Showing posts with label Solo Rides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solo Rides. Show all posts

A day's trek to Rajgad- the KING of forts!

Posted: by Pulsurge in Labels: , , , ,
3

Journeys, like artists, are born and not made. A thousand differing circumstances contribute to them, few of them willed or determined by the will --whatever we may think......Lawrence Durrell

Come Sunday and I was out on a one day trek to Rajgad Fort situated approx 45 kms from Pune. Saving on the efforts to type an epic on this mighty fort in my own words, wikipedia makes the job easier and you can read about Rajgad HERE.

Getting back to the trip, I was supposed to leave at 5 in the morning, got up late and finally rolled out at 9.30.

Reached the base village and started the trek at 1 in the noon and the sun was sapping every bit of energy. Was carrying Glucon-D and Electral dissolved solution to counter the fatigue. The way I was getting tired taking halts every 10 mins

The view getting better with altitude.

Once I got to the rocky sections- it was easier and with the shade of the mountain- it was a lot less tiring. I thought it would take me 4 hours to get on top- but in the the end I was there in 2 hours 15 mins.

Localites on their return.

Entrance to the Chor Darwaza was fun- though it was surprising.


An absolute cracker of a Fort and stands true to its name RAJGAD- the spread of the this mighty structure is simply mind-boggling.
So here started my site seeing starting off with the Padmavati Talao.

The Samadhi of Sayeebai- the first wife of Shri Shivaji Maharaj.

The Padmavati temple- its more of a place for an overnight halt.

The Sadar (meeting hall) and the Talghar (underground room).


One of the best and thrilling experiences was making my way down to the Gunjanwan Darwaza. The path was covered with tall grass and shrubs giving me a scare of a snake-bite, plus the stunning silence was too much for my liking- was thrilled to the core.


And here comes the best sight of the trek...the view from Chilkhati Buruj...felt like I was on the Great Wall of China.

The Mahadarwaza, Balle Killa and the view from the top were icing on the cake.


Rajgad Deepotsav organised by a trekker group from Pune.
As it usually happens I got late on departure- the Pune trekker group mentioned they too would be trekking down. Assured by their words I waited back to click their pics and that was the biggest mistake. Their descend was only till Padmavati Machi and not to the base village. Feeling disgusted I started hurrying and by the time I even reached the exit, the sun had gone down.


Got through the difficult sections as fast I could, but after that it was a nightmare- I could see nothing, absolutely nothing. Was walking purely on judgment- stones and pebbles under my feet meant I was on the right track- a grassy section and I knew I went off the way- had numerous falls and crashes on the way- my every 3rd or 4th step was a fall, never crashed so much on my bike in 6 years. Reached a small hut kind of a hotel on the way and asked a localite to help me reach the village- he was not at all ready to do so. Got frustrated and just carried on walking as I had till there, but this time I got tensed- I knew I had landed in trouble and stopped walking. The hotel was at least a saving grace- didnt want to land up where I could neither reach the village and nor the hotel. Returned back and luckily there was a group returning and best part equipped with a torch. Joined them and in 15 mins I was at the base village. Resolved never to trek without a torch.

My watch had stopped working in the crashing process so didnt have an idea as to what time I started riding back- reached home at 1.30 in the night- but not before coming across a couple of terrible accidents on the way.

My route and distance: Mira Road-Thane-Panvel-Khopoli-Lonavla-Pune-Nasrapur-Gunjavne and back: 486 kms.

Minus the injuries- it was one of the best treks I had. Memorable enough to go back to the mighty Rajgad, and this time I'll be basking in the warmth of the sunrise next morning.

HERE is the complete set of pics clicked through my mobile phone.

Cozy trek to Korigad/ Koraigad

Posted: by Pulsurge in Labels: , , ,
2

Visits always give pleasure; if not the arrival, the departure......Proverb


Another small outing to kill the boredom of a lazying holiday- this time to Koraigad Fort at Lonavla, had been there earlier too with my office colleagues. Ride on the lovely roads towards Amby Valley was fun.


