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 3^rd 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

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1072384302812504.1073741859.959029294148006&type=3

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Picture Credits – Small Steps Team

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A Cave Lost Within Mumbai - Mahakali Caves 2015

Where? - Location Compass

Mahakali Caves also remembered as the Kondivite Caves are a group of 19 rock-cut monuments. The Buddhist Monastery is located in Andheri East and consist of rock cut caves, cut out of a solid black basalt rock. This caves feel similar to any other Buddhist cave you may have visited, but the fact that it is so easily accessible and can be visited by one and all and still isn’t quite famous really is worrying and upsetting.

How To Get There:

• Reach Andheri Railway Station - Local Train - East (Most Economical)
• Take local Taxi till Andheri East - Mahakali Cave Road End
• By Road Highway (Expressway - Andheri East)
• Buses go right upto the cave from the Station (Bus No. 333, and a few others)

Mahakali Cave - Exploration Time: 1-2 Hours

How Old - Built In: 1st century BCE and 6th century CE.

When? - Ideal Time To Getaway

Best Period To Getaway: December - May (Winter & Summer)

Timings: 7am - 5pm (Entry Timings) - Important

My Happy Getaway - Mahakali Caves 2015

So on a weekday, I decided to head to this fort, that happens to be just 35 mins away from my place according to Google Maps. Imagine a cave so close I did not know that existed. (Shame on me.) And since I was considering heading out Solo, I decided to head out with my sister as she was quite free too. We took the local and once we reached we discovered that the Cave visiting timings have ended we reached at 5:22 and the cave shuts at 5! How disappointing. But on our way back, and really close to the Mahakali Caves you can find Dharmakshetra - A meditation and religious center by Shri Satya Sai Baba. It is a beautifully and well kept place, not parallel towards one particular religion as you can find statues and resemblance of multiple god and beliefs. However I believe the calling there is to find inner peace and unity through giving and prayer.

We entered the center and found huge building and well crafted statues and carvings. We climbed the hill where we also found a meditation room, where we spent a few peaceful minutes at. (Have added the pictures of the center in the album.) Soon we were home and I was confident that I was going to make an attempt to try to go to these caves again. It was morning this time, and pre work that I decided to make an attempt to visit these caves again. I entered the broad gates and the overall fencing that will make you feel this isn’t a cave but a local garden or park that you are ending. On the end of Mahakali Road, not many know or are aware of the cave or its resemblance, which is quite disappointing. I soon was inside, and my word, wasn’t it beautiful. I have to hand it to those people who invest time and money into reserving and safeguarding this place. It was well maintained. Yes, few parts of the caves did have leakages and there was a stink of urine and bad odor coming from a few caves. But overall I have to say, they are trying their best. There is no entry charge to enter the cave and when you enter on the right side you’ll find the series of caves. Very similar to each other with small rooms, and carvings and entrances all along, you will feel like you have entered a land of the old.

Cave 9 is where you can find sculpturings and the main Bhuddha Stuppa. To see the Caves on the outer layer of the park. You’ll need to go climb or rally over from the side of the park (I climbed up) and then make your way down to the other side where there are 3-4 openings and cave like structures. Mahakali Caves may have lost their early pre age charm and beauty but from whatever is still left of it, it does still seem to be really beautiful and peaceful. This place can be visited by one and all, and is doesn’t require a trek or massive amount of time investment to visit, it is right within the city. Close to every Mumbaikar. Yet quite far away, as people don’t take out the time or are unaware about its existence. I wish more people knew, and cared and worked towards safe guarding its resemblance and history.

Visiting the caves was surely, enjoyable. I can’t wait for my next trip. Either solo or with a group. Either somewhere far or somewhere close. I am sure it will be memorable.

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

Have a great day.

And an adventurous weekend! :)

What Does It Look Like? - Picture Gallery

Pictures of THG  Mahakali Caves 2015:

https://www.facebook.com/thehappygetaway/timeline/story?ut=43&wstart=0&wend=1438412399&hash=-2395141442470207403&pagefilter=3

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A Lost & Depleted City Fort - Riwa Fort 2015

It’s fun sometimes, to pack your bags and head out exploring. To climb new mountains and visit unexplored places. I often look for places and research about lost forts and historical monuments. I look up places around me, that id never have had visited If I didn't know or have this interest in travelling. I recently came across this fort called as Riwa Fort, Google maps seemed to know where it was located. And Wikipedia had a paragraph or so about it. So I was like, what the hell. Let’s go check this out. So before I head out for my day filled with work, meetings and other not so fun things I decided to visit this fort.

