New years eve 2005 trek experience – by Glean Gonsalves
‘Impossible
‘is just another big word
New years eve 2005 trek experience – by Glean Gonsalves
‘Impossible
‘is just another big word thrown around by small people, who
find it a lot easier to live in the world, they have been given rather than
explore the power of its potential.
Impossible is nothing.
What is it for you?
Having decided
to bring in the New Year in a unique manner, we set out on a trek to Jidhan
Fort which is about 60km, from Kalyan, on 31st December 2006. The trek to the
fort begins with a climb through “Naneghat”) (‘Nane’
means taxes in). During the reign of Shivaji, one had to pay a fee for crossing
the Ghat. A large earthen pot atop the Ghat still stands, until this day as
a testimony to this fact. The climb to Naneghat begins, with a trail, just off
NH222 and about 4km away from the village of Vaishakhare. During the climb we
could see a splendid view of the valley and forests below.
A tiring four hour trek later we reached the pass, and having crossed it, we decided to call it a day. Our campsite offered us a majestic view of the fort and of the valley down below. Once we set up our tent we went about preparing for our New Year’s party. Our menu consisted of a refreshing cup of tea followed by a two course meal made up of a serving of ‘2 minute Maggie Noodles’ and mouth watering Khichdi. Giving us company was our old faithful transistor that kept us informed about the world, we try so hard to leave behind.
Totally tired and exhausted we prepared for a well-deserved night’s rest. So, while the world brought in the New Year with great extravagance; we rolled up cozily in our sleeping bags under the watchful gaze of the moon and the stars.
Having awoken
to the bright sunshine and the fresh air that offered a respite to 
the
lungs of tired city dweller, we began the last leg of our journey, the final
ascent to the Jivdhan Fort. The ascent to the fort was through a thick forest
and as one begins to climb higher, the view offered is breathtaking. After a
slow, painful but exhilarating; torturous but mind-blowing two hours we reached
the top. The entry to the fort is through a narrow pass, which is naturally
well camouflaged, in order to skip the hawkish eye of the enemy. Atop the fort
one comes across many water tanks that are interconnected by cisterns and remain
filled with water throughout the year.
What is
it that draws man to the mountains? Is it the solitude and a sense of calmness
that they offer him or is it a sense of achievement that it provides him with,
giving him a chance to say to himself that he could go beyond the ordinary and
stretches his potential?
I guess it gives him both.
After all, who else will know how to take care of her own children other than our very own mother nature.
Written by Glean Gonsalves.
