Chasing the rain at Raigad

After a hectic day at my office on Friday i could take it no more. Needed a break, peace of mind and that's when my bike comes in handy. In second trip advisor was out and i was browsing the list of places i could go and come back in a day. Raigad Fort was the result of all the search i did that night.


The Route: Pune-Mulshi Dam-Tamhini Ghat-Raigard Fort-Varandh Ghat-Pune
The Distance: 386kms.




As usual my friends made plans to start at 6:00 A.M and as usual it was 8:00 A.M by the time we left. The road till Mulshi dam was all known to us since our last trip to Lavasa. As usual the bumps and holes drilled us till the Lavasa turning. Then beauty stikes. Mulshi dam had come in all its glory. By the time we reached dark clouds were fast approaching and it turning into a stormy day.





After a quick photoshoot and a chai we started for the next halt. Tamhini ghat. Tamhini ghat has some nice corners but unlike lavasa, its far from smooth. Here and there you will find bad streches of road. Had a 30 min break here. Hot kandha bhaji was amazing, we kept ordering plate after plate. There are numerous small waterfalls(dont picture a big one) along the ghat roads.




Could not resist a quick shower as it had already started to rain and we were wet anyways.


The road down from Tamhini ghat is fantastic. you cut through hills, mini waterfalls and sootheing greenery all around. By the time we reached the bottom we were drenched to the core due to the heavy rains.




On the way stopped for a smoke at a bar and resturant and found a family, a complete family dancing to "Munni badnam hui" and drinking beer. Men, women, mothers , daughters all drunk and dancing. The Tavera was open with heavy music blaring. It was a sight to see. Anyways my friends were stuck and wanted beers, so we took 2 beers and headed out not knowing when to drink. I had strictly said the drivers were not to drink, only the pillion could so t\only 2. Somewhere along the road a dirt road seemed to go nowhere. It was time to get adventureous, took the road. It ended on a cliff!!! The place was so mesmerizing ou gotta se to believe it. My eyes could see as far the horizon, nothing but the forest and some factories and a long winding road. My good pillion friends had their fill of beer and we pent a good hour sitting there. The view was so good no one wanted to leave the place and go. But time was running short for us.




GPS out. Re-Checked the map and started. Suddenly in between my friend realized he was running outta fuel. There were no petrol pumps nearby so intead of taking the direct road to Raigad we had to go to Mahad to re-fuel.


Bellies we filled, bikes we refuelled, it was 1:00 A.M and we had still not reached Raigad Fort. Drove crazy fast o make up for the lost time. Once we ditched the SH and took the inner road for Raigad, hell materialized. The 25 kms drive from the SH to the fort uphill was like a nightmare, roads were bad. very bad. The rains had made em worse.

Story to be continued. Part-2 to be followed............Getting late. Have a bus to catch to Hyderabad

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