Rajmachi Trek.

It's late, i know, but never had time to write a blog on my first ever monsoon trek. Been either busy or lazy or blank! Now, i guess it's come back.

The place i walked all along in the rain in the company of few people was rajmachi in maharashtra.
Rajmachi is a village which is around 2 hrs by train from pune. It's a place lot of trekkers visit during the monsoon season. Let me use 'I' instead of 'we' wherever applicable. Why? i'm a narcissist and because it's MY blog.

I started from hyderabad sometime in the evening. I missed the actual boarding point and had to catch an auto to go to another point and that cost me 50 bucks. So much for my punctuality! I almost missed the second boarding point. The place the second boarding point was in, was a new place to me and i had to be in conversation on phone with the travel agency guy to help me find the place. I just made it! or so i was told, because the bus left after 10 mins! Few more people from the group jumped into the bus. All in all, i think there were 16 people on board. The bus was heading to pune.

It was 4 in the morning when 'I' reached pune. People got down and walked towards railway station. Arrghh! i had an incomplete sleep in the bus, then standing on a deserted road and then had to walk. The best part among the three affairs was the deserted road. For some reason, i don't know why, i just love a deserted/empty/temporarily uninhabited road in the night. In this case, it was early morning. The walk! yes it took around 20 mins. i don't even remember! Reached the station and 'I' was waiting for the train to rajmachi. The worst part, waiting for another hour!!!!!!! By jupiter, there should be rain and guess what......there was rain! 'I' had a cup of tea and was talking to others. During the conversation with the group, i was told there will be no phone recharge point at rajmachi and hence I should get my phone recharged. Few of us got along and went looking for a point and we found one. There were 3 people who were charging their phones and many slot were available. So, we put our phones for recharge. 5 minutes after i plugged in my phone, there were more people rushing in and the slots were filled. Then the 'typical' indian - adjust karo bhaiee - thing cropped up.
One person, had a multiple pin holder and he freed one slot to plug the multi pin and put chargers into it. There was another guy, who took out a spike buster! When will this adjust karo thing go off man. Remember, this early morning. I wonder what the scenario would have been if it was any of the other parts of the day.
The train time was approaching. 'I' start walking towards the platform. By the time i had got there. the train was already there. Got in, caught one of the seats that was meant for us. Spoke to few and then retired to my usual self. The train started to move. There were around 6 of us in this section and the rest went on to the other side. 'I' was given tepala and chocolates to survive on for 2 days of trekking. I have always had trouble catching up a conversation with people, exception would be when i meet like minded people. I really mean when i say- Like minded people. It's not just a phrase i prefer using in the same tone as other do. It's been a rare occasion for me, ending up meeting people with whom i would love to catch up a conversation where the word pretension doesn't exists, as far as action is concerned. I watched these people cracking jokes, through out the journey, which were so childish and the only word i could attach to them was - Douche. I understand they have this -light lelo bhai - kinda attitude but i personally find it so 'stay away from them' sort. It's happening so often that i find solitude better than being amidst them. Anyway, i do have the attitude of - adjust karlo bhai - with people. I think this comes from my IT background.
The train was on the move. It was going through khandala and lonavala. I stood at the doorway to get a glimpse of the rain and the surrounding picturesque view and i thoroughly loved it. There was one point, the first tunnel the train passed. The part i loved was when the train exited the tunnel. Imagine this. The train enters the tunnel - it's dark and when it gets out, you see white clouds - its totally white - all around. Does it give you a feeling of heaven? I have never experienced this thing before and have never seen anything like it so far. Whiteness around. At one time i felt like jumping straight through it, not knowing what's below or where i would land.

The train made a stop at our destination - Rajkat. The plan was to catch a tuk-tuk to some place and start out trek from there. The place where the tuk-tuk or what in hyderabad are called 'shared-autos', dropped us at a point where tar road or 'pakka' road ends. The ground was wet and there was greenery all around. People decided to have their breakfast. Ended up finding a small house-cum-restaurant where poha and tea was ordered. Everyone introduced themselves and got into a conversation. I as usual, recoiled to myself, preferred to walk around and see the dog which was tied up. I ended up getting few shots of the dog. People had their breakfast, got out and started the trek.

