Ratangad
Type: Hill Fort
Region: Ahmednagar
Height: 4255 ft
Base Village: Ratanwadi (reachable from Bhandardara)
Food and Accomodation :
One should arrange for his own food. water is available at the wells on top. for stay one can utilize the caves at the top (1 small for 8-10 people and one big cave for 40-50 people).
How to Reach :
Nearest railway station is Igatpuri (on Mumbai Nagpur route). One has to reach Igatpuri by bus/train. Village Shendi/Bhandardara is about 35 km from Igatpuri (1st bus at about 5.15 am).From shendi one has to walk for 3-4 kms to village called Murshet from where one can catch a small non-motorised ferry and reach the other bank. However bit unreliable with no timetable. Depending on the water in the lake, you would be dropped somewhere on the other bank and may have to find way towards Ratanwadi.
From Ratanwadi :
The route to Ratangad is along the stream on the bank of which Ratanwadi is situated. The climb is not so steep, and most of it was under the forest cover under shade. Just before the final climb, there are 2 steel ladders to climb the rocky patch and finally some rock-cut steps when we reach the door of the fort. From here the route left leads to the Rani mahal and the water tanks and the route right leads to the cave. Only place where one can lose way is just before the final climb on rock cut steps, where one way leads to Harishchandragad, while actual ways is to turn right for the climb.
Nearest railway station is Igatpuri (on Mumbai Nagpur route). One has to reach Igatpuri by bus/train. Village Shendi/Bhandardara is about 35 km from Igatpuri (1st bus at about 5.15 am).From shendi one has to walk for 3-4 kms to village called Murshet from where one can catch a small non-motorised ferry and reach the other bank. However bit unreliable with no timetable. Depending on the water in the lake, you would be dropped somewhere on the other bank and may have to find way towards Ratanwadi.
From Ratanwadi :
The route to Ratangad is along the stream on the bank of which Ratanwadi is situated. The climb is not so steep, and most of it was under the forest cover under shade. Just before the final climb, there are 2 steel ladders to climb the rocky patch and finally some rock-cut steps when we reach the door of the fort. From here the route left leads to the Rani mahal and the water tanks and the route right leads to the cave. Only place where one can lose way is just before the final climb on rock cut steps, where one way leads to Harishchandragad, while actual ways is to turn right for the climb.
Best time to visit :
October to February
ABOUT:
Ratangad is a fort in Ratan Wadi, Maharashtra, India, overlooking the picturesque locale of Bhandardara, one of the oldest artificial catchment area. The fort is about 2000 years old.Ratan means jewel in Hindi. This hill fort is indeed jewel in all the hill forts here in Sahyadri. It is located in the district of Ahmednagar and is located about 4255 feet above sea level.It lies in the Ajoba mountain range surrounded by great mountains of Kulang, Alang, Kalsubai, Katarabai, Ajoba and Ghanchakkar. Geographically Ratangad is at the banks of Bhandardara lake of Ahmednagar district. At the base of this fort is ancient Lord Shiva (Amurteshwar) temple. With views of lake and highest mountains in Sahyadris looks very much lost in time.
Ratangad has a natural rock peak with a cavity in it at the top which is called 'Nedhe' or 'Eye of the Needle'; formed by natural erosion, it is big enough to accommodate a group of ten people and the view of the entire region from here is absolutely amazing.
Ratangad was captured by ChhatrapatiShivaji Raje Bhosle and was one of his favorites. The base village Ratanwadi has a beautiful Amruteshwar temple which is famous for its carvings. The fort is origin for the river Pravara / Amrutvahini . The Bhandardara dam(arthar dam) is built on this river.
The main attraction at Ratanwadi, one can take in the beauty of the Amruteshwar temple dating back to the Hemadpant Era Roughly from the 8th Century.
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