I am fed up with the negativity. I am done with sleepless nights and worry some days and this whole ‘when will this end’ phase. I am even more done with this ‘be productive’ phase. I am therefore going to try my best through my posts share as much good and happy vibes as possible.

The one big part of me that loves to be outdoors is clearly the worst hit with this scenario. I did enough cribbing about this.  I let the sadness about this drain out me completely through journaling or art or through cribbing about it to my dear ones. This took time, but once this sadness feeling left me, I had room to feel other things.

One of the prime reasons why I travel is to spend time with nature. To notice different trees barks, leaves, bird calls among loads of other beauty that exists in nature. Being home, this was difficult, but luckily for me, I have access to the building terrace.

I began an alternate day watch sunrise routine and everyday observe the sunset routine. This doesn’t mean to watch the sunrise a second and leave. It means to watch the sunrise from the tip until it becomes bright and goes up shining! I couldn’t follow the same thing with sunset due to work but I am in the process, hopefully, get there soon.

The next thing I tried to do is to read about the places I have been to. When I begin to do this I realized how many forts I have been to, how many peaks, how many unique spots etc. I felt truly grateful for the travel journey I have had so far.

Though there were places I couldn’t find information online. So I dared and picked up the phone, I spoke to friends who had been there and voila! In less than a day, I had gathered maximum information I could possibly have about this one place I had been to.

Another thing I tried is to indulge in the good movies made on travel. There are so many out there. I hardly watched a few. There are many informative shows and series in various places too. Epic is a channel I would recommend to get movies and series on Indian places.

I picked up the phone again, requested a friend to watch the same show I did. Later, we discussed the entire series and it was one enriching conversation. I strongly suggest this also as an idea to try if the other things I suggested above are tough for you.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” – Neale Donald Walsch

Rightly so and hence I tried to find one thing that is out of my comfort zone and tried to do it with at most honesty. This thing was to add a little exercise time in my daily routine. I began to say tried to begin to skip every morning. Tough, but on it and will hopefully become a regular habit.

So my fellow caged travellers, yes we can’t be outdoors at the moment but thee are a few things we can try to do while indoors. I have summed it up below –

• Find and spend time with nature around you for more than a second. Watch an entire sunset, pet and spend time with a dog, any other form of nature you have around you.
• Read about places you have been to. Pick up the phone and gather more information from your friends and also share everything you have found out.
• Watch series and shows on the places that interest you and do not forget to share that too with your fellow travel bug friends.
• Adventures can begin within you too. Challenge yourself to do one out of your comfort zone and do it with honesty.
  

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I hope this post gave you some ideas to try. Do tell me on Insta @nisha_navgire if you try any of there or have any other ideas.

I have for long thought that I will have a post dedicated to all my trek mates. This special post will be a gratitude post that will highlight everything that I have ever learned from each one of them. This post is due and will happen soon but before that I have summed up common things I appreciate in all my trek mates.

Balancing Act

To give anything time apart from work and family is a task – a fact we all know. Yet time and again the mad people I trek with have managed to find the time to do something they love and be in the mountains.

When I began to trek with these people it was different. We were all in college and life was easier. Being every other weekend in the mountains wasn’t a big deal. Adulting is tough and growing up makes it tougher to keep following stuff you are passionate about.

However, be it getting family members to trek, making sure one weekend is with family and the rest on mountains, or knowing and mapping the need in the house so as to plan which weekend can be okay with family if you are in the mountains is a puzzle that each person I trek with has till date managed to solve well…

There have been times when treks have been planned and some work or family emergency ruined it for so many of us. Such emergencies have made many miss treks they would have loved to be part of. But never has this balancing act got us down. None gave up till date. One, two or many, each trek mate I know since five years hasn’t stopped. Adulting is making it tougher but passion survives it all.

Curious for Knowledge

The core group I speak of here who will be part of my appreciation post soon are all hungry for knowledge. Each one has a special reason and interest to be in the mountains and makes sure has enough knowledge gained during each trek. History, fort architecture, nature, birds or mountain ranges are just some of the many broad categories.

No one has ever said no to grasp something new from the other. The amount of knowledge each one has in their particular field of interest related to treks is crazy. I haven’t yet managed to gauge it all from them, the reason why it keeps me going on these trek mates. Exactly why treks feel incomplete without the presence of all core people of my trek group.

