Walk-A-Thon Pune

Raireshwar Trek - It was decided again after cancelling 2/3 times. We planned it almost a month in advance but still last minute follow-up were required.  The number was nearing to 8/9 only.  It is an odd number as either you need 6/7 people for small vehicle or around 14/15 people if you plan to book little bigger vehicle.  Finally we booked 17 seater vehicle and decided that we will bear the cost even if it is at little higher side.  Whatever happens we do not wanted to cancel it again this time.



Finally on Sunday we were 9 who started for trek.  We planned to start early morning but due to some miss-communication we started little late but not very late.  As we started early everyone needed a tea.  Around 8 AM we stopped at Kamath for a breakfast cum tea break.  

Nigudghar 

We all were excited as finally we were going for the Raireshwar Trek.  Raireshwar we have 3/4 routes.  We chose to go via Rayari village which is a difficult route so should be avoided by a first timer.  To reach Rayari we need to cross the BHOR.  We headed to BHOR, at BHOR bus depot we decided to take left (outer route to avoid traffic), when we reach T junction take Right.  Now here you cross the Shivaji Maharaj statue.  This leads to Nigudghar where one has to take left for Rayari.  On the way we have many nice views where everyone wanted halt for photography.  But we decided to continue as we planned to trek Rohida as well if time permits.  

There was no mobile network.  It was good that I had turned on the GPS early only.  Still we were checking the route with villagers as we did not wanted to loose time.  Finally we reached at the Rayari village.  At beginning only there were two houses.  Santosh! The person in that house asks kids playing there if they can show us the route.  Looking at past experience we rechecked the amount that we were supposed to pay.  But to our surprise the answer was nothing is required.  Just you can take them along and provide the food that we will eat.  

Now we decided to park our vehicle in front of the house only.  Driver asked us if he can also join us for the trek.  This was the first time for us that driver also wanted to join.  We checked if he can drive after trek also suggested him if he wishes he can return from any point.  Three kid’s names and their respective pet names in bracket Akshay (barkya), Krishna (kaloo) and Trilok (Trilya) joined us, now we were 13.  Later we came to know that one kid Krishna is son of the person whom we were talking with.  

We crossed the ZP school from where our actual trek started.  Everyone in village was suggesting us that we should have taken the Korle route (this is comparatively an easy route).  2/3 of them even suggested us to go back by Korle route.  But as mentioned earlier, we have chosen this route knowingly.  The path was muddy and slippery.  It was difficult for us to walk through the same as initially we were trying to avoid getting our shoes wet/dirty.  Few of us could manage for some time but later there was a series of streams where each one of us was forced to wet our shoes.  


There were many small/big streams we crossed.  We started climbing up.  Between kids tried to take short cut and missed the direction.  Later they found the path but to reach we had to climb a patch which was slippery and between bushes.  We had no option but to bend completely and hold the roots to climb up.  When last 3 of us left, it has become worst.  The patch become more slippery and we were not able to climb up.  The kids we ready giving us hand to climb, but we were forced to take alternate path and finally we managed to reach the platue.  Later we came to know that the easiest way to remember the path is to follow the pipe line which is coming from fort to village.  But anyway we had a very nice experience because we took the difficult route.  



Now we have to climb up and route was going through dense bushes.  The slope which we were climbing called 'Nak' in local language.  We could manage to reach next platue.  The path is very narrow both side there was a deep valley.  But the pipeline was showing us that we are heading in correct direction.  When we went ahead it was last patch that we needed to climb.  This was a series of rocks kept in such a fashion that it made steps.  If it was not there then it would have become very difficult for us to reach further up.  

Temple - Here Maharaj taken oath

Bhagwa Dhwaj

Shivling

Raireshwar Information

Finally we could manage to reach at top.  But the path by which we came some of us were worried on how we will return.  Now we were at the top but we had to walk for some more time till we reached temple.  The Bhagva dhwaj in front of temple the view was astonishing.  Now the temple is completely renovated.  Except the Shiv-ling rest everywhere there is granite flooring.  But it is nicely maintained.  Few of us even tried to blow the Shankh kept there.  Here one can find the information about the fort.  It is nearly 11.5 kms platue at top.  

Trilya

Akshay

We decide to return early as we had to return by same route.  Few of us were of the opinion that we should take an alternate path via Korle village for returning.  But after convincing everyone we decided to return by same route.  Later we found the decision was very good.  Again kids were confused and took a wrong way.  But villager helped us and came till we are back to our known path.  The last patch that we climbed it was very difficult to return down.  We were forced to sit and crawl as it was difficult to climb down.  Because of our climbing the mud has loosen up and we cannot take same steps.  Somehow we managed to climb down.  The kids with us were jumping like monkeys.  We checked our route with the villagers there and made sure that we will take correct route this time.  

While returning we have seen lot of Monkeys, who started running seeing us.  We started descending fast as we had to reach base before the sunset.  We had to watch our steps as the path was slippery.  Finally we reached the base.  When climbing we have crossed many streams but on return journey there were only 2/3 small one.  At last we have seen the big stream where some of us decided to take a bath.  The water was very cold.  But after taking bath it was fully refreshing.  We rushed and reached near the house where the bus was parked.  Tea was very much needed.  We asked in the same house but there was no milk.  Santosh! Offered us black tea, nut somehow his elder brother managed the milk and offerred us tea.  It was really a nice tea and was very much needed that time.  

Now we all were tired and wanted to return home.  Hats off to the driver who completed the trek and was driving us back again.  We were lucky till Deccan that there was no traffic.  But on FC road due to Ganpati procession there was a huge jam.  Now we had no option but to wait till the traffic clears.  Luckily after 10/15 min two police constables came and tried to clear the traffic.  We took nearly an hour to reach from Deccan to Sus road.  It was a wonderful experience.  One should definitely go to Raireshwar and that too from Rayari village.  We already decided to visit Raireshwar again and plan to stay there overnight.

Some Pics!!!

Pratham

Anita

 

Harsha

Vids

Swan& & Prasanna

VG

Group

View from Top

Vidish - Watchful

Clouds

Nak