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Vinit Jain

River Trails


Initiation and planning


9 months. Yes, that’s how long I haven’t embarked on a trip. An unusual thing for someone who has itchy feet. There was a time when I use to ride every month or two but this certainly was a long wait. My last trip was Ratnagiri district for 5 days in January 2021. What an unforgettable journey it turned out to be! We vowed to continue on such journeys frequently but it didn’t take shape. Moreover, we had planned a trip in May 2021 but as luck would have it, it didn’t materialize. Blame the second wave of Covid 😡😡😡.

Nonetheless, everyone got busy with their hectic schedule and stressed lives while time fleeted. Even I didn’t initiate the trips due to my problems and the outings remained elusive. I didn't have any other option but to play the waiting game.

They say that there is always the right time for things to occur and this was no exception. The opportunity always knocks at your door and one needs to grab it before it slips away but I believe this trip happened more by accident than by design. Ashish and Srinivas were immensely stressed with their work and needed a break from it desperately. They decided to go for an outing to beat the stress and boredom even if it was for one day. Ashish asked me to hunt for a location and I readily obliged. After all, I would be the last person who would not jump on the bandwagon. The dates were finalized. We would travel on 27th and 28th October for 1 night and 2 days.

I want to be in the driver’s seat as far as hunting for the location goes. Also, people trust my ideas and choices. So, I got going. I started looking for a place frantically since we were short on time. The place had to be in and around Igatpuri near Nashik. A very fertile land because of the river Vaitarna. Mumbai also gets its supply of water from Vaitarna. I had never visited Vaitarna before although I passed by it umpteen times. This time I was determined to live it up at Vaitarna. So I started hunting for a place to stay in the vicinity of the river.

After bending my efforts I came across a beautiful farmhouse, Atharva Homes at Anjaneri. This property was not close to Vaitarna but I was impressed by the property and the surroundings. I sent the images of the property to fellow travelers so that we would be on the same page as far as staying is concerned. They were very impressed with the property and gave their go-ahead to book the bungalow if it fits into our budget. The property was nestled among the mountains close to a beautiful lake. Moreover, the entire farmhouse would be at our disposal. An entire bungalow for us, a serene lake embellishing the bungalow, and a striking Anjaneri mountain overlooking the property. Ahh! What a picturesque setting?

I got on the phone with the owner of the property promptly. She informed me that the property is available and apprised me of the details. My joy knew no bounds. I told her that I would consult with my friends for the final confirmation.

Once the budget was passed by the higher authorities, namely Ashish and Srinivas I sprung into action instantly. I called the owner to inform her about our decision but to my shock, she didn’t answer the phone. It was around 9.30 pm and I thought probably she didn’t answer because of the timing of the call. I again called her the next morning twice but she didn’t respond nor did she revert. I was aghast at this behavior. I finally dropped her a stern SMS whether she is interested in letting out her property or should I look for another one. I was frustrated because we didn’t have enough time on our hands.

She dropped a bombshell when she replied that the property is not available on the given dates. This was after confirming the availability the previous evening. I was burning with a low blue flame. She even had the audacity to suggest another property near Nashik. But I politely denied the suggestion stating that we would try for Atharva Homes next time. I said no to the other property because it was close to Nashik railway station and we wanted to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was time to activate Plan B and fortunately, we had a plan B.

I had already selected another property in case Atharva Homes is not available and everyone was happy with that property too. Although Atharva Homes was a gem of a property, Bimal farmhouse, the small villa was no less. It was located at Koroli Hill Station situated between Igatpuri and Trimbak and close to Vaitarna River which was the icing on the cake. It was available and I promptly made the booking by paying an advance amount. It was a steal compared to Atharva Homes.

For this trip, Srinivas’s cousin too would be joining us. We were to travel in his XUV500, my favorite SUV and I would be experiencing it first hand. Though he too is an ardent motorbike lover this time we decided to drive to the location. With everything in order, we waited for the destined day with bated breath.


 

The Bliss


Finally, the day we were waiting for arrived. We all were desperate to go for an outing. Ashish and Srinivas to relieve their stress, Babla to experience our company and me because I am addicted to travel. I had asked Ashish to check whether an icebox is available with anyone so that we can keep our beverages chilled for the journey. Luckily, it was available with Babla and that sorted our greatest worry of refrigerating our beers 😉😉😉.

