Rajmachi via Kondhane caves

Height : 2700 ft.

Wow factor : Low (or did I miss something?)

Difficulty : Not risky (- no exposed climb), but strenuous (especially if you have a sedentary lifestyle)

Endurance : 3+ hours of steep climb and 3- hours of steep descent. (Total time : 1 day ex-Mumbai - early morning to late evening)

Travel mode : Local train + auto (or bus)

Cost : ~ Rs.400 including travel and grub (Can be done in half of that)

Region : Karjat / Lonavla

Trek route : Kondhane village -> Kondhane caves -> Rajmachi -> back via same route

My trek date : 15-Sep-2013

Ramblings :

This trek turned out to be a myth buster. Here's what blogs said and what we found:

1. 'This is a scenic trek' - Whoever thinks so should climb up Matheran via Garbett plateau in the rains and then hazard a second opinion. The way from Kondhane to Rajmachi is through a jungle and for the most part you can't see anything but the trail ahead and the trees around you. The occasional glimpse of a train chugging along the Mumbai-Pune rail line is fine, but not that great. (Or maybe we were too drained to appreciate it.)
2. 'There are white markings to guide you throughout the path' - There's not one single marking on the entire trail! (Washed out by rains, maybe?) Nevertheless, the trail's pretty straightforward.
3. 'There's a huge tamarind tree waiting to greet you on the way' - This one's just like the mango trees that show you the way to Garbett plateau. There's no tree that stands out well enough to qualify as a landmark. (Maybe it's on some other trail to Rajmachi?)

Ready reckoner for Sahyadri treks

The information on this page comes from multiple sources on and off the net - websites of trekking groups, blogs, books, magazine articles, and some from my own experiences. Some people have put in a lot of effort to publish first-hand experiences and information on the net (- thanks to them!). Unfortunately, it's quite distributed. I was collating this information for myself; thought many others might find it useful. It could be used as a (non-authoritative, mind it!) starting point for shortlisting your trek and planning for it.

I would recommend these reference books:

• Trek the Sahyadris - by Harish Kapadia (Not too in-depth, but has a comprehensive list and a good summary of all treks in the Sahyadris, with maps of various regions, and references. Rs.205 on infibeam.com)
• The Sahyadri Companion - by YZ Trekkers (Much more detailed description of trek routes and regions; useful if you're planning to trek without a guide. However, I would recommend not to use this as a sole reference; use it in conjunction with latest blogs. Rs.800 on sahyadribooks.org)

Some reference websites:

• http://www.oocities.org/trekforts (Has good summary, logistics, route details, maps, and a sorted listing of treks)
• http://kpy2.tripod.com (Concise, to-the-point route descriptions)
• http://www.geocities.ws/drchengalva / http://www.oocities.org/drchengalva (GPS-based maps, route details, aerial photos, etc.)
• http://www.trekshitiz.com (Route details, maps, etc.)
• http://deepabhi.tripod.com (Decent summary of many treks in the region, and some useful maps)
• http://www.mumbaihikers.org (Trek announcements, general information)
• http://www.mumbaihikers.net (Trek announcements, general information)

Not to discourage anyone, but just so that people are aware of potential dangers on treks:

• http://www.geocities.ws/drchengalva/DangerZone.html
• http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-23/pune/29573391_1_trekking-fort-accidents
• http://www.mid-day.com/news/2013/jan/150113-pune-7-lost-trekkers-found-after-9-hr-search-in-lonavala-hills.htm
• http://elitetrekkers.blogspot.in/2011/07/trek-to-rajmachi-26102011.html
• http://tanay-bivouac.blogspot.in/2012/04/kidney-thieves.html (- this one and the one above could be a rumor, but who knows...)
• http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report-six-mountaineers-rescued-from-pune-s-jivdhan-fort-1700928
• http://mumbaihikers.net/2014/01/beware-con-men-travelling-samrad-village-base-village-sandhan-valley / https://www.facebook.com/vikroooom/posts/10202763033027757
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/bhramanti365/permalink/805415049472557
• http://mumbaihikers.net/2013/06/sahyadri-rescue-1-rajmachi-2013
• http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/over-40-trekkers-stranded-on-chanderi-hill-rescued-one-dead
• http://www.mid-day.com/articles/trekkers-celebrating-new-year-thrashed-stripped-bhakts-lonavala-fort-shivaji-news/17884153

http://mumbaihikers.net/rescue-group has a handy contact list of some rescue groups. Although not listed here, most professional trekking groups also help in rescue operations.

