“Andharban (The Dark Forest) Trek”

When was the last time you engaged in an exciting adventure alone with unknown group? That weekend on 2^nd August 2015, head for an exciting trek to Andharban with Wild Trek Adventures  buddies and I engaged in a fun and exciting time!!!!

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

 “Andharban”, the word itself means dense dark forest. Andharban is one of the most beautiful trek in Sahyadris. The best time to visit this place is during monsoon or post monsoon. In this trek, you descend for almost 5 hours for regular trekker and you are covered with dense forest and shade.  The intimidating factor of this 13km long trek has to be the hardcore jungle cover over your head. A major portion of this trek route involves walking through its denseness.

Clicked By : RC

The start point of this trek i.e. Pimpri dam begins in bright daylight which keeps on fluctuating as we keep entering the dense part of the forest and out, this only adds up to the magic that this place has to offer. The trek concludes at yet another dam called the Bhira dam which is also the source of the Kundalika River which is famous for its White Water Rafting. 40% of the trek is all descend and remaining is normal walking. While on the route we can see the beauty of places like Ghangad, Tailbaila, Sarasgad, Plus valley, Tamhini ghat, Kundalika valley. En-route enjoys the waterfalls and awesome view of Kundalika valley. Here, we will be descending from Pune (Ghatmatha) to Konkan. This trek is also famous among nature lovers, shutterbugs for various species of Butterfly and flowers are there.

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

On that Sunday we all around 70 people leading by Prasad Wagh, Reshma Raut, Sandip Wadaskar & Yogita Jadhav reached the trek start point at 9:30 AM, there volunteers in the group distributed the packed THEPLE (PARATHA) & After giving information about andharban Prasad said whole trek is easy you will make it difficult by yourself so be aware all the time & take care of others as well. Except Yogita we all entered in the forest, she went for the arrangement of for all of us after completion of trek.

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

At the start we had an awesome view of Great Valley, feeling like we were walking through clouds. There we crossed the first water fall with all cautions & entered in to the dense forest were sun rays were not able get down through trees we were feeling like walking in evening time even though it was day start. Then after we came through one more water fall with massive flow, in our group few families were also there for the trek I helped them to cross that water fall. Then again forest & we came to one of the biggest waterfall in the trek after seeing its beauty I wasn’t unable to stop myself to go in it and enjoyed like crazy.

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Then we came to the ground walk for almost half hour, there I came to the place where so many butterflies were there. From there we can see the Tail Baila, Plus Vallley, Ghangad, Sarasgad. Then at around 1:00PM we reached midway village called Khirdi.  We all gathered there & had our Theples & snacks. Again get back to our trek descending towards Bhira Dam.

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

During this descending we saw splendid view of Kundlika Valley.  Finally at around 3:00 PM few of us reached the Bhira Dam, feeling at that time I have like being in the heaven, from there so many unbelievable views of kundalika valley I got in my eyes & reached the Bhira village where Yogita was waiting for us all. From there in Tempo Travellers we reached the Hotel where she arranged food for all people in group, there I eat like BAKASUR.

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

Clicked By : RC

In this way I made so many new friends in this trek like Aditya Deshmukh, Harshal, Snehal Kulkarni, Vivek Pandey, Rahul Kode, Shreepad. I enjoyed a lot with all WTA volunteers & these new friends. Thank you thank you thank you so much to all for sharing such an amazing memory with me in your life.

Note:

1.      Photo Credit goes to Rahul Chandure.

2.      Such an amazing trek everyone should visit at least once in life but after having few normal treks before because this trek will test your strength & capacity.

3.      As you are going in dense forest you will come through few animals, reptiles & insects don’t panic, just keep calm & enjoy the beauty of nature.

4.      Before going on trek do some research what to explore there.  

Please leave comments below for others if you have been to Andharban Trek or you have any questions related to trek.

Enjoy!!!!

Thanks & Regards

Rahul Chandure