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I had been to trekking on 26th to 28th Dec 08 near Pune.
This was 10th trip in a row for this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed outstation trips this year to my heart’s content. In a way it was necessary since my MBA classes are starting from 2-Jan-09 with exams scheduled every quarter there would be no travel plans now till 2011. This year i visited following:
1) Jan – Ganpatipule & Ratnagiri
2) Jan – Pune
3) Feb – Dehradun (official outbound training)
4) March – Hyderabad (Office – Sales Meet)
5) April – Matheran
6) May – Bharuch
7) August – Sri Lanka
September – Shirdi
9) October – Bangalore, Mysore, Tirupati
I had gone with my school fren, who is a member of YHAI (Youth Hostel Association of India), he regularly goes on trek.
This trek was to Purandar, Vajragad forts with Jejuri and Prati Tirupati visits planned. We had 33 team members who were extremely supportive and sweet. In no time, did I gel so well with each one as if I knew them from ages!!! Surprisingly there were people in the age group of 11 till 50 years – Commendable spirit!!!
Details of the lovely memorable time spent follows:
26th December, Friday27th December, Saturday:
This year I was fortunate enough to visit Tirupati Balaji twice in a quarter. Once actual in Tirupati in Oct and second time on 26th Dec. I was just so happy and felt like someone so special and blessed!!!
I was almost 8th in the line and just couldn’t wait for the security guys to allow me inside. I started chanting "Hanuman Chalisa & shani shloks" (my favourite) to kill time and control my excitement. The darshan was toooooooo good with even Padmavati (Balaji’s wife) and Govindraja (Balaji’s brother) temples situated beside. Till you complete these three temples, the pilgrimage is said to be incomplete.
The temple guys gave us prasad khichdi and a sweet kinda dosa. Also one ladoo. Awesome!!
Later we all moved for Purandar fort. We started our trek around 12ish. We walked and climbed and clicked pictures, shared chocolates, traditional home made sweets, chewing gums on the way and laughed – Too good!!Purandar is about 40kms south-east of Pune and some 10kms south-west of Sasawad. Preched on a gigantic mountain mass, its height above sea-level is 1398 metres and about 700 metres above the plain at its foot. It really comprises two fortresses: Purandar, the stronger and more important of the two, and Vajragarh, small sister for t situated on a ridge running out east of it. Purandar has two parts: the upper or Balekilla with precipitous sides all around and the lower part or machi about 300 metres above the plain
The history of the Purandar fort goes back to the 13th century. The Bahamani Sultans in the 14th century built here some walls and bastions. From 1484 AD, for about a hundred years, the fort remained in the hands of the Nizamshahi rulers. In 1596 AD, the fort was given as Jagir to Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji. However, Shivaji had to struggle very hard to establish his control over the fort in 1646 AD. In 1665 AD, Purandar was besieged by the mighty Mughal forces under the command of Jai Singh and Dilir Khan. In the ensuing battle Murar Baji Prabhu, the gallant commander of the fort, was killed.We reached the tip of a mountain at around 2ish which had a beautiful Shiv Temple. I was sooooo much happy to visit it since I am an ardent believer in Lord Shiv.
Then we visited another end of mountain top where Sambhaji (Shivaji’s son) was born.
Later at 3 we sat in a kinda ground and had lunch and laughed together, sharing from tiffins.
At 4:30 we started with the Vajragad trek. We reached at the top at around 5:30. We attempted to climb the small mountain cliffs with a feeling like that of conquering the world!!!. There again on mountain tip was Lord Shiv & Hanuman temple. The team members performed a small pooja and sang artis together during the sunset time – again an auspicious moment!!!
At 7:00 – 7:30 we were back at Purandar. We got our bags to a big hall. We were in a place with no electricity, no luxuries, no toilets – taking care of the baggages while the team, divided in small groups, had proceeded to have their dinners. We would be released when they come back.
But I just couldnt stop laughing at the funny things that we spoke and the lovely time that we had. Did not actually missed anything mentioned above!!
Keeping some team members inside the room, we went out for gazing at the clear sky with thousand beautiful twinking stars!!! (A treat to the eyes). My frens were explaining to me the constellations. I was listening to them and trying to understand at one moment and at the same time I was just wondering about the day spent – if someone had asked me to complete these mountains in say 7 hours I would have felt so helpless and frustrated but with proper direction, guidance, support of caring friends, trekking hand-in-hand, everything went so smoothly. Team work definately works wonders, dude!!! So is Life, if you are fortunate enough to have loving, caring, supportive members you rock, regardless of any struggles!!! And I just thanked God for giving me a bunch of such beautiful people in my life!!!
We had dinner which was kinda typical village food. Had camp fire, went to bed on the floor with 33 people scattered across the hall. I was a bit concerned about the insects, stray dogs and all the men snoring at their level best. When i think about it now, it seems to be soo funny!!!
