My First Solo Backpack Trip

I have a long time wish to go Valley of flowers - Himalayas and it was postponing every year for some reasons. Also I came to know that near Pune a place called Kas Pathar (Plateau ) was there and it was somewhat similar to Valley of flowers. So I decided to go there this year. Some of my friends are planned and try to book in tatkal to Pune for this trip. At last minute others are cancelled their plan and I was the only one ready to go that time. Also my long time wish is to go for a solo backpack trip to new place in North India. I booked a tatkal ticket to Pune on Thursday and the plan is confirmed.

Started from Chennai by Mumbai mail at 11.55am on Friday.

Reached Pune around 9.30 am on Saturday morning.

Boarded a bus to Satara (118km) and reached around 1.30pm. (limited buses)

Thosegadh Falls

From Satara boarded another bus to Thosegadh falls. (26km) (Limited buses and some private vehicles will ply this route some time)

Thosegadh Falls stream

 
Nice view of falls from another hill. Had taken bath in nearby stream as I couldn't control myself to dip in water . There was very few buses flying to this location and my return bus gone few minutes before my arrival, so I had taken a shared Jeep to Satara.

Evening at Kas

He dropped me before bus stand and I was taken a auto to another bus stand. The auto Wala doesn't know Hindi and English and I don't know Marathi, a confusion happened and I was get down in the middle of nowhere.

Kas Pathar

Then a man gave me lift in his bike to some distance and I walked one km to reach Rajwada bus stand.

Kas Pathar

Now it's already 5.00pm and boarded another bus to Kas Pathar Plateau by 5.30pm (25km) and I was informed that there is no return bus. Reached around 6.30 pm and the place was misty and dark. I was no other way to stay there and there are few hotels near. Also there are no rooms in hotels. The hotel owner was very courteous and helpful to get room in nearby hotels by taking me in his Car. But hotels are asking Rs.1500 to 2000 and I don't have budget. So the hotel owner Somnath taken me to a nearby village and I stayed in a old couple's house. They offered me dinner and bed for the cold night. Taken some rest in the night. (I paid Rs.400 to them for Dinner and Bed)

Next day morning planning to start early but they don't allowed me to go alone as the village was down in the valley. By 8.30am the old man accompany me to go up to the main road. It was a tiny trek. From main road,  Kas Valley entrance is 2km and I was ready to walk. But villagers said go by bus and the bus came. Kas pathar plateau was spread across some kilometers. I captured the beauty through my eyes and through my mobile camera. (you can spend 1 day there in full season time). It took 2 hour for me Roam around a part of the valley. Then I went to Kumudhini thalab (lotus pond) and here we have to walk 2 km in the off road to reach the pond. It was worthwhile to visit the pond. I spent some time there. Again I walked 2km to reach the main road and the people said few minutes ago a bus gone and another bus is around 3.30am. So I planned to walk to some kilometers and try some other option to go Satara. I walked again 3 kilometers and met few police people there and they asked me, why you walking alone? After that my story? :P they are interested to hear more from me and helped to get lift to drop in Satara. Thanks for them.

Village House

Again the van dropped before satara bus stand as they are going some other place. I took a biker's help and he dropped 1km before bus stand. Again I took a auto to reach stand. Autowala informed me get in a bus to Wai from there you will get bus to Panchgani. I boarded that bus and reached Wai. (35Km) Now the time is 3.00pm and I am feeling hungry. I had some food there and boarded another bus to Panchgani.(13km) Reached around 4.15pm and asked taxi for sightseeing but they asked Rs.500 so I denied. Some local people told that you have to go up 1-2km and can see all the places by walk. I am Happy to walk and walked to the peak called table point. From there we can see all the four points by walk or to use horse. But the horse man asked Rs.1260/- 😞 and I walked my way. I roamed around the hill (2km) and visited all four points in no cost. Valley view table point, dam, caves and sunset are spectacular. Again I came down by walk (1.5km) and saw some Durga Pooja procession and veer Marathas band music. I was wondering the girls are played the big drums holding on their hip. I was more curious to take a selfie with them. A man accepted my request and the girl is denied to take :P and somehow I took a selfie with them. I want to visit a temple in Panchgani but missed in this procession time as my bus to Mahabaleshwar was arrived.

I boarded the bus and reached Mahabaleshwar (19km)around 7.45pm. I roamed in the market some time and purchased some bags and syrups (Fruit syrups,  strawberry juice and Masala Chenna are Famous in Mahabaleshwar). After that searching a shelter for night stay. But hotels are denying me to give room as I was single. They are asking me to register in police station and come with noc, we can give room. But I didn't liked that. One hotel offered me room but rent is Rs.1000,  I am not happy with that. I searched again and finally found a room for Rs.500 (negotiated from Rs.1000 to 500). the room was not that good, but I need a shelter for the cold night, so I stayed there. In between I finished my dinner and went for sleep.

Inside the Jungle

Cave in Panchagani

Morning I woke up by 7.00 and ready by 8.30 am and proceed to bus stand. I checked for government round bus for sightseeing, but they will run only on season times (it's a off season)and they said one bus will go up to Mahabaleshwar temple and return, you can go in that. I checked with taxi walas and they asked me Rs.1100 for sightseeing and no share facilities. So I waited for bus to Mahabaleshwar temple. (6km) The bus came around 9.30am and flied for only 3 passengers. I assumed that why they stopped round service. Most people are preferring taxi service or Private cars only. Visited the Mahabaleshwar temple and Pancha ganga temple. From here Elphinston view point is 5km, but no bus, so I decided to walk and reached the point by walk in the jungle road(5km). The View point was so misty and unable to view anything that time. From the view point, I asked lift in a car from Telugu speaking people (OC travel) and with the help of them reached Lingamala falls. the falls has two sides, one side only a view point of the falls and other side we can dip in a small falls with a pond. We first visited the falls view point and next to the small falls and taken a chill dip. After that they are going to Satara and they asked me to hope on car upto Satara, but I didn't want to go there , so they dropped in somewhere away 7km from Mahabaleshwar. I enquired about next sightseeing place near that area to  the local people and they said at some distance, you can visit Ganesh temple and Kings Chair point. I walked few km to reach Kings chair point. Spectacular view of Mahabaleshwar town from the top and took some photos there and decent to the Ganesh temple. 

Walking alone on the Mahabaleshwar Road

Here I met a taxi driver who was asked me Rs.1100 in the morning for sightseeing. He was wondering to see me that I am walking alone in the road and expressed his happiness. He asked me, you are all the way walked and roaming the Mahabaleshwar? you are great sir and I am admiring you. Now I planned to go back to Pune as the time was around 3.00pm. I checked that driver is there any bus will go from here to Pune?, they said you have to go Mahabaleshwar bus stand to get a bus to Pune. The distance to Bus stand is around 6km and I decided to walk, but the driver asked me to wait there as some local vehicle will come and I will get you a seat in that. Boarded a route private jeep and reached Mahabaleshwar bus stand around 4.00pm.

Taken some food there and boarded a bus to Pune at 4.15 pm.(116km) Reached Pune at 7.15 pm and went for shopping in Lakshmi Road. There was lot of Girl's dresses, Chappels and accessories are there, but only few for Gents. Roamed around the market for some time and boarded a bus to Pune station and reached around 10.00 pm. Finally Boarded Dadar- Chennai Exp @ 00.10 and reached Chennai Tuesday Evening 19.00 pm. Journey ended with Pleasant memories. It was my First backpack trip to North India. Previously I went to a solo trek near Chennai and stayed a night alone in the jungle. 

King's Chair Point