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IntroductionÂ
One of India’s most fascinating natural features is the Sandhan Valley. One of the most dangerous and difficult trek routes is this deep canyon in the heart of the Sahyadri Mountains. Because sunlight cannot penetrate the valley’s floor, it is also known as the “valley of shadows.” In the vicinity of Igatpuri and Bhandardara is the Sandhan Valley. When you go on the Sandhan Valley trek, you’ll see that it’s more than just a trek; it also includes rock climbing, bonfires, rappelling, and camping under the stars. Between the forts of Alang, Madan, and Kulang is the Sandhan Valley. Together, the three forts are known as the AMK forts.
Overview of the Sandhan Valley
An Overview of the Sandhan Valley Trek Location: Samrad is a village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The Sandhan Valley trek is 2 kilometers long and 200 feet deep. Time for a 12 km hike: Approx. 5 hours The Sandhan Valley trek’s difficulty: Moderate to difficult Budget estimate: Approx. INR 20,000 Why Take the Sandhan Valley Trek? One of the best things about this place is that you can see the clear sky and if you’re lucky, shooting stars. The campsites are beautiful. The best view of the sky is available through a 15-foot-wide and 200-foot-long wall aperture. Don’t drink from the large pond that flows into the steam that enters the trekking route. For drinking, the stream provides clean water.
People from all over the country flock to the trip because of its distinctive features, which make it an unforgettable experience. Even though we live a busy city life with a packed schedule, going for a short run in nature is always an amazing experience. Canyoning, trekking, rock climbing, rappelling, sliding, descending, wading through water, and camping are all part of this one trek.
Best Time to Go
Best Time to Go on a Sandhan Valley Trek You can go on this trek whenever you want. This can be done at any time throughout the year. However, avoiding it during the summer is preferable. You won’t be able to fully appreciate the trek as the temperatures soar. By remaining in the heat, you will expend the majority of your energy. The trek should be planned for winter, autumn, or even during the monsoon season.
How to Get to the Sandhan Valley Trek Point From Mumbai, you’ll need a train to Kasara (or Igatpuri). You can hire a shared jeep to get to Samrad Village once you get to Kasara. From Kasara and Igatpuri, there are a lot of jeeps that can take you to Sandhan Valley.
Trek Route
The Sandhan Valley Trek Route The trek route begins in Samrad. Within the first few hours, you will be walking through shallow water bodies. You will descend all the way down this path. Tarzan Swing Point is the destination. You will be going rappelling from this point. If you want to complete your Sandhan Valley trek without rappelling, you can avoid this point and continue. A rope ladder will also be used for climbing, and then you’ll have to crawl through a cave. You will then embark on a hike among the rock formations. You’ll have to wade your way through some deep water pools here. After that, you’ll come to some wide rocks, over which you’ll find the camping ground. You can see Bann peak and Ajoba Hill from this location.
The return journey will take two different routes. For the first one, you can return using the same route you took when you arrived. For the second one, you have to keep moving forward before continuing to trek through the river bed and down the gentle slopes. After that, you’ll arrive at Dhene village, where you can catch a bus to Asangaon station.
Best Places to Go
Best Places to Go on the Trek These are some tourist attractions and locations that you can stop at along the way for more excitement and adventure.
- AMK Forts To reach the ancient forts of Alang, Madan, and Kulang, make sure you are going uphill. However, if you are too worn out from the primary trek, you should get some rest before the subsequent day’s second trek to these forts. Additionally, the trek to these forts is strenuous, so you’ll need energy for the subsequent trek.
- Another fort that you can’t miss is Ratangad Fort. You can visit this fort on the same day as the AMK forts because it has a steep ascent but is not particularly difficult. Even though it isn’t as big as the AMK forts, it is a great place to learn about the valley’s history and see some old architecture that shows how well masons worked in the past.
- Nanhe Ghat Waterfalls: Go to Ratanawadi to see this waterfall, which is only a few kilometers from the base camp. A picnic or a dip in the pool that collects at the base of this stunning cascading waterfall will be a refreshing experience. Don’t forget to take a lot of pictures and keep an eye on your belongings at all times!
