Following our wonderful journey on 15August we all had grown in number and had started exchanging words and plans on a larger scale and another ride hopes where high on everyone minds..
So while on one his visits, Amit Bhowmik discovered the soaring greens of Kharghar and suggested the place for our next ride.Having completed the gateway trip successfully everyone was high on adrenaline and raring to go.And so it was decided- 24th August our next ride was Pandav Khada Waterfalls@ Kharghar.
The Pandav Khaada Waterfall is on the road which goes to Tata Cancer Hospital from Utsav Chowk. If you are coming from the Sion-Panvel highway then, turn right at Utsav Chauk and continue on that road. The Pandav Khada waterfalls will be on the left hand side and at about half km from the road. A trail from the road leads you to the khaada, however mostly there is a police post there to prevent people from going in the waterfall. Quite a few accidents have happened there due bathers dying after being hit by stones carried along the waterfall. But the ride on that stretch of the road is a definite bliss. Approx 54 Kms. round trip done that day
It was decided that we would all close in and meet at8:30 am@ Utsav Chowk, which is a landmark destination in Navi Mumbai. Meanwhile, I had co-ordinated with Gaurav from Mulund and we two were to come via the Airoli route while the other troop(comprising of Anoop,Aditya, Ashok, Praneti) descended via the Sion Panvel highway route.Amit had decided to leave very early and would meet us@ Utsav. Two surprise visitors were Hector and his buddy Jo ( American folks who are in India for a short stint) who had come from Powai with their bikes packed in their Innova.
I started at about 6:35 am in think & met Gaurav on his TREK 3700 at the Mulund Toll Naka and we both moved on towards Airoli.The bridge was a pleasant and calm route and the slight drizzle made the ride fun. Gaurav had shifted back from Pune and was telling me about his exploits at the Enduro3 and his Himachal trips.Crossing the bridge entering Airoli and finally we joined the Vashi Belapur Highway.The roads near Ghansoli station were a bit bad marked with potholes and numerous stone and pebbles of varying sizes(from S to XXXL).Reaching Nerul,near the newly constructed D.Y. Patil Stadium is a medium steep climb. Here I decided to test this trick I read about in a cycling forum about going fast up a hill (it was RNairs advice on BikeZone) and it worked excellently. Usually when we see a climb we actually reduce our speed thinking of taking it slowly but the trick is to climb furiously(of course with a practical speed without giving yourself a heart attack).. this especially is good when you have a single speed bike like mine :) I did this and was very happy with my task. Meanwhile Gaurav sauntered on calmly. Finally nearing Kharghar station I got a call from Amit and told him that we would reach the spot in about 10 minutes.
As soon as the silhoutte of Utsav Chowk was looming in I caught site of Amit and another biker with him and waved.On reaching the spot realised it was Shirish with his Bright Orange 4300(D?) . We all got talking while the rest of the folks were coming.Just then two foreigners arrived in a car and asked if we were the cyclists.in group.
They went on to park their cars. Now we were kind of getting restless waiting and so decided to explore the area ahead while the other group arrived.. The exploring turned to a moving on ahead :) and we were enroute to tata centre when the other team arrived at Utsav. So we directed them to us and waited by the road. Soon they arrived and we started snapping a few more pics and then started out.
The road towards Tata Centre was a real bliss with morning joggers enjoying their walks.We then got off the road to the pathways leading to the falls. Crossing through a small mossy stream.Me, Aditya and Praneti were on road bikes and had to be careful where we were treading. But we still managed. We also had a street doggie guiding the road with us. He actually came with us ALL the way up(hoping for a snack).The locals would look up at our group from their washing chores as we moved on...
Passing through tiny footpaths and large paddy fields we somehow reached the foothills.
And now with the zig zag climbs we had to carry our bikes on our backs on some patches.My roadbike being light did not give me trouble(my daily carrying to the 4th floor of the building helped in this task) and we finally reached a section where we could not get our cycles with us coz they were only burdening us.. So everyone was dumping their bikes along the trail.Jo(Hectors friend) unfortunately had a flat tyre while on the top and was busy repairing the tube. The rest of the trail to the top was a trek and we reached the waterfalls..
