structure – think twice nish

I didn’t wish to write about this weekend’s trip. ‘I don’t think I have enough stories and experiences to put them to words this time’ I said to a friend.

When I uttered these words to him is when I realized my mistake. I said so because the experience I had was not like my usual two-day trek kind. When I removed the two-day trek reference in my mind, I got many stories to write about the two happy days I had.

We began to drive towards Jawahar, around eight in the morning. There were four bikes and a car and of course I was on the bike with my cousin Sanish. The sun was kind in the beginning and then got harsh on us, but the beautiful road kept us going.

I and my cousin sang a variety of songs as we rode across the beautiful landscape. Our happiness matched the level of the madness of Shammi Kapoor’s dance moves and so perhaps we sang his songs all the way. The playlist altered to some random travel songs as we reached our hotel.

The hotel had a swing, I didn’t get off it until the lunch was finally ready and night stay was looked after. When we sat down to eat, it rained. The cold breeze with the smell of soil felt refreshing. I don’t enjoy eating much, but I loved this lunch, I felt full.

After lunch when we left for Dhabosa Waterfall, the sun was out again, as if the rain just came to help me eat well. We saw it from above, we didn’t go near the waterfall as we had to see some more places, so after clicking a few pictures we left.

I felt so low, I was quiet on the ride to the next place in mind. I sang a few songs still, as the road was so pretty! We reached the sunset point, a noisy crowded place. Not being able to feel the water and then in this crowd, I was about to break down.

I had a walk around the place and felt better. I went back to my people, we clicked a few pictures and then left to the Jai Villas Palace. We reached late and so couldn’t go in, but a walk around was enough to fall in love with its structure.

Jawahar was a princely hill station of the British time ruled by the Munke family. Jai Vilas Palace was their seat of power. It has around 80 room. The structure, the pristine pinkish stone used does give a glimpse of the mighty aura the Munke family lived in.

After kind of living a British history chapter, we entered a mythological one. We went to Hanuman Point. Legend has it that Hanuman loved this hill station had rested here. We can all take this myth with a pinch of salt.

We had ice cream and then left to our hotel. I played the swing again for a while before it was time for dinner. We walked around the place as the moon kept a watch on us. We went back to the hotel and decided to listen to some music before we slept.

We heard a few songs, then one of us wanted to watch the video of the songs played. And that is how it all began, one video and another and in time we were grooving to beats of the song.

We didn’t have a speaker, but the playlist was such that almost all knew all songs and steps perfectly to do it right. It was so relaxing, I forgot all about the day, and just sang and danced.

After a while, I went to the room and crashed. My body asked me to sleep but the room was filled with laughter, there were constant jokes and comments and so much more happening. I was laughing at all the madness happening and didn’t realize when I dozed off. It was the first time ever I slept while laughing so much!

I got up, got fresh, and had a walk outside with a friend. We came back, saw the sunrise from our hotel’s terrace. It was a beautiful start to the day. We had a quick breakfast, took all our bags and left to Shirpamal.

It was a gateway made to keep an eye on the surrounding by the Marathas. Shirpamal was a stopover point for Shivaji Maharaj when he headed towards Surat. The structure and the view are as enticing as the story behind it.

Almost like a laughing gas was on, the jokes kept happening as we laughed our way out of Shirpamal. Joyfully, we headed to Bhupatgadh next. The ride was tricky but the landscape beautiful.

The climb of half hour to the fort was tedious due to heat yet I smiled. I couldn’t stop grinning as I was on a mountain, there were trees around me, and I was heading to an old structure, walking with my crazy bunch.

Bhopatgadh fort was mainly used for official meetings and planning. It has good water storage, a few wells and a small pond. The remains of the structure, the view from the top is all worth the visit.

I wanted to stay on the mountain for longer and so walked the way back to our vehicles but didn’t help. I was feeling a bit low to let go of the mountain. Just then one of us pops up with ‘one rupee Pepsi’ I don’t know what else its called.

It is what I always had a kid. That little ice candy thing is a small joy of life. I got it at the right time, in the right place. I remember I hopped a little and took one out of the bag in my friend’s hand. True joy is indeed in small things as such.

We were on our way to Suryamal now, it is the highest point in Thane district. We saw wood carving on our way in Bhuritek village. There were two logs of wood with warriors carve done on each, one had a man other had a woman. I haven’t seen anything as such before and couldn’t find its purpose either.

Now we reached Suryamal, I clicked a few photos then I ran. As I ran, I let go of every single thought in my mind. I felt free, I stopped at a place and sat down for a while. There were at least twelve layers of mountains in front of me, the sun was about to set, there was a cool breeze and since I ran, I was away from the chitter-chatter of my group.

Life is so chaotic, decisions I am making, future decisions and so much more I keep over thinking about. But this trip was till now trying to calm me down, trying to say you deserve to chill, smile, and relax too.

For around five minutes as I observed this layered landscape, I was one with nature. It told me to have a good time. It told me to enjoy the chaos in order to be less troubled by it. I felt enlightened and then went back to my group.

After a lot of pictures and also my signature London Thumakda moves, we left. The next few km bike ride was super amazing, a good road with trees on both sides. I was happy high and it was time I did something more.

I stood on the bike and sang so many songs. I even managed to do a few hand waves. I did stand on the bike a while ago with fellow bike mates but this few km was something I’ll cherish forever.

As I stood on the bike, I let go of a lot of nonsense in my mind, I had no thoughts whatsoever. It indeed was my ‘jo bhi ho so ho’ moment!

The ride back home was crazy. I sat with my younger cousin for a change and we are real idiots. We scared random humans on the road while driving. Might not be morally right but was hilarious.

