TMI EPISODE 2- KALAVANTIN DURG

When one gets into a magnificent and glorious Family, he has to indulge himself into the Family activities and is bound to certain duties. I find it as my fortuity that I’m a member of such Family and my Family activities are so appealing that one would die to perform his tasks, so do I and within a matter of seconds I took my decision and registered myself for its next weekend activity.  

Well talking about my journey it all started with a prank by a devil who turned out in to a GODDESS later on ;) . Thank GOD she didn’t cursed me brutally as I gave a pat on her head for the prank. But I was surprised and glad to see you guys (the prank masters) when I reached Panvel Station J . After a 15KMs ride in “TUM-TUM”  we reached our base village “Thakurwadi” had  a few clicks and then we were asked to form a “STRAIGHT CIRCLE” (Only a TMI member can form it :P ) had scrumptious theplas, a quick introduction and  instruction session from our leads; Aniket Thosar, Sandesh Chalke and Vishal Khond and yes it was then we began with our actual trek.

Unlike my last trek the ascend of this trek began with a feeling of wooziness as the clouds were clear, no rain at all L . But soon we came across this dense forest, walking there gave me a feeling as if I’m “BEAR GRYLLS” and started remembering his episodes and soon the wooziness was gone. Those little conversations with this DABANGG Girl  was really awful and cool. Soon this easy and not so challenging trek brought all of us to this slippery rocks as if Kalavantin was angry upon us and said “bohot easy easy bol raha hai naa, le beta tu ab chadke bata upar” but with a “NEVER BACK DOWN” attitude we positively accepted the challenge and finally reached top. The 25 ft rappelling was fun, spectacular job done by Aniket Thosar who reached the top without a rope and tied it so that we can reach the peak safely. It was the first time I was performing rappelling and it was a damn cool thing to do, the time I reached the peak I was blessed to see our GODDESS Sanjna Devi :D and without any delay I went to her, soon the crowd gathered around the GODDESS and it started raining heavily, along with strong blowing wind (THE EPIC BOLLYWOOD SCENE) only a thing that was missing was the swinging temple bells :D soon everyone started taking her blessings, FROOTI TIRTH and MAHA BHOJAN AS PRASHAAD even the atheists took her blessings and the guy I mean me was punished for my morning pat :o . Photo session in this trek was the coolest one, uncanny pose suggestions by everyone and the bad weather which  tormented all of us through out our posing’s.

               Descending has become my favorite session from the whole trek, heavy rain…. strong winds…. foggy weather… What a moment it is? can’t even express it in words, this time descending was very much cool and very much pleasing and this guy Amit Bhadoria with a wicked sense of humor kept us giggling until we reached our base village. Those little waterfalls, heavily flowing water, and  bhutta was the best thing. One should definitely experience it during monsoons. Soon after we reached our base, had a quick change and moved towards Panvel station. As soon as we reached there we were again blessed by our GODDESS, this time with VADA PAV, BHAJIYA & BADAM SHAKE. And soon we took our trains and we were back to the pavilion “HOME SWEET HOME”.  All in the end one more amazing experience to my newly developed passion, “TREKKING”.

Camera Credits:

• Rohan Gokhale

Vote Of Thanks:

• Aniket Thosar
• Sandesh Chalke
• Vishal Khond 
  

Brief Description:

• Event Type: Hill Fort.
• Height: 2330 Feet Above MSL(Approx).
• Grade: Medium.
• Base Village: Thakurwadi.
• Region: Panvel.

         


"While many people abort their plans when rain surprises them, we at TMI Family take it as an opportunity to create a milestone, peculiar and ambitious experience".

TMI EPISODE 1- HARIHAR FORT

                    I've been taught that "Decisions taken in a haste can be dangerous, you should always remember that slow and steady wins the race". But with the desire of doing many things with the shorter span of life, doing things slowly and steadily will end you up “Living in a van down the river”. I believed in this factor and took a quick decision with-in a matter of few minutes to become a part of a sumptuous team named “TMI(Trek Mates India)”.  Thanks to Dharam Paaji (Dharmesh Vithlani) who introduced me to this “BIG-FAT ” Family.

                    It happened to me on a Saturday afternoon when I was sitting like a dead duck doing nothing, when I suddenly came across a blog written by Dharam Paaji “IN AWE OF SAHYADRIS” reading it fired a bullet in my head and I asked him to take me in to the Family and without any hesitation he summed up me with TMI. And as soon as I came to know about the Harihar Fort trek event I didn’t even think of anything else and did my registration with the help of the Family head “Sir. Rahul Barve” Thanks a lot Sirji for accepting my registration in the 11^th hour. Things happened so briskly that for a moment it forced me to give a second thought on my decision, but I told myself “If it is meant to happen it will happen” and without thinking on my decision not even for a second I gave a kick start to my shopping and packing and at got rid of it in the peak hours. It was then I reached my pick up spot, Nitin Company Junction, Thane still rethinking over my hasty decision as it was my first trek so I was a little nervous as well as very much excited. Soon our DHANNO RANI arrived and added a sudden break to my thoughts and geared up my excitement.

