Wednesday 6 May 2009

High on Rajmachi

Often, some trips, some treks lodge themselves in memory and refuse to budge. What makes them so memorable is usually a very disastrous incident. Injured trekkers, water shortages or even adventures of roughing it out in the outdoors in the mornings (ahem!) are part of the deal. But the trek to Rajmachi last weekend, on the 1st and 2nd of May, had none of these. It was, well, ordinary. Almost forgettably so. But even then, I remember it well enough to write this piece. I remember it well because in some way, all of us were high on Rajmachi.
So there we were after weeks of co-ordinating. Twelve of us met at the Lonavala station, all geared up to the long walk up to the fort. The demographics of the group were slightly unusual. Being an unofficial trek, the number of ex-students (Anish, Rohan, Rucha, Gayatri and Jovy) was almost the same as the number of current students (Anujeet, Vallari, Mili, Ryan, Supraket and me). We even had a non-NC member, Kedar, with us.
In his usual Commander-in-chief style, Anish rounded us up and began the march towards the fort at about 6p.m. But all this was not before we ensured that all of us had at least 3 litres of water and enough food to last the night.
Now, loaded with enough water to flood the fort and bags full of Cup Noodles, we started walking. The first stop of our destination was to be the Tungarli Dam, which was the beginning of the actual trek. To reach here we passed the quiet bylanes of Lonavala. Here, I take a moment to mention that Lonavala was a beautiful place. I use the past tense here, because Mumbai seems to have slowly clawed itself into this quiet hilly resort in the form of empty Pepsi bottles and gutka packets which litter the floor. Also, if I have seen a place with an even bigger stray dog problem than Mumbai, it is here. Nevertheless, we walked on till a point where human encroachment (illegal or otherwise) reached a minimum. The only reminders of the scary metropolis in the making below were huge gravel-laden trucks and monstrous bulldozers. According to Mili, our very own Lonavala girl, they were making a road on the hill, which once comfortable motorable, would enable the government to sell the surrounding area. Hmm…
Our trek upwards, was oddly, not upwards at all! We were sort of walking, endlessly, on a long undulating path. It was narrow and covered with dust and gravel bits thrown off from the bulldozers. We went up and down and up again. We walked at a comfortable pace too, lest Mili (with excess baggage in her backpack) and I (with excess baggage on me!) were lagging behind! But in spite of our comfortable pace we managed to cover enough distance while daylight was still on our side. Then, the best part of the trek began.
Walking in the dark has a different charm about it. Firstly, it’s never completely dark. Once your eyes adjust, there’s this ghostly glow on everything. It’s not extremely beautiful. It’s more surreal, if anything. We could probably have walked on for what seemed like ages. The terrain rarely changed. It was the same undulating road, with either barren land or interruptions of dry vegetation juxtaposed against the now blue, black surrounding earth on both sides. That’s when a sort of a high sets in. it’s what makes feet fall in front of each other even when they’re tired. It’s this high we all were searching for. It’s exactly what makes 12 people come to the middle of nowhere and exert themselves after a tiring work week. Some call it Biophilia. In some cases its spread by the infectious bite of the WCNC Bug. Highly contagious…
At one point we halted at a small rocky junction. A quick break for tired feet. We even came across a lone trekker. There is probably something even more romantic about walking along these trails alone. We would never know. Our group by now had connected well. Almost all of us knew each other from earlier camps and treks. This was a good time to catch up.
There were parts of the trek when it got too dark. It was where there were sufficiently dense deciduous forests looming over the path to hide away the moonlight. Powerful torches came to aid and we successfully made it through these patches without tripping over rocks or treading over any snakes or other ground-dwelling wildlife in the dark (or so we believe).
After what seemed like a long time, we reached the village at the base of the fort. It’s a hamlet really, with a school and half a dozen houses and shops. A local elderly man advised us to set up camp right there. The fort at night isn’t safe, the villagers say. But coming up till here and not going up would have been pointless. So, on we marched.
In the short hike up to the temple below the fort, Commander-in-chief, along with Comrades Mili, Supraket, Rohan, Jovy and Ryan collected dry sticks, leaves and firewood. While some got busy trying to light a fire to boil water, Kedar was shooting off into bouts of paranoia and was mistaking the local emaciated dogs to be leopards!
But soon, all fear of any non-existent wild animals disappeared and stomachs started growling. After burning all those calories in the hike up, we promptly compensated by hogging on large quantities of cup noodles, parathas, eggs, bread, cheese and popcorn. Ryan, being creative as he is, even mixed a few of these together to come up with a culinary masterpiece!
Nothing could have made the night better, but something did. The one thing that tells you that you’re not in the city- a clear starry sky. It was something amazing. The moon had almost set by then and the stars became clearer. I tried for a moment to locate constellations but gave up. It’s at these times, when you’re looking at huge, burning balls of fire thousands and millions of light-years away that you begin to feel infinitesimally small. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Soon, tired and well fed, we dived headlong into deep slumber. The ones who did stay awake longer than the rest had to listen to the sounds of the forest form a melody with the resonating snores of the rest of us. But we only snore when we’re tired, don’t we?
The next morning, we decided to go right up to the top of the fort. After a climb that took not more than 20 minutes, we were overlooking the whole path we had trekked the previous day. It was a view from the top that words like breathtaking or splendid would only belittle. We’d all been to possibly more beautiful faraway places on previous camps. But when you know you’ve walked 13 kms oneway for this, it just make the place that much more special. Finally, we were, literally, high on Rajmachi.
We spent a few silent and some not-so-silent moments there. It was more relaxing than the whole night’s sleep hadn’t been. It really was something else. We even discovered a little bat-inhabited cave on the way.
The way down was quick and almost effortless. We reached the base village where we had a superbly delicious and ridiculously inexpensive breakfast of Poha and Nimbu Pani, prepared by a local household.
By this time it was almost 9 a.m. in the morning. Walking back in the increasingly ferocious sun would have been nothing short of suicide. So we took a jeep back to the station. It was a bumpy ride. But since we were 12 of us plus a driver squeezed into a sumo, we were well cushioned against the impact of the road.
In less than an hour or so we reached the Lonavala. The long trek up, the stay at the temple, the awesome starry sky, the climb to the fort in the morning, everything in less than 24 hours. We were definitely high on Rajmachi.

