A Thrilling Trek to Bhavanigadh Fort with Wild Voyages and my Podar School friends

On Sunday, 21 July 2024, I embarked on an exhilarating one-day trek to Bhavanigadh Fort with my friends from Podar International School, Jahangirabad Branch, Surat, and the incredible team of #WildVoyages.

Mine and Manvik’s journey from home began at 4:15 a.m. and reached the pick-up point near Surat Railway Station. The excitement was palpable as we met up with our friends Naksh, Dhanush, Hiten, and Ansh. Wild Voyages had thoughtfully arranged a Tavera for our comfortable journey and our adventure began from 5 a.m. and stopped for brief time to pickup Kinjal mam and other trekkers from Chikhli.

The drive was truly scenic, with the monsoon rains painting the landscape in vibrant shades of green. A brief pit stop for breakfast fueled us for the trek ahead and our lunch was also packed from there.

Before noon, we reached the base camp. Chirag sir, our guide, conducted orientation and provided essential instructions, especially for first-time trekkers Manvik, Dhanush, and Hiten. Chirag sir informed us that we would be having lunch at a rest stop somewhere along the trek. 

The Bhavanigadh trek is an exciting journey through the Sahyadri mountain range, situated in Sakri, Dhule district of Maharashtra. While the initial climb is steep and challenging, the terrain gradually becomes easier to navigate. On average, the uphill trek takes around 3 hours to complete. The descent is considerably quicker, typically taking about 1.5 hours.

The trek itself was breathtaking. The monsoon season transforms the hills into a lush green paradise, teeming with diverse wildlife. The lush green mountains, shrouded in mist, created a magical atmosphere. The air was crisp and clean, and the sound of nature was all around us. 

Though the path was slippery due to the rain, the stunning views made every step worthwhile.

Hour before reaching the summit we stopped for some time to relish our delicious Aloo Paratha lunch, and then we prepared for the rest of the challenging yet rewarding climb.

Reaching the summit at height of 2073 ft was an incredible experience. The panoramic view was simply awe-inspiring. It felt like we were standing on top of the world! 

We discovered a historic temple named Shendwad Bhavani temple at the mountain edge. It was mind-boggling to imagine how they transported construction materials to such a height.

 There were monkeys around the temple. It’s important to note that monkeys inhabit the area. To avoid any mishaps, Chirag sir advised us to keep our cameras securely stored in our bags as these curious creatures have a tendency to snatch belongings. We were also fortunate to encounter a graceful herd of goats during our trek.

Near the temple as we reached our summit point, Kinjal ma’am captured the moment, all of us with Wild Voyages banner of successfully completing the trek - A cherished memory.

Although our trek was a personal endeavor, Ms. Jyoti Sharma Ma'm , our school principal, graciously provided us with a school banner. We wanted to include the school name in our photos to commemorate our adventure as Podar friends.

Wild Voyages team captured many pictures of us and for us, and then we began our descent. The entire journey was filled with laughter and camaraderie. Dhanush’s hilarious roasting of his classmates and stories, Naksh’s impromptu dance performances on his mobile ringtone whenever someone called, narration of horror story, and Hiten and Ansh’s leisurely pace kept us entertained. We couldn’t help but burst into fits of laughter when Dhanush accidentally was about to cause a chain reaction of slips. Chirag sir’s wise advice to maintain distance from eachother proved essential!

Exhausted but exhilarated, we reached the base camp and were driven back to Surat while stopping at Vansda to have dinner. The heavy rain had intensified in Surat, forcing me to stay at Manvik’s place for the night.

This trek was an unforgettable experience filled with fun, friendship, and adventure. I’m grateful to Wild Voyages for organizing such a fantastic and yet another memorable trek. I can’t wait to embark on another adventure with Wild Voyages soon!

http://wildvoyages.in/ 

#trekking

#monsoon

#jaisonparadkar