Mandan Lake and Bar Vanjar waterfall - A Magic world in Monsoon

Mandan Lake and Bar Vanjar waterfall - A Magical world in Monsoon 

       This Sunday was special for us! DAD accompanied us and it was going to be a special trip and the kids were too excited. We went for a long drive to Mandan, a village near Rajpipla and near the lake of Karajan dam reservoir. The place is breathtaking. You can walk along the lake, climb small mounds along the lake and explore the place the way you want. .. Google links it to CHHOTU BEACH !!!!

                     

      The best part about the place was the drive from Rajpipla to Mandan. The hilly area is so bewildering that you want to stop for a while and enjoy nature at every turn. For us, the cherry on the cake was light drizzling on our entire drive and the same continued all along till we were at the lake. 

                       

    We wandered along and enjoyed bhutta there. The local villagers have made a small parking area and you have to pay a parking fee of 50 rupees. They are trying vigorously and sincerely to keep the area clean. Still, there was trash like bottles, paper plates, and wrappers. Please please maintain these places and don't litter. 

                     

                       

                     

            After spending a few hours there we headed to  Bar Vanjar waterfall which is near the Karjan Dam. You have to go along the canal and the road's condition is not that good because of the monsoon. Go up to "Sarkari Aushadhiya Vanspati Udhyan" and after that, you have to take a left turn. The turn which Google Map is showing is not proper and you have to take the one after that. There are few houses when you take that left turn. You can park your car there and walk along the small trail from there. If you have a bike you can go on that trail.  Along the trail, there is a small dargah. Exactly opposite to it, you start climbing  and your trail for the waterfall starts and immediately you will feel the dampening of the air and hear the sound of the water... Your mind will bag you to run and your legs will oblige it happily. 

                          

      There are two trails. One trail will take you to the secluded small area with small falls. We spent more time here as it was more kid-friendly. That was the most amazing part of the day... The comforting constant sound of the waterfall, chirping of birds, greyish blue sky peaking from dense trees, were hypnotizing us...Kids were so thrilled that they didn't want to leave that place. 

                              

                           

                  

          After some time we went to another fall and its trail is uphill. This one was quite bigger. 

                        

                           

             So this was our journey last Sunday. The soothing white noise, the enchanting view of the fall, and the feel of the drizzle...These are enough to make you sit quietly there and forget all your worries. It is like mother nature has swaddled you in her cozy blanket and is promising you to keep safe in her warmth. 

                        

Moments 

Moments 

They make us 

They tend us 

Some good 

Some bad

Some happy

Some sad

Still, we wait for them 

Once I tried to seize them

I seized them tightly 

But then came the rain 

The drops causing 

Ripples in the lake

I was mesmerized 

By the beauty in front of me 

And the moments were lost...

I gripped them firmly

In both my hands 

Feeling so proud about it 

Cool water under my feet 

Burbling waterfall in front 

That shining white froth

And sound like giggling 

Captivating me in them 

And the moments slipped...

I hold them again 

Under the blanket 

I was not going to let them go

Hugging them deeply

Beneath their warmth 

I slept soundly 

But gush of wind came

Took them with her...

I ordered them to stop 

They obeyed...

They obeyed me merrily

We were content in a small cocoon 

Gratified in our comradeship 

The two of us were enough 

But then 

Then I blinked 

And I lost my company...

I failed at every attempt 

Suddenly realized 

Laughing hysterically 

And Feeling self-deprecating 

Was I holding the moments?

Or 

Were they grasping me? 

                         - Kajal Shah 

Location:

  

Mandan : https://goo.gl/maps/52aVdawnu1XcVDkKA

Bar Vanjar waterfall : https://goo.gl/maps/L8rsE1CA898gb82i9

From the marked point, the trail starts. You can park your car adjacent to that house. 

Points to consider: 

- Please keep these places clean.

- The waterfall is comparatively less explored so it is cleaner than Mandan. 

Luvara lighthouse : Sunset at its best

         Luvara lighthouse: Sunset at its best

Hello all...

     

       So this was again a family picnic spot between Vadodara and Surat for us just like Kadia Dungar caves.  

    

                      

      We had already seen the Mahi river opening into the Gulf of Khambhat, now it was a turn of Narmada. Luvara lighthouse is near village Dahej and is a very quiet and less explored place. It is near Dahej beach which is more famous and which has Parshuram temple. 