Tuesday 5 May 2009

all are required to carry woolens or warm clothes as it may be chilly at night due to the rains in Aizawl and Shillong

Thursday 30 April 2009

Nature Camp 2009 Details

NatureCamp 2009 details

Posted in public interest for the NorthEast Camp (CourtesY-CROC)
Bare Necessities

Hey all,



We will need to carry certain stuff. Please take note of the following requirements and Do's n Don'ts:



1) Wear good shoes that are comfortable for your feet and have good GRIPS.



2) Carry lots of drinking water and food. Small one-litre bottles are not enough. Also packets of biscuits get monotonous. Get me some variety in food guys!



3) Remember that deodorants, perfumes, etc. attract insects.



4) Black, white, flower prints and bright coloured clothes, attract insects too. Dull Earth shades (greens, khaki, browns, greys) are your best option.



5) Jeans get heavy and soggy after they get wet. Try and avoid wearing jeans.



6) Carry your cell phones, wallets and other important and expensive articles in waterproof coverings.



7) A dry towel and a change of clothes may come in handy on longer treks.



8) Torches with extra bulbs and batteries are recommended for night treks.



9) A sleeping bag or a bed sheet comes in handy on overnight treks for sleeping and any other smart uses that you may come up with.



10) Rain coats, umbrellas, wind cheaters, warm clothes may be carried as per individual requirements.



11) Carry toiletries and medicines as per your requirements.



12) Carry a cap; it helps even while it's raining.



13) Remember to carry all your garbage back with you in your pockets or bags, to be disposed off in a Dustbin.



Happy Trekking. Cheers!! Croc.

Camp details

Firstly the Camp cost has been increased by Rs. 600 as the cost of the inner line permits issued by the Mizoram Govt. has been revised.

Everyone coming for the camp is absolutely required to submit two passport sized photos and their addresses along with the local police station address to the nature club for the permits.

A Medical Certificate is also required from your doctor certifying that you are physically fit to trek and also mentioning if any of the mentioned medical disorders and conditions are prevailing.
These include
-- Tuberculosis
--Juvenile diabetes
--Anaphylaxis or Allergies
--Asthma,etc
If you do suffer from any of the above appropriate medications and recommendations from the doctor should be followed

College students are required to submit the consent forms within the next two days.

