Leaving early was as usual on top of our agenda! But …….we
were on time….Indian Std Time.
Friday afternoon we were on top of luck by getting bookings
in MTDC resort. By late night through some flash arrangements, we got 2
vehicles booked, against the earlier decision of reaching there by ST bus/
bikes.
Left NKP by 9.15AM……..had to pick up 3 more guys from
Bhandup/Thane and we were too stucked in busy lanes of Bhandup. Apart from some
old artistic buildings and elephants wavering on the road the journey was not
happening by the time we stopped at a liquor shop. After some long and
unhealthy discussions we picked 3 Whiskey+1 Vodka+1/2 Rum and few beers for the
onward journey. As soon as we left Thane, both the vehicles were racing wildly.
It was neither official or unofficial race…but guys sitting inside were
cheering aloud, whenever 1 crosses the other.
The Nashik Highway is one of the better roads around Mumbai.
This was the time I missed my bike first.
We halted at a fuel stn to fill it up, got some stuffs from
store to make our raat-rangeen!
Our spirits were high So was the speeds of both vehicles. As
soon as we left the highway and took a right to enter Kalyan, the speed was
brought down due to busy Sunday noon. Everyone from Mumbai/Thane was travelling
and so was Kalyan. More than vehicles it was local ‘janta’ on the road! Somehow
we managed to pass that stretch and were running amidst lush green roads.
Good thing we were not expecting traffic any further,
atleast before Malshej
Bad thing…No rains yet! L
Sun was taking its TOLL….by 1 PM we halted at a place for
lunch. Name of the place was too long to mention here….but the food and service
was worth!
2 Chicken Handi +x number of Sev Tomato and few veggies +
4~6 rice + 3~4Dal fry+ x Roti + n Bhakri + xn Chaas resulting
in total bill of 2100/- including 1 box of packaged water bottles, gave us a
refreshing break at a stealing price.
Now our aim was to reach Malshej Ghat asap. The high
standing veteran mountains, with tops intermittently visible between foggy
clouds was giving us a cold chilling inside the bone. The first view of these
high old mountains always gives me a apprehensive feeling. Its hard for me to
digest the fact that mountains so huge, so hard, still so beautiful and solid,
have been cut through for the passage of humans. What if they decide to give
back what they get from us?
This place is one the places that make a memorable mark in
your memory forever! Its always been a pleasure to visit this place.
And by the time were on the Ghat, looking for a perfect spot……
rain was falling chama-cham cham!
It wasn’t so rainy here in the ghats, you can make it
out through the count and intensity of
the falls.
It was by 3:30 we were on top at a favourite place of
mine….where you could enjoy an isolated fall.
All 14 of us were on the top, eventhough the cops standing
down were alerting us thru whistles and instructing to come down….but who
cares! We follow a lot of rules in city….let me follow the nature here! After
level 1 hike but headed for level 2, although that was not a good idea as the
path was too steepy and muddy, and due to lack of rains there was nthing much
to do above.
I still can feel the locks around my thighs due to steep
hikes. After hours of cold/warm session we headed towards MTDC resort, as it
was getting a little darker and also raining heavily by that time and that
whole area was covered with fog. Cops started shouting at everyone….to
shopkeepers to close their shops….public to run away with their vehicles. It
was like doomsday is here…..so run as far as you can!!
The hill station of Malshej ghat is managed by MTDC, which has
the best possible location all over Maharashtra but services are not
up-to-mark. There is no other accommodation point all over the GHat aart from
MTDC. Also not much transport facilities are available here in Malshej Ghat. So
when its dark you are like lost in here…..The mountains are so big….but due to
poor visibility you cannot move much around. We decided instead of having
dinner at the same place, we will go to a local dhaba/restaurant.
Which we found after running down some 5-6 kms (1 or 2 kms
as per AG) towards Junnar.
The place was so-so….so was the food……we had a great
time……..time was the only restriction!
