Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts

Friday, 1 September 2017

Explore an Abandoned Aircraft This Weekend near Mumbai! #TravelSecrets - The Happy Getaway 2017

Explore an Abandoned Aircraft
This Weekend near Mumbai!



If you love exploring and finding new places, this read is meant for you. It’s always quite an adventure to venture into the unseen and find things that are lost or forgotten. And it’s a treat when you stumble upon these things unexpectedly without any prior notice. This week, The Happy Getaway brings you a guide as to how you can get to an Abandoned Aircraft of Sahara not too far away from Mumbai left at the Marshy Grass lands of the outskirts of the city. If you love exploring the unknown and discovering the lost, then this point is surely a destination, you’d like to jot down in your diary.


So, I’ll tell you how I stumbled upon this place, in the first place. I was off a few days ago to visit a waterfall in Khapoli, with a few others. And on my way on the left hand side we suddenly noticed a huge Aircraft parked in the middle of the fields. At first we wondered if this was from an accident like in the movies, where people were stranded and needed to be rescued or was it just a haunted place where locals would forbid you to go from. As we drove a little ahead we realised that further from the aircraft was another large building that looked like an abandoned factory of sorts, which was quite frightening in itself having huge clown like figures and moss all over its walls.

 

After making a stop close by we decided to the adventurous thing, and explore. So we parked a bit away and began exploring. There are two entrances to reach the Aircraft I would suggest the one near the gate of a resort which is comparatively less mossy (subject to rains of course). And there’s the other way which we took that leads from the spooky building but is super mossy (so be careful) and leading up to electricity towers that you walk past to reach the aircraft. So first we walked through the factory and realised on discussing with the caretaker, that it use to be a water park that couldn’t pay its due’s and now the bank is holding the land as ransom. Seeing majority of the park, demolished and left in pieces we decided to not venture further.


We then walked through the mud, muck and puddles and soon reach concrete land. Yeah? Concrete land in the middle of the fields, that’s right so unexpected. And we then further went on to walk to the aircraft. And no it was no dummy, make believe aircraft. It was huge, like any real aircraft you have seen and been in. Yet out of shape, old and dusty. We looked around, to soon see that the door was shut and birds had nested itself in the wheels. And yes, the wheels were taken out too and it was supported by a stand like structure now. We then saw an old man (we assume is also a caretaker), walk suddenly in surprise and tell us more about the aircraft. How it was bought by someone a few years ago, and is used now for shoots and commercial events. Had Ac attached and a stair way through which one could get in. He said we were unlucky and just a day before there was a shoot and we could have gotten to see it from the inside. (Darn!) But well, it was still quite a lot of fun to run across something mid journey and get to know about it.


So I can’t lie and tell you that it isn’t a scary ordeal and that you should venture doing this alone. Because you wouldn’t see people for miles and miles accept a few care takers around, who to be honest don’t look to be the most trust worthy. So I’d advise you to take care, and preferably take someone along. Cause exploring together of course is always a more fun filled experience. Also would be advisable to explore during the day, as there is little to no lighting provision around the aircraft. But you never know, maybe there’s a shoot happening the same day you visit, and your able to explore the insides of this abandoned aircraft.

Would love to know your experiences of visiting abandoned places and how you managed to find your way through. I hope this article inspires you to go visit the aircraft or some abandoned place near you, sure do tell us about.
Hope you have a safe, happy and adventurous weekend.


Edited & Written by Alvin Anthony

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Thursday, 22 October 2015

Into The Night - Kalavantin Durg - Small Steps - The Happy Getaway 2015

Somewhere New

Kalavantin durg is located on a plateau very close to Matheran, near the Machi and Vajepur villages.  It a beautiful location that is also known to be named after the queen Kalavantin, as the steep stairs takes you upwards. Embrace yourself for a thrilled filled adventure.



How to Get There
  • ·        Air: the nearest airport is the Mumbai airport after which you can take a taxi to Panvel or Thakurwadi
  • ·        Rail: board a train that halts at Panvel after which you take an auto (tum-tum) to reach Thakurwadi
  • ·        Bus: catch a bus that goes to Panvel and then an auto (tum-tum) to reach Thakurwadi.
  • ·        Tum-Tums are preferred because there is a climb from Thakurwadi to Prabalmachi and then to the top of Kalavantin durg.

Difficulty Level & Duration

Moderate, 34 hours (Night Camping)

Height

It is a 500m high pinnacle on the northern edge of the Prabal plateau. Its total height is 2,300 feet



Happy Hours

Monsoons and Winters.

My Happy Getaway – Small Steps Community

A weekend cannot be more eventful than learning so many different things and experiencing a feel of trained mountaineering skills. It was a beautiful a trip organized by Small Steps.

 On the 3rd October at around 7 am we began our journey toward the trekking site. As the sun rose, the adventurers began their trek to the Prabal Machi basecamp at a quick pace where piping hot tea with delicious poha was awaiting them.

At about noon, a knot teaching session was conducted by Hira Kaka and Sachin Mestry, who were our mountaineering teachers. Different types of knots, their application and methodology was taught. Basic information about it and familiarity to some technical tools should be known before attempting any kind of mountaineering activities.



 After fulfilling our midday activities we headed to our very first session of mountain climbing. Our energy levels were high and so was the humidity. Though the weather wasn’t very pleasant and apt it did not kill our excitement and pumped up adrenaline. We overcame our fear by mastering the art of mountain climbing.
 For amateurs like us, aping up the mountain was a challenging task. However, with constant motivation of Nishant and Sachin (our trainers) everybody got to experience their first ever thrilling clamber.

After such a tiresome ascend we began descending to the base camp, during late evening. The dull bluish sky was slowly changing to a relatively darker shade.

The descend was followed by an amazing dinner which included an interactive session with all the trekkers. After the glorious dinner, before retiring a revision of the knot session was conducted.



Eventually, the night got to the trekkers and they began to fall asleep under the moonlight. The chilly night and snoring sound didn't let camping zeal fade.

On the onset of dawn a wake-up call was made. And what we witnessed after that was heavenly. The view of clouds covering the city was incredible.
Quickly after, freshening up and having breakfast, we soon headed out for the climb to Kalavanting durg and rappelling session.

 Slowly and steadily we climbed up Kalavanting and experienced a rare view.
 Then the exciting rappelling was awaiting us. Rappelling is easier only when you don’t look down the hill from which you are descending. Fortunately, the climate was sunny and complimented our activity.


We were back to the base camp at noon where lunch was served. After a little chit-chat, everyone gathered to thank our trainers. Their support and motivation was much appreciated. They were friendly and easy-going, as we were beginners. The knowledge and experience gained through this trip was immense.


As said happy times are short lived, and so these two days passed quickly, leaving behind some beautiful memories to be cherished.

Sakshi Trivedi - www.skiesofsakshi.wordpress.com – Small Steps Traveler

Blueprint

You can see more pictures from the trip here



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Picture Credits – Small Steps Team

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Edited & Published By The Happy Getaway Team