The trek began with walking through farmlands and plain surfaces. Farmers were working saying 'haiya-haiya' to the animals. We found a guide, in the form of two kids - brothers - who decided to lead us to rajmachi village. Few kilometers of walk, the plain lands gave way to elevated and turny routes. There was rain. Getting wet in the rain is altogether a different affair. I always get a felling that the world has stopped and is going in snail's pace and its NOT a rat race out there. You are what you are! There were tress all around and lush green surroundings. The first 'I' made was at the waterfall. Water was gushing. The group decided to climb to the top - walking against the gushing water. I was IN. I started my ascend. The water was hitting all the time - cold water. It takes hardly a minute to get used to the temperature. I climbed, slipped, floated, hurt myself, put my head against the water. THIS was adventure. Few of us reached the top and were standing under the gushing water. we were watching others climb to the top. There was one moment where i slipped and slided down. This was pretty extreme fall. It was like falling from level 4 to level. Luckily, it was not VERY grave. I was told that it was grave. Someone, held my hand and stopped me from falling further. Wow! that was one fall, i would say. 'I' spent some time playing in the water. The rocks were slippery so had to be careful while descending, having experienced a fall! Lot of leeches, small ones, stick to the clothes and skin. Had some time for that as well, to remove them and clean up myself. 'I' resumed my walk. The rain was harder now.
The monsoon trek has its romanticism and i'm a rain-loving guy. The hills were getting steeper and there were kilometers to go before we reach the village. 'I' made frequent stops on the way to look back at the view the sahyadris had to offer. The rain was hitting my face and it was getting colder as i was getting drenched in the rain. Was it time for tea? We found a shop at the top of the hill which was selling tea, corn, fried groundnuts et al. The tea rejuvenated my trekking pace. After a 2 km walk from the place where i had tea, 'I reached RAJMACHI village!!! yippee.

The village was like.....a village. Few people, fewer houses, peace. Most of the people i saw were trekkers. 'I' dropped my back at the place where we were supposed to stay and headed to the fort. There are two forst in rajmachi - Shriardhan and Manaranjan. 'I' went to one of the forts.

The walk to the fort is amazing and even more amazing is the fact that you are over the clouds all the time. I stood at one of the places at the fort and watched the rain drop hit perpendicularly. It was like in the movies as you see the bullets hit. After a brief stint, i headed to the top of the fort. I couldn't see anything, it was totally covered with clouds. When i reached the top, i looked down and guess what? I couldn't see anything, it was totally white and this nothingness was the one of the beautiful things i have ever seen. I sat on the edge and tried to feel it all. Looking up - nothing, looking down there is nothing. Say the same for left and right. It was simple brilliant. At times, the clouds made way and i was able to see something but soon filled the space.

When 'I' was getting down with 2 others, we noticed a 'stone tank' filled with water. We decided to sit down and spend sometime. We had a long talk and started splashing water with our feet like school kids and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the moment. We talked all the way back down.

The night had set in. People spent their time singing while i went into my shell, sleeping. It was dinner time. Roti, a curry, rice and dal was served. It was so good that i couldn't stop asking for more, besides the hunger calls were severe.
'I' retired to bed immediately post dinner. Had to get up early next day. 'I' had to walk from rajmachi to lonavala all the way. It's 40 kms of walk!!!

It was morning, the next day. I got up , brushed my teeth like everyone else. For breakfast, poha and tea was served. Had it quickly and it was time for us to leave. The walk began at 7. On the way, stopped to see waterfalls and took few pictures. It was a good walk, had to be. It was around 1 when we reached lonavala. Had a cup of tea on arrival and went for lunch. After the lunch, went to the railway station. The train for hyderabad was at 3:30.

I reached hyderbad the following morning. No sleep and had to rush to the office.