The Sandhan Valley hike offers an adventurous trek for all thrill-seekers. It is also called the Valley of Shadows and is one of the most challenging treks in the Sahyadri mountain range.
The trek is known for its steep slopes, deep gorges, and rugged terrain, giving the trekkers a beautiful and unforgettable experience.
If you are looking for a challenging trek, you should definitely try this one.
This guide will cover all the detailed information about this Himalayan adventure.
Quick Facts About the Sandhan Valley Trek
- Location: Samrad village, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India.
- Sandhan Valley Distance: 12 km
- Trek time: 5 hours
- Difficulty level: moderate level trek to challenging
- Approximate price: INR 20,000
Sandhan Valley
Sandhan Valley, or the Great Canyon in the Sahyadri Mountain Village, is a 200-foot-deep trek surrounded by massive rocks on its side.
The trek is beautiful and starts with descending from Samrad village and ending with ascending to the stunning Dehene village.
The trek also allows the tourists to enjoy rappelling and camping.
Why Is it Known as the Valley of Shadows?
The reason for this gorge’s deep ravines is that they receive little to no sunlight.
During noon, the canyon lights up, so you are trekking in the dark till then in the deep valleys.
Camping here is fun because the canyon is full of rocks, so finding a flat surface to camp overnight is an exciting adventure.
Rappelling and camping together is fun, and overnight camping here is an experience you cannot miss.
The Best Time to Visit
You can visit Sandhan Valley anytime in the year.
Summer trekking in this valley is possible but not recommended. Most people do not prefer it because the temperatures are high, and it can get sweaty and uncomfortable.
Thus, the best time to visit the beautiful Sandhan Valley Trek is during winter and autumn.
How Do I Get There?
After you reach Mumbai, you can take a train to Igatpuri or Kasara.
After reaching Kasara, take a shared taxi to reach the base village in Samrad. To reach Mumbai, you have three options.
- By train: Mumbai is well-connected to major cities by train, and it has trains through its impeccable railway station.
- By air: The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is connected to most Indian cities and even most of the world. You can reach the airport, and follow the above steps to reach the valley.
- By road: The national highways connect Mumbai well with other cities. Book a private vehicle or public bus to reach the city.
The Sandhan Valley Trek Route
The route for this trek starts in Samrad only.
It is fun to trek through shallow water bodies, and you will be descending here.
After you reach Tarzan Swing Point, you will start rappelling. If rappelling isn’t your style, you can avoid going down this path and head straight to the Sandhan Valley Trek.
On the way, you will have to climb using a rope ladder while also doing cave crawling.
After this, you will find a deep-water pool. Wade through them to reach wide rocks, and after you cross that, you will have your camping ground.
The view of Ajoba Hill and Bann Pinnacle here is stunning.
For your return, you can take either of the two paths.
The first one is the same route from which you came. The second one will require you to keep moving forward and then descend through gentle slopes as you keep trekking via the river bed.
The last leg is reaching Dhene village.
From here, go to Asangaon station to reach your destination.
Things to See on Your Trek to Sandhan Valley
AMK Fort
Ensure that one thing you see on this trek is the beautiful ancient forts of Madan, Kuland, and Alang.
However, note it is also a bit of a difficult trek. So, ensure you take some rest after the Sandhan Valley trek before you head out to this.
Ratangad Fort
You should not miss this fort, as it is beautiful.
It is not a demanding ascent, so you can cover it on the same day.
Here you will get insight into the valley and its architecture, which gives you insight into the architecture of the old masons.
Nanhe Ghat Waterfalls
Only a few kilometers away from Sandhan Valley Trek Base Camp, Nanhe Ghat waterfalls in Ratanwadi are worth the visit.
It is refreshing to have a picnic here with cascading waterfalls. You can even dip yourself in the pool while collecting at the waterfall’s base.
These adventure activities make the trek a very good combination of trekking and fun.
Stargazing – A Mesmerizing Experience
If you want to experience a beautiful stargazing experience, the Sandhan Valley Trek gives you the perfect opportunity, as the valley has the darkest skies.
Thus, you can have an imposing and beautiful view of the heavens and the starry sky.
Pretty cool, huh?
Therefore, it is one of the best places for astronomy and photography. The sky does not get any vehicle lights or stray city lights, so there is no chance of a halo.
If you are interested in photography or astronomy, you should bring binoculars, a telescope, and a DSLR camera to have the best experience.
Tips to Remember
- For beginners or first-time trekkers, this trek can be difficult. So ensure you work with a trekking operator or a guide.
- People with heart conditions should avoid this trek.
- Be careful with this trek, as it is challenging and requires good stamina.
- Bring hiking essentials like a hiking backpack, first aid kit, trekking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, etc.
- Have some hiking snacks with you, like packaged foods and energy bars, so you can nibble on them regularly.
- Always have windbreakers and mosquito repellents with you.
- Carry a power bank.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Sandhan Valley Trek is an adventure and amazing camping experience waiting for you to embrace.
Sure, it is challenging, but with the right preparation and guidance, you can safely complete this trek.
With this trek, you not only enjoy the best nature views but also test your strength and endurance level.
If you liked this guide and want to learn more about hiking in the Himalayas, check out The Kasol Kheerganga Trek.
I hope you have an amazing experience.
As usual, please feel free to leave any comments or questions below.
//Josephine
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