We started our journey from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in my car – this time with my cousin. Usually, I travel solo or sometimes with friends, so this was our first trip together. The road to Pachnai, the base village of Harishchandragad, took nearly five hours.
After reaching around 3 PM, we sorted our backpacks and packed only the essentials – camping gear, change of clothes, rainwear, cooking items, and sleeping mats. At 3:30, we began the trek. Since it was the first trek for my cousin and others, I gave them instructions and led the group. For me, it was familiar terrain – Harishchandragad has been my trail 5–6 times before.
Our bags were heavy since we were carrying supplies for five people. Along the way, we stopped for limbu sharbat, clicked some photos, and rested. Soon, my sister felt sick and couldn’t carry her bag, so I carried two backpacks for the rest of the climb. The rain had been with us since Pachnai, giving us that true monsoon trek feel.
After reaching the top, we freshened up, took darshan at the Harishchandreshwar temple, and decided to camp at Kokankada. It was just a short 15-minute trail. We explored the cliff, returned before dark, pitched our tents, and began cooking. I took the role of both the trek lead and the cook, preparing a simple but delicious dinner of chana masala with bread. We ate, laughed, and played games as the rain kept drizzling outside.
After midnight, the rain started again, and one of our tents began leaking. We had to shift and fix it, and after that, no one could sleep. Around 3:30 AM, I stepped out and roamed alone in the mist. Our plan was to see the pre-monsoon clouds at Kokankada during sunrise, but with nonstop rain, chances were slim. Still, I woke everyone and we walked to the cliff. We didn’t get the magical sea of clouds, but the fog and drifting mist gave us a surreal view.
Back at the campsite, we cooked Maggi and coffee for breakfast, packed up, and prepared to leave. Just as we started descending, the rain stopped. But when we reached back near Harishchandreshwar temple, we heard the clouds had rolled in beautifully at Kokankada – we had just missed it.
Even though we couldn’t catch the classic view, the whole experience – camping in the rain, cooking together, and leading my cousin on their first trek – made this Harishchandragad journey truly unforgettable.
Location Link.
. Okay I’ll the Google Map location Link right away.
The rain, mist, camping under the stars, all the elements of a true monsoon trek. 
