An enormous crack was made on the surface of the earth by the untamed natural forces of wind and water over millions of years. Eventually it became a wonder, something which was both surreal and dangerous. This is the story of my journey through that crack.
Leaving from Mumbai via the last Kasara local at 1 AM, we reach the starting point of the trek at 6 AM, a village called Samrad. We started the trek at the mouth of a huge crevice between two 100 feet tall mountains. It seems to be leading endlessly into the rock. Small rocks are strewn all over the valley and our used-to-walk-on-concrete feet find it difficult to adjust to the terrain.
During the rains, this crevice probably becomes a booming river flowing rapidly through this valley, carrying with it stones, rocks and boulders.
During the rains, this crevice probably becomes a booming river flowing rapidly through this valley, carrying with it stones, rocks and boulders.
As we get used to the rocks on the way, the first obstacle comes in the form of a low, narrow pool of water in the middle of our route. The water is waist deep and ice-cold and the only way to get to the other side is through the pool. We lift our bags on our head and slowly wade through the water. By the time we reach the other side, we are soaked from the waist down.
Some profanity is muttered and we continue our walk through the valley.
The topography changes rapidly. The size of the rocks increases from a few inches across to a few meters across. The rocks tower around us make us feel small and vulnerable. We keeping walking our path - sometimes through a narrow slit between two huge 15 foot rocks, sometimes stretching our limbs in ways we never thought possible, sometimes sliding down the bare stone surface to the next rock below and sometimes throwing down our bag and jumping down a few feet.
The topography changes rapidly. The size of the rocks increases from a few inches across to a few meters across. The rocks tower around us make us feel small and vulnerable. We keeping walking our path - sometimes through a narrow slit between two huge 15 foot rocks, sometimes stretching our limbs in ways we never thought possible, sometimes sliding down the bare stone surface to the next rock below and sometimes throwing down our bag and jumping down a few feet.
Obstacle number two arrives in grand fashion. A 70 feet drop into the rocky ravine below. The fall looks significant but our trek leader builds a rappel and we start going down one by one. Its treacherous and none of us has done this before. It adds to the excitement as the adrenaline rushes and we rappel down ignoring minor scratches and injuries; relishing the experience. The people who have completed and got down shout instructions to the next – but no one is hearing.
Again, we continue on and are just getting used to the stone trolls around us, when we encounter the third obstacle. The problem is we don’t even realize until it appears. The way has just come to an end abruptly. A dark, narrow caves mouth stares at us. The cave is just a couple of feet wide. Either a person can go in or his bag. The modus operandi of crossing this cave is to throw your bag inside first and then crawl inside. Although the cave is not too dark or long, it brings back images from claustrophobic horror movies. The fear of the dark combined with the fear of being trapped underneath a few ton stone grips the heart and wrenches the soul.
But the walk has to continue and we slowly descend into the unknown. The cave is very short and I quickly come out of the other side, relived and feeling reincarnated.
The last obstacle in a short 10 meter drop which we cross quickly with a rope without incident.
Finally we arrive at the camping site which is a huge dry waterfall with a pool of 10 feet deep water at its foot. Destination reached and a few hours to go before darkness falls, we decide to make the best use of the time. We swim in the water and spend some lazy hours sunbathing. As night falls, we play games, chat, sing songs, have our dinner and lie down to sleep on the surface of the dry waterfall under the clear sky.
Everyone’s exhausted and sleep comes quickly. I wake up in the middle of the night at some unearthly hour and listen to the wind howling. The temperature has dropped a few notches and the moon has set. The clear sky reveals its ancient secret of a millions glittering stars. I lie looking up in awe, in the middle of nowhere, with no one around and a feeling of nothingness inside me. I drift off to sleep at some unknown time.
Morning comes with a promise of a new day; as it always does. We pack up and start our walk to our destination village. A couple of hours later, we are back into civilization. We have an awesome meal of rice bhakari, sabzi, dal and bhaath.
Soon our vehicles arrive and we bid adieus to the mountains and the valleys to go back to our busy lives. But with a feeling that something inside us was left behind.
One more trek comes to an end. One more experience pocketed. One more day lived.
Thank you friends - Appuz, Rama, Sanki, Manish and Uday. Thank you Trek Mates India and Nilesh for the incredible experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment