राजगड २०२२

।। श्री आशापुरी देव्यै नमः ।।

पहिलं प्रेम 💓.. राजगड

कुठला गड / किल्ला तुमचं "पहिलं प्रेम" आहे? ह्या प्रश्नाला जर तुमचं उत्तर "राजगड" नसेल, तर "और क्या?", ह्या remote / remotest scenario बद्दल मला नक्कीच जाणून घ्यायला आवडेल..

सह्याद्रीत कधीही भटकायला आवडेल 🥳, असा गड.. राजगड

स्वराज्याची पहिली राजधानी, साधारण २५ वर्षे.. राजगड

एकमेव गड जिथे मी आजतायगत मुक्काम 😴 केला आहे.. तो म्हणजे राजगड.. १८ मार्च २००६

प्रत्येक दुर्गप्रेमीला आपल्या प्रेमात पाडणारा 😍 गड कुठला?.. अर्थातच, राजगड

सिंहगडला किती वाईट वाटेल, हे सगळं ऐकून.. तर नाही.. सिंहगड special आहे, बायको सारखा.. हे त्याला, तिला, दोघांना माहिती आहे ☺️.. now back to "first love", राजगड..

राजगड बिरमडोंगरी। तीन माच्या तीन द्वारी॥

दोन तपे कारोभारी । जयावरी राहिले॥

वर तुम्ही एक तारीख वाचली.. 'इतक्या details कश्या लक्षात राहतात?' 🙀, तर ह्या प्रश्नाचं सर्वात सोपं उत्तर म्हणजे, photo वर right click करून "Properties" (smartphone वर '...' आणि 'Details') option वर click केलं की आपल्याला जास्त लक्षात ठेवायची गरज नाही, असं लक्षात येईल 😀.. thank you राहुल 🙏 for the photos.. तुम्ही articles मध्ये नेहमी ज्या राहुल बद्दल वाचता, हा तो नव्हे..

(some flashback)

१८-१९ मार्च २००६.. sunset - stay - sunrise combo

this is going to be tough.. १६+ वर्षांगोदर घडलेलं, काय आणि किती आठवणार आहे? 🤔 let's try..

२००५ स्वातंत्र्य दिनाच्या 🇮🇳 दिवशी आम्ही bikes घेऊन दुपारच्या वेळेस unplanned निघालो राजगडच्या दिशेने.. कात्रजच्या बोगद्यात (तेव्हा एकच होता) traffic मध्ये अडकलो (bikes 🏍️ असूनही), सुटलो, वेल्हेचा रस्ता सोडल्यावर चिखलात bike(s) घसरून पडलो, पायथ्याला कसंतरी पोहोचलो - ह्यातच आमचं सगळं adventure झालं होतं.. तरी काहींना भर पावसात / चिखलात राजगड चढायचा होता.. गेले आणि अर्धा तास कुठेतरी फिरून आले परत.. flatवर 🏢 परतल्यावर जेवायच्या आणि झोपेच्या सोबतीला होतं मलमपट्टीचं 🩹 वाढीव काम..

cut to मार्च-२००६.. ४ गाड्या 🏍️ घेऊन आम्ही ६ जण गडावर मुक्काम करायच्या तयारीनिशी निघालो.. राहुल, वैभव, भूषण, नियंत, सुमित आणि मी.. here too, हा वैभव आणि articles मध्ये असणारा वैभव, two different human beings.. 'ना हो पायेगा' म्हणणाऱ्या सुमितला बळं-बळं चढवलं होतं..

१८ मार्च २००६, सूर्यास्त
credits: नियंत

Parle-Gचा 🍪 family pack सोडला तर अजून काही नेल्याचं / खाल्ल्याचं मला तरी आठवत नाही.. पद्मावती तलावातलंच पाणी पियुन fit-n-fine होतो.. आता sophisticated होऊन hygiene बद्दल शिकलो आहोत.. not sure, which one was / is better 😑..

पद्मावती मंदिरात बस्ता 🎒 ठेवत नाही तर, सूर्यास्ताची वेळ झाली होती.. नियंतचा digital camera 📷, तेव्हडा एकच photo काढायचा source होता.. गडावर / group मध्ये मुक्काम करायचा म्हणजे कोणीतरी अती घोरणारा असणारच, किंवा इथल्याप्रमाणे, दुसरा एखादा group गडबड करणारा भेटणारच..

