Khopoli Fast

A result of tampering my mobile phone resulted in this ride . Tuesday night before going to the bed I happened to set my alarm in the mobile for 9 Am . In the night I received an automated call from BPL mobile and I reset the alarm to 7 Am . The Alarm goes on and on at 7 and a couple of snoozes later my sleep had an untimely death . With loads of time and just newspaper reading , boredom was slowly encroaching on me . The clock says 7:45 an I had already finished my bath , breakfast and was not in a mood to read the papers . One deep breath and the next thing in my mind was a ride . Moments later I was ready with my jacket and helmet with no destination planned . Picked up my school bag and was on road . The only highway I could remember then was NH4 ( old Mumbai-Pune Highway ) . Riding very slow at an average of 30-40 km/hr amidst heavy traffic till Sanpada . Thereafter , the road was all mine and still riding at the same speed with the helmet visor opened up and breathing some clean air .

Near Kamothe

The wrist watch says 9 Am and I was in two minds whether to continue riding or attend the lecture which was to begin at 9:30 Am . Finally after a chai (Tea) I decided to give the lecture a miss and decided to ride to Khopoli and then to college to attend the second lecture at 10:30 Am .

Chai stop

NH4

Within 10 min of riding I was at Khopoli Bus Stand and Lonavla was calling me . Dismissing the call , the return journey began . A few kilometers later , a signboard pointing to Mahad Ganpati came to my notice . I had missed this temple during my Ashtavinayak Yatra and within a weeks time I was here . Spent a good spiritual 45 min here in the temple and by 10:15 I was back on road with 15 min for lecture and 65 km to be covered.

Mahad Temple Pond

Way back to college

I was trying to ride as fast as I can and in 18 min. I was at Panvel covering 28 km . Another 30 min later I entered the college at 11 Am . 11:05 Am entered the classroom with my jackets on , inviting a blank look from my classmates except a few . Luckily the professor allowed me in despite being 35 min late and got my attendence too . In my view this was the best was I could have spend those 3 hours .

Regards,
Rahul ( Wanderer )

Ashtavinayak Yatra - Part 2

Check out Part 1 of the Yatra .

At Theur , we were way ahead of the initial schedule and I was excited as if I have achieved something very big . Siddhatek was around 70 km from Theur . Sailesh had said us that we would have to cross a river to reach the temple , last time when he visited that was the only way to reach the place . This piece of news brought even more excitement in us . Waving goodbye to Theur we were in the Pune-Solapur highway in a couple of minutes . This highway is perfect for speeding because in the 50 km journey on this highway I could not recollect even a single curve . I was speeding and Prasad and Sailesh were over speeding . On the way , Prasad ran over a stray dog crushed by a truck possibly. By 4:15 , we reached Patas Junction and a few clicks later were back on roads for Siddhatek .

On our way between Daund and Siddhatek , the roads were bad and at one part they were not even there . There was a way through a wet farmland or else we would have had to take a 5 km detour . There was an intresting moment here , while crossing the farm Sandeep's rear wheel got stuck and was not moving an inch . Then we found out that huge amounts of mud had come in between the wheels and the mud guard and that was the reason for the jam . A couple of minutes and some dirty hands later , his machine was roaring . On reaching Siddhatek , to our disappointment a bridge had been constructed over the river . As a result no river crossing . After stocking our luggage and shoes again at a flower vendor we entered the temple and a huge queue welcomed us . The queue was fast moving and on reaching the idol of Lord Sri Siddhivinayak , we offered our prayers , took blessings and were on our way out of the temple . The trunk of the Lord Ganesh is towards the right and in other seven temples its bent towards the left . Prasad , Sandeep and Sailesh had bought an offering plate and the only thing left on the plate was coconuts . You are supposed to break the coconut yourself and Prasad turned out to be an expert at this art breaking three coconuts within no time and these were not the like the ones we get in cities the were the one straight from the tree , the ones u get at the nariyal paani wala. After a while we had some wadas and soft drinks and began packing our bikes for Morgaon .

Route to Siddhatek : Theur-Patas(Pune-Solapur Highway) - Daund - Siddhatek
Trip Meter Reading - 393 km
Distance From Theur: 86 Km

Next Destination - Morgaon , Pune.

