[SDP]

I like trekking, but have been missing trek after trek since last 2 odd years. Finally this monsoon, managed to go to Sarasgad with the office group.


After that I was itching to do another trek, and somehow found a few like-minded Team-BHPians during the Powai-mini-meets. Dodge_Viper (KD) proposed the idea of going to Naneghat. Saturday 21st Dec 2013 was decided as the trek date. Quite a few wanted to join, but somehow most could not make it. engrohit, pritam, arunshek and superbee being out of Mumbai, could not join. Jignesh got a nasty burn on his leg in a minor mishap with his Pulsar and had to opt out. Besides me, the Shenoy brothers - adishenoy (Adi) & Cartman (Arun) - and amansanc (Aman) decided to join in. So finally it was just 5 of us, and we decided to take only one car out. Here's a photologue of the adventure (?).

A 5:30am start from Mulund.
(Pic credit: KD)


After driving through dark and some foggy stretches, around 7:15am, we took a quick break because of this beautiful scene.
(Pic : Aditya Shenoy)


My XUV basking in the early morning sunshine.
(Pic: KD)


"Live to Drive"
(Pic: Arun Shenoy)


7:45AM: We reached and parked at the base. Nanghat-trek starting point.


Had a quick light breakfast of sandwiches.


8:00AM: The trek started. The rising sun right ahead of us.


Kailash in his "Ekach Lakshya" pose... pointing to where we are headed.


The huge pinnacle on the left is the Nanacha Angatha (Nana's Thumb) and the V-shape ..that's the approach route.


Kailash - the trek-lead. The only experienced trekker from the group.






Clear grassy landscape quickly gave way to a trail through moderately dense trees


A few steep climbs.


A well-deserved break.


The sun had pierced the top of the mountain-range and had started shining on the peaks of smaller mountains.


Helpful arrows all along the trail.


Napkins came out quickly


The sheer rock wall is intimidating.






Sun-rays peeking from behind the Nanacha Angatha


First real break once we reached a clearing.


The tripod came handy for a group pic.


Smiling faces.
(Pic: Arun Shenoy)
L to R - Aman, Sanjay, Arun, Kailash, Aditya


The break lasted just 10 minutes and we got back to our feet.

[SDP]

More arrows.


As we started climbing, the view became more and more beautiful.








A tricky pass?


Not really...


Our first rest point visible from a higher vantage point.


No sign of humans for acres together


The trail became rocky beyond a certain point.




Second real break.




Shenoy brothers


The final ascent.


10:30am: Hushhh. The tired legs finally got some relief.


At the Nanghat cave. We had our brunch here. You dont want to hear about the kind of permutation-combinations we ate.




The climb


The view




Inscriptions inside the cave


One day we would stay here overnight.




That's KD.


and that's me


Bright red and bright yellow with the grey rock as the background


11:30am: Time to leave the shade and explore the last leg of the trek: The top of the Nancha Angatha

[SDP]

Trivia from KD: Naneghat was a trade route ages back and toll was collected at the narrow pass. "nane" means a coin in Marathi. The coins were collected in a toll-pot.

The trade route.




The coin-pot for the toll.


Peeking inside the coin-pot.




The Wanar-lingi pinnacle


The view after reaching the plains.






Final climb towards the top of the Nanacha Angatha.




A HDR attempt.


Mona Lisa?




12:00 noon: Finally reached the top.


Peeking down was scary.




Setting the tripod for another group pic.


Pic: Aditya Shenoy


Squinting with the sun shining right in front.


Could imagine how beautiful this scene would look in the lush green of the monsoon


Packup and head back.




The climb-down was tricky...


...and Arun had to engage 4x4 at a few places. Here you see Adi spotting the 4x4 excursion

[SDP]

One final look at the beautiful landscape.


Adi lending a helping hand












Posing for the camera.

We filled up water over here from a small ditch in the rock. It was clean, refreshing and really cold. I was paranoid about it, but given that I am doing OK 4 days after the trek, it seems like KD was right about the water being pure and bacteria-free.





The climbing down was not easy on knees. The heat made it a little bit more difficult.








A look back and we couldn't believe that we had climbed all the way up there.


One for the records.




A longish break in the shade under a tree.


More 4x4 opportunity and demonstration of traction-control


Crossing a dried up stream


Nanacha Angatha in the background...


...2500 ft from sea-level!


Me grinning.


The only animals we encountered.


The final leg : "Last 5 minutes"






3:00PM: Finally reached the car.


Freshened up in next 15-20 minutes and headed back. Hogged on misal, bhajiya and Maaza at a small hotel. Reached home around 6pm after navigating through bad traffic in the Kalyan stretch. Great experience of trekking with like-minded buddies.

Can this trek stake a claim to the title "Highest team-BHP mini-meet in Mahatashtra"?

