Monday, February 2, 2009

Sinhgad..the Splendid fort with pathetic approach road

As I’m from Pune, Sinhgad is a dream fort for every trekker. You need no planning and need no time to reach there as it is very close to Pune. Haven’t been to Sinhgad walking all the way, for quite a long, and while watching Federer Vs Nadal (Aus Open final, 1 Feb 09) I just thought of walking up it once. I decided to give it a go. It was almost 5:30PM n I left my place on Sinhgad Road for Sinhgad. I started walking up after parking my bike at hotel near bus stop. I was already 6:10 PM and in a hurry I forgot to carry water bottle and even a torch. But just as I came to know about that, I came to know about serial Man Vs Wild on discovery too, though I’m a veggie. Started walking by normal path and decided to climb as early as possible as I wanted to capture sunset. But the luck was not on side I could only make it to half (Meta) by Sunset. However I could get some good snaps of evening light. Here is where I had a glass of Lemon juice or what we call in Marathi as limbu pani. That was a lifer at that point of time.

Few people were amazed to see me climbing up as they were finding it difficult to descend even there was enough light. I reached top at around 7:12 thanks to my mobile HTC and SPB Time software that I could monitor my speed as I had my timer on.
The Sinhgad from it commercial point of view is as same as it was some 5-7 years back. Those same old folks on the way to the top making their livelihood by selling cucumber, limbu pani and buttermilk. I also experienced some strange people who pay more than 200 bucks per head for a dinner and eating out in posh restaurants.
Recent developments which I liked the most were that Drinking and Non-Veg is prohibited atop as there is a road which takes you up by your vehicle. Earlier people used to come here for booze n used to misbehave which to some extent must have now reduced.
The road condition till end from Dhayari, is PATHETIC and I’m not sure what n how those PMT Buses can ply on that route. I’m sure I won’t go out with my bike again on that road else I will be back with my bike in parts…
Total cost was:
5 Rs for Limbu Pani on the way to top
20 Rs for Buttermilk on top
10 Rs for parking and Tea at foothills of Sinhgad
And petrol of about 40 Rs totaling 75+/- 10 for averaging out.

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