passionate trekkers: 2009

Koraigad
This fort is past INS Shivaji near a village called Peth Shahapur enroute Ambavane where Sahara Amby Valley is located and belongs to Sahara India. Yes they own the fort believe it or not.To get to this place from Pune essentially one needs to:
1] Travel on NH-4 to Lonavala / Expressway take Lonavala exit. Take the left to Bhushi Dam/INS Shivaji and continue to Amby Valley. Keep looking for Peth Shahapur.
2] Travel to Mulshi. Just before the dam wall, take a right to Ghusalkhamb [ 40Kms from here ]. The road is not so good, though if you need a taste of adventure scenery and greenery. This is the route. When you hit a T with a Chai shop at corner, take a left for Ambavane and look for Peth Shahapur.
3] Travel past Mulshi via Tamhini, past Dongarwadi, there is a bifurcation for Lonavala. This road is super scenic and Sumo worthy. This road would take you to Bhambarde, from here continue to Ambavane and then to Peth Shahapur

Telbaila:

Telbaila

Gang on koraigad lake

Telbaila

Way to koraigad

Via Tamhini ghat (approx 200 km)

• Pune — Paud – Pirangut Road — Tamhini Ghat — Turn left at Vile
Diveagar Harihareshwar Map • Vile — Nijampur — Mangaon .You will reach NH – 17. Continue traveling left towards Mahad
• Turn right 500 mts after Mangaon ST Stand on SH 97 to Mhasala. Turn right again on SH98 after Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan

(Road map: Pune – Chandani Chauk – Paud – Mulshi – Dongarwadi – Tamhini Ghat – Vile – Nijampur – Mangaon – Lonere Phata – Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan. Road is smooth and good. It could be bad for portion of the ghat section. Avoid crossing Tamhini Ghat after 6:00 PM. It is not safe)

Diveagar Beach can easily rival any beach on the west coast of India for its clear waters, white sand & serenity. Diveagar is situated approximately 5 Kms from Shrivardhan. Reaching Diveagar is quite easy, take a right turn after Mangaon on the Mumbai-Goa highway, from here it’s a one-hour drive to Diveagar. Diveagar is just like any other village on the Konkan coast but it gained overnight fame upon the discovery of Ganesh idol made of pure gold in one of the Supari Baghs (Garden) in the village.

The beach is a real revelation, a six km long stretch with white sand & clear water. At one end of the beach is a fishing settlement while the other end offers a sanctuary to the migratory seagulls feasting in the creek waters. The beach has a lot of Suru trees, which are common to coastal Maharashtra. The access to the beach has a dense cover of Belu trees, which are very uncommon sight on this coast.

Diveagar has numerous households offering accommodation for as low as Rs.300-400 per day. The local cuisines are worth exploring & better enjoy eating it as no other options are available. Diveagar is an ideal weekend getaway away from City crowd. Don’t expect any luxury hotels & typical city eating joints here but be prepared to be surprised by the simplicity & calmness offered by this place.

Spots

• Suvarnaganesha (Golden Ganesh) Temple: History of Suvarnaganesha is quite fascinating. It was on the special day of November 17th, 1998 (Sankashti Chaturthi as per the Hindu calendar) that there was found a copper box beneath the earth. It was weighing 30 kilos in a coconut cultivation near the temple. The box was muddy as it was buried and looked ancient. It had some words written from the 10 century in Sanskrit. This incident attracted all the mob from the Diveagar village. This was the second incident that an ancient piece of history was found, as earlier there was found a “Tamraptra” at the same place. when the box was opened in presence of Govt Officials, there was a sculpture of Lord Ganesh made out of pure gold. Also the box contained ornaments belonging to Lord Ganesha. It was then that the god was named “Suvarnaganesh”.
Suvarnaganesh is a complete idol of Lord Ganesha,but a sculpture of pure 24 caret gold.Its weighted 1 kilo and 300grams,with height of 24 inches. It is said that this sculpture was created to mask some Lord Ganesh stone idol, which was earlier in the temple. However its still a puzzle as to who has buried it and for what reason. But people of Diveagar have tremendous faith in Suvarnagensh and that the god is blessing the place with prosperity.

• Sundernarayan Temple: Also know as Rupnarayan temple, was believed to be built in the thirteen century, under the rule of King Shilahar. The idol is the best example of sculpture. The four hands of the idol along with their accessories Shank(Shell),Chakra(Wheel), Gada(Weapon), Padma(Lotus) are carved in such a manner that when seen in clockwise direction ,it shows 24 different appearances of Lord Vishnu.

• Seashore: At the back of the Sundernarayn temple, there sea-shore of about 4-5 kilometers. The soothing sand beneath, the sea in semicircle appears to be calling. Beach is safe for swimming as against its neighour – Harihareshwar Beach which is not that safe.

• Shrivardhan Seashore: Kondivali beach (5 Kms from Shrivardhan) – clean and unmarked by footprints.

• Birthplace of Peshwa Bajirao I: 5 kms from Shrivardhan