Trek from Dhavale Gaon to Arthur Seat (Mahabaleshwar)

            “Aaj Kuch Tufani Karte Hai” and “Dar ke Aage Jeet Hai” these were the two slogans which came in my mind during our adventurous and trilling trek from Dhavale gaon (based at bottom of the chandragad fort) to Arthur Seat (Tourist point at Mahabaleshwar). These two slogans truly describes our entire whole day and night adventure we did during our trek. Before writing about the whole adventure, I just want to share some statistics and information with you, so one can get better idea.

It took us 8hrs 30mins to complete the whole trek, from which 6hrs was in a day light and remaining 2hrs 30mins was in dark night with a help of torch. It was dense jungle and steep mountain range. We climbed almost 4000ft during our trek.

It is the first time in my whole life I am writing a blog or article. But it was really impossible for me to keep these adventurous stuffs only with myself. So I decided to share this experience with you guys. Let me warn you that it may not be a beautiful article, because I am not a good writer, but the stuffs and the pictures inside it are really great ones to share.

So now get ready and tighten your seat belts because we are now going for a most trilling and adventurous trekking ride, which we have experience and we all called it, “Once in a life time experience”. Then what was the worrisome factor? That we were 16 of us and all of them weren’t prepared for kuch bhi and kaise bhi..!!!

          It all started on Saturday morning, a mini bus was booked which left from Pune at 6.30am in morning. Everyone was picked from their location; by taking the name of "Ganpati Bapa" we started the journey. We took the route of Bhor Ghat to reach Poladpur. At 10am we stopped for a breakfast near Bhor Ghat. After having a spicy Misal Pav and Garam Vada Pav we left again to Poladpur and tried to reach as soon as possible.

Around 11.30am we reached Poladpur. We went out to the market and brought some food and water which can help us during our trek, more importantly few small torch light and whistles. After taking such important stuffs we left for Dhavale Gaon. From Poladpur took the road to Mahabaleshwar, few KM later take a diversion called ‘Kapade Phata’. It is a bit of Kacha road, on the way we encounter a village of brave Maratha warrior ‘Tanaji Malusare’ and ‘Shelar Mama’ called Umarath. From there we proceed to Dhavale Gaon, it is at the dead end of the road and surrounded by mountains in all directions.

            Our driver left us in Dhawale village by 12.30pm and he went back, so that he can pick up at Arthur Seat. After reaching the village 1^st task was to find a guide. So we asked few villagers to guide us, but no one was getting ready to leave their home in afternoon heat. After few request one man (Vitthal More) said he will come, but on one condition that he will guide us only till half way.

So around 1pm our trek started, we took the name of ‘The Great Maratha Warrior – Shivaji Maharaj’ and left the village. From ‘Dhavale Gaon’ to ‘Arthur Seat’ via ‘Ghumti’.

This is where our 1^st slogans comes in “Aaj kuch tufani karte hai”. First it looked very easy for us, but after every step it was getting much harder and harder with sun straight on our head. After half hour the real jungle trek started.

            Sun was drinking out the fluids from our body. After entering the jungle we got some relief from the sun but the mountain started taking a test of our ability. It started getting steeper and steeper. 5mins break after every steep climb was necessary. We all carried at least 2 litres of water with us, but it was never going to fulfil our thirst for next 8hrs. So it was necessary to take  only a sip of water at one time and preserve the rest.

We kept on doing this for almost next 4hrs. All were getting exhausted, but the water and the Glucon-D kept our energy level up and don’t forget the enthusiasm to continue the trek.

From this point, we got the first look of Chandragad fort, our guide ‘More Mama’ also left at this place. Before going he told us to just follow the path to reach the Arthur Seat. All thought that from here, the route may get easier, but our hope doesn’t stay for long time. It got more difficult than it was earlier. Below photo will describe better than me.

Mountain was getting steeper and steeper. We have to get more alert, because there was a deep valley on one side and the path was slippery, one wrong foot and you’re down 1000ft. One of my friends was getting cramps in his feet, he was not even able to walk cleanly, and it was difficult for him to climb such steep ends. But with the belief and hopes he kept on walking with a strong mind set.

            After climbing through Steep Mountain and dense jungle for more than 5hrs we reached Ghumati. There was a small ancient temple at ghumati. The view from there was so mind blowing and peaceful with the entire mountain range looking so tiny and we were so near to nature.

Everyone was so happy to reach our first target because we were told by our guide that we will get some water source near ghumati. All started searching for it nearby ghumati, later we got some water source but there was a bad news that water was not drinkable. We all got a 440 volts shock because all our water which we carried was over and every one was so tired and thirsty and still our 3hrs trek was remaining. One more bad news was that sun was setting down and we have to continue our trek in dark night with help of torch and no water.

            Now the real adventurous difficulty was going to start because what we did till now was in a clear day light with better visibility. But now it was the same Steep Mountain and dense jungle in dark night with low visibility of torch. This was going to be a challenge for all of us, because we were not sure of the path and also we were not able to see more than 10 meters further. Sorry I am not able to provide pictures of night adventure because of low visibility and we all were just thinking of one thing, to reach the top as soon as possible before the torch batteries gets over.

            We were walking in small-small group of 4-5 peoples, each group having at least 2 torches and one whistle. Slowly-slowly we walk further taking care of each other and describing the path to the peoples behind us, so that they can carefully follow each other without getting any injury. Just walking and walking and still no signs of Arthur seats. What to do? Are we on right path? When are we going to reach? Should we take a halt or just keep walking? All such questions were going through our mind. Everyone was just helpless; there was no other option but just to walk on the path. But no one was willing to stop, even the steep climbs, dense jungle and deep valleys were not able to  stop us. We were just walking without taking any break this time, without any water, without any food, only one target, to reach as soon as possible.

            Now it was 8.30 pm, one of our groups was way further then us. The path which we were following got over at a steep vertical wall of almost 20ft. They told us to stay at place where we were and they will climb that vertical mountain and check whether there is any way forward towards Arthur seat. We all waited, soon one guy who climb the vertical mountain shouted “Modhen pan vaknar nahi, thaken pan thambnar nahi”. We asked him what happened. He said that he saw the railing of Arthur seat. All of us got so happy and excited, started dancing in middle of jungle and mountains. We all started shouting “Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani” in middle with excitement.

            But don’t forget still there is a hurdle to complete, the steep vertical wall of almost 20ft. we decided that one time only one person will climb that vertical wall and other guys will help him by showing light of the torch. One has to use his both hands and legs to climb that wall because there was a 1000ft deep valley below that wall. Your one mistake can cost you all. To get a better idea about that vertical wall I have posted a picture of it below. That picture doesn’t belong to us, it is of someone else who climbed that same wall, and this is just to give you a better idea of what we climb at 9pm in dark night with help of dim torch.

After completing that last hurdle we finally reached the Arthur seat at 9.30pm. We all were very excited to complete our trek with such great enthusiasm. I can’t describe that feeling in words and there our 2^nd slogans comes “Dar ke aage jeet Hai”. All started shouting like mad peoples at the Arthur seat. We achieved what we aimed for.

            Our driver was waiting with our bus at Arthur seat; he was also worried about us. Now its time for a final group photos. So this ‘once in a life time experience’ stays with us for whole life. Moments which can’t be forgot for whole life.

          Thank You all you guys for giving your precious time to read this article. Hope you all love my experience and you too are willing to do such in your life.

          Please do comment after reading the article because yours comments are the only gift i can get for sharing this experience with you, so that next time it will encourage me for writing even better stuffs.