Sindola Fort (Night Trek)
Sindola Fort
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
All About It
- 1 Days
- Difficulty - Moderate
- Best Season - January February December
Sindola is a lesser-known fort trek in Maharashtra, hidden among the Sahyadris. From anywhere, you can see its distinct pinnacle structure. Situated on top of the Malshej Ghat plateau in the Junnar region, it stands at an altitude of 1128 ft.
It was used as a watchtower to keep an eye on the ancient route of the Malshej and Pargaon region. Like Nimgiri and Hadsar, people believe that Sindola dates back to the 5th century. This fort is very small compared to other well-known forts in the Junnar region. Today, you can only see the ruins of bastions, 7 water cisterns, and an idol of Ganesha at the entrance.
The trek is beautiful with breathtaking views, but it's a challenging path to climb.
Difficulty level: Moderate-Difficult
Base village: Karanjale/ Pargaon Tarf/ Bagadwadi
Summit height: 1128 ft
Time taken to climb/descend: 2-2.5 hrs climb / 1-1.5 hrs descent
Total distance of trek: 3 km
Meeting point: CST Stn Ticket Counter (11:45 pm)
Departure point: CST Stn Ticket Counter (6:00 pm)
Highlights
-Ridge Walks
-360-degree spectacular views of the Sahyadri ranges
-Clear views and night sky in winter
-Naturally formed caves
-Water cisterns
-Rock cut steps
-Beautiful forest walks
-Challenging climbs
Car
Breakfast
11:45 pm: Meet your Vagabond EMs at the CST station ticket counter at 11:45 pm sharp, and board the 12:24 am Karjat Slow from CST (or any other station). For those not joining us at CST, meet the Vagabond EMs at the Kalyan station by 2:00am.
2:00 am: Assemble at Kalyan station, and get into the private jeeps that will take us to the base village
4:30 am: Reach the base village i.e. Karanjale.
5:00 am: We introduce ourselves and get to know each other. Then, we begin the enchanting trek with our torches.
5:30 am: We walk through rocky gulleys, small routes, and bushes. We head towards the fort until we reach a plateau area. From here an ascend will take you to the start of the 1st ridge.
6.00 am: Trek now picks up the challenging path as we climb higher. The path now becomes narrow & zigzag. This zigzag path leads us to the face of the mountain which is steep. The views improve as the sun rises and paints the sky. The second ridge is smaller than the first one and we can spot the tall Sindola fort standing behind.
6:20 am: From the end of the 2nd ridge we take the traverse. Once you enter the traverse, you'll see stunning mountain views to your left. The trek's exciting end is climbing over the fort's narrow pinnacle in a thrilling gulley. Only one person at a time can pass through it. When you get to the top of the demolished entrance to the Fort, you will find a Ganesha Idol carved into the rock. People consider the idol as a gateway for the fort. You can even see the wrecked fort Bastion.
7:30 am: Reach the summit, and explore the historical hill fort, which was once a significant military base. Walk ahead and find a place to relax. From there, soak in the magnificent 360-degree views. We see the Mighty Sahyadri ranges, some famous peaks, the NH-61 road, and the Pimpal Joga Dam. Everything looks so small & surreal that it feels like seeing a miniature world from a bird's eye.
8:30 am: After re-energising ourselves we start our descent back, taking pictures and creating content. While descending we have to be careful as the path can be slippery and steep. Advisable to use your trekking poles if you have one.
11:00 am: Once we reach the base village, our hunger pangs will start craving some good food. After breakfast, we start our journey back to Kalyan in our private jeeps.
4:00 pm: It's time to bid adieu! We leave you back at Kalyan station. Goodbyes are a reminder that we will meet again.
Hosted by
Vagabond Experiences
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
Vagabond started out as a project by four friends with a disdain for the ordinary. The idea was simple; take people out of their comfort zones. Not like Roadies, but just enough to bond them together through beautiful and authentic experiences. Happiness, as they say, is only real when shared. And share we did. The company was founded in 2014. As fresh Bachelor of Arts degree holders, companies were lining up to hire us fine gentlemen; we’re kidding. Fueled by entrepreneurial zeal, we started with small events in the city like heritage walks through Bombay’s old quarters. As musicians and travellers ourselves, we decided to marry these two loves of our lives. That is how the idea for the first Fields of Sound™ came about. Since then, it has only been onward and upwards for us. Since 2014, we’ve made friends like family through our journey. Our little ‘Vaga’-Fam. It’s safe to say, it’s been quite an adventure. One we would like you to join :)
Inclusions
-Return train tickets from CST station
-Private taxis from Kalyan station to Sindola and back
-Lunch
-Refreshments
-Trek guide charges
-Vagabond EMs assistance
-First Aid assistance
Exclusions
THINGS TO CARRY
-Snacks (non-perishable dry breakfast)
-Full-length clothes (due to thorny bushes)
-Headlamp/torch (mandatory)
-Drinking water (minimum 2 ltr)
-Warm clothing (sweater/jacket)
-Sturdy shoes with grip
-Trekking pole (optional but very useful)
-Camera (optional)
HOW TO REACH
Please DO NOT miss the 12:24 am Karjat Slow from CST station. Feel free to board this train from any other station between CST to Kalyan (Byculla 12:32 am, Dadar 12:42 am, Kurla 12:52 am, Ghatkopar 12:58 am, Mulund 1:14 am, Thane 1:18 am, Dombivli 1:42 am) but if you miss this train, you will NOT be able to join us for the trek. This train is scheduled to reach Kalyan by 1:52 am. Meet us outside Kalyan station near Diksha Hotel. Please plan accordingly.
Policy and Terms
-Cancellations made 7 days or more in advance of the event date will incur a 20% cancellation fee.
-Cancellations made within 3 - 6 days will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
-Cancellations made within 48 hours to the event will receive no refund.
-3.8% of all booking amounts are payment gateway charges. This amount is not refundable
(Please refer to the further Terms and Conditions mentioned in the footer of the Vagabond website)
Terms and Conditions
-All timings and activities are subject to weather, group size, capabilities of participants, etc.
-Vagabond holds the right to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances (for eg. unfavorable weather)
-By registering for this trip, you agree to have read through and abide by the Vagabond Terms & Conditions mentioned in the footer.
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