An account of the trek
An account by Ketan Khairnar
Date: 17th July 2005
Destination: Sarasgad near Pali (taluka Sudhagad), Khopoli region.
Participants: Sanket Sangwikar, Ketan Khainar, Aniket Lonkar, Sourabh Sil, Mandar Date, Sandeep Patil, Shrikant Meshram, Harish Shanbag, Manoj Pawar, Rohit Saxena (TOTAL 10)
Guys,
This has become norm now for me and our group for penning down trek stories and also handling logistic and finances for these small one-day outings. Yeah, new story is out to read for all. This is about our yesterdays trek to Sarasgad near Pali. Yes you are right the one near Ballaleshwar(one of the shtavinayaks).
Bus
Me and Sanket kept threshold of four people to go for trek, but on Friday there were around 13-14 people in mailing list and actual participants turned out to be 10. First large group for any of my treks.
Participants: Ketan, Sanket, Rohit, Sandeep, Manoj, Aniket, Saurabh, Harish, Mandar, Shrikant [5 i-Flexers and 4 Patnites (I was the only person to know all 10 people though)]
After lot of plans and canceling them out on Saturday day night we gave green signal to catch bus from Thane to Pali to avoid changing of buses/trains/six seaters. What? You don’t know six-seaters, you must come for some trek to realize what wonderful mode of transport it is! It is called as six-seater for namesake though. It could carry as large as 15 people comfortably (Comfort always have been relative term for centuries J)
Well we took 6.15 Thane-Pali bus to our destination. Everybody came on time; that was good sign of discipline. It is much needed for anything in life. Think the eccentricities and how one guy can ruin the whole fun at the start only. We took last seats in bus and Manoj who promised to doze off, did really good work. Me, sandy, Rohit kept our word not to disturb him in his occasional solid plans like sleeping on picnic day, planning treks for four of his girl friends (I have put %20 by decision). We reached Panvel and Rohit, Sandy,Shrikant went out to buy vada pav for themselves and got whip from somebody for selfish concern. Soon we reached Khopoli passing behind Mahad (One of the Ashtavinayaks) where we came back again from trek. From khopoli we took diversion from the road which heads Pune. This particular road leads to Tamhini ghat which climbs up from Konkan to Pune(Mulshi). Tamhini ghat is also favorite one day picnic spots to look out in future treks this monsoon. On the way to Pali we passed out villages like Pedli,parli,Karwar,Devnhave an dthen reached Pali finally.
Ganeshdarshan
Ganpati has been my favorite god since schooldays. I realize him beside me in all the good things and bad too. I remember him in pains only that is the fallacy on my side.
There was as such no rush in Mandir and everybody got enough time for praying for monetary and spiritual blessings from Ballaleshwar. I read small stories depicted using pictures on wall and then we all sat outside for 10-15 minutes more. I have been experiencing this particular thing for each of my trek. When you go out and then sat alone and suddenly things those come out your head/mind is some kind of nostalgia. Don’t know why and about what? But it is always peace to my mind and some unique moment to cherish.
Beside the mandir there was “Houd” (swimming pool) where Ian Thorpe of Pali showing us his stamina and sometimes flexing his muscles. Maybe because of sandy who was out in sleeveless Tee. Went to local restaurant ordered Misal-Pav, vada-pav and 1 by 6 pohe. Saurabh thought that was some kind of free lunch party and paid the price later on J
We also packed up the Puri-bhaji and Better water bottled better for all of us. Enquired about other local spots to visit besides route to summit for day; Singled out “Unhere” for later in day. Unhere is abt 3kms from pali and has natural hot water springs. Well we didn’t go there in the end.
Climb
We started climbing after quick change in avatar (clothes). Me headed for wrong way, which was more interesting than the route, found out by Sanket. Then started snaps session at each halt. Meanwhile saurabh was exhausted as he was carrying heavy load in bag and his belly too. After a while we reached flat green plateau where we saw some cows (“Gay” in Marathi) whispering among themselves who are these guys? My eyes found tail-baila twin walls. This is famous for rock-climbers and is near mulshi around 50-60 km from Pali. After 15 minutes trek we again reached another flat plateu and then straight climb ahead. Saurabh and me interchanged bags. We could see steps from there but way to them was dismal as it was steep ridge there. Everybody asked fellow trekkers which were ahead and already reached steps in their innovative ways while Harish was capturing the response form zooming in his camera. Got the response headed for route and after 20-25 mins we reached the steps to darwaja of fort. As we could out figure out the steps from 300-500 feet below; you could easily tell that those were massive step. We had lengthiest snap session at this point. Then we climbed 96 massive steps. Literally each step was as high as your knee. Somehow Sanket, aniket and me were lagging behind first time trekkers but I managed to reach fort as well as citadel first.
