[SDP]

I eagerly wait for the rains every year. I hate it during the week, with the potholes increasing travel time significantly, the car getting dirty minutes after I clean it and in general all the filth around gets my goat. Weekends are a different story altogether. Just step outside the madness that we call the Mumbai, Thane and Navi-Mumbai; and there's fresh green carpet everywhere. Clean wet roads mesmerize me to explore new places. The pure-white waterfalls descending from distant hills cast a spell on us. The fog, the mist, the chill...they add a mysterious flavour to the whole scene and make it all the more thrilling. Cutting long story short, I look forward to at least 2-3 family outings during the monsoon season every year.

This year, rather than creating separate travelogues/photologues, I am going to utilize a single thread to share the freshness. We are halfway into the rainy season this year and we already have had 4 separate outings till now.

1. A quick dash to Ratnagiri over a weekend (22-23 June 2013)
2. Dabhosa-Jawhar one day trip (22 July 2013)
3. Shilonda nature trail in SGNP-Mumbai (27 July 2013)
4. A visit to Kondeshwar temple and waterfall-Badlapur (28 July 2013)

So I will start with those. If luck permits, may be I would be able to sneak in a couple of more outings this season.

There is no point in boring you with "and there was greenary all around us" and "it was beautiful" kind of comments before each photo. So what follows are more of photologues rather than travelogues.

[SDP]

1> A quick dash to Ratnagiri over a weekend (22-23 June 2013)

My parents who are stationed in Ratnagiri for most of the year shift base to Mumbai every monsoon. This year, we decided that I will drive down to Ratnagiri with my younger sister to pick them up. The plan was to start early on Saturday morning (22nd June 2013), take the NH17 to Ratnagiri, stay overnight at our place in remote Ratnagiri and start back for Mumbai on Sunday morning (24th June 2013).

Route: Mumbai -> NH17-> Hathkhamba -> State highway to Ratnagiri
While coming back took a different route: Ratnagiri ->Hathkhamba -> Pali -> Sakharpa -> Kokrud -> Karad -> NH4 to Pune -> Expressway to Mumbai.

The day before, I did stayed back till the end of the first TBHP-Powai meet. Reached home around 9:15pm. Dinner, packing, off to bed at 10:30pm. As always, could not sleep properly because of the long-drive planned in the early morning. Finally got up at 3:30am, got ready and the XUV started from Mumbai with me and my sister at 4:15am.

Almost after a year of ownership, I was taking the XUV on NH17 for the first time. I wasn't sure how well it would handle the numerous turns and curves of the NH17. One thing that I was sure was that overtaking is not going to be a problem.

The low beam of the XUV sucks and I mean big time. Was not able to see anything on the road. Light drizzle made the matters worse. The wipers were leaving a streak, may be because of an oily film on the windshield. After degogging the windshield and spraying it liberally, got it to a condition where I was decently comfortable with the visibility.

Barely 15kms from home, I was not even out of Navi Mumbai, and the dashboard lights up. Not one or two, but four malfunction lights! Hild-Hold-Control, Hill-Descent-Control, ABS and ESP. But that's a different story. You can read more about that in my ownership thread.

5:45am: reached Vadkhal naka. Missed a couple of potholes because of limited visibility, but no serious issues. The section till Mangaon, which is getting widened is a maze with you continuously alternating between the left side of the road and the right side of the road. Some section are smooth, some are broken. The diversion points are all in bad shape, potholes, loose gravel and occasional mild slush. The XUV handled it well except one thud where I missed a small speed-breaker completely.

The visibility and road condition improved significantly with sunrise and we made quick progress. Tried to find a open hotel in Mangaon for tea, but nothing was open at that hour. Pushed forward towards Mahad.

Road conditions improved significantly in this stretch.


Just before Mahad, saw a good waterfall and took a 5 minute break.




The XUV was all dirty by this time.


Crossed the road to see this serene scene on the other side.


A cloud floating low?


All the muck on the side of the XUV due to the road-widening work.


Fresh clean wet road.


A farmer.


7:00am: Reached Mahad. Kamath's appeared closed. Asked the security guy and he said, he is just opening the gate.


Ours was the only car in the parking.


Quick breakfast and back on road at 7:25ish.


Lovely tarmac!










Bamboo plants are common in this region.


Another low-flying cloud.


At the famous U bend - Kashedi Ghat.

[SDP]

The ghat section was interesting to drive. The XUV was pulling really well even in 3rd gear on some slopes. You don't 'feel' the speed in this car and I was possibly driving some 10kmph more than required. On some curves and sharp-turns, realized that the XUV does have body-roll if you don't know what speeds to maintain on what type of roads. Slowed down a bit and things returned to normal.





Stopped after we started descending the Kashedi Ghat. Time to readjust the 2 small bags which were moving all over the place in the boot.


A quick peek into the valley.


A small hamlet in the valley.


A lone house.


Another floating cloud.


Kashedi Ghat.


The huge rock dwarfing the XUV.




Live to Drive!




Another waterfall.


A closeup.




Konkan railway.








Gushing water.

