Journey of ‘People’ Plant -Harishachandragad via Nalichi Vaat Descend Trek

Plant history: It all started with muskmelon seeds that I had sowed in the pot (somehow I just couldn’t resist falling heads over heel in love with its fragrance). So, thought of this innovative idea of growing in pot in my balcony. In due time, a sapling emerged and I thought it to be a muskmelon’s kid. Eventually it turned out to be a ‘poser’ Pipal (Ficus religiousa) sapling, A plant that can grow anywhere, anyhow, anyway and notorious for cracking buildings and other man made establishments and developing crevices that causes damage. Sigh. 

I thought of growing it into a bonsai, but then Pipal is considered to be religious plant and cant be grown in-house that’s what my sister blasted and enlightened me and warned me to plant it outside anywhere. As, it was a life, too precious, to kill it I mean throw it. Thought for long as where I should plant it, in the garden it would have grown but couldn’t risk as there is no guarantee in Mumbai on the longevity of any plant. It can get hacked any time (depending on variable moods of humans). After waiting for two months, I decided to join Shikhar Ved for Harishchandragad nalichi vaat descend trek, one of my dream trek, for which I had been waiting to happen. And also, what a better ‘new home’ for the sapling than ‘shikhar’ of ‘Magnificent Harishchandragad’.

Trek:

Bhagyashree was known to me, as we had trekked earlier many times with other group. She came to my place to join me for the trek. We (Bhagya and me) alongwith sapling and our bulky sacks dashed out at 11.00 p.m. on  Friday night on 11/11/12 from my home at Goregaon to Dadar station to catch the 12.30 a.m. Kasara train. We arrived too early at the station, so called up Jagdish, who asked us to join at Thane Station. We met Jagdish at Thane station. Poonam & Neha were also waiting with him. So, gang of four girls with lead Jagdish waited for train to arrive at 1.10 a.m.

Finally, group swelled to the size of 25 people in the train compartment. We reached Kasara at around 3.00 a.m. Dropped our bags and rested for 3 hours in the vicinity of railway station itself under full moonlight. I slept for a while, some of them chatted-up and others roamed around.

By 6.30 a.m. all were up, raring to go. We had our tea at the nearby stall and started our journey towards Rajur by ST Bus. Being the first bus at 7.00 a.m.and starting point, it was empty, slowly the crowd crawled in and was jam-packed. It was a long journey of three hours stretch. Crossed Bhandardara and other mighty mountains like AMK, Kalsubai, Ratangad etc. It passed through the Bari-Base village of Kalsubai. All had their breakfast in the bus itself. Reached Rajur ST Bus stand by 10.00 a.m. and hanged around for some time for the bus that leaves for Pachnai. Bus arrived and everyone hopped in. It was another 2 hours of extended journey to Pachnai village with snake like twisted-curved narrow roads going half-way up towards Harishchandragad. We had our lunch at the base itself and started our trek by 1.30 p.m. It was a new route for me. I had been to Harishchandragad via Khireshwar (2009), Nalichi vaat (Ascend-2010) and now third route via Pachnai ( known as most easiest and shortest of all routes, used by villagers mostly) & Nalichi vaat Descend. As usual, the initial steep climb was exhausting for me. With the steady gradual climb surrounded by forest, we reached the Plateau of the fort by 3.00 p.m. Another half an hour trek to reach the caves. Almost all the caves were occupied by other trekkers. Being weekend it was crowded. We found a small cave to put-up our belongings. While everything was being set up, I planted the Pipal sapling next to the adjoining small water stream, so that the plant can get water supply throughout year. Hopefully next year during my visit, it should be there. We all hurried  towards Konkankada for sunset view and offcourse self posing and photography. 

By 5.30 p.m. we were at konkankada for its beautiful sunset. The silhouette caused by the sun on the adjoining mountains was mesmerizing. No wonder people of all ages flock to Konkankada for this splendid view. There were numerous groups trying to catch the view in their lens. Before the dusk would hit us, we began to trace our track back to the caves. We didn’t want to land up in the utter dark with night crawlers around our feet.

Back in the caves we had ample time to pass and started with some songs by Bhagya followed by Mahesh and gang. Then it was dinner time, which was ordered there itself. We got the ‘good’ news by Jagdish that we ‘females’ can sleep in tent since the space was quite small in the cave and scary too because of running helter skelter mices. Tent was spacious enough to occupy four of us, me, Bhagya, Poonam & Neha. More two tent was set up for the guys and rest of them slept in the cave or in open.

We were woken up at 6.30 a.m. in the morning by Jagdish & constant jabbering of Mahesh to vacate the tent (like Municipality). Day was started for the strenuous descend through Nalichi vaat. By 7.30 a.m. all were ready and set to descend. Route was riskier and more adventurous. We had to pass through plateau to reach Konkankada in 30 minutes. Spent 10 minutes for group photo and left for the nalichi vaat route. It was easy at start on Plateau with 5-6 feet bushes on either sides and our legs bore the harsh tingling spikes of the bushes at every step. Followed by the patch that was so slippery because of the loose sand and steep that we had to butt-trek most of the part. And then the rock patches started one after another as if there was no end. It was quite a long, tiring, gradual descend. In my entire career of descending the trek I never gulped down so many litres of water as I did in this trek. Even at one point all of them had slurped down last drop of water from every bottle we carried. Lesson learnt was in Nalichi vaat trek, whether its ascend or descend always carry 3 or more litres of water. No wonder its an exhausting as well as thrilling trek. Poonam was my only companion for major part of the descend. We helped out each other occasionally at some hard patches. We almost exited the nali part when we heard Dipak shout from somewhere bottom that he has found water. We jumped and carried on till last bit of strength we could gather in us. Finally, the mere glimpse of small stream made us smile and I couldn’t move to splash some water in it rather stared it thinking water is indeed life. Actually, the body temperature was so hot that instant cooling by chilled water started giving me cramps thereafter. Still, the refreshing effect acted like balm to aching parts. It was around 5.30 p.m. Jagdish reminded us that we have to reach village before sun sets in. Somehow, after hydrating our body with much required fluid, we began our final patch. We were joined by Rajendra, Jagdish & Shankar. The sole of the feet ached at every step because of the rocks. It was a welcome sight when we saw plain grassy path. Because, the grassy path acted like soft pillows. By 7.00 p.m. we reached the base village Belpada and it was dark. 

Poonam and me lied down for much needed rest while rest all munched tit bits & waited for the Vehicles to arrive which was supposed to leave us at Kalyan. I reached home by 1.00 a.m. Although there was not much of pain but by morning I decided to skip office for rest.

Now, that was Nalichi vaat ‘Descend’ experience. I know, it can’t be described in words but tried my own way to put it across in words to remember the experience after some years. Rest all can be remembered through photographs which I tried to capture at every nook and corner, whether it was route, patches or rocks etc.  



Photo link: https://picasaweb.google.com/104269804834836030230/HarishchandragadNalichiVaatDescend?authkey=Gv1sRgCP7fpoHUlq7jhgE#