Deccan Hikers completed this year's first monsoon trek Ratangad.
Ratangad : A Gem of a Fort.
Height : 4255 ft.
Location : Ahmednagar district near bhandardara
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Hehehe Abhi...mast lihila ahes...!!! It was really a memorable trek..
ReplyDeletem aslo agree with u...Thanx to Amol nd Vinod(Chaudhary Brothers) for leading us 4 succesful trek..
specail thanx to VIDYA for such a testy onion rice...nd for Amrutatulya Chaha..
also thnx 4 amruta,alpana,abhi,rahul..jyani majhe khup chan photo kadhle...hehehe...(laukar upload kara..)
baki saglyana thnxxx...!!!
hey tya alpana chi idea changli ahe re...patapat 3-3 photo pathva tila...nd lets vote..maja yeil!!
Thnx nd Regards
Anand S Joshi(Damn It)
Ratangad – 17th -19th July 2009
ReplyDeleteRatangad.. majhya keyboardtun… hehehehehe (coz kalam nahi vaparla na.. ;-)).
Yet another monsoon, and yet another monsoon trek! This time we headed towards Nashik/Ahmednagar district and planned for “Ratangad”. It’s a very huge and awesome Fort, about 4255 ft high situated near Bhandardara dam in Ahmednagar district.
The planning period i.e. the Pre-Ratangad time was very interesting this time. When we (and here “we” means Amol) planned for this trek, we announced it to all the Kalavantin group, and Reshma Abhijit, myself, Amruta, Anand joshi etc. Most of them agreed instantly, except me.. yaa. Actually since my sister was expecting that time, I was very dicey about coming for the trek. But some how I asked at home and they allowed me to go.. and I m grateful for everyone.. my Jiju, my mom and didi.. for allowing me to go..otherwise I would have really missed such an awesome trek!!!
Well.. my story aside.. so when Amol declared a Wednesday deadline of 8th july, we were 14 altogether.. which then turned down to 13, 12, 11, then 12 and then finally again back to 11 by 17th evening.. so many people wanted to join in, then cancelled, then new ones joined and again cancelled.. uff!! What a mess!! Amol must have got really fed up… by so many changes in schedule, members, distribution of things… oh God!! He has really lot of patience to do all these stuff.. aise hi nahi kehte hum usko hamara Management Guru ..;-)
Finally the d-day arrived and we all geared up.. with our sacks packed.. and in full enthu.. we reached CST station. The plan was to board 12.10 mahanagari express and reach Igatpuri and then from there Bus to Shendi, and then Ferry to Ratanwadi. As planned, we all met at CST station. We reached at around 10.30 pm.. almost haft an hour before time... Our train was at 12.10 am. We all 11 trekkers gathered by 11 pm.. our gang included – Amol, Vinod Dada, Alpana, Reshma, Abhijit, Amurta, Rahul Muley, Anand Joshi, Tushar and Ninad and me too.. :-) Then as usual.. intro, photo of group with self timer from Alpana’s cam, PJs etc etc.. all started. As the train arrived at the platform, we started moving towards the compartment, and found such a huge crowd of all public rushing towards the general compartment.. the scene was terrific. We were so tensed as to how to board the train between such huge crowd. Finally we got hold of a TC and managed to get few berths in the sleeper coach and got so relieved! We traveled so very comfortably till Igatpuri … not only comfortably but by actually sleeping :-) The train departed at almost 12.15 am and we reached Igatpuri Station at around 3.15 am. We got off the train and then waited at Igapturi Station for an hour and in the meanwhile, as usual, had vada pav and tea… for Time Pass !!!
At around 4 am we started walking towards Igatpuri Bus Stand and then waited there for the Bus till 5.30 am. And this time was real fun, when everyone was talking about all they had heard about the “bhoot” and “atma“.. all those bhootwala stories were bubbling up… and finally.. the bus came! I was most happiest I guess.. ;-) We got onto the bus and traveled for an hour and quarter and reached “Shendi” village. There we again had Tea, and this time it was really awesome! Then the same “chaiwala” gave us info that ferry has been stopped due to heavy rains and only source to reach ratanwadi was the Jeep.. which he provided for 500rs. We had no choice but to accept. But this journey till Ratanwadi was most beautiful one. We passed thru the “Bhandardara” dam on the way and the scenery outside was ultimate! What lovely waterfalls… lush green fields, greenery and lovely nature all around.. it was so very beautiful. We also saw the reverse waterfalls i.e. water flowing upwards due to winds.. Some of the guys sat on top of the jeep and we all girls from inside the jeep were all enjoying that lovely journey of almost 35 kms till Ratanwadi.
