Date: 28th October 2007
Vikatgad or Peb is located near Matheran. One can reach this fort in two ways. Although the approach from the north side, viz Mamdapur is a bit difficult, there is a somewhat easier approach from the south side. While going I decided to traverse along the Mamdapur route and return back from the south side. The day being a Sunday it was very much likely that there would be lesser number of trains running. So by 5:30 am I found myself at the platform to catch the 5:32 Khopoli local. However due to some erroneous calculations I was able to reach Neral by 7:40 only. There was no 7:30 mini train service that day and the next train was scheduled to arrive by 8:50 am. I decided to walk along the path to Peb.
As mentioned in one of my friend Kaushal’s write up I came across a taxi stand. After crossing the nullah I took the first left turn towards Peb. I came across the Highway, crossed it and took the mud path to the left. There was some construction work going on near the village Mamdapur. Walking along I came across a ‘waadi’. From here onwards I tried to follow the towers. I crossed the dry stream and reached the second electric tower by 8:40 am. Slight ahead I took a wrong turn to the left and was instructed to go back by some villagers. I lost out some 10-15 minutes there. I lost track once more before finally reaching a rock patch.
As I couldn’t find any path I called up Swapnil, one of my friends who had been here before to check if I was on the right track. Swapnil told me to look out for a hook on the rock patch. On first glance I could not find any hook and was of the opinion that I had lost my way. But finally I spotted the hook. I was wondering how I am going to climb this patch. I first threw my bag to the other side of the rock patch and literally pulled myself up. It was 10:45 am. I started moving ahead and came across another rock patch. However this one was not to be climbed upon. I took the path going to the right. I soon reached the cave where there was the Swami Samarth Mandir and Shivaji’s bust. The gate was open. I went inside and had darshan. I came out and sat in front of the gate facing the mountain ranges of Nakhind, Prabhalgad and Chanderi to the left. To the left was Matheran. In front were Rajmachi, Bhimashankar & Kothaligad. All the while I was of the opinion that I had reached the ashram. However Swapnil told me that I was at the cave and the ashram was still ahead when I called upon him again. I could not find any other path than the one I had traversed. So I was a bit restless. I explored the area but could not find any path towards Matheran. I made a trip back to the larger rock patch but it proved futile. So I returned back to the cave. I glanced at the time. It was 11:30 a.m. I had my lunch there itself.
After the lunch I explored the path through which I had reached the cave. I found out a path going towards Matheran side. It was covered with dry grass and hence I had missed it altogether. Going along the path I reached a point where I came across the first of the four steel ladders I climbed in all. On climbing up the ladder the path ahead seemed a little rough, as the deluge of 2006 seemed to have have washed away a major chunk of the path. Somehow I covered the rock patches and was back on the normal path. After walking for some 10-15 minutes, I saw a person on top giving me directions when I had taken a wrong turn. By around 12:15 pm I reached the ashram. I went past the Ashram to the topmost point in the south direction. I didn’t go near the fortifications however. I believe this is the same spot where the ‘Padukas’ are kept. I returned back to the Ashram and quenched my thirst with a glass of water from the Ashram. Here the person attending to the Ashram showed me the way that goes towards Matheran and also informed me that I could fill in water from the water kept at the Shiv temple which was down below. I visited the temple and filled water from the steel bucket. It was around 1 pm when I started to trek down the route to Matheran. I encountered two steel ladders mid way soon. By around 2:10 pm I climbed the last steel ladder in the path which took me to the open area near the Railway track. From here I walked along the railway track towards Dasturi Point. I reached the taxi stand by 3 pm. By 3:40 pm I was at Neral Station and by 5:30 pm I reached home.
