For the first time, I wanted to trek because I felt like a typical working person. Not that my work burns me up so much yet but I needed to be outdoors. I needed to feel my happiest, relaxed, at peace and be in a mind space of only joy. Sindola Fort today, gave me just that!
We began our drive early morning at around 3am. It was one beautiful ride, Malshej Ghat at night is different magic. The climate was cool and breezy as we reached the base village Karanjale at dawn.
After a quick breakfast and tea, we began our trek. As guided by the person from Hotel Mayur we found our way. We walked through dry grass, through small plateaus, through the mountain edges, and finally reached the fort’s base.
The climate, the walk up till here, the view I was walking with made me overwhelmed. It is my favourite part of a trek to walk up the fallen huge rock pieces and reach perhaps the main gate of the fort. As I was reaching the top my heart began to sing…
‘tera nazara mila, roshan sitara hua, taqdeer ki kashtiyon ko kinara mila…’
My understanding of love is very little. But I believe, if there is anything that makes you feel the happiest, if there is something that can relax you at your worse, teach you through thick and thin and always make you smile, that thing is love!
I was feeling this exactly and hence my heart continued…
‘sadiyon se tarse hai jaisi zindagi k liye, teri sohbat mai duae hai usi k liye,
tera milna hai us rab ka ishara mano mujhko banaya tere jaise hi kisi k liye…’
I saw the Hanuman Mandir, it had a small bell too, I turned back, relived the song I just sang and felt truly blessed. All of us explored the fort together, we saw the water storage tanks common on most forts in Maharashtra and had a walk around the entire place.
There was loud music from a distant village for a long time that we could hear vaguely. While walking down the music got a little louder and I turned back to my cousin and a friend and said, ‘let’s dance!’
At the very spot I sang a while ago, I danced to some lively beats. The mountain view in front, being with my best people and dancing to some random tunes was what I meant ago about feeling my happiest!
I almost ran and danced through the rest of the walk down, amidst some small talks with people. We reached the base village and left for home by 11am. We ate at a famous ‘Original Kalu Balu Dhaba’ on the way. I loved the food and highly recommend it. Mind and tummy both happy meant my weekend got done right!
The song I sang is called ‘Raabta’ from the movie ‘Agent Vinod’.
Do check photos from this trip @nisha_navgire on Insta soon.