Yatrisahyadri has organized A trek to Karnala Fort / Bird Watching (Karnala Bird Sanctuary) on
05th December, 2010.

…Some basic information about the trek is as follows:

Fort: Karnala
Height: 1440 feet
Range: Sahyadri
District: Raigad
Level: Easy.

About the place:

Karnala fort (also called Funnel Hill) is a hill fort in Raigad district about 12 km from Panvel city. Currently it is a protected place lying within the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. It was a fort of strategic importance as it overlooked the Bor pass which connected the Konkan coast to the interior of Maharashtra (Vidharba) and was the main trade route between these areas.

History:

It’s exact date of formation is not known but likely it predates 1400 CE as under the Devagiri Yadavs (1248–1318) and under the Tughlaq rulers (1318–1347), Karnala was the capital of the north Konkan districts of their respective empires. It later fell under the command of the Gujarat Sultanate but in 1540 was taken over by Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar. The Gujarat sultans then requested the help of the Dom Francisco de Menenzes the commanding officer of the Portuguese at Bassien(modern day Vasai) to win it back. He ordered 500 of his soldiers to Karnala fort and they were able to capture it. The fort was left in charge of the Gujarat Sultanate but with Portuguese garrisons.
The loss of Karnala enraged the Nizam Shah and he took back the fort and the surrounding countryside by sending 5,000 of his men. The Gujarat sultans fled to Vasai in panic and gave up any claims of the fort to the Portuguese. In the subsequent battle between the Nizam Shah and the Portuguese, the latter were victorious in repulsing further attacks of the Nizam Shahi army and the fort remained with the Portuguese. However the Portuguese viceroy determined that the forts of Sangli and Karnala were of little value to them and decided to give them to the Nizam Shah for an annual payment of Rs. 17,500 (or 5,000 gold pardoas) to further their friendship.
Shivaji conquered it from the Portuguese in 1670 by building breastworks as he advanced. After his death in 1680 it was taken over by Aurangzeb. After this the Mughals occupied it for some time after which it in 1740 with the rise of the Peshwas of Pune it went to them. It remained under the command of killedar (garrison commander) Anantrao until a colonel Prother won the fort and established the rule of the British East India Company there in 1818.

Karnala is home to over 150 resident bird species and about 37 types of avian migrants.It is located in the mountain range of the Western Ghats. It is surrounded by many hills and is a trekkers paradise. Climbing Karnala can be a great experience for trekkers.While climbing the fort you come across many species of birds. River Patalganga is towards the east of the fort. Greenery covers and surrounds the fort of Karnala.

Vegetation typifies moist deciduous forest and is characterised by species such as Koshimb, mango, nana, kulu, kalam, asana, umbar and teak in the top canopy. The ecological conditions of the tract favour a large variety of bird population. A casual walk through the forests is an unfailing source of joy, with the list of bird-song ringing in the air.The sanctuary abounds in bird life and during the migrating season from October to April as many as 140 species of birds have been recorded.In winter, the migrants take over and the pattern of bird life changes. The migrants include a variety of birds such as the blackbird, the blue-headed rock-thrush, the bluethroat, the red breasted flycatcher,
the ashy minivet, the black headed cuckoo-shrike and a host of others.Though Karnala is principally a bird sanctuary, many other interesting forms of wildlife like wild boar, the four-horned antelope, the muntjak and the common langur can be seen here.

Karnala is a refreshing break from the big city – come here to watch the birds and wildlife and while you are enjoying all this, do spare a thought for preserving the ecology and tranquillity of the sanctuary.Just a short drive outside Mumbai on the Mumbai-Pune Highway to Goa, is the densely forested Karnala Bird Sanctuary, a pleasant surprise away from Mumbai’s concrete jungle. Karnala is a tiny sanctuary, barely 4.8 sq km, home to over 150 resident bird species and about 37 types of avian migrants.

