Myself and my friend Shrinivas Gokhale planned for a trek to Sandhan(सांधण) Valley and Ratangad. It is near Igatpuri/Bhandardara. You need to take the route either from Bhandardara or Igatputi(Ghoti). The route to the Sandhan Valley is exotic if you go in rains but it is too risky to get there so prefer to go in Winter. Since, the location is border of Thane, Nashik and Ahmednagar districts the Sahyadri ranges are very high and we feel the strategic importance of Thane district to the Maratha Empire. The road to Sandhan Valley is really superb. On your right hand you see the highest peak of Sahyadri i.e. Kalsubai and on left-hand side you see the backwaters of Ghatghar Dam. Also, the AMK or the Alang, Madan and Kulang the three forts are visible from here. To reach the Sandhan Valley you need to go to the village called Samrad(साम्रद). From here you need to take a walk for about 2 kms. to reach the valley. The valley is the patch between two hills and you need to go ju...