This month I haven’t been able to blog everything that has been happening. This for the soul reason that I didn’t have the time. I had to write, but not enough to jot down every single detail of each trip. I had five back to back trips, not giving excuses, but trying to make up for it with this post.

The month began with my first ever office trip. It was to an NGO based in Nanded. I slept through the train journey to the place. The playlist in the vehicle kept me alive in the two hour long journey from Nanded station to the NGO.

The Nanded city landscape very easily transitioned to black soil farms, small houses, and smaller roads. When we finally reached, our place of stay was one cosy structure. We got fresh and did our work for the day. In the evening when we reached back to our place, it rained.

I couldn’t stop myself, I headed out and got drenched. I saw peacocks walk by, I had some swans cut my lane too. I just walked, ran and embraced the rain, when I reached back I truly felt alive.

Next day, I had a bike ride around the village for work. What more could I ask for? The small roads, the bright smiles on the way, the farms meeting the clouds in the horizon, could work get any dreamier?

We finished our day’s work, and reached the station for our train back home. The dreamy feel of the work, made me mentally happy but physically everything drained me out. I had zero energy when I reached back home.

So this was till Fourth of July, little did I know it was just the beginning of my mad month ahead. I reached on a Thursday morning, worked in the second half, worked on Friday and Saturday both before I again stepped out for a tree plantation as planned.

I wasn’t too sure to do this tree plantation physically but my cousin’s enthusiasm spreads like wind. I got excited and went ahead with it. He drove the car till the place in Alibaug where we were supposed to. We were served dinner and given places to sleep.

But, there was beach ahead, a play area with a swing, wind and wave sounds soothing our ears, who would want to sleep? I had a very young girl for my company. We were at the swing when it began to rain, neither of us stopped.

It felt heavenly to be on the swing, while the rain kissed our cheeks as we heard the wind wave melody. Soon the kiss of rain began to poke and slap so we turned our back and swinged the other way. Now we could see the huge trees and our small tents and still hear the wind wave melody.

Almost all slept, we both walked up this small stage sort of thing. We spend hours just the two of us. Both lost in their own thoughts and yet synched in the same moment of sanity. We talked and shared a bit before I headed to my bed and dozed off.

Next morning, I and Sanish began the work. We got joined in by a friend and together the three of us planted many saplings. Neither of us kept a count as we were too engrossed in our team efforts. But I can say that the three of us went nonstop for more than an hour.

We were served breakfast, after which we planted a few more saplings and then left to Karnala for our lunch. The ride was mesmerizing. We reached the place before others, walked around, ate lunch with all.

During lunch I finally managed to talk to my friend. The last time we met was the first of January. So it felt like we gave each other the glimpse of the half year passed. It felt good that I had something to share, however mad, I have accepted what my life is at the moment and could share it with positivity.

I reached home in the evening. Packed my bags again as I was to leave for office’s Latur trip on Monday. I somehow managed to rest a bit in the middle of all the packing. Monday in the office was madness. I don’t know how the time flew and soon we were in the train to Latur.

If there can be one office trip I wish to relive the exact way, this one would be it. The people I was with, the people I met, the children I learned from, everything felt like weaving a perfect trip story.

I came back on Friday morning, worked again in the second half, worked on Saturday as well. I didn’t have any energy left to meet a friend for lunch on Sunday. I was too done physically and mentally.

Recovered from little exertion and worked hard the entire week. By the end of which I went to this beautiful trek to Kohoj. You can read the details of this trip here. I had my work week planned when all of a sudden I was called and asked if I can go for another work trip to Beed?

Saying no to a chance to travel doesn’t come naturally to me. I had a word with mom, and I went ahead with it. I returned on Friday morning, extremely exhausted and sick. I couldn’t work the second half of Friday, nor could I work on Saturday. I slept the two days of and rested.

Sunday I woke up with better energy and wrote these two posts back to back. By mid day I got done posting the Kohoj experience but finishing this post took longer.

Somewhere, I don’t wish to let go of July. It has been so kind, ending this post is like ending it all. Hopefully you enjoyed this read. Please pray for a more adventurous August for me. Thank You.

A trek, finally! I had many trips around Maharashtra this month but not a proper trek. So last weekend trek to Kohoj was special. Little did I knew, it would turn out to be one of the best learning experience.

We took the first shuttle to Palghar from Kopar. I sat at the door with my younger sibling Sachin for a while and later with my dear trek mate, Sneha. We both laughed about the stand-up comedies we had recently seen.

We got up, took our bags, all set to get down when at the next station when we noticed a faint rainbow. Mountain as a backdrop, amidst scattered buildings, this rainbow looked majestic.

We got down and ate a quick breakfast outside Palghar station and got in the bus to Vaghote village. The ride to this village was curvy. The transition of the landscape from plain village farms to hilly farmland was smooth. I couldn’t close my eyes for a second as I didn’t wish to miss any scenic view.

When we reached and finally began to walk, my excitement level had already crossed all borders. I was walking, talking, singing, waiting to listen to the streams, trying my best to listen to the birds. Trying my best to live each second in the wild to my fullest.

As expected, there was a certain crowd as it was a Sunday. Luckily, while we began, there were only two groups. There are proper white arrows marked from the bottom till the top. These arrows are on eye level for someone my height (5feet) and hence difficult to find, but that’s the only way to reach the top without losing your way.

