Atlast ,God answered my prayer.We call this Yoga Yog, a brahminical concept that states everything you want or desire may happen but only at the right time and divine coincidence. Our trekker group made it to Matheran this time .Normally we avoid hill stations as it is hyped and crowed but we went there on special demand .My wife had declared that she cannot come to forts and other places where there is no electricity at night,toilet facilities and where we have to live in caves.
So, this time finally the opportunity came knocking as one of our friends from Railways could book 4 rooms in Railwaymens Guest house bang opposite the main Matheran Railway Station.Six of us started from Neral after a customary breakfast at the hotel opposite the station with Rava Idlis and Misal Bread.We took a ricks till the gate on road to the hill station and started on foot.This road I recollect was never a tar road some 40 years back, not even one that goes to Karjat.Even 20 years back this was pretty dangerous road with steep curves where marutis would fail in summer due to intense heat and there were instances when cars have fallen in the ravines.
We started at 9 am and puffed our way up on the hill opposite the great matheran mountain.Surprising my wife took a lead throughout which she later explained : she feared the idea of being left far behind.First half hour was ok.But there were no fellow trekkers on this route as most picknickers zoomed past in the cars ,private taxis and Mobikes.We hated the noise and air pollution.I strongly felt that a parallel foot path has to accompany all the roads in the world so that nonpolluter pedestrian can gain carbon points which he can encash. We stopped three times once on a bend once at ganesh mandir where we had cold drink and one in a wayside restaurant to relieve and have lemon juice.
Now the sun started beating us mercilessly.There is no dirt cross-country road easily accessible to matheran for hikers so that they can break away and walk through the forest .There are no trees planted on way as there is no room for them so we have no company of trees and their shadows,although we see lots of vegetation throughout on the slopes.The cars radiate heat so does the tar road.Now, after the road turns a full 180 degree we are on to the actual matheran mountain at Water pipe Station.
We enquired and were told that we have come only half way .Annoyed with me of having taken this challenge I cajoled myself at every step. There was no respite, neither the road ever became horizontal so that the relentless breathing could ease out. I was trying to keep pace with my wife but her fear was more intense than her breathlessness. I was convinced for once that even luck may favor the timid. Huffing and puffing at every step we came across a mountain stream that trickled and I dunked my face with water splashes ,felt better but the water was not of a good quality and small insects and fishes swam by while a few frogs lay hidden in the soft mud. Well atleast this was a non toxic place then I thought. I drank as much with cupped palm and feeling a wee better took off with new vigour only to slow down due to horrifying gradient which made me sweat like a pig in the sweltering heat as the sun came over head .There is no clearing on way and we sat on the wall of culverts now having some halwa which we carried .I drank water quenching thirst and rehydrating myself. At this point a van pulled up and asked us if we want a lift .My wife who had done most wonderfully volunteered to accompany Girish who jumped at the offer. I refused but gave my heavy haversack to them. Now surprisingly I felt relived only for a while as I was rendered lighter. I have always been amazed at this experience that the ordeal is only lighter by as much percent as the weight of the Haversack which may be only 10 to 15 % of your body weight. This is not very great and hence difficult to appreciate. Never the less it may assure you a bit while making you uncomfortable of the fact that you may be denied some comfort of retrieval of some important things in your sack. We then started with renewed vigor on a fuller tummy. But the happiness was short lived as we approached noon we were making tremendous effort. My vest and tee shirt was all we so was my undies with all the perspiration in the world. I felt that I have perspired so much after many years. Next 45 minutes were a test of our perseverance.
A furlong or two before the coveted Dasturi Naka I saw a tiny stream trickle over the slopes and spread across the grass letting out tiny droplets off the grass blades .It caught my fancy. I held my cupped palms and collected water,I washed my face with it and then I drank two palmfuls .And lo! A great transformation took over me I felt absolutely rejuvenated and made a final full assault on the daunting and rugged mountain.At 12 .30 we finally reached Aman Lodge at Dastoori Naka. We had 2/3 limca while I reluctantly brushed aside assistance from natives who said they would carry our bags for cash. From thence on the next 2 km walk along the tracks was a leg twister and called for a limit of pain as my shoe laces cut trough my ankle. We walked now without a word replenishing with lemon juice on way. And at last reached our lodge on the station at matheran at 2 after noon .We were walking for nearly 4 hours with breaks amounting to 1 hour. Totally the time spent on route was 5 hours neat. I and my wife occupied a room near the caretakers office .The room was adequate .We had plenty of Bisleri water and Out came antiquity with soda and water.We had to refresh our mind ,soul and body and kill fatigue that seeped in our body .We had two quick ones and walked up to the road where we found a Guju lunch joint .It was a very cool place and we sat out into the open . Now suddenly clouds gathered to make the weather finest to our chagrin as we lamented. Terrible that the skies were clear and barring an isolated cloud here and there, we were never offered natures grace by insulating us from sweltering sunrays. But now we rejoiced and kept to our rooms for a while .At 5 pm we ordered tea and waited for rest of the party to arrive in two parts.At first jadya Kamat arrived with Pakya on bike .
