Pune Diary-Sinhagad

Sinhagad is one of the forts without a visit to that my pune visit is never complete. Sinhagad is situated outskirts of pune and is suitable for a one day trek.It provides much needed training for people training to trek the himalayas.It provides the needed start for novices and freshers in the area of trekking.As for me it is a matter or thrill to trek up and down sinhagad,not to mention the yummy zhunka-bhakar,vangyacha bharit and the taak and dahi u get there along with kanda bhaji ani thecha.

Well Sunday was spent on trek to sinhagad.Of all the siblings,four of us decided to trek to the fort while two of them decided reach there by Car.And so began our trek at 10:30 in the morning after a snack of yummy kande pohe and vadapaav at the base.I have to admit that after all these months sinhagad trek was really hard for me to complete.
after starting so late in the morning we were puffing and panting but half-way up nevertheless in about an hour(according to my speed :D)and then time for limbu sharbat/cool buttermilk(taak) fare.There are a lot of huts along the way that dish out this fare,but are at at some climbing distance.After the refreshing break it was time to start again.The most strenuous task was to make way through the somewhat steep gradients threatening to break my climbing rhythm.But this time it did succeed.

A lot of times when I was left behind I cherished the silence around me.Some of the flies or bees were around sometimes to interrupt this silence but that was welcome too.Cool breeze was blowing around the whole time to cool the huffing puffing trekkers like me.
At about 12:30pm I reached the top.Whew!!! and then with the shaky legs we were trying to locate the others & they were there to laud my efforts to climb to the top.
(I really thank them all).

And now ladies and gentlemen is the time for lunch....the delicious fare was gobbled down in an instant.After lunch we started strolling around.We were eating aavla that was chopped in to small pieces and salt and spices were applied to that.Yummy man!!!!still my mouth waters....... :D

The first thing that we visited was Samadhi of Tanaji Malusare who was instrumental in taking the fort from Uday bhanu's hands.In that process he gave his life and Shivaji maharaj Expressed his greif in the famous words "Gadh aala pan sinha gela"(I have the fort but lost the Lion)....
We visited the Dev taaki where you get water to drink but on any given holiday if there is a lot of rush there can be a huge line to just fill in the water.
We came along to the Wind Point and faced the winds that were blowing hard on face.I encountered birds braving these strong wind but still managing their flight and enjoying it too...
I really envy that bird.We all sat at the edge facing the winds that were blowing.
I think i heard that the winds here blow at about 40km/hr.And there is a mad rush here in the monsoons.

Almost after strolling for what seemed a small amount of time but consisted of three hours it was the time to go back.My shoes had given in and i had to get down bare feet.I was hell bent on getting down and so after some time nobody insisted.i had a rough time getting down without getting hurt but each step was carefully planned and executed.I received tips from the localites there who just get to the top everyday without any shoes for chappals for that matter.

Also people going up or going down really give us encouragmentseeing our efforts just to go up.
well we came back with plans to visit Rajgad and Torna that are seen from sinhagad.
But foremost were the plans to come back here in the monsoons too...
well signing off now.......