As the monsoon season starts ,A typical Mumbaikar wants to escape the city life for a peaceful weekend getaway, away from the throes of city life.
For trekker’s the monsoon presents itself as a paradise and becomes a great opportunity to explore some of the best and most popular spots in Maharashtra. One of these and my personal favourite is the Sahyadris in the Western Ghats region.
“It is said that trekking in the Sahyadris during the monsoons are moments for the heart and soul.”
For trekker’s the monsoon presents itself as a paradise and becomes a great opportunity to explore some of the best and most popular spots in Maharashtra. One of these and my personal favourite is the Sahyadris in the Western Ghats region.
“It is said that trekking in the Sahyadris during the monsoons are moments for the heart and soul.”
One of the most awaited treks in this region is to Ganpati Gadad, a well-known trekking spot that is also famous for its recreational activities like water fall rappelling.
Among the rare few scenic places that are located this close to Mumbai, Ganpati Gadad has become the favourite haunt for many wanderers who look to spend their time amidst nature. The caves over there are beautiful, especially during the rains with many small waterfalls that blanket the entrances to these caves.
For anyone curious about the name of this place, the name Ganpati Gadad comes from the fact that a Ganpati idol is kept inside the caves as these caves are surrounded by darkness.
How to reach
The location can be reached by a combination of trains and local ST buses. Starting from Kalyan station you’ll have to catch a bus going to Murbad. After reaching Murbad, a 45 minute Tumtum ride will take you to Sonavale after which a private vehicle drops you off to Palu which will be the starting point of your trek.
I went on this trek with Morya Trekkers; we started our journey from Thane where a private bus hired by the trek organizers picked us up at midnight. We had a fun time entertaining ourselves in what would otherwise have been a boring journey by singing songs, playing games and telling each other stories.
We reached the base village at 3 AM after which took a 3 hour nap to let our bodies relax for a bit from all the travelling that we had done.
We woke up early in the morning to have a filling breakfast after which we had a quick run-through of the trek that we were about to go on. At half past six we finally got ready to embark on our trek.
The route to the caves is pretty easy though you have to make sure you are on the right path. One more thing to keep in mind is that having a good enough stamina is essential if you want to go on this trek, so keeping yourself from getting tired and rehydrating on every opportunity is of the utmost essence.
Keeping aside these guidelines, one can take the time to appreciate the beauty of the landscape especially during the monsoon. The lush green surroundings, pleasant weather and the peaceful sounds make for a decent enough experience for one to sit and enjoy.
Once you make it to the top you’ll get a glimpse of the massive caves which are formed in what looks like the letter C. You’ll also be able to see the waterfalls, the mesmerizing view of the Sahyadris, Ahupe Ghat and the mountain forts of Gorkhagad, Machindragad & Siddhgad.
The Ganpati cave is the largest cave in the area, supported by 4 huge pillars the cave sports statues of Ganpati on the sides along with images of Ram, Laxman and Sita. One interesting fact about this cave is that it has a square shaped room carved deep into it which was and still continues to be used as a meditation room. The walls of the room are adorned with a variety of crafts engraved onto the pillars there.
We prayed in the caves and took the blessings of Bappa and began the more thrilling part of our journey – rappelling down the waterfalls. We were briefed on all the basics regarding rappelling and then got around to gearing up; helmets, harnesses, gloves and all.
Bending over with my back to the ground below I began the most thrilling experience of my life. I have to say, when you are on the ropes rappelling downwards, you feel like you are the top of the world. The cold spray from the waterfall and the raindrops splashing on to your face just triples the amount of exhilaration that one experiences during the whole thing.
It should take you not more than 5 minutes to come down although results may vary with each individual. We completed our rappelling by 11:30 PM and made our way back to the base village. The return trip was fraught with a sudden outburst of rain and the accompanying changes in the ground but thanks to some of the other members we managed to make it safely back to the village and complete our trek successfully.
