Ratangad Trek

Overview

Ratangad earns its nickname — the 'Jewel of the Sahyadris' — purely from where it sits: a ridge crowning the hills above Bhandardara lake, with a summit that holds one of the most photographed features in the whole range. The Nedhe is a circular hole worn naturally through solid rock at the very top, framing the valley below like a window someone carved on purpose. It's a beautiful, moderately serious climb, and one of the best viewpoints anywhere in Ahmednagar district.

The trail starts at Ratanwadi village and climbs through forest and open grass for about 4 to 5 km before the terrain turns rockier near the summit, including a short exposed section that the trek leaders rope when conditions call for it. It's a proper moderate outing — enough climbing to feel earned, but manageable on reasonable fitness with the right shoes. The reward at the top goes well beyond the Nedhe itself: old cisterns, scattered temple ruins, and a sweeping view over the Bhandardara reservoir, the wider Sahyadri range and, on genuinely clear days, Kalsubai's summit in the distance.

Monsoon turns the whole ridge a deep green, though the final rocky stretch gets noticeably slicker in the rain; winter trades that intensity for the longest, clearest sightlines of the year. At roughly 180 km from Mumbai and 150 km from Pune, Wild Rangers runs Ratangad as a one day batch with transport, a guide and proper time built in at the summit rather than a rushed up-and-down.

Because the base sits so close to Bhandardara, the two make an obvious pair — climb Ratangad for the view, then unwind at the lakeside campsite that evening, or stretch the trip further with a Kalsubai summit attempt on the same weekend. If you want a fort that delivers an actual gasp at the top rather than just another set of ruins, Ratangad is the one people come back to describe long after the climb itself is forgotten.

Grip matters more than raw fitness on the final stretch — the rock near the summit turns genuinely slick after rain, so proper trekking shoes are worth prioritising over general athleticism when deciding whether you're ready for this one. Confident beginners manage it fine with a guide alongside them, though it's worth building up on an easier fort first if the exposed section near the top is a concern.

A guide walks the group through each rocky stretch at a deliberate pace rather than rushing the final push, which keeps the climb comfortable even for trekkers doing their first moderate-grade fort. Pair it with the Salher Salota Range Trek for a bigger Sahyadri forts circuit.

Based in Ahmednagar District, this moderate 1-day trek is best attempted during June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February — when the trail and surroundings are at their most rewarding.

Day-wise Itinerary

Trip Highlights

• ✓The Nedhe — a natural rock 'window' on the summit
• ✓'Jewel of the Sahyadris' with Bhandardara views
• ✓Moderate forest-and-grass climb with a rocky top
• ✓One-day batch from Mumbai & Pune
• ✓Pairs with Bhandardara or Kalsubai
• ✓Best in winter (clear) or monsoon (green)

Gallery

Inclusions & Exclusions

Things to Carry

FAQs