2017-10-01 Sanctuary Asia

HOW TO GET THERE:

By Road:

Pune: 1 hour 15 minutes drive to Madhe Ghat,

Mumbai: 4 hours 40 minutes drive along the Bengaluru – Mumbai Highway.

Imagine descending steep, slippery, magnifi cent rocks,

while getting sprayed by a gushing waterfall amidst towering

mountains and pristine forests! A thrill seeker’s paradise,

nature lover’s destination and an escape from the confi nes of

the city – Madhe Ghat is all that and more. This is a little-

known gem of a natural destination tucked away among the

Sahyadri mountains, still under thick, green cover. Situated

about 200 km. from Mumbai and almost 65 km. from Pune,

Madhe Ghat is an ideal weekend forest getaway.

It is during the monsoons that you can witness Madhe

Ghat in all its green glory, with swelling streams converging

to fulfi ll their destiny as a mighty waterfall, which plummets

37 m. into the misty gorge below. Here, tourists can soak in

the pleasure of rappelling down these rock faces or trekking

down to the plunge pool of this waterfall.

The forests of Madhe Ghat are situated at a height of about

850 m. behind the Torna Fort in Raigad district. The sights of

the sprawling mountains below, as far as your eyes can see, are

Madhe Ghat - Nature’s Green Palette

mesmerising and worth every bit of the physically-demanding

trek that one has to make. The Madhe Ghat route is becoming

increasingly popular among urbanites. Trekking and water

rappelling enthusiasts, especially from Mumbai and Pune, would

defi nitely enjoy this hilly getaway to experience the thrill of

adventure sports and the tranquility of the enchanting forest.

It was through Madhe Ghat that the funeral procession

of one of the greatest Maratha warriors in Shivaji Maharaj’s

army, Tanaji Malusare, passed through after he was martyred

in the famous battle of Sinhagad in 1670. Shivaji Maharaj

had famously remarked “We have gained the fort, but lost a

lion.” You can view the Lingana Fort from Madhe Ghat, where

Shivaji is believed to have housed prisoners, along with the

Raigad Fort, Varandha Ghat and Shivthar Ghal. G

Streams in the Madhe Ghat area swell and converge during the monsoon

to plummet 37 m. down into a misty gorge.

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