A wild trip to Kolad...

Another weekend off and I was looking out for convenient places to visit. Well, I & Roshan had already decided of visiting the Kaneri Caves @ Borivli - Sanjay Gandhi National Park and clicking some pictures there. However, this wouldn't take much time and we felt we would not be using the entire weekend. So, at about 8.30 pm, I was at Roshan's place surfing the net and looking out for other places. I saw Kolad, a small town village in Maharashtra where the Kundalika river (fastest flowing river in Maharashtra) flows. There were a lot of opportunities for adventure here with Kayaking, River rafting and some beautiful scenery of the village.

But, the place was a little far and was not for a 1 day trip. It would be too exhausting. Still, as crazy as we are, we looked on and started searching for trains that go there. There was a Dadar-Sawantwadi Special @ 11.55 pm that night (Friday Night) which would drop us to Roha - just 13 kms away from Kolad. I just thought, if we got into this train, reached Roha by 4 am, slept there at the stn for like 2 hrs and went on to explore Kolad - it would be feasible. I just asked Roshan, how the plan was. He said an immediate yes. I called up Sameep and told him about the plan. His dad was here in Mumbai, so Sameep was busy accompanying his Dad. He was to get free by 11.30 pm. He also was willing to execute this plan. So, this is how the KOLAD trip was planned.. - within a time of 1 hr.

We reached Dadar stn and were waiting for Sameep. That guy was still at Grant Rd. and had not yet caught a train. It was already 11.45 pm and our train was supposed to come within 10 mins. I kept calling him every 2 mins asking where he had reached. Finally, he reached and just a few seconds later the train arrived. We had a General ticket. However, there was NO WAY, we could have got onto that train in the general compartment. We decided to get into the sleeper and then bear the consequences later. Initially, they both got into another coach, whereas I got into another one. It was so crowded, people pouring in with their luggage and small children. The small ones sitting on the shoulders of the elders. This was supposed to be a Sleeper coach, where we have reservations. What reservations, later, it so turned out that people who had reservations were not able to get into the train. It was so packed.

I managed to get down and enter the other coach, where Sameep & Roshan had got into. I just got in and settled at one place. This coach was no different with hundreds of people standing, luggage on their head.. no place to move.. I managed to find a decent spot for myself, where I at least stood comfortably. I called up Roshan and realized they were at the Door. Cool.. all three in the same compartment. This journey went on for another 3 hrs with people fighting, some crying out of helplessness. The toilets were not spared either. There were people sitting in the toilets as well. This is how bad the state is. After conversing with an old man, I realized this is how people travel for 12 hrs continuous. After an hr or so, my legs were paining, and to add to that no room to move. I told myself, there are older people bearing the pain and travelling.. I can't be so weak and crib about this. At about 2 am, some one told me to climb up and adjust myself there which I happily did. So, this is how it was till we got down at Roha. Before getting down at Roha, I had interacted with a few and realized how thirsty everyone was. I bought them a bottle of chilled water from the stn and could see the relief. It made me happy. We then had a nice tea at the platform and Sameep & myself dozed of on the seats there.

We got up at 6 am and started our journey towards Kolad. Had a Missal Pav and hot tea. Then caught a Mini Dor (Sharing rickshaw) to reach Kolad @ 8 am. The Mini Dor was affordable - Rs. 10 each. After that, I searched for shops where I could find batteries for my camera. Roshan found one. After that, our next visit was the Kolad Dam built on the Kundalika river. It was 5 kms from there. We started walking towards it. After a long 45 mins walk, we reached the spot. It was beautiful. While on our way there, we could see the water flowing through a canal for irrigation purpose. We reach the dam, clicked some pictures and came back for a dip in the water in the Canal which was not so deep. It was fun, initially it was just sameep and me. We then convinced Roshan to also join and he did. We three enjoyed in the the Nature's pool, clicked some pictures and moved on.

On our way back, we got a lift in a tempo till the highway :) It was a gr8 free ride. We felt like true travelers and were hoping for more. Our next destination was Bhire Dam - 26 kms away from Kolad. It was very far from there. We managed to get onto sumo's and rickshaws and reach the spot. The Sumo ride was again a little uncomfortable as there were about 14 - 15 people stuffed into it. That is how people commute there and we were just being one of them. Walking towards the Dam, we met a guard who was from Punjab. He gave us chilled water to drink. We also filled some of our bottles and moved on. He did tell us, not to click pictures as it was a government site. We went ahead and reached the Dam. 

The view was mind blowing. I just could not take my eyes away from the beauty that was there. This water body was surrounded by mountains on all side. It was HUGE and humongous. We did click pictures on our way towards the other end of the Dam. 

We found a huge tree, where we decided to rest. It was cool and breezy. We felt as if we were in a paradise. We decided to have a natural pedicure. Dipped our feet in the cold water and sat there just feeling nature and experience its beauty.

It was getting late, and we knew we had to move since our trip back was a long one. We reach Kolad in similar fashion, Sumo's and share rickshaws (called Mini Dor's). From there, we decided to go to Panvel (75 kms from Kolad) and then catch a Local to reach our home. We got a lift in a Qualis and reached Panvel @ 8.30 pm. Mid-way Roshan was not feeling well and he puked when the Qualis halted at a petrol pump. He was fine after that. From Panvel, we caught a local to CST. Sameep got down @ Kurla and we got down @ Wadala. Tired and painful that our legs were, we desperately wanted to reach home. We reached Borivli by 11 pm and were in our homes by 11.15 pm. It felt so wonderful and peaceful to be back home, with all the comfort and luxury. Being there in a village, understanding how people live and survive everyday.. makes us know how much we have and still we cry/crib for small things.

Well,  this was one of my best trips till date where we took lifts, slept at the stn and much more... Now, I guess I need to concentrate on my MIP project else I will be kicked out from college and will have to settle in another village like this. Hoping for another trip though, before I leave for Manipal.

Cheers..!!

KG