Trek to Bhimshankar (August 15, 2010)

Reach out to cloud, view half way from the cliff of Bhamshankar

By now I have sustained good momentum with few back to back tours in last two months, exploring some of the most coveted nature trails near Mumbai. As it happens, few of us in office often talks about possible location to visit next place; and Bhimshankar was on our radar for some time. Vaibhav got a lead that a group name Trek-Mate organizing a trek to Bhimshankar. The trek was through thick dense jungle and 3500 feet high up in the hills which is a wildlife sanctuary as well that has Maharastra’s state animal, and highly endangered Indian giant squirrel- Shekharu. Plan was exciting, venture into uncharted territory in woods and reaching out to pinnacles on foot by climbing and crawling has always fascinates me, and what else could have been better then this.

Early morning, near the first water stream

Journey to the base village was a bit daunting task, we required to reach Karjat by 3am in the morning via train, hence Vaibhav and I started 11:30 previous night from Kurla. I fortunately able to take an hour’s nap before proceeding from home, and that actually proved quite fruitful as there was no scope to sleep there after. We reached Karjat by 2pm. The entire group was stuffed into 6 different tiny noisy tempo/rickshaw’s, and our roller costar ride started giving the real feeling of adventure ahead. To multiply the fun stuffed junkies started antakshiri, and guess what – we had two girls who by far proven that it’s their area of expertise, Vaibhav, as usual by his mastery keep up with it and through in some good numbers from the front seat, and I seconded everyone whole heartedly lending my voice in the back-end to justify my presence.

Antakshiri continued till the end of one hour roller-costar ride to reach base village Khandas around 4pm. In this historic journey, one of our tempo in the cavalry got punctured as well, took 10 minutes to fix and as a result we got chance to munch few biscuits. In the base village it was total dark, and group leader divided the group assigning sub-leads. Few geniuses including myself who didn’t carry a torch were clubbed with other torch bearers, fortunately Vaibhav had a torch and I started walking with him. We were maneuvering through the villager’s huts, their backyards to get into the jungles trek and in the process we woke them up. One villager cautioned us not to venture in to hills before morning as the trek and the ladder route getting very slippery because of rainy season. Organizers assured him not to do so, and we walk through the plain belt of around one hour. It was indeed very slippery at the starting itself and we had to cross one small water stream on the rock which was very slippery. En route after crossing this we had our breakfast of idli and chatni. Meantime light of early morning perched in and nature around become more distinct. I took out my camera to snap few fresh clip of solitude in the water stream. This is the first time I took my new camera to hone my budding photography skill.

It was another three hours heart pounding job from here onward to reach Bhimshankar temple in the hill top. Climb was extremely stiff and en route there were several ladders to conjoin the gaps between two hillocks. As always, hills offers stunning views, but the greenery here with cloud flying beneath us was the scenery worth a billion. There are ample water streams on the way to rejoice.

More we come nearer to the top, devotees who chosen the jungle route, perhaps went last night and returning now, started facing us on the narrow trek and we had to stop to clear their way. This enableds us must needed small breaks to slow down the heart beats and fill our lung with some fresh oxygen.

Finally, the pinnacle has come ending the four hours strenuous trek. Though it is not the first time I’ve touched the height of 3500 feet on foot, but it was indeed unique as the route was mix of plain, hills, ladder, and thick jungle.

After taking rest for half an hour we started proceeding towards the temple. Bhimashankar is one of the 12 Jyotirlings of India, a very popular pilgrimage place in Maharastra. The temple is around 1200 – 1400 years old. Bhimshankar comes under Pune District and has bus route from various places of Maharashtra. One can even stay in dormitory and in home stay nearby the temple. Many trekkers’ chooses to stay overnight and descends next morning.

As I mentioned Bhimshankar is also a wildlife sanctuary, the entire trek I tried to spot the famous state animal giant squirrel for which the jungle is famous for, but unable to spot it even once. It was when we stepped in to the temple route some camera lad crowed was frantically running towards the big trees looking upwards and I instantly sensed it must be the snap of the moment everybody trying to click…and then someone behind me shouted squirrel…squirrel! I couldn’t resist my temptation anymore and without thinking back and forth dropped my backpack, camera case, and jump into the woods. Now look at the irony, I did spot the squirrel high up on the trees but my 18 – 55mm lens was obviously fall short to catch him at that height, still clicked few left and right with the hope that I’ll be able to crop latter as something is better then nothing. But the idea didn’t really work as giant Shekharu was moving fast from one brunch to another ditching the mad crowd.