The best part of in monsoon trek are the streams. On the way to the top, we crossed two streams, one small and one big. The sound of both silently guides you to the top. I could never have enough of the sound of the stream, mixed with bird calls, a few insects, wind claps of trees, it felt like a perfect melody to reach the top.

When we did reach the top, I realized how we failed as a group. Only seven out of twelve had reached. We waited for around an hour and headed to the temple and then to fill water. By then, the rest of the group also reached. Together, we headed to the top of the fort.

“The top of a mountain is the top, no journey can ever beat that,” a fellow trek mate said while walking to the top.

When I saw the view from the top, I felt his words. My entire journey with the stream, the birds, and the jungle felt worth it. The first few seconds at the top felt like a mighty embrace from the mountains. I couldn’t move my eyes of the sight but then Sachin began to climb even more ahead, I obviously joined him.

A few of us climbed up the pinnacle sort of structure. I was made to click pictures and I did with a smile because the view was worth it. After all of them had the pictures clicked, they asked me, do you wish to be clicked? I didn’t have an answer.

No, I hadn’t come up to the top for a picture. I had come here to embrace the structure, embrace the mountains, embrace the feeling of reaching the top, to embrace the entire journey to the top, to thank these structures for existing, for making me feel at home each time I climb one… I hugged all the stone structures before I headed down, I hope my hug conveyed my love to them.

While getting down, we functioned better as a group and all twelve reached the base together. However, one smart fellow did run ahead and reached before us all. The base of the fort has the Pajara Dam, which we had eyed on our way up.

A small child dwells in each group member I trek with, and loosens up at times as such. Almost all of us were in the water, splashing, swimming, having fun. No one thought of any sort of consequences and just lived in the moment.

It was truly beautiful to see the sparkly smiles of the entire group. The tiredness of the past few hours of climbing up and down, group’s mishaps all got washed away in the water. The group had a new refreshed energy as it headed out.

No one had eaten well post the breakfast and two good mates went and got some chips and cold drinks for all. All superpowers please bless the existence of such souls. All crunched and drank a little and then the BEST to Palghar arrived.

The refreshed energy went out of the window, a breeze of good sleep came in and almost all had a good hour nap back to Palghar station. Again, to gather all twelve at one place was a task, some needed to use the loo, some needed tickets and some were hungry, and people like me were just panicking about missing the train!

All did get in. Yet again there was Samosas for all. I would have practically cried out of joy when I saw the Samosas because I was extremely hungry. But soon, my focus shifted to my dear trek mate Sneha. She was the one I began this journey with, trekked the entire fort almost, the weather in her eyes was changing and I couldn’t take it.

I sensed that if she shared what’s happening, she would burst out crying and that’s exactly what she said. She came to a trek after months, I don’t know when again would we meet, I told her so. I asked her, she can share it now, or perhaps never.

We spoke almost the entire way till Dadar. I managed to get her weather better. We shared chapters of our lives which we usually keep to ourselves. It felt good to have ended this beautiful trek on the note of connecting to this one soul. The one soul who had kept trekking and all of us at bay for months.

The other part of the journey from Dadar back home was a blur. All I know is I reached home and I slept with a content smile. A smile that marked the Kohoj kind of joy. Only a nature lover or Sahyadri baby can feel how peaceful that sleep is after a trek.

Everybody has a chapter that they don’t read to anyone. My equation with my dad is that chapter of my life. A few people close to me know it in bits and pieces. I haven’t ever read it completely to anyone.

But it wasn’t always bitter. Sixteen years ago the equation was different when we had been on a family trip to Aurangabad. We had visited Daulatabad Fort, Ajantha-Ellora Caves and many other spots around these places.

Daulatabad is an intellectual marvel, while Ellora and Ajantha Caves are like time machines. These caves will drive you back in time with an aura of amazement. Yet I feel, I can never have the right descriptive words to express the grandeur of Aurangabad. Also, thanks to the memory of sixteen years ago, Aurangabad will always be one of my favourite place to be.

I applied for my Saturday’s leave for this trip two Mondays back as I dearly needed a break. A break from living the chapter with my dad and also a break from walking through my work life like a doubtful drunkard. All I wanted was to just be me, be happy. That’s exactly what the superpowers made me feel over the two days – joyous.

Our Friday night bus journey to Aurangabad began an hour late. I bonded over music with one of my dear trek mates and didn’t realize when the dark turned to dawn. Early morning we visited the famous Grishneshwar Temple and the scenic well in its vicinity. After which we headed to Ellora Caves.

The precision of work at the Kailashnath Temple of Ellora Caves is unbelievable. We walked through the Temple and then walked up for the top view. I took a corner and sat there mesmerising over the great artists of the time.

We visited Bhadra Maruti Temple next. It was a typical temple with the chaos of devotees all around. (The idol at this temple is unique, do Google that) But what caught my ears was an old man singing a hymn and playing an instrument. I went and sat beside him till all my trek mates finished the temple visit.

I closed my eyes and let his melody take me places. All this while walking through Ellora, I wanted to sit for a while and sink in the art of the place. I tried to do so when we reached the top of the Caves but couldn’t.

