Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Kanakeshwar

5 February 2011

We were watching photos of our Matheran picnic on facebook when we realized it’s been long since we have gone for a picnic. I just called Jayesh on Friday and as usual he was ready. It didn’t take us long to decide the place: Kanakeshwar. We have been there 2 years back for we were runner up in a presentation contest (ProcShow), when we were in Geometric, which won us Rs 1500.

The plan was to meet at Bhaucha Dhakka by 7:30 am and then catch a ferry to Revas which would take 1 hour and then an auto to base of Kanakeshwar hill. Last time we reached at the base at 11:30 am which made it very difficult for us to climb the hill as it was too hot. We decided not to repeat the same mistake and planned to reach there by 9:30 am. But actually it didn’t go as we had planned.

Even after trying so hard we managed to reach Dockyard Road, a station on harbor line, at 8:10 am. Bhaucha Dhakka is just 5 mins away from the station if you go by taxi. We caught a bus there and in 10 mins we were at Bhaucha Dhakka. When we had called Saurabh one hour back, he was still sleeping so he would anyways join us late and so there was no chance that we could catch 8:00 am ferry. The next ferry was at 8:30 am. We were hoping that Saurabh reaches there before 8:30 am.

The ferry ticket to Revas is Rs 38 per person. This ferry can even carry bikes but you have to pay extra for that. If you ever decide to go to Kanakeshwar and you have a bike, go by bike. Saurabh arrived jujst when the Ferry was about to leave. It was 9:00 am when the ferry left Bhaucha Dhakka. Normally this ferry takes 1 hour. If you are in ferry early morning, the nature is amazing. The rising sun slowly turns from pink to red and then to orange. The sky too changes its colors just to match with the Sun. But we were little late and missed the pink color.


The moment ferry starts you are continuously followed by your new friends which don’t leave you for that 1 hour: Seagulls. Obviously they have their own agenda. Knowing that half of the people in the ferry are going on picnic and so they must be carrying snacks, seagulls are always flying with the ferry. And when you throw a wafer or any other food in the air, they hardly miss catching it in their beak. People enjoy this display of catching skills of the birds and the birds get their hard earned bread, I mean wafers. Some try their photography skill while other test camera ability.


After sitting for some time in the main deck, we went to upper deck. We enjoyed clicking photos there. The ferry took one and half hour to reach the other side: Revas. From there we hired an auto for 5 people and we reached at the base of Kanakeshwar hill at 11:00 am. We paid Rs 200 for the auto. We were late by 2 hours and it was already hot and the Sun was burning.




The hill the 5000 feet high and you need to climb around 650 steps to reach there. There is a temple of Lord Shiv on the top. The legend is that, Shiv put his foot on the earth for the first time on this hill. For a fit person it won’t take more than 45 mins to reach on the top.

We started with good enthusiasm and I thought we would reach there within an hour. But after some time people started experiencing fatigue. This was mostly because of the humidity, the load they were carrying on their backs and jeans. Believe me jeans is not comfortable for trekking. We were taking halt after every 50 steps. Even I started feeling exhausted because of these frequent halts. Good part is that after 450 steps slope becomes gradual. If you are not carrying water, don’t worry, you will get it after ascending 450 steps.




Just before you reach the main temple, there is Hanuman temple and Bramhakund. Mahashivratri festival is celebrated in a big way here. It was 12:30 pm when we finally reached on the top.

The Kanakeshwar temple is very simple but good looking with small water pond. After refreshing ourselves with the water from taps available we entered into the temple. It was very refreshing and pleasant inside especially when you climb 650 steps. We sat there for nearly one hour just discussing things.

It was time to have lunch as we were feeling very hungry. When we had arrived here we had placed an order for lunch. The food was very tasty. The place is not at crowded. Only 2/3 families stay on the hill and hardly few people come to temple. So you can experience complete retreat here. The shadow is even cooler when it comes from trees. The place is full of trees. Only sound you hear here is of the wind playing with the branches of trees. We didn’t realize that it was 2:30 and we had to leave if we wanted the catch ferry back to Mumbai on time. After paying Rs 350 for lunch for 5 people we left.


I was expecting that we would be able to climb down within 45 mins. We progressed slowly taking few breaks. This also allowed us to capture few snaps. We took one hour to come back to the base.

This time we decided not to go to Revas but instead go to Mandava from where there are far more ferry options and you can arrive at Gateway. There are bus services of different ferry owners which run between Alibag and Mandava. To catch the bus you need to go on the main road. So we caught an auto which took us to a place called Chondi. He charged Rs 10 per seat. After waiting for 15-20 mins we got a bus. You don’t have to pay extra for bus. They charge Rs 80 per person for bus and ferry together. Mandava is around 20 mins away from Chondi.

When we reached Mandava, our ferry was already ready to leave for Gateway so we didn’t get chance to enjoy at Mandava beach. Unlike morning ferry, this one was very big carrying at least 200 people. You have to pay extra if you want to travel on upper deck. The ferry was of type catamaran and it was traveling with much faster speed compared to morning ferry. It took us only 50 mins to reach Gateway.


It was here while I was taking a photo of Swami Vivekanand statue that Jayesh cracked a proverb “Kes vadhavun Devanand honyapeksha vichar vadhavun Vivekanand ho” meaning “Instead of becoming Devanand by growing hair, grow your thoughts and become Vivekanand”. We had ice-creams here and headed for Marine drive by taxi.

The atmosphere at marine drive reflects Mumbai. It was very crowded and we enjoyed a lot there. Though we had initially planned to start back by 7 pm, we spend some more time and then had a good veg treat at Status restaurant.