A Trip To Remember

We always want to get rid of boredom from unprejudiced ‘D-Life’. For this nature is the best lap to sleep. Mumbai is the heart of maharastra.I have my livelihood  sources in this heart only. But, in week-ends, the whole out-ward part of Mumbai gives us oxygen for striving this business. This time we have chosen  Matheran, a place of lush green forest and undulating hilly terrains. Its quiet famous among the hikers of western-ghats. we have stated very early in the morning. Always remember to put on tracking shoes when you have to cover a long distance as natural pedestrian. Weather is comfortable, no sweating and shivering at all. We took a train of Neral via Thane, obviously it’s  a fast train. Never expect empty place in Mumbai’s train. Somehow we managed to get in and after 1.5 hrs journey we had reached Neral station. From Train, we captured some panoramic view of Paschimghat. First we had decided to go by toy train, but for its long booking line ,we had chosen to hire a car. Our car drives through the stony and spectacular roards. After some sharp turns we have reached kasturi-naka, the entry point of matheran. After having some food we started our journey to disclose matheran’s beauty. For over-night duty on office, I am feeling very much drowsy, dormant but I can’t just give up. We started to walk through dense forest over dusty and rocky path. No vehicles are allowed inside, that’s make this place pollution free, only customarized transport is ‘Horse’, I must say  their movement is also unbearable.

As much as we are getting in, the forest becomes darker; people are less, we just hard some barking and clop. I always carry a map with me wherever I go, this time also no exception. We are climbing towards sunset point, but at point, we have to choose the lane between two. First we have taken the right way but it only leads us to forest ,then we came back and quiet confidently we  walked through the other way. Alas! we came to the same point again…and that’s a trap. Though our condition is not like of African deathtraps, still we can’t able to find a way. I started to roaming around and finally in one direction I had found some smokes. Thereafter, we started to follow the sources of that smoke, after crossing a big ground and dumping zone, we came to the sources. And we saw the famous railway track of matheran, It’s better to follow the rail-line to go to different points, so we do. From that much top, Sky looks more clear and vibrant. Imposing tree branches are more like a shelter for darkness. We have found various types of flora-fauna in our way, Sometime we takes some tricky shortcuts to climb high, and sometime we are just stopped by the spectacular scene of Mother nature. It’s  1 p.m, but we are still climbing, we decided to have some snacks an garam chai. Native peoples’ are very humble and honest. After continuation of walking, somehow we managed to reach Sunset Point, ah! That’s great. The lovely terrains of matheran are bestowed with greenery and in monsoon it adds some spectacular water downfalls to sizzle the region. We had taken some pictures and then we decided to view some more points like panorama point, famous for classic view of western-ghats, heart point, luise point. And then we had aimed for  charlotte lake and lord point.

Charlotte is the main source or water for rest of the year in Matheran. No boating or swimming is allowed there and it is quiet maintained. In monsoon, when dam overflows then it streams though lord’s point and creates a scenic waterfall. Other time, from lords point you can visit the harischandra ghat and other famous peaks. Beside, here is also an temple of Lord Shiva, we have visited this and prayed our adoration. We spent some time just besides the lake ,It is peaceful there. Then we started our reverse journey to matheran station. After a some inclination and declination, we have reached main lane ,between this journey we have found many abandoned house, which reminds us of some typical bhoot-banglo,may be some lamentable unfortunate incident happened there. So, we started to sing some spooky famous songs to underestimate our fatigue.7 p.m we reached the station and booked ticket for the famous toy train towards neral.

It’s important to share some info regarding this track, This track is 126 km long and only the second highest rout of India, It is a part of UNESCO world-heritage, It goes through the difficult curves and sculptures of nature. This is enough to add some coldness in your heart. But don’t worry the drivers are well trained, we just have to keep faith on Ganesha, we started the toy train journey and after sometime when it goes at top, I just felt my heart in my hand. It’s terrifyingly beautiful, I saw the whole neral city up from there and it seems too small. Then I saw a idol of Lord Ganesha made of rocks, I just imagine how people made this? Our karma guide  knock the bell of Ganesha’s temple from train only.the train stopped at waterpipe station,and we buy some tea.and just astonished a woman is selling guava up there  and as it is the last train for the day, she also accompanied us in our journey. after  a 2 hours long journey, full of adventure, risk,  beauty, ebulliency we had reached Neral station. Then we take the train for Thane and come home by 10 p.m

Our trip comes to a successful end. Nature has so many things to delight with human. This trip gives some refreshing and energetic air to live on. That is for now. But soon I will found some more places to hike around, till then Enjoy life, be safe but not be a Home-Keeping. Life is a onetime chance just plays it.