Here is some Info about Siddhagad:

Type: Hill Fort

Height: 3232 Feet above MSL (Approx.)

Grade: Medium

District: Thane

Region: Malshej

Base Village: Narivali / Uchale

Here we can see few remnants of the fort that was battled over between British and Maratha army, Shiva Temple, few broken cannons, few water cisterns etc.

From top of Siddhagadh one can see Karnala, Manikgad, Kothaligad, Bhimashankar, Gorakhgadh & Macchindragadh.

This place is also known in Indian Freedom movement as two freedom fighters (Bhai Kotwal & Hiraji Patil) were shot dead at this place by Britisher on 2nd Jan 1943.

Plan:

Rendezvous: Kalyan ST Depot(West) at 2.00PM (Sharp) near the inquiry counter.

The itinerary for the Trek is as given below:

Saturday:

ST Bus/Jeep from Kalyan to Murbad (~1hrs) – Mhasa (~30 min)- Uchale (~30min)

Walk to Machi of Siddhagad where we camp for the night and will have dinner (~2.5hrs)

Sunday:

Early morning we will set off to top of Siddhagad (~1.0hrs) to avoid the heat

On getting to top, we will explore the fort and take in the sights around the fort & start back down

After getting back to machi we will have breakfast will visit some remanants of the fort near machi and will move to the base.

Back at Kalyan ST Depot at around 5 in the evening.

The cost of this trek would be Rs. 400/- for Members and Rs. 420/- for others & would include -

* Travel from Kalyan to Kalyan by public transport

* Dinner on Saturday

* Breakfast and Tea on Sunday

* All guide and expertise.

If interested, please contact on the nos. below for registration latest by Friday night (20th May,2011) -

Rohit Nayak: 9167416873

Sameer Patel: 9820972043

Parag Vartak: 9820973705

Here is a list of all the things that need to be carried for the trek:

1. A haversack to put in all the things to be carried….so that one has ones hands free while trekking.Pls do not carry sling bags or Jholas.

2. At least 1 set of spare clothes with a towel and napkin.

3. A good torch with a 2 spare set of batteries (COMPULSORY)

4. A sleeping bag/Foam Mat/Blanket to sleep on with a pillow and blanket.

5. Plate, Spoon, Mug, at least 2 liters of water (COMPULSORY)

6. Optional: Camera & something to munch on.

Few rules that we would like people follow:

1. Alcohol will strictly not be permitted on the trek. Anyone found in possession of the same or consuming it will be expelled from the trek.

2. Smoking will only be permitted after consultation with the Leader and the person will have to move away from the group to smoke.

3. Smoking will only be permitted while we stop at a clearing and not otherwise.

4. The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained.

5. Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.

6. Please do not wear any Jewellery or gold chains/rings.

Photographs of Siddhagad :

https://picasaweb.google.com/wildsmp/SiddhgadTrek#

https://picasaweb.google.com/hemant.treks/Siddhagad#

Aerial view of the region :

http://wikimapia.org/#y=19277322&x=73687406&z=14&l=0&m=a&v=2

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5520716078

• Video taken by Anjali Sharma

A more detailed excerpt of our experience is described by our friend, Mr.N Venugopal Rao below:

It was 6.30 in the morning. The air was pleasantly cold and crisp. And there was excitement plastered all over our faces. Why shouldn’t it be? We had sighted a tiger the previous day wallowing in the water a couple of metres away. But we wanted to see the striped animal up, close and personal. And we would. Today.

We had a premonition that everything was right for the sighting of one. But what would it be? A tiger? A bear? Or a wild cat? The last two were even rarer to sight than the tiger. A leopard? Don’t even think of it. Whatever it would be, we had the definite feeling that it was going to be a National Geographic moment.

We drove slowly in our open Gypsy on the bumpy park road checking out the peacocks, the spotted deer, the sambhar and all those small little birds chirping welcome tunes. And hardly did we go a few metres, there it was sitting on a hill scouring the surroundings for its prey. A leopard. The rarest of rare sightings. Can you believe our luck?

In a few minutes it glided down the hill and the park was agog with alarm calls. The first ones to raise hell were the langurs. They were picked up by the sambhar and the spotted deer and replicated all over the park.