      Just before you take a turn for Luvara lighthouse there is Dahej Ship port with beautiful seagulls giving mesmerizing view. Going straight further there is a small left turn, you need to take that for Luvara lighthouse or the main road will take you to the Dahej Beach. And after taking left turn there are bushes all around with small road. The lighthouse was closed due to COVID. So we went further on the beach.

     

        The beach is very quiet and peaceful with not many people around. but please check the time of tide. we went there during low tide so the sea was much farther ahead. But the most amazing thing about the place is the sunset...  

                   

                    

         Sunset filled with hopes and dreams that I already wrote in our Kavi Kamboi post... If u have not read it please read...

    

                  

          

        But what about slowing down...The other important aspect of life that sunset teaches us is....Why run behind all. Just relax. Just breathe and be calm. Sunset is here to absolve us from all our thoughts... from all our defeats... from all our loss and all our guilt. It mends us and it defends us. It also defines us in a way that we ourselves are unable to comprehend. That soothing colors of sky telling us everything is okay... a mixture of orange and purple rather looks amazing...in life also it does!!! Some blue moods and some good moods!!! So let's celebrate life with all blues and all goods, all sunsets and all sunrise till we can...       

                 

                   

Sunset

Birds are returning to the offsprings

Sea is gently teasing at your feet

Clouds are slowly drifting

Oh.. what’s happening?

The voice inside my head mumbled:

Shhhh!!!

Don’t worry, sit back relax

Hold on for a while

Take a deep breath

Leave all your worries

All your stress

It’s calling your name

Though It comes daily

And though daily It goes

The shades of the sky

Are only for you

So just go slow

It will be there tomorrow

But the moment will not

Let’s feel the pleasure

And forget all sorrow

Slowly and slowly

Let them fade away

The deepening twilight comes

And I hear the whispering of the stars

Oh!! Dear Lord...

With moist eyes and a wide smile

I declared I am Opacarophile!!!!

    

                                     - Kajal Shah 

( Opacarophile: person who loves sunset )

                          

That's all from our side...

see you next week with another new place and hopefully with new poem...

Location:  https://goo.gl/maps/bCa6hsg4uyczc1ux8

Distance from Vadodara: 2 hours 40 min

The tranquil trail along the banks of Reva

 

  The tranquil trail along the banks of Reva

Hello all...

          It was Dhuleti day and we didn't want to go very far. Yet we wanted to explore something. ....the beautiful journey along the bank of Reva... total 3500 km. you have to climb hills and you have cross forests... dare I say it is one of the most challenging trails of India. 

          No, we have not started it. But from this routine life, the only thing we want is peace. And what a better way to get peace other than the lap of Narmada...and here I am telling, again and again, the peace and tranquility we get from rivers are immense. There is no match to it...

                    

                             

           They say Narmada is more agile and bouncy in Madya Pradesh but when she comes to Gujarat she enters her late adulthood and we can see her serene form, more mature, quiet, and elite. We opened google earth and found trails along the river bank and we found one perfect from Sinor...

                    

                           

            We parked our car at Sinor river bank, near Jain mandir, and then started walking....it seems like the river was greeting us flowing in our opposite direction... daring us to spread our wings and yet making us patient to enjoy her beauty... 

                             

    The trail started from Sinor to Reva forest homestay ....Appx 2 km train...Initially, our plan was to go up to Ambali but then we skipped that and sat at one place for quite a while... The trail from Sinor to the temple is along the river bank, but from the temple to the Reva Homestay it's like you are walking on a small mound full of trees.    

                    

           We went there again and this time we started from Reva homestay and reached up to Naishad school Ambali. Again part of the trail is on the small hill and part along with the serene Reva... This time we did appx 3.5 km trek on one side. 

                              

                       

        This entire trail from Sinor to Ambali is very beautiful and peaceful at the same time. It’s not at all risky...yes a few points are there where we just have a small path along the river.. and you need to be very careful or the chances of getting wet are higher. But what’s the fun without small chances like this.

                              

                                               

             So that's it from our side...Just like a small drop from the vastness of Narmada river banks...

              And after doing this trek on Sunday. I woke up the next  Monday with this in my head...

