Bike Trip and trek to Ajoba
Biking is the latest passion of WE DARE junta. Now that most of them have bikes, gives us new dimension to our treks. This time I joined them as a “free rider” for trip to Ajoba.
Ajoba is one of the highest mountains in Sahyadri, around 100 kms from Mumbai. Midway of this mountain in the forests is Valmiki Ashram. Its believed that Valmiki wrote Ramanyan sitting in the ashram here. Little ahead of this ashram is mountain col called Sitecha Paalana (craddle of Seeta) and Love Kush caves. Apart from its linkages with Hindu mythology, Ajoba mountains are home to great forests, waterfalls and lovely trails. To reach Ajoba from Mumbai on has to go on NH3 Mumbai Agra highway till Asangaon/Shahapur (around 80 kms from Mumbai, 50 from Kalyan), then follow diversion to Dolkhamb (another 20 kms), then to village Dehne which is at the base of Ajoba (another 10 kms). Alternately, one can follow Mumbai Ahmednager Highway, ahead of Murbad take diversion from Saralgaon to Village Shenva. From Shenva one can go to Dolkhamb and Dehne. We followed the first route on our onward journey and latter route on return journey.
Trek from Dehne to Valmiki Ashram is too simple, with broad tracks and no need for any guidance. One can actually go beyond Valmiki Ashram till Sitecha Paalna. However to go on top of Ajoba fort, one has to take other routes like Dara ghat which starts ahead of village Dehne.
Rain hit us right from the start of trip. We had a delayed start, however managed to reach base of Ajoba by noon. Trek had to be simple. Rains added fun to our trek. We had to return back on bike so we didnt venture much in the forest. It was already becoming dark by the time we descended. Night driving requires bit of discipline and we reached comfortably home by dinner!
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