The Doodh Sagar Water falls

Onset of monsoons makes the greenest patch of forests in India goes greener. It’s not only the Greenery of Western Ghats which makes me stand on one feat to go to the Ghats but the aromatic fresh air that makes you feel green from the inside, colourful wild flowers dancing in the mild breeze, birds and insects making their peculiar noises, little water-falls like white lines on a green canvas, clouds floating over the trees and mountain peaks, the scene and experience is nothing but the bliss of heaven on earth. 

A Flower drenched in Monsoons

Last weekend I along with 3 of my close friends Satya (Aka Love Guru), Man Singh (Aka Maniya), and Ashish (Aka Khaj) decided to do a trek from Castle rock railway station to the Gorgeous “Doodh Sagar Water falls”. 

 The Castle Rock Railway Station

At the time of start the trek sounded like one of the easiest treks that we will have, but this off beat trek along the sidelines of railway track threw up its own challenges. Lining on the side ways of trek was extremely thin and the walking on the rocky bed of railway tracks was extremely cumbersome. Finally we retorted to placing baby steps on the concrete rails of the trek. 

The sign board of Breganza Ghat section introduced us to the first curves on the railway tracks, and very soon came along our first tunnel. One needs to be ultra cautious in railway tunnels as these tunnels attract a lot of mice because of food items dropped from the train by the passenger, which in turn attracts Snakes in the surroundings. 

Curvy Tracks

Inside a Tunnel

Once we reached Caranzole railway station, we decided to board a Goods train going towards Doodh Sagar so that we can spend more time with the Cynosure of the trip i.e. the falls itself. We requested the goods train driver to provide us the lift till Doddh Sagar Falls, and the railway engine driver obliged. Boarding the railway engine made me nostalgic and took me to those days of my childhood when I had a lasting desire to become a railway engine driver. Journey on the extended platform of a goods train sponsored by the benevolent Indian railways is a treat for any off beat traveler like me.

It was raining heavily as we went deeper in to the Ghats. Mother Nature was giving us best example of “How if we take care of the nature, the nature will take care of us”.

Water Drops on the Tracks (Photographed By Satyesh)

We left the train ride at the Doodh Sagar railway station. And as soon as the train and its noise was gone our ears were getting senses of aquatic acoustics. As soon as we crossed the next tunnel ahead of us the volume of water fall was getting more and more pronounced. This was coupled along with the absolute white sight of a water fall amidst a green frame.

As we reached closer to water fall I could see a smile on each one of the face present near the fall. It took me a lttle bit a time to adjust myself with magnanimity of the sight in front of me. Water plummets hundreds of feet in large volume, in cascades, forming one of the most spectacular of all natural phenomena.

Doodh Sagar Waterfalls

One of my all time favourite flavour has been the tasteless water flowing through the untamed and musical cascades in the Ghats, and I was not going to miss a single opportunity to taste the water of the Doodh Sagar water falls. I quenched my thirst and the taste and coolness of water quenched my desire. I sincerely feel that to experience the real charm and the magic of the falls, one need to personally be there.

It was raining heavily near the falls and after some time we realized that it was not the rains but actually the clouds full of water around us which were making us drenched from head to tow.

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We took back a passengers train on our way back. One of the astonishing things about the tiny station of “Doodh Sagar” is the fact that it has a big hear as big as the water fall that it hosts. There is a note written on the station that “Tickets will not be sold at this station” 

 The Castle Rock

As we were coming back I was thanking the god and Indian railways all the way for providing so much of delightful experiences in a single day.

Radhanagari in summers

Radhanagari in summers

We left Kolhapur at around 6 o clock in the morning on our bikes and with the amount of Chill in the air no one could say that it was a summer morning. The weather was giving us the best lessons on how trees could protect earth from Global warming.

We reached at the entrance of the Sanctuary at around 8'o clock. While registering ourselves at the Forest department we enquired about the results of latest Wild animal census conducted in the sanctuary. The Forest officer told us that there are 3 Royal Bengal Tigers, around 15 leopards and more than 650 Bisons in the reserve. The numbers sounded quite a handful for a reserve that is spread in 350 Sq Km of area. The Range officer also informed us that a Tigress in the reserve has given birth to two cubs. This came as a zephyr of relief for all of those like us who are concerned about the disseminating Tiger population in India. 

 

It was such a pleasant feeling to see a low group of cloud over the Radhanagari Lake; I had witnessed a similar scene in monsoons as well. You can see the picture by clicking on the following link http://simplysiddhartha.blogspot.com/2009/08/hiking-in-radhanagari-wildlife_26.html

We happened to be the first group of people to have entered the Sanctuary that day. This made us witness amazing amount of Pug marks left by the Animals during the last night. All the signs of the Pug marks on the trail were shouting loudly that the Sanctuary is still lively and active. 

The best part about the Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary is the fact that there are 3 watch towers provided at the prominent animal sighting locations; all these locations provide a clear view of the water reservoir. 

To our misfortune we could not take the snaps of the wildlife that came in front of us. They were a bit too quick for our cameras. We came across, Wild Cat, Wild Cock, Pea-Hens, and not to mention Beautiful species of camera friendly butterflies of Western Ghats. 

While exploring the interiors of the jungles and searching for Snakes we came across a cave fully occupied by the Bats. 

The Mystical snakes eluded us this time as well.

For me sightings of Butterflies has such a calming influence that I tend to forget the heat, the terrain, the tiredness everything. 

While during the exit from the sanctuary some of the beautiful flora of the Jungle waived good bye to us. 

Amba and Vishalgad

Location Guide:

60 KMs from Kolhapur on Ratnagiri road. From Amba city take Left  turn towards Vishalgad.

Going in to any of the fort, mountain tops, view points of western ghats just gives one message that its not the destination but the journey is more important.

 

Every time I have explored so much on en-route to my every trip to Ghats that my expectation level has increased so much and has developed an insatiable desire for exploring the ghats more and more.

 

 

 

This trip was meant to be trip to Vishalgad, but due to rains the culmination could not happen at the Vishalgad fort.

Sitting on the banks of Kasari Lake is an experience which will definitely test the writing skills of any of the travelogue writer.

Watching the Sunsets at the Kasari lake as been one of the most fulfilling and soulful moments of my life.

 

Nature & Kolhapur

These are the Pictures of Natural life in an around Kolhapur. I am fortunate enough to capture many snaps of a wonderful bird known as Fan tailed flycatcher, A Kite, and Amazing  White Jawakusum Flower.

 

A Snap of Fantailed Flycatcher

 

 

Kolhapuri Food Kolhapuri Mutton

 

 

The Amba Jungles

The Jungles of Amba are located nearly 60 Kms from Kolhapur on the road to Ratnagiri. These forests are again a part of Western Ghats. 

I came across Amazing flowers,landscapes, wild life and not to mention peace of mind. 

The Flowers in Amba Ghat- 

During the onset of Monsoons the Scenic beauty of Amba Forests is just a treat to watch.

Amba forest holds amazing flora and fauna. One just cant stop admiring the wild flowers on the way to Ghats.

The Bird Life:

The Jungles are Amba are home to some of the very rare species like The great Indian Squirrel, Russel viper snakes and loads of Ambhibians.

To my luck I could find these birds but even sitting in the foothills of the ghats and watching these birds was a treat.

The Landscapes of Western Ghats- Amba Jungles:

Certain landscapes just takes your breath away. The Onset of monsoons clouds on western ghats is just a sight which never can be resisted.