I had visited Purandar sometime last year and thought of visiting Purandar along with the
neighbour Vajragad in this monsoon season. So, we started early morning at around 6 AM keeping in mind that we have to trek two forts. We decided to trek Purandar first and then
Vajragad.
Imagine our surprise and disappointment after climbing up Purandar (by 7 AM) halfway till the motor road stops and finding out that the Indian Army has taken over Vajragad entirely, and you cannot visit Purandar before 9 am. You are just not allowed to climb beyond the motorable road. There is a check post built there where you have to register your details.
What to do till 9 am? Specially when we found that Vajragad is totally out-of-bounds? Ate Poha at Raja Canteen, spoke to the owner of the canteen about changes that are happening, some grapevine stuff he had heard about the reason behind the increase in security, and click pictures.
But then, when we finally made the climb and walked towards Kedareshwar temple, completely forgot about the trivial nature of the temporary feelings and submitted ourselves to the immense beauty of the lovely environments and it's elements.
Getting back to the facts, we reached Narayanpur via NH-4 (took a left at Kapurhol), parked at the base of the fort and climbed up via Bini/Binny/Binni Darwaja. You can also take your cars up till Bini Darwaja, park your vehicles midway, and climb the rest bit of Purandar.
The best part of Purandar, as with most other forts, is the connecting ridges on top. Strewn with lovely little wild flowers, enchanting you with a lovely play under sun and shade, hiding in clouds, beckoning you to go further and surrender to nature.
As you walk away from Vajragad, you go to the Balekilla (which we didn't climb) and further to Kedareshwar temple. There are these beautiful steps just at the base of the temple that look majestic. The view from the temple is scenic.
We kept wondering how scarily beautiful it would be to stay in the temple at night staring at the starry night, enveloped in clouds swayed by wind, and artificial lights staring at us from afar like animal eyes.
Kedareshwar temple was the highlight of this trek.
So much for the Indian Army!
Imagine our surprise and disappointment after climbing up Purandar (by 7 AM) halfway till the motor road stops and finding out that the Indian Army has taken over Vajragad entirely, and you cannot visit Purandar before 9 am. You are just not allowed to climb beyond the motorable road. There is a check post built there where you have to register your details.
What to do till 9 am? Specially when we found that Vajragad is totally out-of-bounds? Ate Poha at Raja Canteen, spoke to the owner of the canteen about changes that are happening, some grapevine stuff he had heard about the reason behind the increase in security, and click pictures.
But then, when we finally made the climb and walked towards Kedareshwar temple, completely forgot about the trivial nature of the temporary feelings and submitted ourselves to the immense beauty of the lovely environments and it's elements.
Getting back to the facts, we reached Narayanpur via NH-4 (took a left at Kapurhol), parked at the base of the fort and climbed up via Bini/Binny/Binni Darwaja. You can also take your cars up till Bini Darwaja, park your vehicles midway, and climb the rest bit of Purandar.
 |
| Bini Darwaja |
We kept wondering how scarily beautiful it would be to stay in the temple at night staring at the starry night, enveloped in clouds swayed by wind, and artificial lights staring at us from afar like animal eyes.
 |
| You can see the Kedareshwar temple left of centre in the picture. |
So much for the Indian Army!
No comments:
Post a Comment