Summer Waterfall Trek to Canyon Valley, Khandala

On the way from Mumbai to Lonavala, there is a ghat section near Khandala with hills on one side and deep valley with waterfalls on the other.  Ulhas river originates from this valley and thus called as Ulhas valley or Canyon valley or Tiger valley.

With a height of 320 feet, Canyon Valley Waterfall happens to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls located close to the city and is the only waterfall seen during summer.

Canyon valley trek surprises you with its features. Unlike other treks,  you descend first , cross the river and then ascend . Descend is from Lonavla and the trek ends at Khandala near Kamat restaurant.

ENROUTE TO LONAVALA

We started from Mumbai by Indrayani Express and reached Lonavala at around 8.00 AM. Our meeting point was near ticket counter at Lonavala Station. There were participants from both Mumbai and Pune.

THE TREK

After a brief introductory session and breakfast, we headed towards the valley. After 45 minutes of walk we reached the mouth of the valley. The trek starts with a sudden descend.

There were small crystal clear water ponds on our way and we took few minutes break to click photographs.

Then the group continued the walk through rocks by climbing and jumping.

And then the first rock patch appeared and all of us crossed it without major hurdles.

The next rock patch was a little difficult. We passed the bags and then the participants crossed one by one. Volunteer's helped others to descend. Those who have already crossed got an opportunity to take some rest. It was somewhat difficult for the first time trekkers.

Finally we reached the base of the valley. We walked towards the waterfall. The continuous sound of the waterfall started hitting our ears in the silence.

The water is mixed with  sewage from Lonavala,  so not really clean and refreshing. But visiting  this ones all season this waterfall  is worth visiting. There was a big pond under the falls and most of us  jumped into it. After a nice bath, we opened our food packets. That was our lunch for the day.

It was around 1.00 PM, we started our ascending. This was new in this particular trek.


There was a stream and water pond to pass and  hardly one person can walk through the edges by catching the rocks. The beautiful view of the water stream was worth spending the time just looking at it and relaxing.

Then we continued our climbing. There was one small waterfall and we filled our bottles.  After 3 hours of trek, we reached the top of the valley. After few minutes of rest, we moved towards the highway to take a rickshaw to Lonavala.

Surely, Canyon valley trek is one of the most exciting trek I ever had .

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Elephanta Caves

I visited most of the places in Mumbai but missed Elephanta Caves - a UNESCO heritage site. I discussed my plan with my friends on a busy Saturday and some of them also wanted to visit the place. The day following, we assembled near the Gateway of India and took a ferry ticket for Rs.130 to Elephanta and back.

Gateway of India

The Elephanta Caves are located on Elephanta Islands in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometers from Mumbai, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.  An hour boat journey itself was refreshing and we tried our maximum to capture the magnificent view of Mumbai.

Soon we reached Elephanta Island and this board greeted us.

Mini train is available from the ferry to the entrance of Elephanta Caves  and from there we have to walk a few steps to reach the first cave. There are shops on both sides and are covered with shades.

The island consists of two groups of caves - the first five caves are related to the Hindu religion and another two caves are Buddhist caves.

Remember not to carry food items as the monkeys seem to be trained to steal food.

It was a hot walk and climb to the caves.  It's really a surprise to see the sculpture , the architecture, the sheer monumentality of these caves. Most of the priceless statues were damaged or destroyed.

The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main idol is Siva also known as Trimurti Sadashiva and Maheshmurti, the three heads are said to represent three essential aspects of Shiva — creation, protection, and destruction.

Siva idol at Elephanta Caves

The roof of the cave and the shapes of the pillars reflects the perfection of stone architecture. This is one of the striking collections of rock-art in India.

Carvings at Elephanta Caves

Out next destination was Cannon Hill, one has to walk about 30 minute without proper steps to reach the top. Two big Cannon were placed on two sides of the Hill. The view from top was amazing.

Cannon

After exploring both cannons, we headed downhill for lunch. On the way back, we decided to wait for the mini train to go back to the ferry.



 If you are a fan of history and love to travel, then Elephanta Caves must be in your list.