गडावरच्या तुरळक गर्दीचा फायदा घेत त्यादिवशी sunset 🌇 आणि दुसऱ्या दिवशी sunriseचे 🌄 मनसोक्त photo काढत आम्ही, सबंध गड फिरत, "special attraction" नेढ्यात तास-दीड तास timepass केला.. त्यावेळेसची समजूत हीच की, नेढं असलेला, 'राजगड' हा एकमेव गड आहे 🤫..

बालेकिल्ला, महादरवाजा
नियंत ↖️, भूषण ⬆️, वैभव ⬇️, राहुल ↗️, सुमित ↘️

२६ जानेवारी २०१९.. republic day special

lockdown चालू झाल्यावर जे आठवून-आठवून articles लिहायला सुरुवात झाली / केली, त्यात एक candidate हा republic day special 🇮🇳 सुद्धा होता.. "काही अपरिहार्य कारणास्तव" ते article लिहिलं गेलं नाही.. किती cheap वाटतं ना असं लांब-लचक, useless आणि diplomatic कारण द्यायला / वाचायला.. असो, आपल्याला सवय आहेच हे ऐकण्याची 👂 / सांगण्याची 🗣️..

गुंजवणे गावात नाश्ता करतांना, hotel मध्ये एक poster 🖼️ बघितलं.. गडावर जायला २ वाटा दाखवल्या होत्या (हे poster आजही तिथेच आहे).. आमचं लक्ष कुठे आहे, हे तिथल्या काकांनी लक्षात घेत सांगितलं, "तुम्हाला खरोखर trekkingचा feel घ्यायचा असेल तर जंगलातून जा.. तसंही चोर दरवाज्याने जाणाऱ्यांची आज खूप गर्दी असेल".. 

सांगितल्याप्रमाणे आम्ही regular वाट सोडून जंगलातल्या वाटेसाठी डावीकडे वळालो.. ह्या वाटेचं वयशिष्ट असं की उन्हाचा त्रास कमी.. हसत-खेळत आम्ही चालत / चढत होतो.. तेव्हड्यात, जास्त नाश्ता झाला की काय, म्हणून जितेंद्रला त्रास व्हायला लागला.. उलटी 🤮 केल्यावर, he was back to normal..

साधारणपणे अर्धा चढून झाल्यावर वाटेत railings लावलेल्या दिसतात.. डावीकडे ⬅️ सुवेळा माची, समोर ⬆️ बालेकिल्ला आणि उजवीकडे ➡️ पद्मावती माची.. दुसऱ्या वाटेने हे सर्व डावीकडेच.. पद्मावती माचीवर वारेच्या मदतीने सोबतीने फडकणारा अवाढव्य तिरंगा 🇮🇳 आम्हाला स्पष्ट दिसत होता..

इथून पुढे मात्र खरा trek चालू होतो.. वाट थोडीशी अवघड, म्हणजे steep होत जाते.. traverse वगैरे काही options नाही, गप सरळ धार चढायची 😓.. काही ठिकाणी दगडांमध्ये पायऱ्या कोरल्या आहेत, तर कुठे दगडं जुळवून पायऱ्या बनवल्या आहेत.. एखाद्या-दुसऱ्या ठिकाणी तर हात टेकवत, बसून चढण्याखेरिज पर्याय नाही.. छातीला पाय टेकल्याशिवाय जमणं अवघडच म्हणायचं.. पण एक नवीन वाट अनुभवायचं समाधान वेगळंच 😇..

गुंजवणे दरवाजा नंतर बालेकिल्ला, डुबा, नेढं, सुवेळा माचीचा शेवटचा बुरुज.. असा आग्नेय (दक्षिण-पूर्व) ↘️ दिशेचा पसारा आणि काही भाग संजीवनी माचीचाही बघून आम्ही republic day special तिरंगा mobile मध्ये सोबत घेऊन, पद्मावती माचीहून regular, म्हणजे चोर दरवाजा मार्गे खाली उतरलो.. विशेष सांगायचं झालं तर डुबा चढून सुवेळा माचीच्या sideने उतरतांना सगळे squat position 🧎 मध्ये उतरलो होतो 😬.. इथून सरळ चालत, न घसरता उतरणं म्हणजे अजुबाच होईल.. हाच अनुभव आठवत विनायकला गेल्या वर्षी warning ⚠️ देण्यात आली होती.. anyway..

from / on डुबा, backdrop - बालेकिल्ला
with हर्षद, निलेंद्र, भरतेश, जितेंद्र

ह्या नंतर ९ मार्चला (त्याच वर्षी) आम्ही तोरणा-राजगड केला.. मागच्या वर्षीच्या नवसकाळीतला राजगड, ह्यावर्षी राजगड परिक्रमा आणि गेली ३ वर्षे सलग, फेब्रुवारी महिन्यातल्या SRT बद्दल लिहीत नाही आता.. ह्यांच्याबद्दल त्या-त्या ६ articles मध्ये तुम्ही विस्तृतपणे आधीच वाचलं आहे.. पण जर ह्यातला highlight, "drone shot" 🛩️ तुम्ही miss केला असेल, just in case, तर adding here for ready reference..

