September is generally not an active trekking month since
the rains peter out and festivals dot the calendar. This year’s monsoon being
anything but normal, it was surprising that we were out on a trek this late (23rd).
I was up for Malshej or Igatpuri where we would be at a height when we began
our trek and I wanted to go to a place I hadn’t visited before. Basgad or
Bhaskargad is an off the radar fort near Jawahar town; somewhat near both
Igatpuri and Nasik, at the end of the Trimbakeshwar range, its not the easiest
place to reach. We drove from Kasara on a bad road to Khodala and then towards
Mokhada. A bifurcation from the main road leads to Khoch village (no signpost!)
which is at the base of Utwad mountain.
Our guide took us by a less steeper (!) route that climbs a
long ridge from Utwad, then traverses this giant mountain to reach the col
between Utwad and Basgad. The weather was cloudy and cool and dotted with
drooping yellow flowers. When the ascent started it was long and steep. Grassy
ridges finally took us onto a level on Utwad from where we would begin a long
traverse through thick vegetation. This was a long walk, with ups and downs,
often crossing streams on the way. We had started around ten and it was one,
when we reached the col between Basgad and Utwad.
The joys of trekking so late in monsoon are mostly due to
the flowers. On the col was a lovely meadow with blue flowers scattered here
and there. Below the whole valley lay green and peaceful. But there was still
another climb to reach the fort. A steep climb took us to the cliffs of the
Basgad massif; here again swaths of balsam (terda)
flowers. Who could resist taking photos?! Another traverse in the direction of
Nasik takes one towards a staircase and further onto a partially buried darwaja. It was almost two thirty by now
and a long descent still awaited us.
For descending we came back to the point where the pink
balsams grew at the edge of the cliffs. From here a fantastic path alongside
the cliffs took us across with views of the valley around. The path descended
on a ridge and here the mountain-side was full of more flowers. It was sunny
now but the views were gorgeous. In the distance one could easily see Harihar
and Trimbak. The descent was along a sharper ridge which would have been a
shorter but even more steeper ascent. The long walk continued for next two
hours till we reached a dammed lake that we had seen all through the day. As
per tradition, we could not but help jumping in!
This is no hike for beginners and one of our novice trekker
saw it testing his limits! But to end a good monsoon trekking season, this was
a fittingly climactic and gorgeous end.
How to reach: From Kasara, via Khodala towards Mokhada, take
a turn at Khoch phata. An easier route would be from Igatpuri to go towards
Nirgudpada (base for Harihar) and ask for Dhadyachi-wadi village from where the
route is shorter and easier.
0 comments:
Post a Comment