After having some tea time snacks we parted ways with Siddhatek . Morgaon was arond 60 km from Siddhatek and it was already 6:15 Pm and was getting darker and as we touched the Pune-Solapur Highway it was completely dark. The highway was full of high beamers . We went on overtaking one truck after another from the left as there was no way from the right . This event lasted for around 30 km till we reached Chowfula . At Chowfula we halted to ask for directions and were told that Morgaon is around 24 kms from here and the roads were not that good . When enquired about the lodging facilities there , we got positive replies . On way to Morgaon , Prasad was leading the way in the dark with mine and Sandeeps bike following his bike . At one place I happened go out of the road and was about to crash beacuse of the high beam from one of the truck but somehow managed to keep my balance and I was back on road an was at Morgaon by 7:45 Pm . We found a very very okay place to stay for the night , a 12 x 8 ft room with bedding's and blankets and a clean toilet , all this for Rs. 350 and we didn't have any other option so had to take it . Half an hour later , every one freshened up and we were roaming the streets of Morgaon and had a mukh darshan or Lord Sri Mayureshwar . A few moments later we left for dinner , we had a feast for Rs. 262 . Our dinner for 4 was
15 Rotis
Paneer Mutter
Veg. Kadai
Veg. Makhanwala
2 Dal Fry
3 Plates of rice

we finished it in no time as we were really hungry . A walk to our logde and everybody were asleep within 15 min .

Next morning , we woke up at 6 am and each of us had a bath one - by - one and left for the temple at 7 . A moderate queue was present at the temple and after a wait of 20 min we were near the idol offered our prayers and took the blessings of Lord Sri Mayureshwar . Later we had some Misal pav for break fast and were on our way to Ozar .

Route to Morgaon : Siddhatek- Daund - Patas (Pune-Solapur Highway) - Chowfula - Morgaon

Trip Meter Reading - 462 km
Distance From Theur: 69 Km

Next Destination - Ozar, Pune (Junnar) .

After consuming the Misal Pav , everyone was on a high an within 20 min reached Chowfula . After Chowfula , we were crossing one village after another until Shirur where there was some traffic for a brief period and then again village roads welcomed us . Sandeep and Prasad sped off and I was cruising and smelling the village soil . At one village (did not bother to know the name) I met 3 of them to check for directions .

Once checking the directions and few information from the villagers about the route , we were back to burning the rubber . I had reached Ozar by 11:30 Am but others did not notice me overtaking them and were waiting for me to arrive at Narayangaon . At 11:45 Am some tourist buses had arrived and in no time a long queue was created . Prasad and Sandeep arrived at 12 Pm . We soon dumped our luggae at a flower vendor again. Here instead of waiting in the queue we decided to visit Lenyadri which was around 20 km from Ozar .

Route to Ozar: Morgaon - Chowfula - Shirur - Mathan - Narayangaon - Ozar

Trip Meter Reading - 606 km

Distance From Theur: 144 km

Next Destination - Lenyadri, Pune (Junnar).

The roads to Lenyadri were horrible , full of potholes . Lenyadri was here and one has to climb around 300 very steep steps . Climbing is really tiresome but seeing elders climb I was motivated . The temple , of Lord Sri Girijatmaj ,here is inside a cave . After climbing up and down did some shopping . Bought some grapes and dried grapes and pedas .

Route to Lenyadri : Ozar - Lenyadri

Trip Meter Reading - 621 km

Distance From Theur: 15 km
Next Destination - Ozar,Pune (Junnar).


By 2:30 , we were at Ozar , this time threr was no queue . We had a like peaceful darshan of Lord Sri Vighneshwar offered our prayers and took blessings and were on our way out . As this was the last temple , there was a lot of sovinours to be brought back home . These were supposed to be gifted to friends and relatives . By 4:15 pm , all shopping was done . We headed to a hotel inside the temple complex where the time for lunch was over so went to another hotel where we were denied food again for the same reason . Hunger had hit us really bad because we didnt have anything since 8 Am . So packed off and we left the temple and found a dhaba just outside the village gate . Had some good food in Bhakris, dal Rice , and some curries . Again a feast and the bill was just Rs. 175 . That was it and we were on our way back home .

