Shivathar Ghal

           Visit Shiv-Thar-Ghal. Ghal is a marathi word for a huge cave like crevasse in a mountainside.
          Shivthar Ghal is the Ghal where Samarth Ramdas Swami stayed and wrote the DAAS-BODH many hundred years ago. Ramdas Swami selected this beautiful cave for their stay ,and wrote the "Dasbodh" in this cave.This cave is in the Javali valley ,which was famous for its dense forest and the forts like Pratapgad, Makarandgad .These forts and the valley played an important role in history of Maharashtra.
This valley is studded with lush greenery even today.
          Shivthar Ghal falls in Raigad District. Shivthar Ghal though not very close to Pune but is worth visiting when you are some where near Pune. It should be mainly visited in winter season. It is small place but still a beautiful one. It is in the Sahyadries.
          The hall where Ramdas Swami used to pray, sit and write is still over here. This place is also famous as Sundar Math. This is the same hall where he sat and wrote the famous Manuscript Dasbodh. Ramdas Swami dictated Dasbodh to Kalyan Swami and he wrote it down, it took them 12 years to complete it. Mountains, high water falls, rivers and trees in abundant are the best of this place. One gets a complete peace of mind and relaxation in this place. Shivthar Ghal is 20 mts long and 15 mts broad. Shivthar ghal can be divided in three parts. One out of which has statues of Samarth Ramdas, Kalyan Swami and an idol of Ram-Laksham-Sita. 
           Way to the Ghal is via the Bhor-Mahad road at the foot of Varanda Ghat. If you are planning to go walking then you need to cross the Bhatghar Dam by a Boat to reach the Sanghvi village. And after that walk to your destination.

Statues of Shri Samarth Ramdas Swa,i & Kalyan Swami	Beautiful Scenery near Ghal	Kaal River
Fall above Shivathar Ghal	Entry into the Hall where Dasbodh was written	Fall adjoining Ghal
Fall Near the Ghal	Sketch of the idols of Samarth Ramdas Swami & Kalyan Swami while the former was dectating & later was writing the Dasbodh
Hand-writing of Samarth Ramdas Swami	Hand-writing of Kalyan Swami