We had just finished with our 5th sem exams and planned to go for trekking, after much discussion it was decided to visit RAJGAD on 19-20 dec 2006. Rajgad is located 42 km to the south west of Pune, about 15-16 km west of Nasrapur, in the Sahyadris range. We had decided to climb the fort in night, it was the best time to trek based on our previous experience of Katraj - Sinhagad night trek. Me along with Amogh, Santosh, Prashant, Omkar, Kiran(KK) & Kiran(Bond) were all set, Sachin(sam) had to quit at last hour for some reason and he was only person other than KK who knew the route. As we had already planned the trek so we decided to go without sam. As planned every one had to meet at amogh house near katraj, checked with all the required stuff to cook food and magie, water-bottles, torch etc... 
We took ST bus from Katraj to Valhe at 3:15 pm and reached margasnis at 5 pm and had to walk around 8 kms to village gujani from where we had a route to Chor darwaja, we enjoyed the walk making fun of each other the atmosphere was really good no pollution, vehicles and clean air whith cold breez and sun setting behind the rajgad the road went through the crops vegeatble and sugarcane, river running by side. Reached Fanshi 6:15 pm and had to start climb from here, with the guidance from some local villagers we started to find the route and it got darker and darker, it was Amawasya night :) ... yes we were successful in finding the route, now it was time to prepare for our next journey in dark every one had torch and we followed the path which went through bushes. we had a lot luggage on our back and had to help each other with torch light to find way as it had steep slope and rocky way. After covering around 80% we had a rock phase it had small stairs carved in the stone and also a iron rod fence to support but this fence is not in good conditions hence need to be carefull and dont rely on it, after helping each other we reached a window like structure that was CHOR Darwaja it was the most adventurous part, which we realized next morning as the valley was not visible at night.
At top we found a place where we can spent the night, it was incomplete room constructed by MSTDC it had small varnda where we prepared food. It was close to Padmavati Temple and Padmavati Lake. Now it was time to cook food as every one was tired and hungry, santosh is our main chief with amogh his assistant pulav was on the menu, KK, Bond Omkar and prashant were helping them with ingredients and bringing water. I and Amogh went in search for wood for fire and cooking. It was relaxing time for others, 
Bond tried to tune in radio mirchi but was not receiving signals then KK was requested to sing in his melodious voice and he did not dispoint us, abang by Kiran Kulkarni form Pandarpur. None of us was listening to him but waiting for signals from Santosh if the pulav was ready and after a long wait it was ready and we were ready with the plates in a flash, that was one of the most delicious pulva I ever had. Thanks! to Santosh and Amogh. After the dinner it was time to take rest, we decided to sleep outside so that we can see the twinkling stars in the sky. It was one of the most memorable scene. It reminded me of the poem "twinkle twinkle little start how I wonder how you are..." After some time it was chilled cool and we decided to move in side the room. It had other members rodents :) all of us had no problem sharing room with them, as we were tired and had no energy but Amogh and Bond did not sleep entire night.
Next day we got up early, every one had a great sleep except Among and Bond. Maggie was decided for breakfast after that we went for some sight seeing around the fort. After that we had to vist Bale Kila which is small fort on the top of fort which has a temple of Shiva and small water tanks. Before that we went to take a look of route which we had taken at night and every one was amazed and realized how dangerous it was... we explored the Padmavati Machee 
and headed towards Bale Kila the way to Bale Kila was quite difficult it had a rock patch with iron grill for support and steep slope, on the way Prashant had made his mind not to come up as he was worried of getting down same way, we convinced him that it will be easy and that he agrred as he had no choice. After reaching the top of Bale Kila we vistied the Shiv temple and had a complete view of the fort. We had to again walk down to go towards Suvela Machee which is a double-stepped fortified machee with the steps separated by a beautiful bastioned doorway. At the end of first step a hole cuts across the rock, one can sit on this hole (nedhe). We had to do some rock climbing to reach the hole(spot). The home of the renowned Military leader Tanaji Malusare was in this machee. Again we had to take the same route back to Pali Darwaja on Padmavati Machee from where we had to descend and reach base village where we had to catch ST bus to Pune. As it was already late and we needed to hurry, we did not want to miss the bus, every one was tired exploring the fort.
The Desend route was quite simple but it was a hot and hummid day and we already had lot of treeking done we were desperate to catch the ST, we tried our best but was late and ST had already left :( now we had nothing to commute and next ST was @ 5 pm so we decided to keep walking along the road and hoped that we get some local jeep by which we can reach Nasrapur. While walking KK went to sugarcane feild and brought few sugarcane, which was realy nice to have a fresh sugarcane with sun on top of your head. After walking few Kms we reached a small village from where we figured out that we can get a local jeep to Nasrapur, waiting there for some time we found one jeep which was going to Nasrapur and decided to take it but driver was not ready to
move as he was wating for few more seats and he almost had all posible corner of jeep occupied with pepole, nearly 16 people. Some how we reached to Nasrapur. After reaching to Nasrapur we took a truck which was heading towards Pune. It was the most exciting journey in an empty truk. Finaly we reached Pune at 5:30 pm. During our entire trek for 30 hours we enjoyed each and every moment of it.
