Trek to Pandav kada !

a random waterfall we encountered during the trek ! 

                         Treks to Waterfalls are ones i really enjoy as after a arduous journey you get a humongous prize in form of a waterfall.If you have your best friends in attendance then its all the more merrier ! We,The pythons (That's what we call ourselves) really had a great time trekking right from bharti vidyapeeth to Pandav kada a 8km trek which i am sure nobody will forget in a while ! 

 

Road to Belapur point

It all started with the initiative of Abhijit Advilkar who proposed a Friday (we have half days during fridays our so called project days) to visit Pandav Kada a nearby waterfall nestled in the kharghar hills. We all voiced our agreement and decided to go. Nitin decided lets go walking to the waterfall ,though he meant via road i took it literally and began planning a trek. I had once gone to Pandav-kada from my own city (a 12 km energy sapping trek) and hence had an idea of the general route. So on a bright sunny afternoon after attending the college at around 1pm we set out to conquer Pandav kada !  
          

Taking a breather,sitting and enjoying the view at belapur point

We were on the wrong foot straight away due to my error in judgement (come on ! i had been from a different route altogether ). Sorting ourselves out, we reached the meeting point between a paved road and kharghar hills at echo point or bhoot galli which people call it nowadays. Walking on the road, taking in the atmosphere we began to get comfortable with walking and carrying our bags (which nitin kept complaining why we had brought in the first place). Reaching Belapur point we took a break. By this time Saurabh Gadekar,a friend had found a stick and was brandishing it like a baboon saying it was the best thing and had named it *censored* ! Then began an uphill climb of around 20 mins to Field of Asphodel,a name given by me to a plain on the top of the hill. By this time Harvande started having problems with his sandal which was slowly but surely starting to give away. Then started a rocky,narrow and thorny patch where he literally began cursing me and the road. Poor Harvey !

one of the vibrant flora and fauna we encountered

Throughout the way, a friend called Swapnil entertained us with is stories and managed to keep our morale up.After walking on the plain for half an hour we descended and reached a point where we had to make a decision because of time constraints of skipping Kharghar point (a point giving beautiful view of Kharghar city) . Since the climb ahead was going to be difficult we decided for it and went ahead where we again lost our way realizing it rather too late ! Tracking back we began one more descent to the valley of streams where we encountered a beautiful waterfall which we felt later was more better than even pandav kada due to its natural beauty ! 

Me drinking water from a stream

Descending down we faced a lot of problems with nitin having a theatrical fall down the steep slope and landing down on the ground with a ominous thud ! Ouch ! Reaching Down we drank water in a nearby stream and took in the view which was spread out in front of us. Around us was a desolate building which we decided must have been a temple which must have been built a long time ago but had bore the brunt of time and was now buried in a landslide.

Kharghar Golf Course

 
Then we crossed another stream.By now Harvey was bare feet and walking slowly due to the the rocky environment. We crossed another stream and were going to ascend another mountain when something near by feet slithered and my foot landed where a cobra was resting 2 seconds ago. I was literally shaken after that but rather than expressing my views which would be a common reaction its better to see the snake's view point :



" i was sliding through my everyday route and found this real nice place,grass all round and rats in plenty,and just when i was thinking of making it my home,dis guys big foot came in front of me.. I was like whoa a man wot d hell ! I am outta here ! " (courtesy : Mayuri Kingre) "

So giving it an afterthought i choose a less dangerous path rather than climbing the green mountain full of snakes !  

Pandav Kada Marker hill

Now,Harvey was on the brink and was 
falling back with Saurabh Deshpande and 
Saurabh Gadekar giving him company.After spotting a hill which i knew was the marker for Pandav Kada we saw the newly built golf course in Kharghar. Enjoying the scenic view and a horizon separating the city from the hills i realized we really miss out on so much by living in cities in our mechanical lives. The Nature really calms you up,gives you a new vigour. Not one of us would have managed to walk 8 km without complaining but here midst nature everybody enjoyed every single moment of it and 
Nitin even remarked why did it have to end  

Pandav kada waterfall 

The first sight of waterfall gave us a sense of never ending achievement of overcoming obstacles to reach our goal. It was a fine sight for sure. We reached for the newly built swimming pools and had a good swim in the water.Nothing like a good swim to wash away your exhaustion ! We were burning from hunger and were very wary of having to walk a lot before getting anything when our friend parag who could not accompany us to the trek due to his college admission joined us with Hot steaming Samosas ! What more would a person want ! 



So this was the Story of my trek to Pandav kada ! It really was a refreshing exprience and i would recommend my friends to try it out of course with people who have trekking experience in these areas to avoid getting lost)

We started our journey with the words trek trek,

were lucky to come out without breaking our neck.

With my best friends walking hand in hand,

we ventured confidently into the unknown land.

Nitin Bhosle with his great fall,

made us realize we were in for a haul.

For Akshay Harvande without his sandal,

Walking was proving difficult to handle.

Abhijit Advilkar really was on the trot,

needless to say was the best of the lot.

Passing through snakes,crabs and thorns,

we nearly were mowed by bull's horns.

Saurabh deshpande with his cam & class,

for him the mountains were just a mass.

Seeing a snake i cried "Ohh God,Why"

was half the way to saying goodbye ! 

Saurabh Gadekar with his trolls,

was poking every snake's hole.

The destination we finally reached,

but not without our energies leeched.

It really was a trek to remember,

was really not possible without every member ! 

Parag Barhate Saviour of the day

about his samosas,what can i say ! 

For the readers questions must be what,how,why ?

Read the article to exclaim in delight Ohh, My !