Peb (Vikatgad) Tree Plantation Initiative

Hello Nature Lovers and Fort Lovers,

VRangers supported TryTheThrill and Smriti Pratishthan for Fort Conservation and Cleanup Initiative at Vikatgad in March-April 2012. Now it’s time to make the fort and its periphery greener. We are proud to announce the Tree Plantation Initiative which will be done on 9th-10th June 2012. The main reason to carry out a tree plantation drive on Vikatgad is to preserve and conserve the fortification in a natural way and to afforest the area.

We welcome all the enthusiasts to join us and support us in either ways. Please find the details of the program below -

Schedule:

8th June 2012 –

Meeting point: CST at sharp 10.20 PM. We will be going to Neral in Karjat local. People from Central line can directly board the train at respective stations.
Karjat Slow Local


Mumbai CST – 10.40 PM

Dadar – 10.58 PM

Ghatkopar – 11.15 PM

Thane – 11.37 PM

Kalyan – 12.10 AM

Neral – 12.49 AM

We will be moving in taxis to mid way of Matheran and start trek for Peb fort. This will be a night trek of 1.30 hours followed by rest.

9th June 2012 –

07.00 AM – Wake up and Breakfast

08.00 AM – Initiative will be started by a short pooja.

08.30 AM – Teams will split-up for respective duties.

12.30 PM – Lunch and rest

03.30 PM – Continue with duties till dark.

05.30 PM – Tea and snacks

08.00 PM – Dinner and rest

10th June 2012 –

07.00 AM – Wake up and Breakfast

08.00 AM – Teams will split-up for respective duties.

12.30 PM – Lunch and rest

02.30 PM – Continue with duties

04.30 PM – Descend down to Neral station and back home. (We will be back to Mumbai tentatively by 9 PM)

Maximum number of volunteers – 30

Initiative Cost – Rs. 150.00 per head

As this is non-profit based initiative, we are looking for financial contributions. If you wish to support us for saplings, shelter for saplings, food for members, etc then you can donate us additional amount as per your convenience.

Cost includes – Traveling from Neral to Vikatgad, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks etc.

Things you have to carry – Sleeping material, ready to eat snacks items for your journey, water 3 liter at least, torch, pair of clothes, good shoes, spoon, plate, glass, bowl, old newspaper, raincoat , a haversack to carry all your stuff and personal medicines if any etc… There is possibility of rain so pack your bags accordingly.

Registration – Enthusiastic people willing to join this initiative may download and fill up the form and send it to trythethrill@gmail.com
Form Download link - http://trythethrill.com/Applicationformtreeinitiative2012.doc

For confirming your registration, kindly make an advance payment in the following bank account – ICICI Bank
Account No: 643401503624
Payee name: DHRUWIN DINESH CHARLA
GOREGAON -S.V.ROAD Branch
IFSC code: ICIC0006434
Support this initiative – If you wish to contribute this initiative you can contribute anything to us. We accept seedlings, saplings, financial help etc.

After transaction plz do sms to Dhruwin on 88 79247279. 

Hope to see many enthusiasts.

For any queries please contact on the following number –

Ananda 98922 19155.

Sudhir 97028 78447.

Those who are willing to join the initiative but cannot spend two days can even join for one single day.

Thank you
VRangers, TryTheThrill and Smriti Pratishthan.

VRangers trek to Tikona Fort on 3rd June 2012.

Tikona Fort also called as Vitandgad fort, Tikona fort, literally means triangle fort, had witnessed many dynasties ruled in the Maratha region. It is a Hill Fort near Lonavla region. This was the nerve centre of the many activities of entire Malwan-Pawna regions. The small hamlet close to the fort is Tikona-Peth. The fort’s mammoth entrance is a special attraction. One can get the eye catching views of the Pawna Dam and the forts at Visapur, Tung and Lohagad. The fort encloses a lake, Satvahan caves and the temple of ‘Trimbakeshwar Mahadev'.

 

Type: Hill Fort.

Region: Lonavala.

Height: 3580 ft (aprx.)

Grade: Easy.

Base Village: Tikona peth.

Max Participation: 25 Rangers.

History :

Malik Ahmed Nizamshah of the Nizam dynasty conquered the fort in 1585 and annexed it to the Nizam territory. In 1657 Shivaji Maharaj (The Great Maratha Emperor) brought the whole of Konkan, which had been Nizam territory, under his control when he conquered Tikona along with the forts of Karnala, Lohgad, Mahuli, Songad, Tala, and Visapur. This fort was a strategic nexus: the centre of control for the entire Pawana Mawal region. During the Maratha reign, it served as a watch tower and helped the Marathas keep an eye on all the activities in the Konkan region. In 1660, Netaji Palkar was charged with ensuring the security of fort Tikona. Jaysingh invaded the regionn in 1665 and the local villages were by Dilerkhan but the forts held out. Tikona fort was surrendered to the Mughal warrior Kubadkhan, who had attacked the region together with Halalkhan and others, according to the Treaty of Purandar signed on 12 June 1665. Kubadkhan took over the fort on 18 June but it was later recaptured by the Marathas.

In 1682, king Sambhaji met with Aurangzeb's son Akbar. After this meeting, Akbar was offered to stay at fort Tikona, however was sent later to Jaitapur since the climate here didn't suit him. In 1702 mughal sardar conqured this fort and gifted a small monument of it to aurangazeb. After the death of aurangazeb Maratha soldiers recaptured it.

A small battle was fought with the British on Tikona in year 1818 and the fort was damaged to a great extent. Till date the fort of Tikona lies in the form of ruins.

Trek Schedule:

Mumbai Participants: The journey starts with the Indrayani express in the morning as time table given below. People interested should get into this train with your single journey ticket to Lonavla or Kamsheth. (Please get your respected stations at least half an hour earlier, as there might be a long queue for the tickets).

We will reach Lonavala by 8.10 am. We need to catch another local train from Lonavala to Kamshet.

Train Time table:  Indrayani Express.

CST:-5.30 am

Dadar:-5.43 am

Thane:-6.00 am

Kalayan:-6.29 am

Pune Participants: Those who are coming from Pune they can join us directly at Kamsheth till 8.15 am.

Pune 6.27 am

Shivaji Nagar 6.33 am

Khadki 6.38 am

Dapodi 6.43 am

Kasarwadi 6.47 am 

Pimpri 6.55 am

Chinchwad 6.54 am

Talegaon 7.16 am

Kamshet 7.30 am

From Kamshet we will hire a jeep/tempo-pickup or travel by bus till base village tikona peth.The charges for the trek are Rs. 200/- per head, which includes traveling from Lonavla to Lonavla stations, breakfast & refreshment.

Here is a list of all the things that we need to carry for the trek:

1. A haversack to put in all the things to be carried. So that one has hands free while trekking.

2. A bottle of water (2 Ltrs).

3. Lunch for sunday {Compulsory}.

4. Camera (Optional), Avoid wearing Gold and other jewelry (at own risk)

5. Electoral / Enerzyl powder, 2 Lemon, some snacks & biscuits (optional).

6. Torch with extra batteries.

7. Personal medicines & 2 plastic bags for weight distribution, mosquito’s cream.

8. A good trekking shoes.

9. Sunglass - Windshiter etc

VRangers Rules & Regulation:

http://vrangerstreks.blogspot.com/2010/09/rules-and-regulation-of-vrangers.html .

For Reg. & more details, contact our "Rangers"

Sudhir 97028 78447.

Ananda 98922 19155.

plz do sms if call not received.

Cheerrrsss…!!!