The list of treks below isn't comprehensive; it's just my short-term homework - I intend to do some (or most) of these treks over the next few months. This list will be a perpetual work-in-progress though; I'll keep adding to it as I gather information for myself.

Trek	Logistics (ex-Mumbai)	Difficulty	Remarks / Links
Matheran via Garbett Point
2600 ft., scenic, adventurous --- Region: Karjat west --- Route: Bhivpuri Road -> Garbett Plateau -> Garbett Point (Matheran) -> Neral	Travel mode: Local train --- Duration: 1 day	Easy; some might find last 15 minutes scary/tough --- 4 hours of low/medium climb	Best done in the rains. --- Other routes: Panvel -> Dudhani -> Matheran Chowk -> Varosa -> Matheran --- Links: sahyadriranger businesstravellerindia
Matheran via One Tree Hill
2600 ft. --- Karjat west --- Karjat -> Vaverle -> Bhorgaon -> Ambewadi -> One Tree Hill (Matheran)	Local train + auto/jeep 1 day		traveller.outlookindia
Peb fort (Vikatgad)
2100 ft., scenic, adventurous --- Karjat west --- Neral -> Peb -> Panorama Point (Matheran) -> Neral	Local train 1 day	Moderate; some might find last stretch difficult 3 hours of low/medium climb	Best done in the rains. Other routes: Panvel -> Peb Matheran -> Peb --- trekforts trekshitiz
Nakhind
2300 ft. --- Karjat west --- Neral ->	Local train + 1 hour auto ride (?) 1 day	Easy / moderate; tricky descent 3 hours
Chanderi
2300 ft., adventurous --- Karjat west ---	Local train + 1.5 hour auto/jeep ride (?)	Moderate upto the fort; difficult / technical from fort to pinnacle 4 hour climb + 2 hour descent
Tavli pinnacles and cave
2600 ft. --- Karjat west --- Badlapur -> Shirgaon -> Saroli -> Tavli	Local train 1 day	Difficult
Navra-Navri ridge
2000 ft. --- Karjat west --- Badlapur -> Kharval -> Thakurwadi -> waterfall climb	Local train 1 day	Moderate / difficult
Prabalgad
2300 ft. --- Panvel --- Panvel -> Poinje Phata -> Poinje -> Prabal	Local train + auto/jeep/bus 1 day	Moderate	Panvel -> Shedung -> Belavli -> Vardoli -> Prabal Panvel -> Shedung Phata -> Thakurwadi -> Prabal (?)
Kalavantin durg
2300 ft. --- Panvel --- Panvel -> Shedung Phata -> Thakurwadi -> Kalavantin	Local train + auto/jeep/bus 1 day	Moderate/difficult; last part technical, but not necessarily 3 hour climb
Irshalgad
3700 ft. (?) --- Panvel --- Chowk -> Vishalwadi / Irshalwadi (?) ->	Local train + auto/jeep/bus 1 day	Medium; technical rock climb to top
Bhimashankar via Shidi ghat
3300 ft. --- Karjat east --- Khandas -> Shidi ghat -> Bhimashankar -> Ganesh ghat -> Khandas	Local train + (bus + jeep) / only jeep / auto --- can squeeze in 1 day	Strenuous, risky (exposed rock climb). Difficult if without experience or a guide, or in monsoon. Medium otherwise. --- 3-4 hour climb and 3-4 hour descent	sahyadriranger --- Cross-country alternatives: From Lonavla - indiahikes.in From Siddhagad - indiahikes.in, trythethrill.com
Rajmachi via Kondhane caves
2700 ft. --- Karjat east / Lonavla --- Kondhane -> Rajmachi -> Kondhane	Local train + auto/bus --- 1 day	Moderate, strenuous, not scary	sahyadriranger kpy2.tripod --- Alternatives: Kondivade -> Kharvandi -> Rajmachi -> Kondivade Lonavla -> Tungarli lake -> Rajmachi -> Kondhane --- Best in monsoon
Visapur / Lohagad / Bhaja
3400 ft.+ --- Lonavla --- Malavli -> Bhaja -> Lohagad -> Visapur	Train 1 day	Easy
Jivdhan via Naneghat