In the few minutes of the old man’s play, I had reached a state of sanity. I took a tour to the whole Caves and thought in awe about the artists back then. After he stopped playing, I got up and felt fully charged as we walked to Aurangzeb’s Tomb.

This place was the least touristy place we had been since morning and hence calmer. The walk around the tomb felt like a walk in the past trying to question and know what kind of person was Aurangzeb. What kind of ruler was he, what kind of life did he live.

With all these unanswered questions in my mind, we headed to Daulatbad Fort. I was panicking since morning what if we miss this fort for watching everything else. When we finally reached the fort, I sighed with joy.

I tried to recall all that I read and watched about the fort. As I walked in with my group, each word of praise I had read about this fort began to come to life. I took a trek route up found by a friend so as to avoid the stairs to the top. That’s how we are as a gang, even when there is no trek, we find one in wherever we go.

We explored the fort and reached down to the Bharat Mata Temple. I lied down and recalled the last time I had been here. I and dad had walked through the entire fort. The memory is vague but the emotion of it still strong in my mind. Holding his hand and listening to him praise the architecture of the fort is my only favourite memory with him.

After a good nap at the Temple, we drove to Bibi ka Maqbara. The climate changed by the time we reached. It got darker around as if it will rain. The memory reel playing in my mind made me feel as if I would pour out too.

I was walking with my cousin Sanish, and understanding the structure, its history etc. We saw the main structure and while heading back to the entrance it began to rain. I helped him keep his camera and other belongings.

Then I made him run to the main entrance. Before it began to rain heavily we safely reached the main gate and could see Maqbara right in front of us drenching in rain. I gave all my belongings to Sanish and stepped out to drench with the Maqbara. It was just me and the structure getting wet for a while before a few children stepped out for fun too.

I noticed a family of three siblings with their mothers having a blast. They were playing fugdi. The eldest one wasn’t able to play it fast with her two very young siblings. I walked to her and said, can we play fugdi.

That was just the beginning of it all. We played it super-fast like the way fugdi is supposed to be played. Then I joined in the siblings for a race, followed by splashing every puddle game among other new monsoon games we invented.

By now it had rained enough for water to be collected in the space around the fountains. I noticed and jumped in. The youngest sibling – Abdullah hopped in. Later, the two siblings and their mothers also stepped in and all of us splashed water on each other until we finally felt tired.

All of us except Abdullah sat for a while, our legs in the little pool of water, eyes on the Maqbara getting wet. We had the brightest smiles on our faces, perhaps brighter than the lightning we could see, the sound of our hearts pumping joy was higher than the thundering we could hear.

After almost an hour our Maqbara Monsoon session we finally walked to the main gate. The family took aside and tried to dry themselves while I met Sanish and sat down for a while shivering. We sat for a while looking at the Maqbara, the monsoon, the lighting, hearing the thundering and living the beauty of the moment we were blessed with.

And then again, Abdullah ran towards the pool of water near the fountains. His mother tried to stop him but he didn’t listen. I was shivering but I told Sanish I can’t let him play alone and I ran too. He taught me two new games, and we splashed water on each other one last time before his mother finally came.

I bid goodbye to my new found family and walked out of the Maqbara. We stopped by to eat some Samosa and chai when the same family walked in. I realized I hadn’t taken a picture with them. But I also figured I didn’t have a phone on me. I asked a friend to lend his phone and took a picture with them.

I promised to not share the picture anywhere and hence won’t be adding it here on my blog. The lights aren’t proper, Abdullah isn’t seen well in the picture, I have hidden Abdullah’s mother, and in many other ways, the picture is imperfect. Yet perfect for me to frame and keep it on the table of my favourite travel memories.

After the picture was taken, I bid them goodbye and went to complete my samosa and chai. To my surprise, they again called me. This time the family made me sit down, not for a photo, not for monsoon fun but to talk.

I shared about where I work, about my blog, about my travel plans etc. They shared about how one of the mothers’ is an advocate while the other is a housewife. I told them that I would be writing about today’s experience on my blog. Together they echoed we would love to read it.

I begged a card and a pen and got the number of the Advocate, I shared mine with her. In my mind, I was like I hope I write good enough a post this week to be able to share it with them. With all this in my mind, I bid a final goodbye to Abdullah and family and walked to our bus.

“I am so happy!!!” is all I kept exclaiming the entire time in the bus. So many asked why and I couldn’t blabber a proper answer as the joy of everything in the past hour was too good to be true. When we figured where we’ll stay the night and reached our room, I finally shared my Maqbara Monsoon saga with all.

While I was eating, I witnessed some group arguments which we call “discussion” in our trek gang language. The high pitch tone of which took me back sixteen years. It reminded me of how dad had behaved, after a good day around Aurangabad monuments how he had ruined everything with his tone of speaking, insulting before we all slept the sadness out.

I ate and slept. I have no clue what happened at night, but the after scenes in the morning joined some dots for me. The tension was evident. I didn’t wish the day to carry on with the same mood, I wished to change the mood, but I didn’t know how.

I sat on the front seat beside the driver. The climate was calm, there was a slight breeze, and it felt like it would rain again. We were on our way to Ajantha Caves now and it was going to be a good two-hour journey.

The scenic view made me play some slow soothing melody. It set the tone for some to doze off in the bus while some others watched out of the window and sang along with me.

