Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Saturday, 13 August 2016
When The Sun Turns Cold
It's time to go back home
It's time for the sun to lay cold
It's time sleep takes over all strife
It's time love settles
In hearts of the wandering souls
Let me borrow a pinch of the peach and red
Let me slather a dash of hue that's gold
Before the sun goes down and turns cold.
Friday, 22 July 2016
Monsoon, Sahyadris And Treks
I could see them changing shades. At 37,000 feet, sitting by
the window and flying through them as the airplane sashayed above the
Sahyadris. My lips curved into a broad smile. The clouds had started loitering
all over Sahyadris, ready to defeat the gory summer heat. Its time. Time to go
trekking and soak in the resplendence of the Sahyadris.
So what’s so special about those short weekend treks during
monsoon?
The best part is, you don’t need to sulk and worry about unavailability
of leaves. You could just hop around during weekends. Plus, there are couple of
more reasons.
Firstly, if you are a pluviophile, you won’t need to hunt for
reasons to get drenched. Secondly, treks are one of the best ways to stay fit
and healthy (both mentally and physically). That takes care of your obsession
of shedding those extra pounds gained while you gorged on all sinful stuff
throughout the week. And lastly, you get to explore the unexplored; you come to
know about places that might have been a trivia for you until today and places
you thought never even existed.
 |
| View From Andharban Trails |
If you thought trekking was for some aliens and people from
different planet altogether, give your thoughts a strong shudder. Look around when
you go for those romantic long drives during monsoon, crossing the valleys,
glaring at the waterfalls and wishing, if only you could touch the water or
bathe under one.
Why only wish? Why not live those wishes?
There is much more to Sahyadris than usual visits to those
dams and waterfalls (from distant) on weekends when people from every nook and corner
of the city are hopping towards the quotidian. Instead, do things that you might not have dreamt of doing and feel the rush of adventure in your blood.
 |
| The Horse-Shoe Waterfall |
Get mesmerized by view of Duke’s Nose, The Horse Shoe
Waterfall, The breadth of Lonavla from Rajmachi. Submerge yourself under the
waterfall by Kondane Caves. Revere the beauty of dark while traversing
through the dense Andharban forest. Experience the quiver of elevations while climbing the 800
steep rock cut stairs of Harihar fort.
 |
| The Thrilling Harihar Fort |
Stand atop Korigad fort and have a look at the green lawn
spread across Pune. Hop on to the peak of Kalawantin Fort and take a look around,
spot Irshalgad, Shrimallang, Matheran, Vikatgad and Mahuli among various other forts.
 |
| Kalawantin Fort- View from Prabalgad |
The trail to Naneghat would never fail to enchant you with it's most distinguished charm. Consider yourself lucky when you get to see "The Indravajra" from atop Konkankada (a rare phenomenon called Brocken Spectre) when you trek
to Harishchandragad.
 |
| Trail to Naneghat |
Trek to Bhimashankar and you earmark your endurance levels. Meditate under the waterfall of Gupt Bhimashankar. Summit Mount Kalsubai and you can brag about conquering the highest peak of Maharashtra.
 |
| Meditate under Gupt Bhimashankar Waterfall |
Save yourselves from getting blown away by the fierce wind while
traversing through the ridges of Ghanchakkar and Bhairavgad. Wake up early, sit by the caves of Ratangad and if you are
an ardent artist, you get to view the most beautiful portray of Bandardhara presented by nature herself.
 |
| View from Ratangad Caves- Just before Sunrise |
Drink from the water cisterns, bathe in the fresh water
streams, swing along the giant creepers and walk through the clouds. Rappel down the gushing waterfalls of Vihi and Bhivpuri.
 |
| Waterfall Rappeling- Vihi Waterfall |
Go south and trek along the railway tracks of
Goa to behold the might of Dudhsagar waterfall. Traverse through the jungle and
take a dip in the Tambdi Surla Waterfall near Kulem, Goa. Beware of the leeches, they can get inside your shoes anytime. However, that's the last thing you should worry about.
 |
| The mighty Doodhsagar Falls- Goa |
Pondering upon the thought on how to go ahead for these short and worry-less weekend trips? Well, all you need to do is, visit
the websites below and you won’t need to ask for more. The trek groups mentioned
below would help you out. You may select a group based on the convenience of
your location.
Monsoon is at its peak and before it bids adieu, gear up, pack your bags with monsoon essentials, grab good trekking shoes and voila, you are all set.
Happy Monsoon. Aloha.
The pictures are sourced from Arun Kumar Dash, Sandesh Chalke and Google.
Share your thoughts with me at dipanwiita@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)