It was decided that we would rendezvous at Babla’s place at Hiranandani in Thane and from there we would continue to Bimal Farm House. Srinivas would reach directly from Lower Parel to his cousin’s place and Ashish and I would hire a cab to reach the destined location. The meeting time was 7 am. Accordingly, I booked a cab from Uber at 6.30 am. I asked Ashish to wait opposite his lane by 6.45 am and from there we would proceed to Babla’s place.

I picked up Ashish and then moved towards the meeting point. Meanwhile, the Uber driver pretends that he forgot his wallet and that he doesn’t have the cash to pay for the toll. So, he requests us to pay the toll promising that he would transfer the toll amount to my account. Since I didn’t have the cash on me I asked Ashish to pay the same. He did the needful and we were sorted. We got a call from Srinivas asking about our whereabouts and when would we reach Babla’s place. Ashish told him that we would reach in half an hour unaware of the traffic that we would encounter at Ghodbunder road. It took us more than 20 minutes to get past the traffic. So much for reaching on time.

Anyways, after getting past the traffic snarl we reached the rendezvous point in no time. The cab was prepaid but the driver still owed us the toll charges that we paid. He took my number and promised to transfer me which he could have done it instantly. But his intentions were bad and he never did mean to pay. Toll charges are included in our fare and that we needn’t pay the charges. Since I was full of the joys of spring I didn’t press for it. Every mistake teaches you and this incident was no different. Next time I would be more careful in dealing with such drivers.

We transferred our luggage from the cab to XUV500 and got the show on the road. I was bursting with joy. First, to experience the XUV500 and of course, the vacation. It was almost 8 am and since we were traveling on a weekday, the office goers congested the roads. Somehow, we negotiated the traffic and quickly reached the Nasik highway which was less congested comparatively.

We had left our house empty stomach so we were desperately searching for a place to have breakfast. As luck would have it we found one of the finest joints of Maharashtra, Shree Dutt Snacks. We had a delightful, spicy & irresistible Misal Pav. Shree Dutt is famous for its authentic Marathi Cuisine. The aroma of spicy and hot food would make anybody’s mouth water. With Wada Pav, Misal Pav, Sabudana Khichdi, Sabudana wada, Kothimbir Wadi, etc. on its menu who wouldn’t stop by to satisfy his taste buds. They also have Kharwas and Kokam sharbat to gratify patrons' sweet tooth. They started their journey from Panvel and have spread their tentacles in and around Mumbai and Thane. It feels good that Marathi manoos is coming of age as far as business is concerned. They have come a long way from their age-old policy of “Aamchi kuthe hi shakha naahi”.

Nevertheless, we wolfed the missal pav down and hit the road to reach our ultimate goal, Bimal Farm House. After crossing Igatpuri we took a left turn from Ghoti towards Trimbak. Thus commenced our journey to paradise. The moment we took the turn the landscape changed. From a chaotic highway, it changed to bliss. The dusty highway turned to a serene 2 lane road while the barren and hot landscape of the highway transformed into a greener, calmer road. The beautiful road ribboned smoothly under a canopy of trees. Huge trees arched over the road forming a shelter of leaves. The sun pierced the trees sending a beautiful patch of light on the road. Sometimes the trees camouflaged the sun to block that light. It was as if nature was balancing the act of the sun. It was a sight for the sore eyes.

When you are at an unknown location Google maps becomes a very helpful tool. It was guiding us efficiently when we decided to find a suitable location to have our customary drink. We knew we were close to our destination and hence we decided to stop for the drink. After several acceptances and rejections of sites, we zeroed in on a patch of land overlooking the Vaitarna river as the point where we would be having our favorite beverage. There was also a good parking area available on the narrow road. We parked our car, took out 4 cans of chilled Bira White to douse the fire in our throats. No way I was going to lose this opportunity of capturing the moment. So, out came the DSLR to capture the picture postcard. Alas, I was the photographer and as always I couldn’t be in the frame. ☹☹☹.

After spending a good amount of time guzzling beer and capturing some beautiful moments we started the last leg of our journey. We were hardly 15 km away from our destination. Since the check-in time was at 1 pm we were moving at a leisurely pace. The joy was palpable. We were in a very cheery mood forgetting all about our stress and pain. It was heartening to see Srinivas and Ashish cheerful, happy & stress-free even if it is for a short period.