(flashback ends, back to present)

plan राजगड नव्हताच.. पुढचे ९ दिवस सलग ९ trek करायचे आहेत (नवसकाळी), म्हणून जवळच काहीतरी explore करायचं ठरवलं / ठरलं होतं.. सोबतीला चिंतन असणार होता, पण काही अपरिहार्य कारणामुळे 🤣 तो cancel 😒 झाला..

आदल्यादिवशी राहुलचा message, "I am available ✅, राजगड करायचा का?".. तुम्ही guess केलं असेलच, पण तरी, नेहमी जो articles मध्ये असतो, हा तो राहुल.. मागच्या वर्षी (२०२१) नवसकाळीत जो राजगड केला होता, तो खूप hectic 😴 झाला होता.. आणि आता (२०२२), next day, सोमवार पासून नवसकाळी चालू होणार होते.. "जो होगा, देखा जायेगा" विचार करत / not fully convinced, मी "no problem" reply केला.. आता राजगडची तार छेडल्यावर "love 💓 के लिये कुछ भी करेगा" वाला वेडेपणा कुठे गप बसू देणार होता !!.. "जंगल trek करू", ह्याहून दुसरं काही discussion नाही.. अजून जे तयार झाले, ते प्रसाद, प्रशांत आणि वैभव.. here too, हा वैभव तोच, ज्याच्याबद्दल तुम्ही नेहमी वाचता, not from २००६..

२५ सप्टेंबर २०२२.. फिर एक बार, पहिलं प्रेम

ह्या आधीची recorded trail, App मध्ये load करून follow करणे, हे आजचं पहिलं target.. सुरवातीलाच जे ३-४ घर लागतात, त्यातल्या एका काकांनी, 'आम्ही वाट चुकलोय', हा संशय घेत विचारलं, "कुठे जायचंय?".. अर्थातच आमचं "गडावर" उत्तर ऐकत, त्यांनी reply केला, "इथून नाहीये रस्ता" 🤦.. असो..

majestic first view, credits: राहुल

सुरवातीला वाट promote करायचे कष्ट घेतलेले दिसतात 👏.. ठिकठिकाणी दगडं टाकून सोईस्कर बनवायचा सफल प्रयत्न करण्यात आला आहे.. same as last time, आजही आम्हीच पाच जण होतो ह्या वाटेवर 🖐️.. गवत इतकं वाढलेलं होतं की पहिल्या पावलापासूनच shoes आणि pant भिजले 👖.. दोन ओढे जे लागतात, अजिबात स्वतःला / बुटांना 👟 न वाचवता, cross केले.. एक तर already भिजले होते, आणि दुसरं म्हणजे, फागुल गव्हाण खिंडीत दगडावरुन सटकल्याच्या आठवणी अजून ताज्या होत्या 🆕..

railings नंतर जो grade वाढतो, तो भाग आज घसरडा सुद्धा होता.. सगळ्यांची एकच complaint, पाहिजे तिथे नाही आणि गरज नाही तिथे भरमसाठ लाऊन ठेवल्या आहेत, railings 🫤.. ज्याला जसं जमेल तसं, आप-आपल्या हिशोबाने चढत होता.. राहुल नेहमीप्रमाणे सगळ्यांच्या पुढे, गुंजवणे दरवाज्यात जाऊन आमची वाट बघत, time lapse 🎥 काढत होता आणि reels बनवत होता.. Instagram link.. आम्हीही दरवाज्यात पोहोचल्यावर ही संधी गमावणार नव्हतो 🤷..

