Tahuli

Tahuli

Photos and written by : Amol  

Miles and Miles together….only soft lush green carpet spread all around…..nice cool breeze playing sweet music….. and clouds spreading its wings to  lift your soul……thick wall of fog giving you heavenly feeling….and rain drops to quench your thirst of joy…..That’s what happens when Monsoon starts spreading it’s Magic. And when this happens, one should simply submit himself to nature, get completely immersed in the flow and absorb the magic with all his senses.

To get such cloud nine feeling, place that we selected was “Tahuli” near Kalyan district in Maharashtra. Tahuli was not a fort per se where historical battles took place or monuments were built. But except that, it has all the elements of good trek. It is less frequented by trekkers, That makes it more inviting for adventure seekers.

 

For Tahuli, one needs to take a KDMT bus going to Malanggad from Kalyan ST stand and get down at Kushivali village. Buses ply at every 30 -40 min and journey takes approx. an hour or so. We got down at Kushivali at 8.30 in the morning.

Big bullock cart trail within lush green surrounding takes you almost to the center of the mountain range. After approx.. 30 min. walk, there is big diversion at right. There are few small diversions before that too. Arrow marked on the rocks helps in confirming the right trail. Now trail at right starts climbing gradually through jungle and will take you to a big water fall. It takes around 1 hour to reach at this spot from the beginning of the trek. This is very beautiful spot where one can sit and enjoy the waterfall.

It was drizzling all the way. After crossing the waterfall, trail became narrow and steep. It moves through thick tree lines. Another 30 min, of such climb after waterfall, brings us to small plateau. This plateau was welcome change as there was less gradient (Steepness) to climb now. We were in the open with fog all around in the mountain.it was serene heavenly feeling.

Now multiple trails were joining the main trail. Good part is that there are arrow marks at many places to guide right path. Another 30 min climb from here, took us to a small house like structure. There is Shivlinga and small well in front of the house. We took a quick refreshment break and started our journey onwards.

Now trail has become bit less steep. After some time, few steps and trail takes sudden right turn. Water coming up from the mountain, flows over a trail and falls into the deep valley. Railings are fixed at this place for safety. Immediately after this spot there is another house. One baba (holy man) stays here. He offered us hot black tea. Nothing beats drinking hot tea when you are completely wet and in the middle of the jungle and mountain. It is around 30 min distance from first house.

From next to this place, two paths bifurcates. Right one goes to Panch peer and left goes to Dadima. Both places are almost 1 hour climbing distance from here. At Dadima there is structure which are like 5-6 tombs. It is covered by green chadder. But as per a history told by a local person here, it is a place of  goddess of shakti. This place was a place of worship for Navnaath. Both Hindu and Muslims come here to offer prayers.There are 3 small house like structures here. One of it has a board of Sant Gadge baba Ashram.

Panch peer also has a dargah like structure similar to “Dadima”.

All along the way it was raining continuously and thick fog all around us. That was giving a feeling of being “over the cloud” :-)

Coming down is equally tricky, as arrows marked for going up need not help you while coming down. In such situation only  common sense and experience helps in selecting right path.

Slowly and steadily we came back to Kushivali, took bus to Kalyan and from there, back to home with lots of sweet memories.