tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49556144450933086192024-03-14T14:56:29.909+05:30Field ClicksA journal of my photographic observations, during my various field trips, to lesser known places to study lesser known people...... Far from the madding crowd...Pankaja Datehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00674933109578357336noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-17435180510029186952016-01-19T09:34:00.000+05:302016-01-19T23:09:57.399+05:30Lost and Found in Durg Dhakoba (edited to add a slideshow and dark descent pics)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: red;">(Now added : A rock climbing slide show and pictures of our dark and rocky Durg descent , courtesy Ranchoddas Das ) </span><br />
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Saturday , the 16th of January 2016, saw us take off in the late evening for the Durg Dhakoba Trek.</div>
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<a href="http://ontheedgeofsahyadris.blogspot.in/2012/08/durg-dhakoba-dara-ghat-trek.html" target="_blank">Dara Ghat</a> is a mountainous region between Junnar in the plains and Kokan , used by local people to descend to the Kokan near Dhasai village and then to Kalyan. There is a vast plateau all across Dara Ghat, and <span style="color: blue;">Durg Fort</span> (1175 metres) and <span style="color: blue;">Dhakoba </span>(1270 metres) are two projections on this plateau. In the region between Malshej Ghat and Varandha Ghat, Dhakoba is the highest peak, and on a clear day you can see a panoramic view of the Bhimashankar area and Harishchandragad.<br />
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There are various approaches for this trek, and we followed the path via Rampur village.<br />
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Rampur village is near
Dhasai and from here you can climb to Durg from here. This is
a very difficult route and almost straight climb. This ghat name is <span style="color: red;">Khutedara</span>
ghat . <i>Probably based on some phrase in Marathi. In Marathi, people spell it as Kuthe Dharu ghat(~~" Where do I hold?" कुठे धरू ? ) ....</i></div>
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A straight climb,deep valley behind and you have
to search for places in the almost vertical rock faces , to anchor yourself, as you try your best, loaded with backpacks and sleeping bags. A difficult ascent and more so, descent. </div>
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Mumbai suburban train around 8 pm up to Kalyan, state transport bus from Kalyan to Murbad (complete with interesting social experiences) , and private vehicle then from Murbad to Rampur. And we planned to begin our climb in the early hours of Sunday.<br />
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1. This trek was characterized by many "firsts". <br />
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I have never done as much difficult rock climbing as I did on this trek . The dense jungles, the almost vertical rocks, the steep climbs, and for the first time, the entire trek being done over 36 hours, because we lost our way on the way back, thanks to different advice from three locals. Much of the return happened with 4 torches, 7 people, and a dense jungle combined with steep rock drops.<br />
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We finally reached a base village (not Rampur) at 3 am . The good world never sleeps, and a local Samaritan helped us fix a vehicle, offered us tea, and we were on our back to Kalyan , to tangle with the heavy Monday crowds going to work in Mumbai. <br />
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Lots of effort, lots of learning, and lots of other experiences.<br />
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2. The state transport bus ride from Kalyan to Murbad on our way to the trek, was replete with obnoxious youths being objectionable with some of the lady trekkers, not taking kindly to being rebuked , and being extremely physically abusive to the fellow male trekkers who rushed to help. Physical fights ensued. Women and families with babes in arms who tried to intervene were roundly abused with filthy words, and then told to stay out. The conductor kept kept his own counsel as he sat in the driver's area. This was possibly a routine occurrence. Our first experience amidst so many treks. (<span style="color: blue;"><i>But it tells you a lot about how a society changes, when rural areas suddenly come within city limits, when farmers' lands are being sold to builders at outrageous prices , the new generation doesn't know how to handle prosperity for which it never worked, unlike their parents who tilled the land and slogged, and thanks to Bollywood movies, the youth learn wrong things about how it is smart to behave like a gunda.</i></span>)<br />
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<i>I guess rapid urbanization does that to some.</i><br />
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I've read many postings about this trek, and what keeps getting emphasized is that it is easy to get lost in this trek; you need to have a proper local person guide you. The locals climb this routinely, while they tend to their sheep and cattle , and the paths they create are what we look for. <br />
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We got lost around 4 pm, and it was an experience finding our way down in the dark, amidst dense jungles and steep rock faces. After several efforts by the experienced members, we finally were able to make it down, across uneven stony paths, slowly , and reached another base village, not Rampur , by 3 am , on Monday 18th Jan .<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>Like I said, lots of effort, very tiring, but a huge learning experience. About everything.</i></span><br />
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Clearly, Durg Fort was our destination, Dhakoba was not attempted due to lack of time. <br />
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But, now, for some pictures. <br />
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Sleeping at the Feet of the Lord. Late night arrival at the base village Rampur, and the local Hanuman Temple offers folks like us a place to rest till daybreak. </div>
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No one really sleeps. There is a lot of chit chat, talk, and looking forward to the climb ...</div>
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One of the coldest mornings in recent times, and our leader , Ranchoddas checks out how we are doing....</div>
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Very early morning, and we are now organized and ready to leave. The gentleman in the blue shirt who doesnt seem to feel the cold at all, is a local person who accompanied us up as guide . This particular climb is through very dense jungles growth, and steep rocks, and it is very easy to get lost. He guided us up, and had to then return down to attend some celebration at the village. We descended on our own , and thereby hangs a tale....</div>
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The trek begins<br />
PC : Jayanand Supali <br />
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Onward we go<br />
PC : Ranchoddas Das <br />
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Here Comes The Sun ! Sunrise at Rampur...</div>
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The climb is fairly steep, and at every plateau encountered, we tended to take short rests, for water and so on. This is breakfast !</div>
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The sight of the Durg peak, shining in the morning light. </div>
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Some way up the mountain, and we take a fruit and water break. Lots of dry stuff like dates, cakes, theplas, etc is carried by all of us, and this time it also included some tilgul. </div>
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Amazing clear blue unpolluted skies, and this tree was just asking to be clicked. I obliged. </div>
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The higher you climb the happier you are. At a short clearing in the densely wooded terrain. And you can tell the sun is up....and climbing..</div>
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The tree again... But the shadows and sunlight now makes it look so different. Same holds for humans in different situations...</div>
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A view of the valley landscape. The area we climbed is between the Ghod and Mina river valleys and you can see some water bodies ..</div>
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Rocks are such an integral part of this climb. Vast undulating rocky plateaus and then It is either a dense jungle of steep rocks. Thanks to an insufficient monsoon this year, and four months since, we see dried grasses amidst rocks .</div>
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Yes, we climb one by one. Unlike some other forts where climbing armies probably carved steps and places to hold, this climb involved finding our own supports and almost lying on the rocks. Notice our guide at the end of the queue. The villagers climb this every single day along with their cattle/sheep since the plateau on top offers excellent grazing . They climb with hawaii chappals. And we make such a fuss about "trekking shoes" , "back packs" , "waist belts" et al...</div>
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Our leader Ranchoddas Das , clicked some amazing rock climbing pictures , and I have assembled them in a slide show below . Watch.<br />
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Our gentleman guide in his simple "trekking" avtar. Simple footwear !<br />
Respects !<br />
PC : Jayanand Supali. <br />
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Yes, the steepness of the rock intimidates you...</div>
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Some more steepness... but a climb to the top, anywhere in life, is always difficult...</div>
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Some different climbing , made a bit tougher because of the backpacks...<br />
PC : Jayanand Supali<br />
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We had to find our own paths and own anchors on the tough climbs. Something that is true otherwise in life as well !<br />
PC : Jayanand Supali<br />
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Another view . Notice the sharp drop below. One must be very alert while climbing. Two of my trekmates doing their climb...</div>
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Sometimes, a sudden rock displays an inviting perch, and my friend Ranjana responds by taking a break to rest a while...</div>
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Hum Dono ..</div>
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Hum Paanch. One was clicking. And one was possibly shaking his head at the need to indulge in all this ...</div>
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There is a huge undulating plateau between Durg(Fort) and Dhakoba (mountain). And this is where locals bring their cattle to graze. A brilliant sunny winter morning, and for some local folks , this is actually daily work ! </div>
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A typical landscape . Paths to the top through the thick jungle often wind around the mountain to avoid very steep climbs. Alternate paths also exist , which might be a bit difficult. This is what makes this particular climb confusing and needs a local guide, who is familiar with the terrain. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp-L7tjHHvs/Vp0n9pBjCZI/AAAAAAAAQ2g/6XaYQi69wic/s1600/31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp-L7tjHHvs/Vp0n9pBjCZI/AAAAAAAAQ2g/6XaYQi69wic/s640/31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On our way through the jungle...</div>
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The Durgadevi temple in the dense Devrai at Durg. It is possible to stay here, but no facility for cooking food like in other forts. There is NO Historical Fort as such, here at Durg, and so most trekkers prefer not to stay overnight here. </div>
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Another temple detail. The maintenance of this temple seems to be by the locals, and some restorative construction is visible. </div>
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Prayers for Durgadevi. These would be much needed by us.<br />
PC : Ranchoddas Das.<br />
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The Durg-Dhakoba connecting plateau is home to many such trees, that continue to thrive upright despite being affected by severe weather conditions forcing them to bend. Perhaps a nice way of offering more expansive shelter under them...</div>
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A short distance down we came across this well, which to this day contains excellent potable water. Modern technology seems to have reached here with pipes and stuff which we noticed. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-blP60s2jw/Vp5yKckI0TI/AAAAAAAAQ7A/EuJ733kPLCE/s1600/r48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-blP60s2jw/Vp5yKckI0TI/AAAAAAAAQ7A/EuJ733kPLCE/s640/r48.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Ranchoddas operating the pump at the well, , so that we may collect fresh water for our meal and well to fill our bottles of water .<br />
PC : I dont know who took this picture, but it was on Ranchoddas's Camera.<br />
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Yes. I couldn't have asked for a better pose from these two. They are so aware of the shape of their horns, and what intelligent framing of one's face by the other . Our modelling types have so much to learn....</div>
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What a lovely mealtime panoramic view for the cattle of Rampur !<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmdkxIMttgI/Vp5wF0TgSmI/AAAAAAAAQ6s/5oJ534XYXho/s1600/r47grp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmdkxIMttgI/Vp5wF0TgSmI/AAAAAAAAQ6s/5oJ534XYXho/s640/r47grp.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Celebrating the peak at Durg !<br />
PC : Ranchoddas Das<br />
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And a selfie to celebrate making it to the top !<br />
PC : Jayanand Supali</div>
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The sun had moved on, and we decided not to trek to Dhakoba due to lack of time. There were steep rocks to be managed, pathways to be searched in the jungle, and our gentleman guide had returned down the mountain to attend some social commitment at the village. </div>
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We started descending at 4 .Some passing locals were consulted and they gave some conflicting replies.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Following pictures clicked by the trek leader Ranchoddas Das, who finally led us down successfully to the village. </span></div>
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We first attempted descending via Nadi chi waat.<br />
PC: Ranchoddas Das <br />
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By 6 pm, the sun was setting, and we still had not been able to find the path.<br />
PC: Ranchoddas Das <br />
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Then we almost found the Nadi Chi Waat; but it looked difficult at that time, and so we did not go that way.<br />
PC: Ranchoddas Das <br />
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This was the situation at 2 am that night. 7 of us, still finding our way with 4 torches, in the jungle and the rocks with steep drops. Some of the more experienced trekkers would go on a path search while we others waited together.<br />
PC: Ranchoddas Das </div>
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All of us extremely tired , it was 2.45 am , our torches were almost kaput, and suddenly in front of us we could see the faint lights of the village. (You do not see me, but the print on my teeshirt saying, "I shoot people" with a picture of a camera. At that point nothing was further from my mind ...)<br />
PC: Ranchoddas Das <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7t0rKGI0lV4/Vp5spZ3p_rI/AAAAAAAAQ6I/mb-xXkpAHKA/s1600/r54des.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7t0rKGI0lV4/Vp5spZ3p_rI/AAAAAAAAQ6I/mb-xXkpAHKA/s640/r54des.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Clearly, someone, somewhere , was looking after us , that night. The group back at the village at 3.30 am , Monday 18th Jan , 2016.<br />
PC: Ranchoddas Das <br />
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But trekking teaches you things. And nature teaches you. The expert trek leaders amidst us, fanned out to take reconnaisance, as the rest of us stayed put in one place. Sighting a peak might unnerve someone, but it also indicates to some about a possible path around it and away from it on another side. </div>
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The path was full of stones and rocks, and we had to descend very very carefully and slowly , keeping track of each other, conserving the light power. </div>
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We made it to the base village at 3.30 am. </div>
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As mentioned before, the good world never sleeps, some folks were awake then in the village, a gentleman arranged a vehicle for us, with a phone call, made some tea for us , and seven very tired trekkers, after 6 hours of trekking got a shuteye en route to Kalyan . </div>
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Some of us looking forward to a forced leave, some having been through worse calamities, not thinking much of this one, and some grabbing quick naps in the vehicle, in anticipation of having to rush to a full day of work , within an hour of reaching home. </div>
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Yes, there is much to learn. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-32512058845164425222016-01-10T17:11:00.000+05:302016-01-11T16:46:04.273+05:30Aisa bhi hota hai ! My 4th 100 kms, 1st puncture, and 1st medal ! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sunday, 10th January 2016, saw a event being held in Mumbai, called <span style="color: blue;">" I can ride - creating confident cyclists!"</span><br />
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There were 4 levels of distances one could choose to cycle;<br />
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25 kms Mulund-Kalyan-Mulund),<br />
50kms, (Mulund- Yewai-Mulund)<br />
75 kms (Mulund-Khadavli-Mulund)<br />
and<br />
<span style="color: blue;">100 kms (Mulund-Asangaon-Mulund) </span><br />
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I have already completed 3 100km cycling runs, and I wanted this to be my fourth. Asangaon is a place i have visited several times en route to my many treks to Forts, and cycling to the place sounded interesting.<br />
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As rides go, this one was very well organized. We would be flagged off from Marathon Avenue , Mulund. There were to be various checkpoints en route, where water, electral, biscuits and bananas would be made available to us. Each rider would get a <span style="color: red;">ride card, a route map, route sheet , a bib number,</span> and there would be a support vehicle and others constantly available en route. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Helmets, Reflective jackets</span> , and registration/signed waiver forms were mandatory. <br />
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My friends from my Powai Pedals group and I left around 5.15 am for Mulund. I had my faithful Strava software monitoring me, and I hoped to make some good timings.<br />
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Like us, cycles are also human, and have health situations. My faithful cycle was destined to have problems this time. But there is nothing that cannot be solved with such helpful fellow riders, and cycle shop dadas along the route. I was carrying my air pump, as well as a spare tube. But this was an experience in learning how it feels as the air very slowly leaks out of your tires, and what to do when this happens. <span style="color: blue;"> Sapinder Singhji, and Piyush accompanied me for the removal of the puncture, at the cost of their own timing. Thank you!</span><br />
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A hot day, lots of sun, and the Neera stalls along the highway appeared to be most welcoming. <br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i>I lost 20-25 minutes due to the unexpected puncture and the overall timing suffered.</i></span><br />
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My ride card duly signed at each checkpoint, I turned it in at the completion of the ride, and the gentleman looked up and asked , "Your first 100 ?" <br />
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"No. This is my fourth ! "<br />
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I grinned. He smiled. And handed me my medal and certificate. <br />
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Like someone called Walter Wintle said (and the I-can-ride-wallas quoted) : <span class="fsl"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i><span class="fsl">Life's victories don't always go, to the strongest or fastest man/woman.<br /> Ultimately, the one who wins, is the one who thinks: "I Can"! </span></i></span><br />
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Reaching Marathon Avenue in Mulund before the flag-off.</div>
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My fellow riders from Powai Pedals . From L to R , me, Pradeep Nayak, Ravi Mishra, Nikhil, Ankit Jain, Sapinder Singh, Elan Chelian<br />
PC : Ankit jain</div>
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A quick photograph for the road, before we pedal away ! The cycles (and us) now have bib numbers. And we all carry a ride card which needs to be ratified by the staff at the various official stops PC : Ankit Jain</div>
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Cycle no 129 ! My chariot ! </div>
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Replenishing ourselves with water/electral, bananas and/or biscuits at one of the official stops. </div>
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At some point, tea appeared on the scene , and was greatly appreciated. Me with my cuppa. </div>
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Must be the first time so many cyclists crowded at a petrol pump. </div>
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At one of the further official stops. The ride card needed to be stamped and signed by the responsible staff , without which your ride was invalid. </div>
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Hum Log! Yes, and a selfie !<br />
From L to R, Ankit jain, Vilas Sawant, Piyush, and me. </div>
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My bike developed a puncture, a first for me. I've been praising its performance during all the rides. Maybe it is a lesson that one must expect some bad along with the good, and be prepared to face it. </div>
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Luckily, I was able to get help from this cycleshop dada, who fixed the puncture for me , very fast, but very carefully as well . </div>
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I was able to make it to the last checkpoint at the Food Hub , just before Shahpur. Hunger pangs after all that pedalling, and sandwiches and samosas were very welcome , and promptly devoured. </div>
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An uneventful ride back, except the sun was overhead now, and a quick photo here while taking a short breather. Thane was 25 kms away . </div>
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A medal and a certificate for those who completed the promised distance . You can see the folks who sponsored the rides. The certificate indicates that<span style="color: blue;"> I completed 100 kms in 6hrs and 18 minutes. </span></div>
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<i>I must emphasize that this elapsed time includes the puncture, the cycleshop search and the puncture removal. </i></div>
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The faithful Strava , gives the real pedalling picture. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">5 hrs, 50 mins,53 seconds. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">almost 123 kilometres...</span></div>
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There is something called <u><span style="color: blue;">January Gran Fondo </span></u>. </div>
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You need to ride at least one 100 kilometre ride, if not more, between Jan 1, 2016 and Jan 31, 2016. </div>
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This is a world wide thing. With leaderboards and lists. Turns out that my rank amongst 1,32,941 participants, riding a total of 7,910,208 kilometres,</div>
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is 9335 . </div>
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Top 7.02% . </div>
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And I found out that I earned this<span style="color: red;"> Gran Fondo Badge </span>for performance.</div>
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Like someone said, between sips of coffee, leaning back in the sofa, </div>
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"not bad, not bad....." :-)</div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-13193342172332966182016-01-04T22:34:00.000+05:302016-01-04T22:34:10.651+05:30The Banganga Heritage Photowalk <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This was a first time I went for a heritage photowalk in my own city , Mumbai.<br />
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The Banganga Heritage Photowalk. On the first Sunday of 2016. <br />
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This is in a part of the city almost at the opposite end in a southern direction. The Malabar Hill area descends eastwards facing Marine Drive across the bay and westwards facing the open sea. Banganga is on the westward side, with the extreme southern end of Malabar Hill being the Raj Bhavan Campus or the Governor's Residence.<br />
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Years earlier , some of my family elders had resided in this area, which basically had government houses . Banganga then , was a little known, less visited calm oasis , steeped in tradition, in the middle of a suburb , which was later to become one of the richest , most modern suburbs of Mumbai. Today, Banganga has almost been encroached on by private high rise concrete monstrosities all around, as it continues to stubbornly hold on to its older glory.<br />
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Legend has it that Lord Ram , needing potable water en route to Sri Lanka to rescue Seeta, shot an arrow into the land, and a stream of water, considered to be a part of the Ganga , almost 1000 kms away shot up . Ban means arrow, and so this source of water was given the name Banganga. The Banganga tank, as it exists today, contains sweet water despite being right next to the Arabian Sea. There is also an ancient Walkeshwar Temple ( dedicated to Shiva) at Banganga, which gets its name from a Shivling being constructed by Lord Ram , out of sand or WaaLoo (in marathi) , on realizing that Laxman was taking his time getting one from Varanasi.<br />
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The Banganga tank was first constructed in the 12th century AD by some Silhara Dynasty kings. The Portuguese who occupied Mumbai at one point destroyed these temples , and these were restored in 1715 , thanks to a rich philanthropist named Rama Kamath. The tank, along with the Walkeshwar Temple and the Parasuram temple, is
owned by the 'Goud Saraswat Temple Trust' who owns most of the
properties in the complex.<br />
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This write up is not about the specific temples and the Gods. It is about some original inhabitants learning to cope and co-exist with what passes for progress and development in Mumbai. It is also about a complete lack of aesthetics by folks who are concerned solely about a fancy roof over their head. And it is also about old traditional folks, braving it all, and relentlessly trying to make a life in the midst of it all. <br />
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We start of on our photowalk through the crowded gullys of Walkeshwar. In front of us , the Khanderai Mandir, dedicated to Lord Khandoba (Shiva) of Jejuri.</div>
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Our leader Bharat Gothoskar, who conducted the walk Above him, an indication, of the sign of our times. Half broken overhangs bearing half broken names.</div>
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Just outside the Khandoba Mandir , a traditional devotee lady ..</div>
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One does not know if this is a recent addition, or a renovated temple, bravely nestled amidst residential buildings and commercial entities.</div>
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Modern signs . So much urban development, makes signboards of cross lanes necessary. The ancient banyan tree stands by wordlessly watching it all. </div>
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These two deepstambh, or light pillars remain, at the entrance to the Banganga Tank. It has not stopped housing from being created adjacent to it, or random instructions being defaced on walls.</div>
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A long view of a group of heritage walk folks gathered on the banks of the Banganga tank.</div>
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The Walkeshwar Temple clicked from the opposite side of the Tank. There are several temples around the tank, dedicated to various Gods , interspersed with all kinds of formal and informal housing. </div>
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A typical view of old dilapidated housing. Some even housing photography studios.<br />
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And ancient pillar bravely stands facing cement encroachment behind it. </div>
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Narrow paths leading up and down the steps between closely constructed buildings . Most of them ill maintained and greatly populated .</div>
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With so many modern buildings spoiling a sky shot of these Deepstambhs, I was delighted to get this one with a clear blue sky and NO buildings....</div>
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A view of the Banganga Tank , and its environs<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span></span>Ritual water purification has played a vital role in Hindu worship in India.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Steps on all 4 sides lead down to the tank. The </span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">water always looks green here, because devotees keep throwing organic waste like flowers, leaves, garlands and even hair(offered for certain pujas) into the tank. Fish in the tank have been known to die because of this excess of impurity in the tank. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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The inhabitants around the tank consist of older natives in their old houses, and folks who build and live in modern mulltistoreyed dwellings , all staying in close proximity. Here you can see some fishermen working on their nets. </div>