It was the perfect atmosphere to sight a wild cat. But, much to our disappointment, the leopard disappeared into the thick woods. We waited and waited for more than an hour for it to walk up to the road. But it didn’t.

So we went deep into the park watching the lovely peacocks dancing away to abandon, the langurs swinging from tree to tree, the sambhar and spotted deer standing in their tracks with their ears up to gaze at us capture them in our cameras, and the cute little birds twittering sweet nothings. There is never a dull moment in the park. If there is any it is because we are boring.

And then, all of a sudden, the whole park echoed with alarm calls once again – the howling shrieks of the langurs, the desperate barking and fleeing of the deer and sambhar, and the hoarse calls of the peacocks. We spluttered our engine to a stop. And the alarm calls got louder and louder spreading tension all around.

There was no end to our fabulous luck. We were waiting for an Aamir Khan and a Tom Cruise showed up!! A huge leopard, not the earlier one, walked by slowly right in front of us. And it walked on the road for a while as if it was doing the catwalk for us in the wild.

It was gorgeous, it was real, and it was on the prowl in flesh and blood. It had a lovely body, rich and luscious spots, shapely legs, and a sexy ‘Sheila ki jawani’ sinuous movement.

Our adrenalin was pumping. Our collective hearts went wild with ecstasy. We looked into each other’s face with astonishment. And our cameras started rolling to capture the perfect moment.

There was a whispered silence in the park. Then the leopard stood for a while and looked back at us with its glaring yellow eyes. And Preeti got her best shot!! And we kept shooting till it disappeared into the wild.

Even after the leopard had left we stood still the feeling of euphoria sweeping over us. That was way beyond amazing. It was the perfect ‘holy grail’ sighting that anyone could dream of. We can only thank our guide and our driver for that brilliant moment.

I don’t know how Columbus felt when he discovered America, but when we spotted the leopard we were on the seventy-seventh heaven!!

NOTE: If you want to see a tiger you can go to the zoo. And you will definitely have a better view of it. Go to the park only if you want a wonderful ambience of the forest setting with all the animals in their natural habitat. You will never be disappointed whether you spot a tiger or not. But don’t forget to leave your ego behind.

PIX COURTESY: SANKET S. KULKARNI

N Venugopal Rao	Sanket Kulkarni

Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary comprises 1412 sq km of deciduous forest interspersed with semi-evergreen and evergreen flora, acacia, scrub jungle, grasslands and rocky hills. Fed by perennial and seasonal rivers and streams, the sanctuary has large water bodies like the Kamleshwar Dam that are good for crocodiles and birds. It is the last abode of the big and regal predator Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), an endangered species.

Itinerary for the event is as below:

Day 1 – Wednesday, 25th May 2011

Depart for Junagadh by ’19005 Saurashtra Mail’ at 20:30 from Dadar.

Day 2 – Thursday, 26th May 2011

Arrive at Junagadh by 13:30

Enjoy Traditional Gujarati Food for lunch & check in to Hotel Vishala.

Sightseeing: Fort Junagadh known as Uparkot

Dinner in the rooftop restaurant with the view of the City.

Day 3 – Friday, 27th May 2011

Wake up early, get ready by 7:30 and proceed for breakfast.

Sightseeing: Ashoka’s Rock Edicts, Mahabat Maqbara, Khapra Kodia Caves

Check out from Hotel by 10:30 & head to Sasan Gir by Private Vehicle.

Check-in to Resort Amidhara @ Sasan.

Post lunch will take evening open gypsy jungle safari in Gir Sanctuary.

Local Kathiyawadi food for the Dinner.

Day 4 – Saturday, 28th May 2011

Wake up early and get ready by 6:00.

Early Morning Jungle safari in Gir Sanctuary at 6:30.

Visit to Nature Information Center and Crocodile Center.

Get back to the resort for Lunch.

Evening Safari in Gir Sanctuary at 15:30 followed by Dinner@Amidhara

Day 5 – Sunday, 29th May 2011

Get up early and Check out Resort Amidhara post Breakfast by 8:00.

Travel to Somnath by Private Vehicle.

Sightseeing around Somnath – Bhalkha Teerth, Somnath Temple, Triveni Teerth, Surya Mandir etc.

