TREMALS - The Trekking Mammals

Manikgad Trek

Date: 29th Sep 2012

Participants : Imran Vasta, Manoj Bhave, Girish Ganoo, Vijay Bagate, Ramkrishna Chauhan (RK –Krishnaz Chauhan), Mit Shah, Digambar More, Prakash Pathare

Guide : Rahul Jambulkar

As per plan RK, myself and Mit met near Thane station (E) near HDFC ATM. We were well on time at 6 am. Five minutes later Girish also arrived in his car. We then moved toward Rabale police station which was supposed to be our first halt and meeting point. Meanwhile Manoj started from Thane in his car. His first pick-up was Vijay at Kalva naka and second was Digambar at Reliable (Airoli). And then he arrived near Rabale police station. We met, greeted and exchanged pleasantries. And then set off for our last pick Prakash at Juinagar. I had moved to Manoj’s car along with Digambar and Vijay. We were busy cursing our managers and almost passed Juinagar before Girish violently horned and stopped us. We stopped and after searching for a while found Prakash. I was the only one who knew Prakash as I had trekked once with his group 3T (TryTheThrill) and ET (Elite Trekkers). This was first time he was trekking with Tremals. I introduced him to the rest of the members and we set off.

Now we halted at Panvel and had our tea / breakfast (idlis and missal pav). Discussed our trek plans and moved to Vadgaon. We reached Vadgaon at about 8.30 am and there we met our host Atmaram Jambulkar a contractor with Kelkar company. Mr. Atmaram served us tea and breakfast (upma). This was our second breakfast in half an hour. And one we could not turn down due to the warm hospitality of our host. After having our breakfast we seriously cursed ourselves for having our first breakfast in hotel and spending some 280 bucks there. Blame the mismanagement and I being a part of it… Mr Atmaram then introduced to our guide Rahul Jambulkar (I have a separate write-up for this guy). At 9 am we started the trek in the scorching heat. Being closer to Mumbai, the climate here can get as unpleasant as in Mumbai.

The trek can be divided in the three parts. First ascend takes us to a plateau, then about an hour walk on plateau and then the final ascend. So with a very heavy stomach we began our first ascend. Reached the plateau in about 35-40 minutes but we were already exhausted. Took a 15 minutes break and started the plateau walk. About 15 minutes walked on open plateau and then entered the jungle part which was very pleasant. Rahul said that there is a shortcut which the locals use and which takes you to the top in hardly about 25 minutes. But he suggested we do not take this and instead go with the standard route. Also after hearing the route name “Ekaa paayachi vaat” we were not in a mood to take this route. In past I had a NDE (Near Death Experience) when I followed one such route. So we walked the regular route and about an hour later we reached the mandir and the bazarpeth. There were couple of streams on the way. We took our second break here.

Rahul shared some history of the fort with us. We asked him a poser “Why is this fort called as Manikgad?”. Rahul had no answer for that nor did we. At about 11.15 am we began for the most stressful part of the trek – the final ascend. Stressful cause at times it felt like a never ending traverse which went round and round the fort. The young guns (YGs) were now ahead and leading. The old horses Manoj and myself were lagging behind desperately. The YGs also saw a snake on the way. They stayed well ahead of us and kept calling us. We toiled our way to reach the last portion of the fort and found that our YGs had picked up a difficult route and were doing some basic RC (rock climbing) to reach the top. We were in mood to do the honors and instead followed the traditional route and reach the top at about 12.30 am. And just fell flat on the grass.

The wicked part of this fort is there is hardly any shade at the top. Rahul took us near a tree and we called this a one-tree fort. We rested there and had our lunch. Manoj was still dozing and not interested in the food. We ate anything we got our hands on. Was it a thepla, bread, butter, jam, Manchurian rings (tomato & pudina), variety of biscuits, chivdas, matri etc. After relaxing for a while we explored the fort and took snaps at couple of famous stones on the top. Almost all our FB profile pics is now updated with this snap. From the top of the fort we could identify Karnala, Sankshi (Badruddin), Irshalgad, Prabalgad, Kalavantin, Matheran hills..

At about 2.15 pm we began our descent. Now I was ahead along with the YGs as Girish and Prakash stayed behind with Manoj. Within half an hour we reached the mandir and took a 15 minutes break. The afternoon heat was having its effect and Rahul suggested that he can take us to a waterfall at our last descent. We agreed to it and started walking on the plateau. Manoj and myself were struggling and YGs marched ahead. We were coming up with all sorts of excuses for our apathy. We cited the stupid urban lifestyle, the immobile corporate work environment and so on. But the fact was that we are getting old. U know people age faster these days and so were we. And we can safely say that we are ageing quite disgracefully. Hmmm. And height of all this is that Manoj and myself were planning to do HCG (Harishchandragad) via Nalichi Vaat trek during mid October. After this experience I was a bit skeptical, but Manoj is still insisting to do it. I am damn sure we will not survive that trek. Imagine halfway in the Naali we are almost dead. And then we can neither go up or down.

We reached the end of the plateau and reach a small Thakurwadi at about 4 pm. Rahul told us that how there were so many houses here about 15 to 20 years ago. But now most of people have moved downhill and very few houses remain. From here we moved on for the waterfall. After walking for about 15-20 minutes on a proper foot trail we were now supposed to descend on a grassy ridge with no trail. We did that, created our own trail and everyone slipped atleast 4 to 5 times. But all was worth since we reached a small waterfall. We just jumped into it and was such a cooling effect (jannat) after all the exhaustion. From here the village was just 10 minutes walk. In the village we were again served with tea and biscuits. We did the trek costing. Girish who works in the nearby Kelkar factory said how he always used to come out during after the lunch time and used to gaze the fort. Now he has a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.

On the return journey myself, Vijay and Prakash were in Manoj’s car. That night Prakash was to join Shikhar Vedh for Ahupe Ghat trek. And then next he wishes to do Lonavala to Bhimashankar with Offbeat and a week after HCG via Nalichi Vaat again with them. We called Prakash a “Serial Trekker”. Jab tak shaadi nahi hoti bacchu trekking ke jee bhar ke maze le lo. At about 8 pm I was home.

All in all it was a successful trek. A wonderful place, a passionate guide, stressful (heat) moments and most importantly wonderful set of people. We had lots of high grasses all throughout the trek and also on the top of the fort. Would suggest this place will be awesome during the monsoons.

Yours trekkingly

Imran Vasta