Tour de Sahyadri: Sarasgad – Raigad
(12 March 2005)
Executive summary:
The forts in the Raigad and Sudhagad range are not that tough with climb not more than 1000-2000 feet. Mr. Sameer Kelkar, cyclist, marathoner, trekker and also IIT engineer, holds idea of climbing each mountain and each ghat of Sahyadri from Konkan with a climb of at least 2500 feet. For the mountains like Raigad, Rajgad and others which doesn’t have approach from Konkan, has alternate plan of combining cycling and trek. So this time it was Sarasgad and Raigad. We send a small pilot team from IIT on the same route, but they come back from base of Sarasgad.
Plan of Action:
Our plan one of the best on paper. We plan to get to Khopoli by first train. Get down at Khopoli and cycle about 37 kms from Khopoli to Pali by 10 in morning. Then have breakfast at Pali, and then climb Sarasgad and come back to the base by 12 noon. Have our lunch and then set off towards Raigad. We decide to take a non state highway, as shown in the road map of Raigad district, a total cycle of 55 kms to base of village Pachad. Reach Pachad by 6-7 in evening. After dinner climb Raigad, stay at Raigad top for the night. In morning come back to Pachad, cycle back to Mahad, then load our cycles back on bus top and reach Mumbai by evening or night.
Execution:
Yes, the plan seemed to be quite hectic atleast for me. I had to constantly match with the pace and stamina of Sameer. We started off 12 th morning, catching the first train for Khopoli. For carrying cycle or luggage in train one needs to make a challan from station. However at Dombivli the window which makes challan opens late at 6 am. So I loaded my cycle without any challan. Sameer who took train from Kanjur had already made his challan. At Kalyan was caught by railway official and had to pay off 100 bucks (without receipt). Later came to know from fellows in luggage compartment, that 10-20 rupees would have done, or else one get concession of 60kgs luggage on return ticket. So it was learning for any such next trips.
We reached Khopoli by 0730, and luckily wasn’t caught again. After a little baggage adjustments, loading helmets and querying for the route, we left for Pali. Pali is about 37 kms from Khopoli, and to avoid the heat we decided to skip breakfast and “make hay when the sun doesn’t shine- 6 kms are on Mumbai Pune old highway and just before the express highway, one diversion towards Pali. Climate was good, and we hoped a good cycling day. We covered initial halfway milestone within an hour. A very short break for tea and water, we get back to our road. Though the roads were quite flat and good, they were constantly skirting and several ups and downs (I always enjoy going down!) But it was not late when the sun started showing its effect. Just before Pali, I fell back some 3-4 kms of Sameer, and got severe cramps in my legs. I should have drank little more water. It was hard for me to cycle. I somehow reached Pali, where Sameer was waiting for me. It was 1000 by then.
At Pali, we decided to have breakfast and much required rest to me. No sooner we had breakfast we left for climbing Sarasgad. Parked our cycles at the base house, and took trail leading towards top of Sarasgad. The climb to Sarasgad is not high but quite steep. It took my toll. I was never would able to catch Sameer. Each step for me was hard to take. And for the first time trekking in Sahyadris I lost my mental strength. Asked Sameer to go forward, I took my own pace.
Sarasgad appears to be beautifully built. The steps leading to top are beautifully hidden. There are two levels of construction which can be seen. By the time I reached first level, Sameer was waving his hand from the second level. I decided to rest there and avoid going to the second level. There is a small temple and few water tanks on the top. Sameer came down, joined me and we left again for the base. It was 1145 by the time we reached the base. We took our lunch, it was 1230 by then, so perfect according to our plans, apart from my cramps and bit loss of my stamina.
First setback for us. We referred Atlas maps for roads in Raigad. It clearly showed a small but cycle able road for Pachad, base of Raigad. This was about 55 kms, which we could have done the same day. We asked village people about this road, and none of them said this road exists. The route on which bus goes is about 100 kms from Pali, some 5 kms to the Mumbai Goa national highway, 80 kms to Mahad on the national highway and 24 kms off route from Mahad to Pachad. No way we could have done that on same day, and that too on congested national highway in the scorching heat. I had already exhausted and planning to return from here, it was only Sameer who forced me coming to Raigad. Finally I decided to take time to decide, by the time I may get well. We loaded our cycles on bus to Nagothane, some 10 kms from Pali on Mumbai Goa highway. Here we had to wait till 1430 to get a bus for Mahad. Bad luck this time too, bus was over crowded and we had to stand till Mahad.
Second setback, I didn’t get the necessary rest. I got more exhausted, and by the time we reached Mahad, I could feel the pain. It was 1630 by then I decided to back off, Sameer who showed no signs of fatigue, decided to cycle 24 kms to Pachad according to plans. Wasting no further time, we parted each other. I took 1700 bus from Mahad towards Surat, going via Panvel, Shil-phata and Thane. By 2100 I reached Shil Phata, 10 kms from Dombivli. It was another cycle of about 40-50 minutes for me in traffic to reach Dombivli. By 2200 it was end of my cycling and trek.
I don’t know how I could cycle the last 10 kms. At home, I could feel the pain in my leg again. May be it was strength I got from idea of reaching home.
SWOT Analysis:
We had a superb planning. And by the time I completed this report, I got feedback from Sameer who had climbed Raigad, and found the small 55 km road between Pali and Raigad. Sameer cycled back from Pachad to Pali and on his way to Thane on bus.
Sun took the toll, may be March was not the month for such expeditions. Drinking water to avoid de-hyradtion could have made me complete the route. About half liter for every hour is what recommended.
Transport like bus is frequently available on this route, apart from the Pali-Pachad by-pass. Maybe we should have given little more time on the route, completing the route in two days was a bit tough. Little more time on the route would have made it enjoyable. Raigad district have great roads to cycle and great places to see. Last cycle trip to Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar from Alibag has not yet faded from my memory.
Road map to future:
Though the cycling turned bit (very!) hectic for me and not enjoyable, it was a great experience. I was already prepared for the hardships, and it was the reason why I didn’t have my camera with me. I take this cycling experience as indication towards increasing my stamina, physical and mental, which is very much important towards enjoying life! No pain, No Gain! For these gains,
Nothing Else Matters!
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