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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
HI
Wow man !
You have definitely given Nashik tourism a Thumbs up.. !!
Cheers.
HI
Wow man !
You have definitely given Nashik tourism a Thumbs up.. !!
Cheers.
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You Start Your Life with a Full Pot of Luck and an Empty Pot of Experience, the Object is to Fill the Pot of Experience Before you Empty the Pot of Luck.....!!
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
We reached Palghar by the late evening and was a small but very buzzing town. We initially thought of going to beach for sunset (with all these clouds!!), but we had to search for accommodation first. We needed 2 rooms but, the decent hotels had only one room. Luckily during our negotiations some fellow vacated. Then there was the drama that couple are not allowed.. I was like Dude! what about married couple? He was with like "I won't believe" face. So I show him soft copy of the marriage certificate, and he still asks for both of our IDs. Darn the super superstitious people.
We then stayed at the hotel, but my friends went on to the beach which was 6 kms from the town on a short night ride/view. Morning, we checked out and started to the beach "Khelwa", and had some Vada Pav and chai on the coast. The beach is with grey sand and coconut trees lining the shore, not a awesome view with clouds but admirable. There were some tonga rides, lazy dogs (literally) and few youngsters playing football.
But the roads leading to this place was AWEsome. Imagine being in kerala/Goan roads.
We heard about Bhawangad fort nearby and we wanted to make up for missing the forts in Jawhar. But it was quite a mystery to find this fort. Not many knew of its exact location nor this was visible easily. Everyone said follow the boards, there weren't many. We had to cross a creek, ride deep into the highly vegetated place to find this fort.
We finally found the fort after taking "n" number of wrong turns. There wasn't much left of the fort, it was invaded by the banyan trees but the structure was also being supported by its roots. It was more like a look out post.
We didn't take long there, tried to reach tungareshwar as quick as possible. We had to come back to the highway and follow the route to Bhiwandi.
The highway was even more beautiful, with fresh grass, moss.. we stopped there for lunch in a hotel made by bamboo. Decent food, but amazing bamboo art and birds collection.
We had a walk around the area and left for Tungareshwar, It was bloody crowded in tungareshwar, it took us 40 minutes to cross 1.5 km on bike.
And we would have seen around 2-3 K people in that time. Narrow path, waterlogged and slush, cars and bikes parked in the path and few stream crossings were horrible. Not because of streams, but cos of people. Stupid riding and driving, no words to describe.
I thought it will be peaceful and secluded place, but am sure even animals would have been migrated from that path and into deep forest area in the sanctuary.
We decided not to waste the time and left that place losing another 1 hour in return. We then started our return leg.
It was slow because of the beauty of misty Kasara ghat and Igatpuri. Have some Vids, Will upload later.
Next is a trek which will happen tomorrow (23/06/16) in Ajeneri, and short ride. Will update after doing it.
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
WEEKEND 4: Anjeneri Trek
I would like to restrict my words about this trip/trek in particular and let the pictures talk 10-15% of what I have experienced.
This Place is near Triambak, 25 kms from where I live.
Trek time - Approx 3.5 to 4 hours (If you are fast and experienced)
Trek Experience - Magical!!!
We started our trek after a small commute from home around 2: 00 Pm. Initially it was some off roading and then we parked the vehicle and started on foot.
Rain in the Well..
That's the peak we wanted to climb but we climbed a little more in adjacent peak too.
It was raining, foggy and all those waterfalls!
Looked at them and reminded of kung fu panda 2, "My old enemy, STAIRS.."
Had tea and few roasted mutter (peas)
Our companions in trek. These guys were more evolved than the phony people who came there.
Walking on the top of the peak to the temple.
This pond was on top of the peak, was an absolute tranquil!Last edited by saikarthik; 07-25-2016, 05:20 PM.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Next stop --> Harihar gad.. This weekend.
Weekend 5: Harihar gad
Darn.. It's been 4 weeks since I wrote the update here. Was unwell, caught up by work and most importantly my bike's rear tyre was leaking air. After checking I found n^n^n (If you could recollect high school math) cracks in it. Its in warranty period and the MRF 150/70 R17 was doing just fine, and now it gave up on me and waiting eagerly for salary to change. Now you might be thinking " Wait, This guy said it's in warranty and why in the hell he needs salary to change tyre". Yup correct, I threw off the Bill. How careless!!! Nope Don't curse me. It got wet last month while touring and I thought no use of it and threw it in garbage just few weeks before.
Height of things happening with reason and coincidence.
