Trek to Peb Fort(VikatGad)…Beautiful Start of New Season…Scary Moment…Yet a Stylish End…

                                                          

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Purushottam Thakar, Giridarshan Trekking Club, Pune

Note :- Its almost one year I have not written something on this blog, so please excuse me if i was not able to thrill you with the words and express right feelings :-)

It’s been days…not gone for trek…and was utmost important for me to go on trek to refresh myself and Giridarshan has its new schedule ready and the first trek was Fort Peb on 7^th October 2012.  Unusual trek and hence Decided to give it best shot possible. The fort is situated next to Matheran and is about 2100ft ft from seashore by known source.

Day before the trek, it was only Amit Jagnade and myself preparing for the trek, Sangram Dhongade joined us and I felt pretty positive about the start of new season.  By Saturday 27 seater bus was full, that boosted some more confidence that there are people who still love unusual places. The group consisted of new comers and some old timers; eldest participant was 74 years of age Mr. Sant and followed by Mr. Patil 71 years of age. I salute to their enthusiasm and courage.

7^th October 2012, 6.15 a.m. Giridarshan’s office

The bus is waiting right on time outside Giridarshan’s office; people were coming in and filling up the forms.  GTC Leaders were present on the spot to help us and for a see-off.  Breezy morning….with everybody on board we took of about 6.45 AM from Giridarshan’s office, picked Mr. Patil ,  Mankar and pramod on the way from Kalewadi and through to old Pune-Mumbai Highway.

Lonavla was as usual filled up with Fogg and Dukes Nose was lost in the clouds, but visible from Amrutanjan Point.  Bus took the Khopoli exist to reach neral via short cut, we bypassed chowk naka using  shortcut , having done that we missed our breakfast hotel, but never mind we managed it on chowk near Neral. From here we took left and on our way to Fanaswadi the base village of Fort Peb. We passed Neral-Matheran chowk but missed the left turn to fanaswadi and went ahead, but I quickly realized that we were on wrong track, we asked the locals and we had to come back and finally we found the narrow road which was going to “Mohachi Wadi” and then to “Fanaswadi”… Advice to fellow trekkers … ask for Mohachi Wadi road which leads to Fanaswadi…otherwise it’s very narrow to miss from your sight.

Mandar Udhas carried a nice map of fort Peb and routes reaching to the fort. But finally we decided to take a Local Guide with us. Initially we thought we will get down to Fanaswadi after seeing the fort but later with discussion we decided to do the circuit trek to Matheran Mini train track and called our bus to “Water Pump Station”, a tiny railway station for Matheran Mini Train, the decision turned out to be very fruitful later. 

7^th October 2012 10.40 a.m. Fanaswadi, the start

As soon as we started toward fort Peb along side of Giant Electrical Towers (these are key signs of route, we kept them to our left) through Lush green outfield, we started panting, each one of us, palpitation increased, Tremendous Humidity started killing us…through intense dehydrating climate we made our way through to top of the first hillock….and water bottles started coming out…some young brigade already on floor J, Phewwww…..that was tough…and for a moment, tension built up in mind…this was just start of the trek and I could see the Cole of waterfall to reach the “Khind” from base… It was quiet steep…but everybody was determined to complete the trek…. Mr. Sant and Mr. Patil, eldest of us became our inspiration… Usual ritual of Introduction round happened…..Rajesh explained about his experiences with  Giridarshan, I believe he was the most experienced participants of all and has done many treks with Giridarshan….So in the front its Sangram, brigade followed, as usual I was last with Dhwani and Mr. Bhattad. Amit Jagnade was carrying the club sack (Always Heavy with usual rescue kit), may be he was practicing for upcoming Alang-Madan trek…but it was really really humid and damp…and finally the sack made way on to Sangram’s back….one more climb and we reached to the plateau….I could see people resting every now and then…I was really worried about the time…but the sheer determination of people kept us going…..Amit Jagnade and I, found a very think water stream we filled some water….and enroute…one more  Electricity tower….and rest….my goodness it was killing …dehydrating a lot… but finally we made our way through to the base of the fort and start of steep ascend… there stands on your left a big , real big Tree…you can take a moment for snap... standing between the huge trunk of the tree….