Program:

05:30am (Sunday Morning) : Reporting at Kurla Station. (Please carry your own return ticket to Panvel Station)
05:58 am: Proceed to Panvel by 5.58am Panvel local. Travel time approx 1 hour,
06.58 am: We will reach at Panvel station,
7.00 am to 7.30 am: Break fast & tea at Panvel,
7.35 am : Proceed to Karnala by vehicle arranged by Yatrisahyadri or local transport. Travel time approx. 1/2 hour,
08:00am: Reach Karnala base,
08.00 – 08.15 am: Introduction and other formalities,
8.30 am: Start trek From base towards Karnala fort,
10.30am: Reach at Karnala fort,
10.30am to 12.00pm: Explore the fort,
12.00 pm: Start descending the fort,
01.15 pm: Reach at Karnala base,
01.30 pm: proceed to Panvel by transport arranged by Yatrisahyadri or local transport,
02.00 pm: Reach Panvel,
2.00 pm to 3.00 pm : Lunch
3.30pm: Catch return local to Mumbai.

Charges: Rs. 250/- per person

Includes :
Morning breakfast/tea,
Lunch.
Traveling expenses from Panvel to Karnala and back.
Entry charges to Karnala Bird Sanctuary
Guidance for the trek.

Here is a list of all the things that we need to carry for the trek:

1. Your own return ticket to Panvel station.
2. Waterproof/Water resistant haversack to put in all the things to be carried. So that one
has hands free while trekking,
3. A bottle of water (minimum 2Ltrs),
4. Camera with good zoom lens a good pair of binoculars would be an added advantage,
5. Electral / Enerzyl powder, 2 Lemon, some snacks & biscuits, plate,spoon, glass (all
reusable, compulsory),
6. Personal medicines if any,
7. Insect repellant cream (Odomos or similar brand),
7. Good trekking/sports shoes, towel/napkin and spare clothes (may be required),
8. Avoid wearing Gold and other jewelry (at own risk).

REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Please note that selecting “RSVP attending” on Facebook will not be considered as a valid registration. Optionally you may leave your email ID and phone numbers so that we can contact you. Please complete the payment & registration procedure and call us on following numbers.
Please confirm your seat before 04/12/2010.

Do feel free to contact us for any queries / clarifications.

For Registration & more details, contact Our “Yatri’s”.
Gavin D’silva : 9819661460
Srikant Pillai: 7666905040/9920305779
Tanvi Walawalkar:9076712137
Nityanand Naik: 9819818132
Rahul Dighe: 9819166194

Mail us on: [email protected]

The lifestyle of us city dwellers may best be described as Mundane & Monotonous; Work from Monday to Friday, Chill out over the weekends.
The advent of multiple trekking groups have opened up a plethora of trekking destinations for people looking for an off-beat weekend.

We at Nisarga Bhraman have decided to go a step further and get the adrenaline running with a trek to Alang – Madan – Kulang (AMK), considered as one of the most …difficult treks in the Sahyadris from 15th December 2010 (Midnite) to 19th December 2010

Here is some info about the Alang – Madan – Kulang:

Type: Hill Forts
Height: 4500+ Feet above MSL (Approx)
Grade: Hard
Endurance: Hard
District: Nashik
Entry Point: Udadavane
Exit Point: Ambewadi

Alang: The majestic Alang Fort lies in the Nashik region & is a part of the Kalsubai range. We would be ascending the fort from Udadavane village, the route involves climbing a 15 feet rock patch to get to the broken entry door of the fort, from here starts the ‘Longest Traverse’ in the Sahyadris to get to the caves. The top of the fort has 11 water cisterns arranged in a Cascade formation & a dilapidated storage room.

Madan: The elusive fort of Madan has got a beautiful set of steps that one needs to carefully negotiate to get to the top. The British knowing the strategic importance of these forts blew up a part of the route to make ascending the fort difficult. It is here that one has to negotiate a traverse with a deadly exposure & also climb a 40 feet rock wall.
The top of the fort has a cave & a couple of water tanks. The view of the horseshoe shaped Alang from Madan is a beautiful sight

Kulang: The fort offering the highest climb from the base village to the top is Kulang. One has to negotiate a flight of stairs to get to the top of the fort. On reaching the top, one is greeted by a Huge cave with water cisterns strewn across the huge plateau.

