Ajoba - Trek with Epic Connection

Ajobagad           आजोबागड

Trek with Epic connection

Height – 4511 ft.                      Type – Medium            Duration – 1 Day          Date – 8^th Aug 2015

Author & Photos : Amol

 

जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी

("Mother and motherland are superior to Heaven.")

Lord Ram and his ethos like one mentioned above are integral part of our nation. And so is Rushi Valmiki who has presented it to the world through Ramayan. So when trek has such epic connection, it becomes all the more interesting.

In India we have many places associated with Lord Ram and Ramayan. However, it’s rare to see things associated with Rushi Valmiki or Luv-Kush (Lord Ram’s 2 sons).

Ajoba (meaning Grandfather in Marathi) mountain is the place which is known as where Rushi Valmiki has stayed and Luv and Kush grown up here. Rushi Valmiki was like their grandfather, hence the mountain is known as Ajoba or Ajaparvat.

Dehane is the base village for Ajoba. It can be reached via Asangaon- Shahpur- Dolkhamb – Sakurli- Dehane route or Kalyan – Murbad – Tokawade – Dehane route. Our earlier plan was to go by public transport. However with some last minute efforts from Bharat, we could get motorbikes. So from Kalyan, we started on bike .I was riding Honda unicorn and Bharat on Bajaj discover. I opted for Shahpur route to save on time.

Riding on bikes in rain with so much of greenery around was absolute bliss. Especially on highway, cruising constantly at 80 Kmph was fun. We had breakfast break at Kamat’s before shahpur. Then moved on to interior road till Dehane. Even though road was not smoothest one, it was enjoyable with all rain and greenery around. Soon we reached to Dehane.

Actual Ajoba mountain is the one which can seen towards left side from Dehane. However since there is nothing on the top of it, Most of the trekkers trek the right side pinnacle which is called Sitecha Palna or Sitamai’s cradle.

There are three parts of the trek. First is from base (Dehane) to Valmiki Ashram. It is simple gradual walk.

Then second part is from Ashram to Khind (pass – A narrow passage between two mountains). Gradient of this Climb is bit more than first part (around 55 degree). 

 At Khind you are supposed to climb on mountain which is at your right side. But to proceed further, you have to climb around 20 -25 feet rock patch. After crossing rock patch, inside cave there is cradle which is called Sitamai’s cradle and Luv-Kush’s paduka (wooden footware) are carved inside this cave. This cave is visible from Khind too. After crossing rock patch you can reach at the top pf the pinnacle and come back. This is a third part.

It was cool morning with continuous rain showers. As we had bikes, we could ride till there was kachha road (road in progress). Then we parked our bikes and started the trek. It was lush greenery all around and fog surrounding us and valley around. Constant rain was also accompanying it. This nice cool rainy weather was perfect for trek. Enjoying the greenery and absorbing unique fragrance of wet soil and greenery (no perfume in the world can beat that) in less than hour we reached in Ashram.

Ashram is situated on small plateau amidst forest. It is very picturesque landscape. Evenly spread greenery of tree lines in the red soil bathing in the rain engulfed in the thin layer of fog. It was giving very serene feeling.  Inside Valmiki ashram, there is samadhi of Valmiki rushi. There is Shiva temple on the right side of ashram. On the left side there is small hut which is used to cook food for Sadhus or serve the Prasad. In front of Samadhi, there is Dhyan Kendra (Meditation room) built in shape of pyramid. On it’s left side there is Dharmashala.

Now It has started raining heavily and surrounding was completely drenched with hardly any sunlight coming through thick trees. We sat for a while in ashram but rain continued. So we decided to have quick lunch of bread Jam and move for next part of trek. We ate that and…… there were people in neighboring hut, they started calling us for having Prasad. Now that was a (good) problem. We already had our stomach full and eating more means climbing with heavy stomach, which is no-no for hike. Only on some days they make the Prasad for everyone. And today was that day. (and we had to obliged them because of their kind insistence). We were served nice hot steaming rice with dal, mix. veg. of brinjal-potato and papad. Wow, when you are completely drenched, in cold weather, midst of jungle, and you get such treat………heaven…………What more you can ask for? :-) ……………………..

We started next part of the trek. This climb is steeper than first part and through thick jungle. And we had our stomach too full. So we started climbing slowly. Trail starts behind hut adjacent to Ashram. Then it crosses stream at one place. Due to very thick vegetation, one can hardly see anything sideways. It is just a narrow trail strewn with big rocks. Slowly and gradually we reached in Khind (Pass).

This is beautiful spot. Very narrow V shaped opening between two tall mountains. View from here was simply awesome. You can see deep valley in front of you as well as behind. Lush green valley below and fog and clouds spread around. All this is enclosed with black rock border of mountain from both sides and rain was providing toppings.

There is rock patch of 20-25 ft in the right side mountain and above that Sitecha Palna (Sitamai’s Craddle) and

cave in which Luv-Kush’s paduka are carved. Even though it is at 20-25 ft. high, it is visible from Khind. Earlier, iron ladder was placed there to climb this rock patch, however now it is kept at ashram. Without ladder, I tried to climb this patch because further trail was going from there onwards. But there was no grip on the rock patch. In other season, there would be at least some chance to cross by rock climbing. However due to heavy rain and moss, rocks were wet and slippery, I searched to cross the patch from elsewhere. There too, it was very slim chance. Another point was even though I would have climbed through it somehow, rest of the group couldn’t have managed that. Also risk was very high due to rain. So, after few attempts by me and Pratik, I decided to turn back. One should be careful on this patch and part above it. Few years back a girl from SIES College lost her life on this trek only.

Other trek members were engrossed with clicking photographs, so I have to force them to start walking again :-). We started descending slowly and gradually through path full of boulders and reached to ashram again. Clicked few photos and started descending further. Soon reached to spot where we parked our bikes.

Rain god was smiling through-out. We started riding back. At Dolkhamb, we halted for snack break. After refueling ourselves with delicious hot Vadapav, bread cutlet, Kanda bhaji and Tea., We started riding again in full speed in order to touch the highway before it became dark completely. We managed that. Then to avoid traffic at Bhiwandi by-pass we took one internal road to Kalyan. That added another adventure with no lights, road full of speed breakers and pot holes, our bike head lamps were providing light just little more than candle and heavy vehicles from both the sides. Still we reached to Kalyan safely ;-). I think more than riders -me and Bharat, pillion riders – Navin and Pratik must have heaved sigh of relief :-). 

It was nice trek added with 170 Km bike ride. It was wonderful experience.