Harishchandragad fort 'Heaven on Sahyadri'

When you love something, you always think about the same. My planning for treking always starts on monday and it finalised mostly by friday so I start my most travel on Saturday be it a one day or two day.

So here we decided to go Harishchandragad fort from Vasai in Palghar.

We took early morning local train to reach Kasara and from there we joined our friend waiting for us. We had reserved vehicle so it took us around 2.5 hours to reach base village panchnai from where we started trekking for harishchandragad fort.

It started with small waterfalls, few of them were reveres waterfall which I witnessed first time in my life. Very dense fog and chilled weather and we were without raincoat and after few minutes we started shivering like anything but due to ascending and warmth of the body after few minutes it was all normal.

After 30 minutes we came across a fall on trek path and we all got mad. We enjoyed alot under the waterfall, screamed and then moved ahead.

After walking for next 15 - 20 minutes again there was stream of water flowing and its was kind of small river originating due to rain. We again took a short break just sat in the water and meditated for few minutes. It was a soul wrenching experience.

''If you want to find yourself, please start trekking. You will start living again.''

Then after walking around 2 hours we were on the summit. The whole area was covered by fog. Hardly 10 meter visibility was there. Wind was there rain was there fog was there and above all a beautiful atmosphere. I just wanted to be isolated from group and find a place where I can sit and just observe the things happening around. It was really the msot beautiful place I have ever visited.

There are many small eateries set up by local villagers who gave us very tasty food for a nomimnal charge. Its was yummy I must say. After lunch around 4 PM we went to search caves for stay in night. There are many caves but we settled in one cave where already a group of 10-15 people were there. After setting up we changed our clothes and then started playing games like Antaksari, ludo mafiya etc.

It was really very chilling experience when night started. People were singing, playing games went to sleep at 1 or 2 am. I woke up around 3 AM in morning just to observe the things. I tell you it was spine chilling experience. Nobody was awake, very strange sounds were coming from outside of the cave, heavy rain with thunders and there was deep dark night. It was scary and Spine chilling but I just loved it. I just soaked myself in the moment, went back to sleep after few minutes but I tell you It was once in a life time experience I was having And I will again want to go there and stay in caves.

Next Morning we went to Kokankada but due to dense fog and heavy rain we didn't get to see the scene around. But it was really awesome experience there. If you throw something in the valley it will come back with double force. I was amazed to witness such thing. I threw few woods and other stuff and it came back. Such was the pressure of wind.

Around 8 AM we had breakfast at the same place. Uncle gave us a kadhayi full of yummy Poha and I tell you it was fresh and tasty. We enjoyed our breakfast and bid adieu Harishchandragad and its beauty.

Down path we again enjoyed a lot, singing any random songs, dancing with other groups, and masti in waterfall. We reached base village by 1 PM.

After changing our clothes we started back to kasara. Near vipasana center in igatpuri we had our dinner and drinks and then we dispersed to our homes.

Best Feeling. Loved it. Again will go next year for sure.

Total treking time- 3 hours ascending and 2 hours descending but it all depends how you want to enjoy.

Where to stay in night- Caves. Local villagers will give food in cave. You can bring your sleeping bag for better experience.

How to reach- From kasara you need to hire private taxi.

Grade- Super Easy

Experience- Its really devine. You will love it. I am planning solo here next year. So many couples, solo travelers and group were there. Safe for ladies as villagers ladies are also there.

Budget- Its all upto you. We did it under 2K.

Recommend- Yes Yes and Yes.