Adaptive Nature

I am someone who loves to plan, loves it, even more, to adhere to plans made. My brain panics, when plans aren’t made at all or are made and not adhered to. It gets difficult for my brain to process plan changes, especially at the last minutes.

However, I can say that through the five years of trekking with my gang I have become better at adapting to changes at treks. My brain doesn’t panic anymore, yes it stops, but I am getting better at accepting sudden changes at treks. I have become more adaptive as a person thanks to the crazy on spot plan makers I trek with.

I believe I have seen my mates adapt to all kinds of tough situations one can think of during a trek. Be it a terrible accident, be it losing our way to the fort, be it losing a mate, be it the absence of enough water or food, you name it and we have survived it together with grace.

Neither of the trek mates has ever said no to something. The attitude of all of them has always been that of let’s try it. Every suggestion has always been considered to make the trek successful. Each person has tried their best to add value to what is already on the plate and adapted to whatever has been the final outcome.

I am grateful to have met my crazy trek bunch. I can never be enough grateful. I hope that this gratitude post also becomes a motivator for us to be better versions of what we are and keep learning like we always have. The in depth “things I learned from each trek mate” post shall come soon, I promise.

@nisha_navgire for some pictures of the treks I have been to with these amaze people.

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.

Imagine you are watching a peaceful sunset at the top of a mountain and suddenly you slip, fall and almost die. Or worse, you are relishing a perfectly home-made biryani and you bite an elaichi? Feels dead right? Exactly how this week started for me.

My first non-trek weekend of the year was good. I met Felicia, won a medal after ages and slept well. I couldn’t have asked more as my leave for Saturday to trek also got sanctioned. Yes, until here is where I was rejoicing my sunset, rejoicing my biryani and then it all fell apart.

I am a difficult person to surprise, as I have weeks jammed with work, weekends jammed with treks and other blogging commitments. It is tough to catch me off guard or make me break this chain I follow. No one loves Monday, but this third Monday of the year is clearly the worst so far.

It made me realize that I am still a weak person. It gave me an opportunity to be strong, but I failed. I had the opportunity to make a rational decision by myself, but instead, I broke down to nuisance and became my emotional fool self. Last year, I was the same, this year perhaps I am way worse.

I was about to make a decision that would hurt my most loved human. I cancelled my weekend’s trek for her. I can’t fathom what I love more anymore! One has given me life the other has given me the hope to live it. Yes, love for life-giver is far more, but it isn’t any less for the one I walk my life with.

The pain is real. This weekend is going to suck. I will be home unhappy about missing a trek. If I go, I’ll be unhappy on the mountain ditching my life-giver. I hate how my brain overthinks such simple situations to a limit where I can’t take it in. I just can’t.

I am not ready for this. I am not. I don’t know how I will get ready for it either. It is almost as if I wish to skip this weekend. I don’t want any of it. Neither this, not that, run away. But hey, escapists are losers aren’t they?

So I’ll be home facing the little drama of my life this weekend. How much ever running away feels easy, feels right, it isn’t. I’ll stay back, face it all with grace. I am sort of away until the weekend for work in Beed, but I think that was the super power’s plan. Keeping me away till the sun is ready to set.

This was the second time I was going to be with the mountains with only one trek partner. Like the last time, I was prepped to feel like I’ll miss people, but to my astonishment, I didn’t.

I have grown as a person and as a trekker. Though 2019 didn’t give me enough treks, it gave me all unique experiences. It was a year with only one trek with my dearest trek mate, so many without the souls I would have loved to trek around. I even had a few treks with unwanted crowds. Each of them bit by bit moulded me into a patient being, into a better trekker.

‘This year, one two or many, whoever is free, goes and visits the mountains, end of story’ I said to my brother just before he called and cancelled for this trek. I was in a fix as to what to do, but nonetheless, I had one trek partner, a plan and decided to visit the mountains, no matter what.

Till 2 pm at night two of us were planning what to do, where to go. I had a long day and was dead tired. I didn’t even think I would wake up sane to be able to pull out a trekking day. But I did get up and reached in time as we took Indrayani Express from Kalyan.