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Prabalmachi Camping and Kalavantin Pinnacle Trek

Prabalmachi is an old village near Panvel, Navi Mumbai and trekkers use this place as a base-camp to trek up the Prabalgad fort and Kalavantin Pinnacle.  Prabalmachi offers beautiful view of Panvel outskirts along with breathtaking view of both Prabalghad fort and Kalavantin Pinnacle.  Kalavantin Pinnacle is a steep hill and trekkers consider it as an ultimate destination for their trekking journey.

Day 1:

We started our trek from Thakurwadi Village at around 7.45 PM after an introduction session and reached the top of Prabalmachi at around 9.15 PM with few breaks in between. At night, we could not see anything including valley on one side, so people climb easily without fear. From the top, we got the beautiful view of sky with full of stars.

At the plateau there is a small hotel which offer trekkers with food such as breakfast, lunch, dinner at reasonable rates. Also Accomodation, tents and bonfire services can be availed from them. Our dinner was arranged in the hotel and they served Peethla, Peas,  Brinjal, Dal Rice with Rice Bhakris. Everything served was hot and fresh. After having dinner, we had fun time with campfire, barbeque and games. You will get an expansive view of Panvel skyline as the property sits on a hilltop.  And I felt twinking stars beneath to me. You literally feel like you’re living in the clouds, supervising Earth from up there. 

Day 2:

After having breakfast we started our trek to Kalavantin Pinnacle at around 7.30 AM.  The initial trail goes through rocky terrains and steep climb. There is a cave on the way towards up, it is a small cave, and some meters long.

Further trail was the real challenge and risk. When I searched Kalavantin Pinnacle over internet, it looked like a steep hill but in real it is not that  steep. Stairs are carved  in double steps and there were no stair rails so there is some amount of risk involved for climbing. It is advisable to climb the steps holding both the hands and legs and crawl upstairs.

After one and half hours trek, we reached the top. The view from the top was fantastic.  You will get a view of the deep valley between the Prabal fort and Kalavantin fort.

There is one rock patch at the top and climbing to this final summit requires little climbing technique or you need someone's help to reach the top.  As we don’t have any ropes with us, one of our organisers ascended ahead and the other one was below, guiding one by one. Thus all of us reached the top.

Climbing that small rock also give you thrills. From the top, we can enjoy the beautiful view of Mumbai as this is located in Mumbai Pune Express Highway.

It was becoming exceedingly hot and humid. After spending few minutes with photography, we started our descend at around 9.45 AM and reached Prabhalmachi at around  11 AM.  Ascending path is quite steep and dangerous but exciting and thrilling at the same time.

After having lunch and a few photographic sessions, we started our descend at around 12.30 PM. Descend was quite easy. We stopped at a stall for nimbu pani. At around 2 pm, we reached  the base village.

A memorable trek with pleasant hike during the night, camping and games, spectacular view from Kalavantin Pinnacle and walking in the hottest month of March.

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Holi and Camping at Bhandardara

Mumbai celebrated Holi in weekdays and each and every corner of the city was a crowded mess.  I was looking to celebrate Holi in a much different way and came to know about Holi special camping at Bhandardara.  I've never been camping before so I was excited about the camping activities.

Bhandardara sits by the Pravara River, is situated close to Igatpuri and is just 185 kilometers from Mumbai, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.   Surrounded by natural beauty, waterfalls, mountains and greenery,  a campsite at the Bhandardara Lake offers one of the best place to relax and enjoy.

Day 1: 7th March

As scheduled, all of us assembled at Kasara station at around 3 PM and left towards Campsite by hired jeep. We reached Bhandardara at around 5 PM.  After having freshened up and short break in one of the village house, we moved towards our campsite.  

We had a big task in front of us. As many of us didn’t have the experience of pitching a tent, the local villagers arranged tents for us at the campsite. Within a hours time, our campsite was ready.

The place was  absolutely breathtaking. The campsite was in the shore of river surrounded by hills on all sides.  We had a photography session with breathtaking backdrops. The surrounding was a breath of fresh air. I walked around by enjoying unmatched view of hills and water.

The sun was about to set. The hills and the water in sight, I took the beauty of nature in  my camera at its best.

