Arbit Raj

It was already around 10 PM and the sun had ascended in the sky and was blazing away. We quickly made our way down the station road to the bus stand. Here we negotiated a ride in a Trax jeep for Rs. 300, to the Tikona Peth, which is the base village for the trek. In case you did not add up the numbers I mentioned earlier, the question of how to fit 14 adults in a jeep would have hit you! It was not exactly comfortable and on every bump and crater, along with the creaks the jeep let out, there were muffled groans from the occupants as well. But on a trek these are trivial concerns and only led to rounds of jokes and manic laughter.

After a 30-40 mins. ride we reached Tikona Peth, having passed Kale Colony and the Pavana Sagar dam on the way. We tumbled out of the jeep and started off on the trail to Tikona Fort. This trek is a simple one, with a well-defined path to the top and absolutely no technically challenging aspect.

As the name suggests, this fort is located on a hill with triangular faces. In fact, it looks like a pyramid as you approach the fort. There are two paths up the hill. One goes straight past the fort does a U-turn and then ascends up the ridge. The other will not be easily sighted but it is much shorter. You have to go right, off the main path, and go up the first pyramid edge of the hill that you come across. Past the geometry , time to go ahead. :-)

The path went past the fort and for the first time we got a clear glimpse. The fort looks like impenetrable if you go by the sheer cliff below the fort walls, which fall rapidly down to the ground.


After some time the ascent started. At a fork, we turned right and were greeted by a beautiful landscape opening up before us. There is a small lake that can be seen on the other side of the ridge. Further up, the climb was steep but never exhausting. This being a short trek the fort was always in sight and this also was encouraging in a way.
Halfway up we came across a huge water tank and a temple. The shorter route that I mentioned above, meets the water tank towards the right. We went left and soon encountered the steepest staircase I've seen in some time. The angle is very sharp and each stair is actually a huge carved stone block more than a foot high. Some trivia that I picked up on a past trek was that, the Maratha's used rocks carved out of the mountains themselves and built fortifications as needed. They avoided hauling them up, smart, eh?


Just below the fort there is a water tank that has chilled water that is drinkable. Hunger pangs found voice and we decided to have food right there in the cool environs. It was a funny sight as we laid a newspaper on the ground and out tumbled assorted food items from haversacks. The ubiquitous bread-butter was followed by sweet lime, namkeen, Parle G, cheese spread and bananas. All wolfed down with gusto! Satiety is to be experienced on a trek. True hunger kicks in only when you push yourself. And then you can feel like you've had a meal fit for a king with the simplest of foods.

From here it was a 5 minute walk to the highest point on the fort. The most beautiful scenery unfolded before us. We could see the Pavana lake in a shimmering azure, mirroring the open sky. Tung fort stood serenely yet majestically, held by the lake waters.

With the high point reached, we went around the fort walls and took in the landscapes. There was a window that gave an awesome view off the ridge which we had just climbed up. Must say that a sentry standing here would have ample time to ring the alarms if any enemy made his way up.

We then made our way down the steep stairs again. In the monsoon these stairs would be extremely slippery and trekkers would need to exercise caution, because there is less room for mistake. Overall, the way down was simple though and we made our way towards Tikona Peth village via the shorter route. In an hour we were back. Then followed the comparatively boring part - waiting for the State Transport bus to take us back to Kamshet. It finally arrived and we hopped in. And then the local train from Kamshet back to Pune followed.

Back to the concrete jungle, with enough raw beauty imbibed, to keep me satiated till the next trek!