Sitting at my Pune Home in the Saturday evening, I was wondering what to do the next day that is 15th March 09. I had 2 options. 1. Sit at home watching TV/ reading newspaper/ reading magazines/ go out for movie or 2. Do some thing better which refreshes me.. Thinking of 1st option itself bored me as I do most of these activities even on weekdays.. Obviously 2nd option interested me. Now my mind started thinking over what to do and where to go? Its been more than 6 months that I hav been to any trek. So trekking was freezed. Now I started noting down places around Pune where I can go for a trek. Few options were Sinhagad (too crowded on weekends), Lohagarh (Been there once and hav an unpleasant memory of monkey snatching my wallet) and Rajmachi (27 kms from Lonavala). Rajmachi sounded very interesting. I called up Sameer and asked his plan for Sunday. He had some important work lined up to do which he could not do on weekdays. Sameer was the only option I considered bcoz he was the one who could definately come if he was free. There was very rare chance of others coming in such a short notice. So instead of wasting time and energy in asking others, I decided to go to Rajmachi alone. This would give me an opportunity to think about myself, judge my stamina for trekking after more than 6 months, get close to nature, enjoy photography and enjoy the Ride/ drive to the destination. My friend Siddharth was the one who informed me about Rajmachi. I had also seen pics of Rajmachi in his orkut Album. I called him up and got info about the route, dufficulty level of trek and time required. He also told me one surprising fact about Rajmachi. The road from Lonavala to Rajmachi is very bad and risky. It would be better to either go there in a SUV or a 2-wheeler or walking. Walking for 27 kms was out of question. Me being in Pune with only Optra at my disposal and all our SUVs in Mumbai, going in SUV too was not possible.. The only option was to go on bike that is my 6 years old Pulsar 180. Last time when I went for a long ride was Mumbai to Pune. And Pulsar gave me a terrible experience (of over-heating) on the Ghat of Khandala. I had to spend time of 2 hours plus in Ghat waiting for my sweetheart to cool down. I analysed if i could risk taking Pulsar to Rajmachi. Last time where it troubled was in Ghat section. But as per info given by Siddharth, I need not climb any ghat to reach Rajmachi. So I thought its worth taking risk with Pulsar.
Next Day, I planned to leave early. But I was interested in clicking Sunset Pics at Rajmachi and i thought what will I do there till sunset. So I decided to leave by 12. Packed in parathas cooked by my dear sis, 2 bottles of water and a small towel. Being Sunday, had a lazy beginning and lack of self-decipline made me start at 12.30. Was on Pune-Mumbai old Highway at 1pm after exiting Pune and checking air-pressure of tyres & fueling up.. All the way till Lonavala, I manitained constant speed of 80 which was fast enough to reach Lonavala by 1.45 and slow enough to avoid over-heating of my darling.. After reaching Lonavala I started hunting for right turn towards Rajmachi. Asked a Rickshaw wala, he asked me to go further 5 kms and take right turn from "Summer Hills" board.. I went for 6 kms and didn't came across the board. Asked a small Hotel wala nearby and he asked me to go back to Lonavala and take Left turn near Kumar resort. Reached Kumar Resort and asked a Pan wala, he again informed to go backwards for 6 kms and take right turn.. I was loosing my temper. To cross-check, asked another richshaw wala, and he asked me if I want to go to Rajmachi Fort of Rajmachi Point? I replied "Fort". His 2nd question was, "At this hour you want to go? Do u hav frnds accompanying you?" I replied, "NO". He suggested, " Why u want to take such a risk sir? The road is really bad and its all forest around with no traffic whatsoever. You are alone, what will you do if u get a flat tyre? Its not advisable to go there this hour alone bcoz it will be very dark by the time u start your return journey." I after patiently listening to him, cortiously asked, "Can I know the route please?" He was surprised. "Lo, Bhalai batao to maante nahi hai.. Jao Summer Hills board se right lo."
