Sondai: Lesser known Fort of Karjat Region

INTRODUCTION
Sondai is not an popular fort compare to other forts in karjat, it is like 10.5 Km from karjat station.Base village is Sondewadi, One can also take a walk all the way from the station depending on the season if it's pleasant or sunny accordingly. The reason i said 'walk' as this trek will take you around 40 minute - 1 hour to reach the top or maybe less.Difficulty level is Easy.

INSIGHT
Even though the place was green, it was sunny all around due to early stages of monsoon.Farmers were patiently waiting for Rain, so that harvesting season begins and also Morbe Lake which is nearby get filled.

JOURNEY
On July 17th 2017 Me and Atul headed towards AZAD NAGAR metro station, by the time we reached there, it was 4:40 am,metro gate was closed so we waited for like hour,waiting for mandar and Ankit to board metro from versova,once they boarded it, we too did it from azad nagar which costed me 70 Rs per person Return ticket and we told aakash to meet directly at ghatkopar station, he was late like usual.So we took 6 return Ticket For karjat which costed us 50 Rs Per person.Luckily 6:25 am train was late by couple minute, till then aakash reached and this time he was accompanied by his friend Trupti.
We boarded karjat train around 6:28 am, journey on the train was smooth,it was not crowded.After reaching Karjat station, first thing we did was eat Idli and vada which costed us 20 Rs per person then we grabbed Biscuit,water and Maaza bottle from nearby station as there is no shop in sondewadi, after that we took TumTum which costed us 400 Rs in Total I.e Around 65 Rs Per person.It was a very remote village however scenic view it offered was awesome, on the way you will get clear view of Morbe Lake and Irshalgad Fort.

SONDAI FORT

Way to SONDAI FORT

After reaching Sondewadi, we started our trek and started following mandar who was trekking too Fast and he took us from all the way around, Mandar and Atul they both with monkey grip started making their own trail, Ankit alone with shorts and no Bag was enjoying the ascent , he had that beach vacation kind of attire with smile on his face but guess what, that fun was't going to be last forever, until he encountered shrub with thorns on it now he was like 'aah ooh' with tense face while ascending,at that time aakash  and I smirked at eachother.

I warned mandar, this is one the easiest trek in the western ghats and still he was like ''Follow me''.The way we took was little moderate, luckily there was no rain neither this route would have been difficult.Finally we came to the point where the mountain was exposed and the scenery was awesome with breeze going on so we took a rest drinking Maaza. Now we could clearly see the staircase which was going to help us reach on top of the fort.

Staircase leading towards the Fort

Water Stream Dried

Now we came to the point where we saw giant Frog in the tank.One of the frog was dead while other were alive.Probably this was the biggest frog that i ever saw in my life.

Giant Frog In the Tank

After couple minute of walk, we came to the point where we have to climb staircase which was well painted with orange color.On the way mandar gave his bag to Ankit.

Me

Ankit

Now we reached the top, there are no fortification but got sondai Goddess idols and bells under the tree.It is also one of the best watch point to view mountains.Out here we rested to eat sandwich which mandar got with him and drank mazaa. The weather was sunny indeed it was good for photography,neither if its rainy the visibility gets too low. 

View From Top of Sondai Fort

Irshalgad

Karnala Fort(Pinnacle One)

Matheran Range

Amazing

Morbe Lake

Sondai Goddess

In between Atul took a break,he looked little stressed as there has been too many 'No's' in his proposal, his love life is always been too complicated.

Sandwich and Mazaa Time

Atul Break Time

Me,Trupti,Aakash,Mandar,Atul and Ankit

After a Break, we started descending.This time we saw arrow which was showing straight route at that time we realized mandar took a wrong route while ascending and we followed him blindly, however i already knew it but that arrow was the proof.we were shocked after reaching down in 20 Minute or So, i mean this route was so easy.On the way Me and aakash made fun of mandar in a good way, we were like '' If mandar ever became a Leader of the Firm, that firm will go Bankrupt in no time''.
We called TumTum wala, he said ''he will there in couple minute''.In that mean time we rested near one of the hut and requested water from one of the villager which they gave happily. TumTum wala arrived in 20 minute,he took the same fare I.e 400 Total INR.We Reached Karjat station till 2:40 Pm and train was at 3:27 Pm,somehow we killed our time and boarded train when arrived,everyone got the seat comfortably.We halted at ghatkopar, from there metro till our stop.Me and Atul got down at Azad Nagar stop, then we headed home.I was Home till 5:30 Pm.

We took the yellow route as you can see in those above pics while ascending and Red one while descending.Red one should be taken while ascending and descending, nonetheless i would say if red marker route is very easy then yellow one is Easy.

Our Expense
Snacks charges/Drink Charges per person - 60 Rs
Travelling Charges - 185 Rs