Kondval to Padharwadi

From Kondval, walk about 2 km west towards the crest line to the head of Dara Ghat.

This is a steep, exposed descent — rolling stones, scree, bare rock surfaces and rock-cut steps, with no trees or plants to hold onto. It is essentially an open rock face on a steep slope. But there is always a trail, and wherever it can, it contours or switchbacks rather than dropping straight down the fall line. Poles help; in places you will need to sit down and lower yourself through the rock-cut steps and narrow passages.

This is a route locals use regularly. From around 1000 m, Dara Ghat brings you all the way down to 150 m: a steep section, a flat plateau, then another steep section, running from open terrain into open scrub and later open forest.

You do not need to descend all the way to Bhamlewadi. The EST turns south towards Bhimashankar on a route called Bail Ghat — bail is bull, ghat is route.

This was traditionally a cattle route, which tells you what to expect: a broad, well-defined trail under good tree canopy, climbing gradually back towards the plateau.

Near the 600 m contour there is a junction where four trails meet. Go straight, on the line that does not climb — the aim is to stay off the main Bhimashankar trail.

From the junction, the EST holds the 580–600 m contour on a route called Ransheel Ghat, running about 2 km to a settlement called Padarwadi. The name is the Base–Padar–Crown idea again: the padar is the mountain's middle shelf.

There is a water spring before Padarwadi, and Padarwadi itself is a good refill.

From Padarwadi, a very well-maintained route called Ganesh Ghat runs straight up to Bhimashankar through pristine forest on a broad, obvious trail. You need no navigation app here — just follow it. It is steep, but it delivers you directly to Bhimashankar.

Bhimashankar is a logistics anchor. Road-connected, a good exit point, plenty of food, and a surprisingly good market to restock. Treat it as a small hill town.

South out of Bhimashankar the trail begins on an unpaved road, heading for Nagphani, the highest point of the plateau. You pass a couple of temples on the way, one of them unusual for its statue of Anjani Mata.

Across open scrub, the top of Nagphani carries a large cemented throne. It is an excellent viewpoint, wide open across the Konkan.

From Nagphani, continue south — another offbeat section few people walk. The plan is a ghatvaat towards Padargad. Descend west along a ridgeline, and at around the 740 m contour leave the ridge to descend the north face. You reach a split from where you climb to Padargad.

If you carry on past the summit you reach a beautiful overhanging cave with magnificent views of the western face of the Bhimashankar plateau.

Padargad is roughly a 100–150 m climb off the split at 540 m. A fast hiker with basic climbing skills can do the out-and-back in about an hour.

From the split, the trail circumnavigates Padargad from the north. There is a water spring just around the corner.

Then you enter Pedyacha Ghat, a well-marked route that descends steeply through a gully to around 200 m, with trail markings on the ground to follow.

At the 200 m base, take a sharp turn east into a dry gully or riverbed, and begin the approach to Ambenali Ghat.

Once you switch riverbanks onto Ambenali Ghat, a good trail returns — stay on it. Expect dry scree and rolling stones, and one large, beautiful tree that makes an excellent landmark. From there the climb starts.

It is clear at first, with a big drop into the gully on your left. As the gully narrows the route enters a boulder field and brings you back up to the Bhimashankar plateau at around 800–850 m.

You are further south now. The trail heads for Yelawali, passing a small temple, Kamladevi Mandir, with a tourist hut alongside it — a place to sit, eat, rest, or shelter from rain.

Refill at Yelawali — it's the last good water for a while; sources get limited as you move towards Vajantri Ghat.

Return to Kamladevi Mandir and start a long contour of about 2.5–3 km to a small shrine, Khetoba Mandir.

This whole stretch is broad plateau with many offshoot trails and route options, and you may meet locals with livestock. Keep your directional sense sharp — this is exactly the kind of ground where hikers get disoriented.

At Khetoba Mandir, around 800 m, the steep descent of Vajantri Ghat begins and drops to 180 m. Another offbeat ghat that few use: steep at first, then long stretches of open forest, and through contouring switchbacks and patches of dense forest it returns you to the main naala. From there, about 2 km parallel to the dry riverbed. From here you can see the last segment of the stage: Gogol Naal, Ramkhand Forest and Andharichi Waat.

The stage closes with three connected offbeat routes, walked by very few. Do not expect a prominent trail on any of them — expect a thin path that shifts with the season, some bushwhacking, and constant small course corrections off ground clues. Experienced hikers will enjoy this section.

Gogol Naal climbs first. The entry is not obvious, through open forest, but beyond it you enter a wide-open gully of big boulders and few trees. Move carefully.

From around 240 m the gully climbs to the first plateau level at around 520 m.

Ramkhand Forest comes next — a contour west across the forested shelf of the plateau, no more than about 30 minutes in the trees. This is the same level as Khetoba Mandir, and roughly the altitude of Padarwadi.

Andharichi Waat makes the final climb, from around 550 m to 860 m. The lower part is poorly defined through mixed forest; as you gain height you pick up more ground clues, a faint trail, and plenty of karvi. Expect wildlife signs throughout — make your presence known. Signal is patchy up here: no reliable internet, but an occasional calling network, and it usually improves once you are clear of Gogol Naal.

From the top of the plateau, a broad contouring trail heads south through open scrub and open forest to the hamlet of Padharwadi, where this stage ends.