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.