We stopped for a quick breakfast. Nobody told me exactly what had happened last night, but the breakfast table spoke a lot. I observed things which made me feel that it isn’t all right and I just have to break this tone the group was setting in.

I sat ahead again with the driver and this time I changed my playlist. I told everyone I need a video of all of them dancing on the next song I play. I played Malhari and they all let loose. I made sure each one on the bus did at least a little jig and shook off all the low.

I took a few videos of my favourite songs. Then I played Lollypop Lagelu and made one of my dear trek mate dance on it. Oh my, how hilarious was it, dancing with him and, trying hard to match up to his dancing skills!

On such high spirits, we reached Ajantha Caves. We were walking towards the bus stop that would take us to the base of the caves. Before which I spotted a swing and ran towards it. I love swings. I can’t ever have enough of it. Yet after a while, I gave it for someone else to play.

Then a friend asked me to hop on to the small merry round. I didn’t want to, but he wanted to play it with me. We played on it and someone sped it up too. I was about to hop out of it when another friend hopped on to play it with me.

After so many rounds my head twirled but my heart smiled. It was a delight to see the child in each one of us live out so loud.

We finally took the bus and reached the base of the caves. I had shown the only picture I have with dad to my gang. I had requested everyone to tell me if they spot the same frame in any of the caves as I wished to recreate that image.

I and Sanish walked from cave to cave together, learning, understanding and trying to grab in as much information we could. We were walking out of one of the caves when one of my friends called me in.

We checked it with my photo and that was it, we found the exact same frame from my photo of sixteen years ago. I called Sanish and it was time to recreate the image. The only challenge was, we weren’t allowed to go in, there were barriers put to stop people from going in.

Somehow, I and Sanish sneaked in and clicked the picture. We stepped out, checked the image, the lights weren’t proper so we stepped in again for a final try. Sanish got it, I had managed to recreate the image thanks to the friends who spotted the frame and for my cousin for clicking it.

Neither did Sanish nor did anyone else from the group asked me why I wished to recreate this image. I am glad and grateful about it to everyone for not asking as I wouldn’t have a proper reply.

The sixteen-year-old photo is the only image of me and dad together, I don’t have any other photo clicked with only him from my childhood. And I know I won’t be clicking any now or in future and hence the photo is special.

The idea to recreate the picture without him in my mind was to mark my journey as a person. To mark the journey I and dad both have had in the past sixteen years. How much we learned of each other and how separate our growth has been.

We explored the Caves, ate a quick lunch and left. We had a long journey back home and I dozed off for the most of it as I had to be in the office early morning. This trip had given me more than what I could have asked for.

One of my best monsoon travel memory with a random family I met, letting go of my barriers with the group and dancing it all out. But the best is accepting my journey with my dad.

I can never truly tell anyone ever why the bitterness and perhaps I don’t want to either as I don’t believe in spreading the low. Like I made everyone dance the low out, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll end this post on a positive note.

I am an avid reader of places I go to and even otherwise, a habit I inculcated from my dad. I have a writer and travel seed in me both sowed in me by my dad. Life has got bitter now and moulded us both in a way we can’t change. Yet, I will always be grateful to him for giving me the core of my being, thank you, dad.

Please plan this month’s two-day trip, I requested my friend

‘Yes, but what about tomorrow’s holiday?’

Let’s go somewhere, work has been rough

‘Yes, tired of routine life…’

And that’s how the sudden plan to go, Lohgadh Fort, today emerged. A simple conversation that turned into a beautiful memory.

Four of us started around 4 am on a Sunday morning. We began early to avoid the Sunday crowd that flocks into Lohgadh, as it is easily accessible from Lonavla through road and rail both. Witnessing the dark transform to dawn during the drive was mesmerising.

We drove past Malavli station and reached a place where many cars were parked. I was going to Lohgadh for the first time and thought that’s where the ride ends, but I was wrong. My cousin, Sanish was sure we could drive till the base of the fort.

There was one steep rocky patch after which the road was smooth. We first decided to let go and started walking, but Sanish had other plans. He went back to our car, removed it out from where it was parked, and decided to give it a shot.

All car drivers around said it was impossible to get past the rocky patch but Sanish didn’t think so. The wheels slipped a tad bit while he removed the car from where it was parked but even that didn’t let him down. And zoom! Sanish drove the car past the patch.

I was scared when Sanish turned back and began walking to give it a try. I knew it was risky, one side of me wished to stop him but the other side wished for the best. I always believe one should believe their “gut feeling” and not what others say and hence I didn’t try hard to stop him.­

When I was reaching to where Sanish had stopped the car and waited for us, I could see his bright smile from afar. I could see my brother shining there like a star who had zoomed past people’s thoughts and did what he believed in.

A lesson learned even before the trek began! What better start could I ask for?

As it was a sudden plan, we were only four. I have come to love and learn from each of my regular ten-twelve trek members. And hence, the missing began. But now, after years of trekking and travelling, I have also learned to be and live moments I am in over everything.

I walked with a new trek mate with whom I have had one trek in the last monsoon. Our love for SRK was an instant connection, but this time I found more. Right from the ride in the car, to the little breakfast time, she had managed to ask so many questions!

The connection chord strikes in me when I meet a curious soul. Her curiosity made me know more about the music we were listening to, the places we passed by as we drove and even the place we ate breakfast at.