... to be continued..
At around 8 am we reached Ratanwadi and there we saw a very ancient and beautiful Shiv Temple called “Amruteshwar Mandir”. It was made of Stone, fully carved with beautiful carvings, and very nice Shiv Ling which had got immersed in the water, due to rains I suppose. We all had good time there with our photography and the chai-biscuit and then we started walking towards Ratangad at around 8.45 am. We had to cross a bridge over the “Pravara” river and then the trekking trail started. And there was another group walking just little ahead of us, we just followed them and kadhi navhe te amhi vaat chuklo!” We climbed up the mountain till almost 11.30 am when we realized that we had surely missed the path. Then we halted at an open place and Amol and Vinod Dada went ahead to check all possible paths to find out the route.. but in vain! Then Abhijit and Anand joshi went ahead and checked another path, still found no way. Then we finally decided we had to climb down back till we meet any villager who could direct us to the correct route. And we did so.. at around 12.45 we started climbing down and reached a small hut on the way at around 1.15 pm. Little more we walked down and fortunately met a villager who somehow agreed and took us to the correct path and left us at a very safe point. It was a small plateau and from there we started our climb once again on our own. Since we had already walked so much.. most of us had lost all the energy. We hadn’t even had lot of food, just little bit of biscuits, wafers etc. in between. So most of us were drained out completely. But we all still kept on walking, cheering and encouraging each other, step after step, with small halts and breaks and some how managed to reach the most awaited shidi. There were 2 iron ladders placed at the huge rocks to help people climb till the top. This “shidichi vaat” was the most exciting and most thrilling part of the Ratangad trek. All over it was completely foggy, we could hardly see anything. And it was raining so heavily and continuously that we were fully wet from tip to toe. And while climbing the shidi, we could hardly see anything, but still managed to see the view below the shidi.. it was so steep and actually bit scary.. but we really enjoyed climbing both the shidi a lot. Finally we reached the caves on Ratangad at around 4.00 pm. Fully tired.. completely exhausted.. and extremely hungry!! Then we first grabbed some space in the cave, to somewhat suffice for our 11 member group. As there were already 2 groups in the same cave, and total 4 groups on the fort at that time, it was very difficult to manage the space. But we somehow managed to get that. And then we put down our sacks, mat and made enough room for all of us. Then Amol, me and Vinod dada started preparing for food. And by that time, other guys got busy in tying the rope for drying clothes, getting water for preparing food, washing utensils etc. We cooked maggi which was really nice to taste. I’m sure everyone had more than they could have usually had at home! Hehhehehe… and then we made the very tasty tea.. “amrutatulya chaha” as named by Anand Joshi.. Damn it!
ReplyDelete... to be continued...
After having our stomach full.. nobody even wished to get up and go out for any site-seeing ;-) Actually it was raining so heavily and complete fog everywhere that we could barely see anything beyond 5 feet. So it was only wise to lie down and have rest…to get fresh for the next day.. and that’s exactly what we did.. we lied down and… sang songs.. played Alpana and my fav game – our very own Antakshari.. hehehe… and PJs coming in between.. and then songs like “kunna kunna.. “ instead of the original “tunna tunna”.. and all such time pass masti and all… Then after some time again at around 9 pm we started to cook for the dinner. We made nice tasty Onion rice.. recipe by the groups very own Chef.. yours Truly.. And to my surprise.. everyone like the rice.. hehehe… at least everyone said so ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd then we all went off to sleep..
The next day morning we got up at around 5.30 am and unwillingly everyone woke up and got ready to go out of that cozy cave out into the rains.. I and Alpana went up to the water cistern to fill up bottle. It was so very gusty near the tank that we could hardly stand.. and totally foggy everywhere.. couldn’t even make out any structures near by. So we decided there’s no point in site-seeing even in the morning time and lets just pack up and start climbing down. We went back to the caves and heated the yesterday’s rice for breakfast and then again made the very tasty tea.. “amrutatulya chaha” and had rounds and rounds of it ;-) This shows people either actually liked it very much.. or were feeling so very cold that wanted hot tea again n again ;-) I’ll take the first one… heehhehee..;-)
And Before I forget, I would like to mention that all the Guys.. Esp . Rahul Muley, Anand Joshi etc. did great job in getting water bottles filled and cleaning all utensils everytime by going into rains and immersing hands into such cold water.. Thanks Guys! You people were rocking!