After reaching fort search for water began, asked the shepherds there and they just pointed out ways to Water Tanks. Don’t you think this shepherds and language, which is not spoken, reminds you of Alchemist? But we were not after some treasure any way. But Rohit, we saw that shepherd dog was scratching surface! Oh, my god we missed that omen.
Things followed after this very fast we reached citadel. Shiomadir was already occupied by trekkers, which were ahead us so we decided to finish our packed lunch outside Darga atop. Thought of taking small nap but have to reach ‘Unhere” also. So packed out bags and waste-papers-plastics in separate bags. We started trekking down with full speed. We had competitors as sheep. They have more advantage but we managed give them run for their money (perfect use of phrase at non-perfect place) till some distance. I watched some program on NATGEO as how they could manage to go any place on mountains. We took around 70-80 minutes to reach base of the fort. On the return way we came down from completely different route so reached at the other end of village.
Mahad varadVinayak
We soon found six-seater, I managed to persuade him to take us to mahad. Reached Mahad, took Darshan of Varad-Vinayak. Me, Harish and sandy had a tilak on our forehead. Took snaps and then headed for Khopoli railway station. This train travel was toll on our body as being Sunday It looked like all youth of Thane, Mumbai were at khopoli and scene was as chaotic as shown in the movie Titanic when ship was soon to sunk. We traveled without ticket to respective destination.
Addendum by Sanket Sangwikar
Hey
Nice one. Just to add some:
Our despair
As we reached Pali, we could easily spot a small hill behind the village and recognized it as Sarasgad. Ketan and me were really disappointed to see the lack of height and remembered of the trek to Korigad. We hadn’t imagined the trek to be so simple. But soon we learnt that you should not underestimate any of the Shivaji’s forts. This fort was also unique with its own way.
Kille Sarasgad
The fort had external stout walls and bastions. The way to the fort at the later stage passed through 96 steps carved in a small rocky lane. Amazingly Sarasgad has exceptionally large number of ponds and tanks carved in the caves at the base of citadel. Most of them are worth drinking. Also fort has many caves worth a night stay. The way and the fort both were covered with lush green tender grass you would want sleep on forever. The way to Citadel was a bit tricky and was a good place to have lunch.
Coming Down
Trekkers generally never like to come down by the same route. More the unexpected better it is. May be that’s why we took another way to get down which was chorDarwaja. Unlike the usual chor-vaat (Secret route) of the other forts, this one was exceptionally lengthy and unique one. The steps were not built but carved in large rocks. It was only us who needed those steps to get down. The goats and their shepherds, who were coming behind us, seem to have applied Fevi-quick to their feet not to fall down.
Photo-Sessions
This time we had a bit longer photo-sessions having lots of greenery and caves to shoot. The ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’
The RAIN
There wasn’t a single drop of water throughout the day. This was the only thing missing in the whole enjoyment. The clouds blessed us throughout the day but didn’t pour. Of course, after reaching the fort we forgot about it and were too engaged to explore the beauty of the fort. It was only while climbing when we were wishing for it badly.
Regards,
Sanket
संकेत सांगवीकर
Addendum by Ketan Khairnar
Well I forgot to add some things:
Mandar was the only person who optimized his trekking efforts in some ways
Like
1. Don’t go to each and every place unless it is must see
2. Accompany the guys who has most resources (food and water)
3. Searching for water is not my job, you are honored to find me on this trek
4. Take regular rest despite what others say
5. Carry minimum baggage
This was really good way to minimize toll on our body. I am impressed, Mandar!
Local talent: When we reached down at the base one of the shepherd guys accompanying us showed us his unique stunt.
You know bicycle kick; he did that same thing 3-4 times in one go. Me and manoj were the only people to see this particular thing
On the way back to Mahad I had a little chat with our Six-seater driver, He said there is some aborigine “Adivaasi” quack, who had done good business by selling local (so called junglee) drugs to patients around Khopoli, Kalyan and nearby places. He has a tata Safari, two other tata utility vehicles and truck.
Even one minister had visited his place. Need some innovative ways like this to make money J
Addendum by Manoj Pawar
The start of the trek was on a lil wrong track with the group moving ahead on a seemingly new route up the hill. The guys who were in the lead wud have had to think of untrod paths till Sanket found a well worn path up the base hills…. We reached a first level plateau region fairly easily. With just a couple of stops where we were trying to replenish our fallin water levels… reaching the second flat level took some effort coz our bodies had till then just started to heat up with the strain….
