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Vanaspati Bet (Wadval-Nagnath):
Wadval Nagnath village is in Chakur tahil, which was newly established. The area of this village is 23.27 hectares. Vanaspati Bet is found in Wadval Nagnath village of Chakur tahsil. This place (Bet) is 2 to 3 kilometers away from the Chakur town. This bet is famous for the trees which are having a medical quality. The Hilly and mountainous area is very small in the Latur district. Among some of the hills, this is one, and it is called 'bet' in Marathi.
It is the faith of the people that if one wanders on this hill for some days and eats the leaves of the trees which cames in front of you when you are wandering on this hill, all kind of diseases in the body will be cured. This is mentioned that there are somany trees on this hill which having the medical qualities and because of this all diseases are cured.
Vanaspati bet is part of the Balaghat Plateau. This hill is made up of purple coloured stones, which are generally found in the Konkan region. The Rocks around this hill one structured like the 'Buruj of Forts. The step topography is found around the hill. The slope of the hill is the same in all directions. This hill originated at the time when the Deccan plateau and Balaghat ranges originated. The hill is covered with some trees. These trees are scattered on the hill. The rapids, stones, and soil flow towards the bottom of the hill with the water in rainy season.
The two myths are told about the medical trees and the origin of this hill. The first is that long years ago, the war between Nagnath and Machindranath took place. Lord Datta stopped this war. He called all the Nagnathas here and ordered them to make nine trees which are having a medical quality by the use of their knowledge. According to it all the Navnathas had done this job well and made nine trees having medical qualities in them. This work was done during the time of 'Uttarayan'. So that people visit this place during the time of 'Uttara Nakshtra', and they eat the leaves of the trees. People don't know those nine medical trees made by the Nathas. So they eat the leaves of all the trees. And it wonders that these leaves don't have any bad effect.
Another myth is that Lakshaamana was injured by an arrow while fighting in the war in Lanka. A Rushi advised Rama that there is a hill in India, which has a medical tree on it, and the leaves of one of those trees will cure Lakshaamana. This task was left to Hanuman. When Hanuman reached the 'hill'. He could not identify those particular trees. As a solution to the confusion, he lifted the mountain on his palm and marched towards Lanka. While going, some parts of this monument fell down. It is mentioned that this 'bet' (Hill) is one of those parts of the mountains that falls down. This part of the mountain is known as the 'Vanspati Bet'. But these two are myths only. This hill is part of the Balaghat plateau range.
The atmosphere here is hot and dry in summer. The humidity increases during the rainy season. The average temperature is 25°c to 40°c here, during the winter season it is below 15°c. The atmosphere and campus around the hill become green and salubrious.
It looks so beautiful that the hill has worn the green 'Shalu'. There were so many thick trees a hundred years ago around this hill. Now the number of trees is becoming less and less. But so many visitors visit this place.
There is a small temple of Maruti on this hill. There is an idol of the god Vitthal beside the idol of the god Maruti. The temple is very simple. The wireless station is built on this hill. The people gathered on this hill during the period of Uttara Nakshatra. The visitors, school students and the diseased people visit this place. Some schools,, colleges also organise tours to this hill.
This hill is well known for the 'Aushadhi' Vanespaties (Planet), but it can be developed well as a natural tourist centre. To reach the hill, one has to come to Chakur or Latur road and then a tar road to reach the bottom of the hill. One has to go on foot to the top. There are so many buses that go to Chakur and Latur Road. From Latur town, there is a Parali-Hyderabad broad gauge railway passing through Latur road. The people from another district can use this railway route to reach this place, but one has to use the road from Latur Road and Chakur to reach this place.
The facility for drinking water for the visitor is good. people use the water from tankers and Bore wells. The campus near this place has become dirty to some extent because people throw their carry bags, leftover food, and waste around the campus on the hill. The electricity supply here is not so good because it is disturbed so many times during the day and night. People eat the leaves of the trees here, so the existence of these trees is in danger. The electricity is not supplied all over the hill. The telephone facility is available on this hill, and STD and ISD facilities are also available in the village. The luxury buses are available to come to Chakur or Latur Road. But from here, transport facilities are not sufficient to reach the hill. One has to use Jeeps or auto rickshaws to reach the hill. The charge is very high for the visitors. The accommodation facilities are not sufficient it should be provided here by the local administration. There is no hotel on the hill. The varieties of trees should be planted to beautify the campus of this hill. These trees should be protected. The road to the hill should be enlarged and maintained well. Drinking water facilities should be managed well. There is no bus stand near this hill; it should be constructed and facilities like a hotel, canteen, Lavotory should be provided here. This bet is in Wadval Nagnath village. It is an important station on the Parali-Hyderabad broad-gauge railway line. Visitors can use it. This railway station is not big, but it is well-maintained. Recreational facilities should be provided here.
