A trip to remember

A trip to remember

A walk in the clouds

Amidst the bright moonlight

And a million stars

Climb to the top

And hearing the echo

No these lines are not from my morning dream. Though it felt like one.

Despite the sun burnt nose, stiff calves and ugly tanning…the trek felt like visiting a different world.

A trip to Harishchandra Garh in the middle of Shayadries is any trekker’s delight.

 Curtain Raiser: After days of Planning and enquiring people (read begging and coaxing). I and Rajat decided that we will take the plunge come what may. We made the checklist, assorted the first Aid kit gave each other assurance. Cursed people who ditched in the last minute, praised people who did manage to join eventually and we started the journey.

How to reach: Reach Kalyan Station, Bus for Aley Phata from Kalyan via Murbad in every half an hr. Get down at a place called Khubi-Phata at the beginning of the lake. This will take around 2 hrs for apparox 90Kms. Then take a jeep or walk to the Base Village (Khireshwar) which is approx 4-6 kms. Last Jeep goes at around 5 pm for returning.(Getting stuck there after the whole trek can be extremely painful)

So we said why bother so much of iterations and lay slave on the reliable public transport system, we just hopped onto the car and started. The ride at 4.30am on the Mumbai express ways was interesting but once you move beyond kalian it was absolutely ecstatic. Excellent Roads added with beautiful landscape. Roads covered with trees shadows and first rays of the sun amidst them. The view takes you away from the daily grind of metro life almost immediately. But of course it was just the beginning.

So Me, Rajat and Amol (friend, philospher & guide…why writing this is important will tell later.) embarked on the voyage throwing caution to the morning wind.

We reached the base village by 8.30.everything looks serene and beautiful with manmade lake alongside. The exploration team was incomplete as Mr. Bo & Mr. Pint were yet to join so we wasted time by taking a dip in the lake. Playing with the fishes and eating farsan on the small rocks surrounded by water.

By the time our rest of the crew arrived it was 11.30 am with 40C and scorching heat. But the enthusiasm was still alive so we marched on.

Packed with lots of water and lots of food (with lots we meant 4 litres of water and few packs of biscuits) we started our steps to the pre historic temple. The trek despite the heat is beautiful .The way between the shade of trees from both sides made the nature walk incredibly satisfying. The upbeat mood stayed for full 3 hours. Till now we had cleaned up 3 litres of water and were just half way thru. Then we arrived at the “rock patch”. The memories of Ethan Hunt in his cool sunglasses hanging on to the cliff with one hand flashed into my mind. And overwhelmed by thinking about such an experience I reassessed and decided to go ahead with the rock patch. But unfortunately when Ethan was hanging there I m sure there must have been safety net .So we cut the heroics and ended up crawling and inching on that steep climb rather than doing any stunt. There was no audience, no million dollars for the stunt but hell care we finally manage to survive.

So 4 hours done and still the destination nowhere in sight. By this time all the water was over and lungs started shrinking. Then our dearest guide spotted a flag which he proudly declared is of the temple. This started the wild goose chase towards the flag which only Amol was being able to see.

After crossing 6-7 (do not really rem…was almost dying of thirst) small hills we managed to reach the temple, rushed to the small pond of water in the temple. I have never drunk so much of water at 1 go in my life.

The temple was beautiful, In the pre historic black stone it looked pristine. Ornated with bright red Lord Hanuman sculpture it looked fantastic and eerie in the twilight. Then there were caves besides it where we were supposed to put up for the night. But the good sense prevailed and so did the generosity by the lone village couple on the top. We slept in the verandah of their small cottage staring directly at the brightest moonlight.

Day 2: Waking up on the top of the hill was a new feeling. Clouds lazing around at your eyelevel, rising orange Sun looks so close and embraceable. The freshness of the wind makes you inhale more and more of it. Suddenly you don’t feel all the mad climb of previous evening.

We annexed a hill spot called Konkan Kada. From here complete Shayadhri is visible. The view is not only breathtaking but also intimidating. How I wished I could just get a Glider transported here ( of course you don’t expect me to get it here on my back with 5 hours of climbing right?..you may ask do I know how to glide but I don’t think that’s an important point, I don’t know how to drive but I still dream about a Mercedes everyday :P.) Besides the jabber talk Konkan Kada in early morning sun is a place you`ll pay anything to experience. 50 mins of uphill climb from there can take you to a point called”Taramati”. But walking whole day in the blood sucking heat has taken the toll and we decided to give it a miss. (Taramati shall explore your secrets next time..).Post breakfast we decided our downward journey at around 10 am.

Reaching back super dead around 2 pm took a holy dip in the lake. I exhibited my new found swimming skills in the still lake water. Washed hair with undrinkable beer, had lunch in a roadside dhaba whose name I do not wish to remember. But what I do wish to remember is

• 2 days away from all the mobile signals. Absolute tranquility, priceless in today`s times.
• Spending night on top of the hill with no water, no electricity, no bed, no mattress
• Eating the typical (read otherwise inedible )village food and thanking god for it being there atlest
• Realizing that we actually would have been lost without amol in a place with no village close by, no water and no signal
• Visiting a village where there is no mode of transport for at least 18hrs a day.
• Being with nature and absolutely nothing else.

Drove back to Mumbai with an experience of a life time and energy for the months to come.