http://jeetchem.wordpress.com Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:26:55 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://jeetchem.wordpress.com/pics/#comment-49 JC says » Trek to NaneGhat Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:26:55 +0000 http://jeetchem.wordpress.com/pictures/#comment-49 [...] Its the monsoon time again in Mumbai and this calls for the trekking season. There are many beautiful “ghats” around Mumbai where one can go trekking. At this point I should mention that I used be very confused with the usage of term “ghats” as in north India, this particular term is used for river banks etc, however, here in Mumbai or may be in Maharashtra, this term is used for hilly areas. Anyways, its not the term but the place which matters and these ghats are actually very beautiful during monsoon season. Last sunday (22nd June’08 ) we, a group of 12 people from TIFR, decided to go trekking to Naneghat, a simple but not so simple trekking point, and sufficiently famous on google. The process started a day before when the food shopping was done (butter, bread, jam, thepla, singdana, banana, malpua…). All of us were instructed to sleep well in time as we have to leave for Kalyan by first local from CST. Instructions were followed and all of us were there at TIFR gate around 3:45 am, however, as usual one-two persons delayed and by the time we reached CST, we missed 4:22 local and we then boarded 4:43 one. Nevermind, everyone was in joyous mood and excited for the first trek (for most of us) of the monsoon. Photography sessions by some amateur photographers were going on on the way. After reaching Kalyan, we decided to have a “light” breakfast, which was not so light for some of us. There was fresh wada-pao coming out of oven, and all of us had it. Wada-pao has never tasted so well before!! Then there was a tea-session and in the meanwhile an idli-waala came out of the blue. So having idli was also a must-to-do job. After all these rituals we took a bus to NaneGhat (bus which goes to Malshej ghat goes directly via NaneGhat, otherwise one may have to change at Murbad an then at Tokawade). The bus journey was 72 km (i did not measure it, bus conductor told us the figure). A funny incident happened in the bus. As soon as conductor came to us for tickets, I asked him the fare to NaneGhat, he told in marathi, “panchees chalis”. I obviously did not understand and asked him again to tell me in hindi. He then told 45 Rs. I was shocked to hear that out side mumbai the journey is so cheap, for 72 km journey and for a group of 12 persons, this fellow is asking for just 45 Rs., that means only 3.75 Rs per head…i gave him happily a note of Rs 50 expecting a coin back. But he started shouting in marathi, its Rs 540 in total (that means Rs 45 per head)…well, then suddenly i remembered that similar incident has happened with us while we were on to Kashid beach last year. Finally we reached NaneGhat and photography sessions were continued on the way. Trekking started. Easy but not so easy. Everyone was excited. But by the time we reached the base of the actuall hill, it was almost 4-5 km and a little fatigue was there on every face. We decided to have another round of breakfast. The journey started again. Being the slowest member of the group, I was following the foot steps of the ongoing members and thus no question of loosing the way. Besides, there were arrow marks painted on rocks by some kind people. Finally, we reached the top in about 4 hours and to our surprise, there was a chai waala there in the cave upstairs. We enjoyed the tea along with the beautiful sight of the Sehyadri Mountain range, then went further up and passed the “Naneghat Pass” and went up the hill. Actually I dont have adjectives at the moment to explain the view, one has to go there and see by himself. Then there was a little rain, while we were on top of the hill, and we unanimously avoid dancing in the rain and came back to the cave for shelter. After a little rest, we started trekking down the hill as it was already 3:30 pm. Again, me and my dear wife were the two last members of the trail. Suddenly the distance between the last member of the trail and the two of us was out of voice distance. I mean, we started shouting the names of the people but there was no body to listen, believe me, that was really haunting…since already there was no light because of dense forest in some stretches, and on top of that there were clouds all around. But we kept faith in “GOD” and followed the painted arrows. After walking alone for around half an hour, we found our group members sitting and waiting for us. That passed, and we reached downstairs at around 7:15 pm. Another hill to cover next was…how to go to Kalyan now, as there is no bus stop at the NaneGhat starting point, and no State Transport bus driver was kind enough to stop the bus. Then one of us went to Tokawade (4 km from there) by the help of passing by biker, and hired a big jeap (took Rs 100/=) which accommodated all of us and we reached Tokawade in no time. There a bus was waiting for us to take us to Kalyan (this time the total fare was Rs 408/=, may be its 3 by 2 bus thats why….). Had dinner at a “nice” restaurant (at least air conditioning was nice) at Kalyan