I returned and then spot a big herd of monkeys very near within the scope of my lens and rush in. Unlike squirrel, monkey gave enough poses to satisfy everyone. As the says goes that 'it is difficult not to do wrong things in tempting moment', I got sank so much into photography, it was about after 30 minutes I realized that I dropped my back pack to run after the squirrel. I had wallet, cell and everything there except my camera that remain hanging on neck. Heck, my heart started pounding again and I rush back to see nothing in that place where I left my bag. Frantically look here and there but convinced self that I have done the blunder, and waited with a dry face for Vaibhav to return from temple so that I can make calls to block my cards/SIM. Every minutes of wait was looking a years, finally I saw Vaibhav’s face on the crowd and started signaling him to walk fast, never thought even once that he might have carried my bag, and why he will as I didn’t mention to him to pick up while dropping the bag. I never believed in luck, but guess what! as Vaibhav appeared closure he was looking like crushed under some heavy weight, when I look up to his shoulder, his one hand was grabbing my back pack. Unbelievably – and this time I attribute it to my luck.

Story doesn’t end here; we returned by bus and en route we had to change bus in a station to board the Mumbai bound bus. As my fate in that day, actually I had to lose something. In the station I pull out my wallet from backpack to buy tea/snacks and kept it in pent pocket and end up facilitate pickpocketer while boarding another bus. So the lesson is, remain alert is not just the great piece of advice whhile trekking, but applies till you reach home.

Though the last incident was bitter, and if I don’t do the cost-benefit analysis here, it was a lifetime experience – can anyone have such multifaceted event? Jokes apart, I would definitely suggest Bhimshankar to all trekking freaks……just keep your pocket sealed and everything will be all right :-)

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Route: Mumbai or Pune to Karjat, 2hours-> onward to base village Khandas, 1 hour -> 4 hours treking to reach Bhimshankar

River Rafting at Kolad (July 11, 2010)

Rafting on high rapids was long pending on my list, and finally thanks to my fellow adrenaline junkie Vaibhav and Swati step in and we locked the show July 11, Sunday morning. Vaibhav initiated and roped in two of his friends Aditya and Viraj to make the perfect rowing team. Kolad is the most sought-after adventure destination in Maharashtra located in Mahad region 100km from Mumbai. Since there is no train link and had to report 8am in the base camp we planed to go by my car, and started sharp 5am on Sunday morning picking them up on the way.

Soon after we begun and proceed towards Panvel rain started pouring so much that I hardly able to drove 40km+. Though it was an event to get wet fully, and rowing on rain sound extremely good, but not at that time while driving and  having target of completing the journey in 3 hours. Rain played hide and seek with us in the entire journey and we delayed by about half an hour, but fortunately we’ve found organizers are still gearing up. The way to Kolad through Pen and Vadkal Naka is extremely picturesque and we enjoyed stunning view of hills, greenery and village life on rain and the colour of green cover was soulfully delighting. Many time on the way when we enter Kolad area the bunch of cows and goats of villagers blocked our car. The smell of evaporating soil after rain and fresh air blowing through the brunch of lush green trees along with the stray animals made me instantly feel why a concrete jungle can never be a paradise – it’s the village where life resides. With the joy we did talk hypothetically what if we’ve got our office here…hee hee he :-)

Organizer led us to the base camp, twisting and turning through narrow roads halted near a big dam and waited for the demo. We put on the gears, listen to the safety instructions and provided a captain to guide us through. Vaibhav and I took the lead seat that others will follow rowing in tandem w/us, we pulled our raft and get into the water – one kayak leaded all the raft and its just adrenal flowing fun after that. Kundalika River stretches over 10 kilometres and the water release from Mulshi and Bhira dam rave-up the water flow to get class 3 to 4 exciting rapids. White water rafting is all year long activity here but during monsoon Kolad experiences heavy rainfall making the water of river Kundalika flow fast and in abundance. This makes the rapids especially thrilling experience. It started raining and exactly what we wished for that spiked up the fun. In one spot, they name it ‘Johnny Walker’ rapid with full current the captain of the raft himself, just ahead of us fallen down and kayak rescued his raft while we picked up his floating row moving super fast in the current. There were total six to seven high rapid spots, post that moderate flow and the last stage was quite tranquil. To continue our fun at last all of us plunge in to the water and enjoyed swimming with the life-jacket for about half an hour. Worth to mention that, anybody irrespective of swimmers or non swimmer except weak heart’s can venture into this fun-filled sport in Kolad. They provide full safety gear.

We ended the show and carried the raft on our shoulder to parking area. Good experience since it was my first rafting expedition and didn’t really find it that difficult or stressed out relative to the trekking I do. This also convinced me that I am up for higher rapids next. We had our lunch booked at Pooja Farms so quickly enjoyed bada-paw and tea before moving and it was about 20 minutes drive from the rafting exit point. Pooja Farm a very well maintained resort located in a lake side, they even provided us a large tent for changing. We again jump into the lake water for sometime before taking bath, the buffet lunch was utterly delicious. I definitely suggest it’s a very good one day combination with rafting, one can eve stay here overnight to make the most of Kolad or another popular place Hans Adventure. They have lot many in-house adventure activities, and last time I visited with my office colleagues we enjoyed repelling, river crossing, Flying Fox and many more.

We started driving back around 3pm, lost the way a bit just after coming out of Pooja Farm but realized quickly before loosing trek inside the jungle much. Entering Mumbai was like leaving nostalgia behind and feeling was quite unbelievable that such a nature paradise does exists just a few miles away.

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