In the upper recesses of the misty hills in the Sahyadri Range, ruins of the fort Lohagad still hold the legacy of the Satavahanas. Built by the royal dynasty of Satavahana Empire, after having been conquered by the Chalukyas, Bahamanis, Yadavas and Rashtrakutas, it was gifted to Shivaji Maharaja of the Marathas centuries later and eventually destroyed by the British in the year 1818.
On the 25th of July, 2014, 31 Northpointers led by our ironman, Col. Sarwottam Hasabnis, marched to conquer the tricky terrains of fort Lohagad. On an unexpectedly pleasant sunny morning, Northpointers gathered near the pool side in the campus and the adventure kicked off, following a small, yet informative and interesting brief on Lohagad fort.
At the base camp, soon after we arrived on our trusty steeds, our buses, the marching orders came and the group ascended the winding rocky path and an ancient flight of stairs that led us to the Ganesha Gate, the first of the four iconic gates that were scattered around, inside the fort. The gate led to an opening from where we had an exhilarating view of the surrounding area and the Colonel explained how the fort was defended in ancient times. On our climb we passed the Hanuman gate where we met the first of our many drizzles and the eventual heavy lashes of rains. We marched on and reached a misty plain where we rested, soaking in the breathtaking views of the tiny villages, sun kissed farms and mini waterfalls in the neighboring hills.
Ultimately, we started the risky trek to the mountain trail of Vinchukata which gets its name due to its uncanny resemblance to a scorpion’s sting. The Colonel gave us the easy option of staying back or the tough option of marching on. Being the goal driven people we were, we stuck together as a group and surprised the colonel with a resounding ‘yes’. We were ordered to form a single file and walk down the narrow path along the slippery slope of the mountain trail which had a three thousand feet drop on one of the sides.
Confronted by dense clouds, slimy rocks and a steep slope, the group that left Northpoint was now, finally, a team! On reaching Vinchukata we took a well-deserved break. The trek was an amazingly rewarding experience, sitting at almost three thousand four hundred feet above sea level among the clouds! Since we were done with most of the daunting part of the trek, the journey back to the base seemed less arduous, thanks to our team effort, which was definitely the highlight of the trek. After completing the long trek, where we faced constant rains and cold winds, a warm cup of tea seemed like the perfect end to a memorable experience.
Written By Sarthak Dasgupta, (PGPMR 2104-15),
PR, MarComm Council
And
Edited by Vivek Kapoor, (PGPMarComm 2014-15),
Vice- President, MarComm Council
Pictures courtesy Trivikram Chausalkar, (PGPMR 2014-15),
President, MarComm Council