It was beautiful and calm with the caves in the background and bats and swallows swirling around.The slippery rocks were a bit tricky and we had to had a strong holding to move every step.
Aditya,Ashok, Praneti had already in the water and were enjoying the refreshing swim.Shirish and me made our move precariously to the water.
The rocks here were really slippery and one mistake could end up in serious wounds and cuts. But encouraged by the rest of the lot at kept inching in towards the fall.
I am a bit phobic of dark waters(ie natural water bodies unlike swimming pools) and kept asking the rest if I wouldnt have any trouble. But thanx to their words I finally got into the water(but not under the falls) and had a fun time swimming..now and then shrieking at what I thought could be crabs catching my legs :P Meanwhile Hector and Jo had to get back soon since they had a flight to catch. So they decided to head back. We too after a few casual minutes decided to head back down. Also it was starting to drizzle a bit now( althought I like riding in the rains) and slowing and carefully we started our way back down. After getting all wet and having taken of our shoes the climb down through the rocky patch was once again a risky business but I somehow managed to get back to my shoes. We finally reached the spot were we had left our bikes and then started moving down slow and steady.
At the foothills we decided to rest a few minutes and had all the snacks that everyone had brought.Bananas,Wafers,Waffles,Sandwiches et. al.. Now Anoop and troop decided to head to Panvel ( since we had planned to meet Kaustubh at his place and explore Panvel a little) but I on my part was tired and wasnt sure if I could make it back. So I decided to join Amit and Gaurav and head back to our homes.
Back on the road we bid adieu and moved in opposite directions: Anoop,Aditya,Ashok,Praneti to Panvel. I , Amit, Gaurav & Shirish back home. Now Shirish suggested that we could try out Palm Beach Road to get back home and since everyone was eager to ride through that smooth road.. we decided to move that way.
While passing through through CIDCO patch uphill I saw a group of kids making a human pyramid (It was Gokul Ashtami that day) and stopped to take pictures. The elders who were nearby urged the kids to give it a go again for the camera and the kids did it real quick and with amazing agility( future govindas in the making!)
Stopping now and then for pics and refreshments on the rain-soaked Palm Beach stretch we finally arrived at the flyover where Shirish went to Vashi, Amit headed to Sion Panvel and Gaurav and Me towards Airoli.
Gaurav was really famished with all the riding(since he didnt have dinner the previous night) and suggested we stop at a hotel enroute. So on reaching Airoli we went into the nearest good looking restaurant. The place was offering buffet at 100 bucks and gaurav said we should have that. A bit relenting at first I finally agreed and we went into the A/C area where the buffet is served.Since we were drenched and soiled from our journey the resto staff requested if we could sit outside in the leather seats instead to which I agreed ( I would have freezed into a popsicle in that wet+cold state) I decided to eat moderately so that I wouldnt have trouble getting back home. But Gaurav was at his best :) & I was starting to worry if he would safely get back home. But he cleared my doubts and we enjoyed the meal to the fullest ( yes, I had to give in to the delicious servings of Veg manchurian, Palak Paneer, Pulav,Salad,Papad,Roti).
Finally we left Airoli, took a few more pictures on the Airoli bridge and headed towards mulund-thane. Said goodbyes at the toll naka and I moved on ahead to thane. At the teen haath naka traffic junction I waited along with the traffic( as I mostly follow the traffic lights even on the cycle).Since my previous 15th Aug ride I had got used to the curious glances from passerby so didnt blush this time. As the traffic moved I headed home reaching my place in 15 minutes and my steed back in my stable-4 floors up :) Awaiting the next venture which happened to be Bandra.
Happy Riding-Ride Safe,
Cheers,
Renny
PICTURES:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Renny.Varghese/PandavKhadaWaterfallsTha... 
Comment by Amit Bhowmik on September 24, 2008 at 10:17am 
Comment by Renny Varghese on September 24, 2008 at 6:48am 
Comment by Shirish Verma on September 24, 2008 at 12:03am 
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