TREK DIARY

Vasota and Nageshwar

The best thing about hanging out is when the climate is also supportive. Under a clear sky with pleasant breeze, you can see the horizons clearly. on that day you travel to your enlisted place is just like one on one free scheme. the place we visited was Vasota, it is place that means only forest and forest, curvy unmanned and small roads which become slippery in rainy season. till that day I only had heard that it’s a place worth visiting, if you’re a trekker. The plan was decided one day earlier on a phone call. I and Gourish had decided to leave at 6:30 am. On the way sitting behind his Jupiter I took snaps and shared stories of earlier visits. Abstract about gourish, he had mastered himself in hill climbing.

The common road used to visit vasota happens to be from Bamnoli village. the approximate distance from Satara to bamnoli is 35kms that goes through Kass plateau site, leaving kass behind one can see the amazing beauty of nature. With a two-wheeler ride of 2 hrs the dream spot arrives. while going down the village and having a first sight of Shivaji Sagar makes things mesmerise. I boggled, what would be the scenic pleasure in rainy season itself.

The ShivajiSagar as perceived by local residents. The lake, that was created by the back water of Konya dam. the lake in itself is a magic, it nourishes the 3 towns and so big is its wet land area. We arrived at Bamnoli boating club and for surprise we were added with 4 of our friends. For visiting vasota you require permission of boating to move from there onwards. I was curious about the journey as it is like a treasure finding mission, means water way and then uphill climbing. It took 1hrs + for us to cross the lake and we could clearly see the proud bastions standing still. and while in boat we had our snaps and chatting, we were just completely annoying to the boat driver. What was heard, was just in front. We arrived at embankment of the lake. We went ahead but to surprise the forest was so dense that the pathway to fort was not visible from the foothill. 

From the beginning itself we were confused about where to stop and where use our photography skills. Every scene at the journey was just competing each other. We had decided to move to vasota and then to Nageshwar. The rough unmanned pebbly pathway was making it more adventurous but to the relief the tall trees were providing covering from the sun. The dense jungle makes it harder for you to see the fort when you’re walking into it. The silence over there speaks the story itself. The only sound disturbing till now was the motor of the boat nothing else. Centrally placed new vasota and eternal greenery in all directions was making it more exciting. We both made videos of each other where ever possible and discussing everything that was in front. The hoardings and boards were informing us about whose place we are in. The animals beware of them, the symbols of paws placed along the way. The departmental office was surpassed which gives you facility of trek stay. We were just on and on our mission of walking but it must be the excitement that did not let us to even after such an ascend. On the way we came across the temples of hanuman and Lord Ganesha. A dried river stream came on the way. Before reaching the fort top a heart wrenching twists greets you that too with a loose soil ground every step must be firm with grip. The neck of fort is uncovered with forest from there you can applaud your ascend but dense jungle makes it harder for you search your footsteps. From there you can look upon the stretch of ShivSagar, the arriving boats, the sea-sawing hill ranges and the old vasota all together makes you stand still and feels the heart beats. 

Reaching the top there is a hanuman temple without a roof. From there the way runs ahead to a fort end from there one can see the majestic look of western Ghats. There is a small way for an additional bastion that was then used for surveillance and military purposes. from there memorising views of Konkan are breathe taking. on the other side is the there is summary look upon the track which runs from vasota to Nageshwar. And long ahead there is a cave like temple built in rocky textures levelling-up excitement of trekking. The up down ranges and cliffs in first sight with the mild breeze makes it a forever moment. The fort is such a massive and bold. Most of the brick work is in place. The question runs through mind upon having a look is, how these massive structures would have been made when there was nothing for reference? 

From there to Nageshwar you have to climb down half way. there is board giving directions of Vasota and Nageshwar. The road to Nageshwar is a real jungle route. the trees branches will tease you in the way.  Real trek starts from Vasota to Nageshwar. It is a dream route that you can image on a trek. A route that is merely 2-3 feet wide, having blind turns with a two-way traffic and more over to it, on one side there is a dense jungle and on the other there is a steppe cliff. We came across that road with a, PHEW! At the starting of entrance to the temple we saw the 90-degree stairs that were coming from the Chiplun side. Now in front of us was the great Lord Shiva temple. We went inside it and saw that the water from rock seeps drop by drop throughout the year and falls exactly on the Shivalinga. From there we found a direct way down hill and on the way, there was old well. The water was cold so I had gallons it to relief my thirst. We moved ahead and found a stream that merges into the lake so we followed the dried stream to it mouth. Stepping from stone to stone we arrived at the boat area.

From here we came in our boats and arrived back at Bamnoli and then again on backseat of Jupiter to Satara. on the way we both were yelling songs. We had our dinner. Our trek was successfully completed that even without a proper planning. 

From that TREK I learned many things. The value of each drop of water. The climate on the top of fort was unforgettable. I came across the historic places and their importance. The story of climbing a fort is a joy itself and moreover it remains a memory that you can cherish.