I took a cab, but its easily accessible by train too as it is located very close to Sion Station. Took me 15-20 mins from Bandra, but could take lesser by train. So firstly, this is not an easy fort to find. Even though Google Maps has it marked down, it did take me quite some time to locate this fort. I went through circles, a slum, around the talav and finally near an Ayurvedic center is where I located a gate that had stairs going upwards. After being lost for a while, I finally began to ask people where is the god damn fort? I showed them the map too. A few suggested that it must be on the hill. And since nothing else seemed more likely. I started climbing up the stairs. I met this cleaner or chacha (Uncle) of some sort who had flashy red eyes and a stinge of the alcohol he was drinking and pointed towards no particular direction and said haan beta Killa Killa. (Hahahahah!). So the base layer has some plantation circles happening by the center. And the higher you climb (which is not very high.) you begin to see remains of the fort. It’s hardly even a fort. If you like big walls and a lot to see this is probably not for you as there wasn’t much to see at all. There's just a few stairs if at all they count as remains and a Bastian built with black rock which stands tall on the hill. Fort Riwa was built by Britishers after the attack of Siddi of Janjira on Mumbai in 1672 AD. After Siddi’s attack, Britishers constructed chains of new forts around Mumbai. This fort is one of them. It is located quite close to the Dharavi slums and Sion.

Mahim creek divided the main islands of Mumbai from Saashti Islands. Saashti Island was under the regime of Portugese. In those days trade was carried through the Mahim creek and Saashti islands. The main aim to build this fort was to keep an eye on the trade activities in the Mahim creek and also to protect themselves from the potential threat from Portuguese and Marathas from the north. The fort was built by Jerald Augier in 1672 A.D.

So this fort historically seemed to be used only to keep watch, and it being on a hill seems to make that seem feasible. There is a decent view that can be enjoyed from the hill too.

It was a fun getaway, to see whatever it is that remained of the place. I still felt that there was more to the fort. And that you know I was probably at the wrong place or not there yet. I tried going through different paths and realised that this is it. Sometimes even a little bit is a lot, in terms of memories of what is left of places or things. So I sat down then at the basitan and looked into the forest. It felt warm and good. The birds there made a lot of noise, and the peace and quiet really makes you feel like you are home. You can see a lot of the city from the hill, the roads, vehicles and people. Soon I began to head back towards work, leaving the hill, stairs and greenery behind. I could claim that this is a scam for a fort. And probably google and everyone else shouldn’t really call it a fort. But you know what? I don’t really feel that bad. It is what it is. Expectations and how majestic or well kept other forts are shouldn’t come in the way of a new experience. I loved that is so long lost, yet so close to home and how people don’t seem to care for it and yet it stands tall to be loved, seen and explored by people. Would surely love to visit again soon, maybe this time with a group or more people.

Pictures of the Fort  (Riwa Fort 2015):

https://www.facebook.com/thehappygetaway/timeline/story?ut=43&wstart=0&wend=1438412399&hash=4409671804596707434&pagefilter=3

This is 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

Breaking Into A City Fort - Sion Hillock Fort 2015

I’d like to bifurcate forts into two kinds of places based on where they are located, either a city fort that’s located within the lifeline of a city like Mahim Fort, Wadala Fort, Bandra Fort and also Sion Fort. And Forts like Lohagad, Shivneri, Peb and others that are on hill tops and away from cities either near forests or villages. Sion Fort being a city fort has a view of buildings, offices and streets. It was located on a hill, and I was told by many that it's not really even a fort (Which, I’ll beg to differ with.) it's just a big garden. I still did decide, to make time on a weekday afternoon (Oh, the heat. Evenings and early mornings I guess are better times to go at.). Also, this was a solo trip I decided to do, because it was really spontaneous.

