Rajgad - again

We went to Rajgad again during the monsoons. This time it was planned that we would go to Rajgad enroute Satara to Pradeep's home. Myself, Rahul, Amit, Prasad and Pradeep started from chinchwad towards pune. We halted near Satara Road for more people to join in.

Finally we started towards Satara. Basically we thought we would not do Rajgad as it would be slippery during the monsoons but then later we said we can do it and then at the phata we turned right and went towards Rajgad. At one point we saw Rahul's bike's rear tyre was punctured. Luckily we were at a village in between nasrapur so we repaired his bike and had some breakfast of vada sambhar.

Then we started towards Rajgad. The roads were too good and as it was not raining we were speeding towards our destination. we turned left at one point at Margasani phata and went towards Gunjawane village. Finally we reached Gunjawane village and parked our bikes at a hotel. We changed our clothes at the hotel took some water with us and kept all heavy baggage there and started towards Rajgad.

Initially I was feeling some problem with my stomach so i decided not to go ahead but then i said if i have come this far why not to go up. So I went ahead. It was not raining and the nature all around was too good. The fort itself was shrouded in clouds and was all green over. We climbed for around 1.25 hours and finally reached the rock cut steps. Here we saw a person who was afraid to ascend the steps also because he was having fear of heights...that guy turned back :(

We anyway ascended the steps and had some photosessions. Now it had started raining hard and we were soaked to the skin. Finally we reached the fort. It was heaven there. All clouds had descended down there and we could see nothing. Finally the others decided to go to the balekilla i stood down as i was in no mood.

I stood admiring the nature and taking some photos from my cell. Finally the group came down and we again started down. There were quite a lot of people on the fort and were part of some trekking group.

Finally we started down the way we came and came down quickly. At one point the rain started again heavily and we were at a muddy part of the descent and due to the rain it had become all slushy so we walked slipped and fell down again got up and walked through...it was fun. Finally we came to level ground and saw a small hotel. We asked the owner to prepare some tea and it was very refreshing.

While coming down we talked to 1 villager who told us whether we would take a snake (cobra) to the Katraj zoo. He had basically caught the snake nearby and it was a small cobra. He said he had hidden it on a tree as the villagers would kill it if they saw it. He pleaded with us to take it to the Katraj Zoo because he knew he could not care for it properly and the zoo authorities would care more for it than him. My bag was full and i couldnt take it. I felt so bad for that.We saw the snake in the bottle...it was an awesome sight...it was a small cobra and it was beating against the bottle....

After having tea we again started down and came to the hotel. There it was a rivulet of sorts because of the heavy rain and it had become very slushy. We had a satisfying lunch at the hotel and now I was feeling feverish as though something was wrong. I decided against going to Satara and started towards home. Trek 9 accomplished.