धबधबे तर आहेतच attraction, पण पावसाळा असला की सह्याद्रीत, नजर जाईल तिथपर्यंत फुलं (सुद्धा) बघायला मिळतात 🏵️ 🌼 🌸 आणि त्यात ही वाट येव्हडी popular नसल्याने इथे तर बगीचाच आमची वाट बघत होता.. निरनिराळ्या रंगांची, छोट्या, अति छोट्या आकाराची, सगळ्यांना सोबत घेऊन 📷 (तोडून नाही), आम्ही क्षणभर विश्रांती ⏸️ घेत पुढे बालेकिल्ल्याकडे निघालो..

credits: प्रसाद, वैभव, राहुल

गर्दी असो वा नसो, एकदा महादरवाजा ओलांडला की आपल्या स्वागतासाठी माकडं 🐒 इथे नेहमी हजर असतात, त्रास द्यायला.. shield (trekking pole 🦯) बाहेर काढत सावधपणे पुढे राजवाड्याकडे गेलो.. तिथे आधुनिक / शिकलेल्या किंवा राहुलच्या शब्दात 'उन्नती / उत्क्रांती झालेल्या' माकडांची जत्रा भरली आहे, बघून आम्ही (मी + राहुल) एप्रिल मध्ये परिक्रमेच्या वेळेस खालून जे खिडकी type structure 🪟 दिसलं होतं, ते शोधायला निघालो.. काही पावलं चालत नाही तर, उन्नत किंवा मागासलेले, कुठल्याच प्रकारच्या माकडांचा त्रास नाही.. ☮️ नीरव शांतता.. bliss 😇.. inner peace ('kung fu panda' 🐼 fame)..

credits: राहुल 

खिडकी जवळ ५ मिनिट बसत नाही तर bluetooth speaker वाले माकडं आले आमच्या मागे-मागे 🗯️.. almost १० 🕙 वाजले होते.. सकाळपासून / चालू केल्यापासून पोट अनवाणीच होतं.. चुकीचं / बरोबर लिहिलंय, सोडा.. भावना पोहोचल्या ना, बस्स.. सोबत आणलेला नाश्ता इथे करायचा का पद्मावती माचीला, का थेट नेढ्यात ⭕?.. ह्या गर्दीमुळे बालेकिल्ला उतरतांना traffic jam 🚦 व्ह्याच्या आत आपण उतरू, नाश्त्याचं नंतर बघू.. असा सगळा हिशोब करत, आम्ही बालेकिल्ला उतरलो 📉.. वाटेत प्रसाद, प्रशांत आणि वैभवशी गाठ पडली.. त्यांनाही "लवकरात लवकर उतरा" सांगण्यात 😮‍💨 आलं..

flag hoistingच्या ⛳ जागी पोहचताच, 'आता हे तिघे येईपर्यंत नाही थांबू शकत' म्हणत डब्बे 🍞 बाहेर काढत आम्ही पोटाला shoes घातले.. वैभव आजचा राहुल होता, म्हणून त्याच्यासाठी थोडं ठेवत आणि range असल्याचा दुरुपयोग करत आम्ही सात समंदर पार अमनला झोपेतून उठवलं.. ढगांनी ☁️ कृपा केली तर तोरणा आणि सिंहगड दिसतील, ह्याबाबतीत तत्क्षणी फक्त 'वाट बघणे' ⏳ हेच आमच्या नशिबी होतं..

next target 🎯 was 'needle hole'.. नेढं.. राजगडला (किंवा नेढं असणाऱ्या कुठल्याही गडावर) येणारा प्रत्येकजण "शक्यतो" नेढ्याला भेट दिल्याशिवाय परतत नसतो.. हो, "शक्यतो".. कारण पहिल्यांदा मोहनदरीला गेलो असता, आम्ही नेढ्यात न जाताच माघारी आलो होतो 😞.. इथे नेढ्यात जायला आणि गडमाथ्यावर जायला २ वेग-वेगळ्या वाटा आहेत, so.. पण 'लहू मुह लग गया' मुळे ही disappointment काही जास्त दिवस टिकली नव्हती 🥳.. now, back to 'पहिलं प्रेम'..