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Trees serve as great anchors for this work , and the painted Goddess on the adjoining wall , seen on left, probably gives her blessings. </div>
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A close up of one such fishing net. I wouldn't want to be a fish in the ocean where these guys are fishing. </div>
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There are many such stone idols , some in vermillion , found along the houses that border the tank. Many of these are discovered when some kind of restoration work starts, and some could be embedded earlier in walls, and might have come loose over the years. </div>
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Old style, houses with Mangalore tiled sloping roofs to handle the monsoon rains, and those who came to stay here early on, now having to share it with expanding families, children growing up , but unable to find alternative housing, and every available place is taken up by clothes hung up for drying inside and outside the house. </div>
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Two senior citizen ladies watching us , wondering what all the fuss is about, and watching the world go by. The lady in pink seems to have just finished doing her hair. </div>
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Looking out towards the west from Banganga , the open Arabian Sea and a rocky beach . </div>
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At one time, the temple spires dotted the skyline. And jelled well with the trees on the landscape. Today trees are disappearing , and huge matchbox towers are mushrooming in the name of modern development. The Municipal light poles, defiantly add their own design and light. A study in contrasts for any urban planner. </div>
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The Banganga complex and temples are owned and managed by the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Trust. An information board in their offices describing the site. Notice the decorative grill above and the door. You can tell the office is situated in an older building. </div>
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Ducks, all lined up by the tank. Even they seem to hesitate about getting into the polluted water. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tuwGZImHQi4/VonzcFqvpKI/AAAAAAAAQq4/oIp3MimDVwA/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tuwGZImHQi4/VonzcFqvpKI/AAAAAAAAQq4/oIp3MimDVwA/s640/24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is how mindless rampant greedy development has spoilt the area. It has been greed that has allowed the authorities to sanction multistoreyed structures next to the tank area, and spoiled the place permanently. </div>
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Devotees at the Walkeshwar temple. </div>
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The price of being a mindlessly developed city.<br />
Now the temples look out of place in the concrete jungle. It needs to be the other way around. <br />
The Banganga was there from centuries ago . Luckily, the Deepstambh is still shaded by the old tree. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NgCkYMMu74g/VonzdlGpv4I/AAAAAAAAQrg/hWdb1txvKP0/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NgCkYMMu74g/VonzdlGpv4I/AAAAAAAAQrg/hWdb1txvKP0/s640/28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The polluted tank, and the ducks swim in twos, treading with care.</div>
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When things get too crowded as they do in Mumbai, sometimes, even the various gods prefer to come and sit out in the open. Some have hailed these as memorial stones dedicated to warriors who sacrificed their lives in the cause of the nation. One tends to believe that, given that there are names written on the walls behind the stones. </div>
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Ancient statues such as these , dating back to the Silhara Dynasty may be seen across the landscape at Banganga, along the periphery of the tank area .<br />
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Hindus of the Dashnam Goswami Sect, bury their dead, sitting upright in padmaasana posture. They have an area at the Banganga crematorium grounds,<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sitting-samadhi-norm-at-Banganga-Hindu-cemetery/articleshow/46893254.cms" target="_blank"> Shree Santosh Giri Dashnami Akhada</a>, dedicated for them. While males of this Shaivite sect are buried with tombstones having shivlings and nandi bull sculptures, females are buried and a pair of paduklas /footprints are carved on the tombstone. As above .<br />
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Goddess Shanta Durga , patron saint of GSB folks, has a temple dedicated to her on the premises of the the Banganga Tank. Although this seems to be a fairly modern structure, the Banganga area is dotted with temples to various deities like Balaji, Krishna, Prashuram, Ganpati, etc .</div>
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What has the world come to when Lord Balaji Venkatesh mandir and its Deepstambh must be squeezed in from all sides by houses of various types connected by wires crossing across the temple with complete disregard .... ?</div>
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A typical photowalk path, as the group climbs up into another area. There seems to be no planning in the construction of houses here. </div>
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The Jagannath Mahadev Mandir is what one sees on the way down the steps to the Banganga Tank. Further down would be the Venkatesh Balaji Mandir mentioned above. This is one of the few Gujarati temples in Mumbai which have a Nagarkhana section, a chamber where temple musicians would play music at defined times. Sadly , today only the structures remain, as musicians do not find this lucrative enough .<br />
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Intriguing structures at the entrance to a temple, where several prayers are inscribed on boards inside. The structure on the left pillar begs identification. </div>
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The perils of modernization. Besides the older temples, there now seem to be temples dedicated to money and individual luxury.</div>
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Somehow , some temples manage to find a way to maintain their green environs, open to the skies, surrounded by hideous structures and Tata Sky dishes et al.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vG_AfOzkQts/VonznkDjvtI/AAAAAAAAQtI/nUNpwaDVMzc/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vG_AfOzkQts/VonznkDjvtI/AAAAAAAAQtI/nUNpwaDVMzc/s640/39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Banganga Festival of Music is celebrated every year in February as a means of highlighting the Banganga and the need to restore the structures in a sensitive careful way. The banners very clearly then get used as roof covers. Recycling at its best, and aesthetics be damned...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOVD8dD_gGA/VonzpeiiOdI/AAAAAAAAQtY/khpxqDnTnfg/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOVD8dD_gGA/VonzpeiiOdI/AAAAAAAAQtY/khpxqDnTnfg/s640/40.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Older homes and structures have small temples and Tulsi Vrundavansin the small space available, and these are personal worship things.<br />
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Learning about the Banganga Crematorium. <br />
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I have seem many crematoriums, and what is striking is the presence of many trees there, even in a completely concrete jungle outside. This is some of our photo walk members walking through the area. </div>
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Tombstones of those belonging to a Dashnam Goswami Sect , who bury their dead. </div>
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A fairly well kept small Hanuman Idol . </div>
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This is the Jabreshwar Mahadev Temple. </div>
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Once an imposing structure, now scrunched between modern residential buildings </div>
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A view from a distance . </div>
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Walkeshwar being a predominantly Gujarati locality , it is blessed with
various food stuff shops, and mithai makers shops. Gheewar, a marwadi
delicacy being prepared in a sweet shop in the area. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhRzfvRt2P8/Vonzz1efUpI/AAAAAAAAQu4/gpM_HdXVdoo/s1600/51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhRzfvRt2P8/Vonzz1efUpI/AAAAAAAAQu4/gpM_HdXVdoo/s640/51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sugar, Ghee, lots of milk and some
/Besan /Maida, being stirred to a smooth liquid paste, where all the
ingredients have completely lost their individuality. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkw_kv7Mkeo/VonzzIuIONI/AAAAAAAAQuw/M9HPOZr9mXg/s1600/50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkw_kv7Mkeo/VonzzIuIONI/AAAAAAAAQuw/M9HPOZr9mXg/s640/50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This paste is dribbled little by little into deep cylinders containing
almost boiling ghee filled to the top. The batter disintegrates and
gravitates to the centre creating porous structures . </div>
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Heavily laden with trans-fats, reeking with calories, very impressive looking, the Gheewar , is just like the buildings that today have sprung up all around the Banganga; Everything is rich, sweet, impressive looking, and laden with prosperity. </div>
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Gheewar, The finished product, ready to be consumed.</div>
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And the Banganga Tank remains, wondering where it was, what it has come to, and awaits the restoration plans that the Government has for it..... </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-19582400587042702182016-01-03T16:30:00.000+05:302016-01-03T16:30:16.338+05:30Burhanpur, here we come !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This was a 3 day road trip to Burhanpur, with Treks and Trails, at the border at Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.<br />
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Burhanpur is a city of around 800,000 people, situated along the Tapti River. The Satpura mountains to the north of Burhanpur separate Burhanpur from Khandwa , a major city of the state. They also separate the Narmada river from the Tapti River. The pass through the Satpura mountains that connected Kahndwa with Burhanpur was a major gateway to South India during the Mughal and other times, and was greatly prized. The Asirgarh fortress that guards the pass was known as "Key to the Deccan".<br />
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Burhanpur has many interesting places to visit , but is often remembered as the place where Mumtaz Mahal , wife of Empereor Shah Jehan , died, giving birth to her 14th child. The same Mumtaz Mahal , in honor of whom Shaha Jehan , built the Taj Mahal at Agra . Mumtaz Mahal was interred at Burhanpur and her remains shifted to Agra, when the Taj Mahal was complete.<br />
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Burhanpur lays claims to many Mughal and Faroqui monuments , Sikh monuments, and temples, besides being a town involved in textile industry stuff. <br />
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We started at around 9 pm from Dadar in Central Mumbai , and reached Burhanpur in the early morning after a quick stop for tea at dawn a little before. The temperature was 7 degrees C , and the hot tea was most welcome.<br />
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We leave Dadar for places due north. The Chev 4WD lights up. </div>
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This was at dawn when the temperature hovered around 7 degrees C, and a desperate need for tea was felt by one and all. This gentleman obliged. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uksAkk1S80o/Voef8oW-FvI/AAAAAAAAQag/dzeTPv1EKOI/s1600/b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uksAkk1S80o/Voef8oW-FvI/AAAAAAAAQag/dzeTPv1EKOI/s640/b3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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At the Hotel Ambar, one of the 4 "decent" hotels (as they say ) in Burhanpur.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wF46bnNz77U/Voef-YbP96I/AAAAAAAAQbM/ye5kxsTAIvo/s1600/b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wF46bnNz77U/Voef-YbP96I/AAAAAAAAQbM/ye5kxsTAIvo/s640/b5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The show starts right here at these amazing screens in the hotel foyer.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkww2jsqfN4/Voef_IXKw5I/AAAAAAAAQbc/FwNVJfzDQkw/s1600/b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkww2jsqfN4/Voef_IXKw5I/AAAAAAAAQbc/FwNVJfzDQkw/s640/b6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Something on display at the hotel . I cannot recall what this was. If anyone knows, please enlighten ! </div>
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We are at the Shahi Quila . The Badshahi Qila, on the banks of the Tapti River, a fine example of Mughal and Persian styles of building. Once the Mughals were in control of Burhanpur, a posting here was greatly valued, and only folks close to rulers were posted here. The Governer of Burhanpur was always picked from the Royal Family, so to speak. ( Looks like nothing has changed in today's world....)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpOyYKevcEg/VoegAOXcWDI/AAAAAAAAQbs/yGT0qP4J_B0/s1600/b8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpOyYKevcEg/VoegAOXcWDI/AAAAAAAAQbs/yGT0qP4J_B0/s640/b8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A lovely view from another part of the Shahi Qila. The palaces, the Diwan-e-Khas and Diwan-e-Aam have now turned to dust, with several ruins all around. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiNthbGScQM/VoegATiCtcI/AAAAAAAAQbw/MCbXj4Qm2J8/s1600/b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiNthbGScQM/VoegATiCtcI/AAAAAAAAQbw/MCbXj4Qm2J8/s640/b9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another view captured by me from a high elevation in the Qila.</div>
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This is the grand entrance door to the Shahi Qila. It seems to have been maintained to this day , or was amazingly constructed to withstand the onslaught of the centuries, and it was clearly an honor to pose and have myself clicked. </div>
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A close up of the door fortifications. </div>
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The inner environs of the Shahi Qila, are like a lesson of Geometry in Stone . The Shahi Qila is a seven storeyed fortress, and was once home to Shah Jehan and Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal had her 14th delivery here, but did not survive it. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to-lBFylSgc/Voef399O87I/AAAAAAAAQYc/KMnTZaQsAo4/s1600/b13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to-lBFylSgc/Voef399O87I/AAAAAAAAQYc/KMnTZaQsAo4/s640/b13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the ramparts of the Shahi Qila.</div>
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Another view.</div>
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This arched entrance at the Asirgarh Fort is supposed to lead to what might have been a jail inside the Fort.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c64niqMlFYg/Voef4qUqKDI/AAAAAAAAQY0/7LnSwaen-1Y/s1600/b16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c64niqMlFYg/Voef4qUqKDI/AAAAAAAAQY0/7LnSwaen-1Y/s640/b16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sometimes Nature conspires to create Art, and you applaud.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--dgQ7K__-fg/Voef4ve5DHI/AAAAAAAAQY4/qJPWKR4BAdg/s1600/b17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--dgQ7K__-fg/Voef4ve5DHI/AAAAAAAAQY4/qJPWKR4BAdg/s640/b17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is what remains of the Jama Masjid in the Asirgarh Fort, 20 kilometres away from the city . </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eK3hTffgDz4/Voef5J0nH3I/AAAAAAAAQZA/I1s3qR63V9I/s1600/b18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eK3hTffgDz4/Voef5J0nH3I/AAAAAAAAQZA/I1s3qR63V9I/s640/b18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A closer look at the entrance .</div>
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There were separate areas demarcated for the ladies and gents to sit. The area facing the sun was supposed to be for the ladies. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rt-wlJztzME/Voef50cmymI/AAAAAAAAQZY/pSkmk0kiYrk/s1600/b20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rt-wlJztzME/Voef50cmymI/AAAAAAAAQZY/pSkmk0kiYrk/s640/b20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A view of the same area, along with some ladies who came to check it out !</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5E43fKPN3Q/Voef6DBczlI/AAAAAAAAQZU/ixBFK-PP974/s1600/b21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5E43fKPN3Q/Voef6DBczlI/AAAAAAAAQZU/ixBFK-PP974/s640/b21.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Another view from within the corridor. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KS0IpyL0HXw/Voef6jsNsQI/AAAAAAAAQZk/8lzS6gdNkLI/s1600/b22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KS0IpyL0HXw/Voef6jsNsQI/AAAAAAAAQZk/8lzS6gdNkLI/s640/b22.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The sole remaining minaret. Framed ....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0g7DHvrJjk/Voef64S1DPI/AAAAAAAAQZo/84nUiK6JlIw/s1600/b23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0g7DHvrJjk/Voef64S1DPI/AAAAAAAAQZo/84nUiK6JlIw/s640/b23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The interiors of the mosque.</div>
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Beauty in symmetry. I wonder what building tools were used in those days. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XldI4X5-_l0/Voef7mmEOLI/AAAAAAAAQZ4/bMdfrvXEWY0/s1600/b25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XldI4X5-_l0/Voef7mmEOLI/AAAAAAAAQZ4/bMdfrvXEWY0/s640/b25.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Adorned doors. With possible restoration happening. </div>
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Some distance away from the Jama Masjid at Asirgarh, is a Shiva temple, situated in a deep square enclosure which contains a pond called Ashwatthaamaa Kund. Ashwatthaamaa is a character from the Mahabharata condemned by Lord Krishna to wander the earth for eternity without a home. It is believed that he visits the temple on dark nights and worships Shiva. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJj3pRJ1_78/Voef73nhSvI/AAAAAAAAQaE/X_HSrgIC4RM/s1600/b27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJj3pRJ1_78/Voef73nhSvI/AAAAAAAAQaE/X_HSrgIC4RM/s640/b27.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The temple itself is well preserved. Much of the painting inside and outside has faded, but traces of red and blue remain. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uSW5o7SZag/Voef8DVWdDI/AAAAAAAAQaM/34DSA3MXcWw/s1600/b28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uSW5o7SZag/Voef8DVWdDI/AAAAAAAAQaM/34DSA3MXcWw/s640/b28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know who this person was, but this scene was asking to be clicked . Silhouettes !</div>
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Sections of Moti Mahal at the Asirgarh Fort , built to enclose the tomb of Moti Begum, one of Shaha Jehan' s other wives. A fairly unkempt monument, it has several staircases that lead to various parts of the building under the two domes on top. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t51WCVleSeI/Voef87kR26I/AAAAAAAAQak/fXuNRshxy7w/s1600/b30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t51WCVleSeI/Voef87kR26I/AAAAAAAAQak/fXuNRshxy7w/s640/b30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some interior views of Moti Mahal . Notice the preferred shape of the windows . </div>
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The preferred window shape, highlighted by the Sun !</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoMS6GkKOVY/Voj71LXwiiI/AAAAAAAAQpQ/yOGDMrIPDgo/s1600/b84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoMS6GkKOVY/Voj71LXwiiI/AAAAAAAAQpQ/yOGDMrIPDgo/s640/b84.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And we try and bring in some color amidst the ruins of Moti Mahal.<br />
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Some more interiors with some possible truths scribbled on the walls, by those, who do not realize that the Mughals were aware of it all. </div>
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Sunset at Moti Mahal ....</div>
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And I climbed a bit higher to click this one ...</div>
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And then into the city for food ....<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xWBn2B1g_c4/VoegG05em2I/AAAAAAAAQcQ/Ikoji2UK3tw/s1600/b36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xWBn2B1g_c4/VoegG05em2I/AAAAAAAAQcQ/Ikoji2UK3tw/s640/b36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Yummy Street Food of Burhanpur</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LlyGD27Qnu8/VoegHEdChnI/AAAAAAAAQcU/tRcHqCBbae4/s1600/b37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LlyGD27Qnu8/VoegHEdChnI/AAAAAAAAQcU/tRcHqCBbae4/s640/b37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chaats Galore !</div>
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The variety continues !</div>
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The Dahiwadas ! </div>
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Gulaab Jamuns !<br />
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Fresh Rumali Rotis everywhere on the street ...</div>
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The Burhanpur speciality! Two types of Jilebis. Mawa Jilebis for breakfast ! </div>
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A mosque within the Shahi Qila, is now in ruins, and has only one minaret remaining. It is referred to as the "laung" minar by the locals since its shape resembles that of a clove or "laung" . </div>
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Frescoes in the Zenana Hammam, or women's Baths in the Shahi Qila, as they exist today .</div>
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Begum Mumtaz Mahal's built in bathing tub. The baths had provisions for hot and cold water running along inclines in the walls. This bath is 1.8 metres deep. </div>
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Us shower types are happy to just sit and get clicked there. </div>
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Amazing ceilings and frescoes on the walls . </div>
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The Remnants of the Diwan-e-khaas at the Shahi Qila, that may be seen today .</div>
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The Ghats by the Tapti River, with the temples. Burhanpur is on the Northwestern bank of the river. In the Mughal period , this was used as a harbour for boats by the royal family. Later on Ahilya Bai Holkar, built temples on these ghats , and one is dedicated to the Goddess Tapti. The Tapti Purana says , " Bathe in the Ganga, Behold the Narmada, Rmember the Tapti, and you shall be absolved of all your sins " ..... Across the river is Zainabad, and the boatmen ferry you across the river for a nominal charge. </div>
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The ruins of the Shahi Qila stand along the banks of the Tapti. </div>
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We pose amidst the ruins at the Shahi Qila. </div>
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I wonder what this was used for, and did the royal children use this ?</div>
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The Jama Msajid, is located in the centre of Burhanpur, in Gandhi Chowk. Its minars are almost 36 metres high. Inside , inscriptions in Sanskrit as well as Arabic indicate that it was built by Adil Shah in 1589. Stones were brought from Mandu. The symmetrical arches and sparsely decorated pillars, create a sense of severe simple beauty. You can see mats laid out for the devotees , with overhead fans , something probably never expected by the Mughals....<br />
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An old medieval prayer rosary being displayed by the caretaker of the mosque.</div>
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This is the tomb of Begum Shah Shuja, who was Shaha Jehan's daughter-in-law who died in childbirth. The shape of the dome earns it the name Kharboozi Gumbaz, and although the exterior appears plain, the interiors are intricately decorated. </div>
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Every niche in the walls inside, is decorated with floral patterns, and the colors have remained fairly intact over centuries. Above and below. </div>
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Burhanpur has a thriving industry in making ropes from waste material. One such entrepreneur in the city. </div>
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Ropes in reels prepared and ready to be sent wherever needed. </div>
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The Gurudwara Bari Sangat. The Sikh connection with Burhanpur dates back to the 16th century when Guru Nanak Singhji is supposed to have visited the city. </div>
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This complex, about 2 kms out of town, consists of a large assembly hall, pilgrim rooms and a langar. The assembly hall contains a display of weapons on the walls . <br />
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The most chersihed possession of the gurudwara, is an old handwritten copy of the Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib, with an inscription by Guru Gobind Singh himself. This is displayed for the public on the 14th of each month.<br />
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On the northern outskirts of the city, about 2 kms away, the tomb of Shaha Nawaz Khan. Set amongst an open landscaped ground, its exteriors are fairly plain, but frescoes adorn the insides. The actual tombs are underground and fake tombs are in public view inside. Shaha Nawaz Khan was one of the royals posted in Burhanpur. <br />
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Below , the speciality of the Kundi Bhandara. </div>
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The Mughals had a great interest in water architecture, and a number of internal springs flowing frpom the Satpura Hills to the Tapti river were intercepted by wells built at regular intervals.Water collected in these wells would then flow to various destinations via underground tunnels . This design was so good that it served the city water requirements well into the 20th century. Bhandaras were the tunnels that transported the water . These Kundi Bhandaras were often called Khuni Bhandaras , based on false rumors if murders etc. </div>
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These brightly painted wells each still taps the clear water flowing below.<br />
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The internal tunnels and passages. A tiny lift brings people 25 metres below to see these. The walls show some leakage over the years. <br />
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Here is a photograph taken , looking upwards , from the bottom of one of the wells .<br />
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About 3 kms from the city lies the village of Lodhi. This is the location of the Dargah-e-Hakimi, a place of scared pilgrimage for all Dawoodi Bohra Muslims. This is the Mazar of Syedi Abdulquadir Hakimuddin. He was a saint who came here to propagate the word of the Prophet, and was one of the most learned men of his time, being proficient in Urdu, Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic. He translated Sanskrit texts into Arabic and complied them in a book called Qalila Wadhima. He also began the custom of collecting something from each family within the community and arrange to spend it for the welfare of all . </div>
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This Dargah-e-Hakimi complex contains 700 rooms for Pilgrims, , gardens and shrines, gives a sense of being affluent , is extremely well kept, and the locals refer to it as Chhota Amrika . <br />
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Well organized set up, for all the devotees to come and pray and interact.<br />
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A distance view of the complex.<br />
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6 kilometres south of Burhanpur, one sees this Raja Ki Chhatri. This was constructed to honor the commander of Aurangzebs troops, Raja Jai Singh, who died in 1666 at Burhanpur on his way back from the Deccan. This is the place where he was cremated . It is surrounded by green banana fields, and looks down at the confluence of Tapti and Mohana rivers.<br />
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This chhatri stands on a 3 metre plinth, with 32 pillars with graceful simple leafy patterns. Much in contrast to the intricte art work and frescoes of other Mughal monuments, this has perhaps something to do with Aurangzeb's instructions...<br />
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This is the Ahukhana , situated in Jainabad, across the Tapti river on its eastern banks. Literally , it translates as Deer Park, and this was used by the old rulers as a hunting ground. This was constructed by Akbar's son, who was the first Mughal Governer of the Deccan. Besides hunting deer, the place was a recreation place with a square stage in the midle of some tanks, where musicians performed to entertain reclining royal hunting parties. <br />
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An airy baradari facing the Ahukhana. There was at one time a smaller tank opposite the airy baradari above, with lots of special trees and grasses planted there. The water for these came from the aforementioned kundi bhandara tunnels. Shah Jehans most beloved queen , Mumtaz Mahal was buried here and the body kept here for several months, till the Taj Mahal at Agra was built, and then her body was disinterred and shifted along with the Mughal Court to Agra.<br />
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A closer look at the airy Baradari. <br />
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Some of us finding something to smile about amidst the ruins.<br />
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The small tank in front of the baradari with a 5.5 m square platform at the centre. <br />
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Burhanpur is a small city, but with a huge amount of history . Some of which we learned in school and some that we did not. <br />
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What did I like most , from what I saw during about this whole trip ?<br />
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Very clearly, the Kundi Bhandaras. Absolutely brilliant. <br />