One thing I admire for this place being very honest with
prices………unlike commercial hills such as
Lonavala/Matheran……where you have to burn the pocket for sufficing your desires.
We were really having a good time…with all the music on
guitar by KS and vocals by everyone! The only problem was restaurant owner was
not enjoying it, due to closing time of 11 PM and we were high on spirits and
less on food orders.
While going back to hotel, we found our driver is too high and out.
Another guy……drop us till the hotel in his vehicle…….and thank god our driver
was too drunk and not drunk in limits….coz someone with unknown limits and high
spirits cannot drive at this place at midnight when there is no visibility. By
no visibility I really meant no visibility even at a distance of 2 feet. By the
time I came to the room, some were already dead for the night in their beds.
Others have their own agendas………..left liquors, music, cards……….
We even had a guest…. Constable Rahul Bande….age
26…..married @23….joined the force@ 22……. Likes vodka…..with water, was on
night duty at MTDC and was looking for a place to sleep. [that all was his self
explained biography]. We had 25 beds to sleep……and we were only 14…..so space
was never a problem…..we could have accommodated more 10 like him!
After some rounds of dizzy flash……we went outside…..nothing
was visible…….. there were still people around the gate…… playing music in
their car systems. Had a good walk round the resort and came back to room……time
for every one to sleep! Morning I got up at 7…….no hangover ….i was fearing due
to lack of sleep, but it was good climate that saved me……. Outside people were
walking around and some were getting ready for onward journey or site-seeing!
Then I found that our toilet/bathroom was open to all…… and I was in Q…….but I
did it, and came back into bed. Next time I opened my eyes it was 10.30AM….and
I was feeling fresh for another day out. BY 12 we checked out of resort……… cell
phone of ST was missing and we reported that to reception as we were also in
doubt due to common toilet scenario……..but it was found later in one of the
bags.
After checking out we went straight to a lake…………. the road
was not good to reach there but The spot was excellent……there were few day
party makers already enjoying at the lake side…..and it was a perfect
destination for such thing. From this point we started our journey back on
track, but as soon as we came at 1st waterfall…..all we could see was
immense crowd……..traffic jam was the outcome. Few of us got out of the car and
started walking on the road…….with a quick dip in the falls wherever liked. We
walked almost for 2~3 kms….with people all around us…some standing…some
dancing…some sleeping on the road……. Traffic jams were getting
longer-n-longer….it was all fault of fallen road cliff, only half the road was
left…so only 1 side vehicle could paas……But walking all that was really
greatful and enjoying for stags like us….with readymixes in our hands……..hot
corn ready to serve…….and the windy rain giving you no chance to stay dry. I
was carrying an umbrella this time……coz it has been my experience that if you
are going home next day….considering the post effect……try to stay as dry as
possible…..from outside as well as inside! So I was only enjoying the ‘greener
side’.
Photo courtesy: Debmalya
Mukherjee
AC and AG were the most excited about the falls……..and there
was something about the falls today….which wasn’t yesterday. It seemed
intensity of falls was directly proportional to crowd………. Lot of people were in
the falls…on the road….over the top…..down there….up there but still there was
place for more and more people to accomodate. Also monsoons are good to spot
the flamingoes in Malshej Ghat. Once the
waterfalls were gone….we were still walking down the ghat…….at last we came
where our vehicles were parked but no one was willing to leave this place so
early. Music was played at full volume there and we were dancing beside the
road. By the time we left it was 4.30PM. The cars were again on full rampage
while coming back.
On our return journey we again halted at the same good
restaurant………and had a sizzling snack session
This time it was…..kanda Bhajia+ Missal +wada-ussal+ x chai+ n chaas …….and we
were all charged up again……..to go back home………taking back lot of memories of
good moments……lush greenery…….thrilling waterfalls…….exotic nature trails………….
Place: Malshej Ghat
Duration: 1N/2D
Headcount: 14
Expenditure: 25k (approx)
Satisfaction: priceless
Memories: unlimited
