[sameervg]

Finally I have completed my first official trek with any group and with specific target.
Last weekend we seven members from our office enjoyed mesmerizing Bhimashankar trek.

Although in past I walked lot in Konkan crossing couple of mountain trails and back through roads in our home town Gaonkhadi or Adur near Guhagar. This used to be everyday event in summer vacations.

Since I visited Bhimashankar in June 2011 by road, Bhimashankar trek was in my ‘To Do’ list to enjoy beautiful nature but it took two years to execute.

As there is a say “A picture is worth thousand words”, here is my first photologue on Team-BHP of my first ever official Bhimashankar trek.

Few highlights:

Our Schedule :
28 June 2013 : Mumbai to Neral by train (18:21 IST fast), stay at my house at Wakas near Neral.
29 June 2013 : Wakas to Khandas by Minidor, 5.30 hours trek to Bhimashankar from Khandas and stay.
30 June 2013 : Bhimashankar to Khandas – almost 4 hrs, Khandas to Neral by Minidor and back by train.

On 29th morning by 6:30 AM we started from my home @ Wakas and reached Khandas by 8:30 after spending 30 minutes for breakfast at Kashele. Misal was just ok to fill stomachs and bhajji were oily.

The climate was really good. It was drizzling for some time. We felt to stop on the way to Khandas but controlled ourselves and moved further to enjoy Bhimashankar trek

We opted for simpler route of Ganpati ghat instead of Shidi ghat. The trek is bit tough as there are few rocky patches and those become very slippery in rains.

On the way you also cross various small streams and waterfalls which in deed refresh you. Found many crabs on the way. There are variety of plants you can find in Bhimashankar Jungle.

There are few huts on the way where villages serve tea / biscuits / bhajji.

On the way one monkey attacked us. As one of my friends moved back when that monkey attacked, I slowly moved further and tried to pass by side. But he climbed and was hanging on my T-shirt to grab small camera rope. Thankfully I could remove my camera by one hand while with other hand I held his hand and kept him rotating just to distract him from target. As I removed camera from T-shirt he found Perk bar peeping out and he climbed further , tore my pocket and snatched Perk Bar. I am sure people must be feeding them on the way that’s why monkey would have habit of catching people to grab some food if possible.

Most of the time route was covered with clouds and rain at few instances. We reached Bhimashankar by 2:00 PM. Around 2:30 PM it started pouring heavily. We checked in “Shivshakti Lodge” just behind the temple. The lodge was just OK to spend night for trekkers. He provided one big room with 5 mattresses and 1 bed. Luckily common toilet was clean.

We spent our evening near temple area. Temple structure is really nice. We attended evening Arti, and Lord Shiva darshan post Arti as in afternoon when we reached temple was very crowded.

For dinner we ordered Pithale – Bhakri which was amazingly tasty. After dinner we went to buy Kandi Pedha from nearby shops. Pedha was superb and very very fresh.

Next day morning after Tea / dry snacks at around 8:00 AM we started our return Trek.

Midway we took a break for tea for 15 minutes and started again. Later also spent some time at one of the waterfalls.

Around 12:00 PM we reached Khandas and reached Neral by 1:00 PM. Post lunch @ Neral we reached at our homes by 5:00 PM due to Railway Megablocks on Sundays.

Bhimashankar forest is really amazing for all nature lovers. For next time we decided to spend more time enjoying nature and photography instead of just targeting to reach Bhimashakar.


Cheers !

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Thanks

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[honeybee]

An excellent photologue. The photographs are truly amazing. Did you use a mobile phone camera for it?

[Ddrive]

Congratulations on posting your first travelogue on tbhp.
Good to see these green environments soaked in rain and filled with fog.
Nice photos, Didn't you click any during the monkey episode ?

IMHO
Please check the 'manage photos' option when placing the photos next time

[sameervg]

Originally Posted by honeybee

An excellent photologue. The photographs are truly amazing. Did you use a mobile phone camera for it?

Thanks Honeybee for your comments. Actually I used Sony H55 but picture size have been reduced 30% to upload hence picture quality compromised.

Originally Posted by Ddrive

Congratulations on posting your first travelogue on tbhp.
Good to see these green environments soaked in rain and filled with fog.
Nice photos, Didn't you click any during the monkey episode ?

IMHO
Please check the 'manage photos' option when placing the photos next time

Thanks Ddrive for your comments. Actually someone from my friends should have clicked or shoot but most of us could not react so fast to capture that Monkey episode.

And offcourse thanks for suggestion reference to managing photos. Surely will take care next time.

Cheers !

[Dodge_Viper]

Did you visit gupt Bhimashankar? I hope the river is flowing with full force now. Last I visited there was barely any water flowing.

[sameervg]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Did you visit gupt Bhimashankar? I hope the river is flowing with full force now. Last I visited there was barely any water flowing.

We could not do Gupt Bhimashankar due to time constraints as few of our members were having some other commitments in Mumbai so had to leave early from Bhimashankar. But next time for sure we will target for Gupt Bhimashankar. Heard its amazing location.