I pictured myself in a valley listening to the soothing murmur of a mountain breeze sweeping past across me as I stand compose.
I held my face up to the gentle sun and felt a calm contentment seeping down into my soul.
I breathed the refreshing air in deep - it as heady as wine.
It is rightly said that once a mountain makes a mark on your mind, it will call you back - year after year - and you will heed its call.
The incomparable majesty of the sky-high cliffs all around.
An imposing presence yet seemingly within touching distance...
I wished to go to a mountain reaching out in a place where Mother Nature is at her best...
where the soft rhythms of the six carefree flowing man made lakes create their own special kind of music.
Where the wind whispers softly...
climb the Western Ghats all the way from Arabian Sea to touch the innermost regions of the heart.
An abode...
a revelation - for me and for all who come here.
This is Lonavla that shares the closest bond with Khandala.
These heterozygote twins come under Maval Taluka ( district )...
worthy to be called as the Lake District of Maharashtra.
A thrilling 90 minute drive from the valley of Khopoli, this place is surprisingly unspoilt and apart from its awesome beauty of ghats that lead you on in, with a see-saw motion; there is a c-o-o-l breeze even in the hottest month.
There is chikki for the sweet tooth and there is heavy rainfall during monsoon that pours and drives one crazy with joy! An absolute delight for adolescents! This is one such place where I would like to pitch my tent forever! It was during that time of the year when my husband and I both decided to take time off from the routine to wonder around finding the hidden beauties of nature for ourselves, a spot of our own liking or just a long drive.
A SPECIAL VISITOR My mother had come down from Chandigarh and she wanted to have absolute pleasure babysitting her six -month- old granddaughter.
This was also the time when there were no man made express way connecting Pune to Mumbai.
We went there during the intermittent rains.
The beauty was indescribable.
As the trickling stopped I looked up and saw a sudden golden shaft of sun piercing the cloudy veil.
I turned my head a little this side...
Oh, what a beautiful rainbow! I gasped with joy and it took me to my school days when we used to scream with delight on seeing a rainbow in the sky.
And, one fine day, the teacher would ask us, "Children, how many colors are there in a rainbow...
?" And, we would answer, "Seven! Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red...
" We took an adventurous trip from the foothills where our house stood in Khopoli.
The Royal Enfield gave great kick in the bracing winters - when the two of us, set off one Sunday morning.
We approached a tunnel.
Suddenly it was plunged into total darkness in the sunny day.
We came out and the sun played hide-and-seek with the laden clouds ready to pour.
AT THE GHATS As the ghats approached we saw a long trail of heavily laden trucks emitting husky sounds.
They may have an air of disdain but we left them too far behind to reach still higher altitude.
Down I witnessed blue, red, and yellow four wheelers.
I called them "Suzuki" toys.
No one hurried for fear of hurling down, especially on the wet ghats.
We drove like a marathon when the one way started.
The loaded sloths too gained in confidence, pacing with their neighbors on the highway, assuring tremendous opportunity for others to enjoy their tail slogans inserted just near " Blow Horn, please...
" " Buri nazar wale tera muh kaala " However, no one had "Buri nazar.
" Suddenly we had a desire to say hi to Lambert, my husband's good friend, at his Karla Farm House.
He would surely be delighted to see us unannounced.
The thought of sizzling coffee that his servant makes drove us on! As soon as we touched the pathway, the watchman saluted and told," He is away to Bombay, Sir!" So the coffee was out of the question...
We headed for Khandala's cottages, which were coming up fast.
TOWARDS KHANDALA Zig-zagged amidst the stumbling stone and crumbling concrete we reached a dusty, windy and muddy area.
The red and Green identical structures caught our fancy.
Oh, so cute! Quite like Barbie's little houses! A big board amused us.
"Lallu's apartments" it said.
How earth Lallu landed in Khandala from Hum Log?! To reach the depth of this fascination we stopped for a while.
The watchman came with, "Kaya Mangta Hai Sahib?" Room Paijey? (Looking for accommodation?) And up comes caretaker with a bigpotli of keys.
We saw all the four types of cottages.
The more we wished to hurry up the more leisurely was he in taking us around.
But who wanted to stay there? It was part of our Lallu excitement - the funniest protagonist of the soap Hum Log - that we wished to explore.
We resumed the drive, driving around the trodden paths, narrow lanes, dug-up by-lanes and then to Pucca road.
Lots and lots of big bungalows, with one thing in common -they were all locked.
In a long stretch of houses was an equally long row of golden and silver metallic padlocks with security guards standing erect and promising good security measures- the Harrison way.
Why this is so? The paanwala explained,"Seth Log Idhar Main Rehna Mangta Nahin.
Mumbai se aaneka har Saturday aur Sunday ko vapis jana mangta.
" "Big shots!" we mused.
The place should have been deserted without a single soul staying in the vicinity.
