Junnar Ride on the Occassion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Birth Anniversary (Jayanti)

Just a week before this ride, the sudden plan was made to to Shivneri Fort in Junnar on the auspicious occassion of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Birth Anniversary (Jayanti) which falls on 19th Feb. It was just an invitation from a friend in our riding group BAC Mumbai. Most members thought of going to this ride as it will be a different experience.

Brief info about Shivneri Fort -

Shivneri Fort is a 17th-century military fortification located near Junnar in Pune district in Maharashtra, India. It is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha Empire.here are statues of Jijabai and young Shivaji inside the fort. At the centre of the fort is a water pond which is called ‘Badami Talav’. To the South of ‘Badami Talav’ are the statues Jijabai and a young Shivaji. In the fort there are two water springs, called Ganges and Yamuna, which have water throughout the year.

Above picture is of the entrance of the Shivneri Fort.

This picture is of the Birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

I would like to tell you that, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (the King) was a Greatest Emperor and Warrior of Maharashtra and his empire was spread from South to North of Hindustan (currently India) in a very less time. He invented the Navy and he is known as the Father of Indian Navy. He is known for his tactics used in pre-british era and also during British Era. When India was invaded by Mughals, it was this king who fought with full courage till his last breath and so did his son. His army of Warriors are also separately named and they are also equally respected.

In Maharashtra, the King's Birth & Death Anniversary are celebrated like a Festival. Also people are very sentimental to their King's name and faith. One thing I must you clear that the King is given respect by every person and every religion of Maharashtra and India. Because the King himselve was never disobeyed other religions, he respected each and every religion he came across.

Ride Day -

We were supposed to leave on 19th Feb early morning, but somehow plan changed and the timings were finalized for 18th Feb Midnight. This was done because we stay in the hot region and during day there would be alot of heat as we had to climb almost 400 steps which would take around 2 hrs in heat and as there will be rush the time to climb will be more. So by the end of 18th feb we were around 5 Bike Riders and 1 Pillion Rider.

Meeting was set at Durgadi Chowk, Kalyan. Here also you will find the Statue of Shivaji Maharaj Seating on a Horse. Durgadi Chowk is named after the Fort in the vicinity, built on the banks of Ulhas River. This fort was built by Mughals and it was captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj while winning the Kalyan and Bhiwandi areas from Adilshah. The name of the fort is on the goddess Durga. From this fort, Shivaji Maharaj started building ships and first Navy of his time.

Back to Ride day, it was around 12:00am midnight, we all riders met at this location and started our ride towards Shivneri Fort in Junnar. It was just a 120 km ride one way. We started bypassing Kalyan City Center with lots of speed breakers on the way, by the time we reach Ulhasnagar, we are doing off roading as the road was underconstruction. When reaching near Mamnoli, we experienced a very cold breeze while riding. Just after 22kms from Durgadi Chowk, my friend who was lead, took a tea halt. After 10-15 mins we started our ride again. This time the weather was getting more chilled. After crossing Murbad, our riders took halt for a quick susu break we call it. It was dark around and nice cool wind blowing from the helmet visor.

After Murbad its a hilly region and a long ghat section with some curves and cuts. This section of ghat route is most dangerous and due to not so deep curves vehicles are in speed. Most accidents spot of Maharashtra is also this ghat only. State Transport buses are the worst drivers here. It is immensely necessary to ride bike in our own controlled speed. By around 3:30 am we had reached Malshej Ghats, the most scenic ghats of Maharashtra. It is also known as the Spiti Valley of Maharashtra. Well it was night time so stopping here was no use, so we kept riding and reached Junnar. By 5:00 am, we parked our bikes in the dedicated parking lots and by 5:30 we were at the base of Shivneri Fort.

Riding in the midnight was fun but when we reached the main gate of the fort, there was huge rush and police had closed the gates just in front of us. The gates were about to open by 11:00 am. That day the Chief Minister and Deputy CM of Maharashtra were also visiting the Fort on the ocassion of Shivaji Jayanti. Now that the gates were closed, we went to near by Vada Pav Stall. Had some Vada Pav and Tea and planned to go somewhere else. While walking towards the parking and take our bikes back, we planned to go to the Lenyadri Caves which was just 7 kms away from our location. We can have a view of Shivneri Fort from the top of Lenyadri Caves.

It was 7:00 am we were at the parking lot of Lenyadri Caves. Everybody got freshenup and started the trek. It was not a trek but climbing the steps. You can count to around 283 steps till the top. Due to people feeding monkeys, the monkey meniac is too much here. People do not understand that animal can find their own food, only humans need to run behind earning for a bread. While climbing the cave, you will find drinking water facilty from tap and a glass afixed to it. Usually, drinking water facility is not available on Caves and Forts. But this being one of the important and prominent worship place, this facility has been installed.

While we reached near to top, we could see Shivneri Fort on our back. Took lots of photos and videos of the Shivneri Killa from the Lenyadri. On reaching the cave, there is Ganesh Temple inside it. Every person reaching the cave, visits this temple and takes blessings of Ganesha. It is also named as The Girijatmaj Ashtavinayak Temple Lenyadri and is one of the Ashtavinayak temples located in the vicinity of the historical city of Junnar. The temple is named Girijatmaj after one of the names of Ganesha as Girija (Parvati's) Atmaj (Son).

After capturing lots of memories on our phones, we started descending. Climbing down was very easy and fast. At the base of the cave, there is a market and some benches installed where we rested for sometime, had Lemon Juice drink, bought some kandipedas, and also had a quick bite of dosas and uttappas followed by the tea.

It was time to reach back home, so loaded back on our respective bikes and left towards Mumbai on the same route. On the way, the view of Malshej Ghat was mesmorizing but the bad roads had taken all the fun back. I will be sending the video of the road condition to Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, DCM Devendra Fadnavis and Minister for Road Transport & Highways in the Government of India Mr. Nitin Gadkari. This is really not acceptable, because from past 20 years the road towards Malshej Ghat, and Ahmednagar known as National Highway 61 which goes upto Jagtial in Telangana State starting from Bhiwandi in MH - just 800 kms stretch not able to develop properly.

Well, by 3pm I had reached home and mostly all had reached by that time. Only 1 rider who was with his pillion wife took sometime extra as he stays in Vasai. The whole ride experience was something different. Yes I have been to Malshej Ghats many times, also to Junnar but every time I go, the experience is different from the past. I do not get bored visiting same locations again and again.

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Thank you for giving your time to read this long stuff.