After 6 kms just after that Hotel where I turned back last time, I saw the board of "Summer Hills". Took right from there and saw board of Rajmachi - 27 kms. I was relieved that I am on track finally. Soon after taking right, road got bad. I knew route was bad, But I assumed it to be good for atleast few kms. It was bad for a KM or so bcoz of construction work goin on and then road was good for 5 kms. I was again wondering, "Road dosn't seems to be soo bad that I could not bring Optra here". But then there was a surprise. After that tar ro
ad of 5 kms at one point suddenly a kaccha road started.. The road's surface was covered with 4 inch sharp rocks.. My bike started rattling like its spares would fall apart. I was also worried about tyres since the rocks were really hard and sharp at some places.. All parts of bike were rattling like never before and all my bo
dy parts too were having continuous vibrations. I clicked some pics of surroundings and Pulsar on the way and realised that How beautiful Pulsar looks even after 6 years.. Its photgrapher's delight fom all angles.. I was cheering my Pulsar all the way and I was happy that I was alone and if somebody was with me, then Pulsar would hav been stressed more and it would be even more stressful to ride on that torture track. Road's surface maintained to be poor passing through open land, forests, turning right, left, going up down.. I was clueless about the road ahead but maintained my pace. After 16 kms from Lonavala I saw a man wa
lking fully coloured with Holi colours and looked like drunk. I greeted "ram ram" and asked him if i was on right track. He assured and told me that he too was going towards Rajmachi. I wondered if he wanted a lift. But didn't asked him since he was looking wierd and 2nd seat on my bike could cause stress to ride. I proceeded further and after 22 kms, saw 
a hill from distance which looked like a fort. Assumed it to be Rajmachi and proceeded towards it. Bike was rattling like anything and soon I noticed increase in rattle.. A current passed thru my body, what it could be..? Stopped and checked.. "Ohh, its just saree-guard which came loose.. Why the hell, its 
there? Anyways, nobody wearing saree sits on my bike.. Better to remove it off.. Will remove it as soon as I'll reach Pune" - I thought.. I tightened the bolt with my hands and proceeded.. Again stopped at few places to click and reached rajmachi base v
illage. Got down from bike and realised that all my body parts are still vibrating.. My palms were shivering.. It was all bcoz of those constant vibrations bcoz of poor road.. Parked the bike at one refreshment stall, had a Kokam sharbat and handed over the custody of helmet to shopwala..Sat clamly for 10 mins to settle down and then 
started walking towards the fort.. It was 3.30pm, the fort seemed to be not soo tall and I assumed that I'll hardly take 30 mins to climb.. But soon I realised that being trekking after such a long time, I got tired too early.. Afternoon heat further stressed me.. Was clicking all the way till I reached the top at 4.30.. The cool breeze at top made me forget all the stress i had while reaching there.. In fact I forgot everything in the world.. And being alone on that fort further thrilled me.. I felt like conquerer of the fort for some time.. After clicking pics of all surrounding for 20 mins.. I decided to hav parathas for snacks and rest for some time.. I could hardly eat one paratha but drank almost a litre of water.. My Tee was drentched with sweat and some sweat was still ther
e in the eyebrows.. Cool breeze and sweat further relaxed me giving a chilling effect.. I saw a small opening on the fort wall.. Wall was giving shadow and that opening was letting the air pass from other side of fort to inside of fort.. I chose that place to have a nap.. I lied down in such a way that my I was being covered with shadow and I could still get breeze from the fort wall opening.. I almost slept for 10 mins and suddenly I heard noise of monkeys.. I got up and checked.. One monkey was staring at me giving 'khunnas' (as if expressing- "U r not the king of this fort, I am..").. I picked a pebble and acted to throw it.. Thankfully my bag carrying camera, 2 cell phones, wal
let, tiffin and water bottles was under my head.. Nahi to Bandarjee le jaate.. Last time it was just a wallet (Lohagarh).. This time loss could be much much higher.. Thankfully monkey ran away.. i soon searched for a good stick and opted to explore the fort rather than sitting at one place.. I still had a hour to spend.. I went to other places on
the fort, clicked some pics and then clicked some pics of myself using self-timer feature.. I was struck with an idea of clicking a pic of myself standing on the fort wall.. I set the focus of camera placing it on the ground, set the timer and clicked.. Ran towards the fort wall and posed.. clicked some pics of myself doing this stupid activity.. One limitation i rea
lised that timer could be set for 10 secs only which was too less and at one instance, I even lost my balance while climbing the fort wall.. Thankfully it was on the front side and not the back side.. Else that pic could be used for some other purp
ose..
