Our Maharashtra State is having a very beautiful mountain range on Western Ghats. This range is called as “Sahyadri Range”. It is popular not only in the state, but also in the country. Its popularity is due to the forts, temple and other monuments lying in the region. Other than this, it also offer us a chance to observe the beauty of nature which allow us to freak out from our daily busy routine. One of the place in these mountain range is Bhimashankar.
Bhimashankar is at a height of 3250 feet. Neral and Karjat are the nearest stations. From this stations we can get down @ Khandas. From Neral 24 Kms. & from Karjat 40 Kms. will take you to Khandas. The route to reach at the top of peak is either by Ganesh Ghat orShidi Ghat. Shidi Ghat is a bit tough. Those who have experience of trekking they can preferred this route, others not. Another one is Ganesh Ghat, which is simpler than Shidi Ghat. Both of these route are going through dense forest and climbing the rocks which will take you to the top. I was avid 2 c its green beauty with deep valleys and gushing waterfalls. You will come across some animals and insects of various specious in the forest.
If you are starting from Ganesh Ghat, it will take around 4.5 – 5 hrs to reach @ the top. The journey consist of around 7-8 kms. When you start walking, you will get a Ganesh Temple in between which is the 1st stage of trek. After taking a Ganesh darshan 2nd stage is at Plateau which is around 900 feet from base. Here you will find some spring and waterfall. Further, going on walking along the plateau you come across beautiful view of 7 to 8 waterfalls.
By looking @ view you will feel like you have entered into heaven or would be thinking that we should buy a plot @ that location. Going further you will come across a big waterfall where all the trekkers are enjoying with the water. This is the 3rd stage of the trek. Moving ahead towards the peak a point will come for relief where you can do a breakfast (naashta). This is 4th stage of the journey and it is @ around 1600 feet.
Once you have done with it, your main hurdle starts. Because from this stage you will face some difficult path. Path is like fully steep including big igneous rocks and dense forest. While walking along the trek, there is deep valley on 1 side and a steep path on the other. Also, the climate @ that stage is very foggy, because the height from base is around more than 2000 feet. You will not able to view the valley clearly due to foggy weather, but the environment which you feel is like a heaven. After completing a journey and reaching @ top you will find plain region where one big lake is there. Then you will reach to the village where you can stay there for night and take a darshan of Lord Shankar. This temple is 1 from 12 Jyotirling in India.
In all it was really a great experience for doing a trekking and enjoying a beautiful environment. Its my personal opinion that one should visit this place, feel the difference and enjoy each and every moment of it.
