Types of places you visit in Hikes/Treks
The treks in Sahyadri include
a) Forts - Historic Importance
Unlike Forts in Rajasthan,forts in Sahyadri are raw and in ruined state.Do not expect any luxury when you visit.Most of the Forts have few things common such as The Entrance Gate,Religious
monuments in the form of tiny buildings, built water tanks ,limestone grinding mill,
ammnuiation storage building grains storage building and well fortified fort walls.There are around 25-30 forts which fall in this category.
b)Ghats - Sahyadri range being adjoined by coastal Konkan parts geographically,
there are several non motorable ghats that begin from Konkan and end up in
Sahyadri or vice versa give visual treat of spectacular views to hikers/trekkers especially in Rainy season.There are around 150-200 such ghats.
c) Non fortified Forts - There are some other forts which were historically used only to protect a certain ground area and neither well fortified nor conventionally
built as forts.They have very small overall area.There is small entrance gate or no entrance gate with a tiny temple and few water tanks.
Unlike Himalayas, Sahyadri Mountain range is located in the hot and humid region and hence even in the winters trekkers tend to sweat in the long 3-4 hours or even small 1-2 hours treks / hikes hence One must carry an ample amount of Water (Depending on the length of trek and time you will get exposed to Sun).An extra bottle of water will surely make your bag heavy but it is necessary.You will find water on the way to your destination but most of the times water is not drinkable.
In Rainy Season, although you may feel that ample amount of water may not be necessary but you need to understand the rains won't last for all the time and you will always experience hide and seek of peeping sun and rainy clouds.
2) Don't trek in Summer -
Avoid long treks in Summer (if you are not used to it) because you will end up sweating all the time and will feel uncomfortable instead of satisfied once you return unless you have a specific reason to trek or visit the place.
3) Hike is short and steep -
Unlike Himalayas, treks / hikes in Sahyadri are short span and steeper in terms of hike.Unlike Himalayas where you have Weather challenges (and even Oxygen challenges at some places) treks / hikes in Sahyadri you have width and height challenges.The trek paths generally follow a pattern (not always in all treks).They are more steep & narrow and even surface is rocky as you reach closer and closer to your destination.There are very few rest places in between start and destination.
4) Always take guide when you are not sure about the path -
Most of the treks / hikes pass through the dense forests and majority of times there are chances of missing actual routes.
Unlike Himalayan treks, the routes are narrow and while trekking you find many such routes.In the midst of your hike if you miss the route then you have to apply trial and error thing to search an actual route which is tedious and time consuming task.
The people from base villages are well aware about the route and are most of the times ready to show the actual route.
In Rainy Season when most of the tourist prefer to trek,this is one of their earnings.
Thus it is a good idea to take a guide mostly to show the path.
5) Never Carry an Umbrella in the Rainy Season
Rainy Season is the most popular season for trekking in Sahyadri mountain range due to foggy surroundings and pleasant weather but carrying an umbrella is not a good idea because of heavy winds there are less chances of umbrella remaining at one place and due to narrow roads there are more chances of your umbrella getting damaged.You can use windcheater or raincoat in case of rains however the rains are not regular and depending upon the weather you can take a call of carrying raincoat.
6) Never wear tight clothes while trekking
Unlike trekking in Himalayas where treks are long distance and less steep, in Sahyadri mountain range treks are steep so wearing tight jeans or T-shirts is not a good idea in any season.As the paths heading towards the top destination are narrow and pass through dense forests,tight clothes tend to feel uncomfortable.
7) Always Carry your Personal Medicines while trekking.
Trekking / Hiking is a physical as well as mental activity.You enjoy a lot while doing it but it may also become horrible or deadly sometimes.If you are facing any issues like Vertigo,Acrophobia
basophobia, blood pressure, hypertension etc. then make sure to carry the medicines.If you are trekking in summer try to keep an electrol powder and an additional bottle of water in your bag.
8) Try to Cross the ladders with one person at a time
While trekking in Sahyadri mountain range you will surely come across Iron ladders in some of the treks.These ladders are important support to take you to destination and hence try to use them carefully.These ladders tend to wear and tear due to natural factors and placed at such places that cannot be frequently replaced.Any damage to any ladder closes down the path or usual path to destination which cost not only to you but to all other trekkers and visitors.
As these ladders continously deteriorate, their weight bearing capacity reduce and overloading them results in huge risk of their breakage hence it is necessary to cross them with one or maximum two persons at a time on them.
9) Do not carry too much clothes on single day treks
As the treks in Sahyadri mountain range are steep and paths heading to the destination are narrow, there is no point in carrying excessive weight to your top destination.You can carry only a pair of clothes one for trek and other for change.
If you have a large group and a bus then You can keep your extra pair of clothes in the bus.
10) Do not trouble villagers by overcrowding the place or by any other means
Trekking / Hiking has been very popular in the last few years in Maharashtra and the number of trekkers has increased drastically.There are incidents of overcrowding the base villages and surroundings villages causing trouble or distraction to the routine of villagers.
Although villagers show a good amount of hospitality for the trekkers they face troubles due to indiscipline of some trekkers in the form throwing garbage,
listening songs in loud volume etc.
Please keep the above things in mind before trekking in Sahyadri mountain range.
|| Happy Trekking ||
