Sandhan Valley ranks among the most beautiful canyons in the Sahyadri Mountain Range. It is a wonderful combination of a canyon and a valley. Sandhan Valley is located in Nagar near the historical fort Ratangad. It is the valley of suspense. This water-carved valley measures 200 feet deep and is almost two kilometers in length.
A short stretch of the valley with 200-foot granite walls on either side is an adventure you won’t forget. It is always an amazing adventure to descend the entire Sandhan valley. The overnight stay on the reservoir side is the cherry on top. Sandhan valley can be found near Samrad hamlet on the western border of the beautiful Bhandardara area.
The Alang, Madan and Kulang (AMK forts) flank the valley. These forts are known as the most difficult walks in Sahyadri. Peaks of Ratangad and Ajoba. The Maharashtra mountain ranges are 5400 feet high. Ghatghar Dam, a remarkable undiscovered camping spot in Maharashtra, is nearby.
Some areas are less than three feet in width, while others are larger. Sun rays cannot reach the ground in other areas. You will need to pass through two water pools in order to reach the end of the gorge. The water level varies according to the season. The water level in winter is at the waist while it is at the knees during summer. From the valley’s bottom, you can see steep cliffs and deep valleys.
One patch must be climbed at a maximum height of 45 feet.
To climb down the small rock patches, we should use ropes. After climbing down the second rock section, you will see flat land where you can stay the night. You will find a small stream nearby, which provides clean water.A vast body of water is fed by the creek. The pond water is not safe for human consumption. Because of the rare opportunity to see the dance of stars, the walk to Valley is unique and memorable.
The valley is quiet at night. It is ideal for stargazing or capturing the Milky Way at night. Many people who have done this before would like to do it again. However, the step is considered extremely difficult and few have ever attempted it. Sandhan Valley, a beautiful section of the Sahyadri mountain ranges, is a challenging trekker’s paradise.
Konkan Kada Ghatghar
Three kilometers south of Samrad, Konkan Kada can be found as a natural viewing gallery. A damaged route from Samrad leads to Konkan Kada or Ghatghar. Thane district can be found down the valley. The Kada cliff can be found in Ahmednagar. The lofty mountains surrounding Konkan Kada provide a beautiful vista. Villagers used Kasara station in the past, but Asangaon was preferred. They would walk to Dehne village, then board local jeeps that took them to Asangaon station.
Star Gazing
Sandhan Valley boasts the darkest sky in Maharashtra. This gives it an amazing view of the cosmos below, making it an ideal location for photography and astronomy. There are no vehicles or stray lights that light up the sky or create a halo effect. Astronomy, time-lapse and long exposure photography are possible in the skies. A good telescope, binoculars, and a DSLR camera are essential for anyone interested in photography or astronomy. A new moon night is a great time to camp under the darkest skies.
Giant Swing
Hiking groups in Sandhan Valley offer the opportunity to swing on an enormous swing. This can be life-threatening. Experts can help with a lot of this. Ask about the organizers’ previous experiences.
The Valley of Shadows and its environs
Bhandardara is a popular hill station located 30 km from Samrad. It’s a unique and exciting find in the region. It is smaller than other Maharashtra hill stations. Sandhan Valley is the best place to visit if you wish to see the beautiful, rugged terrain around you. Bhandardara is famous for the Wilson Dam, which was built on Arthur Lake. Bhandardara Lake is another great place to camp. Many campsites are located in close proximity to each other and look like campers from a drone camera. Bhandardara’s campgrounds offer great food, barbecue, boat excursions, as well as a safe environment to camp with friends, families, or single travelers.
Sandhan Valley Trek Difficulty
Trekking is notoriously hard physically. It is possible to walk for six hours or more per day on a variety of terrain. It is highly recommended that you have previous trekking experience before taking any of these tours. You must be physically fit, have all the necessary equipment and allow enough time for acclimatization. This hike is classified as difficult. Although the majority of the trek is downhill, We will have to navigate huge boulders. Ropes and rock climbing can raise the difficulty a bit. This hike scored a 3.7 on a scale from 1 to 5.
A campsite with basic amenities like three-person tents with mats, and a tent light for the night would be ideal. After the Sandhan Valley walk, camping is also possible at Samrad village. It doesn’t have to be difficult or embarrassing to respond to the call of nature at camping. We might supply a dry pit tent to Sandhan Valley for nature calls depending on the client’s needs. However, this is not always available so please plan ahead. Sandhan Valley is best viewed between November and May.