                    As soon as I entered our DHANNO RANI I saw each and every individual so happy, energetic and very much enthusiastic looking at their faces I noticed one thing that I was not a stranger to them neither they were to me, I was seeing those guys for the first time but everything was looking so familiar as if I’m going with my Family. The moment our jockey hit the accelerator we on the rear started exploring our singing talents ;) good or bad didn’t made any difference everything was complimented. But there were a few people with extra ordinary talent, few of them are Mr. Santosh Akre at his best with his bongos, Mr. Rahul Barve who is so precise with the lyrics, Dharam Paaji (Dharmesh Vithlani) singing euphoniously, Sanjna Akre best with her tambourine all were appreciated even me who was singing cacophonously :P . My sympathies to those who were disturbed with our singing and a vote of thanks to those who enjoyed it. Still laughing on that RADIO-VIDEO convo between Dharmesh-Pallavi and Lawrence :D during the mid night tea/coffee session, no more comments on that video hushhhhh.

                    Reached the base village Nirgudpada had a change, early morning breakfast, tea and after a short introduction and important instructions session from our mentors Mr. Rahul Barve & Mr. Manoj Kalwar we quickly grabbed our bag packs and gave a head start to our journey “MISSION HARIHAR FORT”. It was an awe-inspiring sight, wet roads, cool and foggy weather, slow and endless drizzle, mountains all around us with lush green plants and trees along with a few naturally formed waterfalls, and the #1 team with prominent front lead, center lead and back lead. 

                       Walking with the crowd having a short  introduction and conversation sessions with almost everyone, making new friends, randomly posing for the snaps was so much fun. Stomping your feet on a muddy land and a walk over the plateau was an easy thing to do, soon we came to this giant 80 Degree wall with 200 horrifying steps, ascending and descending was a real challenge but all in the end it was a terrible and fantastic experience which one should go for. But we all moved forward with the fear, lots of energy, and enthusiasm and with “LAKSHYA KO HAR HAAL MEIN PAANA HAI” attitude.

                    Finally it was done we conquered the fort and reached the top (3550fts), everyone was so blissful that even the happiness gained by one when he/she gets the most expensive gift would have fainted. Soon we moved forward to the ultimate peak of the fort all covered with fog which gave all of us a feeling as if we were in clouds, we all were just enjoying this moment suddenly “INDRA DEV” blessed us with heavy showers and cool storms J WHAT A MOMENT IT WAS!!!!!  Suddenly all opened up their lunch boxes and sharing the dabbas and finishing them ASAP made me remind my school days, we all are familiar with the “CANDLE LIGHT DINNER” but I can challenge anybody that the feeling which one gets through such a meal on a hill top…. Underneath the open sky….. storm, fog, heavy rain, shivering body was worth than a 5 star meal. With in a matter of few minutes the dabbas were finished and later on lead our team to the group photos, i think with those jumps we must have pushed the fort a few inches down ;) post photo session was followed by “DUMB-SHERAZ” rounds... weird movie names.. weird acting.. weird guesses.. and the fun "PRICELESS". Later on we were asked to descend to the base but those pleads from all of us to our mentors took the kid out of all of us. “SIR PLEASE 5 MORE MINS”, “SIR SIR THIS IS THE LAST ONE” “NAI NAI PAKKA YE LAST VALA HAI” :P

                     

                      Now it was the time to descend back to base, descending was easy for a while but when we came across those steps it took the hell out of us. Heavy rain….. strong wind….. foggy weather it was the most difficult thing to do but the team support and the self motivation in all of us helped us to descend safely. Those few minutes spent in a small lake on our way was amazing, finally it was all done within a matter of few hours we reached the base village Nirgudpada. Everyone was so happy and thankful to GOD for helping all of us reach safely to the base without any accidents. The quote proved true to all of us “ALL’s WELL THAT ENDS WELL”. Finally reached home sweet home with lots of memories and astounding experience. HATS OFF to Mr. Rahul Barve for taking the most difficult responsibility of being a back lead(the most difficult position) and our front lead Mr. Manoj Kalwar.

VOTE OF THANKS:

•      Dharam Paaji (Dharmesh Vithlani)
•      Rahul Barve
•      Manoj Kalwar
•      TEAM TMI.

“TECHNOLOGY MAY HELP US CONNECT WITH THOUSAND’s OF HUMAN BEINGS SITUATED IN HUNDRED DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE WORLD, BUT TREKOLOGY CONNECTS ONE WITH THE NATURE WHICH IS WORTH CONNECTING TO THOUSANDS OF HUMANS”.

Brief Description:

Type : Hill forts

Fort Range : Trimbakeshwar

District : Nashik

Endurance : Easy

Difficulty : Medium

Height : 3500 feet.