Our grand expedition kicked off at 9 PM on November 28, 2025, when we heroically abandoned the comforts of Mulund/Thane for the wild. By 1 AM, we rolled into the Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary Check Post—because nothing screams “adventure” like paying toll-tax in the middle of the night. After a bumpy ride, we reached Ratanwadi at 2:30 AM and promptly collapsed for a quick nap.
At 7:30 AM sharp, we marched off from the Amruteshwar Temple, ready to conquer the allegedly “off-beat” Katrabai trail—so off-beat that not a single human soul appeared until we hit the Ratangad route. What we did meet were shady tall grasses, moody karvi plants, slippery rocks, and a bunch of invisible langurs and sambar deer yelling from the valley as if cheering (or warning?) us. Our guide even identified hyena poop, which really elevated the wildlife experience!
By 9:30 AM, we reached Katrabai Khind, where we ditched our heavy sacks and continued upward with a tiny bag of water and lunch—the true essentials. Fresh water streams appeared like magical cheat codes just when we needed them. We reached Katra Pass around 11 AM, where the trail split: left toward the Bhiravgad–Ganchakar–Gavaldev route, and right toward the iconic Katrabai peak. Obviously, we took the path of glory and reached the Katrabai temple by 11:15 AM.
At noon, we stood atop Katrabai, devouring lunch with a royal 360-degree mountain panorama that made the climb (and the hyena scat incident) completely worth it.
By 3 PM, we scrambled back to Katrabai Khind, reunited with our bags, and headed toward Ratangad. Along the way, we spotted rebellious off-season karvi blooms and two lovely water cisterns that looked like nature’s own hydration stations. After about 30 minutes, we hit the main Ratangad trail, finally encountering other trekkers—proof that civilization still existed. A series of ladders ushered us upward, and by 4:15 PM we arrived at Ratangad Cave, where our guide had tents and food ready like a five-star mountain service. A sunset viewing session completed the day before we passed out early, dreaming of ladders, grass, and questionable animal noises. Day 1 Total 13kms walking
Day 2: Of Nedhe, Vendors & Gravity Doing Its Thing
On November 30, we fueled up on poha and khakra (the breakfast of trekking champions) and marched off at 7:45 AM. Behind the cave were yet more water cisterns—at this point, Ratangad was just flexing. At 8:30 AM we reached the iconic Nedhe, the “Eye of the Needle,” where vendors were selling fruits and juices because apparently even rugged forts appreciate entrepreneurship.
After conquering Nedhe, we descended rock-cut steps toward Trimbak Darwaja—a 30-minute slip-n-slide featuring steep slopes and loose rocks. The trail eventually mellowed, revealing views of the Baan pinnacle and Sandan valley. By 11:15 AM, we reached Samrad village, the base of the Sandan Valley trek, where lunch awaited like a triumphant medal ceremony.
Day 2 total 5kms walking.
A massive shoutout to YHAI Kandivali and our trek leaders Vaishali and Ashwini.
Photo credit: Sanjiv V
YouTube: https://youtu.be/y6lRwkQMcKg?si=LKQeX2W_aZA5hxy7
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