[carzone]

That was one awesome awesome trek you guys did.
Yes, the highest TBHP meet.
I need to gather up some more courage before I can try and go on treks.
Seeing the pics, its hard to believe one can climb all the way up. Great work.

[sudev]

Liked the pictures. Can you mark this on Google Map?

[Maverick5490]

Awesome effort Guys! Wish to join in when the next trek is planned!!

[VentViper]

Very impressive photologue - Naneghat looks like a wonderful location, and going by the gradient you guys must have burnt a ton of calories.

Can you please share the map/route to the location from Mumbai? Also, from a planning perspective, wanted to know what you guys carried in your back-packs - other than the camera and the tripod of course!

[SDP]

Originally Posted by sudev

Liked the pictures. Can you mark this on Google Map?

Thanks Sudev!

Coordinates for Naneghat -> 19.291702,73.673973

Here's the Google map:

[honeybee]

Loved the use of 4x4 terminology, lending a hand should then read as towing.

Great trek and an even greater travelogue.

[KarthikK]

Very nice travelogue as usual SDP . Thoroughly enjoyed going through the beautiful pictures and the gripping narration to accompany it. Automatically rated 5 stars like all your other superb travelogues. Now I'm eagerly awaiting any remaining pictures of this wonderful place for us readers to enjoy.

A question on the rocky stretch where you guys took a break: I saw what (I thought) could be ruins of a fort wall. Going back in history (trade route collection aside), was there some kind of fort here which is possibly now in ruins?? Or are those black-ish stone walls just something that the tourism department has put up for trekkers??

[PGNarain]

Beautiful Travelogue and lovely photos SDP! and beautifully timed as well... Me and some of my office friends are going for our first Trek to the Karnala fort this weekend.

Hopefully once we have get through this one, I will discuss with my group to make Naneghat as our next target.

[ArunP_Terry]

Great place!!

Lovely pics, thanks for sharing.

[mm403]

SDP, Like all your photologues , another great piece. Enjoyed as if one is trekking along with you .

Keep it up

[SDP]

Originally Posted by carzone

That was one awesome awesome trek you guys did.
Yes, the highest TBHP meet.
I need to gather up some more courage before I can try and go on treks.
Seeing the pics, its hard to believe one can climb all the way up. Great work.

Human body is amazing and you would be surprised to what extent it can be pushed. With treks like these one is just scartching the surface.

So, get over the mental block and join us next time!!

Originally Posted by VentViper

Very impressive photologue - Naneghat looks like a wonderful location, and going by the gradient you guys must have burnt a ton of calories.

Can you please share the map/route to the location from Mumbai? Also, from a planning perspective, wanted to know what you guys carried in your back-packs - other than the camera and the tripod of course!

We did burn a lot of calories (and got a good portion of those back as well by hogging on misal, bhajiya and Maza ).

Its about 90kms from Mumbai outskirts. Have shared the coordinates a couple of posts above. Don't take the route with which you can drive to the top of the Naneghat. 50kms before that point, on your right, you will find a board welcoming you to the Nanghat trail. Park there and hike all the way up.

About what to carry, quoting from a message sent by the trek-lead KD:
"1. compulsory min 2 litr water per person
2. eatables for breakfast + lunch
3. shoes
4. extra tshirt to wear while coming back (can be lept in the car)
5. spare plastic bag for disposal.
6. camera
7. gluconD or electral powder if required."

We also carried cap, sunglasses, large napkin etc.

Have fun!

Originally Posted by honeybee

Loved the use of 4x4 terminology, lending a hand should then read as towing.

Great trek and an even greater travelogue.

Hey, that's a good point about towing. Will keep that in mind.

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Very nice travelogue as usual SDP . Thoroughly enjoyed going through the beautiful pictures and the gripping narration to accompany it. Automatically rated 5 stars like all your other superb travelogues. Now I'm eagerly awaiting any remaining pictures of this wonderful place for us readers to enjoy.

A question on the rocky stretch where you guys took a break: I saw what (I thought) could be ruins of a fort wall. Going back in history (trade route collection aside), was there some kind of fort here which is possibly now in ruins?? Or are those black-ish stone walls just something that the tourism department has put up for trekkers??

Karthik, thanks for the rating! As per my understanding, there is no fort there. Its just a trade route with a cave for the travellers to rest. The railings and the wall-like structure might have been added later.

Originally Posted by PGNarain

Beautiful Travelogue and lovely photos SDP! ..

Originally Posted by mm403

SDP, Like all your photologues , another great piece. Enjoyed as if one is trekking along with you .
...

Originally Posted by Maverick5490

Awesome effort Guys! Wish to join in when the next trek is planned!!

Thanks PGNarain, mm403, ArunP Terry and Maverick5490 for the kind words!