Arbit Raj

So finally, we decided to go rafting trip on the Kundalika river on 15th Aug. The starting point for rafting is near Kolad (quite close to the Mumbai Goa Highway), 105 kms from Pune (Chandni Chowk) and approx. 120 kms from Mumbai . Google if you are interested in knowing more about the rafting operators. Try "Kundalika" "river rafting".

Anyway, back to how it all started. Neelaksh and Hitu on one bike and Sumit and I on another, met up at Chandni Chowk, Pune at around 7 in the morning. It was pouring already and our clothes were soaking wet. The windcheater was doing a perfunctory job of keeping the rain out. We took off on the Paud road which is in very good shape, compared to the sorry state of Pune city roads. It was awesome weather, provided you don't mind being drenched to the bone. For those who understand what I'm saying, the natural beauty of the monsoons in this part of the country more than makes up for any discomfort.

As a biking quote goes, "If you don't ride in the rains, you don't ride".

It was around 30-35 kms down when we first sighted the Mulshi lake. It suddenly came into view and we were simply left speechless. When seen with the misty hills in the background that surround it, it gives you an impression of arriving in some undiscovered mystical place. The lake was “filled to the brim” if you could call it so. Where it met land there was submerged trees with their dome like canopies standing out of the water. The Mulshi lake feeds water into the Mula river that flows through Pune and the recent flooding in Pune was partly due to the excess buildup of rain water in the Mulshi lake. The route circumnavigated around the Mulshi lake. Increasingly the road became foggy and it started raining heavily. Our speed went down and we tried to make the best time possible as we were running late. But also, going slow, let us soak in more of the environs, which were uplifting to say the least.

Soon we started ascending up Tamhini Ghat. From descriptions on the Net I knew there was amazing scenery in store. And we were not let down. Now it was no longer fog. The clouds had descended down to earth. We had no other option but to switch on the headlight and the turning indicator. And even that did not help much in the viscous, swirling greys around us.

Every now and then there would be roaring waterfalls coming into sight beside the road. Apparently there was a deep valley to our right, but we could never see due to the low visibility. After some time we reached the top of the Tamhini Ghat. Finally we could see down below to the plains stretching far away. Clusters of tiled roofs marked villages below. Roads took on the appearance of glistening silver ribbons in the distance. The descent consisted of winding roads blasted through towering rock formations and hairpin bends. The engine finally got a breather and I could gently ease it into 4^th and 5^th gear on the straight stretches down. In not more than 20-25 mins we covered the descent and came out near a junction in Kolad.

From here we went to Sutarwadi and reached the rafting point, besides the banks of the Kundalika. It had taken us 3 hours from Chandni Chowk and we reached in the nick of time, for the rafting was about to begin. The jolly instructor Pawan, took us through the commands, safety drills and general instructions to be followed. The raft was gently pushed into the water and we were off on the way. The rafting on the Kundalika is good for people who are yet to get over their fear of water, or for whom Rishikesh is too far away. Having done Rishikesh, I frankly was a bit bored with the rather dull Kundalika rapids. The websites advertise Kundalika saying "Grade II and Grade III rapids". In my opinon these were Grade II (Grade V being the toughest) at the best. My friends who had never experienced it before though were enjoying it to the hilt. There are 3-4 rapids on the rafting run. The best one was actually like an aquatic roller-coaster.

After around an hour of rafting, we entered the calmer section of the river, where it widens significantly. Here we went into the water with life jackets on. For those who haven’t done it before it is actually a “leap of faith”. But you don’t need to worry much. The life jacket is sufficient to keep your head safe above the water, so don’t picture yourself gasping for air. This is where the Kundalika scores above the Ganga. At Shivpuri, the Ganga receives ice-cold water from the upper reaches of Garwhal. If you enter the water, it would not be more than 10 minutes before you have a tough time feeling sensation in your legs, as they go numb. Here in contrast, we were having a merry time in the water, drifting languidly, gazing at the rich greenery and the occasional waterfall on either side. “Body surfing” as this is called went on around half an hour and honestly by the end of it, we didn’t feel like coming out of the water. As the run ended, we got back on terra firma, reached the rafting operators office and had steaming hot wada pavs and chai. We gathered our stuff back again and loaded up for the ride back.

This time we had more time to spend on the way back at all the various “points” and waterfalls on the way. Retracing the road back, we soon went up Tamhini Ghat. From then on it was a leisurely ride back to Pune. Just that now it took us more time than in the morning, due to the huge crowds of picnickers who had come to make merry at the numerous waterfalls. They also afforded us some very comic sights. Indian males are much castigated for being boors. Well, these guys were visual evidence. Clothed with nothing but very brief “briefs”. huge potbellies, drunken gaits, tottering all over the road, with a bottle in the hand for company. And the more enthusiastic ones had come up in Sumos, with stereos on full blast and had set up their dance floors beside the road. Negotiating their next drunken move on the road, we passed by each group and carried on.

Finally, we reached Chandni Chowk around 7 in the evening. The legs were weary, muscles knotted, and clothes drenched completley. But there was a wistful smile on my face as I looked back at the day gone by. We bid goodbye and departed for our homes.

Oh, one important thing. The rafting guys mention Rs. 1100 for a rafting run. You can bargain and easily get it down to Rs. 750. Spread the word :-)

# posted by Kunal Pawaskar @ 2:46 PM