One Day Trek To Sandhan Valley | Is It Really Adventurous?

One Day Trek To Sandhan Valley | Is It Really Adventurous?

About Sandhan Valley

A beautifully carved valley situated in the Sahyadri Mountain range of the Western Ghats is Sandhan Valley. It is located in the Akole district of Ahmednagar. Looking toward this valley, you may feel as if you are somewhere outside of India. This valley is surrounded by various mountain ranges, including Ratangad, Kokan Kada, and Kalsubai. For those who want to experience adventurous activities like rappelling and trekking, this is the perfect place. Sandhan Valley is Asia’s second-largest valley, spread across 2 km. During the monsoon, the water sliding through the rocks for an extended period contributes to the cave formations in Sandhan Valley. The trek to Sandhan Valley is one of the well-known activities originating from the Nashik region. It is accessible throughout the year, except during the monsoon, as completing the valley becomes quite difficult due to rising water levels.

How To Reach Sandhan Valley

Sandhan Valley can be visited from Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik city, which are further well connected to other states of India.

To reach Sandhan Valley, one has to reach a base village called Samrad village.

BY AIR

The nearest airport is Mumbai International Airport and the Shirdi domestic airport. It is further well accessible by road, train, and bus.

You can also hire a self-driving car.

BY ROAD

Sandhan Valley is 182 km from Mumbai, around 200 km from Pune, and 90 km from Nashik.

Buses are available from all the cities to Ghoti village, and further, another bus or shared cab to Samrad village.

BY TRAIN

The nearest railway stations are Kasara and Igatpuri, from which the rail route connects to major cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik. The distance from Kasara to Sandhan Valley is 85 km. Once you arrive at the railway station, shared cabs and buses are available to reach Samrad village in Bhandardara. If you are a group of 4-5, it's advisable to take a private vehicle to reach the base village. The preferred mode of travel is a self-driving vehicle. Riders do not need to worry, as there is plenty of space available for vehicle parking.

Trek To Sandhan Valley

Trekking to any mountain has always been my first priority because the best views in life come after climbing. One day, I was scrolling through Facebook when the first glimpse of Sandhan Valley caught my eye on the screen. That glimpse instantly convinced my heart to visit. I started researching more about this place and gathered enough information to get there on my own. It was a drive with one of my friends, who is a fellow traveler like me, to visit this place. We decided to ride our bikes since the distance was no more than 180 km from Mumbai. The drive from Mumbai via Kasara Ghat is always attractive to riders, especially when there's lush greenery on one side and a valley on the other. We managed to reach Samrad village by 9 am I had my backpack loaded with some food and water that helped re-energize me. There are two shops available in the base village selling water and some snacks. You can ask the villagers for a guide, which will cost around 1000 INR, but if you're visiting only Sandhan Valley, a guide is not needed. The guide can take you to another place through the jungle, which is a shortcut to another trek.

OPENING OF THE VALLEY

The route to the valley starts from Samrad village and is easy and clear, passing through a vast area. This is one of those places that is famous for its firefly camping and many other adventurous activities. In winter, temperatures drop to 10 degrees. There are markers along the route to the valley, so there's no need to worry about getting lost. After walking for about 20 minutes, we reached the entrance of the valley. When I caught my first glimpse of the valley from the entrance, the thought that crossed my mind was, Is this the same place I saw in photos? The photos showed rocky walls of about 100 feet on both sides and narrow paths filled with stones where you cross some water bodies. I walked for a few more minutes, and here is the picture of what I saw: Sandhan Valley is exactly as it appears in social media photos. This was the first trek where the descent came first.

ENTRANCE POINT OF SANDHAN VALLEY

NARROW TRAIL OF VALLEY

VALLEY WITH ROCK

Descending is not as easy as it looks in pictures. You have to make your own way over big rocks. To move further in this trek, you need to cross two water bodies. The first body has water up to knee height, which can be easily crossed, while the second has a water level of up to 5 feet. This was the most interesting and challenging part of the route. There is no other way to proceed apart from crossing the water body. For those who want to experience the uniqueness of the trek, Sandhan Valley is the best. We wanted some adventure, so we removed our shoes and tied them to our bags, then placed our bags on our heads and started moving slowly through the water. The water in this area felt like ice. This route is not accessible during the monsoon because the water level rises, and local villagers restrict trekking in the valley. After crossing the water bodies, there is a narrow trail where sunlight hardly reaches. At some points, the rays that pass over the walls of the valley, with different shades, are amazing and create a perfect setting for photographs.

SECOND WATER BODY IN THE VALLEY

VALLEY OF SHADOW

After a descent of about two hours, we reached the valley's exit point. The exit is very scenic. This further route involves a steep descent that takes you to another village, but you need proper rappelling equipment to get down into the valley. Alternatively, you can return to the same village via the same route. From the base, one can use Karoli Ghat to return to Samrad village or travel to Dehane village, which is near Shahapur in Thane district. We decided to take the same route, which is an ascent back to the valley entrance. For any trek, descending is always easier than ascending. Ascending consumes a lot of energy. It took us another four hours to return to Samrad village through the water bodies, and we ended the trek with cherished memories.

EXIT VIEW OF VALLEY

RAPPELLING PART OF THE VALLEY 

Ideal Time To Visit Sandhan Valley Sandhan Valley can be accessed in all seasons except for the monsoon. During the monsoon, the water level rises, making it difficult to descend into the valley. Winter and summer are always preferable for trekking due to the pleasant climate. Where to Stay While Visiting Sandhan Valley

As a local village, there are no hotels or resorts available in Samrad. Locals arrange some homestays along with meals, which may charge you less than 1000 INR per person for your stay, including food. Hotels and resorts are available in Bhandardara, located 28 km from Samrad. One can enjoy lakeside camping near Bhandardara. Tents are also an option for independent stays, as locals provide tents for rent.

Things To Explore Around Sandhan Valley

There are waterfalls nearby, including Randha Waterfall, Necklace Waterfall, and Umbrella Waterfall, all within a 25 km radius of Samrad village. This is seasonal, so it's best to visit during the monsoon season.

AMK TREK - Alang, Malang, and Kulang are extreme-level trekking points near Samrad village.

Kokankada - It is along the route to Sandhan Valley and offers one of the best views for trekking.

Lakeside camping - You can enjoy bonfire camping near Arthur Lake.

Tips For You Before Visiting Sandhan Valley

• Avoid going in the monsoon as villagers don't allow trekkers to trek in the valley.
• Be careful while walking through rocks.
• Carry extra water bottles, because there is no source of water in the valley.
• Don't try to do rappelling on your own if you don't have safety gear.
• Do carry cameras and an extra battery.
• Do not litter the place.