7^th October 2.00 p.m. Caves of the Fort

We started ascending….slippery at times….but we made our way through it and reached the “Khind” and Wow…. “WoW” was the only expression everybody had on their mind….on one side we could see Neral and on the other side, Deep valley, Matheran, Prabalgad-Kalavanteen, Fort Haji Malang, Chanderi, Mhaismal…standing tall as if guarding entire range…what a fantastic sight it was…..then we started our traverse towards the caves…if you are facing Prabalgad-Kalavanteem, the route to the caves is on your left, another small ascend to the ridge , a small but scary rock patch was in between….be really careful….because your exposed to valley on both sides…. Btu all our brigade made it in style…all the way through you can see wild banana trees…the traverse to caves is also very scary, slippery, right hand side extreme fall and the route is too small to fix your feet due to grass…..so just take all the precautions….It started raining now…not heavy though and the entire valley disappeared in the clouds.  Slight down and then slippery up , you see the sight of caves and “Wow”s everywhere….after 2 and half hours of tedious , dehydrating journey, people overwhelmed with the sight of shelter.

Amit Jagnade, got a brilliant idea for fabulous traditional lunch… we cut the Banana leaves on the way….and we got our lunch served on the Banana leaves….bio degradable plates J…

The caves are big enough to stay..Swami Ramdas’s disciples have kept them extremely clean and maintained the sanctity of the place….

With that dehydrating journey, everybody’s water bottles were empty and we desperately wanted water…there is water storage on the left side of the caves…but the patch had become really slippery and risky due to moss and dampness…Rajesh fell on this patch…it was really scary sight for others….he managed to get up…but piece of advice once again..just be extremely carefull….so I don’t know who’s idea it was but a brilliant one….one of the banana leaf was folded by the center…there was very thin line of water falling from the top of the cave and right in front and people used that banala leaf as funnel to gather the water in the bottle…here goes the Noble prize for science… Use of wild banana leaves for domestic water harvesting…J

We had ample food, rather too much food, the decision was taken to have food first and then go to the top of the mountain, as it would have become really sluggish after full stomach to ascend….We will always cherish this luncheon for our entire life… a group photo in the corner of the cave….and started towards the top…. Really a nice place to stay….

And here starts your adventure….keeping the valley on the right….through dense grass and trees…ascending up….from slippery rock patches…..Whoa! here you are …butterflies in the stomach…..it scares hell out of you…

7th October 3.00 p.m.  Ladder patch and then towards top

On your right extreme fall… a big way of waterfall blocked by Rockwall…and a Ladder is fixed against this wall…now comes the tricky part….not much space to stand bellow..one has to face towards the rock wall… weight on the ladder…extreme exposure of the valley on your back….Extremely scary…as the ladder shakes while you start climbing it….its tied using wires…so someone has to go up first hold the ladder tight till the next person climbs up…one step at a time….fixing your foot tight on each step…and you are done….another group was descending from the ladder so waited and allowed them to come down first….Climbing this patch is easier than coming down…..

Prabalgad and Kalavantin standing tall behind in the mist and I finished my climb followed by amit jagnade and started the next ascend on the top….take left when you finish your ladder patch….the entire route is now completely slippery…..and then right….here you arrive at the bastion….it’s not visible but one can identify the structure of “Darwaza” and steps… trees everywhere….you are completely covered by trees…and Ohh My God…..it’s coming down heavy….the rains erupted… slashing and bashing us right in the middle of the scary route…. But it was soothing as well after that extremely tedious dehydrating first ascent….

Sangram prepared a bouquet of flowers, don’t know for whom, but he forgot it on the way…. Finally we reached to the Ashram on the top….while on the way one can see sighboard for reaching the top “Prati-Girnar” point…. But its really steep and slippery…it’s advisable to come to Ashram first and then go to the top through easy route….