Just when we thought there can be no better sight to behold than what we were experiencing, we came across a location that was out of this world. We had approached the Vaitarna river which was full to the brim, driving on the narrow road which was cutting the river in two. The river was spread far and wide on both sides. I had always underestimated the size of this river but after seeing it in reality my jaw dropped. Miles and miles of aqua-colored, pure and unadulterated water. With population increasing multi-fold, climate change, and wastage it is very difficult to say how long the water will last but for now, I was enjoying this breathtakingly divine scenery.

We left the place as we had to reach the farmhouse but we had already made up our mind to explore this beautiful river in the evening. We reached the villa in no time. It was a 1BHK villa with 2 balconies with a hypnotic view from both the balconies. It had a huge bathroom with a bathtub and a glass roof to illuminate it during the day. The living room had a sofa and a couple of chairs to make one comfortable, a small kitchen platform with induction, and a refrigerator. The bedroom had a cozy queen size bed and there were enough mattresses to accommodate more members. We were content with the arrangement and as it is we are not fussy about the rooms as long as they are clean.

The downside to the property is that there is no food available in-house. We have to order it from KK Dhaba 4 km away from the property. There are no shops around to buy stuff to munch during the drinks. Moreover, there were no whisky glasses which was a big letdown. So, we decided to drive to Trimbak for the stuff. The caretaker asked us to order the food from KK Dhaba on the way and collect it while returning from Trimbak. We left towards Trimbak keeping in mind all the things that we would need to make our trip a resounding success.

Ask for directions in India and you will be left in splits. We asked for the directions to Trimbak and the caretaker’s reply in Marathi was “ek tootlela bridge yenaar, nantar parat ek tootlela bridge yenaar, tithun tumhi davya bajula vala. Valle ki davya bajulach KK Dhaba aahe. Tithe order dya tumchi anee tithun saral jaa trimbak paryant” roughly translated to you will arrive at a dilapidated bridge, then another dilapidated bridge. Take a left turn after crossing the bridge. After taking the turn you will notice KK Dhaba on the left-hand side. Place your order at the Dhaba and drive straight from there to arrive at Trimbak. 🤣🤣🤣

Nevertheless, we followed the direction and reached KK resort to place our order. Before we could order, the person at the Dhaba informed us that the resort is closed. The announcement from the person came as a bolt from the blue. We would be picking up our lunch from Trimbak but what about dinner? More than the lunch we were concerned about our dinner as there was no other joint nearby and it was practically impossible for restaurants in Trimbak to deliver food to an isolated location. We left the place for Trimbak and decided to ask the hotels at Trimbak if they would deliver the food rather than presuming that they won’t.

On the way to Trimbak, we were stopped by the cops for a routine check. My concern was liquor which we were carrying in the car. If they happen to find out that we were carrying liquor without the required permit then we would be in deep trouble. He did check the icebox but luckily the beers were covered with other beverages on the top. Moreover, he was not that keen to check it thoroughly. We heaved a sigh of relief. However, our papers were not in order. PUC document had expired long back and the cops asked us to pay the fine. Babla did the needful and we proceeded towards Trimbak thanking our omens that liquor was not found.

We had already lost half the day in traveling and didn’t want to waste the remaining half. So, we bought the required stuff from the shop and moved to Hotel Vishwaraj to order lunch. The hotel took more than 30 minutes to deliver our food. We settled the dues and moved towards Trimbak market for whiskey glasses. Somebody in the area suggested that we would get the same at Akanksha Hardware stores. So we parked our car in the parking lot. Babla and Ashish decided to stay in the car while we left the comfort of the AC car to get the glasses. After a frantic search and asking for directions we located the coveted store. We were surprised to see a small store. I was surprised because people in the town described it as if it is a one-stop solution shop but it was a small hardware store, a dingy store at the end of the town. And as luck would have it, we didn’t find the whiskey glasses which we were accustomed to. We were disappointed because I thought we are a developed nation after 2014 😆😆😆 and thought we can get everything that we wished for everywhere. We were disheartened by the episode but we didn’t take it to our hearts. We bought the normal glasses for our revelry and with everything, in order, we left for the villa in anticipation of good times.

We reached the villa after a little struggle as we weren’t familiar with the roads. Upon reaching we informed the caretaker that KK Dhaba is closed and asked him how to arrange for the dinner. He said that we should have informed the owner of the Dhaba that we were staying at Bimal Farm House. He would have arranged for the food. Anyways, he assured us that we would get our dinner on time from the same Dhaba. We were relieved.

