Date : 09 April 2011
Bike : Thunderbird twinspark (me)
Distance :
Kothrud Stand to Jejuri (Kade Pathar)(Kothrud stand => ChandaniChowk => NH4 => Katraj => Some confusion after tunnel U turn again U turn => Khed Shivapur - Saswad link road (which has Mariaai ghat) => Saswad => Jejuri => Kade Pathar) : @ 84 Km
Jejuri (Kade Pathar) to Kothrud Stand (Kade Pathar => Jejuri => Saswad => Dive ghat => Kondhwa => Pune => Kothrud stand) : @ 60 Km
Note :
Jejuri has 2 well known Khandoba temples, one I visited is on Kade Pathar (has got @ 750 steps) and it is said to be the old temple. There is way from Kade-pathar to visit new temple. I will advice to visit new temple first as I have heard that it usually has relatively long queue .
My age old Nokia E63 does not have GPS so I just read the map and missed the turn @ katraj for Kondhwa (my original plan was to go via Dive ghat). After crossing Katraj tunnel I realized my mistake and took U turn - crossed Katraj tunnel again and then a local told me that there is better road to Saswad after crossing Katraj tunnel - so I took U turn again and reached this Khed-Shivapur - Saswad link road. Thanks to that local guy, I love riding on NH4!.
The link road is also quite good, there was almost no traffic on this link road. I had never heard of Mariaai ghat - this is little steep ghat but road condition is quite good. Occasionally 1-2 vehicles were crossing (this was good sign :)). I was told by many friends earlier that Saswad region is not safe (looting happens in this area). So having 1-2 vehicles passing by was a good sign :). I gave lift to one old milkman on this road and he told me to visit Kade pathar since it is the actually Pragat sthan of Khandoba.
My plan was to first visit the new temple and then go to Kade pathar, but Kade pathar and new temple are quite at distance and my bike was parked near Kade-Pathar so I lost the energy and willingness to visit new temple after visiting Kade Pathar temple (actually I think I should have visited new temple as well :().
The idol of lord Khandoba is very beautiful, photography is not allowed inside temple. Here are few photos of some other temples @ Kade pathar -
On my journey back home I came via Dive-ghat, this road is also very good. I bought some fruits, just before Dive ghat, the granny who was selling fruits was very good and kind hearted lady. She gave me few fruits to eat there (for free!) just because I told her they are good in taste. Overall the ride was amazing, I crossed Katraj Tunnel 3 times in a single day! Saw 2 new ghats and got good blessings from Khandoba!
As they say "Yel kot yel kot jay Malhar!!"
Bike : Thunderbird twinspark (me)
Distance :
Kothrud Stand to Jejuri (Kade Pathar)(Kothrud stand => ChandaniChowk => NH4 => Katraj => Some confusion after tunnel U turn again U turn => Khed Shivapur - Saswad link road (which has Mariaai ghat) => Saswad => Jejuri => Kade Pathar) : @ 84 Km
Jejuri (Kade Pathar) to Kothrud Stand (Kade Pathar => Jejuri => Saswad => Dive ghat => Kondhwa => Pune => Kothrud stand) : @ 60 Km
Note :
Jejuri has 2 well known Khandoba temples, one I visited is on Kade Pathar (has got @ 750 steps) and it is said to be the old temple. There is way from Kade-pathar to visit new temple. I will advice to visit new temple first as I have heard that it usually has relatively long queue .
My age old Nokia E63 does not have GPS so I just read the map and missed the turn @ katraj for Kondhwa (my original plan was to go via Dive ghat). After crossing Katraj tunnel I realized my mistake and took U turn - crossed Katraj tunnel again and then a local told me that there is better road to Saswad after crossing Katraj tunnel - so I took U turn again and reached this Khed-Shivapur - Saswad link road. Thanks to that local guy, I love riding on NH4!.
 |
| Khed Shivapur - Saswad link road |
The link road is also quite good, there was almost no traffic on this link road. I had never heard of Mariaai ghat - this is little steep ghat but road condition is quite good. Occasionally 1-2 vehicles were crossing (this was good sign :)). I was told by many friends earlier that Saswad region is not safe (looting happens in this area). So having 1-2 vehicles passing by was a good sign :). I gave lift to one old milkman on this road and he told me to visit Kade pathar since it is the actually Pragat sthan of Khandoba.
 |
| Stairs to Kade Pathar temple |
 |
| Taken from Kade Pathar - new temple can be see in Right Hand top corner |
My plan was to first visit the new temple and then go to Kade pathar, but Kade pathar and new temple are quite at distance and my bike was parked near Kade-Pathar so I lost the energy and willingness to visit new temple after visiting Kade Pathar temple (actually I think I should have visited new temple as well :().
 |
| Kade Pathar temple (in front of Khandoba temple - there is Ram temple) |
The idol of lord Khandoba is very beautiful, photography is not allowed inside temple. Here are few photos of some other temples @ Kade pathar -
 |
| Inside Ram temple |
 |
| Inside Lord Datta temple near Khandoba temple |
 |
| Nandi @ Khandoba temple |
 |
| Fire (this is probably called angi-kund) @ Khandoba temple |
 |
| View around Kade Pathar |
On my journey back home I came via Dive-ghat, this road is also very good. I bought some fruits, just before Dive ghat, the granny who was selling fruits was very good and kind hearted lady. She gave me few fruits to eat there (for free!) just because I told her they are good in taste. Overall the ride was amazing, I crossed Katraj Tunnel 3 times in a single day! Saw 2 new ghats and got good blessings from Khandoba!
As they say "Yel kot yel kot jay Malhar!!"
