-->
Hello Patron. Good to see you here. Have a great reading time with us! Choose your pick and indulge! Don't forget to share your views. Thanks for visiting.

Monsoon Getaway.. All Work And No Play....

As rightly mentioned in our first post, the one thing that all of us miss most in our lives is that "ME TIME".... After dutifully fulfilling my job as a doctor & mother, I felt that void somewhere within, the nagging question, "What about me???!!!!" The yearning to break away from the monotony & meet up with friends for a casual chit chat was strong. Adding up to my woes was the harsh summer heat, which had made life miserable. But then, after every "down" in life, you get something to look "UP" to...

After a gruelling summer, it was the most pleasurable feeling to welcome the Rain Gods.  They brought with them, not only relief from the sweltering heat, but also the lush greenery that covered the ghats surrounding Mumbai.
In this romantic season, one can't help but feel the irresistible urge to get away from one's daily mundane life and delve into some adventure. "All work and no play, makes Harry a dull boy!" So true! This very feeling translated into a weekend plan to trek up to Sarasgad Fort over a Sunday. So, we didn't waste any more time and packed our bag packs to hike up to this wonderful fort.

Sarasgad fort is located at the Sarasgad village, which is very close to Pali.Pali village is famous for the Ballareshwar temple (one of the Ashtavinayak temples). The fort is located at a height of 1600 feet from sea level (487 mtrs). It can be identified by its four pinnacles, which were used as watch towers to survey the surrounding area. The trek was of medium difficulty level and can be completed in a day.

We were a group of friends and chose to drive down to Pali from Mumbai. The drive is around 130 kms from Mumbai along the Mumbai-Khopoli-Nagothane-Pali road. We took the exit after the Khopoli toll booth on Mumbai-Pune expressway towards Imagica and continued down the same road till we came to Pali. For those who do not prefer to drive, Pali is connected by state transport buses.

The trek started from the base village of Pali, just behind the temple. Though it did involve quite some steep terrain, slippery rock climbing and some gruelling stairs (111 to be precise, each step approx. 2 feet in height), the serene view from the top made the effort worthwhile. We got a mind blowing view of the sahyadris covered in clouds and a green carpet, the beautiful Amba river negotiating through the magnificent landscape and the mountains lined with in numerous waterfalls which sprouted all over because of the rains. We also got to see 3 big water tanks on top of the fort which were constructed to store water during olden days. Alongside was a camping site, where one can choose to camp overnight.

The climb down was equally exciting as we got to experience something we hadn't done in a long time...get totally drenched in the rains!!!! All in all, it was a Sunday well spent!!!


P.S: What lured us at the base village was some freshly brewed 'Gavati chai' (lemon grass tea) & piping hot, crisp 'kanda bhaji' (onion fritters).




Precautions: 
Full sleeves & track pants with sport shoes advisable.
Some light munches & water bottle can be carried
Beware of slippery rocks & stairs (don't be ashamed to crawl on all fours if you feel like)

Finally, leave all your worries behind and enjoy what nature has to offer!!!!!


-----By MocktailMommy Prasanna



This travelogue is being re-posted for Quoted Stories Linky Party #9

27 comments:

  1. ncie have to check this place :) Sarasgad fort

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thnx Vijalesh...share your story wid us...

      Delete
  2. Ur blog has inspired me to visit Sarasgad...very well penned...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Seems to be a great place. Will visit definitely

    ReplyDelete
  4. Seems to be a great place. Will visit definitely

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Hari... am sure you will get ample ME TIME there!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Definitely on my to-do list before the season is over!! 👍

    ReplyDelete
  7. Definitely on my to-do list before the season is over!! 👍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thnx Vandana !!! Don't forget to share ur story wid us:)

      Delete
  8. Great job mocktail mummies..keep up the good work..All the best..!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nisha Allah Sophie...thnx for the wishes!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! Definitely something that all mummies feel.
    Very well written and informative.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Replies
    1. Indeed it was one Milind. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  12. Wow... It seems like a nice place to enjoy nature. I love impromptu trips on weekends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a great place to explore. Do share with us your sojourns on weekends. Thanks for visiting us Mahathi!

      Delete
  13. Seems like a lot of fun I sure am going to try visiting such a place soon too

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really rejuvenates you & boosts your enthusiasm when you reach the top. Happy travels, Menaka!!

      Delete
  14. I remember this ugly mountain veering up from nowhere it would seem. I was frankly scared of this mountain and admire you for climbing up .

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's not all that tough, believe me. The trick is to never look back. You won't even realise how & when you reach the top. Then it's time to enjoy the view!!! Thanks for visiting us!!

    ReplyDelete