Route to Ozar: Lenyadri - Ozar

Trip Meter Reading - 637 km

Distance From Theur: 16 km


Next Destination - Home, Koper Khairne , Navi Mumbai

Had a brief stop at the Malshej ghats for refuelling and some pics . Everyone were back to their ripping best while I again prefered cruising admiring the beauty of Malshej and soaked in the nature, met others and some village 13 km from Kalyan at 7 pm and it was completely dark . Reached home by 8 Pm , had a light dinner and went straight to the bed .



Trip Meter Reading : 812 Km
Total Distance Covered : 812 Km
Fuel Expenses : Rs 900
Food and Lodging expenses on shared Basis : Rs 250 per head.
Shopping : Rs. 500
A ride to Remember : PRICELESS

I have done many rides in the past , but this ride is very special and it has in some way affected the way I ride , riding my bike felt made me feel very special during the trip and the best part is that I am in someway more synchronized with my bike .

Will be back after my next ride.

Regards ,
Rahul (Wanderer)

Ashtavinayaka Yatra - Part 1

The plannings and preparations for this ride started way back in September 2008 . It was Prasad and me who decided that this ride is to be done on 24-26 of January . Initially the plans were in place for a three day ride there were some guy's who were in the ride but never confirmed their status . I had informed my parents that I am going for Ashtavinayak Yatra but they didn't know that it was a ride and it was not hard convincing them as both were religious and gave me thumbs up for the ride . Immediately got my bike serviced from my mechanic .

Now, Ashtavinayaka means "eight Ganeshas" in Sanskrit. Ganesha is the Hindu lord of prosperity and learning. Ashtavinayaka Yatra is pilgrimage to the eight Hindu temples in Maharashtra, India that house eight distinct idols of Ganesha. Each of these temples has its own individual legend and history, as distinct from each other as the statues in each temple.
The following are the eight places where the temples are located; Ozar, Theur, Pali, Mahad, Morgaon, Ranjangaon, Lenyadri, and Siddhatek. Out of these eight places, Theur, Morgaon, and Ranjangaon are around Pune City . Ozar and Lenyadri are near Junnar Town . Pali and Mahad are in Raigad district whereas Siddhatek falls under the Ahmednagar district.

A day before the ride , on the 23rd of January , Prasad calls me and asks if we can do this ride in two days and before he finished speaks I said " Okay, No probs . " That night called my granny in Mulund and said her that I am going on the yatra tomorrow on bike . I was expecting some advices from her or she persuading to drop the plans but to my surprise nothing as such happened and the wished me a happy and safe journey . Expecting the same advices from my maternal grandparents called them to inform them and no advices again just good wishes . Soon packed my bags and kept everything ready .

It was 24th morning 4 Am and Prasad called me to wake me up and by 5:15 Am I was ready to hit the roads and was at Centre One, Vashi by 5:30 Am after taking the blessings of my grandparents . Within a couple of minutes Prasad arrived on his Pulsar 150 with him was his friend Sandeep on his Bajaj Discover 125 with Sailesh as pillion .Resetting the trip meter to 0 and wasting no time we started for Pali our first temple on the list .I have never before had a ride on this roads when dark , even though it was early morining it wasn't less dark and the high beamers were just adding on to my worries . The whether was chilling too , I was feeling cold even with my leather jackets on . For the first time I was riding on the Goa highway (Nh17) .On the Goa Highway instead of going straight I took a left - turn into Pen thinking it was Vadkal , soon called Prasad and corrected my path . By 6:30Am Sun began to rise and there were a lot ot moments to be captured and was still a good 60 km away . Prasad and Sandeep continued riding and the photographer in me wanted to click some pics on the Goa highway . After clicking some pics met the guys at Wakan Phata or Pali Phata .




Pali Ganpati temple is some 20kms from Wakan Phata and the roads are pretty good . One Lane roads with no vehicles from either sides , just three motorcycles cruising on the the roads. By 7:30 we were at the Pali temple premises . The Aarti had just finished and there was no crowd . We stocked our bags,jackets and shoes at a local flower vendor and entered the temple had the Darshan of Lord Shri Ballaleshwar offered our prayers , took our blessings and were out within 15 minutes . The idol here is short but wide . Like other temples in India , photography inside the temples is prohibited here too . Pali village is nestled between the Sarasgad Fort and a river (forgot the name) .