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-54752188615797987152016-01-03T10:04:00.000+05:302016-01-03T11:02:11.993+05:30Ratangad 2016 ! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Doing something different for New Year's , I decided to join friends on a trek to RatanGad Fort. <br />
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Ratangad , is also called Nhavi Killa or Barber's Fort. Possibly in honor of one of its commandants, Dhanaji, who belonged to the Nhavi caste. This was one of the Forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and it is known, that a Koli names Govindrao Khari , appointed by the Peshwa, was commanding the Fort with his garrison of other Kolis , around 1822-1827, despite the Peshwa's fall from power. The British took away Govindrao's power citing his disloyalty to them, and the Fort fell into British hands .<br />
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This fort lies in the Ajoba mountain range
which is surrounded by mountains of Alang, Kalsubai, Kulang, Katarabai
etc. (I have trekked to Kalsubai). It is also the origin for the Pravara River , on which the Bhandardara Dam is built. <br />
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Ratanwadi is the base village. It has a Amruteshwar temple, in Hemadpanti style, which is famous for its
carvings.and about halfway up the hill , one reaches the entrance to the Fort. There are old ruins of what looks like a stately courthouse inside the Fort. The Fort also has about eight rock cut reservoirs built into the sides of the hills, and the plateau has a Mahadev Temple and a Moslem Tomb.<br />
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Ratangad has a natural rock peak with a cavity in it at the top which is
called 'Nedhe' or 'Eye of the Needle'. Possibly caused due to natural erosion and heavy winds.<br />
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We started by road from Bhandup, one of Mumbai's eastern suburbs, and went along Highway 3 (the old Bombay-Agra Rd) Mumbai-Nashik Expressway. Then at Shahpur , went eastwards on Highway no 44 (Shenve-Dolkhanmb rd) to reach Shendi Bhandardara around 11 am or so.<br />
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Unlike other trips, we planned to cook some simple stuff and I was carrying some utensils along with my backpack. We would be buying basic required provisions at the Ratanwadi village. The plan was to cook our evening meal in the open at the top of the Fort , under the stars, and celebrate the New Year, taking care to leave our environment clean . It involved everyone sharing the load, and climbing with all kinds of food and utensils , besides our own backpacks, and was a new experience. <br />
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Seven of us , made it to the top with all kinds of stuff , some of which is seen here.</div>
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Clearly, it meant we take short breaks and rest, while ascending the mountain. Notice the empty water can we were carrying. Our leader Ranchhodas Das , was familiar with the terrain and knew the places from where we could source water for cooking. </div>
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This fort overlooks the Bhandardara Region in Ahmednagar district. We saw some water bodies with check dams /bandharas , like the one shown here. The Bhandaardara Dam is one of the major dams in the area, further away.</div>
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You must know, how to fix the loads you plan to carry on your back. In Life as well as while trekking. Here , our leader Ranchchodas is seen adjusting a load. </div>
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The sighting of the top of the Fort. </div>
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Clearly, we were getting closer , as we climbed. </div>
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The clearing where we would be resting, cooking and spending the night. </div>
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We had two tents. This is the bigger one. We carried the tents on our backs. </div>
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In Mumbai parlance, this was our Hall-Kitchen. All in one. Folks are at work, setting up tents, lighting fire, and getting started with the cooking. The Menu ? You need to wait and see. Hint : Someone cutting onions and tomatoes. </div>
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The residence !</div>
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A full fledged kitchen being handled by the experts. We made several trips and climbed down to a water source to fill water in our water can , and climbed back up with it again. Makes you greatly respect those who do this every single day of their life......</div>
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The Fort, watching the proceedings with interest. </div>
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The experts in action. We came prepared. Notice the "saanshee " on the stone, lower left. This is Ranchchoddas starting the makings of a chicken curry, with a basic tadka. </div>
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Life is made a bit simpler , with the addition of LED lamps , which ensure we see what goes into the recipe clearly and well. The three stone Choolah doing its stuff. </div>
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Some folks have the luxury of sitting on log sofas and fanning the fire, enjoying the delicious smells of food getting cooked. PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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PC : Jayanand Supali.</div>
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Yay! Now it can be told. We cooked chicken curry, paneer (for the vegetarians), peas pulao , and there was cut salad /cucumbers/carrots. Here is one of our members, dishing out the stuff . PC : Jayanand Supali.</div>
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The New Year's Eve feast ! </div>
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It was cold! Warming ourselves after the meal, enjoying the campfire. </div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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No cosmetics can bring such glows. Its the lovely climb, cold weather, fresh air, delicious food, warm fire and great friends! </div>
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The residence !</div>
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Like they say in housing brochures, "situated in the lap of nature" !</div>
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Kya lap hai ! </div>
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The Fort approach . Sheer rocks and their majesty. </div>
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There is magic in the way the sun and the rocks play with shadows. </div>
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One such .</div>
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Another shadow play. And you feel so small .... </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXJqAx948dE/VogI_4_WHdI/AAAAAAAAQjE/RIzfJFtEjR4/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXJqAx948dE/VogI_4_WHdI/AAAAAAAAQjE/RIzfJFtEjR4/s640/26.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Then again, another Game of Shadows...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-En5y_Y1GSOo/VogJGIUZ5HI/AAAAAAAAQk0/U9NfUy_fKAU/s1600/39.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-En5y_Y1GSOo/VogJGIUZ5HI/AAAAAAAAQk0/U9NfUy_fKAU/s640/39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are two ladders one needs to climb before reaching the top. These have been installed for the benefit and safety of hikers and trekkers, and one must be careful with the slightly old and rusted sections. </div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmlWRe_8Eo8/VogJHYIHCTI/AAAAAAAAQlM/MRVp4OzqLxs/s1600/41.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmlWRe_8Eo8/VogJHYIHCTI/AAAAAAAAQlM/MRVp4OzqLxs/s640/41.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And the climb continues. PC : Jayanand Supali.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GIIgnzyECE/VogJG_kpZcI/AAAAAAAAQlE/eqYAkZBAGbw/s1600/40.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GIIgnzyECE/VogJG_kpZcI/AAAAAAAAQlE/eqYAkZBAGbw/s640/40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This has to be some trick photography. We cannot be leaning like this normally, and this looks like some dance from a movie....</div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7BQkytN3YJk/VogJHnj4TII/AAAAAAAAQlY/E-Vh3ux_F68/s1600/42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7BQkytN3YJk/VogJHnj4TII/AAAAAAAAQlY/E-Vh3ux_F68/s640/42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Structures at the top somewhere may hold many folks. Just in case you think it is a management mantra, it is not. Just a bunch of us enjoying the lovely morning . </div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.</div>
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There is a sense of wonder in how the tops of these mountains have been eroded in similar design. </div>
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Another early morning view on the trek path.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3_hMGavjas/VogJBH0UuHI/AAAAAAAAQjg/tLNQ5gvKTC4/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3_hMGavjas/VogJBH0UuHI/AAAAAAAAQjg/tLNQ5gvKTC4/s640/29.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Another perspective, showing the valley landscape, and the sheer verticality of the Fort walls, as we climbed. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhCwvRq5FNU/VogJCfWoZ6I/AAAAAAAAQjs/2df19k4q2ls/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhCwvRq5FNU/VogJCfWoZ6I/AAAAAAAAQjs/2df19k4q2ls/s640/30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It felt good to sit in the Sun and take a breather. We had left our luggage and backpacks in our tents , and this made moving easier . </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-eTGkJti3k/VogJCeXuYdI/AAAAAAAAQjw/felOIGa_rFg/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-eTGkJti3k/VogJCeXuYdI/AAAAAAAAQjw/felOIGa_rFg/s640/31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The team, celebrating the New Year , on the edge of a small plateau!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6d0xcFcOws/VogJC0E98sI/AAAAAAAAQkA/DSvza6JeTik/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6d0xcFcOws/VogJC0E98sI/AAAAAAAAQkA/DSvza6JeTik/s640/32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Celebration 1. Showing everyone how to jump. These two are not impressed. </div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evPqkKzN2do/VogJDUfV5kI/AAAAAAAAQkE/irWe4VlDIB4/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evPqkKzN2do/VogJDUfV5kI/AAAAAAAAQkE/irWe4VlDIB4/s640/33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Celebration 2. Amazing effort by the group. </div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ln82U1n3Jgs/VogJEET-0MI/AAAAAAAAQkM/KqADS83KHs0/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ln82U1n3Jgs/VogJEET-0MI/AAAAAAAAQkM/KqADS83KHs0/s640/34.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Celebration 3 . Things are getting really exciting here. The mountain peaks watch in wonder as folks jump up and down and others click. Some with backpacks !</div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPVTfCSH-jk/VogJERNZBHI/AAAAAAAAQkQ/2wvjfVL8CgY/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPVTfCSH-jk/VogJERNZBHI/AAAAAAAAQkQ/2wvjfVL8CgY/s640/35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Clearly, some refuse to give up. </div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUERa1tL3F8/VogJExKJdsI/AAAAAAAAQkk/-CIc_VBHMNg/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUERa1tL3F8/VogJExKJdsI/AAAAAAAAQkk/-CIc_VBHMNg/s640/36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The landscape , as we descend. Notice the several water bodies in the valley region. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_WWaXp04E4/VogJE30idII/AAAAAAAAQkc/yRMiifhlURY/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_WWaXp04E4/VogJE30idII/AAAAAAAAQkc/yRMiifhlURY/s640/37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The mountain vegetation as we descend lower down.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCxRfYQC-d8/VogJFqezJJI/AAAAAAAAQks/Wx6kQE9fEHo/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCxRfYQC-d8/VogJFqezJJI/AAAAAAAAQks/Wx6kQE9fEHo/s640/38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another click of the earlier mountain water body with the bandhaara, at a different time of the day. </div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLkT-3fpKyI/VogJIHv7DUI/AAAAAAAAQlc/I2Hgz-O8KO0/s640/43.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Another panorama, another vista. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYMVzDTsBww/VogJIhPtrwI/AAAAAAAAQlk/ZEdttA76UKw/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYMVzDTsBww/VogJIhPtrwI/AAAAAAAAQlk/ZEdttA76UKw/s640/44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is a bunch of us trying to pose like the mountain peaks. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hThL806Mj78/VogJIw8jp3I/AAAAAAAAQlo/RxxO3wEmxL4/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hThL806Mj78/VogJIw8jp3I/AAAAAAAAQlo/RxxO3wEmxL4/s640/45.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kya baat! Kya baat! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVf8SJaKGAM/VogJJX72YtI/AAAAAAAAQl4/9pV2Mi9P58Y/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVf8SJaKGAM/VogJJX72YtI/AAAAAAAAQl4/9pV2Mi9P58Y/s640/46.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Saying goodbye to our "residence" on the mountain and celebrating with a selfie . I wonder what people did when they had heavy cameras with tripods and timers. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBNXdboLsZ0/VogJJoI2anI/AAAAAAAAQl8/HdkIsq4ttPM/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBNXdboLsZ0/VogJJoI2anI/AAAAAAAAQl8/HdkIsq4ttPM/s640/47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is called a sleeping selfie .</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVp2D1ZcCSg/VogJVtghPPI/AAAAAAAAQm0/NlFIWECv1AM/s1600/topp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVp2D1ZcCSg/VogJVtghPPI/AAAAAAAAQm0/NlFIWECv1AM/s640/topp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The cool grass, the Sun, a lovely breeze. What to do ? I am like that only ....</div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-63943717392042682832015-12-18T11:21:00.000+05:302015-12-18T12:19:25.144+05:30Queen for a day !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We decided to go on an early morning ride from Powai to Malabar Hill and back, and started at 4 am with my friends Elan Chelian and Sai Pratyush.<br />
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Here is the route we followed. <span style="color: blue;"><i>Eastern Express Highway, Kings Circle, Dadar, Prabhadevi, Worli Seaface, Haji Ali, Peddar Road Climb, Malabar Hill, and back via the Eastern Express Highway, via Sion , Ghatkopar and Kanjurmarg. </i></span><br />
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We had a short stop for Chai at Churchgate...<br />
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Left the house at 4 am , and returned home at 7.45 am.<br />
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It was a day like any other cycling day, I was having coffee, and <span style="color: blue;"><i>one of my friends suddenly msged saying my riding segment between Kings Circle to Haji Ali , a distance of 9.1 kms, got completed in 25 minutes, and this awarded me a "<u><b>Queen of the Mountain</b></u>" e-trophy from Strava</i></span>, the software we use to analyse our rides and keep histories of our progress (or lack of it ).<br />
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<i>It also said that I gave my second best timing over an EEH stretch of 5.9 kms which i covered in 7 minutes. </i><br />
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The Eastern Express Highway is fairly long , so I don't which patch of 5.9 kms between Powai and King's Circle this was. Never mind .<br />
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Here is our route map. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7M1xg3aC5g/VnN9Th2hqGI/AAAAAAAAQWI/pgGH03WTHHA/s1600/routemap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7M1xg3aC5g/VnN9Th2hqGI/AAAAAAAAQWI/pgGH03WTHHA/s640/routemap.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the gradient across which we rode over all the 66.6 kms. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ73ofqSA4M/VnN9XNWNtGI/AAAAAAAAQWQ/2GNJ9BVG_q4/s1600/graph1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ73ofqSA4M/VnN9XNWNtGI/AAAAAAAAQWQ/2GNJ9BVG_q4/s640/graph1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the table from Strava , awarding me the Queen of the Mountain e-trophy. </div>
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<b><i>So what is so great about it ? </i></b> </div>
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The crown represents total segment dominance! They are awarded to
users who set times that slot them in atop Overall leaderboards at time
of upload.<br />
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There are two types of crowns: the solid crown is awarded for top
placement on the All-Time leaderboard.<br />
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The "wire" or "outlined" crown is
awarded for top placement on the This Year leaderboard.<br />
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Mine was the wired crown ! :-) <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Zs-RpBcpE/VnN-2smPETI/AAAAAAAAQWk/HSBbmnOy3cI/s1600/segments1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Zs-RpBcpE/VnN-2smPETI/AAAAAAAAQWk/HSBbmnOy3cI/s640/segments1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's nice to suddenly hear about this while having a decent breakfast. </div>
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My fellow riders . PC : Sai Pratyush . </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrVqritAnkk/VnOIzXNde8I/AAAAAAAAQW8/ZQdeW8Sg_vs/s1600/sai.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrVqritAnkk/VnOIzXNde8I/AAAAAAAAQW8/ZQdeW8Sg_vs/s640/sai.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mgz0G8SLYQ/VnOIzQpAf2I/AAAAAAAAQW0/Jgg6OvjTxAw/s1600/queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mgz0G8SLYQ/VnOIzQpAf2I/AAAAAAAAQW0/Jgg6OvjTxAw/s640/queen.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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The Royal (!) Effort above and our Chariots below!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ce-fpqMgsM/VnOIztCXOoI/AAAAAAAAQW4/jc2M2_rPJ8A/s1600/cyc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ce-fpqMgsM/VnOIztCXOoI/AAAAAAAAQW4/jc2M2_rPJ8A/s640/cyc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's also wonderful to have your fellow riders inform you about this when you are totally unaware of it .<br />
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Just wondering how Strava knew I was going to be chugging furiously up the Malabar Hill and Powai Hill....<br />
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Maybe it thinks they are mountains ? </div>
Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-56169551431556709392015-12-14T10:45:00.000+05:302015-12-14T21:34:52.639+05:30Gearless Weekend Chronicles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With the weather turning distinctly cooler in Mumbai, it is ideal weather for cycling, early mornings and late nights.<br />
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The weekend started off at dawn on Saturday, when <i>no one except me turned up</i> for the ride, and I ended up doing a <span style="color: blue;"><i>solo ride in the Aarey Milk Colony Area</i></span>.<br />
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There was a Saturday night cycle ride plan brewing and perhaps people decided to take the early Saturday morning off, to attend to other things.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDxT-DrlYDQ/Vm01L_fPCEI/AAAAAAAAQUg/4G91EBF0_Bg/s1600/sat14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDxT-DrlYDQ/Vm01L_fPCEI/AAAAAAAAQUg/4G91EBF0_Bg/s640/sat14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not yet sunrise, and the roads are a pleasure to ride on as I make my way on the JVLR (Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Rd ) , near Greenfields , en route to the Western Express Highway. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_WFJ7SsKQQ/Vm01MOU9lQI/AAAAAAAAQUw/a0wHeQsxypQ/s1600/sat15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_WFJ7SsKQQ/Vm01MOU9lQI/AAAAAAAAQUw/a0wHeQsxypQ/s640/sat15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You have probably never seen the WEH and its side exit roads this empty. Neither has the Sun, just rising.....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eXZ83xzotLM/Vm01MWpQTgI/AAAAAAAAQUo/d2HpMdefj3k/s1600/sat16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eXZ83xzotLM/Vm01MWpQTgI/AAAAAAAAQUo/d2HpMdefj3k/s640/sat16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I must document the emptiness of these Mumbai roads, with my cycle in the photograph, as I travel towards the Aarey intersection.<br />
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I ride through the Aarey colony gates, amidst the woods, reach a gentle elevation , and reach back home after skirting the Powai Lake once again.<br />
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I am using a new software called Strava,<br />
and these are my ride values. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJtFnBG8dl0/Vm01MYKvAHI/AAAAAAAAQUs/WBc46CNbkTA/s1600/sat17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJtFnBG8dl0/Vm01MYKvAHI/AAAAAAAAQUs/WBc46CNbkTA/s640/sat17.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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It is now Saturday night, still 12/12/2015, and there are <span style="color: blue;"><i>plans for a night ride</i></span>. We will meet at Powai Police Station and proceed from there. There are 7 of us and the plan is to cycle to <span style="color: blue;">Worli Sea Face </span> in South Bombay. We start at 10 pm.<br />
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A night ride is <i>different</i>. It is cooler, you probably go against the rush traffic when you go south, and you think there will be less traffic on your way back, given the time.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>But this is Mumbai, and Mumbai never sleeps. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>(</i>Some of the photos below were taken by Deepak Narula. There was an oversight and Photo Credit was not duly given. Now it is. I apologize. <i>) </i></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYJFK6u5SaU/Vm01LmqhamI/AAAAAAAAQUc/iGaDEjTmnWo/s1600/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYJFK6u5SaU/Vm01LmqhamI/AAAAAAAAQUc/iGaDEjTmnWo/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here we are at Worli Sea Face. We wear reflecting jackets when we ride at night so we are visible in the traffic. The chariots getting a much needed rest. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LH2XTYGZkfU/Vm01IC8RDrI/AAAAAAAAQTg/sQNJeFHJTpM/s1600/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LH2XTYGZkfU/Vm01IC8RDrI/AAAAAAAAQTg/sQNJeFHJTpM/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A great click at Worli Sea Face. It is past 11.30 pm and you would think no one would be buying balloons at this time. PC : Deepak Narula <br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>But this is Mumbai , and it doesn't matter.</i></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDRd739n6BM/Vm01IIKqD8I/AAAAAAAAQTc/U8MLrSnya3U/s1600/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDRd739n6BM/Vm01IIKqD8I/AAAAAAAAQTc/U8MLrSnya3U/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Worli Sea Face. And no, <i>we are not sitting in the order of our cycles</i> . </div>
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Another great photograph of our group.!<br />
PC : Deepak Narula </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llJa_m4oPHc/Vm01JVGxYvI/AAAAAAAAQTo/kvN3l6bXaPA/s1600/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llJa_m4oPHc/Vm01JVGxYvI/AAAAAAAAQTo/kvN3l6bXaPA/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The mandatory photograph of my gearless cycle. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>Like Charles Schultz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip said, "“Life is like a 10-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” </i></span></div>
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Aiyyo ! I have speed, but have <i>no gears.</i> :-) </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FomdiJLbpcg/Vm01JB16wpI/AAAAAAAAQTw/20kfYJw1x1I/s1600/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FomdiJLbpcg/Vm01JB16wpI/AAAAAAAAQTw/20kfYJw1x1I/s640/12.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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The Strava statistics for the night ride.</div>
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We start back via the Western Express Highway, pass by Bandra, Airport turn-off, and continue via Saki Naka. I reach home at 1.30 am. It is now 13/12/2015 , and I have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/942772639130506/" target="_blank">Powai cyclothon</a> to attend in 4-5 hours.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Sunday morning 6:30 am </span></div>
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A friend came to watch the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/942772639130506/" target="_blank">Cyclothon</a> and took photographs . The purpose of the cyclothon was to highlight environmental causes, ways to reduce pollution , and show cycling as a wonderful means of achieving that. The very original Mumbai Dabbawallas with their no nonsense sturdy bicycles and unchanged national outfits, too participated. They started cycling for work, long before many of us (even started cycling for fun) , and continue to do so even today. <br /><br />Some of these photos <span style="color: blue;"><i>below </i></span>have been clicked by me . Some by my friend Jayanand Supali. Some more, by various other members of our group. If you could indicate which photo you clicked, I can indicate the photo credit immediately. <br />
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The Heritage Gardens in Hiranandani , in Powai was the starting point. </div>
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The very large crowd of young and old people who gathered for the 15 km ride around HN. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MwGSQAOKJ60/Vm01JwdpvJI/AAAAAAAAQT8/zKlSGY2vb5Y/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MwGSQAOKJ60/Vm01JwdpvJI/AAAAAAAAQT8/zKlSGY2vb5Y/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Age no bar.<br />
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Our group, Powai Pedals, was the largest group participant, and was felicitated with a memento. <br />
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Here is our Powai Pedals Group on the Podium. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6X4JfC2m10k/Vm01IIbZPwI/AAAAAAAAQTk/dLZpwR6ZS-I/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6X4JfC2m10k/Vm01IIbZPwI/AAAAAAAAQTk/dLZpwR6ZS-I/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our Powai Pedals group on the Podium. Elsie Gabriel of the Young Enviromentalists Group (with the mike), one of our admins Disha Shrivastava, Pradeep Nayak, Mirza Saaib Beg, me, Manish Lala, and many others .</div>
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PC : Jayanand Supali<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CW7wbEEOYps/Vm01KCIpYII/AAAAAAAAQUA/a7k15324wS0/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CW7wbEEOYps/Vm01KCIpYII/AAAAAAAAQUA/a7k15324wS0/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So many cyclists, and a search was on to get our members on the podium . Here we are, searching for Mirza Saib Beg, our inspiration, and champion cycling lawyer. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eK_sccujmSo/Vm01KCGNcOI/AAAAAAAAQUE/CLuLAkFXy6c/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eK_sccujmSo/Vm01KCGNcOI/AAAAAAAAQUE/CLuLAkFXy6c/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Still searching<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJNHD8RJJvg/Vm01K9oesgI/AAAAAAAAQUQ/TEIUkQXGKvE/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJNHD8RJJvg/Vm01K9oesgI/AAAAAAAAQUQ/TEIUkQXGKvE/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then someone else was found ! Various "Powai Pedals" climbing up</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SFY-4PpJEJE/Vm01LFlpcvI/AAAAAAAAQUM/Nbdv_P6EuXc/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SFY-4PpJEJE/Vm01LFlpcvI/AAAAAAAAQUM/Nbdv_P6EuXc/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Someone possibly has a lot to say about our "Powai Pedals" </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wHp5VnpF5-w/Vm01LHGn1OI/AAAAAAAAQUY/odNstW6uvdM/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wHp5VnpF5-w/Vm01LHGn1OI/AAAAAAAAQUY/odNstW6uvdM/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And finally , Ratna Singh , me, and Disha Shrivastava before starting the ride.</div>
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P. S. Nothing beats a Masala Dosa breakfast after a massive cycling weekend. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-67528859160467240932015-11-22T12:01:00.001+05:302015-11-22T12:01:55.803+05:30Pedalling for Peace : From Powai to Bhor Ghat <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ignore the 17 hrs 42 minutes shown for walking the entire stretch in the map... <br />
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I didn't walk. I cycled. :-)<br />
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I participated in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/saaib.mirza?fref=ufi" target="_blank">Pedal for Peace Cycle ride </a> , organized by Shri Mirza Saaib Beg , from Powai Police Station to Bhor Ghat , on Saturday 21st Nov 2015. We would ride our cycles from Powai , via Airoli, Panvel, Chowk and Khopoli to the Bhor Ghat.<br />
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One of the many Ghats (mountain passes) in the Sahyadri range, the Bhor Ghat now stretches for 18 kilomters as a path connecting Khopoli in the coastal plains to Khandala in the Hills of the Western Ghats/ Sahyadris. In the ancient days, it was a route that connected the ports of Choul, Revdanda and Panvel on the Konkan coast to the Deccan plains.<br />
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historical significance
as it was the ancient trade route connecting the ports at Choul,
Revdanda, Panvel etc. on the Konkan coast and the surrounding areas on
the Deccan plateau.
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-- Read more: https://www.ixigo.com/bhor-ghat-karjat-india-ne-1158220 </div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
historical significance
as it was the ancient trade route connecting the ports at Choul,
Revdanda, Panvel etc. on the Konkan coast and the surrounding areas on
the Deccan plateau.
<br />
-- Read more: https://www.ixigo.com/bhor-ghat-karjat-india-ne-1158220 </div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
historical significance
as it was the ancient trade route connecting the ports at Choul,
Revdanda, Panvel etc. on the Konkan coast and the surrounding areas on
the Deccan plateau.