28th December, Sunday:
(Murarbaji Deshpande (17th century) was a general in the early Maratha Empire during the reign of Shivaji. He is best remembered for his defense of the Purandhar Fort against Diler Khan, a Mughal general who accompanied Mirza Raja Jai Singh in the 17th-century siege on Purandhar
We clicked group fotos and proceeded towards Jejuri
Situated 48 kms away, Jejuri is known for its Khandoba deity and is considered a religious place by the Hindus
Khandoba, the deity at Jejuri is the fighter God of the Marathas. He is shown astride a horse and has a angry warlike look. This was reason enough for the Muslims to repeatedly destroy the temple. Even Aurangzeb attempted to destroy the temple a second time in 1690. He however was thwarted in this attempt when the Mughal soldiers while trying to attack the temple disturbed a nest of hornets. The hornets so harassed the besieging Mughal soldiers that Aurangzeb was forced to lift the siege and spare the temple.
The Bigoted but God-fearing Aurangzeb is said to have placated the angry bees by offering One Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Silver Coins to the God Khandoba.
I returned home at 22:30 with amazing memories of the trip, new set of lovely friends rather comedy characters – they will just keeping talking and make you laugh till your intestine hurts!!!
Today morning, I was missing everything and when i slept last nite, i was just so thankful to God that this was just a one day privilege trip, after which i could enjoy all the luxuries again.
I never really thot everything was so valuable since i got them so easily. Sometimes even complained about life being so unfair!!
Now the same things meant too big to me & I have really started realising how lucky I am!!
Hope you have enjoyed the writeup
We woke up at 6. Freshened up, had tea & breakfast (i had got banana chips and soya chaklis, someone had got dates, oranges, cakes, biscuits). Everyone munched happily and moved to see Murar Baji’s statue, which was just few kms awayAround 5ish – Reached Narayanpur, Prati Tirupati (Replica of Tirupati Balaji). Had Suprabat Darshan (Wishing Good morning to God). This was my long wished desire to visit Tirupati Balaji and take morning darshan with the auspicious environment, sounds of shloks, ringing bells, arti, puja, rising sun, birds chirping, soothing winds, freshness around making it extremely pious – amazing!!!! I was just enjoying every moment there.: 23:50 hours – Left for Pune in a private hired small bus. It was a very comfortable, cute and cosy bus.
Namita Vyavaharkar
http://www.articlesbase.com/camping-articles/my-trekking-experience-26th-to-28th-dec-08-704820.html
How many of these things have you done?!?!?!?
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.
3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.
4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next.
5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues?
6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process.
7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.
8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.
9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.
10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.
11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.
12. Dance Tango in Argentina.
13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves.
14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment.
15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.
Photo by Creative Corners
16. Volunteer abroad for a month.
17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?
18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.
19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.
20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.
21. Climb an active volcano.
22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.
23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?
24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?
25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.
Photo by James Dorsey
26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.
27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”
28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.
29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating.
30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime.
31. Attend a music festival in another country.
32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry.
33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere.
34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet.
35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.
36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.
Photo by astropixie
37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.
39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and dr
Right noe Nikole is in the lead!
How about these?
40. Stand at the North or South Pole.
41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.
42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important.
43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?
44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.
45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.
46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.
Photo by Nickmunstr
47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.
48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway.
and these
49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.
50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran).
Nikole is in the lead with 9
NIKOLE IS STILL IN THE LEAD WITH 9!
COME ON GUYS!!!
oghma2006 and Nikole are in the lead with 9!!!
If future President really did do all that he will be in the lead-but I’ll ask him this first-
How did you accomplish it all-there isn’t enough time!
I will be back in 10 minutes!
Come on Guys!
i am back & thx for the info Phil P
oghma2006 and Nikole are in the lead with 9!
Come on guys!
Somebody has now taken the lead!
all
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I rode something bigger than a horse last night.
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I do that 24/7.
At the same time. *wink*
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None
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Number 6. I learned English when I was 3 years old. Now I speak fluently!
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only 6……those all sound fun
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2
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I’ve only done the EPIC things on that list!
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23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?
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4.
6.
13.
17.
20.
21.
29.
33.
39.
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I have only done 5 of those things. I doubt anyone has. If they say they have I bet they are liars. Good list of things to do before you die I am adding them to my list now!
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These sound so interesting and fun.
I hope i do at least half of them before i go.
:]]
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About 5…
I feel that I have not done much with my life.
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3 and 6. I rode an elephant at the circus, sadly. And i also am in the process of learning spanish to get closer to my roots
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4 – more than once.
#6 – numerous times!
#29.
#30.
#31.
#32.
#39.
#42 – more than once.
and 49!
. . . so far!
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I have been active-duty Air Force, Army wife, English teacher abroad, and I love learning languages!
I did everything except #12 and #36 last week.
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Where would you get all that energy, time and money?
I have done many from my easy chair – watching PBS.
My idea of camping out is to have a room with king size bed,
shower and spa, and color TV .
You left out a very important event: The annual penis festival
in Japan. They parade an eight foot wooden penis and have
what looks like a rousing good time. You can google this.
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10 and I’m only 19 so I’ve got time.
#6
#15
#21
#23
#26
#29
#31
#32 (not techincally the whole country I guess though, but alot of it)
#33
#42
I’ve only been in three countries (including my own) though. I need to do more of that stuff.
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Like 7 or 8. All of them sound pretty adventurous!!
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