Plan:

Rendezvous: Meet at Dadar station (Central) at 23.00hrs sharp on PF.1 at the Extreme Thane/Karjat end of the platform on Wednesday, 15th Dec 2010.

The train that we will be taking will be 23.38hrs Kasara Slow Local. Those staying along the route can board at their respective station with prior intimation to the leader.

Note 1: Please purchase ‘Single’ ticket for Kasara

Note 2: Late comers will not be entertained

Note 3: Please wear appropriate clothes & footwear.

Note 4: Please ensure that you have atleast 20 ltrs (Approx 5kg) of space in your sack to accommodate food packets & common provisions (Compulsory)

The itinerary for the Event is given below:

Wednesday:

Depart for Kasara by 23.38hrs Slow Local from Dadar (~2.5hrs)

Thursday:

Depart for Udavane by Private vehicle on reaching Kasara (~2.5hrs)

Breakfast at Udavane (~1.0hrs)

Introductions & Instructions (~0.5hrs)

Start trek for Alang fort (~8.0hrs)

Explore Alang Fort & Post dinner, retire for the nite.

Friday:

Wake up by 05.00hrs & finish morning chores & Breakfast

Trek to Madan Fort (~8.0hrs)

Explore Madan Fort & Post Dinner, retire for the nite.

Saturday:

Wake up by 05.00hrs & finish morning chores & Breakfast

Trek to Kulang Fort (~8.0hrs)

Explore Kulang Fort & Post Dinner, retire for the nite.

Sunday:

Wake up at 06.00hrs & finish morning chores & Breakfast

Trek down to Dhangarwadi/Ambewadi in time for Lunch.

Board Private Vehicle for journey back to Kasara Station & take the 16.53hrs Fast Local for Mumbai.

Important Note: The trek involves rock climbing & rappelling; There is no turning back once you start the trek.

*********The cost of this Event would be Rs.1300/- for Registered Members & Rs.1400/- for others.**********

The above cost includes:

> Travel from Kasara to Kasara by Private Vehicle.
> 4 Breakfast
> 4 Lunch
> 3 Dinner
> All equipment, expertise & guide charges

If interested, please get in touch with our Team latest by Monday, 12th Dec 2010.

Parag Vartak: 9820 973 705

Sameer Patel: 9820 972 043

Hemant Naik: 9819 786 136

Please Note: Seats for the trek are limited and will only be confirmed against Full Payment of the money in person or against Bank Transfer.

Name of A/c Holder: Parag Vartak

Bank & Branch: ICICI Bank Nariman Point

A/c Number: 037601504142

RTGS/NEFT/IFSC code: ICIC0000376

Here is a list of all the things that need to be carried for the trek:

1. A Trekking Haversack of 40-60ltrs.

2. Two PET water bottles of 1ltr each(Compulsory)

3. Atleast 1 set of Spare clothes.

4. Full length clothes recommended (Tracks+Full Sleeve Tshirts).

5. A Torch with 2 extra set of batteries

6. Optional: Camera & something to munch on.

7. Sleeping Bag or Mat or Bedsheet (Compulsory)

8. Plate, spoon & cup (Compulsory)

Rules that we believe in:

1. Possession and/or consumption of Alcohol will strictly not be permitted on the trek & would lead to immediate expulsion from the trek.

2. Smoking will permitted only with the consent of the leader and the person will have to move away from the group to smoke.

3. The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained.

4. Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.

5. Please do not wear any jewellery or gold chains/rings.

6. Please do not litter, we believe in the saying, “Wherever you go, leave only your footprints and take back only memories”

Regards,

Team Nisarga Bhraman.

???? ??? has planned a one day trek to Peb aka Vikatgad fort on Sunday 5 Dec 2010 

Brief Introduction about Peb/Vikatgad: -
Height: 2100 ft
Grade:  simple
Time: ~ 2 hrs from Neral
Location: Peb is a fort located near Neral; between Panorama Point
(Matheran) and Nakhind to be precise.

