The moment I saw it, my pace increased. My legs wished to give up but my mind didn’t. I barely drank water on the way up. Yet as I hugged this first huge rock at the base of Torna, my cheeks felt a drizzle.
Two years back, four of us from my trek group had come to Rajgadh but couldn’t see the Sanjeevni Machi. The plan was to complete it and head to Torna Fort. No one processed the practicality of this last-minute trek plan at all.
The drive to the base of Gunjawne on Saturday night was a delight. I met many trek friends after long, it felt good to catch up with everyone. There were a few new faces like always adding to the diversity of the group.
After a nap and breakfast, we begin the trek to Rajgadh post sunrise. My mind was cluttered with many thoughts. With each step I climbed, I let go of every single thought bothering me. By the time I was at the top of Rajgadh, it was only me and the mountains.
We quickly explored the Sanjeevni Machi and began the walk to Torna. The climb down Rajgadh only made us all realize that this won’t be easy. My mood went off thinking of a negative possibility of not being able to reach Torna, especially with a few first-timers.
Soon, the group decided that whoever can reach and finish Torna, does so, the rest will target to reach the base village only. I didn’t wish to head home from the base and I began walking with the group targeting to explore the fort.
This decision wasn’t easy for many reasons. I had two treks in Jan, one with only one trek mate, the other with only a handful. I love to trek with my core trek bunch, as each individual is unique. Till the top of Rajgadh I did feel good to be walking up with all, but now moving ahead just like that made my heart sank.
The fact that the target felt impossible, the void of not having my trek mates around made this walk pathetically difficult for me in the mind. I hadn’t had lunch and dinner properly on Saturday, breakfast was fine in the morning, I knew physically it was going to tear me too.
Never have as ever the Sahyadri let me below for long. The moment I was physically drowning, there appeared out of no-where villagers selling lime water and buttermilk. The moment I was drowning mentally thinking what if someone’s body gives up, and all the other negative possibilities, I saw one head at the very end of mountain walking up.
There are many mountains that one needs to climb up and down during this Rajgadh Torna range trek. Only during the first mountain, I turned back and saw how close Rajgadh was and how far far away Torna looked. I decided to only look back at Rajgadh when I am at the base of Torna.
Yes, the walk is draining but the most difficult part I felt during this entire Rajgadh Torna was the last climb up to Torna. It has two patches up before the iron stairs to the top. These patches aren’t difficult otherwise, but a task if you have just drained yourself during the walk till here. I just saw the face of Torna, smiled and sheer excitement pushed myself hard enough to walk up these patches.
The moment I reached, I hugged this huge rock and post that just lay on my back for a while. I got up to see a lady and her son asking me if I needed water, lime water or buttermilk. I asked her way to reach Velhe, the village from which we could go to Gujawne were our vehicles were parked.
She said that there is no other way but to climb up the fort and then go down from the other end to reach Velhe village. That statement hit me like a bullet. I was in my head processing how difficult it is going to be to reach till here for everyone, now I just couldn’t fathom how everyone will manage to climb up.
Torna Fort, right from the first hug was love at first sight for me. The massiveness of the mountain that this fort is built on, the intellectually crafted structure and of course the natural elements like trees, grass and everything that has blend into this fort made my heart filled with joy.
The entire time I explored this fort, I sang, and danced, responding through gushing wind and dancing grasses and gliding swifts, the one hour of exploring the fort felt like me and this mountain fort were in complete sync, in one rhythm of joy.
I couldn’t believe for the longest that I was at Torna and that Rajgadh looked so far far away. Waves of concern kept hitting me for the group I could barely see like tiny creatures walking towards the fort. In my head, I kept singing motivating songs for them as if it will reach them.
Soon, the entire group was at Torna. We all saw the sunset and begin to descend the fort as the sun bid goodbye and the half-moon began to smile right at the top of us. Each person held themselves up, picked up their last bit of energy like the torches in their hand and walked down to Velhe village. We applauded and appreciated the first-timers and in general to everyone for not giving up and making this trek happen!
We managed to get a vehicle from Velhe to Gujawne – where our cars were. The moment I was in my car seat, the night became a blur to me. I already stepped into thinking for the next day. I had to rest to work the next day. I remember eating some good chicken, exactly why I love my trek group as each trek is unique with them and always ends with some good food!
This trek made me believe more strongly that nothing is impossible especially for my trek group! @nisha_navgire for any more details on this trek.