सुवेळा माची, credits: राहुल

with राहुल, प्रसाद, वैभव, प्रशांत

सगळ्यांसोबत परत एकदा नाश्ता करत 🍎, आम्ही निघालो सुवेळा माचीच्या दिशेने.. सिंहगड side आता clear झाली होती (view).. पहिल्या चिलखती बुरुजात group photo 🤳 काढून, खाली, थोडं पुढे, नेढ्यात आलो.. ह्याचा व्यास साधारण १०-१२ फूट आहे.. ऐसपैस वारा इथे नेहमीचं नाटक 🙃 आहे.. wide angle cameraचा सर्वात जास्त फायदा जर कधी आणि कुठे झाला असेल, तर, आज आणि इथे.. २०-२५ मिनिट तिथेच बसून होतो.. गर्दीच इतकी होती की, photo पेक्षा photobombingच जास्त होत होतं, पण 'मनासारखे photo निघाल्याशिवाय नाही निघायचं', हा निर्धारही पक्का होता..

credits: राहुल / प्रसाद 🤝

नजर जाईल तिथपर्यंत "नैनसुख"
credits: राहुल

इथून पुढे, शेवटच्या बुरुजापर्यंत जाऊन आम्ही पुन्हा "नजर जाईल तिथपर्यंत" नैनसुख अनुभवलं.. आता मात्र वारा नाहीसा झाला होता आणि 'पाऊस पडणार आहे', अशी अचूक भविष्यवाणी करत आम्ही चोर दरवाजा मार्गे non-stop पायथ्याच्या दिशेने सुटलो.. राहुलला काहीच नाही, आणि प्रशांतला भरपूर पाऊस लागला.. चहा ☕ - जेवण 🍱 - चहा उरकत गाडी चालू झाली.. खेड शिवापूर toll plaza 🛣️ दोन्ही sideने, येतांना / जातांना, literally zero traffic (गाडी जी एकदाच थांबली, ती थेट barrier समोरच), हे आजचं वेगळंच achievement 😎..

असं काही आहे, खूपच थोडक्यात, आमचं पहिलं प्रेम..

articleचं title "पहिलं प्रेम" आहे म्हणून हे one line extension, जे राजगड / trek शी संबंधित नाही..

I had attended one of the sessions on 'breathing', where I learnt about, "any type of cancer is caused by deficiency of oxygen"..

that's all for today..

निसणीची वाट - कुर्डूगड - लिंग्या धबधबा

।। श्री आशापुरी देव्यै नमः ।।

​​this day that year..​ ​​निसणीची वाट - कुर्डूगड - लिंग्या धबधबा.. we had our time ☺️

लिंग्या धबधबा / धबधबे

let's start with a few दिग्गज people 🫡 born on this day..

1895 - भारतरत्न 🎖️​,​ आचार्य विनायक नरहरी भावे aka विनोबा भावे, famous for his भूदान movement​, considered a​s the National Teacher of India 🇮🇳​​..

1911 - Scoring a century 💯 on his debut.. the first player to score a Test century for India national cricket team 1.5 years​ after​ India started playing Test cricket..​ ​पद्म भूषण 🏅 लाला अमरनाथ भारद्वाज was also​ Independent India's first captain 🏏..

​​1915 - ​​अनंत "दाजीकाका" गाडगीळ​ - the सिंहगड veteran, founder of P. N. Gadgil Jewellers and Company, पुणे 💎.. ​not to be confused with P. N. Gadgil Jewellers and Sons, that hails from सांगली..

while these 3 lived for 87, 88 and 98 years respectively, some people at the other end of the world had some barbaric 😈 plans for 2001..​

Android / WhatsApp was not born yet.. so, people heavily relied on idiot box 📺 for the current affairs.. that dusk / evening / twilight 🌃 (India), with live broadcast of 9/11, everybody around the globe 🌍 was left stunned (in their time zones).. nearly 3,000 people lost their lives (including 19 terrorists).. as Amish writes 📝 in his creations, "may their souls find the purpose again" - must already have..

now, what does ​all of ​this "this day that year" has to do with this trek?.. the no-brainer (and only correct) answer is, "absolutely nothing" 🙅‍♂️.. but ​without WhatsApp (and many other nonexistent things),​ then,​ life was easy, rather, very easy 😇, right? now, for no reasons, we have people ​(mis)​using it for "good morning", "happy birthday", "happy anniversary" type of messages.. raise your hand ✋ if you ever were / are an obligatory victim of this stupidity..

and to top all that, people read, enjoy and forward ⏩ all types of hoax, but show-up unprepared for the hiking activities, conveniently ignoring the relevant messages on schedule ⏱️ details and the necessary checklist.. like, not again 😔.. any speculation towards this being a suggestion for anything unusual that could have happened during the day, will be a disappointment.. so, don't try to connect any dots.. yet.. 😉

