T” junction take Left for Junnar.
210 Junnar S T
Stand.
About 2 kms ahead towards (NH-50; Nashik Highway
At “T” junction take Left
226 Ojhar
There’s an entry fee of 20 Rs per vehicle.
After Darshan take the same road back for Narayangaon. This
is where we join the NH-50.
270 Rajgurunagar
277 Hotel
Indrayani
310 Nashik
Phata on NH-4 (Mumbai Pune Highway
322 Pune City