We got to sit at the door. Jabbering with my only trek partner for the day, I didn’t realize when we reached Kamshet. We ate breakfast and took our bus to Tikona fort. It was a typical state transport ride as we felt each and every bump on the road.

My trek partner had been to this fort last Sunday itself, if we had more time, we would have planned to visit some other place. He said that we’ll see some spots he missed last time. In my head it didn’t fit well, I wished his day to not be a duplicate like last Sunday.

There was little I could do about it until I heard a local say that there is public transport to Tung if we are able to finish Tikona in two hours. Challenge accepted, we started this trek with a little extra effort to try and finish it within the set time, plus not missing anything.

Tikona fort feels touristy like any other accessible fort, yet it had a spark that made a special place in my heart. There is an aura in its structure that made me ignore the madness of the tourists around. The remains of the structure are well maintained which helped my imagination of life back then.

We reached the top and sat on a spot peacefully. I soaked the sanity for a few seconds when someone tapped us and said: “Who will take the responsibility of your death if you fall off from here?” I had no answer to that, I got up, and we walked to a different place and sat. I observed the man who asked us this question.

He was a caretaker of the fort. He and his friend, make sure that they have a count of the number of people that come to this fort and make sure they are safe and don’t do any stupidity that could cost them their lives.

Talking more with my trek partner I realized, these two are from the village nearby and do this for an extra income over their farmlands. Nobody asked them to do it, to take care of a fort in their vicinity, they started doing it and now someone pays them to do it too.

“I don’t intend for my child to get into protecting this fort, it will be his wish, but until I am alive, I’ll make sure the beauty of this structure doesn’t witness the death of a soul” is one of the many inspiring things this man is being quoted saying.

I and my trek partner weren’t even that much close to an edge, yet he came and fired us. He doesn’t care if people feel hurt or whatever, he believes to do his part for preserving a historical structure and humanity at large.

When was the last time you did something out of the sheer passion to do it? When was the last time you removed time from your routine to do something that would impact the society at large? Or did you ever even think of doing something for you know it is right and the need of the hour?

This man, made these questions arise in my head to which I had to answers to. I mean in a world where we are slowly moving to complete devastation, in a new year where #worldwarIII gets trending, I met a man –

– who has made a living out of task he decided to do to improve something.
– who could have stuck to his work at the farm, perhaps left to some city nearby to earn better like the many other villagers, but instead, he decided to do this.

Feeling inspired, I walked quietly to the actual entrance of the fort which got ruined. My trek partner had missed this last Sunday. The caretaker had made me think so much that my jabbering had stopped, my trek partner kept guessing why.

We finished engraving all parts of the forts in our minds and the memories of our phones. We now realized that if we rush a little, we can actually reach in time for the bus to Tung. And so we did, we finished Tikona in two hours and were back in time.

The same local who said we would get the bus now said that don’t wait for it, walk ahead and began to hitchhike. We walked four kilometres ahead to a junction where one side goes to Tung and the other goes to Pune. Once we reached, we realized that there is not a bus for two hours straight.

Disheartened, we sat at the junction. My trek partner’s plan was to come and try for a mode of transport from here, if not head back home. My head wasn’t ready to process and accept it. I asked him what is the biggest challenge if we do Tung. He said to find a ride back and we might be home later than expected.

Something in me said, let’s go for it. By the time we did all this thinking, an hour had passed. I said, “We have an hour in hand, let’s eat lunch, take the bus, finish Tung and hope for the best.” The tone I said it in made my poor trek partner to just give in to my idea.

What if this bus we are waiting for doesn’t come? How would the hitchhike back from the fort be? How much risk are we talking with deciding to do this? And many such queries made us eat like breakfast at lunch. But, I am glad we ate something, it helped.

The bus did arrive. The one hour drive was even bumpier than morning yet I managed to take a nap. We reached and began our trek. If Tikona made a special place in my heart because of the structure and the caretaker, then Tung made me fall for it in other ways.

Thanks to my smallness, I was almost hugging each stone while climbing up. It is a continuous walk up through huge rocks. I was at this fort for the pure love of mountains and this climb was as if this mountain made me hug each rock of it. It was physically demanding, yet something in the both us kept us going.

