Manikagad has always felt like an obvious challenge to me.
I’ve been there twice before—once with my family, and the second time with Amu, my Golden Retriever. But this February, I decided to take on Manikagad again, consciously—as a challenge.
I carry a happy memory associated with this place. The first time I climbed this mountain, I received a call from my controller. It was a Sunday, and I was asked to get a specific task done. Without overthinking, I made a few calls and coordinated with the corporate team.
And I got it done.
The trek was tiring, no doubt. But Manikagad became a silent witness to a small success I created within my organisation that day. That memory has stayed with me.
Yet, Manikagad remains a challenge—and for good reason.
- This isn’t just a patch of trees you casually call a jungle. This is a real jungle. Dense. Enveloping. At times, it feels as if the jungle itself is trying to swallow you whole.
- The trek involves a long circular walk around the peak, which makes the journey mentally and physically exhausting.
- The straight-line distance from the starting point to the peak is roughly 6 kilometres—and every kilometre demands respect.
Manikagad doesn’t intimidate you loudly. It tests you quietly, step by step.
And that’s exactly why it matters.
This time, I decided to correct a few mistakes I had made earlier.
First—water. There are no shops along the trail, and water is non-negotiable. On both my previous treks to Manikagad, water had become a problem. This time, I didn’t leave it to chance. I bought a full box of water bottles and packed them in.
Second—energy. Knowing the trek would be long and draining, I stocked up on Parle-G biscuits. Simple, effective, and reliable fuel.
To avoid the harsh sun, we decided to start early.
The trekking party was ready by 7:00 AM.
We left Palaspe and reached Dhangarwadi by 8:00 AM, and soon after, began walking the trail.
Mornings in the mountains are beautiful. We clicked photos, shot a few videos, and simply soaked it in.
The jungle section was especially interesting. Dense, alive, and inviting. We kept talking about coming back someday just to explore the jungle itself. My energy was high, and I was unusually chirpy.
Then came the final climb—and I could feel the energy slowly draining away.
I was carrying a rucksack that weighed around 10 kg, and with all the water bottles, it felt even heavier. My feet began landing in places I hadn’t consciously intended. But I trusted my training. My muscles were strong enough to handle it.
Slowly, steadily, I made it to the top.
As we reached the summit, a large group from Pune was descending. Another enthusiastic conservation group was actively working to preserve the fort—quiet, purposeful work.
We rested at the top and drank water from the tank near the summit.
The descent was tiring.
I went quiet. Walking became mindful. Each step demanded attention.
On my previous trek, my patience had run out before the trail ended. The same thing happened this time. The sun was now high, and walking through the open stretches became difficult.
Eventually, I reached the car.
It was burning hot.
We got in.
And I came home.