Roadtrip to Malshej Ghats

As we grow up these valentines day, friendship day they all cease to make sense to our way of living. Or may be I am a highly boring person to celebrate all these days. I wonder why people sms or mail each other wishing the same, because friendship is relationship you cherish everyday. And then there are friends from your school with whom you have spent more than ten-twelve years and when we meet them there is only one word for it "Kickass"... So once again my iskool group met and we decided to head to Malshej Ghats, is a mountain pass in the western ghats. new light green grasses, water falls dashing on the sides of the lean roads, land sliding on one of the turns, people dancing and walking along the fog. The scene is just magnificent to be written in words or to be framed in photographs. I and Ankit took the Thane-Bhiwandi road to reach Kalyan and picked Sunej, Priyanka, Sophia and Anu. Thats another story that Anu was picked from Ambarnath station while she was going for her MBA classes. Now that's our world of friendship. As I was busy calculating petrol costs, i realised there are more people than our Maruti Swift can carry, but we all hopped in and started our journey towards the ghats. As soon as we left Shahad and came on the Murbad Highway, Nature robbed me off my imagination. As far as one could see there was greenery all around. beautiful waterfalls, farmers farming on green lands, a beautifully done highway without a single bump, its a driver's paradise. After crossing three cheknakas we were finally caught for over boarding the car and paid a fine of Rs 500 and again moved on towards the water fall. But the best moment while driving towards the tunnel was the first time we saw the mountains. There were two mountains and dark clouds were kissing and flying through them and for a fraction of a second you can see sunshine in the midst of it. One really has to see to believe the abundance of nature which we tend to overlook in our daily lives. Finally after a slew of pitstops and chai and photography sessions we finally crossed the tunnel and went to see the rock where everyone goes to click pictures. Again after a series of pictures we set out to find a nice waterfall and after a long search we found a beautiful waterfall with water gushing at full speed. After a tedious climb (atleast for me) we sat under the cold water and felt like school kids on a sudden vacation. After a while we left had lunch at the MTDC resort atop the hills went for a drive down north and we realised that we may have reached some other village and that it was time to head back to our normal lives. Though journey back home was easier said than done. Apart from the blinking red signals which were diminishing at higher rate none could manage to see what lied ahead of them. The mysterious fog which was playing hide and seek till afternoon had finally decided to come and grace us full time and made sure everyone drove down the hills on their own driving skills. Though driving down the hills does not take more than one and a half hours climbing atop was indeed an affair to remember...waterfall pouring atop the car, people dancing on the road sides, cars parked all across the street, letting state buses play in a single lane..the drive is one of the best part of the trip and one look outside the car andn one would see the nature welcoming you in its arms and say that duds do come back and dont spoil my beauty with plastic bags and cans. A trip of 6 people from Mumbai -Malshej Ghat-return costs nearly Rs 500, we paid around rs 600 which includes the fine, food, toll, petrol everything for that matter :P Petrol costs is around Rs 2000. and yes when its a trip with friends you can never be sure on time. People come late, and ofcourse good byes take more than half an hour in the middle of the road. Honestly we started at 9.30 am from Thane and the next time I just looked at my watch just to check how much time have we taken to come for lunch I realised its already 4 pm... thats how time flies when you are with your beautiful gang of firends..singing, pulling legs, jokes, old stories, memories galore.... Route-Thane-Bhiwandi highway-Murbad road-just keep driving straight there are no left and rights... go up and cross the tunnel, its a small tunnel but worth the fun...and come back with bucket loads of memories :)