Bhimashankar Trek via Shidi Ghat

“I don’t have time..!”

The most common sentence we all say and listen these days yet sitting at home and doing nothing for the whole weekend feeling a sense of resentment on Sunday night, when you realize that you actually could have pulled off the trip you were eager to go. After resentment of many weekends like this, I finally understood the only thing that’s stopping me was lack of will.

I started searching for what I could do. To my realization, there were plenty of people who were enlightened way before me and few of them even started helping the fellow travelers with minimum profit and maximum effort. Backpackers and City Freaks (here after will use BCF) was one among that. The plans were so tailor made for travelers who are lazy to plan.

Going on a trip with a bunch of strangers to a strange place will always make you familiar to yourself. Just the idea of it excited me. I have invited my colleagues. As usual ” I don’t have time, it’s not possible, we’ll be tired on Monday… blah blah….! Honestly,I felt relieved, because sometimes when you have to get new experience you have to leave behind the old baggage. So, whoever out there quitting the plans because your friends aren’t coming. DON’T QUIT…I repeat, NEVER…!! you might miss making new friends and a lot cooler than your existing friends(No offense to the old ones)

So, the trip I had signed up for, was a trek to Bhimashankar via Shidi (Ladder) ghat descent Via Ganesh ghat. At first,I thought it was a regular place, then adding to my excitement I got to know Bhimashankar was one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India. It is believed that Bhimashankar got its name because Lord Shiva killed an asura named Bhima at this place. It is also the starting point of Bhima river which will join in Krishna river eventually well that’s enough of Geography and Mythology lecture.

First let me give you a disclaimer. The things mentioned in this article are only the experiences which can be expressed in words. which makes it only 10% of what I had experienced. I will start with the brief Itinerary of the trip, long story short.
Friday evening (Hyderabad- Begumpet) – Saturday early morning ( karjat station) – 1.5 hours ride to Khandas village where the trek starts -Bhimashankar trail( ShidiGhat) – Bhimashankar – descent via Ganesh Ghat – Karjat – Monday morning ( Begumpet). 

I booked my slot after talking to RK and Bharath from BCF. The Organizers were really friendly and answered even silliest of my questions which gave me confidence that it’s definitely going to be fun.

Day 1 (Friday Night):

Adventure began..! (even before the trip started)

I have got a message that due to some issue, tickets to the train didn’t get booked. As we enrolled in the last minute, I thought it happened. And I was thinking that I may have to stay back at home for this weekend too. But the Organizers were swift enough to book a bus in short span. I was told to reach Paradise bus-stop to board the bus. I reached there ahead of time and passed time wondering about the chaos of the place. Soon a trek mate reached the stop.

Ice breaking..

We introduced each other and complained about our boring lives for a while. As they say same problems makes people good friends, we became friends already. Again, I remind people who are skeptical to go alone on a trip. You will never feel left out in a trip with strangers you will always find them take care of you more.

We boarded the bus and introduced ourselves, all of them were from different places in Hyderabad working in different fields. So completely different environment and different behaviors. We all gelled up really fast sharing our travel stories, office stories, complaining about our friends who didn’t agree for the trip. Within 1 hour we started calling names and making fun of each other. We talked for a while about our jobs etc., got to know different perspectives, eventually we all dozed off.

Thanks to our Organizer, Bharath who joined the trip with us and made sure we break the ice within no time with the funny games and introduction round.

Day 2 Saturday morning (Karjat )

Early morning bus reached Karjat. While organizer is busy finding cab to reach Khandas we got freshen up at the food court and were busy finding something to eat and buying snacks for the long trek which follows. Soon we got a vehicle to reach Khandas village the road to village was slightly rough we didn’t realize that much due to excitement of the trip. As we were about to reach Khandas village, the mighty Sahyadris were visible.

The trek begins..

We got down at the starting point of the trail and were awestruck by the sheer majesty of the mountain range in front of us and the idea that we are going to climb it gave a sense of fear and excitement at the same time. For few minutes we just stood silent. Later the narcissist in us woke up and we started clicking pictures and recording videos.

Every bit of the place was so amazing so we couldn’t stop clicking pics. After clicking a lot of pictures, we finally started, as trek takes around 8 to 9 hours and it’s better to finish the trek before the light fails as it is a dense forest and the rain makes it worse.

It is a medium level trek. The entire trail consists of beautiful grassy plains, river crossings, waterfalls, gushing streams, three ladders which were installed by local villagers for the ease of trekking. We made sure we didn’t forget any necessary items like water bottles, snacks, raincoats, rain covers and started the trek. The excitement didn’t last long as we started getting tired within half n hour and we started wondering whether we could really make it to the top. We all knew there was long way to go. But we all knew we can go any far if we love something so is the trek for each of us. The beauty of the place was so damn good that our excitement to explore surpassed the exhaustion we were facing, soon all of us had become more energetic than ever.

Hurdles..!! and how to overcome..?