So I had to do a trek nearby, and it was a beautiful experience for following reasons,
1. Took my wife on her 1st trek,
2. We didn't go to top, cos we took wrong trek route but we found a new and more difficult route and reached the peak's shoulder,
3. Drizzle and sunshine alternative companions,
4. NO PHONY PEOPLE around. Actually only 30 people for at least 5 kms radius.
Now, since this was 1st trek for my wife. I took all the necessary stuff for worst case scenario. Guided her how to, what to and what not to. Started climb slow and with little breaks for her but was also pushing her limits slowly.
We had to cross streams, dodge branches and insects in thick cover and controlled slides on slippery rocks. She fell in one stream, hurt the leg, but managed pretty good climb time.
And, now comes the Pics. (taken from my phone).
Last edited by saikarthik; 08-28-2016, 04:15 PM.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Read above post for trip last week,
Next weekend is a long one and waiting for it..Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Awesome clicks!A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
Weekend Rides Around Kolkata
My Ride To Sunderbans - Hemnagar & Samsernagar
Saagar Kinare - Bakkhali Calling
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Yup.. But its not my skill.. The place is so beautiful, it makes an amazing pic everytime you click.. Same is the case with leh, Kashmir..
Got salary, got new tyre- Michelin pilot sport.. Got cheaper than last yr.. Seller said due to the competition.
Washed my bike n standing on crossroads literally thinking where to next..
Last edited by saikarthik; 09-06-2016, 04:40 PM.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
WEEKEND 6: Tuning up/Scout ride
This weekend, was a festive one and also needed to feel the tyre properly before any log trip.
So took the bike for a casual spin and didn't know where to go. Last week one of my friend travelled in Sinnar-Ghoti bypass and told it was beautiful there and send me few pics. So decided to ride there, since it will be just a 110 km trip over all.
Rode few kms on the NH3, and go a decent feel of the tyre. I liked mrf revs 150/70 R17 more for the grip than pilot sporty.
My front tyre is Pilot street and it gives tremendous grip, So it was just a satisfactory deal for my rear tyre even if it is michelin.
Few kms later, I started riding on sinnar-ghoti bypass. The road is good with few sweeping turns here and there, little rough in the beginning though. All I came across was fields/villages and I was riding along the banks of the lake, even that wasn't close enough to feel the AWE factor. Enquired the locals for waterfalls and they were unaware of any but Bhandardhara (Which i visited long back), So I decided to leave for a promissing location Ashoka falls in gaunde.
But the day was designed only for riding it seems, I coudn't find that location too. The location which was rated 4.5 in tripadvisor and heard of so many times.
So I headed back to home after burnt 3.5 litres of fossil fuel and polluted the air for no reason.
But I was happy that atleast the bike is in good shape now to travel coming week to a good location which I will decide in next 2 days.
Celebration in Nashik for Ganesh chathurdi..
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
I have been reading this thread more than 5 times and still not satisfied... nice one with good photography and Maps.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Originally posted by MukundRao View Post
Thank you! Just the places are so good, even a rookie photographer can click pics in mobile like this.
Also, this isn't done yet. Am waiting for the rain to start again to continue where I left. And I was touring bhutan and started writing about it recently.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
SEASON 2: Western ghats- Weekend touring about to start
Did a small ride, and was disappointed that it had to be a short ride, weather was awesome and wanted to ride through..
This place is called Pahine, a small village on ghoti bypass. There is a hotel, hmmm mostly its their home and they cook food - awesome non-veg with their special secret masala - One of Top 3 tasted gravy (Trust me - I have travelled far enough & tried food weird enough to comment this). But u have to buy and take non-veg. they specialise in Pomfret and chicken. People who like to drink can drink on tables looking at green carpeted mountains with waterfalls and rain clouds with insects/frogs making sounds.
Excited to start the touring again in these parts.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
I see you still forgot to mention the landmark to identify the special masala place.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Oh..Originally posted by kashok View Post
My bad.. It's on the way to Triambakeshwar from nashik. Place is called Pahine, U need to take left 3 to 4 kms after Anjeneri.
Ask for Bhaurao hotel.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
SEASON 2 - WEEKEND 2:
A lot of touring season has been wasted, no rides due to project work at peak, weekend travel to home in chennai and official travel.
All this travel is on flights and cabs and I was not enjoying the rain on bike with green carpet roads. But It was unavoidable, I became a father recently to a baby girl and need to visit home too. All this has led to my GO MAD point and I need to ease off this pressure.