Then a larger group arrived at 7 pm in a car.We said hi, hello as we narrated our terrible experience of October heat on Mountain slopes here at Matheran.Tables were joined ,dinner ordered Veg and Chicken Biryani .Out came the glasses and the party went late into the night with 4 full bottles of antiquity going down one after other. There were good chiken tikka snacks with other types of Chakna.There was plenty for everyone as the group of 13 enjoyed the week end at this place which can be called a Horseland. Assorted jokes were quoted to make the atmosphere witty and tangy .The last agenda was Flush with paisa point.Here I must confess that I lost around 100 rupees and did not win a single game out of around 20.I think this was compensation in law of averages as the winner cards and looser cards have equal probability to get into your hands as the skill was constant.But I must agree that I also played rash and lost some winning games.
At around 1 am every one was fast a sleep.We had a room to ourselves and hence no snoring could reach us.I got up at around 6 am and we refreshed our selves .Then we went down for tea and snacks at a small clean joint called ‘Ketkars’. We had Madu Wada and Pohe and then hired 2 horses for Rs 250 each to show us 3 points and a lake.The horses were of average height not to short or tall One was creamish while other was dark black.My wife mounted on the Black whose name was Gentleman and I got onto the saddle of Aryan Pet.This was some experience and the horse after explaining the control of the reigns left me to the mercy of the horse.I quickly learnt that it was a good and well trained horse and hence the chance of it getting wild was slender. At first we went to Echo point It was on the other side of neral and we could see Prabal gad (Fort) although I mistook it for Peb or Vikat Gad.The spot was serene and there was not a single soul .It came after a walk on Lake charlotte dam .We sat there meditating and clicking pictures. We felt accomplished even with the first point.I do not know if I have had visited it in past during my earlier sojourns on this hill stations 35 years back. The precipices looked like those of Malshej Ghat .As we came back We saw a temple of the local god called Pisardev and we paid our respect to this Gram Daev.The clergy man was in midst of the pooja and did not bother to notice us ,we too slipped away after our salutations .But I was happy that I could collect some grace from the visit of a local diety.Back we came to mount on the horses and the horseman took us to Echo Point.It was adjoining the Lord point over a very deep gorge and we took pictures and tried our voice at generating a mild single reflection echo.
On way back, the horse man gave us some recce of the local flora. The trees were those of “ “ the once found on bhimashankar .The wood is tough he told us and the trees refused to decay even if they are dead. The air was cool as we passed below these trees but on open spaces it was hot and humid.He told me the difference between a trot,Canter and Gallop.He told of the cost of the horses and their needs and caretaking. I was happy to get this knowledge. If one has to see all 20 points ,one has to stay here for three days. This would e a good program on week days I thought as I could deal fairly with the horseman. Moreover on the third day you could become friendly with the horse and could surely gain proficiency in horse riding a badge I desired in Scouting. I was reminded of the certain place on the matheran plateau where one could do real horse riding and that my brother had experienced this during his school days when he and his friends had come specially to learn and enjoy this art.One can do this at PanchGani pleatau too.At matheran it may be Olympia Grounds.
Matheran has been made more comfortable by the fact that no vehicles are allowed beyond Dasturi point not even two wheelers.Next there are no tar roads so there is no honking,or exhaust fumes to take your toll.The forest is evergreen and the soil red of the Konkan belt.The height is around 2500 feet.One can really unwind at this place.Matheran is full of Horses and horsemen may be from the days of the Marathas and Mughals and British .Some of the horses ancestors must have seen action on battlefields and derby. We finally arrived and took snaps while mounted on the animals.I took on of my wife on horse with judgement whild she tread behind me.
We went to our room happy of the achievement of seeing a part of the hill station.Now we had bath and headed for the same hotel .Unfortunately the order was delayed so we slipped off and joined other in a bar by the name Pramod.We had may be 2 beers each and then settled for non veg food.having done that we topped it with meetha masala pan while some of us went of numbered ones containing tobacco.We came back rested for a while a small siesta was welcome but exactly after an hour the whistle blower arrived and we packed to go.We bade good bye to the caretaker an old man in his 60s and prodded with constant pace to arrive at Dasturi.A private taxi then brought me and my wife back home.Matheran had been won after 40 years !!
