Rajgad (Pune Region)
9th Oct 2005
Trek to Rajgad in Oct, wild flowers at their best in this part of the world. With John, Abe, Rohit, Ashok, and master Ak who rode on my back on the way up and on Ashok’s back on the way down.
I don’t remember much about this trek except for the photos I have – of a huge variety of wild flowers of all colors. And a platform around a Pepal tree at the parking lot, where I sat with Akash after the trek.
Rajgad again with Akash
12th June 2010
Rajgad was just awesome. Ak came along, and did very well. We made it in my best time so far – 1 hr 40 mins. I have done Rajgad some 7-8 times till now, including once when I carried Ak in the baby carrier – that time it took me 2 hrs 30 mins or so. Back in 2005 or 2006. Most thrilled that the baby is now doing this on his own steam.
We started hiking at 9:07 and got to the top at 10:47 am. There were several groups at the parking lot at the base threatening to start around the same time – a total of about 25 people apart from us. We started with a lot of misgivings – Ashok muttering that we ought to strike out Rajgad from our list, it’s become too crowded, etc. But amazingly, we had the hill to ourselves for the entire hike! Just met one group coming down, and the usual couple of local old ladies trying to sell limbu pani and taak. And the crowds coming up as we were coming down – not in a bunch, but spread thin as it was mid-day by then and they were full of vada paav no doubt!
Ak found these little red insects with a velvety red skin, quite fascinating.. kept counting them and urging us not to step on them (“They’re a little bit endangered, mamma, be careful!”) I noted a young pepal, with fresh red-green leaves, clinging desperately to a slope on our way up. Ah that monsoon green… shall never tire of it. Then a crab along the path, peering up suspiciously at me.
The weather was overcast, and at places we had some breeze, but I was pouring sweat for most of the climb – quite muggy. About halfway up we started hearing a couple of Malabar Whistling Thrushes talking to each other. By the time we got to the top, there was a regular orchestra of several MWTs! Did not explore the plateau as I normally like to do. Just sacked out on a platform inside the Chor Darwaza, ate some biscuits (to keep body and soul together as Ashok eloquently put it), fed a malnourished dog some biscuits… and lay idly watching the boring, grey-white sky – an uncomfortable light – dull overall but enough seeping through the grey skies enough to make you squint.
We spent about 40 mins on top and made it back down by 1:10 pm. Back at the base village, Ak had by now started a gentle whining… I sat on the same platform around the same Pepal tree down by the parking lot, cuddling the brave little trekker. Wayside dhaba for lunch, then home by 3:30. Ak had a nap in the car, but when he got home, was full of beans again. I slept the sleep of the just for 2 hours; he spent the same time playing, including half an hour of football! Looks like all his weekly regular football is helping.
