Bhimashankar in the Sahyadris, offers verdant forests, challenging trails and abundant flora and fauna ufffd an ideal escape for the naturalist and the peace-seeker. Switch off your cell phone and revel in every moment of a rain-soaked rendezvous
Bhimashankar in the Sahyadris, offers verdant forests, challenging trails and abundant flora and fauna ufffd an ideal escape for the naturalist and the peace-seeker. Switch off your cell phone and revel in every moment of a rain-soaked rendezvous
If you have saved up your holidays for a rainy day, and intend to spend a few days near the lofty mountain peaks of Maharashtra where clouds don't rain but gently sprinkle water, you've come to the right page. Skip the oft-visited hill-stations of Matheran and Mahabaleshwar and head straight to Bhimashankar, situated at an enthralling height of over 3,700 feet in the Sahyadri range. Here, you will get the best of three worlds: a hill-station, a wildlife sanctuary, and a 300 year-old temple, all rolled into a neat, green package deal.
The road to Kondhwal's forest
The legend of Bhimashankar
Legend has it that a demon called Tripurasura was creating havoc on earth. With flying citadels called Tripuras that protected him (are they the space stations of today?), he was near invincible. The only option left for Lord Shiva was to take the form of the mighty Bhima and vanquish this demon. Vanquish he did: but in the fierce battle that ensued, Bhima was made to sweat profusely. And this sweat, it's believed, now runs as the River Bhima.
Giant Squirrel or Shekru
This 18th century temple is built around a swayambhu, or self created, jyotirlinga by the Maratha strongman, Nana Phadnavis. The linga was impressive, but this impression grew ten-fold when a holy mendicant around the temple explained the meaning of a shivling. According to him, it's the visual of the divine act of coition that causes creation, seen from inside a woman's body.
From the temple town, unlike in all the temple towns I have visited, you have to 'descend' a long flight of steps to reach the temple. And as you cover one stone at a time, along the pathway, you will spot a gallery of gods guarding either side.
The trek to Nagphani Point
After the spiritual sojourn, we took the trail to the highest point in Bhimashankar. On the steep climb of over 200 feet, gear for an arduous trail. The sight can be quite intimidating, the view breathtaking. Undulating mountains capped by majestic peaks in rows after endless rows, as far as the eyes could see. It extended from left to right, like a 70mm screen. Curtains of clouds hid them for some fleeting moments, and then the peaks reappeared magically, grander than ever. Soon, we realised that we would have missed this magnificent view had we given up the arduous climb, half way up the mountain.
The sun never sets the same way
The drive back to the Blue Mormon, the only resort in the middle of nowhere, was through dense patches of forests that cast mottled shadows on the forest road. Without checking in, we drove straight to sunset point, which is located at the edge of the resort, racing against the setting sun. Gazing at the crimson horizon, I realised that no two sunsets are the same, even from the same sunset point. As the sun lit up the earth with the passing rays, we marvelled at how this one ball of fire lights up every single object on this planet, without the help of an additional light. Contrast this with number of lights we need to light up our homes!
In the land of Blue Mormons
The forests at Kondhwal, eight kms away from the summit, are a butterfly and bird paradise. As soon as we entered its precincts, we were welcomed by swarms of Blue Mormon butterflies. They were basking in the sun to get their wings solar-powered. Once they stocked up energy, they started flitting about from one flower to another. Flitting from one butterfly to another, it was quite the task to spot the perfect Blue Mormon!
At Kondhwal, we also saw the elusive Shekru or the Giant Squirrel dressed in its regal finery: a rusty-red fur coat. This endangered species is among the largest squirrels in the world. Measuring three feet, it has a tail twice the size of its body, which helps it in its balancing act. It makes its nest on the summit of the tallest tree, and chooses its most tender branch so that predators cannot walk that slender path!
As soon as we stepped out of the sacred forests of Bhimashankar, my cell phone picked up signal and delivered an unwanted message ufffd a rude reminder of our return to urban civilisation.
If you have 1 day...
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Nisarg Bhraman is organising a trek to Fort Asheri, a massive fort in Thane district. Bhojraj, the descendant of the Shilahara Dynasty, built this fort about 800 years back. Remains of the settlements, rock-cut water cisterns; caves and temples can be seen at the top.
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