Vasota Nageshwar trek.
A reputed trekking organisation had arranged a day trek from Vasota to Nageshwar in November 2025.
The full circuit is: Bamnoli in Satara > boat ride to Vasota foothills > trek to Vasota top > trek to Nageshwar (cave temple) > trek to Chorawane in Konkan.
The entire circuit is done in 12 hours as there is no permission to wait or halt anywhere in between the route.
Under the able leadership of 2 captains, the entire team of 26 trekkers completed the trek in time and safely, without any risk or injury to life, limb and the forest.
No disposable plastic is allowed inside the forest or along the trekking route.
ROUTE:
Friday night > start from Mumbai > bus > Bamnoli in Satara > Saturday morning boat ride to Vasota foothills > trek to Vasota top > trek to Nageshwar (cave temple) > trek to Chorawane in Konkan > Saturday night stay at Dangewadi in Chorawane village > Sunday morning bus from Chorawane to Mumbai > home before 10 pm.
TIME LINE:
Friday 21:30 - assembly & bus journey started.
Saturday 06:30 reach Bamnoli in Satara. 08:45 boat ride started from Bamnoli. 10:10 boat ride ended at foothills of Vasota. Permits checked. 10:40 trek started from Vasota base to Vasota top. 12:40 reached Vasota top & explore. 14:00 descent from Vasota top started to trek to Nageshwar cave temple. 16:50 reached Nageshwar cave temple. 17:30 descent trek from Nageshwar to Chorawane base village in Konkan started. 21:30 reached Dangewadi in Chorawane village, followed by dinner and night stay. 22:30 slept in Vithal Rukmani temple in Dangewadi.
Sunday 06:00 wake up. 09:10 return journey in bus from Chorawane to Mumbai started. 09:30 - 09:50 Ramvardayini temple visit in Chorawane. 13:10 Visited the birth place of Shri Tanaji Malusare at Umrath village & also visited His Samadhi sthal in Umrath (His Uncle Shri Shelar Mama also rests here). 14:00 - 15:20 lunch halt. 21:40 home sweet home.
EXPERIENCE:
In one sentence - the trek was L O N G and arduous. The hike will test your endurance. You will know the limits of your stamina here.
17 km trekking distance covered in almost 1 1 hours with lunch halt and aarti break of around an hour, combined.
Another challenge faced were of the leeches, especially while climbing Vasota and Nageshwar. As we reached the ridge of Nageshwar, the leeches had vanished.
The route is scenic and beautiful. The climb took our breath away literally! But we were ready and my rucksack was of just weight, that didn't bother me much. There was one small stream enroute Nageshwar, which quenched our thirst and we were thankful that this was our one last chance to refill the water bottles. Food was ample and nutritious, but water was rare and precious.
Our stamina was being tested. Our spirits were high and our captains kept our morale boosted. This is important mentally for all team. Nobody gave up physically or mentally and we completed the trek safely and in good time.
I wanted to do this trek since 20 years and was unable to do it due to some or the other problems. I had a dream to spend a night in a temple and it was granted! We slept in the Vithal Rukmai Mandir. The wake up alarm was the toll of the temple bells and the voice of the poojari, who addressed us sweetly as उठा बाळांनो, सकाळ झाली.
Completing our breakfast and loading our packed bags in the bus, our return journey started. Here also our captains had ace cards up their sleeves and took us to an ancient temple of Ramvardayini Devi. This beautiful temple interiors were fragrant and the Devi's darshan was wonderful. Next card unveiled was visit to Shri Tanaji Malusare's birthplace and samadhi sthal at Umrath village.
PHOTOS:
↑ Boat ride from Bamnoli to Vasota foothills. ↑
↑ Vasota fort on the left and that is NOT Nageshwar on the left. ↑
↑ Darshan of the forest deities at the start of the trek. ↑
↑ Climbing the last part of Vasota killa. ↓
↑ Climbing the last part of Vasota killa. ↓
↑ Temple at the top of Vasota fort. ↑
↑ Scenic view from Vasota top - Nageshwar pinnacle is the second peak in the photo. ↑
↑ Looking back, where we ascended Vasota from - the backwaters of Koyna. ↑
↑ Trekking towards Nageshwar cave from Vasota. ↑
↑ Nageshwar cave is on the top left. ↑
↑ Ridge walk to reach Nageshwar. This path was riddled by deep holes, made by some heavy wild animals. ↑
↑ Looking back at Vasota from Nageshwar. Vasota is on the left in this pic. ↑
↑ The trek on the ridge to reach Nageshwar cave. ↑
↑ Nageshwar looms tall before us. ↓
↑ The fellowship continues ↓
↑ Climbing the last leg of Nageshwar, to reach the ancient cave temple of Lord Shiva. ↑
↑ The water from the ceiling drips on the Shiva Linga t Nageshwar! ↑
↑ The ladder route that descends from Nageshwar to Chorawane. ↓
↑ Sunset from Nageshwar to Chorawane while descending. ↓
↑ Vithal Rukmani mandir - where we slept at Dangewadi in Chorawane village in Konkan. ↓
↑ Shri Tanaji Malusare's birth place at Umrath. The huge mango tree is standing here from time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ↑
↑ Mama-Bhanja Samadhi Sthal - Shri Tanaji Malusare and His Mama Shri Shelar Mama, rest here. ↑
EXPENSES:
3140/- per head from Mumbai to Vasota-Nageshwar and back to Mumbai in a hired non-AC bus with 5 vegetarian meals and 1 night stay. 50/- fee for digital compact camera. 100/- fee for a DSLR.
Total = 3190/-
VIDEO:
Enjoy the short video of the entire wanderlust.
