Korigad : A daring endeavor

SATURDAY, 4 APRIL 2012

Korigad : A daring endeavor

Travel: Korigad Fort

Place : Korigad Fort

Mode of transport : 2 wheeler

Difficulty level : 8/10 (Un-necessarily complicated things and had a tough time.)

Initially planned for a visit to a temple at morning got scrapped off when we moved out of Pune at 2:45am on April 4th 2012. Before we decided where to go, we went to the 24 hr Petrol pump near Pune Railway Station. Once done we decided to make our move towards Lonavala.

 After a long ride of 1 hr we reached Vadgaon. There we had a tea break for 15 mins and then moved on towards Lonavala and finally reached there at 4:30am and then found our way towards Kusgaon. 

Reached a tabletop 2 Km South of INS Shivaji and started a Bonfire. It was too cold to ride any further without gaining some heat. The hunt for firewood was easy in the early summer and we soon had a strong fire to get us enough warmth. With the rise of the sun we started moving southwards and finally reached the foot of Korigad.

After parking our bikes we started to climb up the hill, got misled and took the wrong (right) turn after reaching the first tabletop, some 300 meters from the start of the climb, and went to the wrong side of the hill. Finally after a very determined effort to climb up in any means necessary 4/6 of us reached the North side of the hill after 2 hrs of struggle through dense bushes and undergrowth and scorching heat. When we reached the North-West edge of the hill, we were about 30 feet from the top wall, but were in no position to climb any further and started sliding down the loose gravels and stones and finally reached the boundary wall of Amby Valley. After a brief enquiry we went inside and were lead out to the stairs to the fort.

At 12:30 we had climbed some 100 stairs and really needed some rest. After 10 mins of break we went up and finally made it to the top. With the scorching heat and not a drop to drink, our stay on top was very brief and we finally came back to the parking lot at 2:00pm.

Exhausted with the efforts, we had lunch and had an afternoon nap under a tree-shed till 4:30 and then started our return journey. After a 92 Km long journey we reached back at home and were bewildered with the memories of what we had done. Nothing went as planned, yet we enjoyed every bit of this crazy trip. No one would ever have gone to Korigad in Summer, but we did. We reached there unplanned.

Here are some of the snaps of this trip :

On the way to Korigad : Dyanes and Santosh

A small Bonfire to warm us up before sunrise.

  With the rise of the sun it was time for Motorzündung 

9 Km from Korigad

 Reached the foot of Korigad at 9:30am.

Amazing flower in summer.

The climb was made tough by the unforgiving heat of the sun in summer. Had no choice, but to take a break.

Scorching heat left a blanket of yellow turf on the South-East side of the fort.

 Amby Valley as seen from Korigad

 Victory : Finally we made it.

This trip was the first of its kind for me and hope that many more follows this Crazy Night-ride. Thanks to Amit, Dyanes, Gurpal, Phanee & Santosh for your company.