Fort Peb is situated on north east side of Panvel, on Mumbai-Pune road, at a distance of 3-4 km on west side of Neral. This is the most beautiful one-day trek. But there is a dense forest on the way to the fort Peb. The fort is also named as ‘VikatGad’. Historical references clearly indicate that Shivaji Maharaj used the caves on the fort as silos for grain storage.

Itinerary Details:

Meeting point : Neral Railway Station

The Karjat local train timings are given as below: -
CST          : 05:19 Hrs,
Byculla      : 05:27 Hrs,
Dadar        : 05:36 Hrs,
Kurla         :05:47 Hrs,
Ghatkopar  : 05:53 Hrs,
Thane        : 06:13 Hrs,
Dombivali   : 06:35 Hrs,
Kalyan       : 06:45 Hrs,
Neral         : 07:27 Hrs,

Please do keep 5 minutes buffer time due to recent changes in railway time table
Please do carry your return tickets

After alighting at Neral will have Breakfast @ Neral (~0.5 hrs)

08:15 Hrs: Move 2 JUmma Pati station by Rick
09:00 Hrs: @ Jumma Pati station
Trek starts
10:15 Hrs: @ Vikatgad station
11:15 Hrs: Atop Peb
.
Exploration, Lunch & Rest time till 14:00 Hrs
14:00 Hrs: Descend from other side to Neral
17:30 Hrs: Evening snacks @ Neral
.
Return Journey to Mumbai by 18:37 hrs OR 18:53 hrs Fast local …
We will be back in Mumbai around 21:00 Hrs (That is subjective) …

The Estimated expenditure is about Rs. 150 / -
This includes Morning & Evening Breakfast + Tea and Rick fare from
Neral to Juma Pati station

Some previous memories in form of snaps:
Panorama by Shraddha Shenvi
http://picasaweb.google.com/shraddhashenvi/TrekToPebFortNearMatheran#

Things To Carry: -

• Pls do carry Lunch for the day
• A Water Bottle (~3 Ltrs a must)
• Camera, Cell Phone (Optional)
• Pls avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments
• Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
• Medicine those if u require usually (Optional)
• Extra Pair of clothes,
• A haversack to put all these things

Join us on Orkut: http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=20439777

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=114962335190618

Mumbai Hikers: http://mumbaihikers.net/shikharvedh/

Coming Soon http://shikharvedh.org/

With warm wishes,
For any Clarification and further information call Jagdish Patil: +919869369836

–
With Warm Wishes

Jagadish

http://jagdishlove.googlepages.com/

Place                :    R.C., Belapur, New Nursery
Date                :    5th Dec Sunday 2010
Leader            :    Vivek Thakur  Cell No 09870218973.
Assembly            :    Belapur, C.B.D. Bus Stand at 0700 hrs on 5th Dec 2010

Girivihar website at www.girivihar.org
View Larger Map

Vairatgad Fort (Wai T; 17° 50′ N, 73° 50′ E; RS. Wathar, 21 m;) in Wai 3,939 feet above sea level, lies nine miles north-east of Medha and six miles south-east of Wai, on a spur of the main Sahyadri range which branches nearly due east for about twenty miles from Malcolm Peth by Pancgani. It is a prominent object east of Wai between the Khambatki pass and the gorge by which the Poona-Bangalore road passes into the Satara taluka. The villages of Vyajvadi and Jambulne on the north and Mhasve on the south all touch the fort, the greater part of which is in Vyajvadi. The ascent can be made either from Mhasve village or Bavdhan. The easiest way is to climb by the gorge separating Mhasve and Bavdhan up the west phase of the hill, along the northern ridge of the Jambulne village till the hamlet of Vyajvadi is reached lying close beneath the fort gate. The fort is about 1,000 feet above the plain and the ascent is about two miles. It would be about half a mile less, but much steeper direct from Mhasve. The fort has a vertical scarp of black rock, thirty feet high, surrounded by about seven feet of wall loopholed for musketry. The lower parts of the wall are of large rectangular unmortared stones. The upper part is mortared and of smaller material. There are remains of the head-quarters buildings and some quarters for sepoys, all modern. Inside the fort are five stone ponds none of them more than forty feet in diameter, and outside is one cave pond. The fort is one of those said to have been built by Bhoj Raja, the Kolhapur Silahara chief Bhoja II. (1178-1193) of Panhala, and its name is locally derived from the Vairats, a wild tribe supposed to have dwelt in this neighbourhood, who were subdued by the Pandavas. The fort is partly commanded by the heights of Bavdhan three miles to the west. The view on all sides is very fine and extends on the west to Malcolm Peth.

