Often underrated in their levels of toughness, the Sahyadris have been a paradise for trekkers more often than expected. There are several treks of various lengths around the region. I have had the pleasure of exploring a lot of them. Some of the most enthralling treks are Alang Madang Kulang (AMK), Sandhan Valley, Andharban, Katraj to Sinhagad, Devkund, and Rajmachi (from Lonavala), Harishchandragad (via Nalichi vaat) and Rajgad to Torna. Here are some of the memorable experiences I’ve had around this region.

AMK was one of my first treks around this region. Apart from the exciting rock climbing and rappelling, the most interesting part is certainly the descent. The soil was so slippery that I fell a number of times. I probably deserved it because I trekked in running shoes, my bad. We also got to sleep in a cave, which was pretty cool.

During most of my treks around here, I would have to fight a heavy breeze after reaching the top, especially if it’s a plateau. Although that wasn’t the case with Sandhan Valley, which is a narrow rock ravine surrounded by two high mountain walls. If you’re lucky, you also get a pedicure from the tiny fish on the way when you dip your feet in the water.

Katraj to Sinhagad and Rajgad to Torna are two of the numerous lengthy treks. The length would be the entire stretch you see in the below picture, plus much more within a day. Katraj to Sinhagad is usually attempted at night, and one would have to cross 16 hills. It does test your patience by the end of the day.

Andharban is great during monsoons, known for the dense forest and cascading waterfalls one would pass through to reach a plateau. One of my most pleasant treks was at Devkund, where two of my friends and I struggled to reach the village by late afternoon when the other trekkers were returning. Luckily, the entire route was empty, and we were the only ones at the waterfall.

Harishchandragad was another thrilling experience, which got more challenging because of all the rocks and boulders we needed to climb. Of course, there are many other treks worth mentioning, like Bhimashankar, Ratangad, Vasota, Kalsubai, etc. I moved to Pune a few years back just to experience the beauty of the Sahyadris. I hope you too have the experience of going to some of these places and witnessing the raw natural beauty.