7th October 3.40 p.m. Hot Tea and Scary Moment and Return Journey

As the top was in the sight…with very easy route going to the temple on the top…”Prati Girnar” point… Rajesh started with group ascending it…. And we ordered Team in the Ashram…as we were completely wet …from head to toe….everybody really needed it…and …

“Chaaarrrrrrrrrrrrr…….dhhhhhhhhooooddooooomm……Dhaaaaddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam….Kaaaaaaaaaaddaaaaad…..kaaaaaaaat…..”, yeah that’s how it sounded like…one streak of the thunderbolt landed some feet away from Rajesh and another one landed next to the group bellow… huge flash of light….I was terrified….It reminded me of our “Dukes Nose Rappelling” activity where we saved our lives by hairline margin in falling thunderbolts…. I took the call immediately and called the entire group down to ashram…people hurriedly came down to Ashram and we were out of danger….everybody was in shock…terrified for a moment….but now we are safe… I told them the Duke’s nose story and people really felt it was right decision to back off… it is pointless to fight against mother nature ….the fact is once again underlined… we had “garma garam chai”… it’s time..we have to move quickly….the sky was full of dark cludes….we still have a big traverse left to reach the railway track of matheran…before dark…we don’t want to get stuck on some difficult patches in the dark…

Facing towards neral and ashram on the back ….the route to matheran railway track…goes to your right…the descend is slippery….and you come to another plateau… Shutterbugs opened for serene beauty of the valley and surroundings…I can’t describe in words , how beautiful was the sight….if you are a flower photographer….this is your trek….don’t miss it….

There were two ways… to reach the gap which joins Peb and Matheran… one around the bastion and one slightly slippery descend a few meters before the bastion….It’s advisable not to choose the way of bastion…the route is extremely narrow and direct fall to valley…so we took the route before the bastion….if you are facing towards matheran…route is on your left…. A nylon rope is fixed to help to pass through the slippery slide….one by one all got down….and I could see a “traffic Jam” …wondered why… I made my way through the traffic Jam…Oh my my! 

One more patch of Ladder….criss-cross one…The approach is narrow and slippery…this ladder is fixed inside rocky patch of the peb fort….one plate is out of order and fixed using a nylon rope…so no risks guys…come down safely with lots of precaution….although not scary… here stands a big rock with a hole in it…a break for Photography….and then keeping peb rockwall on right, the fall on your left..through really narrow route we started towards matheran….you have to descend a few meters…to the gap which joins the peb and matheran…the gap is very narrow…reminds me of the gap which joins Fort Jeevdhan to Vanarlingi Pinnacle….. Now the Fall is on your right…Prabal and Kalavantin on your right…Chanderi, Mhaismal, Haji Malang on your back….the evening is glittering …. The clouds are coming up from the valley and bursting gently on the top of the mountains….Photos and Photos and Photos….

Making our way through the narrow traverse… there are spots where the small patches of the traverse are not present…locals have kept tiles on those but the shake if you put on them…so just be careful…and we reach one more Ladder…hope this is the last one….this one will remind you of the “Kalsubai” or “Raireshwar”  ladder…you arrive at a small Ganesh Temple….very artistic Ganesh idol is fixed inside the rock….and finally … husshhhhhh! We arrived at the railyway track of matheran…. We bowed down to lord ganesha for making this journey so beautiful, enjoyable and safe for us….and we started towards water pump station….if you face Prabalgad-Kalavantin and keep the railway track on your back….the route to the water pump station is on your Right… now face towards Peb and keeping matheran walls on your right…on the railway track we started our return journey walk….its a descent 2-3 K.m. walk…at one point the route turns extreme right through the rock walls….here you can see the sign board for Peb….and made our way through this sign board…now neral valley is on your left and matheran wall on right….just keep walking on the railway track….lots of small waterfalls on this route…so you can enjoy a small evening bath with extremely  fresh and cold water…..this track cuts the Tar Road (Bus Road)… then we took left and walking a few meters on the tar road…we found our bus waiting for us around the corner…

Some gentlemen disappeared in a dilapidated house for changing the clothes, girs went to bus for their comfort, and rest of the boys went to Water Pump Railyway Station…very tiny station enroute matheran railway track… and in the bus….we had snacks and team back in the chowk as we did in the morning….and the usual stock of Trek songs are out….antakshari….and feeling of satisfaction on everybody’s face….everybody was content….happy…refreshed…..promising themselves to come for the next trek….We got more Giridarshan family members today….Welcome Aboard Guys…you are now , Giriarshan Family!

What a Stylish End….and beautifull start of new season for Giridarshan….See you for the next trek…signing off …..

PS:- If you really want to enjoy this trek, follow the route we have taken , complete the circuit… Ascend from fanaswadi to the top…and descend via Matheran….Local Guide is advisable…..