The Happy Getaway: June 2015

Monday 15 June 2015

A Festival Of History - Shivrajyabhishek Sohala 2015

It was a beautiful weekend, heading out to Raigad to witness one of the most proclaimed and celebrated festivals in Pune. It started off from the Rajmachi trip with Mayyur (Wild Rangers, founder and boss.) mentioned he wants to go to Raigad next weekend for the festival and celebration. I had read a lot about it off late. And after visiting Shivneri a few months back, and watching a few documentaries my interest and need for going for this had peaked. I kind of signed right then he mentioned it and confirmed after a couple of days.

So there is twice when they celebrate it, once as per the calendar and once as per their cultural belief. We went for the calendar listed one, as the weekend prior which we missed was when the other one was celebrated. We met at 11:30ish at Dadar, I got into a cab with a few others up to the mini bus where I met the rest. We were small group of around 10 to 12 people or so. We had a young married couple, a few frequent trekkers, a first timer and a variant set of people. The ride to Raigad’s base was fun. I caught up with some sleep and listened to some nice mellow music on the way. It was early hours when we reached the base point where we could see vehicles hoarded up all around the place. I then began to realise how big this festival is and how many people come visit and travel from far and wide for this. The weather was chilly as the early monsoons had begun to kick in (No rain though, throughout this trip. Such is my luck!).

We walked the street to the base point of the mount, we grabbed some hot chai and bottles of water for the way up. The walk up was really pleasent, with stairs and patches of the mountain all along. There were kids, oldies, parents, trekkers. A whole lot of people walking and walking to see the fort and its pride. Shivaji Maharaj was surely a mighty ruler, and the ways his forts are shaped is truly a testimony to this. Shivaji Maharaj had seized the fort in 1656, then the fortress of Rairi, from the royal house of the Chandrarrao Mores, a junior or Cadet dynasty to descended from the ancient Maurya imperial dynasty. The last More king was a feudatory of the Sultan of Bijapur. Herenovated and expanded the fortress of Rairi and renamed it Raigad (the King's Fort). It became the capital of Shivaji's kingdom. In 1765 the Raigad Fort, along with Malwan in present Sindhudurg District, the southernmost district of Maharashtra, was the target of an armed expedition by the British East India Company, which considered it a piratical stronghold. In 1818 the fort was bombarded and destroyed by, using cannons.

After reaching up we had some nice breakfast in the form of upma. We then began exploring the fort. Being there for the first time, I was really fascinated with all the people, colours and noise around. The place was buzzing. We head from the entrance to the right end, and then to the main tower and base area where the function was on. Towards one side was talks, speeches and a more silent and civil session being conducted and towards the other side of the gate. Oh people were going bonkers. Swords, pagdis, dhol’s, colour and a lot of happy faces. It was festive. I think, I have never experienced celebration of this capacity ever before. The minute I stepped in with Arpit, Kapil and the others towards the crowd we were great by the color yellow being showered all upon us. My hat, camera, bag, you name it. And you’d think one would be annoyed. But I loved it. We went closer to the dhol, moved our hips a bit to all the music. Then moving forward we saw the market place and the throne.

We could also see the procession including a mimic of Shivaji his family and the congregation heading towards the celebration. I felt it was beautiful. I’m a big theatre fan, and this was just heartwarming to see. We then head to the temple(Jagdishwar Temple). Arpit protected our shoes, as we went quickly in. I liked the temple, peaceful and well tucked away. Then we head to Tak Mak Tok that gives you a beautiful view of the entire mountain range surrounding Raigad. Its a beautiful spot. Have to recommend you going there during the rains, I cant imagine how green and beautiful it must be then. We then took a halt around the point where we found some place. Grabbed a bite, chilled out a bit waited for the others scattered to catch up. We then took a group picture and head towards the bottom. Oh the crowd. I believe it was around 3, and the program had ended probably. As we all started heading down, the whole mob of people rushed downwards. All of a sudden the heat began to kick in too. And all the small stalls around yes had lemonade, but all of them ran out of water. It was surely a rush to the bottom. I believe the organiser could do a better job with people management, I know its hard to control such a lively crowd. But there were kids, old people, and woman. And I felt with a bit of organising a 1 hour or so path wouldn’t take 2 or more hours to cover. However on a whole it was good organising, I believe the people who make this happen year in and out do a fabulous job and some things can't really be prevented.

After losing, finding and again losing the others all of us finally reached the base point. Water never tasted this good, after reaching the bottom. We soon, with a bit of struggle (Mayyur we need to use Google locations more!) found the transport and head back. This was a beautiful experience. Usually treks or trips I do don’t include a whole lot of people or crowds. So this was different. And I seemed to love it. I surely will visit again and will make it a point to take a sword and orange flag along. I love how people are so passionate and in love with things they believe and adore. A lot to learn for me from this experience. And a lot of good people to meet too. We were soon in the bus heading home playing antakshari and longing the site of home.

Pictures of the Fort & Festival (Shivrajyabhishek Sohala 2015):

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.901750296555416.1073741839.855590067838106&type=3

Show some love to Wild Rangers too and Mayyur:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildrangers/

This is Mr. Happy (Or you can call me Al) signing off, until next time.