Banyan Trees.

At the foot of Vairatgad within the limits of Mhasve village are two banyan trees, the larger of them shading an area of three quarters of an acre. The space covered by it is a very symmetrical oval. There is no brushwood underneath, nor aught to impede the view save the stems of the shoots from the parent tree which has decayed. [Murray's Bombay Handbook, 195; the late Mr. S. H. Little, C. S., First Assistant Collector, Satara; Bombay Literary Magazine, 292-293. Lady Falkland writes (Chow, Chow, I, 206-207): The shade was so complete, I could sit in the middle of the day without any covering on my head. The tree was of such a size, that separate picnic parties might take place under it, and not interfere with each other. There were countless avenues, or rather aisles, like those of a church, the pale gray stems being the columns, which, as the sun fell on them, glistened in parts like silver; and here and there were little recesses like chapels, where on the roots from the boughs formed themselves into delicate clustering pillars, up and down which little squirrels were chasing each other, while large monkeys were jumping from bough to bough, the boughs cracking and creaking as if both monkeys and bough would fall on my head.]

Tathavade or Santoshgad hill fort (Phaltan T; 17° 57′ N, 74° 20′ E; RS. Lonand, 2.9 m.) lies in the north-west corner of the Phaltan taluka, about 12 miles south-west of Phaltan, the taluka headquarters! The fort is now easily approachable throughout the year as the Public Works Department has recently constructed a pucca road from village Tathavade lying at the foot of the hill. The fort is roughly triangular in shape. The hill on which it stands is a little lower than the main range. The apices of the triangle are north-west and south-east making it nearly equilateral. At the foot on the northern side lies the village of Tathavade (p. 1,001) with people nearly all cultivators mostly Ramoshis and Marathas. The defences consist of three walls, the top wall going all round the hill and forming what may be called the citadel. It surmounts a perpendicular scarp of black rock about thirty feet high, and is itself about fifteen feet higher. In thickness it is twenty feet and had originally a parapet about six feet high and three feet thick, all of which has broken down. It is made of laterite blocks from one or two cubic feet each, and solidly set in mortar, lined with small stones and mud. It is carefully provided at intervals with secret escape doors for the garrison should the fort be successfully taken. It is especially strong at the three angles from which project triangular outworks about sixty feet lower than the citadel. The outworks are of unequal size, but built of the same materials and more strongly even than the citadel. The sides of the south-west out-work are not more than thirty yards long but it is perhaps the most solid of the three; the sides of the north-east outwork are about fifty yards, and those of the north-west out-work about seventy yards long. The first two out-works communicated with the citadel by a small door not more than two feet wide built through the walls, which led on to the steps cut in the scarp. The citadel wall has a gap at the north-west angle which formed the communication with the north-west out-work. On the north-east side of this was the main gateway about five feet wide, also made of laterite, of beautifully cut massive masonry. It faced, and was sheltered by a projecting bastion. The north side of the hill was partly protected for about a hundred feet by two lower walls or terraces, the one below the other with bastions at intervals. They are of much lighter workmanship than the blocks in rough mortar and the lining of uncut stones and mud. These walls both run east and west along the entire length of the northern face of the hill. They then turn through an angle of over 90 degrees, and are taken up the hill to meet the walls above them. The upper of the two is broken by a gateway of trap facing east, like the upper gateway, similarly sheltered, and otherwise like it, but of far less strength and of much rougher workmanship. The lowest wall is divided by a gap of full thirty feet in the centre flanked by two strong bastions, but no gateway. The ascent between these three entrances and from the north-west out-work on to the citadel is by a winding path with steps at intervals where, not unfrequently, the naked scarp of the rock has to be surmounted. The steps are nearly