started walking towards the fort.. It was 3.30pm, the fort seemed to be not soo tall and I assumed that I'll hardly take 30 mins to climb.. But soon I realised that being trekking after such a long time, I got tired too early.. Afternoon heat further stressed me.. Was clicking all the way till I reached the top at 4.30.. The cool breeze at top made me forget all the stress i had while reaching there.. In fact I forgot everything in the world.. And being alone on that fort further thrilled me.. I felt like conquerer of the fort for some time.. After clicking pics of all surrounding for 20 mins.. I decided to hav parathas for snacks and rest for some time.. I could hardly eat one paratha but drank almost a litre of water.. My Tee was drentched with sweat and some sweat was still ther
e in the eyebrows.. Cool breeze and sweat further relaxed me giving a chilling effect.. I saw a small opening on the fort wall.. Wall was giving shadow and that opening was letting the air pass from other side of fort to inside of fort.. I chose that place to have a nap.. I lied down in such a way that my I was being covered with shadow and I could still get breeze from the fort wall opening.. I almost slept for 10 mins and suddenly I heard noise of monkeys.. I got up and checked.. One monkey was staring at me giving 'khunnas' (as if expressing- "U r not the king of this fort, I am..").. I picked a pebble and acted to throw it.. Thankfully my bag carrying camera, 2 cell phones, wal
let, tiffin and water bottles was under my head.. Nahi to Bandarjee le jaate.. Last time it was just a wallet (Lohagarh).. This time loss could be much much higher.. Thankfully monkey ran away.. i soon searched for a good stick and opted to explore the fort rather than sitting at one place.. I still had a hour to spend.. I went to other places on
the fort, clicked some pics and then clicked some pics of myself using self-timer feature.. I was struck with an idea of clicking a pic of myself standing on the fort wall.. I set the focus of camera placing it on the ground, set the timer and clicked.. Ran towards the fort wall and posed.. clicked some pics of myself doing this stupid activity.. One limitation i rea
lised that timer could be set for 10 secs only which was too less and at one instance, I even lost my balance while climbing the fort wall.. Thankfully it was on the front side and not the back side.. Else that pic could be used for some other purp
ose..Sun was about to set.. But being foggy, I was doubtful if I can get a decent shot.. It was foggy bcoz dry grass was being burnt on the surrounding hills and smoke was decreasing visibility.. I chose to leave the place by 6 so that I could reach the b
ase village by 6.30 and start for return journey before its too dark.. My assumption turned out to be true and Sunset was indeed not as beautiful as it is most of the other days.. I took my helmet back from the shopwala.. He was chatting there with his pals from village.. Everybody was surprised to see me alone on bike.. I too had a friendly chat with them for few mins, started my machine and there I left..
ase village by 6.30 and start for return journey before its too dark.. My assumption turned out to be true and Sunset was indeed not as beautiful as it is most of the other days.. I took my helmet back from the shopwala.. He was chatting there with his pals from village.. Everybody was surprised to see me alone on bike.. I too had a friendly chat with them for few mins, started my machine and there I left..I starte
d from there at 6.45pm and I realised that I was trying to ride faster.. I warned myself to slow down.. Else my darling could give up in forest.. I slowed down to speed of between 5-10kmph and made a slow and steady progress towards lon
avala.. Reached Lonavala at 7.45pm.. I checked my watch and realised that I reached back in just a hour while it took 2 hours while going.. That was only bcoz I stopped many times while going to click pics and there was nothing much to click while on the way back bcoz it was dark.. My lower back started complaining by the end of torture track..
d from there at 6.45pm and I realised that I was trying to ride faster.. I warned myself to slow down.. Else my darling could give up in forest.. I slowed down to speed of between 5-10kmph and made a slow and steady progress towards lon
avala.. Reached Lonavala at 7.45pm.. I checked my watch and realised that I reached back in just a hour while it took 2 hours while going.. That was only bcoz I stopped many times while going to click pics and there was nothing much to click while on the way back bcoz it was dark.. My lower back started complaining by the end of torture track..The moment I touched Highway, I realised what heaven is like.. Road felt smoother than ever.. No wonder Heaven is a subjective term.. I was soon pushing my bike on the sweeping corners of Khandala ghat.. Now that It is return journey, I don't care if bike gets over heated.. After crossing Lonavala, I was pushing my bike to other side of 100kmph.. My head covered with helmet and sweat inside got some ventilation while speeding and this was encouraging me to keep on speeding.. Pulsar still felt as if shes hardly a year old.. It was touching 120 on most of the straights.. Then I came across Toni-Da- Dhaba and by the time I decided to stop, it was bit late so instead of turning back, I noticed another dhaba ahead.. It was Babbi-Da-Dhaba.. I turned left towards it, parked my bike, removed the helmet and got down from my bike to realise the badly aching lower back.. Anyways, found a nice khatiya in the dhaba, removed my shoes, removed my bag and just lied down on the khatiya.. Again felt like "Heaven".. Oh my God.. I felt like sleeping there.. But soon a young guy approached me and asked, "Kya lau Sir?".. I replied, "Ek Butter Paratha aur ek Chicken Kadai (Ekdam Tej)"..
