My Trip – Part 2

The last 2 days

Actually when I started for this trip I didn’t plan beyond Ganpatipule. So I wasn’t very sure what I would be doing after day 1. Was wondering whether I should be spending another day lazing around, or take a taxi and visit some 5 to 6 picnic spots around here (Marleshwar, Hedvi, Velneshwar, Guhagar, Chiplun). But I went by what Mitesh suggested, and zeroed in on chiplun.

I got up at 5.45 in the morning and quickly got ready, since I had to catch the bus at around 6.30 AM. The bus was till Pune, and goes via chiplun. And this bus doesn’t touch Ratnagiri, thereby saving me some 45 mins. Chiplun is some 110 kms from Ganpatipule, and its on the NH17 highway towards Mumbai.

Some 10 kms beyond chiplun, there is a village called Lote. This village is on top of a hill, and hindu mythology says Lord Parasurama lived here. Infact the entire Konkan is branded as the land of parasuram. There is a 800 year old parasurama temple here as well.

By the time I reached Lote I was really hungry. I had commited a stupid mistake of not withdrawing enough cash from ICICI, before starting for the picnic. So went to this Taj-Quality inn resorts, since they accept credit cards Once I reached there, I went to the lobby. Wow. The view from there was mindblowing. I just stood there, watching the vaasishti lake from the balcony.

A guy from the resort came near me, and asked me if I had any reservation. I just smiled and said, I had come to eat something. He said, a room was available for 1000 Rs. It seems someone booked a room for 4 days, and on the 3rd day they rushed back due to some emergency. Anyways they had paid for all the 4 days, and so the resort people were trying to make hay. Well, who I am to say no when lady luck was grinning at me. Normally the room costs 2700 Rs/night plus taxes. I immediately checked into a luxurious room at the resort. If I had the luxury of sea view room at Ganpatipule, I got a river/valley view room here You get to see a huge valley and then the vaashishti river from here. Its pretty neat. Once again I will let the photographs do the talking.

I really had fun here. Chilled in the swimming pool, played badminton with some resort guys, played snooker and what not. It was pretty good. And they rented out bicycles for 30 rs an hour. Took the bicycle and went to the parasurama temple. Its pretty neat. Some festival was going there, and the temple was decorated. They are very strict, and do not allow photography inside the temple.

While coming back from the temple, I met 2 kids ‘Ruchitha and Rathi’. Ruchitha called me and said ‘Uncle, mera ek photo le naa’. I was amused and took her snap. But the girl next to her ruthi was very shy and refused to pose for the photo. Then Ruchitha pulled her, and posed for the photograph. Cute kids I tried to catch their expressions with my camera. Only you people should tell me, whether I succeeded

In the evening, I did manage to catch the football match between Chelsea and Manchester United. It was great to see Chelsea become champions again  Once the football match was over, I checked out the sunset from the balcony. It was excellent.

Like the previous day I lazed around for the remainder of the time.

I didnt have reservations for any train or bus. I was under the impression, bus journey would be short and comfortable. But when the resort guys said, it would take around 8 hrs I was bit wary. I had to catch a flight from mumbai at 18.20. I didnt want to take any chances. Once again, luck was on my side. A family had taken a taxi(Chevrolet Tavera) from Mumbai to Lote. And the taxi was going back to Mumbai. I quickly struck a deal with the taxi driver. He agreed to drop me at Mumbai, and also pick up as many passengers on the way.
The journey to mumbai was uneventful, pleasant but very hot! And yes. Please check the photo of konkan rail. I was looking at the valley and suddenly saw this train. Immediately clicked it. One of my favorite snaps in the entire trip!
Reached mumbai by around 4 in the evening, and directly went to the airport. Boarded the flight and landed in bangalore by night.

At this juncture I would like to share something. When you are traveling from Ratnagiri to Chiplun by bus it will be like this. There will be a river on the left and beyond the river the mahendra mountain ranges. Tunnel is dug on the mahendra mountains, and the konkan rail travels through that. You should see it to believe it! No camera can do justice to this engineering marvel!

I have heard of the saying ‘The other side is always green’. But I felt ‘Every side of Konkan is green’. Do visit these places atleast once in your lifetime. The memory will last for ever