Earlier when we reached the villa we were so pleased with the place that we forgot to unload our luggage from the vehicle. This time better sense prevailed. After unloading the luggage and an all-important icebox, we freshened ourselves and geared up for a rocking evening. Our poisons were ready, the table was set and the guys warmed up their respective livers for blatant abuse. Babla had bought Teachers scotch for Srinivas and himself and Bacardi White Rum for me and Ashish. They would be having Teachers in a usual way and we would be having Rum with Cranberry juice and soda. Srinivas looked amused at this cocktail but we explained to him the reason for having it this way. We told him that Ashish was a gujju and I was a marwadi. Nobody in this whole wide world could take away the sugar from the diet of these two communities 😂😂😂. I thought I convinced him but the look on his face said something else. Nevertheless, the session began with the customary clinging of the glasses and continued into the evening.

Although we were engrossed in merrymaking we never lost track of the time. We were to visit the Vaitarna river to view the sunset and the majestic river at dusk. So, we decided to wind up our session for then and continue the same at Vaitarna. After loading our precious icebox in the vehicle we proceeded towards the river. As usual, we lost our way and went in the other direction. After driving for more than 6-8 km in the wrong direction we realized our folly in the nick of time and turned around, expectedly in the right direction. But, the sun had nearly set and there was no way we could reach location ☹☹☹. But we didn’t lose hope.

When we reached the pristine location the sun had already gone down but there was enough light for me to seize the moment. I immediately grabbed the camera and got going. After all, who doesn’t want to ensnare such a magical moment? The sun had gone down and the blue sky was gradually changing colors. The sky which was a shade of blue a few moments ago turned into hues of orange and yellow. The river was at peace and one can see the reflection of the sky in the water. The once aqua river turned into a twin of the sky. The canvas was picture perfect with small black clouds scattered along the horizon with the backdrop of orange sky. Ahh! A perfect setting.

There was magic all around. A winding road bifurcated the river in half. While one side of the river was a clone of the sky the other side was its usual self. On one side you could enjoy the twilight while on the other side it was relatively brighter. I climbed a mound to click some unbelievable images. Due to the change in perspective of the photograph, the scenery looked brilliant. The river was surrounded by the Sahyadris from all sides. It felt as if the mountain was like a garland around the neck of the river and the river, in turn, touching the feet of the Sahyadris. Mutual respect, like a brother and a sister, I must say. It was indeed a place where nature would unfold its mysteries and let you forget all your worries. I wonder who must be the passionate painter? It is very difficult to define the experience here but believe me you wouldn’t want to budge an inch from this place.

After clicking photographs to my heart’s content I joined my partners for a can of beer which we had carried along with us in our icebox. There was not much discussion or chat among us because everyone was lost in the beauty that engulfed us. One loses track of time in such a surrounding. I don’t know how long we must’ve sat there adoring the landscape but one thing was sure that we didn’t want to move from there. It was only because our icebox was empty we realized that we should now move to our villa to continue with the party. With a heavy heart, we had to leave the location and proceed towards the villa.

We reached the villa in no time and this time we decided to arrange our drinks on the balcony but our excitement was dampened because of the moths which were hovering in the balcony in hundreds. But it is their domain and we are nobody to complain. It was not as if we're down in the dumps because we didn’t get to relax on the balcony which we had planned when we reached the villa in the afternoon but I would admit that we were disappointed. Alas, we shifted to the living room to party.

We continued our session late in the night drinking to our heart’s content. Ashish drank less comparatively because he was dead tired. He didn’t sleep well the previous night. He was enjoying the discussions but he just couldn’t booze. Srinivas was having a ball as usual. The onus of finishing the Rum was on me because Ashish was not drinking. It breaks my heart to inform you that I could not complete the task and I was not disappointed at all 😁😁😁.

We had ordered our food from KK Dhaba. It is a fact that after a heavy drinking session one cannot indulge in food and that is what happened here too. We ate like a bird and proceeded towards the bedroom to rest our tired souls. The bedroom had a queen-sized bed that would accommodate two people. Ashish and I laid our mattresses on the floor. The room was big enough to accommodate all of us comfortably. As soon as we laid our backs we went out like a light. Oh! Those weary souls.


