Trekking is a favorite weekend escape for a Mumbaikar like me. Mumbai is the busiest city of the country due to which it is designated as the commercial hub of the country. Many areas are surrounding Mumbai which offers some exciting options for treks.
This trekking spot acts as an ideal way to rejuvenate in the lap of nature and to get rid of the city lights. Mumbai offers several options for the monsoon treks which serve as a perfect opportunity to quench the thirst for an adventure lover like me.
Here I am going to share some of my memorable experiences of my trekking activity in Mumbai at the Sandhan Valley Trek.
Sandhan Valley Trek-Overview
The most spectacular Sandhan Valley is a combination of rocky canyon and valley. The valley offers some adventurous activities like rappelling, valley crossing, and many more. Apart from offering the most challenging and difficult treks, the valley is said to offer some famous tourist spots around it.
Sandhan Valley is also regarded as the valley of shadow which is staggering at a height of 4255 feet above sea level is one of the must-do ones for every tourist.
It is located in the beautiful Bhandardara area on the western side. The valley is guarded by the three famous forts of this region namely Alang, Madan, and Kulang also known as AMK. The trail is the challenging and adventurous one in the Sahyadri range.
The trek begins from Mumbai and takes one to the small village of Kasara. The full 5-hour tour to Sandhan Valley includes not only trekking but also camping and rappelling as well. The best time to visit here is in the monsoon month except for summer.
- Trek distance: 5 km
- Trek duration: 5 hour
- Base Camp: Kasara
- Trek level: difficult
Sandhan Valley Trek-My journey and experience
Journey along the Sandhan Valley
Day-1
My journey started from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai by boarding the first local towards Kasara railway station.
Upon arrival at Kasara and after a brief orientation with my trip mates we moved towards Samrad, which is the base camp for the trek.
After reaching Samrad and relaxing for some time and then having the delicious lunch in the local cuisine I and my mates started with our you valley
Then after reaching halfway, I enjoyed the thrilling activities which are very much part of this Trek which includes rappelling and flying fox, and after that, I descended halfway to Sandhan Valley.
The most exciting part for me was crossing two water pools which made my journey more amazing.
After exploring the whole valley I started trekking downhill towards the base village from where my journey started.
After reaching the base village I came to witness one of the best sights of the trek that is the mesmerizing sunset from Konkankada’s viewpoint.
In the evening more was waiting for me as I enjoyed bonfires with my other mates and shared our experience.
Then after having dinner, I retired for the night by staying overnight in the tent.
Day-2
By waking up early in the morning, I started my day by enjoying the wonderful sunrise from Konkankada’s viewpoint.
Then after having our breakfast and freshening up I along with my trip mates went to explore some nearby attractions of Sandhan Valley which added an extra thrill to our journey. The nearby attractions include Amruteshwar Temple, Arthur Hill Lake, Ratangad Fort, Alang Fort, and Umbrella Falls.
At last, we moved towards the Kasara Railway Station to board the train towards Mumbai.
And here my memorable journey ended.
Some of my memorable experience in Sandhan Valley Trek
1.Rappelling and rock climbing
The trek not only requires walking through it but also involves performing some thrilling activities. At a certain point of the trek, I enjoyed rappelling and flying fox, which is not at all easy but it is definitely an adrenaline rush giving activity. The faint-hearted should stay away from it.
2.Camping
The trek is incomplete without overnight camping. The campsite of mine was at the base point, which had all the amenities including tents and other things.
It was a wonderful experience for me to camp with my other trip mates and enjoy bonfires under the starry night and also share our experience of the trek with each other. The night ended with a mouth-watering dinner made by the local cooks.
My trek essentials for Sandhan Valley
- Photo ID proof.
- Good quality trekking shoes with a nice grip.
- Medical kits in case of emergency.
- Some extra pairs of clothes.
- Ready foods like biscuits, chocolates keep me energized.
- Glucon-D, electoral, ORS to keep me dehydrated.
- Power banks, sleeping bags, and a mat.