everywhere broken down and the way generally blocked with prickly pear. The above description will show that the hill was unprotected below the citadel and its out-works on the south-west and south-east sides, and that elaborate care was taken to protect the north side. There seems to be no special reason for this difference except that the entrance and therefore the weakest point of the citadel was on the north side. By making the two gateways face east and protecting them with projections of the wall, their assault was impeded while it was impossible to hit them directly with cannon shot from the plain below, which, according to tradition, was a special point in the fortification of the day. In sieges it was apparently the fashion to direct a cannonade first against the gate and to provide a force to rush through if the besiegers succeeded in bursting it. The difficulties of elsewhere penetrating or escalading hill forts such as these, were probably and not wrongly thought insuperable, bribery and stratagem apart. The citadel is not more than 600 yards round and its area not much more than twenty acres. There were originally but few buildings. The head-quarters or sadar was a building about fifty feet by thirty feet including its two otas or verandahs. It opened to the north and besides accommodating the treasury, was used as a sort of court-house for the subhedar in charge of the fort. Next to it on the west was a stone building about forty feet by twenty, with walls three feet thick, and a roof on the south side made of brick coated with cement. It contained three chambers for storage of grain, treasure and gunpowder. The east chamber still remains. Immediately south of the east chamber is the great pond, cut some sixty to seventy feet down into the rock, and the sides smoothed off with great care. It holds a tolerable supply of water, but is fed by no spring. It is about twenty-five to thirty feet square and has steps on the eastern side leading down to the water’s edge. Halfway down at a landing and turn of the steps is a small temple of Tatoba Mahadev from whom the fort takes its name. This large pond was apparently the only source of the water-supply of the citadel. It has been much choked with silt, and is said to hold much less water than before, much probably leaking down through the laterite. The rest of the citadel is so blocked with prickly pear that no other buildings can be distinguished. The hill top has room only for very few. One is a mosque for Musalmans. The north-east out-work has some buildings while, inside the two lower walls, are others all in ruins. Outside the lowest entrance is pointed out the side of the elephant-house, fit for not more than two beasts. On the saddle back between the southern angle and the main range of hills has been cut a gap with remains of buildings said to have been the grass stacks of the fort. The grass was supplied chiefly from lands on the plateau above the Mahadev range and brought for storage to this spot. It is more than two hundred yards from the fort and is hardly convenient than the village itself which is at least as accessible as the fort. Immediately inside and directely facing the lowest entrance is a large cave pond. Its mouth has been almost wholly blocked with rubbish. A descent of some six feet is therefore necessary to reach the water. The excavation is partly natural but evidently enlarged artificially. The exact size of the cave pond cannot be made out. Three massive pillars appear supporting the roof. The rock is laterite and hence no doubt the abundant supply of excellent water filters from above. The upper fort is nearly all made of laterite with no traces of quarrying about. It seems therefore not improbable that the ponds were excavated by the fort builders and the stone used for the fort walls. There are four other similar ponds completely blocked up. Their stone and that of the big pond on the top would amply suffice for the external work considerable as it is. The mildew of this laterite is used by the people as a tonic for women after child-birth. It probably contains some principle of iron. It is a belief in the village that the large pond in the citadel and this cave pond are connected by a passage now choked up, and that a lemon thrown into the water of the one used in former times to appear on the surface of the other. These ponds show that the hill internally is made of laterite with an outer coating of trap, thin at the sides but on the top some forty feet thick.