College students are required to carry their college identity cards along with a supplementary Id card (Driving license, any other i card)

ITINERARY

9th May Depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. Kurla by the 5645 Mumbai Guwahati express at 7.40 am.Reporting time is 6.30 am for everyone. Baggage checks may be conducted at the station by the railway police so be prepared for it.
Dress conservatively during the train ride and be prepared for very hot conditions as we would be passing through arid terrain and temperatures in excess of 40C
10th May - Passing through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

11th May- Arrival at Guwahati Station at 11.30 am (But be prepared for delays)
From station, board the buses (we have two of them) and head off to Kalak Shetra. The Srimanta Sankardeva kalakshetra has been set up as a grand exposition of the life and culture of the people of Assam. Named after the greatest Vaishnava saint and the greatest integrator of the Assamese society Srimanta Sankardeva, the Kalakshetra is a multi-Arts complex.It houses a Central Museum where cultural objects and day-to-day articles used by different ethnic groups will be preserved and exhibited, an Open Air Theatre with 2000 capacity to hold folk festivals and to present traditional dance and drama of the State, an Artists' Village which offers the visitors and the residents an atmosphere of the village of Assam, the Sahitya Bhavan which is a library of rare books and manuscripts, the Lalit-Kala Bhavan which has sufficient space for exhibition, art and sculpture workshops, and a Heritage Park. The Kalakshetra has been chosen as the venue for many cultural activities.
Explore the places of in Guwahati. Night halt at Guwahati in Kalakshetra

12th May - Leave for Shillong, Meghalaya early morning. Reach Shillong in about 1.5 hours. Check into hotel at Shillong and drop baggage into rooms and head off to Cherapunji. Explore the numerous stalagmite and stalactite formations as well as the caves and underground water pathways. Cherapunjee means “the abode of clouds”.

12th May - Evening explore Shillong. Night halt at Shillong

13th May - Explore Shillong and the Garo, Khasi and the Jaintia hills. Nigh halt at Shillong.

14th May - Early morning - Leave for Aizawl, Mizoram. It is a 12 hour journey. Reach Aizawl by evening. Explore places of interest. Night halt at Aizawl.

15th May - Aizawl and surrounding places.

16th May - Leave Aizawl early morning for Blue Mountain National Park also known as the Phawngpui National Park, Mizoram.
The Phawngpui National Park is situated in South Eastern Mizoram adjacent to Myanmar border. The highest peak in Mizoram, the Phawngpui (2360m) is located within this Park. The total area of the Park is 50 Sq. Km. The important wild animals and birds found in this Park are Ghoral, Serrow, Barking deer, Sambar, Leopard, Blyth's tragopan, Kaleej Pheasant, Hoolock Gibbon, Common Langur, Rhesus macaque, Stump tail macaque and variety of birds and orchids.

17th May - Phawngpui National Park

18th May - Phawngpui National Park. Leave Blue mountain for Aizawl in the afternoon. Night halt at Aizawl.

19th May - Leave for Shillong early morning. Night Halt at Shillong.

20th May - Leave for Guwahati in the morning. Lunch in Guwahati. Depart from Mumbai at 16.45 for Mumbai.

21st May on the train

22nd May - Arrival in Mumbai at 20.00 hrs at LTT, Kurla

Medication to be carried as per your doctors recommendations. Medications for the follwing are needed
- Stomach infections.
- Pain
-Motion sickness (Avomine)
-Urinary Tract infections

An antimalarial dose is required before travelling to the north east. Consult your doctor.

Leech therapy includes rock salt or tobacco. do carry them with you.

Rain gear is absolutely essential as the monsoons will hit the north east in may.

Good footwear is needed.

Hats and caps are required.

Do carry a notebook and a pen as well as crayons, colour pencils, etc.

Brush up on the north east as well as the places we are visiting.

In the case of emergencies, we have two contacts in the northeast. You may give your parents/relatives their numbers. Please send a request to natureclub.nc@gmail.com to get the contacts of these people.

thats one long list. If there are any problems , do contact me.

Saturday 3 January 2009

WCNC NatureCamp 09

The WCNC Nature Camp this year will be covering the North East region of India extensively. We plan to visit Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Assam.

