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

Gau Mukh Temple/Plateau Via Kanheri Caves Upper Trail:Forgotten Site

INTRODUCTION
SGNP is the world Biggest national park within city Limit.It is still home to a population of Adivasi, or forest-dwelling tribal communities.Most of the areas are restricted ,so i would say it is more of a business/Picnic spot rather than Exploring site.Anyway we are here to explore the hidden spot named 'Gau Mukh Temple/plateau'.

INSIGHT
SGNP opens at 7:30 Am for visitors and closes at 6 pm.Ticket prices has been increased compared to my last two visit here.Area is way more guarded and secured.If someone want to visit SGNP or kanheri Caves i would say weekday would be more preferable, however if one want to visit Gau mukh temple any day of the week is good.

JOURNEY
On 21st June 2017 which was Wednesday, i met mandar around 6:30 am who headed from lokhandwala in rickshaw to veera desai where i was standing, as soon as he arrived i took the sit then we headed to andheri station, after arriving at station we boarded Local train to Borivali which costed us 20 Rs per person Return Ticket then Rickshaw to SGNP entrance which costed us 10 Rs per Person, One can take a walk also to reach the entrance,it is nearby only, it will take you around 10-15 minute.

We reached 10 Minute earlier I.e 7:20 Am, Once the gate was opened we took the entrance ticket which costed us 48 Rs per person which was quite shocking i thought it was for 2 person, after that we confirmed with forest guard about the Shuttle bus timing it was at 9 Am so we decided to take a walk all the way from SGNP to kanheri caves which is like 7 km.

During our Walk, cloud was playing Hide and seek, there was drizzle of rain every now and then.On the way Mandar talked about a horrible incident which happened to his Fathers Friend Daughter in Vasai recently, she was kidnapped from Building compound premises and month after she was found in Truck along with other school girls in southern India Area by police however her tongue was slashed.

Camera Incident

View From Forest Guard Station

After 40 Minute of Walk we came to the point where there was Water Pump beside Forest Guard station so we took a pause to wash our face, within a minute it started to shower down heavily so we took a shelter outside Forest guard station which was providing us enough cover, during that time i took out the camera for the first time in our journey to snap pics, all of a sudden forest guard said ''Did you took ticket for camera at the entrance? which is 3000 Rs'' to which we said  'No' as we were not aware about the Camera charges and told a lie that our Bag was checked at the entrance, He said ''Wait i will check out On walkie Talkie'' but there was no one on walkie talkie, i don't know whether he was bluffing or it was really some connection problem! He Said ''You will be charged 2100 Rs neither camera will be taken'' so mandar took out the entrance ticket and we had a little heated conversation with guard - where on the ticket it is mentioned about Camera charges?, after a while he too looked little confused and let us Go. 

Next Day i checked on the Internet, On some site it is mentioned about camera charges but it is not clear which camera.On some site it is mentioned that it is only charged for videography, not for snapping Pics. 

Upper Kanheri Caves Trail    
After that camera Incident we reached entrance of Kanheri Caves, Entry fee was 15 Rs Per person which was increased from 5 Rs and Camera Charges were 25 Rs Per Person .

Kanheri Caves

There were group of watchman roaming around the caves, they were too suspicious, this time what i noticed was - there has been a new door and frames installed at caves.
Talking of  'Kanheri Caves Idol face', many are Destroyed by British during Pre-independence era.

Way to Upper Kanheri Caves Trail

In above Pics those Steps you see is way to Upper Kanheri Caves Trail, back then  it was rocks and mud instead of staircase.

After climbing those steps, you will reach a cave as you can see in those above pics,way to upper kanheri caves is from side of those caves.We went in to sneaky mode and reached Upper kanheri Caves Trail, if they came to know about you trekking to Gau mukh temple,Probably they will not allow it.

Upper kanheri Caves Plateau

Once you reach Upper kanheri Caves trail, you will spot small hill ahead of you.just follow the trail.After that one need to trek for 10-15 minute to reach Gau Mukh Plateau.

Gau Mukh Plateau

Gau Mukh Plateau

On gau Mukh plateau we took a little bit of Rest by drinking water, out here we heared echoes of people screaming at kanheri Caves.

Gau Mukh Plateau Trail

Way to Gau Mukh Temple

Keep following the straight Trail on Gau Mukh Plateau, you will enter forest, from here you will see Gau mukh temple, the route goes little downward.

Gau Mukh Temple

Talking of Gau Mukh temple, it is semi demolished by forest officials since it was illegal.It used to be crowded in 90's era during mahashivratri times, Idols has been removed.Now it looks more like a drug spot. there are Names and Naked Girl graffiti on the walls.What surprised me the most that there are barely any Info and no Newspaper articles on this temple ,like when it was constructed or demolished.It is Abandoned and Hidden site.The main reason i think it would have been demolished was because of  'Army Air Station' in the region, 'place is So confidential that there are not even single photograph available of that station on the Net.One can view it on Google Earth to get an fair idea how it looks.

Army Air station (Google Earth)

There is also way to a Jambhulmal point which is highest point of Mumbai from around Gau mukh plateau region, i am not specific though from where exactly.If you want to visit Jambhulmal, one need to take permission from National Information Center, they charge a specific fees along with Guide fee and they need to be informed well in advance.It is advisable not to Visit that place alone due to leopard,venomous snake found in the region and if officials found you around that place without permission you will be fined.

Once the rain got stopped, we headed back and drank cold drink at Canteen near Kanheri caves, there one of the man who was in charge of construction going around caves asked 'Y'all both went all the way to the top, Right? We said Only Upper Kanheri Caves Trail,not above that,he had that very angry look on his face.
After that we headed to Bus stop waiting for like 25 minute or so, finally the bus came at 1 pm,bus driver told us ''Bus will head back after 1 hour as it is our lunch time'' so once again we walked all the way to SNGP entrance then took rickshaw till Borivali station which costed us 9 Rs per person then Local train till andheri then metro till Azad Nagar which costed me 10 Rs, I was home till 3:50 Pm.

OUR EXPENSE
Travelling/ Entry,Camera Charges - 148 Rs per person
Snack/Drink Charges - 55 Rs per Person