I first took a cab to the base point of the fort. There's a street vendor lemonade guy right at the entrance of the fort, that makes really nice chilled lemonade for 5 bucks a glass. The fort/park timings are usually from 6:30 to 12:30 in the mornings and 4:30 to 8:30 or so in the evenings. I was there at 11:30, and to my surprise the gates were closed. I was so bugged and pissed off, and wanted to hurt someone. But the lemonade guy told me how there are new guards who mess around and close the gates very early and open it late and don’t take care of the place as well. He told me if i’d still like to go I could climb up the wall and jump the gate and go (How exciting!). He mentioned how there a lot of students and kids who break in and play and study in the park and around the fort. I realised how this was my calling to break into forts and live the thug life. I soon began to lift myself and climb  the wall at the side of the gate. Soon I was in, breaking into a fort for the first time ever. I climbed the stairs that took me to the larger entrance and the park. It was a very well maintained park with good tracks and seating arrangements. I saw a lot of youngsters studying for exams and kids running around. There was also a lot of birds chirping and squirrels running around. I soon began to climb towards the fort. There is huge entrance like structure at a height that you’d see stairs guiding towards. Also, there is a guide down from the top for during rains for a waterfall to be formed and water to stream downwards. I climbed the stairs spent some time at the entrance, which was windy and bliss.

Soon, I could see the fort, from a distance as I walked towards it. The fort was built under the regime of the English East India Company, between 1669 and 1677, atop a conical hillock when Gerard Aungier was the Governor of Bombay. It was notified in 1925 as a Grade I Heritage structure.When it was built, the fort marked the boundary between British-held Parel island and the Portuguese held Salsette Island that lay to the north across the creek. The hillock is situated 500 metres from the Sion railway station. At the base of the hill is the Mumbai Circle office of the Archaeological Survey of India, and a garden – the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Udyan. There is a lot of cement and other attempts to try and help the fort to survive, as it looks to be depleting. You can see a lot of Mumbai from the height. And the fort is really beautiful as it has its old and lost vintage feeling about it. It has a lot of rooms, and entrances. It looks mighty from the bottom and has various openings for cannons and attacks to be done from.

It was a great solo trip to do alone. I think I should backpack and head out myself more often. It surely is a more self reflecting and beautiful experience and a change from groups and heading out with fellow travellers. I think the Sion Fort, may not have the charm of a village or a hill top fort. But surely is well kept and has an essence and life of its own. It is one of the most loved and adored forts of Mumbai. Yet there are a lot of people that still do not know about the fort. Its a shame that there are such beautiful historical figures right next to us and we still do not take out the time or make the effort to go visit them or consider it to be cool.

Pictures of the Fort (Sion Hillock Fort 2015):

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.893067357423710.1073741836.855590067838106&type=1

 

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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Alvin Anthony

 

A Green & Unsettling Morning - Maharashtra Nature Park & Mahim Fort 2015

It’s not quite often that you're told that there’s no point of visiting a Fort, because it's been taken over by slum dwellers and localities. Cause it’s dirty, locked up and damaged, you’re asked not to waste your time or even bother dropping by. But I never like just “listening” to things, and treating them like experiences. So I locked on a day the 3rd of May to do a trip to Mahim fort (Nearly just 15 or so minutes away from my place) to see for myself, if it’s really true what people say and to have an experience of something so upsetting myself.

Also, after my recent visit to Kaneri Caves, and the nature park my sudden interest for visiting nature hotspots and reserves, has suddenly peaked. So I decided to pool my Fort visit with dropping by at Maharashtra Nature Park (Best decision ever!) close to Mahim and Dharavi. So I called Sheldon told him, “Let’s go, broo.” And like everyone else he didn’t seem interested or pro the idea of volunteering to come to Mahim Fort. He was all in for the park though. (But don’t worry, I made him come around coming to both places. Haha!). It was a sunny Sunday morning, it started off with my taking a rickshaw and heading to the park. The minute I got out, I see this really adorable dog, making faces at me who then I hug and pet. Later I entered, and soon Sheldon joined me, we payed the gate pass entry fee (Rs. 20 or so.) and were then inside the vicinity of the green long forgotten reserves of nature.