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[venkat_iyer]

Lovely set of images, SDP! The photograph of the XUV against the backdrop of the huge rock, and the winding road, is perfect. As you have mentioned, the word "Freshness" encapsulates it perfectly. The Western Ghats and Konkan are indeed transformed come the moonsoons.

[carzone]

The TL is up already.*claps*

Waiting for more of the awesome pics now. Crisp narration and upto the point.

That blanket of green really freshens up the mind. You are lucky to have been roaming around this monsoon.

[Desmosedici]

I too went to Dabhosa over the weekend but dont have too many pics as it was raining and we had activities like Rapelling and Kayaking.

Keep going. More pics expected. Havent reached Ratnagiri yet through your pics.

[Raps]

Wow!

Amazing winding roads, calls for a drive during this season. Nice pics.

More photos please...

[ghodlur]

There begins the grand show. Sanjay - keep the pics and details coming. I must admit your eye to the minute details is note worthy. Your camera meanwhile speaks a thousand words. The low flying cloud pic was the best capture IMO.

One question - Starting at 4.15? Isnt that too early? I mean from the rest point of view. BTW how was the road till Vadhkal naka? Last time I travelled about 4 months back the road was in royal mess.

[Top-Gear]

Great start to a monsoon photologue! Keep them coming! I too love the 'fresh, green, washed' look of nature during the monsoons. And yes, monsoons are clean and enjoyable OUTSIDE Mumbai only (unless you go to SGNP/Bandstand/Marine Drive/.../.../...).

[parsh]

Originally Posted by SDP

Just before Mahad, saw a good waterfall and took a 5 minute break.
Attachment 1118592

Crossed the road to see this serene scene on the other side.
Attachment 1118595

Beautiful road that NH17, looks even better wet in rains.

You did catch that waterfall. Nice. Was the road (rough way actually, not exactly road) to the waterfront on the opposite still there? Last year in my Mahabaleshwar trip, I had not gone even if the road was there going right upto the waterfront and was dry. Your ride could have easily drove upon it even in this wet season. Also there were quite a few rustic boats giving that different outlook to the place at that time.

Brings back the old memories. Thanks for sharing.

[motomaverick]

Way to go Sanjay, after a long time reading one of your travelgoues. The XUV looks good in the dirt, dont clean it

[Gotham_City]

Wow SDP! It's unbelievable how a supposedly mundane drive along one of the most dangerous highways turns heavenly in monsoons

Your TL motivates me to get out of self-imposed hibernation and head to Ganpati Phule

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by SDP

1. Ratnagiri (22-23 June 2013) 2. Dabhosa-Jawhar one day trip (22 July 2013) 3. Shilonda nature trail (27 July 2013) 4. Kondeshwar temple and waterfall (28 July 2013) If luck permits, may be I would be able to sneak in a couple of more outings this season.

Hello SDP,

It is just less than 2 months since monsoons have started & you already have undertaken 4 outings! great. And wait, there are couple of more outings planned? All in this season? Man you would be one such lucky person that most of us all dream to be.

But I understand all the above trips are done mostly on weekends (I mean without disturbing the work schedule) & it just takes us to come out of our comfort zone & start exploring the beauty outside. I mean one just needs to start somewhere & rest will be the histroy, because we live only once.

Anyways as usual the pictures are really good & as mentioned suggested by me in somether thread, we really need a session on basics of photography from you. I will be eagerly waiting for Dabhosa-Jawhar & Kondeshwar Temple and waterfall pictures.

Thanks,

[SDP]

9:00AM: We stopped again. This time in Parshuram Ghat.


Cloudy landscape.


A calm river.


My sister posing with the XUV.


Pushing ahead.


The sun played hide & seek with the clouds and the same landscape used to look dramatically different in an instant.


Chocolate farming! In one section of the field, you can see dark-chocolate as well


Colourful umbrellas.




A man-made structure jutting out of the natural landscape.


Endless roads.


10:30AM: Reached Hathkhamba and stopped at the regular fuel-bunk.


Left the NH17 at Hathkhamba and took the state-highway towards Ratnagiri city.
The waterfall at Nivali was thundering down in full force and we did enjoy the view. Unfortunately there was no safe parking space nearby and could not stop. No snaps as well.

11:00AM: Reached Ratnagiri city. Called up my wife and my parents. Both were surprised by the travel time. Assured them that I was not speeding (which is true) and the sparse traffic was the reason for <7 hours time.

Had a few things to do in the city and had to meet a few folks. That took almost one and half hour.
Left Ratnagiri city and started towards Pawas/Purnagad.

The sea and the Bhatye beach looked inviting from the Bhatye bridge.


The Ratnagiri lighthouse.


1:00PM: Pawas. That beautiful road that you see, that takes you to my mom's village!


A small durgah at Purnagad. During low-tide, you can walk to the durgah.


Left Purnagad and Gavkhadi behind and started towards our final destination for the day- Kasheli.


1:20PM: Reached our ancestral place. Could not take the car all the way down to our house. Instead I found a beautiful green carpet for Duma's parking.


375Kms done, but we reached quite fresh - partially due to the freshness all around and partially due to the balanced ride of the XUV.