We headed to the farthest spot Vinchu Kada the moment we reached the top. We decided to see the spots near the stairs on our way down. I saw the flag at Vinchu Kada afar and something in me wished to run towards it, I asked my new trek mate and we ran.

We ran halfway and then began walking-talking. I saw the rest two slow-walk behind us. Our conversational walk got accompanied by a new friend with paws. We both noticed that our new buddy was thirsty and fetching water. We found a small pool of water and guided the dog to it.

I felt satisfied looking at the dog quench its thirst. The doggo walked through our chitter-chatter all the way to the flag. The heat had made us three crash by the shade side of the flag post as soon as we reached.

Both of us were trying to gulp in the beauty of the place when something even special happened. Our four-legged friend got up and sat right in between us. I wonder why it did that, but it felt so good. We managed to capture this memorable moment.

Finally the two slow walkers or say the ones who didn’t run madly like us joined in. After clicking a few group photos we headed back. After exploring all the spots around the stairs we sat inside the Mosque.

It is the first thing visible once you reach the top of Lohagadh. Four of us sat inside for a while and sank in the serenity of the moment. Small conversations lead to a better understanding of the fort for us.

We walked down to the car real quick, perhaps because all of us almost ran down all the stairs to base. We ate some good lunch before we began our drive back. The ride was a hustle bustle of laughter back home with some sharing of the crazy playlists and cracking up over other moments of the day.

We almost gave up on all our playlists and switched to radio by the time we were reaching home. The second we reached and were picking up things to step out of the car a song played that gave my day the perfect end.

“musafir hoon yaaron, na ghar hai na thikana,
mujhe chalte jana hai, bas chalte jana hai…”

Indeed. A sudden trek day ended but I know I have a travel bug in me, I am a musafir, and my journey will never end.

Have you ever felt so happy that you just couldn’t function? You sat down looking at how beautiful life is and how blessed you are? I feel so today. I am unsure of how this post will turn out to be as clearly I am too happy high to be productive!

We had decided to climb up Nanheghat at night and descend the same way in daylight. I had misplaced my torch and so was going to use my phone flashlight. But just before I left, Sanish surprised and gave me one of the three head-torches he had purchased for him, Sachin and me. What better way to begin a trek?

This was a proper trek after long for almost all six of us climbing. It was a first time night climb for a few too. I was doing a proper trek after a month. This made the pace of climb of each one very different from the other. It is a key factor of a night trek to walk together and this was getting difficult.

I shared my torch with a dear friend and it was tough to match our pace. This means, for the first time I walked through Sahyadri at night, with minimal light. I never thought I could do this. At the very start of the trek, I managed to unravel a new side of me!

It was past two at night yet the climb made us sweat like twelve in the morning. It was getting tedious but what kept us going was light wind embraces by the mountain. I couldn’t the joy in me when we finally reached the Nanheghat Caves early morning.

There was the view of the moonless sky, few lights at a distance of the villages, the darkness we walked through as we sat on one of the mighty mountains of the Sahyadri. I had to burst my joy out singing and I did. All my favourites, few songs on demand I sang to the beautiful view before I finally went into the caves and dozed off.

Sleeping is one thing and sleeping peacefully completely another. I slept without any thoughts in my head, without an alarm, without the most comfortable beddings or climate. Yet, this sleep of hardly four hours was the soundest sleep I have ever had in ages.

I got up super fresh. I realized that I hadn’t clicked many photos at night and it was time I made up for it. And to find good frames on mountains isn’t difficult. After eating food, we clicked our way through to the top of Nanheghat. We got down and while filling our water took a new adventurous call.

We decided to descend by another way. We had a vague idea of this route down, we took more information from local, filled bottles and headed to find the way down with a positive attitude. Will we find the right way down? Was this a right call to take when we were running late as per schedule? These thoughts made more excited than anxious.

‘Bhoradichi Naal’ is a lesser known route to reach Nanheghat. On this way down, I noticed many beautiful huge trees, some extremely pretty moulded stones. I clicked pictures of almost every single frame I saw. After a point, I began hugging them. Each tree I hugged, each stone I embraced reciprocated only one vibe – home.

I felt I found my habitat, as if I have always belonged here and only figured so today. At one point we felt we lost our way and instead of panicking, I began shortlisting which tree I would build my house on.

It was as if a day where nothing could have gone wrong. We found the right way down and reached in time for a tempo ride to the nearest village Tokawde. No successful trek ever ends without great food. We hogged delicious chicken delicacies at Hotel Gargi before we headed to the bus stop.

I still don’t know exactly why but I decided to treat my group with ice cream. The cold dessert had just reached our bellies as the bus arrived. We hopped on the bus, for a while I and a friend spend time with the maps I had carried. After improving a bit of my geography we finally dozed off.

The to and fro bus journey had a lot of sleep in common. I wonder how I have this talent to sleep even in the worse conditions. Maybe not my sleeping skills but such trips are surely a thing to brag.

I feel blessed to have lived such a day in my life. Even after penning all the details about this trip and it is time to end the day, yet the happy high rush is still running in me. that’s the note I’ll begin my week with.

This week, do check Insta @nisha_navgire for photos
with poetry with similar emotions as above!