station and took the local train to CST and reached TIFR at around 1 in the night. Some of the photos I clicked can be seen here. [...] [...] Its the monsoon time again in Mumbai and this calls for the trekking season. There are many beautiful “ghats” around Mumbai where one can go trekking. At this point I should mention that I used be very confused with the usage of term “ghats” as in north India, this particular term is used for river banks etc, however, here in Mumbai or may be in Maharashtra, this term is used for hilly areas. Anyways, its not the term but the place which matters and these ghats are actually very beautiful during monsoon season. Last sunday (22nd June’08 ) we, a group of 12 people from TIFR, decided to go trekking to Naneghat, a simple but not so simple trekking point, and sufficiently famous on google. The process started a day before when the food shopping was done (butter, bread, jam, thepla, singdana, banana, malpua…). All of us were instructed to sleep well in time as we have to leave for Kalyan by first local from CST. Instructions were followed and all of us were there at TIFR gate around 3:45 am, however, as usual one-two persons delayed and by the time we reached CST, we missed 4:22 local and we then boarded 4:43 one. Nevermind, everyone was in joyous mood and excited for the first trek (for most of us) of the monsoon. Photography sessions by some amateur photographers were going on on the way. After reaching Kalyan, we decided to have a “light” breakfast, which was not so light for some of us. There was fresh wada-pao coming out of oven, and all of us had it. Wada-pao has never tasted so well before!! Then there was a tea-session and in the meanwhile an idli-waala came out of the blue. So having idli was also a must-to-do job. After all these rituals we took a bus to NaneGhat (bus which goes to Malshej ghat goes directly via NaneGhat, otherwise one may have to change at Murbad an then at Tokawade). The bus journey was 72 km (i did not measure it, bus conductor told us the figure). A funny incident happened in the bus. As soon as conductor came to us for tickets, I asked him the fare to NaneGhat, he told in marathi, “panchees chalis”. I obviously did not understand and asked him again to tell me in hindi. He then told 45 Rs. I was shocked to hear that out side mumbai the journey is so cheap, for 72 km journey and for a group of 12 persons, this fellow is asking for just 45 Rs., that means only 3.75 Rs per head…i gave him happily a note of Rs 50 expecting a coin back. But he started shouting in marathi, its Rs 540 in total (that means Rs 45 per head)…well, then suddenly i remembered that similar incident has happened with us while we were on to Kashid beach last year. Finally we reached NaneGhat and photography sessions were continued on the way. Trekking started. Easy but not so easy. Everyone was excited. But by the time we reached the base of the actuall hill, it was almost 4-5 km and a little fatigue was there on every face. We decided to have another round of breakfast. The journey started again. Being the slowest member of the group, I was following the foot steps of the ongoing members and thus no question of loosing the way. Besides, there were arrow marks painted on rocks by some kind people. Finally, we reached the top in about 4 hours and to our surprise, there was a chai waala there in the cave upstairs. We enjoyed the tea along with the beautiful sight of the Sehyadri Mountain range, then went further up and passed the “Naneghat Pass” and went up the hill. Actually I dont have adjectives at the moment to explain the view, one has to go there and see by himself. Then there was a little rain, while we were on top of the hill, and we unanimously avoid dancing in the rain and came back to the cave for shelter. After a little rest, we started trekking down the hill as it was already 3:30 pm. Again, me and my dear wife were the two last members of the trail. Suddenly the distance between the last member of the trail and the two of us was out of voice distance. I mean, we started shouting the names of the people but there was no body to listen, believe me, that was really haunting…since already there was no light because of dense forest in some stretches, and on top of that there were clouds all around. But we kept faith in “GOD” and followed the painted arrows. After walking alone for around half an hour, we found our group members sitting and waiting for us. That passed, and we reached downstairs at around 7:15 pm. Another hill to cover next was…how to go to Kalyan now, as there is no bus stop at the NaneGhat starting point, and no State Transport bus driver was kind enough to stop the bus. Then one of us went to Tokawade (4 km from there) by the help of passing by biker, and hired a big jeap (took Rs 100/=) which accommodated all of us and we reached Tokawade in no time. There a bus was waiting for us to take us to Kalyan (this time the total fare was Rs 408/=, may be its 3 by 2 bus thats why….). Had dinner at a “nice” restaurant (at least air conditioning was nice) at Kalyan station and took the local train to CST and reached TIFR at around 1 in the night. Some of the photos I clicked can be seen here. [...]

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