लिंगदेव

9/11 (2022)

we have an unsaid pact in our group, of greeting "good morning" ☀️ to record the attendance, ONLY on the staging days.. that also means, whoever has ditched for that day, needs to keep shut.. around 5:30 a.m. 🕠, phone beeped "good morning", and only to somehow feature in this article, we learned, it's from राहुल.. you happy now? 👻 now, directly in next article 😀..

other राहुल was way ahead of the schedule and waiting already at his pick-up point.. he has his watch set to Bangladesh 🇧🇩 time zone, not my problem 😜.. when it was time (India 🇮🇳 time zone, and not 'IST' which we often manipulate to our convenience 😆), I (+ सुयोग) picked him up and were waiting at वैभव's pick-up point.. his setting concurs with Pakistan's 🇵🇰 time zone, and that's actually a problem 😜.. 

even before entering लवासा, we knew, today's timeline will just be awesome..

टेमघर waters, credits: वैभव

​

credits: वैभव

next,​​ we found ourselves in a no network 📵 zone​, as we parked at the starting point​.. though we had the trail, it was stuck somewhere in the web, beyond our Androids' reach​ (​yeah, you read above,​​ iOS 🍎​, now popularly known as 'एक एकोणतीस पाचशे' ​​did not join today).. so, approximating with whatever GPS 🛰️ was assisting us with, we marched ahead, towards लिंग्या घाट, guessing the direction as best as you 🫵 can do right now..​ realizing it to be not in any mood, we swapped the ascending 📈 and descending 📉 routes..

धनगराचा फेटा, credits: वैभव

after reaching the edge of सह्याद्रीs, i.e., before descending to (not exactly, but fair enough) कोकण side of महाराष्ट्र, we had our breakfast, whilst enjoying these 👇 breathtaking views (कुर्डूगड inclusive).. by now, ​much needed ​cellular network 📶 was back to / in our Androids, ​just ​good enough to ​down​load the trail and Maps..​ 'time lapse 📹 लावायला पाहिजे होता', GoPro owner ​realized this after बंटी-बबली (​dog 🐕 couple ​- ​today's 6th and 7th companions start-to-end) ​have had more than enough of whatever we carried under the checklist item 'breakfast'.. too late 😞​​

citadel in the left - कुर्डूगड 

credits: वैभव

descending the निसणीची वाट was a bit tricky, because of the in-progress season, monsoon 🌦️.. they say, history repeats.. and चिंतन slipped again​ ​to hurt 🩹 himself a bit​​..​ previous instance was during दिवे घाट - रामदरा - मल्हारगड trek, earlier this year..​ if interested, please find the article in the archive under July-2022.. Quechua 🥾 can be / are deceptive in सह्याद्री.. 

चिंतन, his injured hand, बंटी-बबली and me,

credits: राहुल

​marching towards कुर्डूगड was a plain jungle walk.. trying to find the left ⬅️ diversion to start the ascending exercise, we traversed more than half of the fort, all the way to its West side, to join the trail from its base village in कोकण, जिते.. ascending till the first bastion (बुरुज) 🚩, we failed to spot any navigable option to the top.. but, a route to the left took us to the USP of the fort, which I was not aware of 🤷 till that moment..

​the star ⭐ shaped नेढं - unique of its kind, this नेढं appears to have gained its structure, when a cliff must have got cut in half and fell on its neighbour (वरच्या वर) to form a hole ⭕.. this fall is not a tough guess when one sees the easily recognisable distinct bodies.. so.. it's so not formed by the popularly opted natural process of erosion (that's my best guess).. unlike all other नेढं equipped forts / mountains, where it can be well seen from the base, the fort citadel stands tall right behind this (if to be viewed from base), blocking the sky view.. the shape of the fallen rock, gives the hole, its star-like or human-like shape..

credits: वैभव

back ↪️ to the junction (route from जिते), we rested for a small snacks 🧁 break at the कुर्डाई माता temple with a भगतसिंग frame, which also happens to be a primary school 🚸.. few metres later, we met another group of 23 people, led by a familiar face, अनिकेत from Swachhand Adventure Foundation..

credits: वैभव

while the big-in-size spiders 🕷️ reminded us of खडसांबळे, the snake 🐍 was only generous to give दर्शन to one of us, not me.. continuing past the next junction (from निसणीची वाट), at some distance, we could now see / hear the water thumping hard 🌊.. though we were well prepared this time (network wise), having crossed the waterfall stream, we failed to spot an established route that should take us to the top 🆙.. 2 back-to-back ribbons 🎀 failed, downloaded trail was nowhere to be seen, on ground level..