Lunch at Veraval / Somnath by 12:00.

Departure for Mumbai by ’59460 Veraval-BCT Pass Express’ at 13:30.

Day 6 – Monday, 30th May 2011

Arrive at Mumbai by 6:30 in the morning.

Cost of the event would be Rs. 6000/- per person + Train /Air fare.

This cost would include -

• Non-A/c Accommodation in Junagadh
• A/c Accomodation in Amidhara Resort (Dormitory)
• All breakfasts and meal (Pure Veg)
• Internal Travel by Non-A/c Private vehicles,
• Entry Fees whereever applicable
• All Jungle safari charges including Personal Entry, Open Gypsy and Guide charges.

Above mentioned cost does not include -

• Any Food / Snack during the rail journey
• Mineral water, cold drinks
• Camera / handycam charges

To register for the event, contact our team on numbers below:
Rohit Nayak:     9167416873
Parag Vartak:  9820973705
Sameer Patel:  9820972043

Please Note that seats for the event are limited and will only be confirmed against Full Payment of the money in person or against Bank Transfer. Bank a/c details are given below:

Name of A/c Holder: Parag Vartak
Bank & Branch: ICICI Bank Nariman Point
A/c Number: 037601504142
RTGS/NEFT/IFSC code: ICIC0000376

For more information about the place, visit following links -

Photographs of Junagadh:      www.picasaweb.google.com/samontreks/Junagadh

Photographs of Gir:               www.picasaweb.google.com/samontreks/Gir

Photographs of Somnath:      www.picasaweb.google.com/samontreks/Somnath

Website for Hotel Vishala:      www.hotelvishala.com

Website for Resort Amidhara: www.amidhararesorts.com

With the Mercury rising by the day, treks have taken a back burner. But there needs to be some activity to while away the weekend, and what better way to get the adrenaline running than a 300 feet Rappel off one of the most famous and well known sights around Lonavala; “Dukes Nose”

Join Nisarga Bhraman for a adventure filled Rappel at Dukes Nose at Lonavala on 1st May 2011.

Sawai Madhopur (Ranathambore), located in Rajasthan offers one a lifetime opportunity to see these captivating animals & return home with lifetime memories.

Resort: Hammir Wildlife Resort (http://www.hammirwildliferesorts.com/)

Itinerary

Day 1: The Journey Begins

Depart Mumbai @18.50hrs from Mumbai Central by Jaipur Superfast.

Day 2: Tryst with the Tiger

Arrive in Sawai Madhopur @ 10.30hrs & check – in to Hammir Wildlife Resort. Post breakfast & lunch, head for an Afternoon Safari in an Open Gypsy for a meet with the beast. Return back to an informative slide show at the resort.

Day 3: Explore Ranthambore

Wake up early for a Morning Safari & then chill in the A/c room for better part of the day. Head for sightseeing to Amruteshwar Temple & Ranathambore fort. Post Sundown, enjoy a glimpse of Rajasthani culture & tradition in a performance by local artisans.

Day 4: Resolve to return again

An early morning tryst with the animals of Ranathambore, our last Gypsy Safari. Post Safari, finish with Shopping & Packing and then head for Mumbai @ 16.00hrs by Jaipur Superfast.

Day 5: Home Sweet Home

Arrive back at mumbai @08:00 hrs with memories to  cherish for a long long time.

The Cost of this tour is Rs. 7500/- per head + Rail / Airfare

Batch 1: 20 April – 24 April’ 2011

Batch 2: 27 April – 1 May’ 2011

*Seats are limited

The Tour cost includes:

• 2N/3D stay at the Hammir in Air conditioned rooms on 4pax sharing
• Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner (Veg/Non Veg) @ Hammir
• Informative Slide Show & Cultural Program
• 3 Gypsy Safari
• Guided trip to Ranathambore Fort
• All entry fees & guide charges
• Hotel Transfers in Private Vehicle

Cost does not include:

• Video Camera usage fee
• Anything other than that mentioned in cost includes

For More Information & Registrations, Please get in touch with us at the earliest on:

Rohit Nayak  : +919167416873

Parag Vartak : +919820973705