Was a nice cool, cozy and relaxed outing- left late afternoon around 2 pm and reached the base village Pethshahapur at 4. 


The most easiest trekkable fort you can find and it took just over 30 mins to reach on top including clicking breaks.






Explored the fort at a lazy pace without realising that the sun was already getting close to the horizon..rushed my way back and it took not more than 15 minutes to return to base- though exited through the wrong side and landed on the main road and was a boring walk back to my bike parked at the temple in the village. Enjoyed the ride back to Lonavla in dark through the twisties and stopped over at Rishabh, Khopoli for the regular dal tadka and shev bhaaji. 

My route: Mira Road-Thane-Vashi-Panvel-Khopoli-Lonavla-Pethshahapur (base village) and back: approx 280 kms.

Extremely short trip and an easy trek- nothing much to narrate about, though I enjoyed it as I always do on all of my trips. The album should give you a complete narration HERE

Solo Round Ride

Posted: by Pulsurge in Labels: , , , ,
9

One main factor in the upward trend of animal life has been the power of wandering....Alfred North Whitehead.

Was a sheer mental torture to see the trio of Parimal, Alkesh and Dhananjay disappear to Chorla Ghat and me left behind with a hanging face at home. Mom had just freaked out of my ride plan of three days just having come out of viral fever. The itch was too much to bear and no ways could I stay back at home- at least a day away from this chaotic city. Finalised a round ride to Chiplun via NH17 taking Kumbharli Ghat and circling back to Mumbai via NH4. Called up the Chorla trio conveying my riding plan and catching up with them at Chiplun.

Late again to sleep the earlier night and plans of leaving at 5.30 got 4 hours late. Finally was out of the house and ripped all the way to my first halt for a casual click at the JNPT connector.



Was a long time since I road on NH17- except a few bumps here and there, it was still as good as you can find all year round. The cool climate and the pleasure of riding after long on this stretch simply refrained me from taking stops. With great persuasion to my ownself- stopped over for a scenic click just before Mahad.


A quick sprint all the way to the start of Kashedi Ghats. Our sweetheart this ghat is- the pics would tell you why.


 
Shifting body weight from one side of the saddle to the another, changing directions in quick motion...was fun all the way before my next stop at Parshuram Ghat, this time too just for a click.


Quarter to two and I finally catch up with the gang at Chiplun and no heading anywhere except Hotel Abhishek for lunch.


Souls satisfied with a nice heavy lunch and half the ride done on my part- we're on our way home. The roads from Chiplun till the start of Kumbharli Ghats were a treat to ride. Same goes for Kumbharli ghats- except a few minor bumpy patches- it was enjoyable all the way. The last patch till the top was a race-track, amazing stretch of tarmac. It was so good that I couldn't stop to take pics. But did manage to click a few on the way including the scenery.



 
Stopped over in between for a wash on a near-drying out waterfall.


Well this one was still prospering.


With the ascend being such a lovely experience, the descend towards Patan was equally horrible-  thankfully it wasn't too lengthy. A ciggy break for Alkesh and Parimal once we got through with the bad patches. 


To our bad luck- it started raining and we were slowed down by the slippery patch leading to Patan. A tea-break in between before we diverted towards Umbraj and on the run-way like NH4 rushing back home. From Pune to Khopoli was a mad ride and a complete torture for my P150 chasing Parimal's ZMA. A couple of fuel stops and a hearty dinner at Rishabh- Khopoli concluded a lovely ride.
 
This was my route and distance:


Mira Road-Thane-Panvel-Wadkhal-Mangaon-Mahad-Poladpur-Khed-Chiplun-Kumbharli Ghat-Patan-Umbraj-Satara-Pune and back: 729 kms.
 
Was another day well spent and thankfully got rid of the itch and the depression. Thanks to Alkesh, DJ and Pari for the wonderful company mid-way.
 
A few more PICS HERE