The Shiva Temple in Mankeshwar has a striking similarity to the Shiva Temple in Ambernath. Both, geographically far but architecturally on the same plate. Every single thing that my eyes saw at this temple made me drop my mouth in awe. The detailing of each sculpture, the carvings at the door to the idol, the pillars…

I wish to have so much time, money and everything else needed to sit at this temple for days and know everything I can about its architecture, history, folk tales etc.

The sunset view right outside this temple felt like the perfect end we could have to our adventurous day. But, the day wasn’t done yet. We drove to Tuljapur and ran to get darshan of the idol. We got the darshan and decided to sit for a while before we called it a day and found a place to eat and for accommodation.

As we reached, took tickets to worship the idol, ran for the same, walked in line to reach it, there was a constant sound of a bongo. It was played by a man in the temple with sticks. Every single variation, every single pause, each kind of rhythm he played got impressed in my head.

I closed my eyes, tried to only listen to the bongo amidst the chaos of my group and other worshippers around me. After minutes, it felt as it was only me and the bongo beats present at the temple, yet again I found my little moment of peace.

The entire day flashed in my mind, I felt blessed for what I saw and experienced the entire day. Thanked the superpowers for making this trip happen for me. For the first time in my many travelling years, in a span of a few hours, twice I experienced complete harmony!

After a sound sleep, we got up, ate a quick breakfast we headed towards Naldurg. On the way, I read about this fort which made me even more enthusiastic to explore it. The tales about this fort, the thought through planning while creating it are some things that are must-read even if you never visit this fort.

This time we carried water and were better prepared for the heat. This fort is protected by the Maharashtra department of archaeology and hence had water and other refreshments available. Around mid-day, we were done exploring the important parts of this massive fort.

The remains of the fort included rani mahal, rang mahal, and ambar kahan among other structures. The two huge cannons – Magar Tof and Hathi Tof are pure mesmerizing! These structures made me dive into the era and gave me a glimpse of the mighty living.

I imagined the life they must have had, had a reality check to my own and went into another parallel universe as I sat and saw the water body in the fort.

The way water was bought to this fort is one interesting fact. A dam on the river passing by was used to get water in the fort and then left from another end for the villagers. If not anything, visit this fort to witness how the marvellous minds of that time made sure that their people had water all year long.

Now we headed to Akkalkot Temple. We took blessings from the idol and left for Akkalkot Armoury Museum. This place gave me mixed vibes. At one side it made me feel all awe of the unique and varied armoury. On the other side it made me think about war, loss of animals, humans, worth of life etc.

I have never loved diving into the idea of war. My history isn’t great but everything about wars is especially worse. This museum tour of about an hour is the longest I have ever entertained the idea of war. I thought about war, learned about its existence, and its importance in history etc.

After an extremely late lunch on the entire journey to Solapur I listened to my playlist while others slept. I registered war as an idea in my head finally and figured why it was the reality of the time. I thought about how it isn’t really essential today yet why it exists. As I stepped out of the vehicle, I thanked the museum for helping me relearn a word.

Solapur is known for the famous Siddeshwar Temple. The train we took both times was also named after this Temple. The temple is very well maintained. The evening lights in the temple with its reflection on the lake is one serene sight.

We saw the huge outer walls of Solapur Fort and walked with it to reach a garden. The garden was shut for construction, but the walk was beautiful. Huge stone wall on one side, the reflection of the temple on the other along with the chitter-chatter of the bats around made the walk memorable.

We hogged some famous street food and headed to a friend’s place. His family gave us a warm welcome. We left from there to the station in a perfect mood to begin the long journey back home.

This entire two-day extravaganza of our group in Osmanabad and Solapur districts of Maharashtra had us explore many structures. There was an evident southern presence in the aura due to the fact that both districts are on the Karnataka border. Nizams ruled the south back then and hence a strong presence of that era was also felt.

A unique mix of the south, the Mughal and the Hindus make these places a must visit. If temples, architecture, history, and people interests you, this itinerary would be enjoyable for you. For me, this entire trip gave me my much needed little moments of peace…

I hope you liked this two post series. Check detailed itinerary here.
@nisha_navgire on Insta for pictures from this trip.

Saturday morning we reached Kurduwadi Station from Siddeshwar Express. After a quick breakfast, we left for Karmala Village. We got fresh at a friend’s place there and finally walked towards our first spot – Kamlabhavani Temple.

Locally known as Devicha Maal, is one big space full of gods, goddesses and their many tales. From the moment I entered this temple and began exploring each small room of every God, it kept occurring to me how strikingly similar this temple is to Brihadeshwar Temple in Tamilnadu.

But what caught my eye were two stone bells. These were kept on a wooden table in the corridor. These bells had something written on them. I couldn’t decipher what was written. One of my friends could read some bits of it but we couldn’t make sense of all lines written on it.

 

We took a video of both the bells properly to figure what was written later. Now we walked ahead and reached the famous well that has the shape of a key. Unlike my cousin, who hates steps, I like them. Not climbing them of course, but running down. Every time I look at beautiful steps, a voice in me says, run!

And the steps to this well made me do just that. I held the hand of a friend who is afraid of walking down steps and made him run down all ninety-six steps till the well. Then we both stood still and tried to absorb the beauty of the place.

We walked from the sides to the centre of the well. Until now I felt the shape of the well was a hexagon. But now as I saw it properly, I figured it had not six but eight sides, it was an octagon!

I clicked photos from the centre and then just sat there for a minute. The view of the steps, the depth of the well, the shape of it, the crisp finishing, the placement of the well… I looked at my friend, he was quiet and observing. This well had drowned us both into thoughts.

We walked up and took photos of the well from the top. I walked towards a temple structure next. There was a shivling in the centre accompanied by an uncle sleeping in the coolness of the stone structure.

A friend made me notice how the top was actually fit on the pillars. He noticed a gap and pointed it to me. This perhaps says that the pillars were constructed and the top was placed over it. In awe, I moved towards the dome structure in sight.

I noticed a shivling right in the centre. I took two good videos of the place. But, only later I noticed the marvel of the structure thanks to a friend. A beautifully carved dome with few colours of the carvings still intact had a shivling in the centre. Two different worlds merged in one structure!

 

Now we climbed up one of the temple entrance. It was a damp walk up to a beautiful view. The village, the temple, the well, all the other structures were all in one frame of our eyes. No panorama shot can ever give the feel of this moment back to me. Though my and Sanish’s crazy selfie attempts with all the structures we could see from the top will be a hearty reminder of this place.

When I came down, I sat there in one place quietly for long. In a span of hours, there was so much grandeur I saw that it was hard to believe the moment I was living. I registered everything I saw, kept thinking of all the questions that were churning in my head.

My group went up, saw the view, clicked photos in every possible angle and walked down. I sat there, one by one all went down, and it was time I went down too. In the chaos of the group, sitting amidst the aura of many centuries, I found my little moment of peace.

We now headed to the Shani Mandir, Pothare well. The well didn’t look too big compared to the area around it. We walked up and one of us noticed a secret passway going in. She called us there and then the exciting part began.

We walked down and noticed shivlings at two places. The Mandir pandit helped us see a Samadhi and another shivling through a different secret pass way. We had entered from a different place and came out from a different place. From the outside, no one can even imagine the uniqueness of the passways below.

 

At the backseat of the vehicle, I sat with all the questions. Who made this temple the way it is? Why were idols and a samadhi hidden in pass ways as such? What equipment did they have to make such an architectural marvel?

With many more unanswered queries floating in my head, I got down of the vehicle. We all headed to a well on the outskirts of Karmala fort. A local showed us a similar well on the other side of the road. We then visited a Mahadev and a Vithal Temple.

Now we walked towards the famous seven wells of the Karmala Fort. It turned out to be one big water body and which perhaps had all seven wells in it. Everyone clicked pictures of the many pretty frames around.

 

As I walked towards our vehicle, I noticed a huge neem tree. I gave my phone away to my cousin and just embraced the mighty neem. If I had time, I would climb on it, sit there for hours sharing about my day but I tried to say it all in that one silent hug. The cool breeze made our conversation complete.

After a journey of more than an hour, we reached our next spot planned – Paranda Fort. An interesting fact of this fort is, it never faced a battle in history but perhaps was used as armoury storage. This fact can be inferred by the number of cannon and cannon balls found in this fort.

Middle of the day summer heat was eating up my will to explore the uniqueness of the structure. We had forgotten to carry water from our vehicles and I wished to just give up. And never does that happen, I kept walking with the group, tried to notice the place well and like a blessing, water appeared. The beautiful mosque in the fort had some water kept for people like us. I drank to my heart’s content and promised myself to explore the rest of the fort with more efforts.

 

Among the many unique features this fort, my favourite is – the trench that surrounds all four sides of the fort. This deep trench is believed to have had crocodiles living in them. During the entire time walking through the fort, watching each curve, carving, corridor, door, I kept imagining how did the crocodiles live? How must be that feeling to spot crocodiles around you for your safety?

We finished exploring and landed at Hotel New Milan just outside the fort. The lassi at this place is a must try. I am not so much a foodie but I can still say that I have never had a better lassi anywhere else. Refreshed, we headed to Mankeshwar next.

Second part coming up next week.
Pictures from this trip @nisha_navgire on Insta soon!

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.

“When the going gets tough, tough gets going” I have known, read, heard this proverb a million times, but for the first time lived the essence of it. This weekend’s trek to Lingana was thus one of the most memorable ones of the year.

As decided, we met to leave on Friday around 10pm. However, got delayed and left an hour or so late. We had a Bolero and a bike. We were asked to sleep as we wouldn’t get to rest because of the one hour delay.

After a while, Sanish was supposed to ride the bike and I accompanied him. The field and village horizon on both side, the little blinky stars, the super chilly breeze, and the feel on a bike along with some singing. Oh my, night drives indeed have their own charm!

I was singing my usual happy playlist and thinking about how due to exams and other stuff this would be my last trek of the year. I just looked up to the stars, looked around and at that moment just prayed for a fun thrilling experience.

The ride got colder and my shivering added some extra tunes to my singing. But, I didn’t stop and neither did Sanish. We both sang, smiled, laughed through this amazing bike ride. Soon, someone else was given to ride the bike.

We reached Paane village, ate breakfast and started the trek immediately, later we also got accompanied by a dog. The feel of walking through rocks, traversing through small hills, walking through the shade of few trees and sometimes being kissed by the sun, that’s how it was till we reached a small temple.

