Walk Walk Walk till you reach the TOP: Manikgad - Part 2

After relishing our homemade treat we set off to conquer 'Manikgad' or 'Ghera Killa Manikgad' I came to know about the second name Ghera Killa Manikgad from Shrikant. As we were walking through one of the plains I overheard Shrikant and Ravi discussing this name and its significance. Lets get back to action.

Action Begins Now.....

We left the base village at 12:30 pm, with the Manikgad summit covered with fog. Manikgad route is the ultimate endurance test you will come to know as we move closer to the fort base and from there to the TOP. The start was easy as we started from the village with a well-paved paver block path. The pleasure of a good path was soon over and we were welcomed by Kacha road. Now Village was left behind and we were crossing rice fields. There was a narrow water stream and as we were walking along with it heard a loud call from Ravi to move fast the call was not for time but to move fast as we had a reptile for a company taking a sunbath at the same time while we were walking along the stream. But much didn't notice and walked past leaving him to relax. Next, we were greeted by a mud field, hardly it was a walk of 35 to 40 steps but it was like a think muddy puddle at one point in time I thought of doing a Pig Act and dragging Shilpa also along with me for the same but she escaped and I continued being civilized human. After the mud patch we entered green cover with a bit of a vertical climb this was the first terrain walk for the day "with energy at high and monsoon clouds to cover the sky, we had a pleasant day to make our climb".

After the first terrain climb, there was a small plateau I was okay well balanced till then. As we hit the second upwards terrain I started sweating and exhausted myself that too within 40 mins from the start was that time for me to give up? Not really after lying down on Nature Bed for good 2 mins and taking deep breaths I got up and started again with a pack of new energy from nature. After a small vertical patch, there was a long walk across the plateau and Manikgad was still commanding its distance with a Fog cap.

Walk across the plateau was soothing and smooth and I thought this is a perfect time to rejuvenate. Leaving everyone behind I started with a brisk walk and test own endurance level. The brisk walk couldn't help me in taking lead from Omkar, Shrikant & Viraj alias Dhokla Bhai these guys' normal walk is equivalent to my brisk walk. After walking for a while we all thought of regrouping and wait for our trail tail Kishan, Shilpa, and Dimple. We waited for some time and at distance we saw 3 of them in tired posture and suddenly girls turn from gloom to gleam, Their tired faces were now shining like bright sky trying to understand the reason I turned back and saw SAGAR had unpacked his bag and like the shining sword of any charming prince he held out his DSLR. 

Even GOD couldn't stop the photo session and Sagar who was earlier walking ahead of everyone now trailing behind. After covering the plateau Ravi took us a bit off track for another photo session where we clicked Jump photo and also took a quick breather. That was base of the fort, after walking for almost 2 hrs 30 mins we had just reached the base of Manikgad. 

You will find a unique idol of Hanuman at the base of fort its feature are:

* Right hand is near the right ear with an open palm

* There is deity being crushed below idols legs

This idol is said to be the protector of the fort and keeps evil away. 

Ravi, Thanks for enlightening us with this piece of information

It was around 3:00 pm and approximate 4 hours more to sunset and we had a big task on our hand we had to reach the pinnacle and again return back to the base village before the sun rests in the west. Now the fort seems very tall. We had a task on hand because trek was now getting challenges we had a target of a one-day cricket match to be completed in T20 innings.

We started after quick discussion that phones need to rest now and no more photos and selfies, I know girls were a bit sad as they had limited stock for their social presence.

Trek was now through dense forest cover, everyone will agree that we were walking under tree cover where we experienced late evening light ambiance during are ascend from 3:30 pm to 4 pm. We came across small water gushes, we got some time to soak ourselves in those rapids but also had to keep in mind our timelines, now we had paced up as Ravi told us that this last leg of reaching the top. With grass, rapids swing to tune of wind on our right and mighty Manikgad to our left we kept on moving and moving. It was all walk walk walk... but we dint stop till we reach the top.

Finally, we were there for the last 100 steps and rain god joined the party along with wind singing breathlessly from pinnacle to base. I had to bow down in front of nature and wait for the rain to calm its excitement. After submitting to nature we entered the fort area. Most of the parts of the fort are in ruins. There are water tanks that are favorable for drinking. Ravi was strict due to time we only had 30 mins on the summit. His clear instructions were we have start descend by 5:00pm.

Settling down near one of the drinking water tanks we all unpacked our food packets. All food disappeared within no time leaving only packets to be picked up and carried back to proper disposable place. We quickly started we descend after clicking our mandatory groupie.

The instruction was clear run if possible. Me, Sugandha & Dimple lost our way on a couple of occasions but we were quick to rectify. 

We pushed ourselves dragged and got out of our stretched comfort zone and made it to base before sunset.

By now I had realized I won't be walking normally for at least one day. The bigger task in front of us was our drive back home.

At Kon Phata we disperse at our own pace with tired body & strong mind.

The activity band had clocked 33000 steps and flights of roughly 200 floors.

Manikgad gave important lessons even if one is tired physically if he is equipped mentally to scale it he can do it.

Drive back home was very tiring. I hope Dimple reached home on time. Shilpa had to call her mom downstairs to pick her up. Sugandha left limping with both the legs.

Shrikant, Omkar, Kishan, Viraj & Sagar enjoyed chicken treat at Panvel.

The next morning I had to wake up early and rush to a fish market to pick up some fresh Pomfret (Paaplet) for Ananya, the excuse of legs paining like hell would have created an obstruction for the upcoming trek so with tired legs and smiling face hopped on my scooty.

That's all I could recollect from my experience to Mighty Manikgad...

Don't forget to keep your comments below.....