Knowing the difficulty level of Fort Jivdhan, I was bit skeptical to take Roopa along with me … But looking at number of treks she has done so far I took a call to take her along and to my expectation she could complete the climb and descend on rock patches 🙂
The most important thing is this trek shall be done with proper trekking shoes and cloths covering legs (do not wear half pants) for the reason of climbing as well as pointed shrubs scrubbing your legs all around !! and for the beginners Jeevdhan is absolutely NO NO trek !!
Naneghat trek entry fees by forest office from July 2019 update
There will be entry fees for going to Naneghat from July 2019 as per decision from locals and forest office. This is to prevent rising issues and nuisance of huge crowd of tourists heading to Naneghat to enjoy monsoon.
Its also observed that drunken tourists playing loud music, throwing garbage creating damage to the nature. The funds collected shall be used to clean up the place and development of the area.
Entry fee –
Rs. 50 per car and Rs. 5 per person. For bus and other vehicles charges are more.
Read here the detailed news published in the local news paper Sakal on 13 July 2019.
Anyway the climb begins from village Ghatghar, takes you slowly to steps carved on the rocks … moving to the fort top through one difficult rock climb (where we used rope to assist climbing) … honestly on the fort top you can not see any remains at all ! but you get stunning mountain views from the fort top … specially you will enjoy Vanarlingi and Nanacha angtha …
Basic information on Fort Jivdhan & Naneghat trek
Difficulty level
- Difficult rock patches while climbing and descending (may need use of rope)
- Misleading jungle trails while climb as well as descend from any route
- Just read this news on students trapped during monsoon, so take care
What to see !
- Vanarlingi also called as Khadaparshi (~415 feet hright, heaven to rock climbers, many adventure institutes organizes rappelling and valley crossing here !)
- Nanacha Angtha (Nana’s Thumb !)
- To the North – Vardya, Harishchandragad, Nakta, Alang-Kulang-Madangad and Kalsubai
- To the East – Vesni, Budhlya, Ghatghar village, Junnar, Kukdi River & Manikdo dam, Kukdeshwar Hill.
- To the South – Durg Killa, Dhakoba, Gorakhgad & Machindra Pinnacle
- To the West – Naneghat, Nanacha Angtha & The Konkan Plains
Place to stay/take food & water
Jivdhan hotel food phone number :
Jivdhan Gad Location
How to reach (~125 kms from Pune)
How to reach From Mumbai
ST bus – any bus going towards Ale phata, Malshej ghat, Junnar (Ask conductor to get down at Naneghat gate)
Or get down at Tokavade (Just before Nangeghat) and catch any local ride
From Kalyan to Tokavade takes ~1.5 hours
Naneght gate – is on the right side of road (just before gate you will see small hotel in the village Vaishakhare)Trail from Naneghat side, Map curtsy Dr, Chengalva
From Naneghat you need to follow the cart track to Ghatghar village (~10 min), take right turn & keep walking towards Vanarlingi pinnacle. ~25 min you will reach a plateau having dense jungle on the left side. Finding upward route is bit tricky, but remember to keep climbing towards Vanarlingi. Once you are very close to Vanarlingi take left turn and walk tillyou get upward step frm which you reach the Jivdhan rock wall. After climbing sucessfully one reaches the main entrance of Jivdhan fort.
A couple of home-restaurants have come up on the plateau, where you can even get a room to stay at night, sharing it with other trekkers who may already be holed up there.
Precautions
- Use proper trekking gears for this trek (This is most important due to rock patches, people tend to use old shoes which is most dangerous)
- Do not wear half pants, Bermuda, Capri since this fort has bushes with pointed leaves which harm you even in full paints …
Recommended reference reading –
One day trek in Sahaydri mountain ranges – Do’s and Don’t, Things to carry list
As soon as you reach village Ghatghar you will see stunning views of Sahyadri ranges …
Beginning of trek from base village Ghatghar .. it will take @2~3 hours to reach fort top including the rock patches ..
Look at this photo carefully .. you will see tiny dots climbing up ! … my friends are climbing up the steps carved in rock .. after the steps you will face a rock patch ..
First rock patch after the steps climb .. it it not difficult for experienced trekkers but better to avoid high confidence !
Once the rock patch is over .. main climbing challenge is over and you reach the first cistern in cave .. be careful .. here the water is colourful and you tend to step in ! falling inside !! so do not enter the water !!