Finally after our pet-pooja we packed our bags, burnt the waste, had all the photography sessions.. with wonderful ideas of Alpana the great and Rahul Muley the great… and after all the time pass and all.. we left the caves at around 10.30 am.
While climbing down the shidi again it was very amazing.. bit scary too.. but that’s ok.. fun part was more :-) Then from there we started walking and the route was very straightforward, nothing tough as such. We all singing songs.. sharing jokes and stories.. kept walking along the route.. and reach the same plateau till where the previous day that villager had dropped us. And this was a rocking time that we had.. at this plateau.. coz here we clicked the 16 shots snap of jumping in air..O my God! How marvelous it was! We all jumping in air and laughing and O God! I got cramp in my knee, fell off, laughter and giggles all over.. Donno how the photographs have finally come, but the making of the photographs was much more thrilling than the actual photographs!!! I’m sure everyone will definitely agree with me for this.. Thanks Abhijit for bringing up this idea.. we had lot of fun on this..
....to be contiunued....
Then after all those photo sessions we again started off and reached the river which we crossed almost thrice or four times, twice with the help of rope as the flow of water was too high. This was very nice experience again.. and also when while waiting for other guys to come, I and Alpana played into the river for hardly 5-10 mins.. but had a wonderful time.. that was only what we hadn’t done till then.. playing in the river water.. and then when everyone arrived, we all set off again towards the base and reached the Ratanwadi Amruteshwar temple at around 2.30 pm. The Jeep was already ready for us, as Amol had already phoned them up at 10.00 am before we started off from the top. So as we reached, we grabbed our places, this time we girls Alpana, Reshma and me, along with Amol and Vinod Dada on the jeep top! It was an amazing experience again.. to travel that 35 km beautiful patch sitting on top of the Jeep. Though it was raining heavily, and windy also, but that’s what we had come to enjoy.. the nature at its best!!
ReplyDeleteWe reached Shendi at around 3.30 pm, had bit of snacks.. bargained with the Jeep owner and booked it till Igatpuri. Then we started off at around 4 pm and reached Igatpuri at around 5.30, reached Igatpuri station and took tickets for the Geetanjali express departing at 6.15. We boarded the train and reached Kalyan station at around 8.10 pm. On the way, we all kept on peeping into each other’s camera to catch a glance of the photographs we had clicked, except for Alpana’s, who’s camera battery had drained … unfortunately! So she could hardly click any photographs in the return journey!
Thus we were all back to home by around 9.30 pm.. with all those sweet unforgettable memories in our mind.. our minds filled with great enthusiasm and happiness, full of energy and truly satisfied with the two days two nights Trek in the Sahyadri! It was exactly how each one of us had wanted- drenched in the rains, whole lot of thrill, some bit of scary patches, full of excitement and entertainment… and in literal sense.. "nisargachya kushit.. "
When asked about the next trek, everyone showed so much of keenness… hope everybody joins in into the next trek of the Deccan hikers.. the nomenclature done by our Management Guru.. to our hikers group!
(PS: Thats the end of it...pata hai sabko bahut bore kiya... but this is what i felt about our trek and wanted to share with all.. :) interested people can do read it.. no compulsions.. hehehhee :)
Link to my pics of Ratangad..
ReplyDeletehttp://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0RYuGLdw2YsT2
Other links
ReplyDeleteAlpana's Photos :
http://picasaweb.google.com/alpana.satam/RatangadDeccanHikers1819July09?authkey=Gv1sRgCJK35LPWndCiXg#
Amruta's Photos :
http://picasaweb.google.com/patwardhan.amruta/Ratangad?authkey=Gv1sRgCPy1naT8nMS6Jg#
Rahul's Photos :
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/muley.rahul/RatangadTrek1819Jul2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCK_bu_DdsqOkLA&feat=directlink&fgl=true&pli=1#