The role reversals in the family are getting funner. Brother planned all the transport and logistics details, while I fussed over waking up on time, packing enough food/supplies for emergencies etc. While parents watched.
(ok, aai helped pack the picnic box and knead the puri dough, while I deep fried them!)

the temple of wai!

On a certain level calling a day’s outing ‘a picnic’ sounds even more fun! Remember the anxiety with which one used to sleep before a school picnic day and wake up all full of ‘picnic energy’ ? No ? OK. then you were not the *hyper excited about picnics kid* that I was. Anywho, the point is we went on a picnic with the parents. Wheeeeeee!!!


Starting off with the village of Wai, we took our first halt at the table top of pachgani. <inserts bollywood movies boarding school reference>.  Moved onto eat to our stomach’s content at Mapro gardens. <ate the most awesome pizza, better than any ‘traditional’ pizza outlets> 

<3
from google

Then baba started telling his tales of ‘being a roadie’ in the 1980s.  He along with like minded friends toured various parts of India on their scooters/bikes. Starting point of all journeys central part of India.
1988 – Jabalpur, Bedaghat on his LML Vespa. 
1989 – Aurangabad, Mahabaleshwar, Goa on his LML Vespa.
1990 – Kanyakumari via Mysore, and other southern cities on his LML Vespa.
Petrol prices were between Rs. 20 to 25 during that time FYI. Also how they would decide on where to halt and the difference between things back then and now, was most fun to hear! Also I think must have been romantic for aai to wait for father, to come home after his myriad adventures! <she would, of course, shy away from these speculations and tell how difficult it got not having the ‘husband’ around>

picturesque valleys around
mahabaleshwar

Dhananjay, the most exciting and quite experienced driver to have on these ghats, joined in with his tales. To the cult music from the 80/90s playing in the background. 

the entrance to the fort

Aai and baba were really excited to visit Pratapgad. The place where Shivaji killed Afzal Khan using ganimi kawa (guerilla tactics). We hired a guide, Jadhav, who along with some exaggerating insights told us the most fascinating story of the ‘kill’ and the battle that ensued. 

posing outside a more than
100 years old school
in the hills!

There are still some 84 families living inside the fort. Life full of adventure and mystic!


And if you visit these places and don’t eat the typical Maharashtrian food of ‘pithla-bhakri’ ‘kanda-bhaji’ ‘thalipith’ with a light drizzle in the background, then you are missing one of the most *worth it* and *cliched* experience in the world. Every visit to such places and not eating any of those feels almost like a crime!


And the journey wound up, with visits to two more Ganpati temples in Pali and Mahad. With sore legs from climbing the fort and a rejuvenated mind after breathing in the fresh air of the hills, last night was the longest and most peaceful I have slept in days! 


How was your weekend ? πŸ™‚


~nightflier


9 responses to “cruising through the western ghats”

  1. Tanvi Avatar

    I have to visit it on my next India trip (hopefully!)

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

  2. nightflier Avatar

    prakash jha, ashutosh gowarikar shoot a lot of movies there! πŸ™‚
    you should definitely visit!!

  3. nightflier Avatar

    yay! πŸ™‚
    it did not rain during our visit but it was beautiful nonetheless!!

  4. nightflier Avatar

    at least wiki says so πŸ™‚

  5. nightflier Avatar

    hehe thank you πŸ™‚
    it was worth it πŸ˜‰

  6. Upasna Avatar

    i liikkee!! I have heard of this Wai many many times! Wondering if I should visit πŸ™‚

  7. neha Avatar

    Ah! I went to mahabaleshwar last year in June with mom, sis and husband (wanted to show the hubby parts of maharashtra :D). It was just so awesome planning the trip and waiting for the trip to start! And it had rained heavily during the trip (yay!). Your post reminded me so much of that trip πŸ™‚
    Traveling with parents is always super fun.

  8. Addu Avatar

    Rides on a LML VESPA..that sure is swell!!! Give my regards to the 'young at heart' πŸ™‚ btw i didnt know ganimi kawa meant guerrilla tactics, somehow i always thought it meant something which is too clever and too out of the box

  9. Ketaki Avatar

    Ironically, that was the shortest night of the year (well, almost)! πŸ˜€
    Refreshing read. "Sahyadri fort in monsoon" is always worth it.

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