Go further to the top to see one more water cistern … however this is also not that clean (although Rohit drank water from this !) but at least you can use it to clean the hands off
All over the way whereever you go on fort Jivdhan, you will come across thorny shrubs who prick your legs !and when you take support by hands they prick your hands 🙁 be careful …
Just before the fort top there is a Kothar (Storage space), pretty big from inside, to accommodate 50 people .. but unfortunately it is not clean ! I saw ~100 oil lamps inside the dark .. but did not dare to get inside may be due to snakes …
By the time you reach the fort top you are so hungry that you tend to find shelter to get your lunch done ! but Jivdhan is no good for this .. it do not have good shade trees at all !! so you have to take lunch in shining sun-light ! Only what bonus you get is a clean water cistern …
In the background you will see Nana cha Angtha ..
After lunch it is time to visit Vanarlingi cha sulka (Pinnacle) and have photographs
Look at it while you descend down from other route to Nanacha angtha
Now it is time to get down from other route i.e. Nanacha angtha route … you will see clear way to descend down … it is huge entrance cut into single piece rock … below photo you can clearly see entry and exit point from the fort ..
descend naneghat side
Now be ready to face the second challenge rock patch … so here we are waiting for our turn . since the line is going slow we waited for an hour at this point !!
naneghat side of fort jivdhan
Just to give you an idea of how this rock patch looks I have added this photo showing view from bottom side … we used rope here to assist the descend .. experienced trekker can do it without rope ..
Look at the happy face 🙂
difficult rock patch on descend to naneghat side
Way down from here it bit tricky in the sense of getting lost inside jungle … since Jivdhan is not that famous .. roads are not that defined .. once you get down this difficult rock patch … remember to get to your left and walk till you see Vanarlingi .. its almost reverse travel .. but that is how you have to go .. if you try to get down directly straight ahead . then for sure you will be in big trouble !! so be careful .. go upto Vanarlingi and then you will see the path down …
Finally you reach to plateau from where you can enjoy the sun-set or move on to Nanacha Angtha ..
sun set from fort Jivdhan & nanacha angtha, naneghat
Do let me know if you wish to know more about this trek or other treks by FONA ..
You are most welcome to join the nature group FONA (Friends Of Nature Association – Talegaon) and enjoy the beautiful forts and jungle safaris …
Fort Jivdhan Hotel Contact numbers [added on request of Blog reader Amit and phone numbers provided by Onkar Oak]
Subhash Adari – Fort Jivdhan hotel contact
7767981930 / 9850184948 / 9405875675
and do not forget to check for the list of things to carry for trek
Hello Mahesh; it’s a beautifully described trek, as I was reading it, I could remember all those steps, scenery & nature.
Thank you Doc … Now from blog readers feedback I have also added Map to Jivdhan Fort from Naneghat
Seems very exciting one…..very good information about trek.
Dear Mahesh,
Thanks for sharing these wonderful trek details and photographs.
Can you help me by sharing a local village hotel or contact number from Ghatghar village as we are planning a night trek to Jivdhan next week.
Thanks,
Amit
Hi Amit,
I will try to get phone numbers for you.
Hi Amit, here are phone numbers for hotel at Jivdhan
Subhash Adari – Fort Jivdhan contact
7767981930 / 9850184948 / 9405875675
Happy trekking
rgds, Mahesh
Thanks a lot Maheshji…
Regards,
Amit
Hi
do you know about the morning bus timings from Junnar to Ghatghar?
is there a good place to camp on fort Jivdhan?
Or do you suggest camping at naneghat?
We have a tent and actually planning to do Chawand, Jivdhan, Naneghat, Nimgiri and Sindola in 2 days.
Please suggest.
Camping on Naneghat is best & sheltered place with water cistern available [Take sufficient drinking water with you since cisterns are not clean), Jivdhan not recommended (no place to stay)
HI, i have just been to one trek before to vikatgad, should i go ahead for another one to nanheghat. i’m really scared if i’ll trip or loose out on energy because of my weight. Please help, but really wish to see these places.
Hi Divya, don’t worry… Go ahead…. If you feel that you will loose on energy simply use gulcon D water… Drink sufficient water… Eat dates which are supposed to restore iron and I am using this since years.. Also eating oranges restores vitamin C… These simple suggestions shall help you out… Cheers… Mahesh
Hello there !! Can you please tell me whether the ropes are to carried by the trekkers or by any remotest chance, some good samaritan has placed the rope there ?? e.g. there is a piece of rope placed on the final step up to kalavantin durg !! Hence the question !!
You need to carry rope on your own.