We had a small photo session here where the actual climb up to the hill fort was to start…. From the flat level, Sanket/ aniket/ Ketan were able to identify some of the neighboring hill forts like Tail baila, and some ‘Teen kawdicha dongar’ and sudhagad and the like. After cooling off for some time under a burning sun here we started looking out for routes to climb up…. From the flat land, hardly anything was visible except a rock wall imposing on us …. We then spotted some other group of people already making its way up the fort… so we thot, why not just ask for a way to lead us up… what started with a few whistles to attract their attention then gave way to hand signals, which both the groups could decipher…. Amidst some exasperation, somebody just called out and surprisingly there voices floated down fairly loud too… what a waste to have tried some stupid hand signals when we could have easily talked our way up !!!!!!!
The later part of the trek actually going uphill was a bit easier coz our bodies had warmed up sufficiently enough…. Rohit was leading the troop for a fairly long time. A few halts here and there up the rocky patch and sandy disrobing himself off his sweaty bodice …. And we had reached the series of steps cut in the rocks. The small ledge at the base of the steps served as an ideal location for Ketan being sworn as a new age Peshwa… complete with personal servants…. The photo session here was extensive with all of us challenging the ‘so-called’ models on Page 3. And yes… the view down here was gr8 …. With us spotting a river winding down the land below us. Sanket, Manoj and Shrikant tried going in a small cave armed with a mobile torch, but the darkness was enough for us to turn back quiet…
The flight of steps up to the main darwaja were not carved keeping us in mind, so high were they that we had to climb on all fours at some places…. We had already reached up the main fort level…. Some of us then went off in the search of water in the fort cisterns… but had to return empty handed… we then decided to go a little higher and managed to find ‘clearer’ water in one of the houd’s above. Everybody was already suffering from the sun’s heat that we decided to have a small shower of sorts… vanity conscious sandy cudn’t resist a proper fash-wash therapy here …. And rohit taking to the cooling literally, dipping his feet in the water… any call for food was thrown to the winds by wing leader Sanket ordering one and all to reach atop the ballekilla to have food.
The climb to the citadel top was uneventful with the troop treading cautiously on loose stones. Nobody could have been interested to be found at the bottom of a hill or hanging upside down from some tree branch in case he had some extra slice of luck, so utmost care saw us through to the top nestling a cool terrace of sorts in front of a ‘shah pir baba’ Samadhi and a shiv mandir. The open ground in front of the pir baba mandir served as our table as we first went quiet to eat food … and then started talking as we were filling up. Resting atop the citadel gave way for climbing down to the main fort level and then down a circuitous path down steps cut in rocks accompanying flat footed sheep and sure footed shepherds to come out to the main road…
Comments
Comment by Aniket Lonkar
hey guys..
Had a wonderful time yesterday.... couldnt say good bye to every one though due to the gardi in the train... :-)…Hope no one was caught travelling ticketless...
Comment by Sandeep Patil
Nicely written by Ketan….and It was good to read and analyze what we did yesterday…
Frankly speaking, I was somewhat nervous when Sanket and Ketan were saying that Sarasgadh is looking small and trekking will be simple like Koraigad. But later I enjoyed trekking and it was really good experience.
Comment by Manoj Pawar
Sandy, you got to be kiddin when u say that the place looked small … ask me or mandar and we were awed at the very sight of the fort as we alighted the bus … neways … we were kinda amateurs and you are now a real pro… ‘hunk’ I wud have said but then that wud be too much for a day … and I cant lie that much ;-) neways …. way to go … Tall Dark and Handsome man …. Put some clothes on !!!!!!!! It wud be easier for the guys to bear you …
It was good enough and Ketan and Sanket have done a wonderful job with the keyboard chronicling the trek … about future plans and Ketan’s concerns abt my gfs … I think we can go to Harishchandragad next week..
Comment by Shrikant Meshram
This story seems to me as the bestseller than any Harry potter books. Nicely written and while reading these I was surely taken to the yesterday battle field (Killa) which we had a plan to raid… But the British (and some lovebirds.... Amit + Pradnya = LOVE etc. etc. etc.) didn’t left any stone for us to claim J.
Well composed!! Great to read. Actually I was not able to say good bye to all bcos of my condition + Titanic effect on the boat (Yesterday I was so tired that I couldn't make a diff. that we were traveling on a train or boat… bcos it seemed yesterday in the train that I was floating and hello I wasn't drunk ok!!(Most of the time the floating effect comes after drinking only) ).
So thnx for all the wonderful moments yesterday which we all shared and I m really lucky to be the part of such a 'Fantastic 10' series which just started on AIR from yesterday morning at 6:15 AM. Looking forward for next adventure.
1 comment:
I miss those good old days of trekking.
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