When we finally reached the top and checked the time. We did it in half hour. We thought it would take an hour. It made us smile to think about how our bodies surprised us. Finally, we sat in peace for a while beside the temple at the top.

It was the moment of sanity I was wishing for the entire day. Tung is difficult and far and hence less touristy. After some quiet time, we realized, we were the only two people at the top of this fort. After the chaos of Tikona we had seen, this made our souls smile.

We took pictures to our heart’s content. I sang as usual out of the joy of actually making it here. I couldn’t stop singing, grinning. We both sat and engraved this beautiful Tung memory before we headed back down.

We almost ran down. I couldn’t stop grinning but a part of me was worried too. What next? Phase one done, now what? How and when will you be home? I sort of made my mind ready for a lot of walking and a hard time for phase two of this ‘let’s do Tung’ decision.

At the base of the fort, there is a beautiful banyan tree, we had decided to click pictures of once back. This tree is so huge, you almost take a round of it to begin the trek. As we were in awe of this beauty, two people walked and asked if we wished to eat. We said no but described our transport situation.

He dialled up two numbers and said, you don’t need to worry, we know this company vehicle, it will drop you till Lonavla. He asked us to go down and sit at his hotel while he joins us back in a while.

We found his hotel, ordered some tea and lime water. While we sipped our drinks quietly, we couldn’t believe what just happened. Are we really sorted? That’s it. I thought we would walk for hours, nothing, I couldn’t believe we were being so blessed.

We took the card of the owner, thanked him a trillion times and left. The ride was beautiful at the back of a small truck. It was full of clothes. We settled our bums on soft clothes and leaned back.

I played music on my phone. We sang and had a relaxing ride until Lonavla. It felt like a reward for the efforts of the entire day. It was so relieving and made me so unbelievably happy, I was dancing within!

The driver was as generous as the owner of that hotel. He refused to make money. Since we had a whole train journey back home, he even insisted to keep the money and not pay him at all. We paid him whatever we thought was good enough, thanked him and left.

We ate an early dinner and headed to the platform. We got Indrayani Express again as if this train only wished to end what it started for us today. It bought us safely back home. Thank you Indrayani Express for existing!

This day was passion-driven. Two passionate trekkers, mountain lovers created a beautiful adventurous memory. We met two passionate men, working towards the betterment of humanity.

I would end this post with a request. A request to think about what is it that you are truly passionate about? How much of you are you really investing in for this passion? This post clarifies the true meaning of passion. I hope that it gives you a good thought-provoking kick start for the year. @nisha_navgie on Insta to talk anything further.

I didn’t want to write this post. I travelled more in the past two years and compared to that, this year was a flop for me. But, I wouldn’t have begun blogging if I had given into comparisons. So, here is a pat on my back for travelling this year.

The year began with simple treks to Segawa and Ballalgarh. I loved the ride there. But it was astonishing how the trees that spoke history of the place. I can always drive back here only to hug the huge Baobab trees.

Next in line was the much-awaited trek to Vasota. We took the less taken route from Chorawne village. “Each time you rest while trekking, make sure you keep your knees straight. Bending knees while resting doesn’t rest your leg muscles.”

This piece of advice was given to me by the guide for this trek. He was one jolly human with loads of knowledge and experience. I am glad this useful piece of advice was received at the start of the year and it did help me trek better through the year.

Apart from him, my biggest take away from Vasota trek is the dense forest walk. I believe forests are magical. They tend to make you listen to your core self. In the whole year, I walked through many more jungles, but this one was a class apart and yes my favourite!

One of the architecturally mesmerizing trip I had this year was to places in and around Solapur. Few secret temples, some magnificent wells and much more. Unlike my usual feeling, this trip did make me proud to have born to be born as a human especially in a state as such where many sharp minds carved history!

When I walk through a forest at night, I feel the fear of the people I walk with. But, our mixture of excitement and determination to trek just overcomes fear and we find our way to the top. Apart from this, the dark adds some creepy creatures that add to the beauty of the forest.

I have had two-night treks and I have cherished both. Last year it was to Chanderi and this time it was to Nanheghat. We walked down from Nanheghat the next morning from a different route and that too was a thrill on its own – to find a route back down which no one has ever been from! Yes, I am extremely grateful for this trip!