Route to Pali : Mumbai - Panvel - NH17 (Mumbai - Goa Highway) - Wadkal - Wakan - Pali
Trip Meter Reading - 101 Kms
Next Destination - Mahad, Raigad



By 8 Am started our journey toward Mahad . Mahad is a village on the hilly regions of Konkan 1.5 kms off NH4 (Old Mumbai- Pune Highway) . There is a Pali - Khopoli road leading to Mahad
. The roads were in bad condition with some good patches in between . Sun was out on a high by 9 Am and all of us were hungry we stopped over at Hotel Rajinikanth and Dhaba had some khanda(onion) bhaji's ,Vada Pav's and a cup of tea . 9:30 Am and we are at Mahad temple i.e. premises of Lord Sri Varada Vinayaka. There is a huge queue . A little enquiry and we were told that a 12 tourist busses d arrived 15 min backand the queue time will be at least 4 Hrs . We were left with no option but to settle for Mukh Darshan(Sight or glimpse of the idol from outside the temple) . All I got was just a glimpse of the idol. Since this temple is just 50 Kms from my home , I was easily convinced . One intresting fact about this temple is that a nandadeep has been lit in this temple which has been continously lit since 1892.

Route : Pali - Mahad (via Khopoli - Pali road)
Trip meter Reading : 142 kms
Distance From Pali: 41 Kms


Next Destionation : Ranjangaon , Pune .

Once confirming the directions in the road map , hit the roads the infamous Old Mumbai - Pune Highway(NH4) . Cruised till Talegaon without any hassles and on our way from Talegaon to Chakan heavy traffic greeted us with their widespread hands . Maneuvering through the trucks and auto-rickshaws we crossed Chakan . On crossing Chakan on way to Shikrapur there were large farmlands on both the sides, looked like paddy farms . The roads from Shikrapur to Ranjangaon was a beautiful stretch . Some 20 km of serious ripping and arrived at the Ranjangaon at 12:30 Pm. Ranjangaon seemed a spiritually awakened village. Dumping our baggages , jackets , helmets and shoes at a flower vendor outside the temple, we stepped inside the temple premises . There was a long queue at the temple but even then the atmosphere was verly calm and silent . Every single person was soaked in the devotion of Lord Ganesh . The long queue was weel organised and fast moving . After an hour in the queue , darshan of Lord Sri Mahaganapati was very pleasing . We offered our prayers, offerings and took blessings and sat inside the temple chanting the prayers for another 10 min . The temple was very clean and huge . We spent some time exploring the temple clicking some photographs until hunger struck. There is food offered in the temple as prasad . As prasad dal ,rice and sheera are offered unlimited . We had a feast and the beauty is that the people having the food were from all walks of life and were sitting nearby and smiling at each other , perhaps , such a thing can be seen only in India . Once food was over , Theur was calling us . Bags loaded , Jackets on , our motorcycles were back on roads again.

Route : Mahad-Lonavala-Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur-Ranjangaon
Trip meter Reading : 266 kms
Distance From Mahad: 122 Kms


Next Destionation : Theur , Pune .

Ranjangaon-Shikrapur-Lonikand fall on Maharashtra SH-66 . A same beautiful stretch on which the needle in the speedo was never below the 90 kmph mark . In 15 mins we reached Lonikand around 27 kms from Ranjangaon . The roads from Lonikand to Theur are in pathetic condition , riding on them almost broke my back. To add to this there were bullock carts all along the road and trucks coming in from the opposite direction , all in this one lane roads . it took us almost 45mins to do these 13 kms and finally Theur was here .By 3:30 we reached the Theur temple , dumped our bags in a sugarcane juice shop outside the temple , had some fresh juice and entered the temple after washing our face, hands and feet. This temple looked old and it needed some painting . It was a big temple ,but was almost empty . Without any rush , we offered our prayers and took blessing and some exploration of the temple and we were on our way out .

Route : Ranjangaon-Shikrapur-Lonikand-Theur
Trip meter Reading : 307 kms
Distance From Mahad: 41 Kms


Next Destionation : Siddhatek,Ahmednagar .


Regards
Rahul



Part 2 of the blog in the tube.

Actions of Sun

A Sunday evening sky and sun trying to make its way through the clouds

Sun setting - Same Sunday late evening view from my window