<br />
-- Read more: https://www.ixigo.com/bhor-ghat-karjat-india-ne-1158220 </div>
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History has it that the feasibility of having a motorable road/pass connecting Khopoli to Khandala through the mountain was indicated by a local Dhangar/tribesman called Shigroba. The British swung into action and Mumbai and Pune got connected first by road, and then by the Great Indian Peninsular railway (GIP Railway) with 28 tunnels and old bridges in 1863.<br />
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Those zooming by at great speed on the Mumbai Pune Expressway today, miss out on many things that those who frequented the old Mumbai Pune Rd, NH4 , saw. <br />
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The mandatory stop in Khopoli at a place called Ramakant for Vadas. The gentle climb initially past the Tata Power station , and loaded trucks, stopping on the side, before mobilizing for a tough climb. Truck drivers , very considerate of small cars, letting them safely overtake after checking oncoming traffic. Descending traffic giving priority to ascending traffic. Traffic passing by a famous small temple, with truck drivers and others , alike, flinging coins into the sanctum , and a priest standing outside handing prasad to cars and trucks in motion. The amazing high gradient hair pin bend in the middle of the ghats, making people admire their own driving, and emerging from a tunnel just before Khandala , on to a waiting area, and standing with bonnets open to cool cars, while folks cooled themselves with ice golas.<br />
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The modern Expressway foodmalls are not a patch on all this. But we followed the old Mumbai Pune Road NH4 since cycles are not allowed on the expressway. <br />
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We started from Powai at 4.30 am. Meeting up with riders at JVLR, Panvel etc, along the way , around 8.30 , we were 32 people at Khopoli, taking a refreshment break before attempting the ghat climb. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ga8iiu7JL8/VlFKAdUw-4I/AAAAAAAAQMk/J6JV5H2iTEc/s1600/grad.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ga8iiu7JL8/VlFKAdUw-4I/AAAAAAAAQMk/J6JV5H2iTEc/s400/grad.jpg" width="400" /></a>I have a gearless bicycle, which makes it all the more difficult, and over several weeks , I have improved my stamina and strength that allows me to successfully climb across steep inclines. But the Bhor Ghat gradient is different . (Graph courtesy Powai Pedals FB page).<br />
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A little bit after the temple , 2 fellow riders and I got extremely tired and it was not possible to pedal on. We stopped a tempo , and they kindly took us till Lonavla after loading our bikes . When we got off, we realized we would have to travel backwards, cross
the expressway and then ride back again to join our fellow riders. After
much to-ing and fro-ing, we reached the Bhor Ghat Police Station. <br />
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We enjoyed a Daal Khichdi lunch at Lonavla, after which we decided to descend the Bhor Ghat, a very enjoyable ride, where we hardly pedalled. Just braked every now and then. It had been very hot when we climbed, and it was now getting cloudy. <br />
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At Khopoli, 8 of us decided to return to Mumbai proper by suburban train from Khopoli. We were extremely tired. Fancy gradients and gearless bikes do that to you sometimes . Khopoli, the last station on the central railway in the Pune direction, is a starting point. We took a train till Karjat, loading our cycles (cycle ticket : Rs 100) and sitting with them in the luggage compartment.<br />
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Another train from Karjat , to points south around 70 kilometres away by train opened our eyes to some social ills.<br />
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It started raining outside . <br />
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We were threatened by a posse of milkmen and their leader type (in whites and googles) and asked to get out of the luggage compartment of the Karjat CST local train. We had valid tickets, for ourselves and our cycles, and had got in like everyone else, and refused to vacate. We were threatened, they even tried to mishandle the bikes, and some even tried to cause trouble for me , the only girl in the group of 8, by sitting inconveniently. They were pulled up by my fellow riders, who exchanged places with me, and we watched these "milkmen" non chalantly open up milk cans and pouches, and systematically adulterate them all with water of presumably doubtful origin. Right in front of us. Then they got off at Ulhasnagar , presumably to smile innocently and sell bad milk to unsuspecting folks. <br />
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We got off at Ghatkopar, where the motorman of the train must have stopped the train for a few seconds extra , just to have seven cycles disembark from a crowded luggage compartment. <br />
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We rode back to our respective homes, but not before I lost my way in the traffic and rode in the wrong direction of Asalpha (towards Saki Naka) . Till GPS came to my rescue, and guided me back on to LBS Marg , from where I knew the roads. Very clearly, the bike had not had its fill of kilometres. <br />
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A thrilling ride totalling 105.81 kilometres , my third 100 + ride, a good assessment of my own stamina and strength, where I need to improve, and a confirmation that Mumbai traffic is the pits. <br />
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Started at 4 am from home, reached back at 7 pm. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-78NV2i7Yk7U/VlFV4lttmGI/AAAAAAAAQOI/D5uUPhhw2OM/s1600/b21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-78NV2i7Yk7U/VlFV4lttmGI/AAAAAAAAQOI/D5uUPhhw2OM/s640/b21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The group assembled outside Powai Police Station at 4.30 am . (This photo courtesy the Powai Pedals FB page/Nirbhay Singhal. )</div>
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On our way , before proper sunrise , somewhere after Panvel . </div>
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Small towns along the way, complete with more traffic, rumblers and zebra stripes . The day has just dawned. And the Sun sees us ! </div>
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Old Mumbai Pune Road, NH4, still used by light and heavy vehicles. The day has begun, and we cycle on . </div>
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Me with the youngest rider, Pankaj, still in his teens . Completing his first 100 kms during this ride . Bravo ! </div>
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I don't think the lady in the banner had anything to do with it, but we stopped in Khopoli for some refreshments , before beginning the Bhor Ghat ascent. Our chariots, taking a much needed breather. </div>
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Naturally, this called for a selfie. Extreme sunlight, heat, often points to evolution in clothes, and this time , for me , it was white cricket sleeves , by themselves. (I didn't know that such things existed ) </div>
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Three of us, super fatigued from the huge gradient, decided to take a tempo instead of riding the last part . This Ozgur, my fellow rider . </div>
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The three cycles must have thanked us for this unexpected luxury. </div>
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View from near Bhor Ghat Police Station, just before taking the Lonavla/Khandala exit. </div>
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On the road leading to Tiger point. Sai, Avik and Elan in the photo. </div>
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Sai, Avik, Gaurav. Pankaj and Vilas Sawant (behind me) </div>
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At Bhor ghat top, overlooking the valley. L to R, Pradeep, Vilas, Pankaj, Gaurav, Sai, me, Avik. The photographer is Elan. </div>
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Stopping on a road that leads to either old Khopoli road or Expressway . We needed to take the old Khopoli Road. </div>
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One more photograph, without humans and machines.</div>
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Very clearly, <span style="color: red;"><i>mere cycle ka ek photo to bantaa hi hai ! </i></span> Trouble free (touch wood) performance across many rides so far. </div>
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What has the world come to, when folks stop in the middle of amazing vistas to check tiny screens beeping here and there? </div>
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Our group that decided to take a Central Railway suburban train back, waiting at Khopoli Station. </div>
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Our 8 cycles , loaded in the luggage compartment, along with us , standing and sitting in typical local train style. </div>
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Some folks even managed to get seats ! </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-70626487922517084552015-11-15T12:29:00.003+05:302015-11-15T12:29:23.899+05:3062 kms , Colaba & Kyani and Co......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1886.8755158082288!2d72.82875987589259!3d18.942411139389662!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3be7ce203d28ed37%3A0xf012435a49883d1a!2sKyani+Bakery!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1447570106090" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
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Approaching the end of the year means sunrise is a bit late and it is a bit dark around 5:45 am . By the standards of my previous rides that started at 4:00 am , this was a bit late.<br />
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Nevertheless , six of us from Powai Pedals, started on our ride to Colaba around 6 am.<br />
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(<span style="font-size: x-small;">Map Attribution </span>: <span style="font-size: x-small;">By TIFR, Nichalp (TIFR) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons</span>)<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Colaba was one of the southern most islands that formed the island city of Mumbai/Bombay. These islands were initially owned by the Portuguese, who presented them as dowry to the British Kind Charles II when he married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. Typically, this action of the government in Lisbon was greatly opposed by the Portuguese in Mumbai and Goa and they kind of did delayed tactics , which angered the British King, who simply leased these islands to the East India Company , in 1675. An establishment on this tiny island marked Old Woman's Island, was held on to by the Portuguese , and the British got control much later. Today this exists as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in middle Colaba. Thanks to reclamation of land around these islands, these are now interconnected and collectively referred to as the Island City/South Mumbai. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now a business district, naval cantonment, at one time populated by mainly Parsis and Christians , and a very popular tourist and shopping area, it is also home to some interesting Irani restaurants. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We decided to breakfast at one of these, south of Colaba , near the Metro theatre. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Kyani and Co , </span>established in 1904 , by Khodadad Shokriye , who came from Iran, today his great-great descendants run the place. Known for its iconic Irani Tea, Mawa Cake, Brun Maska , and full strength egg dishes, sandwiches and custards, all for amazing prices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We cycled via the Eastern Express Highway all the way to the Gateway of India , which is actually at one end (northern) , of Colaba. Had a brief halt outside the Taj Mahal Hotel , ( <span style="color: blue;"><i>as we are clearly not the types that can manage halts inside the Taj . :-) .... </i></span>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Then cycled back towards Metro and Kyani and Co for some amazing breakfast of mawa Cake, Eggs , Brun Muska and tea . Fortified, we then made our way back across around 30 kilometres to reach our homes a bit after 10 am, before the heat kicked in . </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our faithful chariots , now used to traveling across all kinds of roads . This one, bravely gearless , is mine. </span></div>
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The Taj mahal Hotel in the background. This was the target of , subjected to and destroyed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks , and carefully and painstakingly resurrected to its old glory later. This photo clicked as we take a breather between the hotel and its sea front promenade. </div>
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A selfie of the group at the Taj. Very clearly, there is always a population of folks in Mumbai going places, regardless of how early it is, even on a Sunday. </div>
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Breakfast calls, and we cycle down Mahatma Gandhi Rd towards the Metro Theatre (now called Big Cinemas ). Kyani and Company lists its address as " Jer Mahal Estate, Opposite Metro Cinema, <span itemprop="addressLocality">Marine Lines</span>, Mumbai" . </div>
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Easy to find ! </div>
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The Brun Maska !</div>
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Our group, having ordered, waiting for it all to appear . It appeared, was thoroughly enjoyed, and one of the waiters obliged us and clicked . </div>
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The group, full, happy and raring to go , on the ride back . </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-84428270606717364492015-11-09T11:08:00.001+05:302015-11-09T11:08:50.067+05:30Two wheels, 78 kms, Brun Maska , and Apple Pie ....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d120696.96900616436!2d72.81000424102362!3d19.029401191098433!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e6!4m5!1s0x3be7c7f189efc039%3A0x68fdcea4c5c5894e!2sIndian+Institute+of+Technology+Bombay%2C+Powai%2C+Mumbai%2C+Maharashtra+400076!3m2!1d19.1334302!2d72.9132679!4m5!1s0x3be7d1e95bee9cff%3A0x347c4d95cbed4988!2sNariman+Point%2C+Mumbai%2C+Maharashtra!3m2!1d18.925572799999998!2d72.8242221!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1447046876793" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
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As early mornings get cooler, cycling at dawn becomes an extremely enjoyable experience, regardless of distance.<br />
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A group of us from Powai Pedals decided to cycle to National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point at, what used to at one time, be the southern tip of the Mumbai Peninsula. That is , till various other localities like Cuffe Parade etc happened.<br />
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Started at 5.30 am from Powai, and proceeded along the Eastern Express Highway(EEH) to Chaatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) . CST was earlier known as Victoria Terminus in honor of Queen Victoria, and the Victorian Gothic Revival (Indo Saracenic Revival) architecture of the station is a reminder of that. CST today is a Unesco World Heritage Site.<br />
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We proceeded via Town hall/Asiatic Library to the Gateway of India. Earlier an ordinary fishermans jetty, it was developed into a landing place for British Royalty and Viceroys and Governers during the British Rule. Built and completed in 1924, in the Apollo Bunder sea front , it is a popular tourist area for Humans and pigeons alike.<br />
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South Mumbai has some very traditional iconic Irani Cafe/ eateries and the breakfast of Brun maska and Apple Pie was greatly relished after an almost 35 kms cycle ride .<br />
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We proceeded to Nariman Point and Marine Drive, and were amazed at the hordes of folks walking there early on a Sunday morning.<br />
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Nariman Point , one of the few places in Mumbai NOT named after Historical Indian Emperor/Kings and/or British Monarchs, was actually named after a the Bombay Municipal Corporator Mr Khursheed Framji Nariman, who intiated and followed up the idea of reclaiming land from the Arabian Sea near Marine Drive , and creating a Business District . In 2006, this was the 7th most expensive office space in the world. By 2012, Bandra Kurla Complex too over, and Nariman point slid to 25th place. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d60369.45274829236!2d72.7884639511347!3d18.971597079673817!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x3be7d1e95bee9cff%3A0x347c4d95cbed4988!2sNariman+Point%2C+Mumbai%2C+Maharashtra%2C+India!3m2!1d18.925572799999998!2d72.8242221!4m5!1s0x3be7cec0d3cd0d37%3A0x9a07e9cd24bd3c31!2sShree+Siddhivinayak+Temple%2C+SK+Bole+Marg%2C+Prabhadevi%2C+Mumbai%2C+Maharashtra%2C+India!3m2!1d19.0168922!2d72.8304028!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1447047156801" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>Cycling along the Bay past Marine Drive , Chowpatty, up the Malabar
Hill, and down to Pedder Road , we cycled on past the SiddhiVinayak
Mandir at Prabhadevi , and then crossed over at Dadar to the Eastern
Express Highway , to proceed back to Powai.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d120660.82067486017!2d72.8143328916694!3d19.079091713279148!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e0!4m5!1s0x3be7cec0d3cd0d37%3A0x9a07e9cd24bd3c31!2sShree+Siddhivinayak+Temple%2C+SK+Bole+Marg%2C+Prabhadevi%2C+Mumbai%2C+Maharashtra%2C+India!3m2!1d19.0168922!2d72.8304028!4m5!1s0x3be7c7f189efc039%3A0x68fdcea4c5c5894e!2sIndian+Institute+of+Technology+Bombay%2C+Powai%2C+Mumbai%2C+Maharashtra+400076%2C+India!3m2!1d19.1334302!2d72.9132679!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1447047265398" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe> <br />
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A total distance of 78 kms.<br />
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The Gateway of India, which is also the location of the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel , which was the target of the 2008 horrendous terror attack, has a big police presence. This was very early morning hours, with not much vehicular traffic, but reasonable human and pigeon traffic. </div>
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I have often wondered how the pigeons learn about the best places in Mumbai where they can get free meals. This is somewhere in Front and a bit to the side of the Gateway; thousands of feathered friends enjoying an early breakfast guarded by Mumbai Police barricades, as it were. </div>
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A view of the Gateway Of India. clicked from somewhere in front and across the road from the Taj Mahal Hotel. The area to the right of the photo , is open sea. </div>
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Far away in the background are some government buildings and commercial, and naval set ups, from a time when Ballard estate was the primary business district of Mumbai, before Nariman Point.</div>
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One of the pleasures of long distance cycling, is finding such menu boards, in Irani cafes, catering to early morning folks like us. And I did not have Golden Sponge Cake, Bread Pudding, Fiery Ginger Biscuit or Mava Cake . </div>
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But....</div>
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Here was extremely fresh bread, baked just that morning. I would have bought and lugged it home, if it wasn't for the load in my backback, as I cycled back around 38 kms, on my gearless bike .</div>
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Yes. I had this apple pie , along with Brun Maska , and milky tea. </div>
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Great taste , great energy, and great fun.</div>
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On the parapet at the southern edge of Marine Drive , near Nariman Point. You can see the other members of our team. This parapet, is always hugely crowded during evenings , as people enjoy the breeze and the sunset. You can see high rises of Central Mumbai in the background, and the Chowpatty beach in their foreground; this beach is the venue of the biggest Ganpati Visarjan event every year. </div>
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Our old faithful bikes, enjoying the breeze, and taking a breather while we take photographs. the one in the centre is my bike. </div>
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Our team member Disha, who initiated the idea of this ride. Enjoying a well deserved break and the breeze. We would be riding back via the western seaface and central Mumbai later. Again a distance of approximately 40 kms. </div>
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That's me. With the Trident Hotel building in the background. Along with the Taj Mahal Hotel, this was also targetted in the 2008 terror attacks . Marine drive is blessed with a broad sidewalk dedicated to pedestrians , something unusual in a vehicle obsessed, car crazy Mumbai. </div>
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Another view of the Marine Drive, with our group members, possibly examining the photos they clicked on their phones. </div>
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A parapet level view of the other end of the bay, which is Malabar Hill . Just below the parapet, on the side away from me, they have installed tetrapods to break the waves, as well as a safety for those who might slip down . But people of Mumbai continue to treat them, albeit illegally, as isolated sitting places , watched by the crashing waves, that surround them at high tide. Mumbai Police have been known to come and rescue such people. </div>
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The western end of the Bay, across from Marine Drive, Nariman Point etc. This is the Malabar Hill area, with abodes of the rich and famous, like captains of industry, old families, and the Governer of Mumbai, who lives at Raj Bhavan , the huge wooded area at the edge of the promontory at Malabar Hill. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-86062371963684161252015-11-01T23:05:00.000+05:302015-11-01T23:05:00.812+05:30Old Jettys and Prohibited Forts.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This was a cycling trip to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewri_Fort" target="_blank">Sewri Fort</a> and Sewri Jetty .<br />
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The British, after receiving Bombay as dowry in the wedding of King Charles II, suddenly realized its utility as an excellent harbor, compared to Surat, which was then their HQ, and decided to shift to Bombay/Mumbai.<br />
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Sewri Fort was one of the Forts built by them , in the island of Parel (as it then was) overlooking the eastern seaboard of Mumbai. The British were always fighting the Mughals, and this was made more difficult by the Siddis of African Descent who aligned themselves with the Mughals, and kept attacking Mumbai.<br />
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This Fort was built in 1680 , as a defence fortification along with the Mazgaon Fort. A total of almost 7 forts were built by the British across Bombay. This fort was attacked by the Siddis over time, and was even captured by them in 1689 along with Mahim. Over time, the regional powers lost power, and the Fort was ultimately used by the British to house prisoners.<br />
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I had never seen the eastern seaboard of Mumbai, and had heard about the flamingoes that migrate there in December and January each year. This was too early for Flamingoes, but <span style="color: blue;"><i>I decided to cycle to <b>Dadar</b> and meet up with a friend who was also a cycle enthusiast and lived around there. We met up at <b>Dadar TT</b> under the flyover, and then she and I proceeded to the <b>Sewri Fort via Wadala and under the Eastern Freeway. .</b></i></span><br />
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The Sewri Coastline has swamps and mangroves, which are a place of choice for flamingos to lay eggs, but the coastline is also a place for small boats , fishing trawlers, boats undergoing maintenance and what looks like ruined boats. A large portion of the <b>Sewri Jetty</b> is under the administration of the <b>Bombay
Port Trust</b>. Its distinct ecosystem comprises mangrove swamps, mudflats
and creeks that make it a protected area. <br />
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Sewri Fort, is actually managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. It has been extensively repaired , and doesn't actually look like any other normal Fort. Unlike other historical Forts it has no embellishments reflecting the building customs or art of the times it was built in. Just a very practical defence oriented no-nonsense construction. Landlocked on 3 sides and at an elevation of 197 feet .<br />
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At the entrance to the Fort, we were greeted by a sign saying <b><span style="color: red;">"No Entry".</span></b> <br />
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On seeing two of us, females , an elderly gentleman came up to us, and told us that entry for females was prohibited, though males ventured at their own risk. We did not see any visitors. When we enquired about why the ban of entry for women, we were told there were safety issues, there had been untoward incidents , and therefore the women's entry was banned.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>It is a sign of the times that we live in, that a Fort that was built for protecting , is now being used for unlawful and dangerous activities by miscreants. </i></span><br />
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We cycled along the coast, checking out the Jetty area, taking in the view in the early morning, and returned to Dadar for an excellent breakfast , before I cycled back approximately 22 kms along the Eastern Express Highway.<br />
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This ride was a total distance of around 45 kilometres.<br />
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Early morning around 7.30 ish and we ride along the coast.<br />
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The sea, the swamp, the lumbering boats and the Sun emerging in the haze.<br />
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Boats, rested and probably organizing for their daily outing.<br />
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Close Up of one such Boat, nicely anchored , next to another boat called Umiya.<br />
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Looks like low tide and I click my bike in honor of a troublefree ride. So far.<br />
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The Sun, like so many who commute , out on its daily round over Mumbai , and a boatman and some driftwood in the swamps ready for a new day...<br />
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Does he wait for someone ? Can he smell the boat ? Old faithful in the Sun..<br />
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<span id="goog_691092280"></span><span id="goog_691092281"></span>You can tell , morning has broken, and the sky is blue again. The jetty, potholed in true Mumbai style, and my bike, posing in the Sun.<br />
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The Sewri Fort must wait. I hope the situation improves and maybe one day I will get to visit the place. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-49863844298672007702015-10-31T13:42:00.002+05:302015-10-31T13:49:14.512+05:30To Khaniwade and Back ; 115 kms on two wheels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I belong to a group of bicycle riding enthusiasts called Powai Pedals, and they organize long and short rides early in the morning. <br />
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<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/le1000dusud/presentation/introduction---english/what-s-a-brm">BRM</a> stands for <span class="st"> Brevet des Randonneurs Mondiaux and Brevets are long distance free paced cycling events, where you ride at your own pace. These distances range from 200 kms to 1000 kms, and must be ridden within a certain time limit. </span><br />
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<span class="st">This is not a race, but basically a challenge to self. There are no support vehicles, no ranking, everyone wins. Participants are called Randonneurs or Cycle tourists, and camaraderie with fellow randonneurs is encouraged and expected. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Saturday , Oct 31 2015, was a day for a 115 km group ride , starting at 4.10 am . We reported outside the local police station, a convenient landmark in this area. </span><br />
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This ride would basically start at <span style="color: blue;">Powai</span> (F), proceed via Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Rd (<span style="color: blue;">JVLR</span>) to the Western Express Highway , and skirt the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (<span style="color: blue;">SGNP</span>)(B). (15 kms) We would cross the Vasai Creek and proceed towards <span style="color: blue;">Kolhi</span>(C) in the Nalla Sopara-Vasai area. (35 kms) .<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KzqtmXArhpo/VjRyamKMLuI/AAAAAAAAQCE/MzNGpCWSyh0/s1600/cy4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Continuing beyond Sativli, Shirsad, and crossing the Tansa river, we would reach <span style="color: blue;">Khaniwade</span>(D) , at a distance of 55 kms .<br />
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Turning back, the route would take us via Ghodbunder Rd, making a total of 75 kms.<br />
25 kms later, we would pass the <span style="color: blue;">Mastermind Bicycle Studios(</span>E) at Mulund , completing 100 kms. 15 kms more , would bring us back to <span style="color: blue;">Powai</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Making a cycling total of 115 kms, for a Saturday morning ride. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6hK4PvWI10/VjRyZ0InT5I/AAAAAAAAQCA/_rHDUNrC38I/s1600/cy1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6hK4PvWI10/VjRyZ0InT5I/AAAAAAAAQCA/_rHDUNrC38I/s400/cy1.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breaking for Breakfast and Cha<span style="color: blue;"><u>i</u></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I ride a gearless bike out of choice, because I think one must push one's self. On Excessive slopes at the fag end of the trip, one needs to get down and push. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Departure 4:15 am. Arrived back home after a en route 45 minute breakfast break at 12 noon . 115 kms in 7 hours after deducting breakfast time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">16.42 kms per hr. Can do better. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But here are the detailed statistics ! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">P. S. There is a 200 kms BRM event on 14th November to Charoti. !!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5rQ9u_7_sU/VjRyZylfrdI/AAAAAAAAQB4/WquMX9xk7h0/s1600/cy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a></span></div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-88253747737559191702015-10-20T15:07:00.001+05:302015-10-20T15:07:21.669+05:30The Birthday Party Photos....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d30130.246830558!2d72.93849803695693!3d19.270148950848856!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3be7bbaf373d0f4f%3A0xe272320891a35a3a!2sOvalekar+Wadi+Butterfly+Garden!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1445312303620" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe><br />
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This was a half day trip to the Ovalekar Butterfly Garden, at the Owale Village, which lies a bit beyond Thane, on Ghodbunder Road.<br />
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This Butterfly park has been conceptualized, created and managed by Shri Rajendra Ovalekar and his brother, and ranges across a small 2 acre area. This small area has been thoughtfully populated by various plants, trees and shrubs, which are popular with the butterflies throughout their life stages.<br />
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Many years ago, Shri Rajendra Ovalekar went to attend a seminar on Butterflies, at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and got interested. He converted his small ancestral property at Owale Village into a butterfly garden. With advice from the best experts like Shri Issac Kehimkar of BNHS, and being in the vicinity of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, he was able to plant 200 various varieties of trees that attract butterflies. Some butterflies prefer fruit trees, some prefer flower nectar, some like grass , and some need proper plants to lay their eggs. <br />
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Some butterflies like to hang around rotten fruit and similar organic stuff, and so there are baskets containing such stuff hung across the garden, where one has spotted butterflies.<br />