The name of this village is traditionally derived from Tatoba, a sage who took up his abode on the fort hill. The cave pond is said to have been made by him, and the small temple of Mahadev in the big pond is named after him. The local tradition is that this fort was built by Shivaji the Great (1630-80). In 1666 it was in the hands of Bajaji N

aik Nimbalkar. In the same year Chhatrapati Shivaji after the treaty of Purandhar served under Jaysing, the Rajput general of Aurangzeb’s army, against Bijapur and with his Mavlas escaladed Tathavade. [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 165.] The Bijapur Government again apparently got it back from the Moghals probably by treaty. Chhatrapati Shivaji retook it for himself in 1673 [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 202.] and in 1676 he had to retake the open country in its neighbourhood, the estate-holders of which were always ready to rebel against him.[ Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 209.] The fort was taken by the Moghals in 1689. [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 273.]. but was ceded to Shahu in 1720 in the imperial grants made to him in that year. [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 339] In a revenue statement of about 1790 Tathora appears as the head of a sub-division in the Nahisdurg sarkar with a revenue of Rs. 1,120. [Warring's Marathas, 244.] The fort remained in the hands of the Marathas till 1818 when it was shelled by a detachment of General Pritzler’s army from the plateau and a spur pointed out about half a mile to the west. A good many of the buildings and part of the walls are said to have been injured by the shelling. The commandant fled at the first few shots, the garrison followed, and the fort was taken. Its elaborate design and considerable strength for the times in which it was built may be explained by the fact that it was close to the Nizam Shahi frontier and of some importance therefore to the Bijapur government, while the constant disturbances in the neighbourhood in Chhatrapati Shivajis time would amply account for any additions he made to it.

A story is told that the famous dacoit Umaji Naik (1827) was resting at a spring in the ravine which leads down to the fort from the plateau and that a Brahman on his way to Tathavad passed by with a little grain given him in charity. Umaji called on him to stand and give up what he had. But when he learnt that it was only grain sent him off in peace, entreated his blessings, and gave him Rs. 25.

Makrandgad (Mahabalesvar Peta 17° 55′ N. 73° 35 E; RS. Wathar, 52 m.) 4054 feet above sea level, well known to Mahabalesvar visitors as the Saddleback, is a hill fort situated as the crow flies seven miles south-west of Malcolm Peril. It is well named the Saddleback and consists of two flattened humps with a ridge between them [A view of the fort with its two flattened humps is given in Chessen and Woodhall's Bombay Miscellany, I, 177.]. From almost any part of the western face of the hill between Bombay and Babington points it forms a fine object in the magnificent pile of hills varying in form and colour which form the south-west group. It is perhaps best seen from Sassoon Point where several peaks and ridges in the background serve for contrast and throw it into strong relief. It is about 650 feet lower than the Mahabalesvar plateau, but to reach the summit it is necessary to walk from ten to twelve miles and descend about 1,800 feet into the Koyna valley. The easiest way is to take a path beyond Gavalani Point which descends by Devli village whence after crossing the Koyna a fairly gradual ascent leads to the village of Ghonaspur lying on a shoulder of the hill at the south-east corner of the scarp. The line of the ridge is north-west south-east. The south-east hump is scalable but the north-west very difficult to climb, if possible. On the south-east hump is a temple of Mallikarjun built by Chhatrapati Shivaji and an unused spring. The fort walls are broken down and appear not to have been Very strong at any time. The local story about this as about other Satara forts is that it was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji probably about 1656 at the same time as Pratapgad. It was a fort of minor importance as it commanded none of the important passes, but it served as a link in the chain between Vasota and Pratapgad. It was surrendered by private negotiation on 14th may 1818 at the same time as Pratapgad [ Pendhari and Maratha War Papers, 343.].