On the contrary it was teeming with life.
Thanks to Caretakers.
There were almost double the number of caretakers for these locked houses.
I marveled at the chivalry of the Mumbai Walas.
"What a waste for some, but luxury for others!" They invest Lakhs of rupees just for satisfying a few hours of holiday comfort & seclusion from busy Mumbai.
Glaring trait! On approaching main road we came across one private Mini-zoo.
No ticket.
Oh! The astonishing colored parrots were to my mind perfectly crafted paint and brush creation.
But, they were real! It was already past two in the afternoon.
We thought of eating something.
A large congregation could be seen on one side of the road.
What's up there, we wondered.
Why were people moving to that side? Kalimachhi point...
The sight was breathtaking.
I was more interested to see an old tree that brooded dispiritedly at one corner of the place.
Two deep grooves on a low branch spoke of a wing where few children were moving up and down, down and up.
I decided to take lemonade with "Cheora" right there and got clicked instantaneously.
And, moved on...
We were once again on the main road.
Finally we reached the hustling bustling 'Chikki Town.
" There was a stunning range in its selling price from Rs 6 to 400 per kilogram.
Kaka' chikki, Famous chikki, A-One chikki, Magan Lal Chikki, Lonavla chikki...
and so on.
Shop after shop, and board after board bearing the manners of different Chikkiwalas' concotions.
We tasted them all.
But the one that tickled our taste buds was the regular peanut chikki.
We got it packed.
We also ate Batata Vadas with dry coconut chutney from a nearby joint.
I swear! They make so good! MISSING HOME-TEA However, tea was not that promising.
We only had to gulp it down.
It tasted almost like mud.
Probably they don't mix milk in water - it's the other way.
Thick milk, lots of chai patti and plenty of sugar to match! We started missing our hot cuppa at home because it was already 4.
30pm.
Sizzling Green Label waited for us right in front of our Sunday idiot box.
We hurried back FAST.
Without stopping even for a minute we drove past back home to reach as early as possible.
Most of the time without switching on the engine down the ghats.
We reached home full of reminiscences of Chikki, Vadas, Parrots...
the breeze...
the rainbow...
the romance of tunnels...
Oh, the experience was simply exhilarating! And, finally we came from Lallu's apartments to our Sweet Home.
To relish and cherish - An incoherent giggle and murmur from our own creation...
our darling daughter! This is the ultimate delight that makes our day.
We pull all our stops here.
And, find one more reason to thank the Almighty God for having been so kind...
I held my face up to the gentle sun and felt a calm contentment seeping down into my soul.
I breathed the refreshing air in deep - it as heady as wine.
It is rightly said that once a mountain makes a mark on your mind, it will call you back - year after year - and you will heed its call.
The incomparable majesty of the sky-high cliffs all around.
An imposing presence yet seemingly within touching distance...
I wished to go to a mountain reaching out in a place where Mother Nature is at her best...
where the soft rhythms of the six carefree flowing man made lakes create their own special kind of music.
Where the wind whispers softly...
climb the Western Ghats all the way from Arabian Sea to touch the innermost regions of the heart.
An abode...
a revelation - for me and for all who come here.
This is Lonavla that shares the closest bond with Khandala.
These heterozygote twins come under Maval Taluka ( district )...
worthy to be called as the Lake District of Maharashtra.
A thrilling 90 minute drive from the valley of Khopoli, this place is surprisingly unspoilt and apart from its awesome beauty of ghats that lead you on in, with a see-saw motion; there is a c-o-o-l breeze even in the hottest month.
There is chikki for the sweet tooth and there is heavy rainfall during monsoon that pours and drives one crazy with joy! An absolute delight for adolescents! This is one such place where I would like to pitch my tent forever! It was during that time of the year when my husband and I both decided to take time off from the routine to wonder around finding the hidden beauties of nature for ourselves, a spot of our own liking or just a long drive.
A SPECIAL VISITOR My mother had come down from Chandigarh and she wanted to have absolute pleasure babysitting her six -month- old granddaughter.
This was also the time when there were no man made express way connecting Pune to Mumbai.
We went there during the intermittent rains.
The beauty was indescribable.
As the trickling stopped I looked up and saw a sudden golden shaft of sun piercing the cloudy veil.
I turned my head a little this side...
Oh, what a beautiful rainbow! I gasped with joy and it took me to my school days when we used to scream with delight on seeing a rainbow in the sky.
And, one fine day, the teacher would ask us, "Children, how many colors are there in a rainbow...
?" And, we would answer, "Seven! Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red...
" We took an adventurous trip from the foothills where our house stood in Khopoli.
The Royal Enfield gave great kick in the bracing winters - when the two of us, set off one Sunday morning.
We approached a tunnel.
Suddenly it was plunged into total darkness in the sunny day.
We came out and the sun played hide-and-seek with the laden clouds ready to pour.