Monday Morning Be Like.....

I wake up with 

The gentle breeze 

Caressing my skin 

Wrinkles on my forehand 

Are Beginning to flee 

Do you remember 

The serene river 

You had visited last weekend 

She has sent me 

To guide you in this ascend.  

Then came the draught 

Knocking on the window sill

Do you remember 

The robust mountain 

He has directed me 

To protect in the world so mundane 

Someone was whispering 

In my ear 

It was a gentle wind 

Telling, the rustling of the leaves 

From your forests visits 

Ordered me over here 

To guide in these dire needs 

This wind

This draught

This breeze,

Carrying that air

So this is how I woke up 

The twinkle in my eyes 

And grin on my face... 

With poetry In my head...

                                      - Kajal 

This is the trail...

That's all from our side...

Love 

SaSha

Kaash...

Hidden temple in a cave formed by heap of boulders : Gupteshwar Mahadev

Hidden temple in a cave formed by a heap of boulders:  Gupteshwar Mahadev 

Hello,

             Are you interested in geology?

or          Are you a believer in Indian Mythology?

or          Do you want to brush up on your exploratory skills? 

    

                             

Today's place is the perfect mixture of all these and much more! 

We went to Richhiya Village, at Guptreshwar Mahadev also known as Richiiya Mahadev temple. It is a small temple in the cave formed by rocks. Multiple huge boulders are arranged so perfectly in so much harmony that amazed us. 

                                  

                                  

The temple has stairs but we wanted to try bouldering so we went just near the top climbing the rocks, peeping in the gaps in between. Kids ask us how these enormous rocks are stacked so precisely... how can we answer.. we ourselves were mesmerized. 

                          

                          .  

This is the beauty of nature and her creation. The creator is a perfect architect and an amazing sculptor.  This is the beauty of geology. And not only this hill, but this region also has multiple similar hills with heaps of boulders, few are just beside this Gupteshwar Mahadev and a few are in nearby village Chelavada. 

                               

                        

After coming down, we went up again through stairs, and here starts our mythological  journey. 

                               

                               

The cave was used by Pandavas during their exile years, most probably in Virat Prava. The way to the temple is a very narrow passage.  You might think that by no means you will be able to pass through that passage but no matter how fat or how tall you are will be able to go through it easily... 

                               

                              

According to some sources, only Bheem visited this place, but all Pandavas with Draupadi stayed here according to the temple priest. We were been taken to amazing rocks which had footprints of them...Difficult to imagine but captivating to hear what the priest had to elaborate to keep us engaged.

                     

There was a huge rock and when you stroke on it, you will listen to the sounds of drums and conch.  Such amazing miracles are happening all around us, we just need to keep our eyes and ears open and embrace mother nature with wide open arms...she will never disappoint us...

                              

So this is it.... a short yet mesmerizing trip to Gupteshwar Mahadev caves...So many hidden gems in our country and so little time to explore them...

And ending with my weekly dose of poetry- 

Hidden corners

Hidden corners

Of this world 

When we find them

They amaze us 

Mesmerizing mountain peaks 

To stunning ocean floors

Thrilling rainforest canopy 

Or blazing desert beauty 

So many corners 

Yet to explore

But still, we are at peace 

Because one corner is our home 

Hidden corners 

Of my home 

That little book nook

To tiny closet space 

Empty closed bathroom 

Or swing in the backyard 

The most comfortable 

Place where one can ever be

And calm the racing mind 

Hidden corners 

Of my mind

Sometimes soothing with a calm voice 

Sometimes shouting at silly mistakes 

Those little memories 

Those tiny possibilities 

If you would have done this 

If I can do that 

Always arguing with the heart 

And finally 

Hidden corners 

Of my heart

Those last benches of school class 

And Small innocent giggles

Those collage canteens’

Gossiping with friends 

Or lengthy heavy arguments 

All emotions and all sentiments 

All these corners get wet,

Soaked with emotions 

From time to time 

Keep me awake at night 

Staring at my ceiling 

I want to keep all corners with me

Stay alive in all of them 

Is it possible? 

Let me know 

If you find an answer to that...

                             - Kajal 

Distance from Vadodara- 58 km- 1 hour 10 min 

Location:   https://goo.gl/maps/76Vt3VP88vVF1EPo9location: