MAHULI TREK - AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH NATURE -   PART 1

A few years back,  Our scout group decided to take a monsoon trek to Mahuli fort. Mahuli Fort is near Shahapur in Thane district, Maharashtra, about 75–85 km from Mumbai. A moderately difficult trek that promised adventure, beautiful scenery and, of course, plenty of memories.

We took an early morning train from CST to Asangaon, the nearest railway station to the fort. From there, we had two options: hire rickshaws to Mahuli village or walk the distance. As Scouts, we chose the latter! It took us about 90 minutes to reach the village, where the actual climb to the fort began.

The ascent was expected to take around two and a half to three hours, while the descent would take another one and a half to two hours. We would then have to walk the 90 minutes back to Asangaon station. It was going to be a long day, but we were ready for the challenge.

 We started walking and the rains were moderate, climate super making it easier to walk. However the temp was falling as we went thru the woods and some kids were feeling cold. Scouter Manek , as usual , had some "desi nuska" of Ginger and Jaggery mixrute which he carried in a tiffin box , and kept forcing kids to try. We had to cross a few small streams flowing from top, and were easy to cross. We soon saw lots of other trekkers

As we started walking, a moderate monsoon rain accompanied us. The weather was superb, and the cool, fresh air made walking a pleasure. However, as we moved deeper into the woods, the temperature began to drop, and some of the younger children started feeling cold.  As usual, Scouter Manek had come prepared, with one of his trusted desi nuskas—a mixture of ginger and jaggery, neatly packed in a small tiffin box. He went around urging the children to try his special remedy. Whether it was the ginger, the jaggery or simply Scouter Manek’s insistence, it certainly became one of the memorable episodes of the trek!

Along the way, we had to cross a few small streams flowing down from the hills. They were easy enough to cross, and we continued our journey through the rain-soaked forest.

Soon, we began encountering groups of trekkers heading towards the summit. Some had visited Mahuli several times and knew the terrain well. One of them told us about a much larger stream, perhaps 30+ feet wide, which originated from a waterfall further up. He strongly recommended that we continue towards the waterfall to witness its beauty.  The suggestion sounded exciting. A waterfall in full monsoon flow was certainly something worth seeing, and we were tempted to explore further.  We reached the waterfall only to see a huge crowd of trekkers bathing in it.  We decided to back track and continue our hike.  

But the weather was about to change dramatically.  The rain suddenly intensified. Within moments, it was pouring heavily. Visibility dropped to just a few feet, and the surrounding forest began to disappear behind a curtain of rain.

We knew the conditions were becoming increasingly difficult. The rain was exceptionally heavy, and crossing a stream in such weather was a serious matter. Yet, with the determination that often accompanies a Scout expedition, we were still inclined to press ahead and continue our journey towards Mahuli Fort.

THE STORY DOES NOT END HERE! WHAT HAPPENED NEXT TURNED AN ORDINARY TREK INTO AN EXPERIENCE WE WOULD NEVER FORGET.

*******PLEASE AWAIT PART 2*******