Now the rock patch began. I smiled at the sight of only big stone above and around me. Hugging one, pulling myself through one, walking swiftly past a few and even lying down and grazing the sky on one, felt like being in the heart of the mountains. It felt like a kind welcome hug.

There was a little slippery muddy patch to walk past next. I wobbled a little but did it and moved past to the jungle walk. I had already received a warm welcome hug from the mountain. This jungle walk with the sound of birds echoed the joy in my heart of being there.

All the walking was now over as we had reached the base. We all got ourselves harnessed and wore all the safety gear. Why, I don’t know but it took around two hours until it was my turn to climb up.

Luckily, I had my trek friend for around complete two hours and what a chat we had! Soon she left, and everyone else. The tired doggo who was sleeping until now came and lied down on my legs.

This doggo was fast asleep for the last few hours, he got up when all had gone and I was alone. He did nothing, just came by and slept on my legs. I pet him and felt I might tear up hence walked a bit up to be with the two friends who were waiting to climb.

The doggo followed and slept on my legs again. There is a part of my heart that will always beat for dogs and especially this one. I kept calling this doggo, Mufasa, and if I ever own one, it will be called Mufasa!

After climbing up the first patch we were again left to do nothing until the set up for the next patch was done. This was going to take time, for a while I saw the mountains, sang to it. It was taking too much time and I was told that we might only do it till the caves, that’s halfway.

The fact that Lingana would be left incomplete made me feel weird, a combination of angst and low. I met my other trek friend and he sensed my irritable vibe. I asked him to stay away but good friends don’t get that.

I wonder how some friends have this magic potion to make you laugh even when smiling is such a big task for you. I told myself it is okay to not complete the feat. I looked at the mountains and smiled and thanked this retard friend for making me feel better.

Soon, many of us were at the caves, we clicked some fun pictures and went back to begin rappelling. Before the rappel, I and two friends had a walk around, then we all ate a little and started to go down.

The first patch I rappelled down in light, it was dark by the time I began the second one. I saw a first timer who was scared, but I had to go down, I rappelled down till the base and kept praying for the scared eyes I saw.

She was my friend’s younger sister, it was her first trek, I saw evident fear in her eyes for the rappel down, I couldn’t speak much to her as I was harnessed and had to go down. I told her don’t be afraid and came down.

Until she one came down I was tensed but this little brave heart did it and did it well. I was so relieved. I calmed down and then noticed around to see there were only mountains and a sky full of stars around me.

We were waiting for the few who were gathering all the equipment used. We sang for a while but it was getting late. It felt lovely to be in the moment of joyous giggles and singing, with a tad bit of fear of going down safe.

And my dear friends decided to make it worse for me, one mentioned something about horror and other began to narrate the story. Yes, I believe I should face my fear of everything horror from blood to ghosts, but not when I have a jungle patch to walk through the night!

Luckily the story got left halfway and we began to walk down, what a relief! But few minutes into walking the jungle we saw a snake, I freaked! For the first time in my life, I smiled and felt scared at the same time.

I was happy to see this beautiful snake gliding on the branch above us, perhaps a green tree snake, not sure as it was too dark. But, I only hoped for a safe travel now, I looked back at the mountain and said that the welcome hug was beautiful please bid me a warm and safe goodbye too!

The jungle and the little muddy patch took us around two hours to be done. Soon the rock patch was done too. Now we were almost around the end but we lost our way.

We met the doggo we did in the morning, we managed to come near some pool of water. We all drank to our heart’s content. Tried to imagine the right way and began walking again. I hadn’t slept one night and it was almost two in the morning.

I realized my body was kind of giving up. My knee was trembling and my body just wished to lie down. I somehow kept going. I saw my friend struggling the same way, I looked into her eyes, held her hand and began walking.

She is the one I had spoken hours together a while ago, and now the silence spoke. We both hate being a burden on people and delaying the group, but our bodies weren’t listening to our commands, it just needed rest.

People around us had even heavier bags, ropes and other equipment and they still kept going. We didn’t wish to add to the troubles, we caught each other and kept walking silently.

Finally, when we reached the village I slept. For only a few hours perhaps, but that was the best nap I had. When I got up, I looked at Lingana. I saw the mountain and thanked for the safe goodbye.

I felt a cold breeze and it felt as if the mountain said that it added all the trouble as it knew it could be my last trek too. It knew that I might not return soon and helped me linger around it longer. It perhaps tried to make my experience bitter so that I don’t wish to come back to it soon.

This thought made me smile and I sang to the mountain ‘jitne bhi tu karle sitam, has has k sahenge ham, ye pyar na hoga kam, sanam, teri kasam’ I promised to come back complete Lingana, I don’t know when and how, but I know I’ll.

We went to a friend’s place, cooked and ate some breakfast with tea. Journeys back are usually more joyful as the trip’s memories are replayed and narrated by all in their own unique ways. And this one had so much to talk about.

In a span of two days, I had walked, climbed, rappelled even in the dark through a beautiful part of the mighty Sahyadri, spent an entire day in its arms, connected and felt loved by my trek friends, met Mufasa, saw how I react when my body gives up on me, and overall, smiled, lived and added a memorable chapter to my travel book this year.