The road less travelled

With the clouds hovering about, it’s time to pick your next monsoon trek destination. Here, let us help you...

The monsoons are almost here. And while most in the city are hastening to bring out their umbrellas and raincoats, a few others are stocking up on trekking shoes and sleeping bags. An increasing number of outdoor enthusiasts are getting ready to take advantage of the season for special monsoon treks. While treks to Lonavla and Matheran’s lookout points have become a tradition for many of Mumbai’s residents, trekking experts from various adventure organisations in the city believe that the less-travelled paths are just as beautiful, if not more.

Jayesh Morvankar, Odati Adventures (organising treks for the past 17 years):

“A lesser known but beautiful place to trek to is Sudhagadh, where much of the ancient architecture is still intact,” explains Jayesh, who is somewhat of a veteran in the trekking scene with over 17 years of experience. He explains the historical importance of the site and says, “Shivaji considered making this fort and its surroundings his capitals but chose Raigad instead.”

He further adds, “It’s not just the history though. The trail to the fort winds through forests and a narrow ridge before you find the secret entrance to the fort. The view of the Konkan plains and Sahayadris is amazing from the top of the fort. It takes two and a half kilometres to make the climb from the base in Thakurwadi village near Pali and the overall difficulty level is easy. One can stay overnight by pitching a tent anywhere on the flat plateau surface of the fort or simply put up amidst the ancient ruins of the fort’s Rajwada before coming back the next day.”

Jayesh will be organising a hike to Sudhagadh on July 9, 2016. Cost per head: Rs 4,150 (including food, travel and safety gear) For details contact: 022 22874201.

Vaibhav Gurav, Hidden Trekkers (organising treks for over 8 years)

Vaibhav is one of the few organisers who prefer treks that aren’t so popular. Telling us about his favourite, he says, “Vikatgadh near Neral is an ideal one-day trekking destination, with a distance of about 65 km from Mumbai. The place offers a vantage point to Matheran and the trek takes about six hours up and down. The climb winds through forests and grasslands. Once up there, we can see the beautiful hills of Matheran, which turn lush green during monsoon months. As far as difficulty is concerned, I’d rate it 3 out of 5. One can take a detour and trek to Matheran from Vikatgadh instead of coming back to Mumbai and also spend a night there.”

Vaibhav will be organising a trek to Vikatgadh this Sunday, June 19. Cost per head: Rs 700 (including meals) For details contact: 08828079732.

Dhiren Talpade, Jumpstart Outdoors (organising treks for 5 years)

Though fairly new on the scene, trek organiser Dhiren makes sure he adds a special flavour to all of his offerings. Giving us his recommendation for the monsoon season, Dhiren says, “A great destination close to the city is Thanale, which has a total of 23 Buddhist caves and is located just around 150 km from the city. It is usually a night trek, since it takes a while to reach the base point at Thanale village, which is located close to Pali.”

Giving us more details about the trek, Dhiren adds, “The entire trek takes around one and a half hours and is fairly easy aside from the fact that you’re making it in the dark. Hiking through the forest at night is a completely different experience. Add to that the fact that hikers have to cross two waterfalls, which usually have knee-deep water. There’s also the option of camping out in the caves and coming back the next morning after enjoying the ancient architecture and the beautiful waterfalls.

Dhiren will be organising a hike to Thanale in the first half of July. Cost per head: (to be announced) For details contact: 09619793983.

Amit Bhadouria, Mumbai Hikers (Organising treks for 16 years)

An avid hiker himself, Amit has been organising treks for the past 16 years. Telling us about some of the less-travelled routes that everyone must try out, he says, “Not many people know about Tamhini Ghat, which is a very picturesque location near Kolad (famous for its river rafting). The Ghat passes through Mulshi Dam and is a very good location for trekking, especially during monsoons since the area turns completely green. There are many scenic locations and trekking points like Garud Mashi, Devkund and Andarban. It’s on the same route that one takes to reach the Karnala Bird Sanctuary and is about 150 km from Mumbai. One can either travel from Panvel or directly from Mumbai via road.”

While the trek promises one the bliss of solitude, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Telling us how to be prepared, Amit says, “One needs to be equipped for any emergency. Since the road is very bumpy one should always carry a stepney along. A GPS is a must on this trek. The entire trek can easily be completed in a day.

Amit will be organising a trail to Tamhini Ghat on July 2, 2016. Cost per head: Rs 950 For details contact: 09819299164.