Its really a lifetime experience to trek Bhimashankar via shidi ghat. It was not exactly dicing with death but one must take some extra care for rocky patches. We were a team of 7 from Pune (Deepak, Surinder, Amol, Ravi, Satish, Arnab and me). We started our journey at 6:30 morning from Pune and reached Khandas(the base village) at 9:30 via Karjat by Tata Sumo. Five friends (Vishal, Upender, Minakshi, Rachna and Steve) from Mumbai were supposed to meet us there at Khandas and we came to know that they were late. It was hard to control the excitement of trek. Everyone was feeling like someone has cut the wings of time, every second was like an hour. At last Mumbai team reached at 11:45 AM. Their train had cancelled that day and somehow they managed to reach Khandas.
Now, we were a team of 12. We booked a guide for Rs.250. We heard that Ganesh ghat is easy but lengthy and time consuming and we were already late so to make up the lost time, we decided to go via shidi ghat, a tough but short route. It was really a thrilling trek. we started at approx 12:00 noon after breakfast. Weather was little warm. After few steps it looked like a reach for the moon. After crossing 4-5 difficult rocky patches we were thrilled to bits. We climbed with our lives challenged by nature but the challenges were there to be overcomed. There were three ladders to your support to get across the edges of deep cliffs through the vertical rocky patches. Two of them were feeble, rusty and aged like a poverty-striken beggar. One of the ladder, the third one, was newly replaced and was strong (bamboo ladder has been replaced by iron one now - thanks to the Dhumketu Group!). We felt as if Nature said to us "Hey Man!! You passed the the test. Why not you be gifted now? My blessings are with you for rest of your journey..." .
Crossing these ladder was a real play with fire. The weather had changed now, the sun had disappeared into thin air. Lunch (bread butter, Dates, dry fruits, biscuits, peanuts etc. etc.) in between the way made our mouth watery. A bath in a waterfall was real refreshment and then little shower was better than anything. We took lots of breaks in the way and enjoyed the trek as a picnic. As we climbed up and up the trek became easier and easier. We could sense the fragrance of clouds when we were near the temple. We completed the trek in 6 and a half hours. Really the this trek was not a piece of cake.
There was a holy Kund Outside the temple with chilled water. I was gathering all my confidence to took bath in that Kund. At last got a grip and with the watchword 'BAM BHOLE', I was IN.
Changed clothes and then spent 1.5 hours in a queue to get Darsan in temple. For safe side we called the Sumo at temple for return journey and because of this decision, now, we are back to tell the tale.
At 8:30PM we were back in Sumo. Mumbai team want a night stay there and it took 2 hours to explore all avenues to find a suitable home.
Now it was the time for 'Wadapav' and tea. I don't know whats special in it and why people can't resist them self for eating this. AT 11:00pm, we started our back journey. It was full of fog with least visibility. Deepak, Amol and Surinder took the responsibility and walked in front of vehicle to show the route. It was something like "Do one trek and get a walk free!" After 2 kms when some fog disappeared, we started the journey in full swing.
At 1:00 AM, on a highway Dhaba we stopped for dinner. There was only single option for Dinner 'Pure veg Thali'. We had to choose this way or highway, so we opted for Thali.
After that on the way home, I don't know what happened and how long it took until I got senses, when Deepak wake me up in front of my home. I Said "Good Night" to all and went to bed directly. just saw the time It was 3:00 AM, just starting of a comparatively relax day.
In the end, I would say if you keep extra caution, be extra careful and have extra courage then you can cross world's hardest hurdle and this trek was a real example of that.
Now we are planing for next trek, venue and date is yet to be decided :-), If you want to join and ready to take challenges, let me know...:-)
Till then...
Happy Trekking
BUM BUM BHOLE