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The speciality of this Butterfly Garden is that the butterflies here are bred in their natural habitat and not in artificial environments, as in most butterfly parks. You can now spot about 132 species of butterflies here. <br />
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Shri Rajendra Ovalekar , gives an introductory lecture to visitors, explaining the life cycle and other details.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>This time , there were some small kids who were part of the visitors, and they were excited to witness the release of several butterflies which had emerged from the cocoons to start a life in the Brave New World .</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>At the urging of Shri Rajendra Ovalekar, the kids sang <span style="color: red;">Happy Birthday</span> for the butterflies as they emerged, and the audience joined in ! </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>I was priviledged to be there and photograph the birthday party and the various natural decorations . The flowers, the trees, the fruits, the moths and other insects. </i></span><br />
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(Ovalekar Wadi Butterfly Garden is open only on Sundays between 7 am and noon, and charges an entrance fee of Rs 50 for kids and 100 for adults. )<br />
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Introductory briefing given to all visitors to the Ovalekar Butterfly garden. </div>
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A few butterflies ready to emerge out of the pupa or chrysalis stage . The little girls were told the butterflies were being born, and that singing <span style="color: blue;">Happy Birthday</span> was the thing to do. So this was clicked when the butterflies emerged as the girls and all around them sang "<span style="color: blue;">Happy Birthday to you !</span>" .... </div>
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The caterpillar stage in the life cycle of the butterfly, when all that the caterpillars do is eat and eat, starting with the leaf on which they are. You can see some yellow spots on the leaves , and these are the eggs laid by the adult butterfly. </div>
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Another one having greedily eaten across the leaf. </div>
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This one seems to have no leaf to chew on, but seems to be part of some kind of caterpillar fashion show, Caterpillar India Fashion Week, where it needs to walk on a ramp, with all kinds of humans trying to click it all. </div>
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The pupa or the chrysalis , which is the 3rd life stage of the butterfly. The caterpillar , after the huge eating binge, and shedding of various skins over time, finally wraps itself in a cocoon of sorts and rests, mobilizing for the great day when it gets born as a butterfly.</div>
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The <span style="color: blue;">Parantica Aglea or Glassy Tiger Butterfly.</span> Kind of fly in slow motion. They favour liquids oozing from plant stems and seed pods , which give them alkaloids. These alkaloids give them toxic qualities, which help keep birds away from them. </div>
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This is the <span style="color: blue;">Striped Tiger Butterfly</span>. It is partial to flowers that generate alkaloids and likes to hang around and sip the sap. </div>
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The<span style="color: blue;"> Delias Eucharis or Common Jezebel.</span> Gaudily patterned in red, yellow, black and white , this is supposed to indicate their unpalatable nature to predators. Now you know from where Hindi films are inspired. </div>
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This looks like a dragonfly or damselfly. But would like someone to identify it. It seems to display what looks like a clown face. I guess you need a good sense of humor amidst all those butterflies. </div>
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The <span style="color: blue;">Common Rose or Atrophaneura Aristolochiae</span>. Have elongated black fore wings, red spots, white patches, and the head, thorax and abdomen are bright red. </div>
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This is clearly a dragonfly/damselfly. But its sheer grace reminds one of Malkhamb movements and gymnastics exercises. Looks like it is wearing sunglasses. I guess if cricketers can play wearing shades, this is just fine. </div>
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The <span style="color: blue;">Plain Tiger Butterfly or Danaus Chrisippus</span>. These butterflies are so toxic to birds , that any bird having suffered the effects are unlikely to attack similar colored butterflies. </div>
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Above and Below. <span style="color: blue;">The Gaudy Baron Male Butterfly or Euthalia Lubentina </span>. There are baskets of rotten fruits kept across the garden for these butterflies They relish fallen, rotting fruits that are rich in <u><i>alcohol</i></u> . Typical.<br />
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Some pretty natural floral decorations at the Birthday Party.</div>
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A pretty red Hibiscus flower. You can see why it is considered Ganpati's favourite.<br />
This capture actually reminds one of Ganpati, ears and trunk and all. </div>
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I need identification of this butterfly. </div>
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Cosmos flowers and buds from the garden </div>
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A white Hibiscus with pink striations. Probably attracts the more peaceful butterflies. </div>
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The <span style="color: blue;">Brown King Crow Butterfly or Euploea Klugii </span> . Males are often seen imbibing moisture from the patches of damp ground. The females , on the other hand are seen enjoying nectar on Lantana and other flowering shrubs.</div>
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This the <span style="color: blue;">Red Pierrot or Talicada Nyseus</span>. Typically a forest edge species. Found perching on low growing foliage. They hold their wings half open in hazy sunshine, but hold them completely erect in the hot sun. That day was 39 degrees, the hottest this year so far. </div>
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Somebody needs to identify these beautiful flowers . If I were a butterfly, I would , of course, know. </div>
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I need some one to help with identifying this one. </div>
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This is one of the luckiest fantastic captures of the amazing butterflies that <u><i>resemble dead leaves with their wings closed.</i></u> The butterfly happened to open up when I clicked. This is a very successful camouflage used against the predators. Could be the <span style="color: blue;">Orange Oakleaf Butterfly, or Kallima Inachus</span> , which exhibits shades of blue when it opens up its wings. </div>
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This butterfly variety seems to be one of those that relish rotten foods. Need identification for this one. </div>
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This looks like <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Common Five-Ring</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Butterfly</b> or <b>Ypthima baldus</b></span>. <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>These butterflies enjoy flying in overcast conditions and light rain. Often seen hanging around leafy trash and low herbage. These butterflies are supposed to be nervous in behaviour. <i>I wonder how they found that out </i>. </b></span></span></span></span></div>
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This guy probably stood no chance at getting photographed amidst the beauties in the Ovalekar Butterfly Garden . But then he does not know me. I find all insects and their efforts , wonderful , regardless of their color, shape and ability to fly!</div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-29305621309850029182015-10-11T18:19:00.002+05:302015-10-12T08:06:42.910+05:30Forte De Bandora and the Sea Link<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes, one ends up trekking and visiting numerous forts across the state, without visiting one almost in your backyard. <br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castella_de_Aguada">Bandra Fort</a>, or Castella de Aguada (Portuguese for "Fort of the Waterpoint") is situated at the waters edge in Bandra, one of Mumbai's most popular western suburbs. The area is known as Land's End.<br />
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The Portuguese, who along with the French , Dutch and English once ruled over parts of India , built this Fort, overlooking the Mahim Bay in 1640; the purpose was to be a place from where a watch could be kept on sea traffic. It was also a place which had a fresh water source for the Portuguese ships (Aguada = fountain). During those days, Portuguese were occupying Goa, had their headquarters there, and it was called the Lisbon of the East.<br />
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This must have been the smallest Forts I have climbed, with a total elevation of 79 feet. Only. <br />
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Clearly , the Portuguese thought much about Goa and didn't think much of Bombay. Read on. <br />
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One of their Princesses, Catherine of Braganza, got married to King Charles II of England, and the Portuguese gave away seven islets south of Bandra to the English, as, of all things , dowry. The English, as was their habit regarding various Forts they thought the Marathas would attack , even later destroyed parts of this Fort.<br />
The remaining parts north of Bandra , remained with the Portuguese, till after various wars with Marathas, and the English, the English occupied them in 1774.<br />
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Various causeways, railway viaducts were later built to link the south Mumbai islets and the rest of the land north, and Bombay became a prominent headquarters of the then British Empire in India. The English left in 1947. <br />
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Mahim and Bandra were connected by a causeway in 1854. Much more than 150 years after that , the Bandra Worli Sea Link was constructed by the Government and thrown open to the public in March 2010. No dowries, no wars, just too much traffic flowing to South Mumbai , and too few alternative routes, was the reason.<br />
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There isn't much of a typical Fort ethos left at the Bandra Fort. It is now primarily a place where folks come to sit and enjoy some peace and privacy, given the lopsided people-land-dwelling ratio in Mumbai.<br />
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And then there are some like me who come to photograph Mumbai from there.<br />
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My main interest was to photograph the Sea Link, something that was constructed in my lifetime; something I have traversed very few times since I stay very far away from it. A civil engineering marvel , the first cable stayed bridge to be constructed in the open seas in India, it was constructed by the Hindustan Construction Company. <br />
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This was an evening trip organized by Pixels, the IIT Bombay Photography club.<br />
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Climbed to the top, where I could click the sea placing my Canon on the parapet. Then thought the camera deserved a selfie. So here is the seaview as well as me in a Canon selfie clicked on my LG cell phone. </div>
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Bandra's specific coastline at Lands End is more rocks than Sand, making for a lot of places to sit and relax at low tide. This was me. </div>
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Saturday evening is probably the wrong time to visit the Fort, as everyone probably has the same idea. And Bandra is well connected, easily accessible with a variety of public transport, unlike far away Forts in mofussil areas. You can see the top of the Sea Link in the centre of photo. </div>
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I was readying to click the Sea Link on my DSLR, when I thought I should click the DSLR selfie itself on my phone. Magically , my pink jacket and top got reflected as well, and I thought I should clarify. And no the skies did not change color suddenly in the viewfinder screen.</div>
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Folks enjoying the breeze on the Fort parapet.<br />
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So many rocks, the curved expanse at the north end of the Bay, and there are many who come to spend some quiet moments at the lower parts of the Fort and on the rocks.</div>
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A view of the Sea Link from the West . The Sea Link allows traffic to bypass the heavily populated parts of Mumbai like Dadar and Mahim , since it connects Bandra to Worli , which is much closer to South Mumbai. It is late evening and as you can see, the skies are changing.</div>
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Open topped BEST buses taking tourists around Mumbai, taking them across the Sea Link. Mumbai's skyline has changed a lot , and you might think this is some fancy western city or HongKong. Except, it is probably only in Mumbai, that you can stand leaning against the railing on top of a moving open bus , with someone else also wandering around. </div>
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Silhouettes on the rocks - 1</div>
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More silhouettes , and the setting Sun observing Mumbai folks trying to click him.</div>
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The setting Sun, in its brilliant glory, before sinking into the waters...</div>
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The evening look of the Sea Link. You can see the
Cable-stayed main spans. There are concrete-steel precast segment viaducts at either end. The total length is 5.6 kms, width is 66 feet , and height is 126 metres. The longest span is 2 x 250 metres. </div>
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The Sea link specially lit up for the night. The Pink is especially so, in support of Breast Cancer, its early detection and treatment, as well as highlighting the fact that people need to be educated about it. A photo of the Sea Link clicked from moving vehicle on our way back. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-38892319478248762022015-10-05T17:50:00.000+05:302015-10-06T10:00:54.502+05:30A trek to Chinchoti Waterfalls...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My first trek amidst one of Mumbai's western , or to be more accurate , northwestern suburbs.<br />
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These waterfalls, the Chinchoti Waterfalls lie in the Tungareshwar National Park, which lie to the east of Vasai , which is an old northwestern coastal suburb of Mumbai. About 5 kms from the Mumbai-Palghar stretch of the highway near Vasai, these falls are about 100 feet high and about 20 feet wide. <br />
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Maharashtra has the Sahyadri mountains (Western Ghats) that run north-south parallel to the coast and the Satpura mountains lie north. Several rivers like Krishna, Bhima, Godavari, Tapi – Purna, and Wardha- Wainganga flow across the land, and some of them empty into the Arabian Sea, and the geography lends itself to the formation of many beautiful waterfalls, like the Chinchoti waterfalls.<br />
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For the record, there are<a href="http://beautyspotsofindia.com/maharashtra-waterfalls/"> 52 wonderful waterfalls in Maharashtra</a> .<br />
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I took the early morning western Railway suburban train to Naigaon, a station just before Virar, the furthest point on the western suburban train network, and met up with our team.<br />
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The trek would be through the village of Kaman . We reached Kaman via the shared autos from the Naigaon Station. A Dhaba Breakfast and an introduction followed.<br />
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We would trek through the narrow jungle path via Tungareshwar which is not known to many. Two separate jungle routes end at two spots near the waterfalls, and so dense is the jungle and so narrow the path, that one may get lost without a reliable guide.<br />
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Unusually heavy October rains in the region meant we would have to be careful with the flow of the waterfall , which is reputed to be dangerously fast in the rains. The falls are actually a set of 2 falls, one above the other. This is an exciting trek where we hear the waterfall for a long time before we see it, amidst chirping insects in the dense jungle along our path. <br />
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Heavy rain, followed by sunshine, and rain again. We descended from the falls and stopped for a tea break at the village. It was again too hot for tea.<br />
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And that's where I had the best sugarcane juice of my life. 2 glasses.<br />
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An early start from home, predictions of rain , and trekking to the falls with friends calls for a hot breakfast at the village , just before the jungle starts. And because this is Mumbai, hot fresh Vada Pao it is . </div>
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We proceed towards the falls through various fields. Mainly rice fields. The base village is Kaman. </div>
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A few pretty captures en route, while still in the fields. Canna Lilies, often grown in gardens , and commonly used also for worship. </div>
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She has probably seen too many folks with backpacks traipsing by and is a bit upset at the encroachment of her territory. Portrait of a village belle :-) .</div>
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A typical walking path through the jungle overgrowth as we move away from the village . </div>
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One starts meeting streams here and there , indicating that we are on the right track. It is easy to get lost in these dense woods. <i>One hears the flow of water before one sees the water.</i></div>
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I needed to stop to capture some beauties along the way. Need identification for this flower. I can see some unopened buds , and then there are these moths and dragonflies on a nectar visit.</div>
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Amazing flower ! Need someone to identify it. What a construction ! </div>
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Very clearly, there is huge insect traffic along the way. That is why one hears a constant buzz as one treks through the dense jungle.</div>
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A typical path. Makes it necessary to walk in single file. </div>
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This must have been a stream area at one time. </div>
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Yes, we are on the right track. We keep hitting streams as we climb.</div>
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And then I find these beauties. You could almost title this a Jungle Garba . Don't know their name, but surely reminds me of the impending Navratri , Garbas and swirling Ghagras ...</div>
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Another beauty of a mushroom. Need an identification. A top view. </div>
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A side view of the same maybe. Or another one belonging to the same family .</div>
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A burst of sunshine in a dark jungle and a day overcome with monsoon clouds, threatening to burst.</div>
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Yes, so much beauty, but the beasts have been busy, marauding it for honey. The ways of the world. </div>
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You can tell we are at an elevation now and getting closer to the actual Falls. </div>
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A long shot of the Falls, you can tell from the size of the people gathered on the rock. </div>
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A view of the top of the falls taken from another rock top. . These falls actually descend in two steps. </div>
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The falls descend somewhere on the right as you can see. This large pool of water is fairly deep, like 15 feet in some parts. It is a popular location for those visiting the falls. </div>
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Notice how folks are enjoying the water with life jackets and floating jackets on. This must be a slightly deeper part. </div>
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A person who has been a swimmer and coach cannot keep away, and so here I am , mobilizing for a jump. Having kept away safely my camera and other stuff. </div>
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Clearly an action photograph. And it was good idea not to dive.</div>
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Yes, that's me. Photo taken from a greater height. The guy in the water looks surprised and has turned to look.<br />
But it was great fun. Would have done it again if the rains had not started. </div>
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Another long view of the falls. It had started raining a bit by now as you can see. </div>
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Rain brings out the best in everyone, whether it is plants or humans. It started raining heavily and I tested by cell phone cover by clicking these . One of our team members in the background. </div>
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The monsoon torrents rushing down the rock faces. The flow of the water downstream from the falls is extremely rapid when it rains here. </div>
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Here is a group pf us , enjoying the rains and the falls.</div>
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The raging Chinchoti waterfalls in a heavy monsoon downpour. </div>
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You can see the rage of the water more clearly here. Clearly, it is very dangerous to be anywhere in the pool at this point. Our entire group was well out and away from the pool and on our way down , thanks to timely instructions from the team leaders. Those who did not take heed of warnings from experienced people , saw their cell phones etc flow away. </div>
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I don't know what this plant is. What berries these are. But just one of the beauties I captured on our way back to he village and thence to Naigaon, amidst the hide and seek of rains and the Sun.<br />
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Like I said, after imbibing the best sugarcane juice in the world. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-44917445729917469062015-09-29T00:49:00.000+05:302015-09-29T00:49:16.818+05:30Waterfall Rapelling at Diksal, Bhivpuri....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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While having your feet firmly entrenched on the ground, or terra firma , as they fashionably put it, is an admirable quality for a person, sometimes it helps to fly.<br />
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I once did that in a paragliding trip near Kaamshet . That involved people pushing you off a cliff as you remained hanging below a parachute, and then sailed in the air above hills and valleys . This was, of course, done with the help of trained instructors.<br />
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Another possibility is something called waterfall rapelling or abseiling , where you descend across a vertical mountain face , all by yourself (with a rope control person at the peak), sliding on a rope (with hand controls) , with a waterfall torrentially descending around you. <br />
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The IIT Bombay adventure club announced a waterfall rapelling trip, and suffice it to say that registrations went on way past midnight. There was a training and familiarization program a day before at the Student Activity Centre, which lent itself to descending from heights on ropes anchored above. <br />
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I attended this event . And as they say, learnt the ropes. Or so I thought. <br /><br />There was much more to learn and experience at the actual Waterfalls. <br />
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5 am on September 27th, saw a bus leaving from campus for the Diksal Waterfalls, at Bhivpuri, near Karjat. The trip involved leaving the bus near civilization, and trekking in and around at least four hills/mountains to reach the Diksal Waterfalls. By 9 am we were at the Falls. <br />
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Almost 50 people, mostly first timers at rapelling, to be guided by the experts, down a vertical drop of roughly 130 feet, with a waterfall roaring down around you, and we were finally able to leave just before sunset.<br />
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The bus was parked , we disembarked and made our way through the base village of Diksal. Everyone was briefed on what to bring , how much to bring and what not to bring. Trekking shoes, floaters, change of clothes, food , and at least 2 litres of water. </div>
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We proceed on what looks like the main thoroughfare , with consulting rooms of physicians and surgeons, as the sign on the right says. Very clearly, villages are undergoing a change. </div>
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Nothing stops the locals from getting on with the most important work of the day: fetching drinking water from a distance. The lady makes her way. </div>
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The scenic route took us past lakes formed by the backwaters of the Thokarwadi Dam in the vicinity, amidst lots of small mountains and hills.</div>
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Very clearly, boating and possibly fishing seems popular in these lakes. We skirted up and around at least 4 hills/mountains on our way to the falls.</div>
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The group making its way to the falls, stopping for a photo opportunity and yes, a cell phone opportunity. </div>
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Almost a painting , and we were the lucky ones to walk in it.</div>
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Folks proceeding along well worn paths , skirting the lake , and into the hills</div>
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Picture perfect, weather perfect, and the water reflecting it all. This must have been around 8 am or so.</div>
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This time the clouds photo bombed the picture.</div>
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Some other types, dragonfly (or is it a damselfly ?) on a trek of their own. Thankfully, they fly, and unlike us, do not need to rapell down with ropes and stuff. </div>
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Finally at the Falls . Some rush to get wet, others contemplate the height. Many others just take a decent breather. </div>
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That's me , cooling off in the pool area below the waterfall.</div>
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It was very sunny then, and fairly hot. And this was the preferred mode of cooling off. The climb to the top of the Falls was yet to happen. </div>
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Away from the cascading water, there were these big rocks, which were dry and were almost like an observation arena for those watching others rappel, and awaiting their turn. </div>
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That's me, in harness and just starting to rapell down . You need to control the ropes with your hands really well, and carefully, letting go really slow, touching base ever so often. You dont realize it then, but this gives your muscles a huge workout, as i realized after i got home. </div>
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My defining picture ! Me midway down the rapelling. There were experts situated and monitoring the rope stuff from the top, and another person standing in the pool of water below , ensuring that you proceed properly and safely.</div>
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Finally completed the rapelling. ! Notice the gloves in my hand. We need to wear these as we slide down and hold and handle the ropes. The person on the right is the expert who helped us get the harness off after we landed . Helmets were provided for those who rapelled. </div>
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A side view, as it were , of the waterfall, through the grasses growing in the rocks. Everything was green post monsoon. </div>
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The same click as above, but tried it at 1/1000 sec. Turns out, it gives the waterfall a Bokeh look.</div>
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Folks hanging around awaiting their turn and watching others do their rapelling. </div>
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This was just a hand held long exposure shot. Waiting for my turn i had a lot of time to experiment around with the camera.</div>
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We always use an expression like "wish i was a fly on the wall where xxxx happened". I wonder what this "creature on the rock wall" thought, as it sat around looking at the human commotion around the rocks.</div>
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The typical flora of the place.</div>
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It was close to sunset when we started the trek back, and there was this amazing shadow play.</div>
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A last look back at the Falls, and the last of the rappelers doing their stuff.</div>
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Dark and beautiful , at sunset, on a day when a lunar eclipse was to start at 8:45 pm, on the fourteenth day in the waxing fortnight of the Moon, in the Indian month of Bhadrapad. The day Ganpati Bappa returns home.</div>
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Memories of Kaas, but couldn't resist clicking these pretty flowers on our way back to the village and the bus.</div>
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I was so lucky to get this capture of the Blue Moon or Blood Moon as it is called. The moon was heading into an eclipse, as visible in Mumbai from 8:45 pm onwards till midnight, and although I would not be able to capture that, this capture was a special gift of nature.<br />
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just in case you wish to see a 2 minute video about me rapelling down the rock face, the surrounding excitement, and the encouraging applause at the end , click below.....</div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-74649794452405874812015-09-23T17:06:00.000+05:302015-09-23T23:18:07.028+05:30Two Wheels to Karnala ......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This time I went on a one-day 120 kilometer cycling expedition to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary and Fort, with the IIT Bombay Adventure Club. <br />
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The Karnala Fort lies within what is the Karnala Bird Sanctuary , on the Bombay -Goa highway , off Panvel, about 50 kms from Mumbai. In the old days, this Fort was of strategic importance, as it overlooked the Bor Pass (Bor Ghat today) , which was a main connection for folks traveling up the Ghats, from the Konkan Coast to the internal areas. Supposed to be constructed in the 15th century, its ownership has shifted variously from the Gujarat Sultans, Nizams, Portuguese, Shivaji, Aurangzeb, Peshwas, and the British East India Company in 1818.<br />
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The Bird Sanctuary of the same name lies 12 kms from Panvel,and occupies, roughly 12 sq kms of land. and is home to roughly 150 species of resident birds and 37 species of migratory birds, and several varieties of trees and plants.<br />
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<i>This was primarily a cycling trip over a distance I had not yet attempted in a single day.</i> A day before the trip, the adventure club held a briefing to check out the cycles, and emphasize the stuff we needed to carry with us, as well as the riding discipline.<br />
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5.00 am on a Saturday morning, saw a group of 15 of us riding out of the Institute Gates, eastwards, down the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link road , towards the Thane Creek. We would be crossing the Thane Creek at Vashi and proceeding along the Palm Beach Road , before crossing Panvel and getting on to NH66 .<br />
