Purandar-I should have trekked there!

12th September, 2009

Purandar-I should have trekked there!


I had missed the last time my friends went trekking to Purandar. Wonder where I was??? Anyway, I convinced them to go back since they hadn’t gone all the way up. So, we got onto our bikes ( at around 8.30 I believe) and made our way to Solapur road. It is not difficult to find your way as long as you take the correct right turn at Saswad Phata. It could get a bit confusing since there is a bus stop at the turn which is very crowded. I don’t remember exactly where but somewhere along the way you pass the infamous Urali Devachi. I had only heard of the place before but now I can understand why the poor people out there were protesting. The mountains of garbage out there are unbelievable.

The route mainly follows the main road except that you have to take a left turn from the main road in order to get into Purandar village which then leads you on to the foothills of Purandar fort. Since, the rest of the group had already trekked to the fort, this time we decided to go on our bikes. The road didn’t look too good but we didn’t think it would be too bad either. However, we were proved wrong. That road may be motorable for cars but for bikes with not-so-good shock-absorbers it can leave you with a backache. It definitely left me with one since I already have a weak back. The road winds a long way through the mountain but the view keeps you engaged.

I think it was the first time that I saw the Indian Tree pie around here. I have seen it on my two trips to Kerala but never around Pune. Although I am told it is not an uncommon sight out here. We also saw the Malabar Whistling Thrush whose ID a friend confirmed. We might have seen a Short toed Eagle but didn’t get a definite ID. It was definitely an eagle but not sure as to exactly which one. It was spotted at the water reservoir near the top (which, by the way, looked very tempting for a swim.) The road to the very top was barricaded for some reason and no one was in a mood to trek further up, so, we turned around and trudged back on the graveled road on our iron horses.

Earlier, we had had a measly breakfast at Samarth Wadapav in Saswad mainly owing to the fact that all the money we had added upto Rs.50/- After breakfast, we thankfully found an ATM. On our way back, we stopped at the same place but had a more filling lunch. We were back home by around three which made the trip all the more worthwhile because we still had the rest of the day to ourselves.

Flowers in the Mist

9th September,2009, Pune

Flowers in the Mist

The rains are a clarion call for avid trekkers and nature lovers to head for the mountains. And when you are living in Pune with the Sahyadri ranges in close proximity, who can resist that itch which drives you to the arms of nature. This monsoon has not taken me outdoors much. A lot of plans never really materialized and I was beginning to lose hope when someone mentioned the Kaas plateau and its flowers. Two years back, the Kaarvi had flowered and as often as I miss a lot of things, I missed that too. But I had always wanted to visit Kaas and thankfully, this time, things fell into place.

So, we set out on motorbikes early at 8 am on a Sunday. The route we followed was from Satara road leading to Katraj and then on NH4. The route is easy enough to follow with the milestones making sure that you don’t lose your way. Plus, the road is one way. So, there isn’t much of a traffic problem. Satara is located about 115 kilometers from Pune and it took us, approximately, three hours to reach the main city with one tea break included and one break to answer nature’s call. The stretch through Khambatki Ghat has some scenic views of lakes and small ponds. Definitely worth a few clicks.

On reaching Satara, we were directed towards Rajwada and then to the main bus stop of the city. Past the bus stop, starts the ascent to Kaas plateau. We didn’t really know the route after we left the highway, but on asking around it, was pretty easy to be set on the right track. From the highway, Kaas is approximately 25 kilometers away. Covering this stretch took us almost another hour since we stopped so often to take in the breathtaking view and for some more pictures.

25 kilometers away is the milestone proclaiming that you have reached Kaas but what you have actually reached is the lake which was bathed in mist and looked really enticing. The monsoon shower added to its beauty. So, we retraced our steps a few kilometers back where lies the actual plateau. Having seen pictures of Kaas earlier, I had expected a widespread bed of flowers. Although I didn’t get a huge bed of flowers, there were definitely long stretches which kept me enthralled. The whole plateau was covered in mist and it was difficult to see much further ahead. The moisture was beginning to soak into our clothes in spite of the rain wear.

Time was running short, we wanted to be back in Pune by six. It was already two. So, we made a quick phone call to a friend in Pune who is originally from Satara to ask about the best place to have lunch out there. Thankfully, the place he suggested wasn’t too far away. His directions were simple, while going back when we reach the milestone that says 7 kilometers to Satara, we will find Prakruti. And we really did find Prakruti as the place is more of a nature resort. The place was actually an Ayurvedic center which also had a small restaurant. We ordered Veg Thalis for all which to our surprise was lovely. The meals are decently priced in spite of the place being located so far away. Whenever I go back to Kaas, I will definitely eat out there for sure!

At about three, we finally began our journey back home. Finding our way back to the highway wasn’t very difficult. And then, there were always the milestones to guide us. The ride back was much shorter. We made it in two and a half hours with one tea break again and another to answer nature’s call.

I never realized Satara and Kaas were so near. All I had to do was look up on the internet and I got a plan readymade. I have always wanted to just pick up my bag, get on the bike and visit a new place without putting in days of planning. Finally, I managed to do it and hope to keep doing it.