I got up when it was still dark outside and the moon was the only light. The moment I was to walk up the stairs, two healthy cats greeted me good morning. Like typical cats, they took their free massage and left. I finally walked up to the terrace and did what I was craving for the entire night…
The moon was right above my head so I lied down. I conversed with the moon about the night, about everything that was itching me for weeks. After a good half hour of conversation, I felt awakened and it was time to wake the rest for the trek.
We began to climb at six to be able to see the huge ball of gas rise from the back of the mountains. In the hope to see the typical childhood drawing come alive, four of us reached the top of Shrivardhan fort on time.
After spending some delightful time with the sun, we began exploring the architectural marvel. The spread of Shrivardhan fort has many water tanks, remains of rooms and temples which indicated that people did have quite a living back then.
Each time I am at the top of a Sahyadri fort, this is what happens, I feel like I have time travelled. I keep going to the dreamland of the time and then back to the reality of only ruins now.
The Gomukh Darwaza is one structure which mesmerized me. We walked past one side and saw the beauty. When we were to walk up the other side, I took a detour and walked by the edges and climbed up on the corner wall and sat there. The view was pristine and the breeze calming.
I requested the two friends with me to join me. Three of us sat there for a while observing the silence and magic of the place.
In a while, we began to descend this fort in order to climb the fort right beside – Manoranjan. At the base of this fort, there are carvings of gods and goddesses, one small canyon and another broken one. Perhaps all of these were found around the fort and have been collected and kept at the base.
The climb to Manoranjan isn’t much, but the view is beautiful. I loved walking through the many beautiful trees and flowers I saw around this fort. I wonder if it was this beautiful or even more at the time…
We finished exploring this fort and reached in time for breakfast, after which we soon began our walk down. But before we were on our way back, I connected to one paavam human.
It was this old lady whose house we stayed in. I don’t know what it is with me and grannies, I somehow connect. She opened up about her life and I sat listening to her carefully. It is at such times during travel that makes me realize to respect the life I have more.
I ran parts of the walk down with Sanish, and didn’t realize when we reached Kondana Caves. This cave is another piece of architecture which has the power to force you to think of the crazy life back then.
Soon, we walked further down and reached the base village. While we were deciding the mode of commute to Karjat, I spotted a beautiful tree and climbed it. It is like an easy thrill I love doing. Sitting and feeling like a cat or squirrel at the top of a tree is a weirdly satisfying feeling.
Now we decided to spend some time at the river near by. After such an enriching day, could life get any better? I dropped in joy, walked in it and kept splashing it all away.
This trek to Rajmachi almost checked off everything on my little list that gives my trek a complete feeling. Conversation with the moon, morning greeting by the sun, hugging and climbing beautiful trees, snaps by some pretty flowers and insects, cherishing the mountain water nimbu-pani, dipping myself in the flowing joy and last but not the least, petting the mountain dogs!
There is one more thing I do in the mountains but I didn’t this time, though there were opportunities to do so. It is dancing to London Thumakda. I missed Sanish, my dance partner for the same. We weren’t at the top of any fort together this time. I still am not sure why we planned this way. But, its good to leave some boxes empty to be ticked next time.
Some treks experience to be put on paper feel like a never-ending chapter.
There is much more learning that Rajmachi gave me.
Will the coming posts reflect it? Maybe…