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These are the 14 other people I rode with from IIT Bombay . This has been clicked at the Student Activity Centre(SAC) after we returned. A strenuous day trip of 120 kms, interspersed with traffic, rain , and hungry breaks. This photo earns the pride of place here at the top, to commemorate the lovely ride . Me, second from right, in case you cannot tell.... </div>
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This is Palm Beach Road, which we followed from Vashi (Navi Mumbai) onwards towards Panvel. A relatively new , wide, multi lane two way road, it looks empty because of the very early morning . Else a very heavily used thoroughfare for vehicles heading in and out of Mumbai. </div>
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A long cycle trips needs a bunch of breaks, and here we are , 14 boys and me , stopping for one such. While I click. Still on Palm Beach Road.</div>
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Some more folks up and about so early in the morning, and all busy with breakfast of sorts. </div>
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The pleasures of an early morning dhaba Lassi to fortify me for the next many kilometres.</div>
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And we reach ! The entrance and parking at the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, which is a very densely forested area . </div>
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My cycle, with its paraphernalia , like toolbox, lights, blinkers, bell , and of course, my helmet .I must put it on record, that the cycle performed flawlessly throughout the trip. </div>
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The beauties of Karnala ----1 </div>
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The beauties of Karnala ----2</div>
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A slightly tired and hurt beauty of Karnala -----3</div>
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And some , who cannot keep away from them, and visit the beauties for nectar...</div>
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A view of the Karnala Fort peak, with the inverted funnel type structure at the top. Climbing to the peak, was actually not part of the ride plans, since we had to ride back approximately 60 kms, in monsoon weather. But you cannot put down a bunch of enthu folks, and so a climb was initiated . </div>
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A typical pathway on the climb to the fort through a fairly heavy wooded area. And there were plenty of places to take a breather. </div>
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A view from part of the way up. I decided not to climb way up to the peak, in order to preserve my energies for the 60 km ride back , at this point, and I rested , while the rest of the group, continued and returned about an hour later, having reached the top .</div>
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Somewhere along the track, there were nurseries, selling various plants, medicinal plants and traditional herbs. This colorful click from the nursery grounds.</div>
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Then there were the birds. While I consciously did not do any birdwatching (fairly unforgivable in a Bird Sanctuary) , I did get an opportunity to click the female counterpart of our National Bird : a pea hen. </div>
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I don't know who this guy is, but he seems to be all stressed out . Don't blame him, though, with all the various visitors traipsing through his territory the whole day. </div>
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Local food is always the high point of my treks, and this has to rank as the best Omelette that I have ever had; fresh of the griddle, brilliantly tasty, well spiced, and simply great accompanied by 2 home style local chapatis. </div>
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The aforementioned nursery , with sections for kitchen gardens and medicinal plants. Thanks to several NGO's functioning in the vicinity, and the training imparted to the locals, this is now a great source of livelihood for the locals, and a informative source of knowledge for us. </div>
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I need someone to identify this flower . The entire composition and structure of the flower, is like a great advertisement for the joint family in society, something we rarely see anymore. So many members of different sizes and functions, with even snail visitors on the scene. </div>
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Decorative ferns and leaves in hanging plants at the nursery.</div>
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With the Ganpati festival in progress, it is only fitting that a flower favorite of Ganpati blooms brilliantly there. The red hibiscus or jaswandi .</div>
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Some more jaswandis en route to making an appearance on the Karnala World Stage.</div>
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A cactus</div>
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I need someone to identify this plant for me. </div>
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This was the day the monsoon returned back to Mumbai, like a special appearance during Ganpati, before completely withdrawing from the season. We had faced heavy rain on our way to Karnala, and we faced similar situations on the way back.<br />
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Our ride back was done with stops for refreshments on road side dhabas. Keeping the entire flock of 15 together meant those ahead would occasionally slow down and stop and wait for them to catch up. We reached back around 10 pm at the Student Activity Centre of IIT , and this was followed by a bit of cooling down and relaxing exercises.<br />
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9 hours and 120 kilometres, is the longest distance in a day, that I have done so far, and this has been an exciting experience. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-59999237202363321202015-09-15T15:19:00.001+05:302015-09-15T15:19:40.197+05:30Kaas Plateau, Bamnoli and Thoseghar... in high places !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1923084.350743614!2d73.8221812!3d17.718141499999998!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3bc2156bb1b31937%3A0xa05920673b65bbde!2sKaas+Plateau+of+Flowers%2C+Maharashtra!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1442284149370" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div>
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Recently went on an overnight trip to the Kaas Plateau , near Satara, in the Western Maharashtra inland region.<br />
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This Kaas Plateau, situated roughly 20 kms away from the northern part of the Koyna Sanctuary, and a similar distance away from the city of Satara, is part of the Sahyadri Range, at an elevation of about 1200 metres and speard over 1000 hectares. The major part of this plateau is a Reserve Forest area, and the part we visited borders the Kaas Lake , which actually supplies water (by gravity) to western part of Satara. This area has extremes of climate from biting cold to burning non-humid hot.<br />
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Basically made of exposed basalt rock, this plateau , due to erosion has a fine (roughly a few inches) layer of soil covering it. Water gets accumulated within the uneven surfaces, and basically this favours the growth of herbaceous plants(grasses) on the plateau.<br />
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During the monsoon months, this plateau gets approximately 4000 mm of rain, is home to more than 1,500 types of plants belonging to over 156 botanical families, 680 genera, and 1,452 species. 624 species are mentioned in the endangered list, out of which 33 species are found on the Kaas Plateau. The UNESCO has Declared this plateau as a <span style="color: blue;">World Heritage Site</span>.<br />
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Beginning June, and the onset of the monsoon in Maharashtra, the plateau is home to blooms of different colors.<br />
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This year , we have had a deficient monsoon. Yet, thanks to the restriction on human movement and protection measures on the plateau, the flowers have kept there date.<br />
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We started from Dadar(Mumbai) at night, and reached Satara by road in the early hours. After a bit of rest and light breakfast, we proceeded to the plateau. This was followed by a trip to the Bamnoli Lake, and then to the Thoseghar waterfalls. We returned home to Mumbai, very late at night on the same day, enriched by the wonders of nature which I captured, as below.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjfRLG_Tza0/VfePkE3Vi7I/AAAAAAAAPjA/-8vQ7aTbl3M/s1600/t1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjfRLG_Tza0/VfePkE3Vi7I/AAAAAAAAPjA/-8vQ7aTbl3M/s640/t1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The information board in Marathi, that greeted us on arrival . A lot of people , treat this as a picnic spot, unconcerned about spoiling the environment with their trash. This board is a request to folks to cooperate with the the Forest Department, the Police , and the Kaas Volunteers , and help maintain the Plateau, as it was meant to be. You can see that it has been fenced to keep out mindless trespassers. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43ZDeWf0NFM/VfePneL5XoI/AAAAAAAAPkc/TWHqWOGJT_k/s1600/t2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43ZDeWf0NFM/VfePneL5XoI/AAAAAAAAPkc/TWHqWOGJT_k/s640/t2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My first view of the plateau in the morning , mists in the distance hovering on top of the Sahyadris.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6r20hll75A/VfePosHSUmI/AAAAAAAAPk8/WkoiDYbfoys/s1600/t3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6r20hll75A/VfePosHSUmI/AAAAAAAAPk8/WkoiDYbfoys/s640/t3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Shades of pink/purple , my first sighting. of JaambhLaa Terda or Impatiens Lawii, amidst a bed of Golden Sonki or <span data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Senecio Grahamii </span></span></span></span></div>
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Life was all fresh, pink and beautiful, possibly because so many who would walk rough shod , were kept away in the distance. It was my experience that despite rules, many folks thought that they improved the beauty of the plateau by lying amidst the flowers, possibly crushing some.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItCkfSM9tSs/VfePkZNZfLI/AAAAAAAAPjE/PvoEpAURBug/s1600/t10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItCkfSM9tSs/VfePkZNZfLI/AAAAAAAAPjE/PvoEpAURBug/s640/t10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another view of the Kaas Paathar as it is locally called, or Plateau ..<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NxPep9H57kU/VfePrm2sjZI/AAAAAAAAPlw/fS98pB0aik4/s1600/t9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NxPep9H57kU/VfePrm2sjZI/AAAAAAAAPlw/fS98pB0aik4/s640/t9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Notice that the authorities have fenced in the area, and only authorized people work inside.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHtpYL4DgFo/VfePpayipsI/AAAAAAAAPlM/VHYm1-HUNoo/s1600/t4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHtpYL4DgFo/VfePpayipsI/AAAAAAAAPlM/VHYm1-HUNoo/s640/t4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was early in the morning, and I found this complicated exhaustive web spun by spiders amidst the green; currently decorated by raindrops.... </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GO4RnWg8vns/VfePrc80BLI/AAAAAAAAPlo/CCnC0NTStO0/s1600/t8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GO4RnWg8vns/VfePrc80BLI/AAAAAAAAPlo/CCnC0NTStO0/s640/t8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These white flowers are called Pangend in Marathi, and otherwise called <span data-reactid=".13z.1:4.1:$comment10153050166857201_10153050245642201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".13z.1:4.1:$comment10153050166857201_10153050245642201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.0"></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".13z.1:4.1:$comment10153050166857201_10153050245642201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".13z.1:4.1:$comment10153050166857201_10153050245642201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".13z.1:4.1:$comment10153050166857201_10153050245642201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Eriocaulon tuberiferum (Tuberous Pipewort) . No one plants these flowers, they grow on their own each monsoon, and you wonder how they occupy certain areas and dont occupy other areas. Maybe differences in soil and moisture. And yes, pollination.</span></span></span></span></div>
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Another beauty called <span data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Jartari (Marathi: जरतारी) - also known as slender flemingia. What an amazing royal purple, and how appropriate is </span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".121.1:4.1:$comment10153050166512201_10153050236167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">जरतारी!</span></span></span></span></div>
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This bright and simple one, holding its own amidst other curvy types, and called Sonki, or <span data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.0"></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".12h.1:4.1:$comment10153050166527201_10153050240527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Senecio grahamii </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utzcWVwsF34/VfePiAKw4zI/AAAAAAAAPiE/bKQytQB7u1E/s1600/f3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utzcWVwsF34/VfePiAKw4zI/AAAAAAAAPiE/bKQytQB7u1E/s640/f3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">This one called Halunda in Marathi, or otherwise, Vigna Vexillata or "Elephant's trunk" . </span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".12f.1:4.1:$comment10153050166497201_10153050241727201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">As soon as an insect lands on the central petal, an elephant trunk like
projection comes out bathing the insect with its pollen. The formal name Vigna ,is based on a 17th century Italian botanist, but you cannot fail to notice the connection between the "Elephant's trunk" and our traditional "Vigna"harta ..... :-) </span></span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g6WsLZFiO0/VfePigGmzjI/AAAAAAAAPiQ/TCUgOImfq0k/s1600/f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g6WsLZFiO0/VfePigGmzjI/AAAAAAAAPiQ/TCUgOImfq0k/s640/f4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lifestages of the Sonki</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2n_6mhBUpTI/VfePi_loemI/AAAAAAAAPiU/3CrcwwExNr0/s1600/f5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2n_6mhBUpTI/VfePi_loemI/AAAAAAAAPiU/3CrcwwExNr0/s640/f5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one called Kandil Kharchudi in Marathi, or C<span data-reactid=".13u.1:4.1:$comment10153050166732201_10153050242812201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".13u.1:4.1:$comment10153050166732201_10153050242812201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".13u.1:4.1:$comment10153050166732201_10153050242812201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".13u.1:4.1:$comment10153050166732201_10153050242812201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">eropegia Vincaefolia officially. <span style="color: red;">Considered a critically endangered plant. </span>A rare sighting. This plant traps particular insects for pollination opening up the top structure. The insect cannot get out because of unidirectional hair which leads them only inside. Once pollination is done, the flower droops, and insect is allowed to leave. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9yeyu9utS4/VfePi36UEyI/AAAAAAAAPic/0_jmjINVXEU/s1600/f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9yeyu9utS4/VfePi36UEyI/AAAAAAAAPic/0_jmjINVXEU/s640/f6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A closer look at the Pangend (Marathi <span class="st">गॆंद</span>) or Eriocaulon tuberiferum (Tuberous Pipewort) which is actually an aquatic herb. Grows on the rims of ponds , this is an endangered plant , and its entire suitable habitat is found to be just a kilometre squared of land. Its existence is threatened by grazing animals, windmills and the area being a mining area. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iF5FMGxmtq8/VfePjQv6ZCI/AAAAAAAAPio/GLFV5ku7DmE/s1600/f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iF5FMGxmtq8/VfePjQv6ZCI/AAAAAAAAPio/GLFV5ku7DmE/s640/f7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I need someone to identify this plant. It is a t<span data-reactid=".1hx.1:4.1:$replies10153050166902201_10153051539952201/=10.1:2:$comment10153050166902201_10153051566362201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1hx.1:4.1:$replies10153050166902201_10153051539952201/=10.1:2:$comment10153050166902201_10153051566362201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1hx.1:4.1:$replies10153050166902201_10153051539952201/=10.1:2:$comment10153050166902201_10153051566362201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1hx.1:4.1:$replies10153050166902201_10153051539952201/=10.1:2:$comment10153050166902201_10153051566362201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">ypical wild grass inflorescence according to experts.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi1jTVraLl8/VfePjpfI4jI/AAAAAAAAPis/RcDGzzL_0GU/s1600/f8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi1jTVraLl8/VfePjpfI4jI/AAAAAAAAPis/RcDGzzL_0GU/s640/f8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A closer look </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-krtUArMOFbc/VfePj_cR4WI/AAAAAAAAPi0/_YeCvUlRxLg/s1600/f9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-krtUArMOFbc/VfePj_cR4WI/AAAAAAAAPi0/_YeCvUlRxLg/s640/f9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is रान हळद in Marathi or the wild turmeric , or Curucuma Aromatica plant above, growing in profusion. Found only in eastern Himalayas and warm Sahyadri regions. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjM1ZTu10xM/VfePeZehPsI/AAAAAAAAPgc/wh2YcrEdXBY/s1600/f10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjM1ZTu10xM/VfePeZehPsI/AAAAAAAAPgc/wh2YcrEdXBY/s640/f10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is known as Nisurdi निसुर्डी in Marathi, or formally as Boraginaceae (forget-me-not family) -<i>Adelocaryum coelestinum. </i> A perennial , this is commonly found in the Mahableshwar Hills. </span></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dvyZ22suCiY/VfePeSajCLI/AAAAAAAAPgk/7YlhVzKWDJI/s1600/f11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dvyZ22suCiY/VfePeSajCLI/AAAAAAAAPgk/7YlhVzKWDJI/s640/f11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one is called <span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Aabhali </span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010"><span class="st">आभाली </span>flower, or formally Cyanotis tuberosa. This plant has great medicinal properties.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt1ZHGCe8a8/VfePfBrbDlI/AAAAAAAAPgs/h4INT7m_h_g/s1600/f12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt1ZHGCe8a8/VfePfBrbDlI/AAAAAAAAPgs/h4INT7m_h_g/s640/f12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one called <span data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Smithia Hirsuta (hairy Smita) or </span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1es.1:4.1:$comment10153050167082201_10153050250527201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010"><span class="st">कावला</span> in Marathi. This plant figures in the Unesco Red list of endangered plants .</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv4avCqDymE/VfePfOVqDXI/AAAAAAAAPgw/MdVfvDzq5U0/s1600/f13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv4avCqDymE/VfePfOVqDXI/AAAAAAAAPgw/MdVfvDzq5U0/s640/f13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A brilliant field of <span class="st"><span class="st">जांभळी</span> मंजिरी or </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Pogostemon Deccanensis growing amidst marshy land bordering one of the numerous water bodies found on the plateau . Notice the Homo Sapien reflected amidst it all. The purple flowers on a light green stalk make for brilliant viewing.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iEHr6DR5YQ4/VfePfXCnXpI/AAAAAAAAPg4/8sOM5DFwqsQ/s1600/f14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iEHr6DR5YQ4/VfePfXCnXpI/AAAAAAAAPg4/8sOM5DFwqsQ/s640/f14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A new one coming into the world at Kaas Plateau. Notice the super clear water. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QksQ3jVdc2o/VfePf-dApiI/AAAAAAAAPhE/gxyS-A3Gvmk/s1600/f15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QksQ3jVdc2o/VfePf-dApiI/AAAAAAAAPhE/gxyS-A3Gvmk/s640/f15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As the <span class="st"><span class="st">जांभळी</span> मंजिरी enjoys looking into a crystal clear mirror ....</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QYMyhqxEzkw/VfePgMP40XI/AAAAAAAAPhQ/f9OEoTzc0iw/s1600/f16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QYMyhqxEzkw/VfePgMP40XI/AAAAAAAAPhQ/f9OEoTzc0iw/s640/f16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The greatly prevalent Impatiens Lawii, or जाम्भ्ळा तेरडा found in large parts of the Kaas Paathar .</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGB8A2RgNkY/VfePgGiCuqI/AAAAAAAAPhM/Ha-ca7aGzSQ/s1600/f17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGB8A2RgNkY/VfePgGiCuqI/AAAAAAAAPhM/Ha-ca7aGzSQ/s640/f17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This appears to be another variety of wild turmeric or रान हळद. Suggestions invited from those who think this is something else. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5MTHeGJ8KU/VfePgnUw0BI/AAAAAAAAPhY/ZTOCO0xilXY/s1600/f18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5MTHeGJ8KU/VfePgnUw0BI/AAAAAAAAPhY/ZTOCO0xilXY/s640/f18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This appears to be a plant belonging to the Salvia Species; a Sage inflorescence. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IoezkUWqOo/VfePgxsrVZI/AAAAAAAAPho/kq_2z-0ZIi0/s1600/f19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IoezkUWqOo/VfePgxsrVZI/AAAAAAAAPho/kq_2z-0ZIi0/s640/f19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Above, Eriocaulon Sedgewickii or <span class="st"><span class="st">गॆंद</span> in Marathi. There are huge fields of these white flowers. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Ynvq0uZZI/VfePheBUAII/AAAAAAAAPhw/Y5gBp-yTu_Y/s1600/f20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Ynvq0uZZI/VfePheBUAII/AAAAAAAAPhw/Y5gBp-yTu_Y/s640/f20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Known as <span data-reactid=".1gp.1:4.1:$comment10153050167502201_10153050254167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1gp.1:4.1:$comment10153050167502201_10153050254167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1gp.1:4.1:$comment10153050167502201_10153050254167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1gp.1:4.1:$comment10153050167502201_10153050254167201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Ceropegia Media (Marathi : </span></span></span></span><span class="st">मेडी खरचुडी) this plant is a slender climber. The flower tubes are lined with small hairs that trap insects and initiate pollination. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06NWnYzyZuE/VfePh-qpkxI/AAAAAAAAPh4/mtzglAv0CEY/s1600/f21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-06NWnYzyZuE/VfePh-qpkxI/AAAAAAAAPh4/mtzglAv0CEY/s640/f21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one called Grass of the Dew or Cyanotis Tuberosa. Called <span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Aabhali </span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1eu.1:4.1:$comment10153050167002201_10153050247457201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010"><span class="st">आभाली in Marathi. Also called Ears of the Cat.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwM-ynjZzGw/VfePiG6FEMI/AAAAAAAAPiA/SigttyO5PZI/s1600/f22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwM-ynjZzGw/VfePiG6FEMI/AAAAAAAAPiA/SigttyO5PZI/s640/f22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one called <span data-reactid=".1gs.1:4.1:$comment10153050167757201_10153050254817201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1gs.1:4.1:$comment10153050167757201_10153050254817201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".1gs.1:4.1:$comment10153050167757201_10153050254817201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1gs.1:4.1:$comment10153050167757201_10153050254817201/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Blue Fountain Bush - Bharangi </span></span></span></span><span class="st">भरंगी</span>. Official name is<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Clerodendrum Serratum</span></span>. This flower too has medicinal properties and is used for inflammatory respiratory diseases and fever. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obTfXUS9vb8/VfePpT6tE2I/AAAAAAAAPlQ/-J1M0aynl_E/s1600/t5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obTfXUS9vb8/VfePpT6tE2I/AAAAAAAAPlQ/-J1M0aynl_E/s640/t5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Indian Arrowroot or <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Curcuma Caulina</span></span> Flower blooms at the Kaas plateau. This plant has several dietic and medicinal uses. </div>
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We departed the Kaas PaaThaar on our way to the Thoseghar Waterfalls via the Bamnoli lake, where we planned to break for lunch.</div>
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Bamnoli is a village roughly 15 kms away from Kaas Plateau, and is on the shores of the Shivsagar lake formed by backwaters of the Koyna Dam. Paddy cultivation is the main occupation of the village folks, and now a days, some have ventured out into offering boating at the lake , which comes right up to the village streets in the monsoons. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hRW0VhWWgqE/VfePku1rRlI/AAAAAAAAPjQ/_99TD6uSgtg/s1600/t11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hRW0VhWWgqE/VfePku1rRlI/AAAAAAAAPjQ/_99TD6uSgtg/s640/t11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The lake shore</div>
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A typical scene as we drove from Bamnoli to Thoseghar Waterfalls. One may faintly see windmills on the top of the flat mountain top on the left. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Avec_0yn9TA/VfePlAysMCI/AAAAAAAAPjY/ESEI8wvpjtU/s1600/t13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Avec_0yn9TA/VfePlAysMCI/AAAAAAAAPjY/ESEI8wvpjtU/s640/t13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There has been a lot of development here. This is a view of an entrance to a local Engineering college. Right in front of the white multistorey structure, is a lifesize (or more) statue of Hanuman , perhaps to inspire the students . </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zN5j3-a557U/VffiX2mRXgI/AAAAAAAAPmQ/wUUSQ7eItlM/s1600/t24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zN5j3-a557U/VffiX2mRXgI/AAAAAAAAPmQ/wUUSQ7eItlM/s640/t24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The inspirational Hanuman of the Hills <br />
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The drive to Thoseghar Falls involved a climb through some ghats. </div>
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Just before we disembarked at the entrance to the Thoseghar Falls. </div>
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The Thoseghar falls are a natural formation along the Kaalganga River basin, with a drop of 800 metres, creating some impressive waterfalls. The local authorities have created viewing areas for visiting the Big falls and the fewer Smaller Falls, and a trail linking the two. Much care has been taken to prevent people from carelessly treating this as just another picnic spot, and messing it up with trash, and plastic, and strict rules and fines are indicated. </div>
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Pathways leading to the waterfalls.</div>
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The Big Waterfall as it is called. </div>
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The two Smaller Waterfalls</div>
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Where the water flows through a narrow gorge, over stones and rocks, after falling a distance of 800 mtrs vertically .</div>
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A closer look at the Smaller Falls. You can see the fencing of the Viewing Area.</div>
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The Falls, having reached much lower......</div>
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And this again, a typical view of what is the main preoccupation of the villgers. Rice growing and farming. Post monsoon, this is the color of Maharashtra around the Sahyadris . </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-58066529235404772022015-08-25T00:45:00.000+05:302015-08-25T00:45:19.061+05:30The Gorakhgad Trek.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Gorakhgad and Macchindragad, two forts named after a disciple and his guru (both saints) respectively, lie in the extended Bhimashankar range of the Sahyadris, within the Murbad Taluka of Thane District.<br />
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These forts were of strategic importance during the reign of Shahaji Raje (father of Shivaji Maharaj), and later during Shivaji's reign were actually used as a stopover point / activity tracking place during journeys to Junnar via Naneghat. <br />
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We travelled to Kalyan on the Central Railway Suburban network , and then by local public road transport. The base village is a place called Dehri. There is a Gorakshnath temple on the Murbad Dehri route , which is the starting point of the trek.<br />
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You can see the two peaks , and strangely, the bigger one, is Gorakhgad, while the one named after the guru, Macchindragad, is the smaller peak .<br />
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Gorakhgad , at an elevation of 2125 feet, is approached by a path that starts just behind the Gorakshnath temple. The path winds around through an extremely dense jungle , and one is advised to come here only with those who have trekked here before, else it is easy to get lost.<br />
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We trekked through an extremely dense jungle, with narrow paths, sort of mildly uphill till we reached on a clearing. After this, the gradient got steeper, the monsoon vegetation, and the sudden rain, also made climbing a bit messy and difficult. The thick jungle blocked most of the natural light. About 20 minutes of steep trekking and we came to a plateau of sorts.<br />
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We could see at times, the caves of Gorakhgad, and also saw a Vana Vibhag banner announcing features of the Fort.<br />
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The jungle slowly thinned out to a grassy area as we climbed further and up, and the last part was all about climbing through some rock cut staircases. After climbing Kalavantin Durg, and Harihar Fort, I felt these were the hardest steps to handle, as they were steep, the fall on the sides was steep, and many of these steps were broken. Something I didnt mention was the sudden onset of rain and heavy winds.<br />
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Like in previous treks where we had to climb rock cut steps, the descent was much more difficult, and at one point I descended sitting on the steps. <br />
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At one point there was also a metal detatchable ladder provided to aid the trekkers.<br />
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I found this trek harder than the earlier ones , but extremely wonderful.<br />
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Some photographs in this collection have been taken by my friend fellow trekker Ranchodas Das. Included in here to make the narrative more complete.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCQVGxJXPU4/VdtTjCChtOI/AAAAAAAAPXo/UhMcRlvO5QA/s1600/r1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCQVGxJXPU4/VdtTjCChtOI/AAAAAAAAPXo/UhMcRlvO5QA/s640/r1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Traveling to the base village Dehri by a local rickshaw transport. The Mumbai suburban railways get you used to hanging and leaning out. </div>
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We took the road to the right which led to the Gorakshnath Temple. Our first view of the Gorakhgad and Macchindragad peaks.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8QOjQsbmFU/VdtTstrlfrI/AAAAAAAAPas/T0RVP6XBsnA/s1600/r4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8QOjQsbmFU/VdtTstrlfrI/AAAAAAAAPas/T0RVP6XBsnA/s640/r4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The winding path through the jungle were preceded by local fields, and cattle.</div>
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So many different varieties of green in the jungle as we trudged through .</div>
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Dense vegetation all around us, and this was one of the more well defined paths. </div>
