MAHARASHTRA | Mangi Tungi | 2022

“Mangi-Tungi is a prominent twin-pinnacled peak with a plateau in between, located near Tahrabad about 125 km from Nashik, Maharashtra, India. Mangi, 4,343 ft (1,324 m) high above sea level, is the western pinnacle, and Tungi, 4,366 ft (1,331 m) high, is eastern. Mangi-Tungi is 30 km (19 mi) from the city of Satana.”

I see pictures of Mangi Tungi on social media and I am instantly fascinated by it. The photo seems to be taken during the current rainy season and I instantly decide to plan a trip there. I am tired of short trips around Pune and think this would be the deal breaker as the distance is around 376 km.

I plan the trip for 3 days, keeping the 2nd day for exploring the peak.

It’s the 3rd of September, I wake up around 6 am and leave by 7 am. I have stashed my rain gear in my bag taking no chances for the weather ahead. However, it seems the sky is bright and cloudless. Carrying just 2 pairs of clothes and essentials, I hit the road.

The road is virtually devoid of traffic and I enjoy cruising leisurely at a considerable pace. The first stop is taken just before hitting Ahmednagar at a wayside hotel called ‘Smilestone’. I have a heavy South Indian breakfast followed by a hot cup of chai to keep going for the rest of the journey.

From Ahmednagar, I take a left towards Shirdi and am immediately greeted with the bad road which continues for around 50-odd km. On the way, I am stopped by curious boys and I have tea along with them before pushing forward.

After passing Kopargaon, the roads turn to a single-carriageway, and traffic thins. The sky is cloudy but shows no signs of imminent rain. That gives me much relief.

I continue to push forward through the cloudy weather aided by good roads. My mood is happy as the countryside is lush green which is really soothing to the eyes. I pass through Malegaon and then toward Satana making my final push toward Mangi Tungi.

Soon, I am off the main road and passing through the farms dotting my left and right side. I see people mainly growing corn and Bajra millet.

After riding for some odd kms, I am presented with the first view of Mangi-Tungi. I stop to take a photo. Even though it looks closer in the photo, it takes some time before I reach the end destination.

I am unable to find a hotel nearby and am directed toward Dharmashala. Initially, they refuse to give me a room saying that all rooms are occupied and after much pressing them and showing them my need, they give in and somehow magically a vacant room emerges and I am given the keys to it. The rate is 500rs and I am given a proper receipt.

I self carry all my luggage into the room which is on the 1st floor. The complex is huge and so is the room. It’s too large for 1 person. The room is clean and well-maintained. The bedding looks fine.

After a hot bath, I go on a stroll. There is a very less number of houses surrounding Dharmashala. The Dharmashala is housed within a big temple complex dedicated to the Jain sect. The start for tomorrow’s trek will be from here as no vehicle goes beyond this point. From my place, I see the stairs on the mountain which I will be taking tomorrow. The rain gods save me today but for tomorrow also, it looks the same.

Late evenings are spent around the temple premises taking into the silence and the sound of the birds. Offerings and chanting are going on in one of the small temples nearby. I can see a large crowd gathering inside the temple, being a holy month for the Jain, many devotees have come to stay for longer periods in the Dharmashala and every evening the function repeats. I am told this later on.

I plan to take free dinner inside the temple complex and after much waiting come to know that the dinner time has already surpassed and Jain people have dinner very early. I was probably in the room during that time getting myself cleaned up.

I then take dinner outside at a hotel and go to bed early as I plan to start climbing early tomorrow.

The next morning, I am up early around 5 am. After taking a bath, I immediately get dressed in my trekking top and shorts. Armed with my GoPro and hydration pack, I head for the start point. It seems I am the early bird as I park my only vehicle in the parking lot. Wasting no time, I take my 1st of the 3500 steps.

Being a fitness freak, the trek does not drain me out. The steps are also relatively long and short in height. With 3-4 stops, I reach a ‘Y’ junction where one flight of stairs goes to Mangi peak and another one goes to Tungi peak. I take left towards Mangi peak.

In around 15 mins I reach the top of the Mangi peak. It looks like a big boulder kept on the top of a mountain. The area is completely soaked in fog and visibility is very low. I remove my shoes and do a clockwise circumambulation around them. While doing that, I pass through many carvings of ‘Tirthankars’ made on the mountain and offer my prayers.

I return to the ‘Y’ intersection point. For the first time, I see 2-3 people taking the trek and going towards Mangi. I then head towards Tungi peak and have to travel over a flat plateau-like region first. The last 10% is a steep incline and I have to take a flight of stairs. It seems like I am taking stairs toward the sky. There’s absolute silence around and I can hear the sound of the wind as it passes taking the fog along with it. The top of the area is very small and here also the tall vertical stone stands upright which looks like it’s penetrating the sky. The sun is completely enveloped by the low-hanging clouds.

Here also, I do a circumambulation around the vertical rock with carvings around its perimeter. I stand there for a while to soak into the atmosphere and let the fog caress me. It is a wonderful moment and the views of the surrounding valley are picturesque. There is a sheer vertical drop to the bottom from where I am standing right now and it’s a little bit frightening.

I then retrace my step back to the base where I had parked my bike. On the way down, I visit the tallest statue of Rishabdev Bhagwan which stands 108ft tall and has got its place recorded in the Guinness book. This information I had come to know yesterday when I was on the way towards the destination. There is a separate covered passageway toward the statue which branches out mid-way of the total 3500 steps.

I am barred from taking photos of the statue and so I try to record it secretly with my GoPro. Spending some time there, I then start climbing down, and in no time I am in the parking lot. I have done the entire thing in around 3 hrs having started at 6 am sharp.

I change my mind and decide to head home the same day after analyzing the situation. The distance can be easily covered if I take the major roads.

I am hungry after the trek and decide to have breakfast before checking into the Dharmashala. Once inside, I checkout within 30 min and commence my return journey. The rain gods once again avoid me as I reach home safely in the evening around 7:30 pm having left the place around 11 am.

My return journey passes through Satana, Chandwad, Pimpalgaon, Sinnar, Sangamner, Manchar, and Chakan villages.