Fort Kohoj (06-03-2015)

Fort Kohoj (कोहोजगड़)

Members: Ali Mohmmad, Prasad Mayekar, Jagdish Sawant, Hemchandra Khare, Mahesh Raut and Sambhaji Chopdekar.

Today we visited fort Kohoj via Waghote ahead of Mastan Naka on Palghar-Wada highway. The route to the fort is just toward the right after crossing the Waghote Toll Naka. The first beautiful thing about this fort is the heart-shaped lake at its base. We could easily park our bikes at this place.

Though it was somewhat hectic initially due to scorching sunny day, it became quite enjoyable once we headed toward the maachi after the pass where the route from the village Nane meets, as it offers much-needed shade due to the jungle.

Shortly we came across a dilapidated gate and after about 15 minutes walk, we had entered the maachi. 

The citadel (balekilla) having fortifications remains to the right. It took us about 2.5 hrs to reach the maachi from the spot where we had parked our bikes near the lake.

Firstly, we visited the Kusumeshwar Mahadev temple having two Shiv-Lings followed by a complex of six water tanks (not potable). 

We came back to see a beautiful Vyaal carving just behind the Mahadev temple along with two dried water cisterns beside the same. 

Thereafter, we started climbing the citadel through the woods and soon came across a small bastion bearing Hanuman carving. There are three poles-bearing water cisterns - the first two are not potable but the third one is a real oasis. 

 The third and potable water cistern!

 

 Second water cistern!

These children had come with their caretakers from the adjacent Gorhe village to enjoy their holiday. How fortunate they have been to have such a wonderful destination nearby! :)

We filled up our water bottles from the third water cistern and started climbing the steps to reach the second beautiful thing of this fort - its magnificent bastion comprising a broken gate. 

The magnificent bastion comprising the broken gate!

Broken gate to the citadel!

The citadel offers the third beautiful thing in the form of a human-look-alike rock structure. It's simply fabulous if one looks at it from the southern end. 

It is an easy rock-patch but a safety rope is always recommended. Besides, utmost care to be taken at the top as there is a deep fall in the left-hand side to the valley.

 Summit by Mr. Khare safely without the rope!

Toward the southern end!

 

 Human-look-alike rock structure!

 Dried water tank atop citadel and the bastion!

 Kusumeshwar Temple visible from the citadel

Here we finished our sight-seeing, again replenished our water supply at the third water cistern and had the most satisfactory lunch in the shade at the base of the citadel.

We could descend the fort safely within 1.5 hrs and resumed our bike journey at 5.30 pm toward Virar. 

The trek was awesome even in this season - thanks to the chilled and clean waters of the third water tank of the citadel as well as the shade offering jungle. In all, a great day - celebrating Holi in a usual way that is visiting the fort and enjoying time with friends!...