If I have to write it, personally, observing the people I was with, the situations we were into, I learned and have made notes.

I felt stronger in my mind by the end of this trip, as each person I was with had something to give which I lacked and I did have a good time.

Konkan plain stretches approximately 530km and is almost 45-76km in width. I experienced only a tiny bit of the mighty Konkan and here is the second post in my series, hope you enjoy the read.

After a good sleep, we were all up on time and headed to explore Vijaydurg fort by 6:15am. As we reached the fort, we witnessed the Konkan kind of good morning. We saw the sun, rise above the horizon with its reflection flowing and reaching us. I clicked a few pictures and then stood still to embrace the moment.

The moment pumped me so much, I was overjoyed. And so the consequence had to happen. I couldn’t take my eyes off the mesmerizing sea and structure of the place and didn’t see a hole and got my right leg stuck in it.

There was terrible pain from the bone near the feet up till the knee. I couldn’t exactly figure where I was hit as it pained from the knee till my feet. I had a good friend beside me who witnessed my fall who asked me to check but I refused and kept walking.

I didn’t wish to miss out on exploring the most magnificent sea fort. I didn’t want the group to have any delay because of my stupid fall either. I needed water badly to gulp in my tears, but sadly we had forgotten to fill our bottles that morning.

Vijaydurg is a good place if you get hurt and wish to divert your mind. There is so much to know about. The older name being ‘Gheria’, this fort is among the only two forts where Shivaji personally hoisted the saffron flag, other being Torana.

It was a naval dock of the time and the entire construction of the fort is an architectural marvel, a good place for students of architecture and history. The fort is also known to be the place where French scientist, Jhonson took readings to detect that helium exists as one of the prime elements of the Sun.

In total awe for the fort we left and took bags from our rooms to catch the 9:15am bus to Jaitapur. As we were getting out bags, I checked my leg and it looked terrible. I gulped the fear of how I’ll deal with it and went down for the quick breakfast before we left.

I sat alone on the bus and looked outside the window. I spotted a few birds and saw many beautiful houses. I noticed a completely dry banyan tree which still, stood strong. It was as if telling me to ignore the pain in my leg and be strong for the day ahead.

We got down at Jaitapur hopped into the Sumo we had hired. It took us first to Yashwantgadh, a fort we missed the last time we had come to Ratnagiri. This fort was used for trade along with Ambolgadh.

The fort is divided into two parts, the plateau and the creek. The doorway has a Ganesh idol and lotus flowers carved. The fort has two storerooms. Patki family stays inside the fort premises and they even have a well outside their house.

dav — Three of us walking towards the entrance that has the Ganesh idol and the flower. Picture Credits – Sanish

On our way to the next place in mind, our tyre got punctured. One of the screws of the tyre was stuck, we oiled and tried everything, but the screw refused to move. After around half an hour with a fellow Sumo driver’s help, we got it fixed and began our journey again.

This half-hour was like a reality check. It gave a glimpse of all that had happened during the first time and how we sailed through it. It was time to thank some superpowers who helped us not have too much delay in the day and we got down at the beautiful Kanakaditya Temple.

It is a famous place for devotees of Sri Kanakaditya (name of Sun God). The five-day celebration of Ratha-Saptami receives many devotees from all parts of the country every year. The kirtans, pravachans and aarti done during the festival is quite an attraction.

Now we were on our way to Purnagadh when we decided to quickly visit the Kasheli point. The view from the top was breathtaking and I couldn’t wait to run down the steps to the point and see the heavenly scene.

I ran the first few steps and what a big mistake that was! My leg began to hurt so bad I thought it will rip off. The sound of the waves hitting the shore was so loud, it was as if my leg shouting out to me and please just stop and stand in one place.

No, I didn’t do that, slowly I walked down the steps to the spot. The shades of blue of the sea, the blurring of the horizon, the sound of the waves, the serenity of moment made my soul so happy, I could have actually danced! That would be asking too much from my leg so I just stood there drooling over the beauty of the place.

777 — How’s the pain in your leg? ‘I can’t feel the pain with such a pretty picture painted around me, it is all too dreamy to feel anything.’

Then, we reached Purnagadh, a small fort which can be viewed in one sight. It had a Hanumanji’s deity at the entrance. Some evidence suggests it was built by Shivaji Maharaj while some suggest it was built by Sakhoji Angre, son of Kanhoji Angre.

Now we headed to Thiba Palace, a lesser known place. It is a fine architecture and clearly gives a feel of old British era. Thiba hailed from Burma and one can dig into the history of his interesting life which made the existence of this marvellous palace possible in Konkan region.

My attention yet again was driven to something else, a tree. After exploring and knowing about the Thiba Palace, I climbed a tree outside the palace. It was so pretty, I couldn’t control climbing it. I could feel the happy hormones dancing in me to the tunes of ‘Sawar Loon’ that I sang.

Now, we headed to Bhatye beach. We reached in time before the sunset. I and a friend kept our shoes in the vehicle and ran to the sea. The feeling of the first wave kissing my leg is something I can’t put to words.

I and my friend walked to the calmer, fewer people end of the beach and spent time playing and doing everything that came to our mind. We observed the sun, its reflection, and the clouds on the opposite side, the waves, and the horizon. There wasn’t a single cell in our body that wasn’t overjoyed.

After a while, we walked back to our group and had fun with them. In some time we left to figure out our stay for the night. Life balances everything since the day had made me so happy, it was time for the night to show its darkest shade.

Tag: structure

‘have a good time’

The Konkan Kind – II