So as any biker would do, went on a short weekend ride aprox. 200 kms; a small village called "Suryamal" - Garland of sun if I understand correctly. It's not a travel destination or a local attraction and I just picked the place by " Inky pinky ponky" on the map. Well that was not disappointing at all. Later on I was scheduled to join 2 of my friends back in Nashik for a shorter ride to Kashyapi dam. So I was just riding without breakfast only stopping for pics and to enjoy the moment.
I started in Nashik at home, packing only essentials --> water, some biscuits and documents in the bag. Full rain gear for me.
My beloved LS2 Helmet, cramster 4S jacket, gloves as usual & new Scoyco knee guards.
I love my cramsters no matter they suck in rain and always end up drenching me.
Rode past Trimbak road, roadsides filled with water and it was raining continuously past 2 weeks (Atleast it would rain 16 hrs a day considering mist too). Mountains draining the water from their top through multiple waterfalls, cattle grazing on meadow like small bumps in the landscape. A beautiful sight.
My Ceeber sprays a lot of water from front tyre and my shoes, Socks were already wet - meh! anticipated stuff.
Meanwhile, I notice a beautiful view of mountain with waterfall half covered in mist rest was green and sunshine on it.
So, I took a detour from the main highway towards the mountain and the road was parched kind of and covered in mud, easy peasy.. But It was a slippery son of a "Gulp" (Swallowed the word - Decency on net), I almost fell few times.
Pic was not able to show you guys what I saw.
Then on to the target, wasted no time and returned to highway, took a left and no people became scarce, no traffic, entered a bypass with villages here and there. Now I started enjoying my Solo ride.
Took few pics, but as I was complaining about my cramsters, I was drenched and my phone lens was heavily fogged. I didn't notice in the rain and clicked few shots which came out hazy.
Water-Dripping-Everywhere.
Resumed the ride on to beautiful corners and reached a point where in my last post I mentioned about a spl place for non-Veg lovers. This place is now flocking with phony tourists and selfie-mongers. People have even started temporary installations for corn, bread omelette and chai. I saw even a food truck selling chicken pakora (pakoda for my south indian friends), but damn I was on a no non-veg day yesterday. With my mouth dripping with saliva in addition to water dripping out of my gear, I continued ahead with heavy tongue.
" U "
I tried to make a heavy tongue emoticon myself and failed miserably as you can see above.
Now the road even got better, single narrow lane with good curvy lines following alongside, but I was careful not to get carried away, fall down and end up testing my new Scoyco knee guards.
Reached a place where I didn't know the route and maps don't work. So had to do the old ways of GPS - enquire the local villagers. One guy misunderstood my hindi and hopped onto my bike thinking that I was offering a ride free to his village.
I took him for a few kms and dropped him before ghat section and went on my path.
Last edited by saikarthik; 07-23-2017, 02:58 PM.Comment
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Re: Western Ghats - Weekends Love!!!
Stopped at a village named suryaghat for break, you everybody needs to go & especially in rainy season, feels like a mountain loads of pressure builds up and needs to be relieved. The whole place smelled like horse shit, literally there were some mules.
Now, on the top of a hill I was riding with both sides covered in green sloped farming. And it was misty and visibility dropped to < 5 mtrs in few places (only for a short duration). It was heavenly!
I had GoPro on my helmet, but was running low on battery. So I recorded a few important videos at good places. But when I was checking them out, I was getting error saying file format not supported. I googled at home and it said something about multi-chapter video & individual chapter is deleted bla blah blerch.. Someone with good knowledge of GoPro please advice me how to solve this issue.
Back to story from all the cribbing for my stupidity, I was on return leg. Normally I don't trace the route back, I plan a circuit so that I will be passing only through unexplored route (unexplored for me). But due to time constraint that I need to meet my friends, I traced the route back fast.
I met my friends after a quick bite at old and famous hotel - Shamsundar, had shevbhaji with chapati.
They were in a car and I was riding alongside. The route to kashyapi dam is short 30kms and through beautiful Girnare village (famous for Tea). Reached the dam and put my bike closer to water to click some pics and the wind was howling loud. So decided to dry my socks and my gear a bit. We stayed there for just half hour, and headed back as too many were in mood of drinking beer in that place (college teenagers, locals).
Below Pics are courtesy of my friend Vivek:
Reached home, bathed in hot water and made green tea. Sat down for the evening listening to the rain, smelling mud, made Cheese, oregano maggi for dinner.Last edited by saikarthik; 07-23-2017, 04:40 PM.Comment
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