I've been taught that "Decisions taken in a haste can
be dangerous, you should always remember that slow and steady wins the
race". But with the desire of doing many things with the shorter span of
life, doing things slowly and steadily will end you up “Living in a van down
the river”. I believed in this factor and took a quick decision with-in a
matter of few minutes to become a part of a sumptuous team named “TMI(Trek
Mates India)”. Thanks to Dharam Paaji
(Dharmesh Vithlani) who introduced me to this “BIG-FAT ” Family.
It happened to me on a Saturday afternoon when I was sitting
like a dead duck doing nothing, when I suddenly came across a blog written by
Dharam Paaji “IN AWE OF SAHYADRIS” reading it fired a bullet in my head and I asked
him to take me in to the Family and without any hesitation he summed up me with
TMI. And as soon as I came to know about the Harihar Fort trek event I didn’t
even think of anything else and did my registration with the help of the Family
head “Sir. Rahul Barve” Thanks a lot Sirji for accepting my registration in the
11th hour. Things happened so briskly that for a moment it forced me
to give a second thought on my decision, but I told myself “If it is meant to
happen it will happen” and without thinking on my decision not even for a second
I gave a kick start to my shopping and packing and at got rid of it in the peak
hours. It was then I reached my pick up spot, Nitin Company Junction, Thane
still rethinking over my hasty decision as it was my first trek so I was a
little nervous as well as very much excited. Soon our DHANNO RANI arrived and added a sudden break to my thoughts and
geared up my excitement.
As soon as I entered our DHANNO RANI I saw each and every
individual so happy, energetic and very much enthusiastic looking at their
faces I noticed one thing that I was not a stranger to them neither they were
to me, I was seeing those guys for the first time but everything was looking so
familiar as if I’m going with my Family. The moment our jockey hit the
accelerator we on the rear started exploring our singing talents ;) good or bad
didn’t made any difference everything was complimented. But there were a few
people with extra ordinary talent, few of them are Mr. Santosh Akre at his best
with his bongos, Mr. Rahul Barve who is so
precise with the lyrics, Dharam Paaji (Dharmesh Vithlani) singing euphoniously,
Sanjna Akre best with her tambourine all were appreciated even me who was
singing cacophonously :P . My sympathies to those who were disturbed with our
singing and a vote of thanks to those who enjoyed it. Still laughing on that
RADIO-VIDEO convo between Dharmesh-Pallavi and Lawrence :D during the mid night
tea/coffee session, no more comments on that video hushhhhh.
Reached the base village Nirgudpada had a change, early
morning breakfast, tea and after a short introduction and important
instructions session from our mentors Mr. Rahul Barve & Mr. Manoj Kalwar we
quickly grabbed our bag packs and gave a head start to our journey “MISSION HARIHAR FORT”.
It was an awe-inspiring sight, wet roads, cool and foggy weather, slow and
endless drizzle, mountains all around us with lush green plants and trees along
with a few naturally formed waterfalls, and the #1 team with prominent front
lead, center lead and back lead.
Walking with the crowd having a short introduction and conversation sessions with
almost everyone, making new friends, randomly posing for the snaps was so much
fun. Stomping your feet on a muddy land and a walk over the plateau was an easy
thing to do, soon we came to this giant 80 Degree wall with 200 horrifying
steps, ascending and descending was a real challenge but all in the end it was
a terrible and fantastic experience which one should go for. But we all moved
forward with the fear, lots of energy, and enthusiasm and with “LAKSHYA KO HAR HAAL MEIN PAANA HAI” attitude.
Finally it was done we conquered the fort and reached the
top (3550fts), everyone was so blissful that even the happiness gained by one
when he/she gets the most expensive gift would have fainted. Soon we moved
forward to the ultimate peak of the fort all covered with fog which gave all of
us a feeling as if we were in clouds, we all were just enjoying this moment
suddenly “INDRA DEV” blessed us with heavy showers and cool storms J WHAT A MOMENT IT
WAS!!!!! Suddenly all opened up their
lunch boxes and sharing the dabbas and finishing them ASAP made me remind my
school days, we all are familiar with the “CANDLE LIGHT DINNER” but I can
challenge anybody that the feeling which one gets through such a meal on a hill
top…. Underneath the open sky….. storm, fog, heavy rain, shivering body was
worth than a 5 star meal. With in a matter of few minutes the dabbas were
finished and later on lead our team to the group photos, i think with those jumps we must have
pushed the fort a few inches down ;) post photo session was followed by “DUMB-SHERAZ” rounds... weird movie names.. weird acting.. weird guesses.. and the fun "PRICELESS". Later
on we were asked to descend to the base but those pleads from all of us to our
mentors took the kid out of all of us. “SIR
PLEASE 5 MORE MINS”, “SIR SIR THIS IS THE LAST ONE” “NAI NAI PAKKA YE LAST VALA
HAI” :P 
Now it was the time to descend back to base, descending was
easy for a while but when we came across those steps it took the hell out of
us. Heavy rain….. strong wind….. foggy weather it was the most difficult thing
to do but the team support and the self motivation in all of us helped us to
descend safely. Those few minutes spent in a small lake on our way was amazing,
finally it was all done within a matter of few hours we reached the base village
Nirgudpada. Everyone was so happy and thankful to GOD for helping all of us
reach safely to the base without any accidents. The quote proved true to all of
us “ALL’s WELL THAT ENDS WELL”. Finally reached home sweet home with lots of
memories and astounding experience. HATS OFF to Mr. Rahul Barve for taking the most difficult responsibility of being a back lead(the most difficult position) and our front lead Mr. Manoj Kalwar.
VOTE OF THANKS:
- Dharam Paaji (Dharmesh Vithlani)
- Rahul Barve
- Manoj Kalwar
- TEAM TMI.
“TECHNOLOGY MAY HELP
US CONNECT WITH THOUSAND’s OF HUMAN BEINGS SITUATED IN HUNDRED DIFFERENT PLACES
IN THE WORLD, BUT TREKOLOGY CONNECTS ONE WITH THE NATURE WHICH IS WORTH CONNECTING TO THOUSANDS OF HUMANS”.
Brief Description:
Type : Hill forts
Fort Range : Trimbakeshwar
District : Nashik
Endurance : Easy
Difficulty : Medium
Height : 3500 feet.