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We proceed amidst the jungle in single file as the path winds slowly uphill. The gradient here was not steep at all, and the climb was not strenuous at all . </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LacfFQfGqw4/VdtTwTrJuxI/AAAAAAAAPbs/dFtw2HtkErk/s1600/r7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LacfFQfGqw4/VdtTwTrJuxI/AAAAAAAAPbs/dFtw2HtkErk/s640/r7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I clicked someone else doing its own climb amidst the leaves, and like us, it must have been amazed at the jungle cover.</div>
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Paths with huge rocks , often provided a place to anchor a hold , in the soil which was slushy due to rain.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtEa3ECqazM/VdtTxIc_stI/AAAAAAAAPb8/3OxprBnpPTI/s1600/r9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtEa3ECqazM/VdtTxIc_stI/AAAAAAAAPb8/3OxprBnpPTI/s640/r9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A view of the surrounding plains, as captured when we reached the first clearing in the mountains. Notice the variety of the trees.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hKZknLui5Bk/VdtTjasTTeI/AAAAAAAAPXc/Z20JHp_yEKY/s1600/r10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hKZknLui5Bk/VdtTjasTTeI/AAAAAAAAPXc/Z20JHp_yEKY/s640/r10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Onward we climb, as it gets steeper as well as the jungle gets even more dense. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9FsKm1eOu4/VdtTjWvIMtI/AAAAAAAAPXg/wMLak5C1uWg/s1600/r11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9FsKm1eOu4/VdtTjWvIMtI/AAAAAAAAPXg/wMLak5C1uWg/s640/r11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another view of the plains, from a bit higher and from another side of the mountain as our trek path winds around it..</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3OIf8HkKMWU/VdtTk_ksqVI/AAAAAAAAPYY/tK1v7-yclhk/s1600/r15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3OIf8HkKMWU/VdtTk_ksqVI/AAAAAAAAPYY/tK1v7-yclhk/s640/r15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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No, I am not trying to push it. But this is just what lay in our path as we proceeded upwards. </div>
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You can tell we have reached the plateau of sorts , much higher than before. It also threatens to rain and the clouds are closing in.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsUCTDMWO9E/VdtTlwUIfwI/AAAAAAAAPYc/FFbCibq1iog/s1600/r19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsUCTDMWO9E/VdtTlwUIfwI/AAAAAAAAPYc/FFbCibq1iog/s640/r19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This was almost like a place made for me. The ancient Shiva temple we were about to see must have inspired me, but I apologize for doing this still wearing my trekking shoes. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UVdE9k27apw/VdtTkKoFMbI/AAAAAAAAPXw/adterjZzXAM/s1600/r13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UVdE9k27apw/VdtTkKoFMbI/AAAAAAAAPXw/adterjZzXAM/s640/r13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is almost as if this barren branch leaned back is surprise on sighting the Gorakhgad peak so close, and said "Aiyyo!"....</div>
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The Forest department provides information about the Gorakhgad and Macchindragad at this point. We have come roughly one kilometre up, and will now see ancient Satvahan dynasty ruins , carvings, caves, and must now face rock cut steps in out final approach to the peak.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dZPG7ALyVbQ/VdtTm1Ehk1I/AAAAAAAAPYk/xb7vAcGPA4k/s1600/r20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dZPG7ALyVbQ/VdtTm1Ehk1I/AAAAAAAAPYk/xb7vAcGPA4k/s640/r20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ancient Shiva Temple precincts. </div>
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More of the same temple.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWGtlgQrWFs/VdtTnhY2aGI/AAAAAAAAPY0/_Xq2mAyDxYo/s1600/r22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWGtlgQrWFs/VdtTnhY2aGI/AAAAAAAAPY0/_Xq2mAyDxYo/s640/r22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The padukas still preserved at the temple. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PR_XKE1YTag/VdtTkyl_6xI/AAAAAAAAPX8/5Tl4Qbv1hm0/s1600/r16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PR_XKE1YTag/VdtTkyl_6xI/AAAAAAAAPX8/5Tl4Qbv1hm0/s640/r16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The dense jungle now gives way to grassy land as we approach the peak </div>
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This is how tall the grass was. (The tallest among us was sitting there) ...</div>
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A clear sky and it inspires this click .</div>
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Machhindragad , clicked through a gap as we climb. </div>
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We have reached the caves , approaching from the left. The greyish rock in the centre of this photo hides the steps which we climb to enter the caves. </div>
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We had come in from the steps on the left . Above us lies the steepest climb to the peak. I still wonder how devotees climbed these places in the old days, and did penance in the caves.</div>
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Another view of the caves, highlighting the steep gradient to the peak, and the sheer drop below the caves. </div>
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An inside view of the caves, with art work and inscriptions. This place was amazingly free of the typicall graffiti one sees normally. Possibly because hordes of people do not come to visit Gorakhgad. </div>
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Some views of what surrounded us as we climbed on.</div>
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Steep falls and tough rocks. And when you climb , it is a treasure of history. </div>
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We finally make it to the top, climbing carefully through some very old rock cut steps, which don't just go straight but take assorted turns . </div>
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And yes, it is a sheer drop from where I sit. The Sahyadris in their majesty, dense jungles and all, surrounding it all. <br />
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Macchindragad , standing close by, in its own majestic glory.</div>
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Our trekking group, enjoying a well deserved rest . It was like watching a movie of Mother Nature all around us, but I wouldn't want to be sitting in the front seat.... </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ub78_LdjXY/VdtTtu14zpI/AAAAAAAAPbM/MEnC0ZqxOdA/s1600/r43.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ub78_LdjXY/VdtTtu14zpI/AAAAAAAAPbM/MEnC0ZqxOdA/s640/r43.jpg" width="640" /></a>Another view of Macchindragad </div>
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I make an effort to stand on Gorakhgad , right alongside Macchindragad. </div>
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A Shiva temple at the Gorakhgad peak </div>
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Yes. We begin the descent, and as always, with all these steps, this is more difficult than the ascent. You can see some other group people being very careful, clutching the rocks for support and slowly descending.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3BoXqEHBUQ/VdtTq6b76_I/AAAAAAAAPZ8/oIkfIGBoY1c/s1600/r33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3BoXqEHBUQ/VdtTq6b76_I/AAAAAAAAPZ8/oIkfIGBoY1c/s640/r33.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8QOjQsbmFU/VdtTstrlfrI/AAAAAAAAPas/T0RVP6XBsnA/s1600/r4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>At one point, i decided that the only way to descend was by sitting down. And it seemed to work.</div>
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A twenty foot rope has been installed at this point to help trekkers hold on and descend the difficult parts. Some didn't need to use it, but it was helpful. <br />
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This is the detachable ladder provided on Gorakhgad. It fixes into knotches in the rock, and you stand on it and climb down. Here is one of our group doing the needful as i prepare to come down. And another member keeps watch from after me. <br />
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The descent continues in a careful manner. It had rained and the steps were extremely slippery.</div>
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A much needed break below the peak structure, leaning against the rock. What you do not see is the steep drop down on the left.<br />
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The rain , the clouds, and the camera all conspired . Perhaps the Gorakhgad thought another new Fort had suddenly come up on the left. :-)<br />
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I had to capture these grasses just for the color. </div>
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Bidding goodbye to the mountains.</div>
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And here , bidding goodbye to you....<br />
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-7426656956430211792015-08-16T23:43:00.001+05:302015-08-17T07:34:10.553+05:30Another Independence Day ....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Independence Day , always a holiday, this year, was different.<br />
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Thanks to my new trekking hobby, I learned about an activity undertaken every year, by the Passion Group, headed by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ranchoddas.das">Ranchoddas Das </a>, my trekking friend. Every Independence Day, this group visited the <a href="http://wikimapia.org/18679900/Sant-Gadage-maharaj-Adivasi-Ashram-Shala-Bhatsai-Vashind">Sant Gadage Maharaj Adivasi Ashram Shala, at Bhatsai, Vashind </a>, and carried food and gifts for the children, both residing at the school, as well as in 20 surrounding Adivasi hamlets, or Padaas.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadge_Maharaj">Sant Gadge Maharaj</a> (1876-1956) was a saintly social reformer of Maharashtra , who travelled through the viilages . He would wear his food pan upturned on his head, carry his trademark broom, and immediately start cleaning the gutters and roads of whichever village he entered. He would sing kirtans, and preach the virtues of simple living, compassion, service to the poor. He preached against animal sacrifice in religious rituals, consumption of alcohol. He accepted nothing from the villagers till his work was done, and whatever he did accept went towards creating Educational Institues, Dharmsalas, Hospitals and Animal Shelters.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">The Government of Maharashtra has started a 'Sant Gadgebaba Swachata Abhiyan' in 2000-01 in his honour. The Government of India has announced National Award for Sanitation and water in his honour.</span><br />
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Four friends from work joined me on this trip. We were a total of about 25 folks. We reached Vashind by the Mumbai Suburban Network by 10 am. Transport was provided for our trip to the Ashram Shala, where the Adivasi Children study. Some of these children live there too. The school is run by some dedicated teachers, and a bunch of dedicated ladies cook hot meals for the children twice a day. <br />
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We then visited 12 Padaas or small Adivasi hamlets in the Shahapur region, in the shadow of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahuli">Mahuli Fort</a>, where we gifted food packets to the children. The Padaas we visited were Bershingi pada , Jambhul pada , Avale pada , Boricha pada , Vadu pada , Ambe dor , Sale pada , Tokre pada , Sutar pada , Kharepada pada, Kate koi and Mukund pada.<br />
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A photo essay of sorts..<br />
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The first view of Vasind Station where we disembarked. This was clicked on my phone. Vasind is a station on the Central Railway branch that goes towards Nashik, via Kasara . My trekking had often taken me as far as Kasara, so it was now interesting to see Vasind.</div>
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We reached the Ashram Shala by local transport arranged for us. The kids are normally provided meals at noon. Today, in honor of visitors (us) on Independence Day, the lunch was a bit early, and you can see the kids in uniform sitting down for the meal, supervised by some senior girls and teachers. </div>
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Everyone in their Independence-Day best, with flowers in their hair and red ribbons in bows. The children are served on traditional eco friendly plates made of leaves.</div>
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As is customary, the children congregated in an assembly, and the program began with a welcome song rendered by the senior girls. </div>
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The audience of younger kids . Girls and boys sitting separately. Which is very common in rural areas. But notice the discipline. </div>
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Finally, someone acknowledged me . These two guys gave some real winning smiles, though the girls seem to wonder why I am there at all :-)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XK9S8Y_CGc/VdCaMMYBGaI/AAAAAAAAPSc/KnmLEcGgi80/s1600/g6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XK9S8Y_CGc/VdCaMMYBGaI/AAAAAAAAPSc/KnmLEcGgi80/s640/g6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A closer view, and except for the girl in red wearing the latest fashion , no one wants to look at me. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEoNQTpUPT4/VdCaNbeSTUI/AAAAAAAAPSw/N13vNIcBimw/s1600/g8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEoNQTpUPT4/VdCaNbeSTUI/AAAAAAAAPSw/N13vNIcBimw/s640/g8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This young boy followed after the welcome song and was raptly listened to. I wonder how much they practiced. The staff and some teachers watch from the sidelines. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3CEt7mqMxPU/VdCaNtGVRfI/AAAAAAAAPSk/HON-Z5kyPJc/s1600/g9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3CEt7mqMxPU/VdCaNtGVRfI/AAAAAAAAPSk/HON-Z5kyPJc/s640/g9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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One of the teachers addressing the assembly and perhaps giving an introduction to the visitors who have come. </div>
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Finally ! This delightful little girl and her brother know what I am up to, and oblige...<br />
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The kids line up to receive sweets and stuff which we carried. Here are two of my friends helping with the distribution. Notice the girl in navy blue, checking out what her friend got. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zeeQCpbNQpg/VdCaBOVwI7I/AAAAAAAAPO4/qhWA3wfC3Hg/s1600/g13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zeeQCpbNQpg/VdCaBOVwI7I/AAAAAAAAPO4/qhWA3wfC3Hg/s640/g13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is now the turn of the boys, and they line up under the teachers eye. No rushing, no crowding. </div>
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Some of the staff and teachers of the school who were present on the occasion.</div>
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The ladies who actually cook two fresh meals a day for the residential kids. These are local ladies, and they too were recipients of some sweets and stuff. </div>
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One of the rooms on the school premises, and my friends from work and some others posing with the girls from the school.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIhg_PRO4yI/VdCaCi0oK7I/AAAAAAAAPPQ/eKMV5d5vdps/s1600/g17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIhg_PRO4yI/VdCaCi0oK7I/AAAAAAAAPPQ/eKMV5d5vdps/s640/g17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gathering together for the mandatory group photo with us at the school porch. The girl walking in front is either some kind of monitor or late comer. </div>
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Our group joins them and everyone raises hands as patriotic slogans fill the air. .......and I click. </div>
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Children from the various Padaas attend this day school too. We now proceed from the school in the direction of the Padaas. A typical monsoon landscape in the Shahpur region. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gNo-PPiGvTc/VdCaEapE2wI/AAAAAAAAPPs/oLjNi5AJKdE/s1600/g20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gNo-PPiGvTc/VdCaEapE2wI/AAAAAAAAPPs/oLjNi5AJKdE/s640/g20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The transport provided for us. We often got down and walked to the Padaas. </div>
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This one time we actually reached a Padaa with the transport; a good idea given the imminent rain. Clicked in natural light.</div>
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Padaa architecture. A typical house .</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1tEQADYfzac/VdCaGl7KFPI/AAAAAAAAPQ8/1cS3um-G6V8/s1600/g27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1tEQADYfzac/VdCaGl7KFPI/AAAAAAAAPQ8/1cS3um-G6V8/s640/g27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another house , another architectural style. Self designed. The clouds appear to be lifting , and we were hoping to sight the Mahuli Fort peaks in the distance.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3j9JPyghUI/VdCaIEeN8zI/AAAAAAAAPRE/173Ja3Kf_bg/s1600/g30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3j9JPyghUI/VdCaIEeN8zI/AAAAAAAAPRE/173Ja3Kf_bg/s640/g30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This must be the house of a influential Adivasi . A nice house with an ever spreading expanse, a solar panel on the roof, a DishTV antenna , and several official banners of the government and maybe even political parties, possibly laminated, being nicely made use of for house protection. It must be emphasized that this guy appears to be an exception, and possibly destined to go into politics later.<br />
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I don't know what trees they are. But it was unusual to see a pair of them growing so close to each other in the middle of a field. </div>
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And then there were such houses too. Bearing the brunt of heavy showers, and old construction, not to mention uneven ground leading to slushy land in the monsoons.</div>
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A typical landscape with the traditional planting of rice. I think the clouds were about to clear the mountaintop in the distance.</div>
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The lady of the land walking along the edge of her small field. Immense hard work at her home, in her fields, nurturing many children, and you admire her strength and her posture. </div>
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Leaves of the teak tree, collected and organized into piles containing specific number of leaves. These are used in making products with flowers , and one often sees women in the suburban trains carrying baskets full of these leaves to the big flower markets of Mumbai. <br />
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One of my friends and the adivasi lady who probably collected these leaves. </div>
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Two junior citizens of the Padaa with the food packets (puri bhaji) that were distributed. . </div>
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Another junior citizen, posing in his doorway for me, puri bhaji in hand.</div>
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We distributed the extra school gifts to the children in the padaas, and there was never a rowdy crowd . They always lined up . (I think Mumbai teaches us indiscipline. ).</div>
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Amidst all the signs of progress, these continue to bloom, year after year, unchanged. </div>
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The clouds lift off the mountain, displaying the awesome peaks of Mahuli, as we make our way back from the padaas to our vehicles. It is now evening and we must now return to a civilization of trains, cars, autos, noise and concrete. </div>
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We leave carrying much of this green with us, on Independence Day .</div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-44053342563401413022015-08-05T11:07:00.001+05:302015-08-09T22:53:56.052+05:30The Amazing Harihar Trek ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="200" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d960375.8292430358!2d73.47212080000001!3d19.904670399999993!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3bdd8aa165defa41%3A0xbd233aa44468637e!2sHarihar+Fort!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1438515229208" style="border: 0;" width="300"></iframe><br />
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The Harihar fort is situated in the Trimbakeshwar range of the
Sahyadris, which covers areas north of Igatpuri and west of Nashik. The
Vaitarna Dam is in this area. There are several forts here, roughly split in two areas, with Basgad, Utvad, Fani Hill, Harihar and Trimbakgad in one part , and Anjaneri and Hargad in another.<br />
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In the olden days, this fort was with the Ahmednagar Sultans, and this was an important area where rulers could keep watch on trade and defence routes that connected Maharashtra and Gujarat. <br />
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At an elevation of 3676 feet above sea level, the fort has an amazing construction plan. From the village at its base , it looks as if it is rectangular in shape, but is built on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_prism">triangular prism </a>of rock. Two edges of this are absolutely vertical, and one edge is at a rough 80 degrees angle. On initial approach, the land ascends with a somewhat mild slope for about 200 feet, and the next 200 feet is a very steep , almost 80 degrees ascent, through 117 steps cut into the stone.<br />
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History indicates that the British had a policy of destroying all forts that were not under their jurisdiction. Sometimes, these forts were used to store grains , and so were spared. Some held political adversaries of earlier rulers, who were released. Captain Briggs attempted a Harihar Fort climb in 1818, and commented on the difficult , almost vertical, last 200 feet, with a steep 500 foot drop on the side. He was so smitten with the climb and the Fort, that he decided not to recommend its destruction. (He is supposed to have stated that, the Fort was so formidable that just 5 people could defend it against any attackers).<br />
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200 years later, no one attacks, but today, young and old trekkers crowd the difficult paths, more so in the monsoon. With great respect for the place.<br />
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Captain Briggs might have been pleased. <br />
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One of the vertical drops from fort faces the Nirgudpada Village and is called "Scottish Kada" (kada = cliff) , in honor of the legendary Himalayan mountaineer Doug Scott, who climbed this in 1986. He successfully climbed the vertical cliff of 170 metres, over 2 days. <br />
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Nirgudpada is the base village when one approaches Harihar Fort. About 35 kms from Kasara, which we reached early in the morning by the Mumbai suburban railway network and then took local transport to the viilage. <br />
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One moves away from the Nirgudpada village towards the mountain, and crosses a largish stream. The monsoon has been generous, and several sheep are apparently interested in joining the trekkers.</div>
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The farmlands of the village and the traditional agriculture of rice. We cross these fields on our way to the base of the mountain.</div>
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Wooded landscape with slushy paths as we make our way. You can almost feel the boots sinking into wet mud.</div>
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Rice transplanting in progress in one of the rice fields. From a small patch , where the soil has been treated to a "raab" (<i>covering land with diverse botanical and biological waste and then burning it </i>) treatment, to improve its quality after a previously taken crop. The small saplings of rice grown on this patch are now transplanted to the larger ploughed fields. Full family at work early in the morning. The work is hard, the rains uncertain. But one ploughs on. </div>
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Another view , and a farmer posing for me. <br />
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Two local heroes.<br />
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The sheep of Nirgudpada, out on their daily trek for food. So much more beautiful than our daily trek for food in Mumbai.<br />
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The girls, assigned their daily work. Hopefully discussing their dreams of making it to school one day. On the other hand, may be they attend school in addition to this work. In our villages, it is always the girls and women who work the hardest.</div>
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The first sight of the majestic Harihar Fort as we get closer to the base. Amazing green landscape, making it a pleasure to trek in the monsoons. </div>
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The sheep are determined to trek. They are familiar with the paths, and nimble on their feet. Must be fun for them , as they can take off for a bite on the side , anytime they want, at the natural Food Malls ... :-)</div>
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Local stars posing with the trekkers. And the sheep know how to photobomb.</div>
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A typical view as we climb higher. Monsoon clouds descending.</div>
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We get closer through fairly wooded paths , the slope increases and we sight the majestic face of the Fort.<br />
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A view of the valley , somewhere half way up the Fort. These are the easier parts of the climb.<br />
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The view in another direction. All mountains of the Trimbak range of the Sahyadris, who must have been witness to all the history over centuries. <br />
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Approaching the almost vertical climb of 200 feet, we cross a ridge . The gradual slopes are over and now comes the hard part. You can see the stone cut step pathway on the face of the rock. Strangely, the ascent is easier than the descent, more so amidst heavy blowing monsoon winds, rain and slippery steps . <i>And so we will post more photos of the descent across the same steps, later. </i><br />
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In the meanwhile....<br />
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(this photo below by Ganesh Naik) <img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVwYGmZZcW0/VceI4Oc7bFI/AAAAAAAAPNI/hD6dpto_sfs/s640/h43.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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A sheer vertical drop on 500 feet on the left (first photo) , and one must pass, through this rocky overhang as one ascends the final difficult feet. The second photo shows the sharp drop into the valley. (That's me behind my friend.) Not easy, but one learns. The first set of rock cut stairs lead you to this gallery path, after which you ascend through some more curved difficult steps, fairly narrow (allowing only a single person ), through a cave like enclosure to reach the peak. <br />
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Another one of those vertigo inducing locations, and the trekker keeps his eyes focused on the top. <br />
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Wonderful landscapes with the Upper Vaitarna river waters in the distance. The dark of the mountain clearly due to monsoon clouds.<br />
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But the shifting monsoon laden dark clouds do sometimes allow a sudden morning sun to light up the greens and the rocks. <br />
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Another view .</div>
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We reach the top, and are greeted with this amazing view of a natural pond (there are several), and an Hanuman temple. Closer to the pond is a Shivling with a saffron painted Trishul. There are several such water sources on the top. </div>
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A closeup. Notice the several worship areas on the banks of the pond. </div>
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One of the trekkers celebrating having reached the top. All Forts will traditionally have this flag flying at the peak.<br />
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Another pond, another bank. One of the ponds has potable water.</div>
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There are some other folks also enjoying the ponds at the top at an elevation of 3676 feet. A Water snake out to see what the excitement is all about....<br />
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There is this old thatched stone ruin on the eastern banks of the pond-with-potable-water. It can hold about 20 people comfortably. and the monsoon waters actually trickle and leak inside. Shouldn't be anything different for those from Mumbai, who live in houses of concrete (but in worse surroundings), actually behaving the same way. </div>
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Yes. I needed to pose at the entrance to the structure. </div>
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The sky above, the wet grass below, and the mountain by my side. Some poetic folks need wine, but I was so hungry, I badly needed a vada pao.... :-)</div>
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The last set of rock cut steps, are filled with sharp turns , and this is the narrow cave like structure through which we emerge on the very massive are at the top. </div>
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As promised, the pictures of the descent. Much more difficult that the ascent.</div>
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We leave through the narrow structure. </div>
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Trekkers lined up , slowly descending, careful across the wet and slippery steps, in single file.</div>
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Something to remind you of the sharp vertical 500 foot drop all around you as you manoeuvre down the steps, many of which are broken and worn out. But there are cuts in the rock , where you can anchor a hold with your hands. Whoever did this was a very very thoughtful person. </div>
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Another view of the sheer vertical rock. And yes, smiling through it all certainly helps. </div>
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The interesting mode of descent. The descent on the rock cut stairs is almost completely done backwards, as you can see. Notice the turn of the stairs, the places hewn in the rocks to hold on by hand, and you slowly carefully go, one step at a time, looking out for those above and below you. <i>It wouldn't be advisable to slip</i>.<br />
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And yes, I wouldn't look at the steep drop on the right, if I were you. </div>
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(PC above pic: Ganesh Naik)<br />
The sheer size of the mountain face<br />
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Emerging from the narrow cave like structure, a view of the trekkers</div>
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A backwards descent....continued</div>
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A view of those descending after us. Notice that everyone descend backwards, and there is much co-operative effort to ensure safety . What you don't see on either side is the sheer vertical drop.</div>
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Another view.</div>
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A much needed rest after a thrilling but traumatic descent</div>
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It's stop and go. Looks like there is some traffic , but one looks back and follows the person descending.</div>
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It gets easier....</div>
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And another fort alongside, which must have been witness to Captain Briggs, history , and everything, sits and wonders about the endless line of folks continuously going up and down those stairs , in the middle of the monsoon, and feeling thrilled about it all..... </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-2918655614653533142015-07-21T10:31:00.001+05:302015-07-21T10:31:42.368+05:30 A Monsoon Trek to Kalwantin Durg near Panvel ......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Listed at no 11, amongst the <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/the-33-most-beautiful-abandoned-places-in-the-world#.timA1MbBL">33 most beautiful abandoned places in the world</a>, Kalwantin ( also called Kelve Teen or <span style="color: blue;">Kalavantinicha Sulka</span>) is an old fort , at a height of 2300 feet above the sea, very near the Prabalgad (earlier called Muranjan) Fort , which was actually built to keep an eye on the ancient ports (then) of Panvel and Kalyan.<br />