I have written one big blog and mentioned this trip several times in the blogs after. I can never be enough thankful for this trip, the place, everything. Thank You Aurangabad is hands down my favourite trip of this year. My eyes swell each time I read and re-journey this trip.

The monsoon lasted for longer this year and I did manage to have a few treks. Being a pluviophile, monsoon treks is what I look out for the entire year. Kohoj and Ganpati Gadad were two great treks but my favourite has to be to Mordhan.

It did feel like walking through a day in heaven. The remarkable climb, the majestic feel of the whole mountain, the lushing grass and dancing flowers – can’t stop grinning when I think of this one!

Leave alone the world full of trekkers and travellers, when compared to my past two years, this year’s travel didn’t even reach half of it. Yet, every single trip was unique and fulfilling in its own way. My personal journey as a traveller has improved thanks to this not so perfect travel year.

I have gained more patience in dealing with people and dealing with travel anxiety. I have managed to keep my travel going in spite of my work and study priorities. I have realized it is high time that I become travel independent and learn to drive, learn to memorize directions to travel with anyone or perhaps alone. That’s my motto for the 2020 travel time. All the best to me!

@nisha_navgire on Insta for any further conversations!

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…

I feel I lived yesterday in fast forward. Everything happened too quickly. I had to slow down the memory reel to process and write about this travel saga to Mordhan and Kanvai forts. Both are in Nashik and a few kilometres away from each other.

Eight of us reached by our private vehicle to Khairgaon, base village of Mordhan on Saturday night. It was windy and drizzly. We didn’t carry blankets or any sleeping material yet each of us managed to get a nap.

Daylight came late than we expected and hence our scheduled climb started two hours late. The clouds had embraced the top of Mordhan fort in a scenic fashion. It tempted me more to climb this mountain. It is said to have been a den full of peacocks which gave it this name.

The clouds were in a playful mood and every ten-twenty steps it changed the view around us. For a brief time, it hid the fort, for a while, it completely cleared. The wind was also happy high at the sight of us on Mordhan fort; it kept us cool throughout the climb. However, there was someone else who was more playful.

When we crossed all the mucky patches, lost and found our way back and finally reached the top, our eyes were greeted with a bed of yellow flowers dancing to the tune of the wind. And then we met the most playful set of swifts found on mountain tops.

These swifts perhaps had a nest nearby and felt like we could be a threat. So many of them kept gliding around everywhere we walked. It felt special to have been walking with the swifts.

I wish I could convey to them that I am no threat to you. If I could convey that, I would also convey my gratitude as it felt special to walk while they all flew so close to us almost as if performing a show especially for us!

The joy of the whole climb was overwhelming. Yes, as usual, it was pouring out through songs for the mountain and everything else that was adding to the beauty of it. I even danced with Sanish, we sat and sang a few songs together before we began to walk down.

A few of us had to be home early and hence the climb down occurred in full speed. I can’t slow the memory reel for this part. The climb down was like the swift’s glide, smooth and in full speed. We all knew where the mucky patch was and where we could run. We did so and reached down to Khairgaon soon.

After washing our shoes we left for Kavnai and reached there within a half-hour. It was 12pm, no one had breakfast and were ready to climb another mountain on the basis of a few biscuits. That’s how our group is, we respect each other’s time as well need to meet mountains more than our need to eat!

The first few steps into Kavnai and I sensed the lack of energy. For once I wished I had eaten. I missed those regular trek mates who always have few toffees in their pockets perfect to get through times as such. For once, I wish I had those toffees in my pocket.

Nonetheless, I didn’t stop. One fellow was way ahead of me and the rest of them were way behind. I had a beautiful view and cool breeze as company till the top. I even timed myself. It took me exactly thirty minutes from the base village Kavnai to the magnificent door of Kavnai.

I can’t express the first sight of this beauty felt like. The entire struggle to reach till there felt worth it. There was a tiny stream behind the iron stairs to the top. I climbed the stairs, stopped in the middle, took a sip from it my soul smiled.

When I walked up, I saw the temple and the pond ahead of it. I walked around and saw all the ranges around. The saint at the temple was kind and gave us Prasad. I was starving almost, but as usual, the mountain knows how to take care of me.

