Pandavgad

We started at around 6.45 am and had oily pohe and vadpav for breakfast in bhor. The drive was pleasant and roads for a change were in excellent condition. There are 2 routes one is from Menavali (after wai) and another from village Gundewadi. We decided to climb from Gundewadi. Gundewadi can be reached from Wai or from Bhor. From Bhor, after you pass the crossing for Rohida on right, you need to take a left to Wai (35Kms) via Ambade ghat. Ambade ghat is wonderful surprise and offers awesome view of lush green valleys and picturesque surroundings. Please see more details in this blog.

 

While climbing down the ghat you are able to see majestic view of Pandavgad right in front of you. Gundewadi is tiny hamlet at the place where this ghat ends. All you can see is 3-4 houses and a temple on the right. You will need to go slightly further around 500mts and there lies a small house on the right.

The track starts from behind the house. It’s a small trail that gets lost in the teak forest and a bit dense jungle. The fort top is mostly not visible. As you climb the first plateau you start getting view of the ballekilla. The variety of flowers, especially small white bunches of flowers look beautiful. All the cows trails mislead you now and then but all you have to see the peak and climb straight. It’s a 1.5-2 hours climb. Towards top, last 10-15 minutes you reach a flight of stairs. The topmost plateau is almost flat with Ballekilla hidden in the rocky center surrounded by bushes.

After crossing the bungalow, it turns towards right and the route takes you through a traverse round the fort beneath the balle killa. It’s a beautiful walk with huge boulders above with dripping water and enchanting valley to the right. The muddy waters of Dhoom Dam looks amazing and you can see the doors of the dam. All over you would see beautiful wild flowers basking in warm sunlight and moving to the tunes of the gentle breeze.
Accessing Ballekilla is difficult and all you are able to see is only huge boulder above you.

 The access road to Ballekilla is hidden on the immediate left of fist water cistern after passing the Mr. Wadias bungalows.
You pass 2-3 huge and beautiful water cisterns and a very small main door with a lone buruj welcomes you. The curvy road takes you to the plateau with beautiful yellow colored flowers. To the left there is temple of Lord 'Hanuman' and to the right is the temple of Goddess Pandjai.Ight in front of Hanuman temple there are three grinding wheels, which were probably used for grinding a mixture of limestone and lead. The citadel is quite smaller in shape. It is said that from the eastern side a trail leads to Dhawadi village and on the way you can see Pandava Caves. We didn’t have time for this venture so we decided to return back.
On the way back we went to Mandhardevi temple. After Mandhardevi we started back. Had yummy meal in Kailash Dhaba on Satara Road. This place is slightly inside and a narrow lane leads to it just few minutes (before the first toll naka) on Pune-Banglore highway.

Look on the side right side, after you cross the new tunnel if you are coming from Katraj-Somatane Bypass or if you are coming from old katraj ghat this is few minutes after the ghat ends and it joins the main highway. They offer a hearty lunch and dinner and the specialty is Zunka-Bhakri and a very tasty Kadhi. They give small vati of peanuts as a starter. The 80 rs Thali offers 2 sabjis, salads, and various types of things like lasun, danyachi chatni and kharda. Curd and Chaas as add-on will do wonders for a tired traveler! The freely roaming white ducks and cute rabbits outside the hotel make your day. We were back to Pune by 3.30 PM.