AT THE GHATS As the ghats approached we saw a long trail of heavily laden trucks emitting husky sounds.
They may have an air of disdain but we left them too far behind to reach still higher altitude.
Down I witnessed blue, red, and yellow four wheelers.
I called them "Suzuki" toys.
No one hurried for fear of hurling down, especially on the wet ghats.
We drove like a marathon when the one way started.
The loaded sloths too gained in confidence, pacing with their neighbors on the highway, assuring tremendous opportunity for others to enjoy their tail slogans inserted just near " Blow Horn, please...
" " Buri nazar wale tera muh kaala " However, no one had "Buri nazar.
" Suddenly we had a desire to say hi to Lambert, my husband's good friend, at his Karla Farm House.
He would surely be delighted to see us unannounced.
The thought of sizzling coffee that his servant makes drove us on! As soon as we touched the pathway, the watchman saluted and told," He is away to Bombay, Sir!" So the coffee was out of the question...
We headed for Khandala's cottages, which were coming up fast.
TOWARDS KHANDALA Zig-zagged amidst the stumbling stone and crumbling concrete we reached a dusty, windy and muddy area.
The red and Green identical structures caught our fancy.
Oh, so cute! Quite like Barbie's little houses! A big board amused us.
"Lallu's apartments" it said.
How earth Lallu landed in Khandala from Hum Log?! To reach the depth of this fascination we stopped for a while.
The watchman came with, "Kaya Mangta Hai Sahib?" Room Paijey? (Looking for accommodation?) And up comes caretaker with a bigpotli of keys.
We saw all the four types of cottages.
The more we wished to hurry up the more leisurely was he in taking us around.
But who wanted to stay there? It was part of our Lallu excitement - the funniest protagonist of the soap Hum Log - that we wished to explore.
We resumed the drive, driving around the trodden paths, narrow lanes, dug-up by-lanes and then to Pucca road.
Lots and lots of big bungalows, with one thing in common -they were all locked.
In a long stretch of houses was an equally long row of golden and silver metallic padlocks with security guards standing erect and promising good security measures- the Harrison way.
Why this is so? The paanwala explained,"Seth Log Idhar Main Rehna Mangta Nahin.
Mumbai se aaneka har Saturday aur Sunday ko vapis jana mangta.
" "Big shots!" we mused.
The place should have been deserted without a single soul staying in the vicinity.
On the contrary it was teeming with life.
Thanks to Caretakers.
There were almost double the number of caretakers for these locked houses.
I marveled at the chivalry of the Mumbai Walas.
"What a waste for some, but luxury for others!" They invest Lakhs of rupees just for satisfying a few hours of holiday comfort & seclusion from busy Mumbai.
Glaring trait! On approaching main road we came across one private Mini-zoo.
No ticket.
Oh! The astonishing colored parrots were to my mind perfectly crafted paint and brush creation.
But, they were real! It was already past two in the afternoon.
We thought of eating something.
A large congregation could be seen on one side of the road.
What's up there, we wondered.
Why were people moving to that side? Kalimachhi point...
The sight was breathtaking.
I was more interested to see an old tree that brooded dispiritedly at one corner of the place.
Two deep grooves on a low branch spoke of a wing where few children were moving up and down, down and up.
I decided to take lemonade with "Cheora" right there and got clicked instantaneously.
And, moved on...
We were once again on the main road.
Finally we reached the hustling bustling 'Chikki Town.
" There was a stunning range in its selling price from Rs 6 to 400 per kilogram.
Kaka' chikki, Famous chikki, A-One chikki, Magan Lal Chikki, Lonavla chikki...
and so on.
Shop after shop, and board after board bearing the manners of different Chikkiwalas' concotions.
We tasted them all.
But the one that tickled our taste buds was the regular peanut chikki.
We got it packed.
We also ate Batata Vadas with dry coconut chutney from a nearby joint.
I swear! They make so good! MISSING HOME-TEA However, tea was not that promising.
We only had to gulp it down.
It tasted almost like mud.
Probably they don't mix milk in water - it's the other way.
Thick milk, lots of chai patti and plenty of sugar to match! We started missing our hot cuppa at home because it was already 4.
30pm.
Sizzling Green Label waited for us right in front of our Sunday idiot box.
We hurried back FAST.
Without stopping even for a minute we drove past back home to reach as early as possible.
Most of the time without switching on the engine down the ghats.
We reached home full of reminiscences of Chikki, Vadas, Parrots...
the breeze...
the rainbow...
the romance of tunnels...
Oh, the experience was simply exhilarating! And, finally we came from Lallu's apartments to our Sweet Home.
To relish and cherish - An incoherent giggle and murmur from our own creation...
our darling daughter! This is the ultimate delight that makes our day.
We pull all our stops here.
And, find one more reason to thank the Almighty God for having been so kind...