One thing any trekker will agree is, trek is not at all interesting without the hurdles or obstructions. So is life after-all. We started crushing hurdle by hurdle with sheer enthusiasm as a gift for each achievement we got flamboyant views. Soon we reached one of the ladders through which we should continue our trek. It was a normal ladder even with railing for support. But, the fact that it is the only line between life and death created a sense of panic but we took up the challenge and ascended it. After-all fear is also an emotion one needs to experience sometimes.

The waterfalls..

After crossing a rocky and slippery ascent carefully, as a relief and treat to eyes, we were at the mouth of a breathtaking waterfall with picturesque view. We called it the Bahubali waterfall. It was looking like straight out of a fantasy movie. We took much deserved rest there and played around in the waterfalls and clicked lot of pictures. By this time probably none of us remembered who we are, what we do, how much we earn , all we knew was we were just a bunch of people who has some story to say (I never thought I will pen down like this 😛 )

Sharing is Caring…

Through out the trek we shared the eatables brought by each one of us. We shared everything we had. I still remember homemade tamarind rice brought by one of the friends (yes we were friends already). We all relished it. I felt lucky that my phone was waterproof and being a photographer myself, I enjoyed clicking pics of the view and the friends around. Throughout the trek it was raining continuously and we weren’t tired anymore. We picked up the pace and started running, shouting, whistling, chasing the clouds, running away from them, getting drenched by them with sheer joy and I could feel we became kids again.

As we finished the ascent it was not as dark as expected. Because, we were at nearly 900m elevation, so we had enough light even at 7 PM. Well, I leave it to your imagination that how awesome it would be to eat a freshly boiled corn on a cold evening after a tiresome trek.We all grabbed a corn and munched on it. It was a treat to our taste buds.

We reached the home stay, kept our belongings and went out for a casual walk in the street and we came back to the home stay with roasted peanuts sat down and started discussing about the trek as usual making fun of each other. I never felt so cozy at such a congested place before. Dinner was served later at the night. The weather was so cold that anything warm and spicy felt really yummy. We discussed about next days plan while eating and about the aarti that takes place in the temple. Later we had a little chat in the room and slept as we had to wake up early next morning to visit the temple.

Day 3 (Sunday Morning)

The auspicious aarti

We woke up early in the morning, freshened up and headed towards the temple so that we shouldn’t miss the aarti. All of us in the group were from different religions but we never felt that difference at any point of time. I think if everyone start respecting others’ beliefs the world would be a better place. All of us reached temple since it was early in the morning and the temperature was really low, the crowd at the temple was less so we got to experience the aarti peacefully. The place had a captivating aura with the chanting of the priests, the temple bells, it really soothes you.

We then thought we should head back to descent but Bharat had a surprise for us. We took a stroll towards Gupt (translated to hidden) Bhimashankar. Just like its name, the place was hidden in the wilderness. We got a reward for ourselves for waking up early it was really refreshing to swim in the water while enjoying the scenery early in the morning.

we headed back to home stay without delay. I must mention about the trek lead (Bharat) here. It was quite evident that he knew what he was doing. He made us have best of the experiences. Yet, kept us on the move so that we shouldn’t miss other experiences. He never seemed frustrated and didn’t shout on any of us for being late or careless. He made sure the happy mood of the trek persist and pushed our limits without us realizing it. I think that’s how an ideal leader should be.

On our way back we bought sweets and again shared among ourselves. As we reached home stay, our breakfast (Poha) and chai was waiting for us. we discussed about the descent plan over breakfast. We were told that the descent was going to be via Ganesh ghat and the trail has some mesmerizing views. we started the trek early so that we reach karjat by lunch time.

The place we didn’t wanna leave at all…

It was not raining so we had breathtaking panoramic views all along the trail. Within one hour we reached a location where we could see the panoramic view of the ghat rising up beyond the line of sight, with many waterfalls gushing through the rocks, reaching nowhere but merging back in the clouds. This was one among the 90% things which cannot be expressed in words. All of us were reluctant to leave the place. we spent good enough time there and unwillingly left.

Throughout the trail we came across similar excellent views and waterfalls. we took a bath in the waterfall on the way. It was no less than a exotic spa. It seemed like whole body ailments were scrubbed off by the water. we ended the trek with nimbu pani available at the ending point of the trek. The trek did end here but the fun didn’t.

we got into our vehicle back to karjat. The best part of the trip was sharing our experiences with each other. ”Happiness is only real, when shared” , a quote from the movie “Into the wild” was indeed true!  We had biryani like monsters as we were completely exhausted by the trek and waited for the train. We got into the train, secured our respective berths and reassembled to play cards. I was not interested but I reluctantly started playing to secure my window seat as they were saying to go sleep if not playing. But it turns out the best time I ever had in a train before. I think we were laughing continuously till we slept. Well you are not having enough fun in the train, if your co passengers are not complaining about you. We played till the patience of the co passengers reached the threshold and dispersed to sleep.

Before going to sleep I just congratulated myself for taking the leap and signing up for it. I felt I was my better self in many ways after the trip. I believe, end of the day life is just a story, and we should make it worth sharing…!!!

After this trip I wanted to go to many more treks…. But ” Yaaarr…. I don’t have time..!😜“

Pics for you guys…