another group, Giridarshan, had their outing today in exactly the same region and सुयोग was aware of this.. if it was not us, he would have anyway come here today (with them).. we then saw a few people enjoying at the base of waterfall (presumably ⏳, a pond-like structure).. he called 📞 the organizers to check if any help can be negotiated.. वैभव suggested to call अनिकेत (you just read about him)..

calculations led us to 'nil' as the chances of a trail on that side.. so, we were back 🔙 to this side and started ascending the stream itself, where water force / flow was negligible - नळीची वाट kind-of.. in next few minutes, we were back in the game having found more-than-perfect पायवाट 👣 (wondering, "why bold?".. keep guessing).. call chaining triggered by सुयोग, by now, had resulted in a person calling out 🗣️ to him from the top..

the presumption from some time ago, transformed ⌛ into "definitely, a pond-like structure".. from here, it was hardly a few metres ascend, followed by a couple of kms plain walk.. so, other 4 had their time in the puddle 🛀.. YouTube video by GoPro owner वैभव, https://youtu.be/XdQGWuNYlcU

nothing worth-a-mention happened hereafter, so, that's all for today..

this day that year any day, any year, in सह्याद्री, till date.. we have always had our time ☺️..

घाटघर ते डोनी?, सिंहगड #४७५ @ ७५

।। श्री आशापुरी देव्यै नमः ।।

सीधी बात, no बकवास.. घाटघर ते डोनी?

disclaimer: this article is going to be harsh / filled with criticism and I am sure, you have many better things at hand.. so, if you do not wish to continue further, can close the tab right away.. 

now that you have decided to continue, further disclaimer: I will not be mentioning any names, but feel free to take it personal, if you can relate yourself to any of the statements.. if you want to give it back, feel free to do so in the comments section below..

ever since, I have taken up "trekking" as a hobby / passion / kick (name it, whatever you like), I have had many bitter experiences.. some for good (yes, bitter, but for good - there is such a thing, please don't ask 'म्हणजे काय?'), some for bad, some legitimate (understandable) and some really frustrating.. I mean, even after finishing the trekking part by 5:15 p.m. at दुर्गादेवी कोकणकडा (GMaps location), can you think of any possible reason, to reach पुणे, only after 6.5 hours? if we observe the sequence of events as we progress in the article, you may find it reasonable, but !?..

just a couple of days before the schedule, I received a message about a TTMM trek being organized.. realizing it to be some of the first part of NaBhi (नाणेघाट ते भीमाशंकर), I joined for घाटघर to डोनी..

14 August 2022, आज़ादी का अमृत महोत्सव 🇵🇰

midway, even before reaching the starting point, the end point of the trek schedule was changed.. where does this thought come from? who does that?.. if you think / judge it, "to end early is in our interests", to save some driving kms, for economical reasons, you should think about it before planning, and not during execution.. the schedule said घाटघर to डोनी, but we started the trek from घाटघर जळवंडी to end at डोनी दुर्गवाडी / दुर्गादेवी temple..

for 1-2 hrs of nap and breakfast, we went to नाणेघाट, farther than the starting point.. do you not find this weird?.. there can be genuine reasons to deny the possibilities of arrangements at the starting point, but then, would you not prefer to stop before, rather than after?

we slept like hell.. nobody gave a fuck regarding the schedule.. yes, I can type all these four letters, instead of 'f' followed by asterisks.. it is obvious when the area is full of fog, one can lose track of time ⌛, but everybody does have a smartphone 📱 at least, that flashes a clock in its digital form (unless you change the setting to analog) as the first thing when it's awakened.. and that also has a provision to set / snooze alarms, before one sleeps.. if you are in a group / team, it's your moral responsibility to respect others' time..

btw, in some other context, 'alarm ⏰ वाजलाच नाही' - how lame an excuse is that?.. smartphone is just a machine, which will do anything it is capable of doing, the way it is instructed to.. if the alarm does not go off, it's either the battery 🔋 / volume 🔉 problem, or your घोडे बेचकर सोने वाली sleep 😴 का problem.. can, never, ever, be, anything else.. "alarm नाही वाजला" म्हणे? c'mon, give me yourself a break..

