Ajoba or Ajaparvat is a 1100m high mountain located in Sahayadris in Western Ghats near Dehene village. Ajoba means grandfather in marathi. It is beleived that Luv Kush were born here and Valmiki the grandfather trained them. Sita resided here. There is Valmiki Ashram where samadhi of Valmiki is kept. Also up high in hills are caves of Luv Kush with their cradel also known as Sita Cha Palna.
It is also called Ajobagad but there is no gad or fort. It is just a cave. The real Ajoba top also has no forts. It is just a peak and plateau.
However this is Ajoba - Luv Kush Cave trek where as not the real Ajoba top trek. This cave is last point of trek and is at appx height of 700m asl where as the real Ajoba height is around 1100m asl.
For going to real Ajoba there are two ways:
1) Daraghat - A khind between Ajoba and Karonda mountain. This route is long, treacherous and confusing. This route is via nalichi wat and not in use much. Most people trek to Sitamai Palna as Ajoba Trek.
2) Kumshet - Easy way to top is from Kumshet village where one can drive to Kumshet in deccan behind Ajoba and then can walk up the Ajoba top.
Sitamai Palna is located between the two rock face and provides a splendid view of the valley especially during monsoon. Ajoba should be trekked in monsoon as it will be lush green and full of waterfalls.
Ajoba trek is in two halves where first half is till Valmiki Ashram which is a leisure walk and the road is quite wide for 4X4 and offroad bikes. The forest are sacred with rich flora and fauna. Being under Kalsubai Harishcandragad Wildlife Sanctuary. One can stay n Ashram.
Second Half of the trek is to Luv Kush Cave from nalichi wat just aside ashram crossing a river. This half is also easy but steep and very tiring as only through this you gain height very quickly to top. First half is just a gradual walk through forest.
Be careful of scorpians, snakes and lizards. They are abundant.
There is a big plateau at the base of Ajoba which provides splendid view of the surrounding hills.
The structure of the Ajoba mountain is very beautiful.
Sitamai Cha Palna in between two rock face with valley in between. The area between the two hills is very less for large groups. One has to climb a 15 feet rock patch to reach the cave. There are two water cisterns however are polluted. An iron ladder is kept to aid climbing but not bolted. This cave is under a pinnacle which is separated from main Ajoba mountain. The valley is very steep and one has to be careful during monsoon. One can travel around the pinnacle. Climbing to top is not recommended as the rock patch of pinnacle is loose and shaky with just slight touch. The whole patch may fall any time. Also a college girl had a casualty as she slipped and fell in valley years back. This is best visited during monsoon as the winds are strong with clouds floating.
Please do not throw bottles or leave any thrash behind. It spoils the beauty and environment.
Many peaks like, AMK, Shipnur, Ratangad, Jivdan, Naneghat can be seen from here.
KONKAN SIDE VIEW
A leopard named Ajoba was left in this region with tracking collar. He trekked all the way from here to Borivali National Park crossing numerous peaks.
VALMIKI ASHRAM
