Members: Prasad Mayekar, Ramdas Salunkhe, Vijay Kamble and Sambhaji Chopdekar
After having lunch at Mr. Rokde, we set out for Ekole from the Telbail village, which is about 12-13 km away via Bhamburde. As we approached Bhamburde, the Navara Navari pinnacles came closer and closer. But that was not our destination. We took a right diversion for Ekole. The road is not yet developed. But we could manage it with some difficulty.
We inquired about the night stay when we reached the village ahead of Maruti temple. We soon found a house called “Chandraprakash”. The lady was really helpful. We kept our sacks inside her house and set out for Ghangad.
We were accompanied by two small kids viz. Sumit and Nitin from this village. Nitin was more experienced as he has done this fort many a times. We were on the way to the Gaarjai temple which is visible with a naked eye in the thick jungle around the fort. The Telbail walls accompany us on the route.
The temple is renovated now. There is a Deepmaal in front of it. But the cannon ball is missing now; may be we were unable to find it out. But the miserable thing is that the stone scripture mentioning the fort and the Goddess Gaarjai, is also got painted so it is not so readable now.
After having some snaps and rest, our companions led us through the woods to the top. Soon we reached the khind between the Ghangad and the Eastern hill. The stone arrangement in the form a Pindi and the valley behind is just awesome. From there, we returned back and headed toward the first gate through a small bastion.
We were welcomed by the caves atop. The left cave is spacious and can be used for the night stay if required. But the amazing thing is the big rock that has been detached and has rested with the wall of Ghangad. We went underneath it toward the Vaghjai idol which is situated in a small cave.
But the real fun was just ahead. With the help of Nitin, Prasad and I went still ahead to find a potable water tank. The path is really breath taking as the cliff offers a good site of the deep valley.
Soon we returned back to the Vaghjai cave. Now the next destination was the balekilla. For this one has to climb the rock patch, precisely of 16 ft high as the steps have been destroyed by the British in 1818. A well-prepared climber has no problem but amateurs should use rope for the safety purpose which we did. Our group leader Prasad climbed it easily and anchored himself with the sling at the piton which has been fixed near the water tank atop. One by one we climbed the same.
There are three water cisterns after climbing some steps, out of which only one offers potable water. Still the balekilla was not near. We had to climb some distance to enter the second gate. The bastion to the east is in nice condition but one may wonder how it would have been useful for protection from the mighty hill in front of it in those days.
Okay. We reached the top. There is not much to see around. The remains were hidden due to the thick bushes in the surroundings. But one can have a fabulous view of both Sudhagad and Telbail from the top. We had some good time there.
And now, it was time to go. We decided to make it fast. The rope was a useful object once again. Prasad was the last man to rappel down. After reaching the base, we had a night stay at “Chandraprakash”.