If one has to ever go for an out of the world experience without travelling too far then Ganpati Gadad is the place for them; the journey, the atmosphere, the surroundings all captivate our senses in a manner that can only be described as fantastical. Truly a once in a lifetime experience and that too accompanied by some of the best people over at Morya Trekkers who always look after your safety all the while ensuring you have a fun and enjoy whichever place you travel with them to.
Among the rare few scenic places that are located this close to Mumbai, Ganpati Gadad has become the favourite haunt for many wanderers who look to spend their time amidst nature. The caves over there are beautiful, especially during the rains with many small waterfalls that blanket the entrances to these caves.
For anyone curious about the name of this place, the name Ganpati Gadad comes from the fact that a Ganpati idol is kept inside the caves as these caves are surrounded by darkness.
How to reach
The location can be reached by a combination of trains and local ST buses. Starting from Kalyan station you’ll have to catch a bus going to Murbad. After reaching Murbad, a 45 minute Tumtum ride will take you to Sonavale after which a private vehicle drops you off to Palu which will be the starting point of your trek.
I went on this trek with Morya Trekkers; we started our journey from Thane where a private bus hired by the trek organizers picked us up at midnight. We had a fun time entertaining ourselves in what would otherwise have been a boring journey by singing songs, playing games and telling each other stories.
We reached the base village at 3 AM after which took a 3 hour nap to let our bodies relax for a bit from all the travelling that we had done.
We woke up early in the morning to have a filling breakfast after which we had a quick run-through of the trek that we were about to go on. At half past six we finally got ready to embark on our trek.
The route to the caves is pretty easy though you have to make sure you are on the right path. One more thing to keep in mind is that having a good enough stamina is essential if you want to go on this trek, so keeping yourself from getting tired and rehydrating on every opportunity is of the utmost essence.
Keeping aside these guidelines, one can take the time to appreciate the beauty of the landscape especially during the monsoon. The lush green surroundings, pleasant weather and the peaceful sounds make for a decent enough experience for one to sit and enjoy.
Once you make it to the top you’ll get a glimpse of the massive caves which are formed in what looks like the letter C. You’ll also be able to see the waterfalls, the mesmerizing view of the Sahyadris, Ahupe Ghat and the mountain forts of Gorkhagad, Machindragad & Siddhgad.
The Ganpati cave is the largest cave in the area, supported by 4 huge pillars the cave sports statues of Ganpati on the sides along with images of Ram, Laxman and Sita. One interesting fact about this cave is that it has a square shaped room carved deep into it which was and still continues to be used as a meditation room. The walls of the room are adorned with a variety of crafts engraved onto the pillars there.
We prayed in the caves and took the blessings of Bappa and began the more thrilling part of our journey – rappelling down the waterfalls. We were briefed on all the basics regarding rappelling and then got around to gearing up; helmets, harnesses, gloves and all.
Bending over with my back to the ground below I began the most thrilling experience of my life. I have to say, when you are on the ropes rappelling downwards, you feel like you are the top of the world. The cold spray from the waterfall and the raindrops splashing on to your face just triples the amount of exhilaration that one experiences during the whole thing.
It should take you not more than 5 minutes to come down although results may vary with each individual. We completed our rappelling by 11:30 PM and made our way back to the base village. The return trip was fraught with a sudden outburst of rain and the accompanying changes in the ground but thanks to some of the other members we managed to make it safely back to the village and complete our trek successfully.
If one has to ever go for an out of the world experience without travelling too far then Ganpati Gadad is the place for them; the journey, the atmosphere, the surroundings all captivate our senses in a manner that can only be described as fantastical. Truly a once in a lifetime experience and that too accompanied by some of the best people over at Morya Trekkers who always look after your safety all the while ensuring you have a fun and enjoy whichever place you travel with them to.
Very detailed and informative blog .
ReplyDeleteLoved it.
Thankyou so much
DeleteExcellent description, feels like I'm walking there while reading 💯
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much
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