Kavnai gave me a sip of joy and a little sweet when I absolutely needed it. Could there be a better friend than my mountains? Always there in the time of need, always knows and never lets me be-low!

After exploring all main points of the fort, we walked back down. The time management of this trip can be marked as the best in our group’s history. I was sure the people wishing to reach early will get late. But, they didn’t, a magical trip indeed!

I have heard my mother say often that there is no heaven and hell, it is all on earth and you will experience both. Well, not sure of hell, but Mordhan-Kanvai trek surely felt like a day spent in heaven.

How often does a trip begin and end with Biryani? It happens when I plan a leave, get it and my two-day trek gets screwed to a stupid trip. It happens when I wish to climb a mountain and I am stuffed in a vehicle to go around places like a tourist!

All my angst piled up when I saw a small child in the vehicle that would be on this trip with us. I work day in and out with children, I love them. I wish to have a world where we take parenting seriously. But, that doesn’t mean I would want the company of children on my one day out! I don’t want responsibility on that one day when I wish to let go and be…

And I was surely not prepared for this surprise. I had enough struggle to get till this day out. I felt like it was all ruined, and then I met my ray of hope – Biryani! There are all kinds of biryanis and then there are homemade. Could life try to tell me to calm down in a better way?

After the Biryani in my tummy, I was half happy just like the half-moon I could see it throughout the trip to the base village. The only thing missing in the Biryani was warmth and so felt the night ride till the base village Narayangaon.

I wished to look at the moon and fall asleep but couldn’t find the right comfortable place. Finally, I hopped onto the front seat of the vehicle and dragged myself into the perfect position and dozed off looking at the half-moon. The sleep was incomplete just like the feeling of this trip so far. When I opened my eyes, I saw the moon faint and it was time for sunrise in a bit.

I dragged one of my trek mates and begin to climb up Narayangadh to watch the sunrise. We sweat and struggled early morning yet sang to the mountain as we climbed. Our efforts paid off as we reached in time for the sunrise.

On the top of a mountain, in the arms of the wind, looking at the sunrise from dot, observing the sky create a new painting every second… could life get any dreamier?

While coming down the steps I knew this was it. I somehow knew that there wouldn’t be any more trek feels to this trip. And my feeling turned out to be true. We ate breakfast went to Chakan Fort next.

It isn’t a fort but only remains of the fort. The history of this fort is unique do read it, but I would suggest don’t waste energy in visiting this one. Humans rule it now or should I say have ruined it now with all settlements all around, difficult to even spot the fort.

We went to Induri Fort next. The main entrance of this fort has a few remains of carvings. When we reached the fort, there were a few men cleaning grass and making way to the top. I had a word with one of them and realized that they were cleaning it to make it friendlier for visitors and to maintain it.

Why were so many of you working on this?

‘This is not the only place. We are trying to make the entire fort and a few temples around here cleaner as well.’

Why

‘We don’t wish for our heritage to die. We wish to keep it alive as long as we can’

After having a word with him I walked to the top. I climbed up on a corner and sat thinking about what this man just said. I was feeling hopeless until now. I was feeling like I had ruined my day. But maybe it was all destined for me to meet this man. While leaving the fort I saw him walk by to their next place smiling contently.

He was doing a selfless good deed for his heritage. The fort is ruined by humans already but this man and his gang hadn’t left hope yet. He made me think even I shouldn’t leave hope with the day yet.

We drove to Pawna Lake next as we had time in hand. I walked into the water. I am a water baby. I believe water has some healing power. I lose myself and find peace in rains and near rivers. Any other water body works just fine and this was a huge beautiful lake.

After a while of soaking the moment, it was time for madness. I did my usual falling back on the water. A friend suggested to climb on him and to do the same back fall. I denied as I imagined it and it felt like that’s how I’ll die.

I caved. I tried. The water was cold and I was shivering as I climbed onto my friend. The first few falls failed. I fell before I stood properly thanks to all the shivering. But I did it finally. The first fall back flat on the water from a height felt calm and cold.

After a while, before we left the water, I requested for a last back fall from the same height. This time I climbed up and just before the fall I lost my balance and fell on my face instead of my back.