We kept our luggage inside the tent. Our coordinators were busy arranging a bonfire!  Before the night set in, we collected enough firewood from the surrounding area. Around midnight, each one of us had gathered around the campfire. By that time, the temperature dropped and we began to freeze. It was time for activities - Barbeque, songs, games, DJ using mobile phone and Speaker, UNO and Star gazing , it was a pure joy. We illuminated the tent interiors with the torch light.

The air was so cold and fresh.  I was warming in my sleeping bag.

Day 2: 8th March

By 7 AM everyone was awake. When I stepped out of my tent, I saw the magnificent view of the surroundings. Then a gentle walk along the shore of the lake. The early morning was magical - village life, beautiful  sahyadri mountain ranges and sunrise

Then we cooked magi noodles for breakfast. Then is the much awaited Holi. The villager's provided  organic colors. We put colors on each others face and deliberately pulled others to water .

The water was a too cold . The mobile phone and Speaker were switched on and few of us started dancing.

By 12.30 PM we were ready to leave the place and proceeded to pack up the campsite and clean away our trash. 

Around 2.30 PM we left the camp site. Our jeep guys were waiting for us. We returned back to Kasara station to proceed to Mumbai. It was my first time camping experience and Holi with unforgettable memories.

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City Travel : Exploring Reay Road, Mumbai

It was 4'o clock, when I reached Reay Road railway station. The previous night I was cycling till morning from Nariman Point to Bandra to explore the coastal areas of Mumbai.  I had a good sleep till mid-day.  I din't want to miss any event in Mumbai because I was not sure how long I would  staying in Mumbai and I wanted to live every day intensely. For me every day is different  and  I do what I want. Who knows there might come a time when travelling is not possible as we wish.  Moreover, I can meet new people  and establish friendship with a few of them.  Meeting different kinds of people has always given me a new experience every time. These are now things that I live for and love the most about traveling.

Usually, photowalks are conducted in one particular area with a theme for the day. This time, the place was Reay Road and our theme was 'fire and metals'. As a practice, we  post at least two photos we clicked during the walk in the facebook group page. A large group of enthusiastic photographers assembled in front of Reay Road railway station with a range of cameras with them. 

We started our walk from Reay Road Station, which is located directly east on Mumbai’s Harbour Line.  We could see pavement dwellings under the overbridge just opposite to the station. You will find that these roadside homes have everything you expect in a home.  Many slum dwellers had built two or three lofts atop their hovels.

Within few minutes we were looking deep into the lanes and by lanes of Reay Road. Here you can find industry workers, fishing villages, markets and more. A variety of life  filled with urban energy. I saw a man having a shower right on the street and when he saw the  camera,  he was even more happy to pose. Like any other street  I saw a man frying  peanuts with sand.

The afternoon was oppressively hot, and people were roaming around the place comfortably. I noticed food cooking in brass pots over open fires at the streets. 

Kids were friendly. I never saw children begging, instead  what I could see were laughing children running through the lanes and playing. They surrounded us, curious to look at us and posing for our cameras to be clicked.

The micro industries were thriving within. There were numerous manufacturing units and activities.  Many people work for companies in a recycling industry. We passed through a  pile of plastics and stored to be reassembled for reuse.

I watched a wide range of business activities , recycling, leather tanming, barber shop, dress pressing, waste paper processing, welding and many more. And these hardworking people are contributors for the growing Indian econmy. 

I walked in the narrowest lanes where people lived in extremely close proximity to each other. Poverty, apalling sanitation and illiteracy was visible everywhere. But people do live here and they were friendly and smiled at us as we walked along.

Finally we reached a water body. The area was dirty and a fire on a big pile of waste created smoke around the area. The area was congested and polluted. 

I felt this place as just another neighbourhood, where you can find all activities just like any other small village.  Got much more understanding of life and work in Mumbai slums. Perhaps I started enjoying Aamchi Mumbai.

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Midnight cycling in coastal route of Mumbai

This  was my second midnight cycling in Mumbai and this time, I explored the coastal route of Mumbai.

For the last two months, I had been having a hectic schedule at work. Life had become monotonous which  prompted me to do something different.  After all what really matters in the end are the experiences and memories that last a lifetime.