Kenjalgad or Ghera Khelanja Fort, (Wai T; 18° 10′ N, 73° 55′ E; RS Wathar 18 m. SE; p. 2,096) 4,269 feet above sea level, is situated on the Mandhardev spur of the Mahadev range eleven miles north-west of Wai. It is a flat-topped hill of an irregular oval shape, about 250 yards long and one hundred yards wide at the extremes, looking remarkably strong both from a far and near. But on ascending it is found to be commanded by the Yeruli Asre and Doicivadi plateaus about two miles to the east which are easily ascended from the Wai side, and the Jambli hills about a mile to the west. The fort forms a village in itself but has to be ascended from the villages of Asre or Khavli which lie at its foot on the Wai side. The ascent is by about two miles of a very steep climb or the Asre-Titeghar bridle path can be followed for two miles and then a tolerably easy path leads due west from the pass another mile on to the fort. The fort is a black scarp rising vertically from the main ridge which is hogbacked. The scarp is one of the highest in any of the Satara forts and reaches in places eighty to a hundred feet. The only entrance is on the north side up a set of a hundred steps running parallel to the line of the scarp till within four or seven feet of the top, when they turn at right angles to it and cut straight into a passage leading on to the top. The steps are peculiarly imposing and differ from any others in the district. Thus on entering, the scarp is on the left and there is nothing on the right till the passage is reached, and invaders ascending would be liable to be hurled back over the cliff. At the foot of the steps is a bastion which evidently flanked a gateway. There are remains of six large and three small buildings, all modern. The head-quarters or kacheri is only marked by a large fig tree. The only building thoroughly recognizable is the powder magazine on the west which is about thirty feet square with strong stone walls three feet thick and seven feet high and three feet of brick on the top. The walls of the fort were originally of large square cut blocks of unmortared stone, but were afterwards added to in many places. They are in most places fully four feet thick and including the rampart about eight feet thick. There was a parapet of lighter work mostly ruined. The fort has three large water tanks about forty feet square and six small ones for storage of water and grain. But there is no living spring inside the fort. The largest tank is in the southern face and is quite thirty feet deep. The tanks were emptied when the fort was dismantled by blowing up the outer sides which were formed by the ramparts and letting the water empty itself down the hill side. On the west is a sort of nose projecting beyond and a little lower than the main ridge of the fort, also strongly fortified. There is a narrow promenade on the ridge at the foot of the scarp and on the north side is a large cave with excellent water and partly used for storage purposes. The village lies about 300 feet below on a ledge of the northern hill slope. To its immediate west is a dense temple grove of jambhul and anjan. The village of Voholi, on the north side of this range, the inhabitants of which were part of the hereditary garrison, is in a hollow to the north-west. Khelanja fort is said to have been built by the Bhoj Rajas of Panhala who flourished in the twelfth century. Its remarkable strength was noticed by Mr. Elphinstone who says it could scarcely be taken if resolutely defended. The guns on the Kenjalgad fort opened fire before surrendering to the detachment sent by General Pritzler up the Wai valley about the 26th of March 1818.

Bhairavgad Fort (Patan T; RS. Karad 48 m. W.,) twenty miles south-west of Patan and about four miles west of Mala, from which it is pretty easily accessible by a rough footpath through dense jungle, is a rounded hill situated on the face of the Sahyadri range and jutting about a hundred feet into the Konkan. A narrow neck thirty yards long separates it from the cliff on the east, which rises some 300 feet above it. About five acres in area, the hill has on the east a temple of Bhairav which gives it, its name. The temple roofed with earthen tiles is in a state of good repair. It was repaired in 1957.

According to Grant Duff [Marathas, 13 note 3 (Old Edition).], Bhairavgad was one of the forts built by the Rajas of Panhala. The garrison in Maratha times was furnished by soldiers sent from Satara. There are no traces of houses and the walls are in ruins. In the last Maratha war, Bhairavgad was captured by the English on the 23rd of May, 1818. A detachment of a hundred rank and file was sent by Lieutenant-Colonel Kennedy under command of Lieutenant Capon from Savarde in Ciplun in Ratnagiri district They proceeded to Talavde, a village at the foot of the hill from which there was an ascent of nearly six miles. But a message brought down the native officer in charge of the fort with a party of the garrison, who promised to surrender next morning on condition that the arms and property belonging to him and the garrison about a hundred strong, were respected and an escort of sepoys allowed as far as Patan. The fort was accordingly taken without resistance. [Pendhari and Maratha War Papers.]