The minute we entered, we first found a squirrel nibbling on a thread. When we turned our eyes up we saw a beautiful parrot hiding away in the leaves. It was bliss, the feeling like being in a jungle, even though you're in a city. The peace, the hot summer breeze, the chirping of birds and the blue skies. It is quite unfortunate, that people don’t really appreciate nature and its beauty as much anymore. I was really disappointed, that even though I live so close to the park, this was my first visit, and that it took me a lot of looking up to do, to be able to know about the park. Its an amazing place for bird watching, morning walks, meditation, butterfly watching and just cutting off from the fast life and reminiscing the green pure world. We kept following the trail and ended up completing the walk through the park the other way round (This is maybe, why they should start giving us maps at the start I guess.) We walked through the short and narrow path, explored through various plantation patches, and saw a lot of woman and other workers cleaning, and maintaining the park, which was comforting to see. As you walk towards the end of the park, you’ll see a huge banyan tree and it merging into a small open locality of sorts (Quite, dirty and unclean the last patch.) that will make you a little sad, cause you wouldn’t really want the beautiful protected natural patch to end. The park off lays the Mithi River, which is quite dirty and not well kept. We were able to walk aside the river as one of its paths lays directly aside it. It was good sharing conversations, looking for birds and butterflies.

Soon we reached the end of the park. We stepped into the library for a bit, where so old books related to nature, environment and the wild life. There is also an art gallery, that has exhibitions put up on a monthly or so bases (Mention in local newspaper listings, usually as per the authorities there.) There is also an open space with steps, a stage and plants where a environment themed poetry session was on when we were there. It seemed like a great place to hold small sessions and activities. The authorities told us that it can be taken up for show and events related to environment and nature. (Surely gonna make a note of this, you should too!) It was a nice visit to the park, they usually open up at 7amish on the weekends, which I’d suggest will be the best time to visit the park and take photographs too, if you like too. Sheldon, loves watching and clicking birds, so he was a little let down (Actually a lot more than little.) that we just kept seeing crows, and didn’t catch glimpses of other birds. But on a whole, I felt it was a lovely morning.

We soon done with the park and head out to the fort. After not a lot of convincing Sheldon agreed to come show me where the fort was too. We first cabbed it out to the bridge and then went to the small beach like opening that Mahim offers towards Mahim Creek. (Mumbai being a mixture of 7 Islands, this beach and Creek have a lot of significance for how Mumbai came up and together in the early days.). Your soul will not wither away, it will wander aimslessly seeking happiness and peace all day.In 1516, Portuguese officer Dom Joao de Monoy step foot in Mahim Creek and conquert the fort. The fort was a site of frequent turmoil between the Portuguese and the Ali Shah, before the island of Mahim was taken away from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat by the Portuguese in 1534. In 1661, the Portuguese offered the island of Mahim as dowry to Charles II of England. It was later strengthened by Sir Thomas Grantham and became a strategic defense tower against possible Portuguese and Maratha attacks. According to older records, the fort had 100 soldiers and 30 cannons at that time.

You’d think a Fort with history, culture and some amount of significance, will be taken care off and be kept well. But the insides of me hurt and cried. Cause it was dirty (filthy) and not cared about. If you like Forts, you’ll wonder why people don’t care. I understand people face problems, and at times this is the way out. But it's just upsetting to see the way it's maintained and not even cared about. The closer you walk to the fort you’ll smell feces and garbage. You’ll see people walking around doing their chores, kids playing cricket (which is fine!) and you’ll find clothes hanging to dry everywhere. The entrance is blocked with a huge ladder and the dwellings of people on both levels of the fort. No, you won’t even be able to enter. The lady there told me that people live all across the fort there is a thin staircase to climb during low tide, but the people won't let you go see the fort. The entire, fort has now basically become a colony where people reside. I am all for poverty, finding your space and making do, but at the cost of a historical fort being tucked away and hidden. I am not sure. A lot of people will say “I told you so.” But for me the problem here is deeper, I know. You know. But what can we do? Write letters? Try talking to these people? Try doing something ourselves? Well I don’t know the next step. But I promise you I will get back to this in time, and make sure that something is done at least from my end to change the present situation. Even if it is in a little way. Cause I don’t like our country being looked down at, but because of instances like these I see why we give people an opportunity to look down at us, and for us to look down at ourselves. I am sure, there should and will be a better alternative to this. You’ll find a bamboo loading and moving area at the beach near the fort, which is still okay cause it doesn’t dirupt the fort directly like the people there do.

So a solo, or two man trip is always fun (Thanks, Sheldon.). It was nice to head out to the park and fort. Have a beautiful and bitter taste of life and its challenges. And realise that knowing isn’t good enough, you need to go out there feel, experience and do  your part. Hoping to do more short halt trips and exploration escapades in the future.

Pictures of the Fort & Park (Maharashtra Nature Park & Mahim Fort 2015) :

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.885080161555763.1073741834.855590067838106&type=1

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

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

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Alvin Anthony