Naneghat - 2750 ft. Jivdhan - 3750 ft. --- Malshej [Kalyan -> Murbad] --- Naneghat gate -> Naneghat -> Jivdhan -> Naneghat gate	Local train + 1.5 hour bus ride --- 1 day	Naneghat - easy. Jivdhan - strenuous; difficult if without experience or a guide; risky in rains. --- 2 hours to Naneghat. 2 more hours to Jivdhan.	sahyadriranger --- Monsoon best for Naneghat. Jivdhan climb best after monsoon. Can do night trek to Naneghat in summer. --- Alternatives: Naneghat -> Jivdhan -> Ghatghar -> [Junnar] (or reverse) Via Bhoranda Nal - itrekz, itrekz, bhramanti
Ahupe Ghat
3900 ft., scenic --- Malshej [Kalyan -> Murbad] --- Dehri / Khopivali -> Ahupe Ghat	Local train + auto/bus 1 day	Medium 3 hour trek	Best done in the rains
Siddhagad
3200 ft. --- Malshej [Kalyan -> Murbad] --- Narivali or Borwadi -> Siddhagadwadi -> Siddhagad	Local train + 1.25 hr. bus ride 1 day	Medium; Borwadi route tougher; slightly tricky climb towards the top 3-4 hour climb	Can do night trek in summer --- trekforts trythethrill ratangadbhandardaratrek
Gorakhgad
2100 ft. --- Malshej [Kalyan -> Murbad] --- Dehri -> Gorakhgad	Local train + bus 1 day	Medium 3 hour climb	Can do night trek in summer
Harishchandragad via Tolar Khind
4700 ft. --- Malshej --- Khubi Phata -> Khireshwar -> Tolar Khind -> Harishchandreshwar temple	Local train + bus 1 night + 1 day	Medium; risky/tough 600 ft. rock patch towards the top 5-6 hour climb	Rock patch could be slippery in rains; avoid if you can't go technical; climbing down same path risky in any season. --- trekforts --- Other routes: via Zunzar Darwaza (tougher than Tolar Khind) Via Sadhale ghat (technical) Via Pachnai (easy, long) Via Nalichi vaat (technical)
Ratangad
4200 ft. --- Igatpuri south --- Ratanwadi -> Ratangad -> Samrad -> Karoli / Sakurdi ghat	Local train + jeep/bus 1 night + 1 day; can squeeze to fit in 1 day (?)	Moderate 3 hour climb + 1.5 hour descent	Ideal immediately after rains
Kalsubai
5400 ft. --- Igatpuri south --- Bari -> Kalsubai -> Bari	Local/long-distance train + bus + jeep --- 1 day	Easy 2-3 hour climb + 1.5 hour descent	Best done in the rains --- sahyadriranger
Kulang
4800 ft. --- Igatpuri south --- [Kasara / Igatpuri -> Bhavli] -> Kulangwadi -> Kulang	Local train + jeep/bus 1 night + 1 day; can stretch to fit in 1 day (?)	Difficult 6 hour climb (?)	Better, safer in winter --- shrikantescapades alangmadankulang yash-gaikwad
Sandhan valley
-1500 ft. --- Igatpuri south --- [Kasara] -> Samrad -> Sandhan valley -> Dehane -> [Asangaon]	Local train + 1.5 hrs. jeep Can be squeezed into 1 night + 1 day	Medium + 3 (- at least 1) technical patches 7-8 hours of almost flat bouldering	Avoid monsoon; tough just after monsoon; easier towards summer --- sahyadriranger shrikantescapades trekmatesdiary odatiadventures
Mahuli Chanderi (not to be confused with Chanderi near Matheran)
2500 ft. --- Kasara --- Asangaon -> Mahuli village -> Chanderi	Local train 1 day	Medium
Mahuli and Chhota Mahuli
2500/2000 ft. (?) --- Kasara --- Asangaon / Atgaon -> Mahuli village -> Mahuli	Local train 1 day	Medium	Can do night trek in summer
Salher
5100 ft. --- Nashik north ---		Moderate
Shevtya ghat / Singapurchi Nal
--- Konkan south (Dapoli) ---			Best done in the rains oikosnatura.blogspot mumbaihikers

If you would rather go with a trekking club/group (which I would recommend for beginners and to anyone going on some of the tough/longer treks), a little google search will yield good results, or you could start at the links below (- note that not all active groups may be listed on these pages):

• http://www.mumbaihikers.org/2012/12/trekking-groups-contact-list-updated.html
• http://www.mumbaihikers.net/groups-2/trekking-groups
• http://itrekz.wordpress.com/organizations
• http://www.indmount.org/gettingstarted/network/clubs.aspx

Happy and safe trekking!