Holy crap! That’s exactly felt like my life at the moment. But, I had to prove my mind that boss, I can do it and I can do it right! My body shivered but my mind was steady and I fell flat on my back. The water was still calm and cold but now I finally felt complete.

What could be more delightful than some Biryani after all the water antics? This time the Biryani didn’t feel like it missed any warmth as I was cold. This time I wasn’t feeling incomplete either.

On the way back, it drizzled again for a bit and there was sun out again. I thought of a rainbow and I saw one. One of the brightest rainbows I had ever seen. This wasn’t the trip I wished for but it was perfect in its own half-moon kind of way.

I read recently that each person is a door to a new world. I did shut one door completely, it was lovely to knock back and open an old door. But more importantly, this trip turned out to be special as it opened a few new doors.

‘How was it?’ mom asked before I even stepped inside the house after my trek today. I grinned and got in. I showed her photos of the day as we sipped tea. But I didn’t answer her.

After almost an entire month of craving for this day, after I and Sanish’s first monsoon Mufasa ride, (name of his Royal Enfield Thunderbird), after finally hugging stones and trees and receiving the same love from mountain and its streams throughout the day, I don’t know how to say how was it?!

The bike ride till the base village, Sonvala was chaotic. I still had work thoughts in my head. I was missing my few dear trek mates and it was a weird feeling. But to me travelling is to let go. And by the time we reached the base of Ganpati Gadad Caves, my mind uncluttered.

We begin walking but I had a new thing to think about. One of our trek mates got lost in the way and drove his bike way ahead. We were almost halfway, all thinking and talking about him when he suddenly arrived!

He did drive ahead in full speed and lost his way, but he didn’t lose hope. He drove back, found the village, parked his bike with our bikes and caught up with us before we reached the top. I mean HOW?

I kept asking everyone how is this boy like this? He doesn’t know the place and he drove ahead. Yet he found his way back. How? I am terrible at directions and everything related to it. I hardly remember maps accurately.

I kept thinking what I would do if I was him. I asked almost everyone else the same. They all said they would roam around somewhere else and go home. None gave the reply that he actually did. He found the way back to us.

A year back I had lost my way in Chitkul, a small village in Spiti Valley. I panicked, gave up and froze in one place for a while. My people found me. My biggest fear to be lost in an unknown land had come true and I couldn’t cope. But this boy didn’t give up. I felt like to hit him to get lost the way he did but I just didn’t for the way he came back.

I still wanted to hit him for getting lost yet I was smiling to see him climb on with us. We crossed streams and reached the caves. We ate and then went to see the deity in the Caves. I wish I could go back in time to see how it was made. Only parts of the caves are left, a lot is ruined, yet the aura of the structure mesmerized me.

After photo sessions we begin to walk down. I had seen a spot while climbing up near the stream where I had wished to relax. I kept my bag at one place and walked down towards it. I removed my shoes, kept my feet in water and sunk in the moment completely.

The sound of the stream, the fluttering of the trees, few bird calls is all I heard for the next fifteen twenty minutes. I lied down and closed my eyes. I thanked the super powers for blessing me with this moment and walked towards my group.

I walked ahead of where they were clicking and saw a little pool for me to jump in. Water makes me mad, I embraced it, splashed it and spend time doing every possible thing I could in it.

After a lot of the madness we finally resumed our walk back down. We reached to where we had parked our bikes and zoomed out. We stopped next at a hotel to eat. The day was dreamy enough but some good chicken added to the blessings.

Tummy full, heart filled with joy we headed home. On the Mufasa ride back, I was singing Raabta to the mountains like usual when it finally rained. It felt wonderful to receive the love back. Yes the rain was hitting hard on my face but I stood up behind the bike and accepted the love pouring down completely.

The rain didn’t last too long. It was like a quick hug we give to our friends to bid goodbye. I couldn’t stop humming, grinning the entire way back home. When I reached, I felt refreshed, joyous and blessed for yet another trek day.

How was it? Maa, I think I was drowning in too many thoughts and was desperate to be outdoors. I wanted to give up on many things this month, but thanks to the crazy friend and this mad trek, I think I’ll hang in there, try better and not give up. So, it was too good a day to be true, Maa, I hope you pray for many more such days for me!