Have a great day, and an adventurous weekend! :)

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Thank You

Alvin Anthony

Sunday 7 June 2015

A Pathway Of Bright Fireflies - Shrivardhan Fort 2015

Fireflies, weekend, trip, forts and a lot of history. It was a beautiful post summer start monsoons period and a night trail scheduled to Rajmachi, a beautiful village on a hill top. When I initially came across it I was super excited. And then, I asked my friend who I haven’t met in nearly a year (I know man Sid, we need to do this more often!) Siddharth if we could make it. After a lot of cribbing and all of his +1’s backing out, cause I alone am not good enough for him (Hahaha.) He finally decided to come with me even though he’s really been the one who was asking me about my trekking plans and wanting an invite (Hahaha, kidding man. You are my broo.) I then spoke to Mayyur (Wild Rangers Founder, and my new treks organiser buddy. Great guy!) and confirmed us both. And there was no point throughout my week when I did not look forward to going for the trip. I love the wait, and the excitement that comes with planning your next trip. Its something people should do more often. It will really light up your week.

It was finally Saturday and time to go! I met Sid to catch a train. I got a little late (Okay, maybe a little more than little.) we missed the Chennai Express (No not the movie, it's a name of train! I know right? What are the odds.) we took the next one, luckily Wild Rangers, know people do happen to get late, so did give us some options of later trains. After reaching we soon took rickshaws and reached the base point. We started our walk after the round of intros. 36 people or so I think it was the group, and people from different walks of life a few first timers and many regular trekkers. It was a dark cold summer night, and you could feel the warm breeze pass you by. We initially started seeing a few fireflies. And then we saw so many, way too many. There were patches there lighting up trees and bushes with these beautiful beings. You’d never see light in such a pure form. Its like a glimpse of beam and then bam gone and back again. I have never really seen fireflies before and this was surely a special part of the trip. A must go too if you are a nature lover.

It was a lot of walking and climbing nearly 15 kms from the base point (This is what Mayyur claims.) took us roughly around 5 hours with short halts for snacks and getting some air. Its not that hard of a path initially. The last few kilometers however is quite a task, with rocky sides and uneven levels. Also steep rising paths, so one needs to really climb and strain their legs to be able to proceed. Still I’d say this would be between a medium and easy trek and just requires a good amount of endurance. We walked and walked, we could see the beautiful mountains sleep and the thin silver cloud linings cover their beautiful peaks. The night past us by, and early we reached sat down, and Mayyur points at spots where we could crash. And bam, we were gone. There’s nothing like a good few hours of sleep after a lot of walking. We then soon woke up in a few hours and started our walk towards the fort post breakfast. Its a nice walk with a good patch initially with stairs from the village, there’s also a temple that comes on the way. There’s then the rocky patch and a bit of a climb. Shrivardhan Fort is one of the two hill forts that constitute the Rajmachi fortification, the other being Manaranjan Fort. At 3000 feet above the group it was the taller of the two peaks. Other than a rampart there is no visible construction. It was probably used at a watchtower for the Sahyadri region. There are two water tanks at the top of the hill but one of them has an iron pillar in it. It is built in Maratha style, and the entrance of the fort is semicircular in shape. A cave, belonging to the Buddhist period can be seen there. The fort provides picturesque views of Lohagad, Visapur, Tungi and Korigadh. A temple, dedicated to Shri Bhairavnath, is located between Shrivardhan and Manoranjan forts.

Once we reached up, and explored it surely seemed like a mighty well kept fort of that time. Spread across the entire top of the mountain it seemed to showcase what our culture and traditions are about. There are flags and major end points and patches with pillars, stairs and remainings from the past. A great place to visit if you love history and architecture. Also Note to all people deciding to go to the fort during summer, do take a lot of water. Cause there is not much water up there, and the heat really does get to you after a point. So yes, don’t forget. (Sid, back me up.). We ended up drinking water from one of the water tanks. Yes Mayyur did try to filter the particles (Oh my, as I type I realise what circumstances tend to make you do.) with a cloth. And did taste okay, which I think anything would taste like at that point. So then we had it, I’m still alive so is Sid and the others who had it, and we didn’t fall ill. But really you don’t want to be taking that risk. So take care.

We soon head down, had some nice nimbu pani and the temple point. And then head down further and reached the village. We enjoyed some nice desi lunch. Oh the red spicy thing, and papad, bakhri, rice and baji, what else could man really need? (Loved it.) We then had to make a choice to either end the trail by taking a cab back to the station or descending back down towards Karjat and visiting the Kondana Caves. So since I did do Kondana Caves recently, and because Sid needed to get to a friends function we did decide with quite a few others to call it a day, even though it wasn’t a easy decision and we really wanted to cover the entire trip with the group. I don’t regret the decision one bit though it was what seemed best to do in the circumstances. And I did check with Mayyur about the Caves after, apparently the heat go to the rest and it wasn’t as much fun at all. (Of course I wasn’t there. But still :P). So that was the end a ride back in a car from the path we walked all night filled with conversations. Then a bus to the station and a train ride back home.

This was quite a quality and well planned trip. Props to Wild Rangers and all those who were involved in making this happen. I am really looking forward to my next trip.

Pictures of the Fort (Shrivardhan Fort 2015) :

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.896658600397919.1073741838.855590067838106&type=1