Meghalaya
"Abode of the Clouds”, this is Meghalaya, the destination which soothes the minds of weary travellers. Clouds are always found during the monsoon season nestling in the tropical forest valleys of Garo Hills or in the temperate pine forests of the Khasi and Jaintia hills.Situated in the North Eastern corner of India, Meghalaya is bounded by Assam in the north and east, and the plains of Bangladesh in the south and west. The state covers an area of 22,429 sq. kms with a population density of 78.5 per sq. km.TKhasihe name describes the climatic phenomenon that brings torrential rain to its hills and forests, these same hills and mountains are responsible for this climatic experience as they force rain clouds coming in from the Bay of Bengal to move up - resulting in heavy rain. The Cherrapunjee belt receives the highest rainfall in the world.The higher ranges of the Khasi/Jaintia hills enjoy a cool, bracing, temperate climate while the winters can be cold. The Garo hills on the other hand, is at a lower altitude, and has tropical vegetation. The summer months in Tura, the administrative capital of Garo hills, are warm and humid whereas winters are pleasant with a slight chill.Meghalaya became the 21st State of the Indian Union, when it achieved full-fledged Statehood in 1972. Home to the Khasi, Garo, Jaintia and some lesser known tribes, Meghalaya boasts of a unique matrilineal lineage system practiced by all the three major tribes with some degree of variation. Property is inherited by the women, and the youngest daughter is the heiress of the ancestral property in the Khasi/Jaintia tradition. The Garos have a slight variation, if the youngest daughter is found not worthy, the property may be given to any of the other daughters.

Mizoram
Mizoram lies in the southernmost outpost of North Eastern India, the land of the Blue Mountains. Manipur, Assam and Tripura bind the northern end of this little island of tranquility with neighbouring countries Myanmar and Bangladesh nestling most of the state between them. Evergreen ranges of Mizoram hills with blooms of exotic flora and dense bamboo jungles rise sharply from the plains of Assam in a north south direction. These hills and plunging gorges are criss-crossed by gushing rivers and sparkling waterfalls. Highest among its several peaks is the Phawngpui The Blue Mountain.In sharp contrast to the dense jungles and steep hills is a rugged quilt of lush paddy fields all the way from the center of the state towards the Myanmar border.Oral tradition reveals (there is no known recorded history) that the Mizos migrated from their homeland in China about 3 centuries ago, in search of new pastures and settled in these remote Mizo Hills (Lushai Hills). In the nineteenth century this region was annexed to Assam, under the British rule, as the Lushai Hills District and in February 1972, it became the 23rd state of the Indian Union.

Tripura
Tripura is one of the seven states in the north eastern part of India located between 22 degree and 56 minutes and 24 degree and 32 minutes north latitude and between 90 degree and 09 minutes and 92 degree and 20 minutes east latitude. It is bounded on the north, west, south and south-east by Bangladesh whereas in the east it has a common boundary with Assam and Mizoram.There is a common belief that the name of the State has originated from "Tripura Sundari" - the presiding deity of the land which is famous as one of the 51 pethos of Hindu Pilgrims. Apart from this traditional view it is believed that originally the land was known as "Tuipra" meaning a land adjoining the water. It is fact that in days of yore the boundaries of Tripura was extended up to the Bay of Bengal when its rulers held sway from Garo hills to Arakan.The history of Tripura as a administrative unit dates back to the days of Maharajas when the territory was a native State. It is significant to note that all though Tripura was conquered by force of arms in 1761, no Political agents was appointed in the State till 1871 - a gap of 110 years.


Charges: Rs. 8000 for students of Wilson College
Rs.9000 for ex-students.

Dates: May 2nd - 19th,2009

Price includes:
1.Travel - Mumbai to Guwahati on 2nd May by Guwahati Express 5646 from LTT, Mumbai and back by the same train on 17th May from Guwahati, Assam.
2.Meals - Veg and Non Veg (Except during the train ride)
3.Accommodation.
4.Forest entry fees.
5.Bus travel within states.

Registration: January 3rd to February 1st,2009

Payment details :
STUDENTS
Rs. 2000(NON-REFUNDABLE) to confirm registration before February 1st +Rs.3000 before March 1st (2500 refund for cancellations before March20th)+ Rs. 3000 before April 2nd.

EX STUDENTS
Rs. 3000(NON-REFUNDABLE) to confirm registration before February 1st + Rs.3000 before March 1st (2500 refund for cancellations before March20th) + Rs. 3000 before April 2nd.

For more details on the places on the Itinerary visit www.wcnctrips.blogspot.com


For inquiries contact
WCNC - 9769 455 729
Glen D'souza - 9819 211 523
Eisha Mhatre - 9221 077 365
Disha Pinge - 9819 355 707