SIDDHAGAD (3223 FT ASL)

After Kulang, it was time to celebrate the New Year and there were no treks for 2 weeks. So I was more excited to visit the fort. The google searches didn’t reveal much except for the route.

Around a year back when I visited Gorakhgad in February, 2009, I got to see Siddhagad from a distance. The fort was in my bucket list so I wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to visit the fort.

We started on Saturday, January 16, 2010. The Venue was Kalyan ST Stand. Around 2 p.m. the group gathered to proceed to Murbad. The group was of around 10 of us, again a mixture of regulars and freshers. We immediately hopped in a taxi waiting near Kalyan Station. In an hour’s time we reached Murbad to change our transport for Narivali.

We reached our destination around 4.00 p.m. A 5 minutes walk through the Narivali village and we were out of the village for an introduction round. After taking a break, we proceeded with our journey to Siddhagad. Our leader Raghuveer Lotlikar showed us all the forts around the place. On our left hand side we could see Gorakhgad and Machindragad watching us on our route to Siddhagad.

Gorakhgad

A little further from Gorakhgad was Ahupe Ghat. Then was Siddhagad and far beyond in the midst of the clouds we could manage to see Bhimashankar.

Siddhagad

On the way we passed through another small village Thalewadi. We also met a lonely villager who had built his hut on the way to Siddhagadwadi. We passed a pinnacle named Zhavdyacha lingi.

Zhavdyacha lingi

Taking halts on the way we reached Siddhagadwadi by 7 p.m. just in time before the dark. The main entrance to the fort was before Siddhagad wadi. Though the fortifications have fallen as the British destroyed the Fort in 1818, the Main gate was still intact and analyzing the construction of ancient times we all wished that the remains would stand for another 100 years.

The Main Gate

Preparing Dinner

The walk to Siddhagadwadi was exhausting and after having some Khichdi and soup for dinner we dozed off to be awakened in morning at 7 a.m. Now we were able to view the whole of the surroundings from Siddhagadwadi. In the North direction we could see Gorakhgad, on the East was Ahupe Ghat and behind in southern direction was Siddhagad waiting to be explored by us.

We were more excited to climb the fort which looked pretty dangerous and steep. We had a nice walk till the Cave where an old villager lived. We could hear Commentary of Cricket Match between India and Bangladesh. We interacted with him, his name was Patil and used to work in some factory in Kalyan after retirement he spends his time practicing yoga in midst of Sahyadris. He noted all our names in his diary. Thereafter we proceeded on our way to the fort. The climb by no was getting steeper and dangerous. One of our fellow trekkers aptly said one side is the WALL the other side is the FALL.

After a climb of 1 ½ hours we reached the fort at 11.30 a.m. A cool breeze welcomed us as we reached the fort and inspite of the time we wandered around the fort. Though there was nothing much left on the fort except the 3-4 water tanks and few fortifications. The water in the tanks was not potable and hence its necessary to carry water from the village or from Patil babas' tank.

Few Structures left on the fort

The fort was standing tall in east-west direction. On the southern side we could see Bhimashankar. This fort covered a vast area on both sides and well protected from the northern side by Gorakhgad, Machindragad, Durg Killa, Jivdhan, Bhairavgad, etc. Just as climbing up the fort was exciting, climbing down was equally thrilling. (check the picture below)

Gorakhgad

We had to watch each and every step. The patch was full of dry grass, rock and dry earth(sand) making things difficult for us to climb down. To add to our woes a group of 2-3 trekkers were climbing the narrow path up the fort. The rocks were pretty comfortable to walk but when we reach the patch of dry grass/sand, we had to be very careful. After a careful climb down we reached the cave of Patil baba all safe and sound.

Patil Baba's Cave

There after we visited the temple of which was near to the main entrance at Siddhagadwadi. We met some of the villagers who informed us that at 5 minutes distance there is a Canon and we decided to check out the canon. The Place where the broken canon was kept was right below the eastern side fortifications of the fort. The only question which came to our minds why is the canon lying below the fort. It could be possible that the British with intention to destroy the fort brought the canon there destroyed the fort and left leaving the broken canon behind.

By now it was getting late. It was 2.00 p.m. and we were left with very less time to reach Narivali village. We traced our steps as fast as we could to the village. But we didn’t miss to have a nice refreshing bath at the small rivulet below the fort, just in time to catch the 5.30 p.m. bus to Murbad.

During this year I have completed two of the most exciting forts in Malshej Region, Gorakhgad and Siddhagad. In the coming year, I hope to complete Jivdhan, Bhairavgad and few other forts in this area. So that I could delete these forts from my bucket (bhatkanti) List. But the top most in my bucket list still remains Ladakh and I hope to visit it this year.