 

The Return


I was the first to get up in the morning. The advantage of getting up first is that the lavatory is always free to relieve yourself. After relieving myself I decided to sit on the balcony which I couldn’t the last night because of the moths and insects. There was a ‘Khaat’, a bed made of wood and rope placed on the balcony. I rested my butt on it and treated my eyes to a glorious morning. Somebody had placed a beautiful landscape before me and I was a part of that landscape. Mountains adorn the landscape in the background with the winding river at its feet and greenery all around with a tinge of yellow leaves. Birds inviting you with their soulful voice to be a part of nature, to connect with nature. There was no pollution, noise, or air to distract you from engagement with the landscape. My mind was entrenched in the scenery. It was meditation and it was truly, magnificently spellbinding.

Ashish was the next to join me in the meditation. He too was fascinated by the imposing canvas. We had our tea on the balcony admiring the scenery. After a while, others too joined the tea party. We ordered our breakfast which was comprised of Poha. We decided to get ready to vacate the villa as our check-out time was 11 which could be extended to 11.30 at the most.

We took our respective baths and were set to leave. We packed our luggage, a last-minute check was conducted and after ensuring that everything is in order we bid adieu to the pretty villa. We left the location but not before paying the visit to our favorite spot in the area, the Vaitarna river. Moreover, we had not clicked the customary photo of all the members who were with me on this outing, and what better place to shoot the memory than the banks of Vaitarna.

We almost spent more than an hour admiring the beautiful spot before leaving. We had decided to have lunch on the way before we reach Babla’s place. From there we would be hiring a cab to reach our respective abodes. We had our lunch in one of the restaurants near Kalyan. The food was satisfactory, not to boast about much. After lunch, we started our return journey thinking to ourselves why it had to end so soon.

Nevertheless, before reaching Babla’s place we were again stopped by the cops at Ghodbunder road for jumping the signal. We crossed the green signal but according to the cops, it had turned red. Who would argue with the devil? We paid the required fine and moved to the return destination. This was the second time he was fined on this trip. Once at Trimbak and then at Ghodbunder. Looks like our bad luck rubbed on him 😂😂😂.

Before leaving we had a refreshing tea. Smokers lighted their last cigarettes to purify their lungs. We booked our respective cabs, exchanged goodbyes, and moved towards our abode feeling blue. I dropped Ashish at Kandivli and reached home at 6 pm. After alighting from the cab I realized that I forgot my glares but before I could turn around he had left and I too didn’t bother to call him up. Bade dilwala jo thehra 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️.

synopsis


Ashish, Srinivas, and I had gone together on a memorable bike ride to Malshej, Junnar, and Lenyadri sometime in 2018. We had vowed to explore more such locations together frequently but due to circumstances, it didn’t materialize. This plan too was in the making for a long time. We had decided to include Babla in the group who is also a keen traveler. He too is an enthusiast biker but this time we decided to drive to get acquainted with him.

The company - interesting and knowledgeable, the scenery - soothing, the villa - inviting, the host - accommodating, the food - satisfactory, the drive - magnificent, the climate - pleasant, the ambience - delightful, the village - quaint and the people - simple and helpful. We had a whale of a time in the company of each other. The surroundings enticed us to stop or slow down. The nip in the air during the evening had a calming effect on us. My dream of watching Vaitarna, the lifeline of Mumbai and its periphery up, close, and personal was accomplished. To be fair, I never imagined it to be so vast. I was taken aback by the enormous size of this river and it was just a part of it that we saw.

As usual, it was heartbreaking to see the trip end. Honestly, one-day trips are not enough to explore the location. If you are a keen traveler and love to discover the surroundings then you need to travel for a minimum of 3 days. It is not about the usual locations where the crowd throngs but it's about scouting new locations. These locations should be between my fellow travelers and me and the cat whiskers because I believe that we Indians are not good travelers and that we destroy the virginity of the place.

As usual, there are never sad goodbyes in our group because we keep hunting for a new location, we keep exploring and discovering new places and we keep prodding people to get a life. My mantra for life is


Be a part of nature, love your natural surroundings

Smile and beat the stress, conquer the sad endings.


So that’s it from me this time. Remember, a road can culminate into a dead end but a journey always continues. So, goodbye for now, ciao, auf wiedersehn, adios, au revoir, sayonara, dasvidaniyan, phir milenge.


🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗




 

PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS



L-R: Babla, Myself, Srinivas, Ashish

L-R: Babla, Myself, Srinivas, Ashish
L-R: Babla, Srinivas, Ashish
The Panorama
The Magnificent Sahyadris

Reflection of Heaven
The Infinite Vaitarna
The Bifurcation
Majestic Vaitarna
Expanse Of Vaitarna
When you are stressfree





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