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"Sulka" in Marathi means "cone or spire" and the shape of this mountain explains it all . It dates back to 500 BC, to the days of the Shilahar and Yadav dynasties, and the Bahamani Empire, passing through various rulers like the Adilshah and Moguls, till Shivaji finally captured it in 1658 , and gave it the name Prabalgad.<br />
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<a href="http://www.treksandtrails.org/index.php/event-timer/262-kalavantin-durg-trekking-mumbai">Kalawantin</a> Fort is opposite to Prabalgad on the same stretch of plateau, and both the forts are visible from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. From the peak of Kalawantin, you can see Matheran, Chanderi, Peb , Karnala Forts, and even the lights of Mumbai City. History has it that some smitten King , built this for his queen called Kalavantin, to ensure that she stayed with him. Today, the Adivais folks of the Prabal Plateau (Machi) celebrate each Holi festival with a traditional dance atop the peak of Kalawantin Fort.<br />
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Today, Panvel is no longer a port, and is a significant city that one must cross by road, before climbing the Ghats. This was our meeting point, and we traveled at dawn by the Mumbai suburban trains, to reach Panvel at 7 am. The <a href="http://www.treksandtrails.org/index.php/event-timer/262-kalavantin-durg-trekking-mumbai">plan</a> was to breakfast at Panvel, and travel by public transport , to Thakurwadi village at the base of Kalawantin from there and attempt a climb.<br />
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<b><i>The special feature of Kalawantin Fort, is its extreme vertical climb, with sheer drops on all sides, and the ancient stone steps cut into the mountain all along the way . No railing on the edge and no ropes on the wall. They call it "Stairway to heaven !"..... </i></b><br />
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They have called it one of the <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/the-33-most-beautiful-abandoned-places-in-the-world#.timA1MbBL">33 most beautiful abandoned places in the world</a>.<br />
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<i><b>But it will not be so</b></i>. <b><i>Abandoned, that is</i></b>. Nilesh Bhutambre , the first and only Adivasi lad from the Machi Prabal village, half way up the mountains, who went to college and graduated , now provides, Food, Lodging and Guide facilities to folks wishing to visit the area, do treks etc. Check out <a href="http://prabalgad.jigsy.com/about">Kalavantin Durg and Prabalgad Darshan .</a><br />
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Our trek. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MJV6Kk6LNR0/Va27ZRsJNPI/AAAAAAAAO7E/Enh8wIvv464/s1600/k17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MJV6Kk6LNR0/Va27ZRsJNPI/AAAAAAAAO7E/Enh8wIvv464/s640/k17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A view of the Prabalgad and Kalwantin Forts before we attempt climbing via the rock cut steps (no fence/railing) with very high slope. The elevation of this fort is not high, just 2300 feet, but the gradient is very high, and the steps challenging. </div>
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Inching closer to the objective, on the Prabalgad Plateau (Machi) , which holds both the forts. </div>
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The approach to the Kalawantin Fort is via pathways like this that circle around the spire shaped mountain. </div>
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Members of our trek climbing. Several first time trekkers, encouraged by those who are more experienced. </div>
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A typical path created by the centuries of footfalls .</div>
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And the trekkers make their way, across several streams fed by rain waters, jutting rocks , and trees in amazingly useful places, giving you a hand .</div>
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Our group taking a breather . Other members of the trek follow. </div>
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A typical clearing on a plateau en route, created by the local Adivasis. This will no doubt be covered by some kind of tarpaulin, as the monsoon advances, or it could be that someone plans to run a stall here offering some simple food, and removes stuff when not in use. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8ybm3OzhPc/Va27YN5kXiI/AAAAAAAAO6o/Uv8wQszvAvE/s1600/k13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8ybm3OzhPc/Va27YN5kXiI/AAAAAAAAO6o/Uv8wQszvAvE/s640/k13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rock structures breaking our monotony as we climb around the cone like structure of the mountain. Naturally, everyone wants to climb and pose. </div>
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A sheer vertical fall all around, and massive winds at this point. A fellow trekker looks a bit disgusted at our delight and posing in the wind.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jtcCHWZ9qjw/Va27ZP11f0I/AAAAAAAAO68/Be4YTgW0SNA/s1600/k15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jtcCHWZ9qjw/Va27ZP11f0I/AAAAAAAAO68/Be4YTgW0SNA/s640/k15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just to give an idea of how elevation changed over short horizon distances. We climbed on. </div>
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A view of the valleys as we inch closer to the top. The lush foliage looks darker due to huge amount of rain clouds approaching and surrounding us. </div>
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Another view .</div>
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A Hanuman temple with a Ganpati, both defined in vermilion, somewhere on the plateau. Worshiped by the Adivasis . While the stone relief depicting the Gods, may be ancient , the vermilion and the words are clearly modern. Except when it is about God, we do not call it graffiti. </div>
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One of the ancient caves (this Durg dates back to 550 BC, during the Satvahana dynasty ) that still stands to this day. </div>
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Another view of the approaching monsoon clouds from somewhere close to the top. </div>
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The mighty mountains, resplendent in monsoon greens, surrounding the spiky Kalawantin Durg peak. </div>
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An actual capture of the verticality of the peak ( very difficult to climb, not for those prone to vertigo) , and the amazing cutting of steps into the mountain so many centuries ago, by those who wished to use this mountain Durg as a lookout point for defense and security reasons. </div>
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Now very close to the actual Kalawantin peak. The climb to the top, has no steps, and is a fairly difficult climb through a narrow rock face gap. Made possible by trekkers helping out each other. </div>
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This is how it feels to be in the cloud as they bring rains to the valley. Amazing sights and visuals and I was lucky to capture this .</div>
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The unfortunate side effect of trekking now being popular is one runs into several groups doing the same thing that you are, and the Kalawantin peak can hold only so many folks at a given time. This is what was happening at midday, 2300 feet above sea level, in the middle of approaching monsoon clouds. Can anyone be blamed for suddenly remembering the Mumbai suburban train crowds building up...</div>
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The view at the top. Clouds blocked our view of the valley and other peaks, but it was fun trying to have lunch at the peak. </div>
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A typical feature at the top of all our forts in Maharashtra is the saffron flag that flies at the top, celebrating Shivaji Maharaj. A member of our trek posing at the peak. </div>
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Rock cut steps, a heavy gradient, and slippery mud, make <u><b>descent</b></u> more difficult than <u><b>ascent</b></u>. A capture of the nature of the steps as they wind around the cone shaped structure of the mountain, unfenced and without any railing type structure, often narrowing dangerously in some parts, with sheer vertical falls on one side .<br />
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Another view .</div>
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Somewhere , lower down, there are places to rest amidst flowing mountain streams. The trekkers taking a breather. Me in black.</div>
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My faithful boots that tolerated the slush, the rain, the steps, and my weight.</div>
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And we found some other folks trying to attempt the trek. And the climb. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Yf8F67J19o/Va27Xarx1II/AAAAAAAAO6c/hmZD3gRQNm8/s1600/k10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Like us, they are on their way...... through the greens. </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-7722963900662924722015-07-09T10:48:00.002+05:302015-07-09T11:40:02.354+05:30A trek to the Kondane Caves in the Rajmachi mountains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Kondane Caves, in the mountains of Rajmachi, are at an elevation of 60 metres above sea level. They are approachable from Lonavla above the ghats, as well as Karjat in the plains below.<br />
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The caves, point to the ancient lifestyle of
Hinayana Buddhist followers and are the oldest set of rock-cut cave monasteries . These caves are part of a set of 16 caves located in and around the Konadane/Kondivade village. The Karla, and Bhaja Caves are the sister caves to the Kondane caves, and point to this area being a great centre for Budhhists . These caves were carved around the 1st century BC, and enclose sculptures, viharas, cahityas
and stupas. These are typical elements of Buddhist Architecture, geared to interaction, worship and learning etc by the devotees. The octagonal pillars, wooden arches, and interiors are very intriguing. <br />
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Consequent to an
earth quake in early 1900 , many stupas, front entrance and floor
of the caves were damaged. These ancient caves attract lots of tourists
and Buddhist devotees all through the year.<br />
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Kondane Caves is around 15
KM from Karjat.<br />
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Our group co-ordinated and reached Karjat very early by the Mumbai suburban railway . We proceeded to the Kondivade village (which is like a starting point for the trek), where we had a fresh breakfast of tea and poha, prepared by the villagers. The trek itself is not very difficult and is a gradual elevation through some great wooded areas, and crossing a few streams along the way.<br />
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Unfortunately, an hour after reaching the caves, the place was almost run over with visitors, included a huge group of school children, and after a tour of the caves, we decided to begin our descent.<br />
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We traveled by public transport from Karjat to the outskirts of the Kondivade village. The place is getting developed at a very fast pace. One such proof of that.</div>
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A place offered by the villagers, for resting a bit and a great breakfast of tea and poha. </div>
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So many treks, so many village breakfasts, each with its own special poha taste.</div>
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On our way from the village, towards the base of the Rajmachi mountains. <br />
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The Rajmachi mountain plateau in the distance towards the right. Our night trek to experience fireflies at Rajmachi, had us climbing down from that plateau to Karjat the next day morning . This was a trek in the opposite direction. </div>
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A view of Rajmachi , top right in the distance, and rice cultivation, typical of the Raigad district, where Karjat lies. </div>
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Small villages along the way doing their bit for afforestation. Mundhewadi, one such, has put up this poem, in praise of trees and everything that they give us. And managed to keep its trees intact. All this, while we go berserk felling trees and smearing concrete all over the urban spaces. </div>
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Many such makeshift stalls along the way, selling lemon juice , water, and boiled peanuts in their shell . </div>
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A detailed capture of the goodies on offer ....<br />
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The group taking a short break along the climb to the caves. <br />
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Another view of the path to the caves. <br />
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A break in the foliage, and the beginnings of a stream. <br />
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The path gets narrower , and the tree cover denser , as we climb higher </div>
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One of the many waterfalls encountered <br />
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A wild mushroom encountered along the way.<br />
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A sample of the beautiful flora along the way</div>
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And, this is not a Google Maps satellite photo. This is a close up of an actual leaf, unknowingly showing us the world !</div>
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We are almost there. The final steps leading to the caves, and I get clicked. </div>
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The caves have possibly lasted for more than a 100 years after the
massive earthquake in 1900, due to the natural green cover available,
and the location, clearly away from urban areas, where such caves still
exist , but in a more destroyed form, due to unscrupulous city elements.</div>
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The actual approach to the caves entrance </div>
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Well defined steps leading the devotees to the caves. </div>
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The once grand entrance to the caves.Although the 1900 earthquake did vast damage, the front entrance, cave floor and some structures inside remain more or less intact.<br />
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At the entrance is a carving ,which is shape of fig leaf and supported by curved beams. The main cave has a large stupa with several pillars.</div>
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A view of the ancient wooden beams built in.</div>
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A panoramic view of the cave entrance.<br />
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A closeup of the entrance ceiling. And you wonder about the instruments they used in those days to get such accuracy in design.</div>
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These caves are special because of the constant flow of the waterfall , like a curtain, across their entrance. An effort at capturing the falling water. </div>
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An experiment with a long exposure click of the pool where the water collected after descending over the cave entrance. </div>
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The enormity of the caves. And the minusculeness of humanity.</div>
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The condition of the prayer hall post the earthquake more than a century ago. And how we cannot stop spoiling it all by carving our names everywhere. The entrance cave walls have carvings of people in dancing form. According to historians , these are images of royalty who donated freely for the creation of these caves. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4PPHwYGnS4/VZ3zW9TaHyI/AAAAAAAAO04/Q5ghMAeHQ6U/s1600/c39.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4PPHwYGnS4/VZ3zW9TaHyI/AAAAAAAAO04/Q5ghMAeHQ6U/s640/c39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
A closer look <br />
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Carved in the 1st century BC. What remains , after the earthquake a 100 years ago. A still closer look .</div>
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A closeup of the top of the structure, as it remains today. </div>
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A typical set of carvings, and the grids in the wall , all across the caves. Imagine the effort, at carving all this from a big rock, and that too by hand. </div>
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A view of a vihara, meant for devotees , to rest. Members of the trek group taking a breather . The seating arrangement in the Mumbai suburban railways might have been inspired from this. </div>
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A typical entrance as it stands today, to one of the caves</div>
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The onslaught of visitors to the caves had us prepone our descent down
from the caves, and we took a break along this local river which had
flowing water thanks to a great start to this year's monsoon.</div>
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Streams in flow after a decent start to the monsoon in the plains. </div>
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Another view <br />
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Unusually clean water, and v<u>e</u>ry relaxing after descending down from the caves.</div>
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A group photo of the trekkers , somewhere along the trek. <br />
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And finally, a typical scene near the Kondivade village , which has probably remained unchanged over decades, if not centuries. Mountains, greens, cultivated fields, and cows grazing , celebrating the onset of the monsoon . </div>
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-34145996001833761812015-06-27T16:51:00.000+05:302015-06-28T08:56:20.112+05:30Velas Turtle Festival 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.treksandtrails.org/index.php/about-us/explore-more/42-velas-turtle-festival-2014">Velas,</a> is a small village , in the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, on India's Western Coast. The reason it is famous is because Olive Ridley Turtles come to this beach to lay eggs, and a new generation of Olive Ridley turtles, makes its way into the ocean every year.<br />
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For many years, these eggs were subject to being eaten by predators , including the two legged ones. Then some folks called Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra(SNM) decided to take this up as a project, and worked towards sensitizing the local population and educate them about saving these turtles . <br />
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The Kasav Mitra Mandal(KMM) and the SNM , every year, organize a <a href="http://www.treksandtrails.org/index.php/about-us/explore-more/42-velas-turtle-festival-2014">Turtle Festival</a> in Velas during February and March. The turtle eggs are protected and the area cordoned off . The village mobilizes for hosting world tourists . Homestays offering local food and simple facilities are registered with the organizers . Velas Village is a clean village with warm people who welcome you into
their home and lives when you visit during the Velas Turtle Festival , and their
food is excellent and stay very comfortable. There are strict environmental rules that are followed, regarding trash etc, and keeping in mind the sensibilities of the villagers. Chaotic rushing towards the turtles, and invasive photography is not allowed.<br />
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I went there in March 2015. After an overnight road trip from Mumbai, our group reached Velas early at dawn. Enjoyed delicious simple home food . There are fixed 1 hour slots, planned by years of observation, when the turtle hatching is checked. An hour early morning, and then an hour around 5.30 pm. The hatched turtles then slowly make their way into the ocean, watched by silently applauding folks, behind a rope , clicking away. You may not always see a hatching, but we were lucky. <br />
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We also visited the Bankot Fort nearby and Harihareshwar , a temple town on the beach, on our way back.<br />
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The clean Velas beach,as yet untouched by commerce, which has spoilt all beaches in Mumbai. <br />
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The team leader briefing our group .<br />
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The turtle eggs are protected by cane baskets kept inverted around them, and are checked twice a day for a hatching. There is a special protected enclosure where these are kept, and only authorized folks are allowed inside. Lots of discipline in handling such a festival, and the villagers are to be applauded.<br />
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Notice all the avid photographers and visitor tourists behind the rope boundary. Rules are strictly enforced. The baby Olive Ridley turtles must have a clear unhindered path to the ocean. <br />
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And the journey into this world, begins for some. All by themselves, right from birth. <br />
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And one more step to freedom......</div>
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The slow journey continues, a short breather, and the paparazzi click. As James Bryant Conant said "<span style="color: blue;">Behold the turtle. <br /> He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out....</span>" </div>
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The Velas Sea , welcoming the turtles. </div>
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Sands of Velas<br />
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A beautiful sunrise in Velas heralding some hatchings. </div>
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A typical Velas home, with a huge forested backyard, and buffaloes .<br />
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And, yes , someone is curious about the camera...<br />
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A short walk to the beach at Velas <br />
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A typical house in the heart of Velas... an early morning scene<br />
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This is the type of vegetation that lines the shore at Velas..<br />
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Sunset at Velas</div>
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Normal beach activity at Velas<br />
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The beautiful blue sea at Velas </div>
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Unspoilt by greedy commercial ventures by humans, the coastline has heavy forestation at Velas. The trip to the beach, involves a ten minute walk through some undulating greenery and shrubs, native to the land.</div>
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Me, posing, in a typical backyard of a Velas home. Coconut and Supari(Betel nut) trees are the norm. Notice the well . <br />
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We visited Bankot Fort near Velas the next morning. A square shaped fort, and the place where the first British residency in Kokan was established, it is famous for the usage of a special type of native porous purple stone called Jambhya stone. Surrounded by a now dry moat, with the usual fortifications , there is a Maruti temple at the centre of the Fort. <br />
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A view of the Bankot Bay, from the Fort. <br />
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Typical vegetation at he Bankot Fort in March<br />
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Bankot Bay, "framed" from the Fort<br />
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We took a ferry from the jetty across the Creek where the Savitri River flows into the Arabian Sea. The ferries accommodate, in addition to people, 2 buses and 2 small cars. This is the view of the creek as we went across to Bagmandala on the other side of the creek.<br />
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Another view of the shores (Bankot side) of the Savitri River Creek,</div>
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We waded through these floating in the water, en route to the Harihareshwar temple.<br />
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Bael fruit tree in the temple courtyard<br />
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In praise of the Lord ; offerings to the deity at Harihareshwar<br />
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Reaching Harihareshwar, a temple town favourited by the Peshwa Rulers. The authorities have provided outdoor vantage points for tourists. Some of our group can be seen on this part which is attached to the actual temple. .<br />
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A different silhouette view of the same set up. Harihareshwar beach in the background, where one must be careful about venturing into the sea. <br />
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The sea at Harihareshwar and the promenade. We had a local lunch at Harihareshwar before leaving for Mumbai. <br />
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Very often, devotees ask for something when they worship, and thanksgiving meals are promised in the name of the deity. This is possibly one such thanksgiving meal being conducted by a family, with the family head and his wife, serving the group at a sit down lunch. <br />
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The rocky beach at Harihareshwar and the environs of the ancient temple with a Nandi in stone out on the courtyard. Notice the typical red "chira" stone of Kokan.<br />
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Another view of the sea at full tide at Harihareshwar beach.<br />
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The omnipresent coconut seller, and the now mandatory notices by the government, exhorting folks not to throw trash around indiscriminately.<br />
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Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955614445093308619.post-40450791740331679892015-06-23T14:38:00.001+05:302015-06-23T14:38:28.746+05:30Trek to Kalsubai., Queen of the Sahyadris ..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This was a trek to <a href="http://trekdi.com/index.php?option=com_seminar&Itemid=142&task=3&cid=198">Kalsubai,</a> the highest peak of the Sahyadri Mountains in Maharashtra. The difference between this trek was more than that of region. This was not a Fort. It was also the first monsoon trek of 2015 , as the heavy rains had set in . <br />
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Kalsubai, 5400 feet above sea level, lies at the border of the Nashik and Ahmednagar Districts, near Bhandardara. At the top of the mountain, is a small temple which can hold just 3 people. Since this is also a pilgrim spot, besides being a trekking destination, the government has installed railings and ladders along the way , particularly across difficult rock faces, for the safety of all.<br />
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As a result, there is always some traffic on this trail, with someone even setting up a Kanda Bhajiya stall somewhere high up in the mountains. In fact , the person carrying a sack of onions, was climbing the mountain along with us. <br />
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Thanks to the monsoon clouds, we were unable to see across the various other ranges (the Kulang, Madan and Alang Forts) , of the Sahyadris from the peak, which are normally seen on a clear sunny day.<br />
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We traveled to Kasara, by suburban train on the Saturday night, reaching there by 3 am. We shifted to the village Bari, at the base of Kalsubai , where we stayed the night and at 6 am, were served a delicious poha breakast by the locals. <br />
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The return was by the same route, after descending and a wonderful local lunch at 4 pm . <br />
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The place where we rested for the night. <br />
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View from the place where we rested for the night, what remained of it, 4 am to 6 am....<br />
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Our amazing delicious unlimited breakfast of Kande Pohe with tea , cooked by the viilagers. <br />
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Trekkers grouping together to leave the village, Bari.<br />
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Briefing by the Trek leader before starting.</div>
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This part of a woman's life never changes, regardless of which part of India you travel. Pumps get updated with new numbers, but the chores remain the same. At Bari Village.<br />
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This gushing stream is usually a torrent by the end of the monsoon, and trekkers wade across holding each other and ropes. This being just the beginning of the monsoon, it was easy to cross from Bari to the base of Kalsubai.<br />
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The land being tilled at Bari. Rice cultivation . And the looming monsoon..<br />
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We traversed the paths between fields on our way to the base of Kalsubai.<br />
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Sighting the first waterfall <br />
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It is 2015, but her life does not change. Bringing drinking water from a distance , remains her job. <br />
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The green and the wet, inviting us to sit on our way up.<br />
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Beautiful local flowers sighted while climbing up.<br />
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These dogs are a well known aspect of Kalsubai Treks. They like to accompany trekkers, and are fairly nimble trekkers themselves, and do not use the special ladders and stuff across rock faces. This fellow accompanied me right till the peak. <br />
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A local residence as we climb up the mountain </div>
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A prominent small temple at the lower slopes. </div>
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The local deity, the Hanuman Temple<br />
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The warmth of faith on a cold and foggy day <br />
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At this point, we were just half way up the mountain . The trekkers enclosed in the cold and the fog .<br />
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A clearing, a meeting and a celebration !</div>
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Trekkers enjoying a much needed break. This place has a huge traffic of trekkers. The folks you see are not all from our group. <br />
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Railings installed by the authorities for the convenience of pilgrims and trekkers. <br />
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The piece de resistance of the entire trek ! Hot delicious freshly made kanda (onion) bhajias (fritters), freshly made somewhere near ladder no 4. We had them both on the way up and down, along with tea ! <br />
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This fellow accompanied me all the way from the base to the peak of Kalsubai. These fellows do not use the ladders meant for human trekkers. They simply and nimbly climb up themselves...<br />
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Like us, he too needed a breather . <br />
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The small temple to Kalsubai at the peak. A traditonal puja is held by the local priest every Tuesday and Thursday, and locals regularly climb up here to sell pooja materials while their cows graze amidst the green. At Navratri, there are daily pujas, and even stalls are set up near the summit for the visitors and devotees. <br />
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All part of the temple <br />
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The trishool, with typical offerings to the Goddess Kalsubai, consisting of green blouse pieces, bangles , vermillion and ornaments. <br />
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Celebrations, bells, colored cloth offerings , marking the auspicious occasion.</div>
Ugich Konitarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15901335427613806798noreply@blogger.com0