The ride started from Nariman Point and ended at Bandra Bandstand. At 10.30 pm,  as communicated, I reached in front of Oberoi Hotel. There was a large group of cyclists ready to leave as they awaited few of their members. As all group members arrived, we left Nariman point after a set of instructions from co-ordinators. Unseasonal showers and drizzle brought down temperatures and the ride was really enjoyable.

As I cycled by the adorable Queen's Necklace, I could see the queen wearing the necklace of white LED lights. At night you can see the people of Mumbai admiring it’s beauty and chilling with hot Chai from sellers on bicycles.

The 35kms ride had halts at Mumbai's famous tourist hotspots like Girgaon Chaupati, Haji Ali Dargah, Worli Sea face and Siddhivinayak temple. The best part is the ride through city roads when most people would not imagine doing something like this. You can watch people enjoying Mumbai night life. Some people ride their bikes at full speed while others stand on the top of the car,  enjoying the weather.

Siddhivinayak temple

All my work  tension and  worries seemed non existent  for those 6 hours that I cycled through the coastal route of Mumbai. The feeling cannot be expressed in words. Of course, exploring this beautiful coastal route of Mumbai, is a unique experience .

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Photo Update : Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2015

I was excited to visit famous Kala Ghoda Arts Festival - nine days long festival, commenced on 7th February and ended on 15th February. The KGAF 2015 was one of the biggest event with themes of Children, Cinema, Dance, Food, Heritage Walks, Literature, Music, Street and Stalls, Theatre, Urban Design and Architecture, Visual Art, and Workshops.

I am fortunate to be in Mumbai this time. That was on 14th February and I visited the KGAF on that very day, I reached the Kala Ghoda area by late evening and there were crowds surrounding each installation .

The stalls are really surprising and I just loved that. It was too dark to click photographs. These are the few pictures I could manage.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai 2015

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Photo Update: Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014-15

I was so excited to visit Kochi-Muziris Biennale - an international exhibition of contemporary art held in Kochi, Kerala.  In its second edition, the Biennale, the only and first of its kind in India showcases Indian and international artists and their works across all kinds of mediums including film, photography, installations etc.

With art installations everywhere in the city, Kochi now seems to be an art city.  I started from Pepper House and then visited Aspinwall House, Greenix & Cabral Yard exhibits.

On the way I stopped at various art installations, and clicked pictures of interesting art installation and details of them. I hope this will give you first hand information and make you feel that you were there.  

Artist N S Harsha’s sculpture Matter at the central lawn in Pepper House features a monkey, a favorite motif of the artist, holding a ball and pointing towards the sky 

‘In, Between the Pages’
Artist: Sumakshi Singh’s illusionistic room that makes viewers part of a giant painting



Backbone, a sculptural installation by Shanthamani Muddaiah at Aspinwall house grounds

 

UK-based artist Anish Kapoor’s Descension , Green harvesting on ship, Library representation with colourful books , Sachin George Sebastian's work titled "Akashathille Bindu Shunyakasham (A Dot In The Sky Is A Void Space)" are  some other exhibits

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Photo update:Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2015

I was excited to see  the 12th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon and luckily for the first time I got an opportunity to witness the huge event that was much awaited for in Amchi Mumbai. 

When I reached CST around 7 a.m, all roads were  blocked.  No cars were allowed to enter the route . So I walked towards Flora Fountain and positioned there to click some photos. There were many events scheduled like the Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Senior Citizens Event, Champions with Disability Event  and the Dream Run. The full marathon had already begun, so I waited for the other events. In between I could see the Full Marathon runners race back to the finish line.

 

I clicked this wonderful pic of a stray dog which ran along with the participants.

Physically challenged participants, Differently abled children also participated in the marathon . Many people had lined up at the sides to cheer the participants.

After clicking many photographs, I  headed towards Marine Drive. The dream run was full of colors . Some wore costumes that carried a message, Banners, hoardings, placards etc etc . Some chose to use the marathon as a platform to promote their message.

Start and finish of the Marathon was at the Azad Maidan ground in South Mumbai and it witnessed thousands of long-distance runners, senior citizens, physically challenged participants, amateur runners, Bollywood celebrities, sports stars and  business tycoons.

Earlier I had only heard about this great event and this time I was glad to be a part of it. I was really inspired to see the spirit of Mumbai and the largest marathon in Asia .

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