Day 7: Tue 11 Nov 25 - Kolad (Rudra Resort) to Taloshi

Tue 11 Nov 25 - Kolad (Rudra Resort) to Taloshi

Distance: 62km | Ride Time: 3 hours 29 min | Overnight: Taloshi

No internet tonight so a little late with the post. 

It was 17 Deg at 5:00am when I woke this morning, and it reached a sunny 32 deg with a lot of haze throughout the day. We couldn't see it, but we suspect there was a steel works nearby causing the air pollution. We dropped our bags off and had breakfast at 7:00am, then rode away 40 minutes later, heading deeper into Maharashtra backcountry, climbing into the foothills of the Western Ghats. It was beautiful coasting along fantastic smooth, and quiet with traffic, sealed road for 23km when we stopped for a rest. Then we were confronted with a brutal 6km steep climb to a tea shop at the top where we stopped to regroup and catch our breath. From here we rode another 8km to Raigad where we left our bikes and climbed into the support bus which took us another 3 km to a cable car station where we caught a cable car up to Raigad Fort. At the top we wandered around the historic Raigad Fort for about an hour. Located on a wedge shaped hill in the Sahyadri Mountain ranges of Maharashtra, the fort was built between 1656 and 1674 under the Maratha Empire.

At the cable car stations, and in the Fort, we were treated like celebrities, more-so once the Indians found out that some of us were Australian. A group of school kids were particularly excited, and even elderly people wanted to shake hands and have their photos taken with us. They obviously don’t see many westerners in these parts of the country. It was quite bizarre, but it was thrilling to see the joy on their faces just to engage with them. After an hour at the top, we returned to an eatery in small village of Raigad where we had lunch and rode away again at 2.30pm, with another 18km to our overnight destination near Mahad. Our stay, the Tranquility Resort is quite remote, located about 5km short of Mahad on the route, in amongst rainforest (or swamp). Far from being the resort that we might be accustomed to at home, it was very rustic, but relatively clean and comfortable. After settling in, most of us gathered by the cloudy green pool for a beer and some snacks, followed by another a very tasty dinner outdoors. 


Ready to ride away from Rudra Resort

Pleasant riding along nice smooth roads into backcountry

Approaching a small village

Cattle everywhere and they go wherever they like

Morning rest stop along a backroad. The support guys do a great job providing plenty of snacks, fruit and water

Morning rest stop

Riding on towards the Western Ghats

Riding on up into the mountains

Survived a killer climb - time to catch our breath at tea house at the top of the climb

The small village at the top of the climb - freshly harvested rice paddies

The small village at the top of the climb - freshly harvested rice paddies


The small village at the top of the climb - freshly harvested rice paddies

Tea House

Onwards and upwards

Onwards and upwards

A brief downhill run before more uphill


Minding the goats

Arrival in Raigad Village

Raigad village where we parked our bikes before heading to Fort Raigad, then returned for lunch

Raigad Village

Raigad Village

At the cable car station

At the cable car station

Simon soaking up his newfound celebrity status

Excited school kids

Can't imagine what this lady was thinking, but she didn't mind me taking the photo

Cable car to Raigad Fort

Raigad village from cable car

They stopped me and asked me to please take their photo

Steps up to the Fort 

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort - Pre-Wedding Ceremony

Raigard Fort - Bride to be

Raigard Fort - Pre-Wedding Rituals

Raigard Fort

Raigard Fort visitor

Raigard Fort

Raigard Fort

Raigard Fort

Please take our photo - then a photo with you. Likely a novelty for them to connect with someone from a different culture


Cable car descent from the Fort

View of the Fort from Raigard village - Fort at the very top

Lunch - Very Tasty 

Fort Raigard on the descent

Welcome cold towel and drink at Tranquilty Resort

Welcome cold towel and drink at Tranquility Resort

Tranquility Resort

Tranquility Resort - My room

Tranquility Resort

Tranquility Resort

Happy Hour

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