enjoying a reverse waterfall for a while, we started towards the फागूल गव्हाण col.. while ascending, we had to cross many small-small streams.. in one of the very first ones, I tried to small jump on a rock and slipped to injure left leg (shank region), also with an immediate swelling.. 'should I go back?' was an instant अंदर से reaction.. then sparing a moment and another thought, decided to let's wait and watch for some time / distance, for sufficient evidences to confirm the doubt.. fortunately, it didn't bleed much and swelling also went off after some (more) time..

having reached top of the col, we waited for more than 20 minutes, for everybody to reach, so that we can continue further, all together.. I would request you to please learn to use any Maps based application in terrain mode, to understand the involved steepness as well as elevation gain needed to complete the planned activity.. it will help you to assess the needed endurance against your stamina.. समझने वाले समझ गये हैं, जो ना समझे, they must have already closed the tab..

you remember बबन कासळे and बसंती? the answer is most likely, "of course, not".. they are mentioned in this article, as guide and companion for our previous outing in this very region at रिठ्याचे दार and घोडेपाण्याची नाळ.. after reaching आंबोली on the other side of the col, we went to visit him for a tea break.. enquiring about बसंती 🐕, we learnt, she was devoured by a wild animal..

resuming rest of the journey, we were now to ascend the ढाकोबा mountain, which is famous for its waterfall वाला crowd.. midway, there's a rock-patch, which was hard to compromise, given the weather in last few weeks 🌧️ ⛈️.. 3 of us tried and after a lot of diffidence 🥺, finally managed it, but also sent others to try a different route, also suggested by a localite.. enjoying the top of a waterfall, we went ahead to the mountain top, to replay the same rock story, this time a bit milder..

lunch break was at ढाकोबा temple, which was then followed by more or less a plain walk to दुर्ग.. at neither of these tops, we had any views of the कोकण side or neighbouring ranges, courtesy: fog ☁️.. same as that of first visit to हरिश्चंद्रगड, let's see if I'll revisit here too (time will tell).. because, the views are mesmerizing indeed, as observed in a YouTube video 🎥 of one of the participants, whose today was a second time outing here..

defying gravity

after ending the activity at दुर्गादेवी temple, we went to लेण्याद्री for dinner.. am I kidding? no, not at all.. may be people forgot, we actually need to go (in other direction) to पुणे so that we can sleep at our everyday paradise 🏡, where we reached at 11:45 p.m.. before the journey ended, 1 of the 3 participants (who had confirmed, of today's total 18) was still firm to join me next day on my 475th hike to सिंहगड fort as India completes 75 years of independence.. the other 2 had already backed-out..

this is my happy place.. सिंहगड #४७५ @ ७५

I completely understand this one.. the milestones will never be as important to you, as they are to me.. but, when you accept to join for them, it's not fine at all to not show up, for whatever reasons, including genuine ones.. if you cannot make it, you must tell it upfront.. as simple as that.. and then, the same applies to the treks which I / we plan.. because, I am / we are not professional / registered organizations, whom you pay first, and then, not showing-up is even better..

if I am any good with my memory 🧠, I had participated in a hiking event on the Republic Day 🇮🇳 last year (2021) from भुतोंडे खिंड to highest fort in पुणे district, तोरणा.. as the night gave up to rising sun, I read that more-than-suitable quote on one of the participant's T-shirt 👚, "this is my happy place", who was also part of the organizing team.. ever since then, I've been asking the organizer to order some more of that.. and every time he politely replied, "those were special edition, not to be produced again".. 

15 August 2022, आज़ादी का अमृत महोत्सव 🇮🇳

along with 3 from yesterday, in total, 5 had confirmed their presence for today's event.. we already read above about 2 of them not joining.. of the remaining 3, it was actually my misunderstanding with one of them, that he missed to ride along.. really sorry for that.. but he still joined to keep his word 🙏.. the other 2 emperors never showed up.. smell the sarcasm? you must.. only emperors have the undue liberty to take others for granted..

first surprise 🥳 of the day was, somebody else (other than those 5) called at 5:50 a.m., "we have crossed डोणजे".. ok, first thought was - usage of 'we' implied that he is bringing somebody along 🍩.. second one was - every time, he gives surprises.. May God Bless Him 🙏..

second surprise of the day was this 👇 "this is my happy place" gift.. buddy, thank you very very much for this 🫂 .. you made my day 😇..

regarding सिंहगड streak, somebody had once asked, "what is the ultimate target?".. and to that, another one had replied, "there is only a next milestone".. cannot agree more, thank you bro 🤝 for covering up for that..

to end it all, as said, I won't utter a name.. but you know very well, if and which statements you must take personally..