While my running and cycling adventures were ongoing, I always wanted to do it with my family as well. Sonali was always in favor of doing these outdoor fitness activities and use them as a family bonding time. Now the task was to convince the kids and get them to do it and have fun while doing it.
Daughters had loved hiking in the past, so decided to use that as a way to get them started. Dedicating this post to a slight throwback on the previous treking trip we had while we are at it ... Last one we had done was to Fort Visapur. Its near Lonavala ... you can see the 2 adjoining forts Lohagad and Visapur from the expressway on your left going from Pune to Mumbai near Malavali. Had done Visapur as about 20 years back in monsoon with the SP gang - Ashish, Tushar, Sagar, Nitin. Great fun ... and carried good memories of the climb.
Went this time with Bhartiyas and family. Initially we werent sure we could attempt Visapur, so parked near Lohagad and thought we would attempt Lohagad and go for Visapur next time. But as Lohagad was only a half an hour climb, thought we might just as well go to Visapur which would be a 2-3 hours trek at least. Kids were upto it ... so here we go.
Its a nice climb of about an hour and half with family. Climb is about 250-300 meters ... distance to top is about 3 km from the Lohagad parking lot. There are 2 ways to get there. One way is from Bhaje caves from the front. And another way climbs from the back from a road that comes from Fort Lohagad. We decided to do the back route as it was through a water channel with a lot of rock climbing involved. Knew kids would love it.
Great experience and overall everyone had fun. It is in fact easier than Sinhagad overall. No commercialization enroute and its in pristine condition at the top. Quite dry as well on the top, and very few trees on the plateau at the top. So be prepared to protect against the sun. Also no food or water at the top ... so need to carry your own. There are a few remnants remaining of the old fort at the top. A 'jaata' and remnants of a dhanya kothar. The fort border (tatbandi) is reasonably intact. In monsoons this is quite a green fort. In Feb it is quite dry though at the top.
We came back down after exploring the fort at the top for an hour or so.
Next post about Sinhagad climb ...
Daughters had loved hiking in the past, so decided to use that as a way to get them started. Dedicating this post to a slight throwback on the previous treking trip we had while we are at it ... Last one we had done was to Fort Visapur. Its near Lonavala ... you can see the 2 adjoining forts Lohagad and Visapur from the expressway on your left going from Pune to Mumbai near Malavali. Had done Visapur as about 20 years back in monsoon with the SP gang - Ashish, Tushar, Sagar, Nitin. Great fun ... and carried good memories of the climb.
Went this time with Bhartiyas and family. Initially we werent sure we could attempt Visapur, so parked near Lohagad and thought we would attempt Lohagad and go for Visapur next time. But as Lohagad was only a half an hour climb, thought we might just as well go to Visapur which would be a 2-3 hours trek at least. Kids were upto it ... so here we go.
Its a nice climb of about an hour and half with family. Climb is about 250-300 meters ... distance to top is about 3 km from the Lohagad parking lot. There are 2 ways to get there. One way is from Bhaje caves from the front. And another way climbs from the back from a road that comes from Fort Lohagad. We decided to do the back route as it was through a water channel with a lot of rock climbing involved. Knew kids would love it.
Great experience and overall everyone had fun. It is in fact easier than Sinhagad overall. No commercialization enroute and its in pristine condition at the top. Quite dry as well on the top, and very few trees on the plateau at the top. So be prepared to protect against the sun. Also no food or water at the top ... so need to carry your own. There are a few remnants remaining of the old fort at the top. A 'jaata' and remnants of a dhanya kothar. The fort border (tatbandi) is reasonably intact. In monsoons this is quite a green fort. In Feb it is quite dry though at the top.
We came back down after exploring the fort at the top for an hour or so.
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| Enroute to Visapur |
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| The Gang headed to Visapur |
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| Kung fu Pandas |
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| Rock climbing |
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| Almost there!! |
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| Hmm .. strangers! |
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| Captured ... Dead or Alive! |
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| Huppa huyya!! |
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| The braveheart defending the fort |
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| You can see Fort Lohagad in the background |
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| Vihangam drushya - Visapur balekilla |
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| Jai Hanuman!! |
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| The conquerors! |
Next post about Sinhagad climb ...