We had been trekking to Matheran from Bhivpuri station. We started from Bhivpuri at 8.30 am and had thought we would be reaching Matheran by 12.30 pm. So it wasn’t going to be a long trek but we reached Matheran at 5.30 pm. On the way we walked to see the Pali dam which was actually unplanned but it added to the time and the energy spent.
Personally I am not a regular trekker, though I have always found it adventurous and fascinating. In our group of 10, most of us were novice and for some it was the first trek. The trek was difficult than what we had expected. It was difficult even for the professional trekkers. We all had started with full vigor and enthusiasm, but as the energy levels started going down, the trek was becoming more steep and difficult to climb. Continuous heavy rains were making it slippery and there were land slides too.
We somehow reached the Thakurwadi village and there was still more to climb. The villagers told us it was just one and half hour more to climb, but it was definitely going to take more time for us as we had been walking since 8.30 in the morning and most of us were already drained out. Still determined we continued climbing till we reached a point where there was no way ahead. We were lost. We were contemplating of returning back but that also seemed difficult now as the Thakurwadi village was out of sight because of the fog and we did not remember the exact way back. There wasn’t a plain terrain close by and we were all there holding the rocks and on the edges of the mountain. Also since last few hours there wasn’t any trace of villagers who climb up to Matheran or down to the village in Thakurwadi.
We were all stuck, stuck between life and death. All I could think of was Lord Dattaguru who has always stood by me in difficult times. Me and my sister were already praying and in no time one of my friends who was ahead spotted a villager wearing a yellow raincoat climbing down with jaggery(गुळाची ढेप). He was going to his home for lunch. He agreed to help us reach the top. With his help we climbed a number of steep points and risky edges which I am sure we otherwise wouldn’t have climbed. Finally we reached the top where the first thing I could see was a tree there were photos of different deities (You will find this in many places in India) and my eyes fell on the big photograph of Lord Dattaguru. I immediately folded my hands and my eyes were full of tears, my sister who was by my side since I was getting exhausted quickly sensed that I am getting too emotional, gestured me to control myself. I composed myself and then we walked.
I must not forget to mention about a black dog who accompanied us from Bhivpuri station to Matheran. He climbed with us all the way and was shivering because of the heavy rains. I felt sorry as there was little I could do to help him. We offered him biscuits which we had and I had thought of gibing him hot milk after we reach the hotel at Matheran, but before we reached the hotel he went away.
The reason I have titled this post as an unforgettable day is not because we successfully managed to reached the top or not because the trek was full of adventure and thrill but because I have never before felt the presence of Lord Dattaguru so profoundly and strongly around me. Or I should put it as of all the times I have felt his presence, I realized it more profoundly this time
Personally I am not a regular trekker, though I have always found it adventurous and fascinating. In our group of 10, most of us were novice and for some it was the first trek. The trek was difficult than what we had expected. It was difficult even for the professional trekkers. We all had started with full vigor and enthusiasm, but as the energy levels started going down, the trek was becoming more steep and difficult to climb. Continuous heavy rains were making it slippery and there were land slides too.
We somehow reached the Thakurwadi village and there was still more to climb. The villagers told us it was just one and half hour more to climb, but it was definitely going to take more time for us as we had been walking since 8.30 in the morning and most of us were already drained out. Still determined we continued climbing till we reached a point where there was no way ahead. We were lost. We were contemplating of returning back but that also seemed difficult now as the Thakurwadi village was out of sight because of the fog and we did not remember the exact way back. There wasn’t a plain terrain close by and we were all there holding the rocks and on the edges of the mountain. Also since last few hours there wasn’t any trace of villagers who climb up to Matheran or down to the village in Thakurwadi.
We were all stuck, stuck between life and death. All I could think of was Lord Dattaguru who has always stood by me in difficult times. Me and my sister were already praying and in no time one of my friends who was ahead spotted a villager wearing a yellow raincoat climbing down with jaggery(गुळाची ढेप). He was going to his home for lunch. He agreed to help us reach the top. With his help we climbed a number of steep points and risky edges which I am sure we otherwise wouldn’t have climbed. Finally we reached the top where the first thing I could see was a tree there were photos of different deities (You will find this in many places in India) and my eyes fell on the big photograph of Lord Dattaguru. I immediately folded my hands and my eyes were full of tears, my sister who was by my side since I was getting exhausted quickly sensed that I am getting too emotional, gestured me to control myself. I composed myself and then we walked.
I must not forget to mention about a black dog who accompanied us from Bhivpuri station to Matheran. He climbed with us all the way and was shivering because of the heavy rains. I felt sorry as there was little I could do to help him. We offered him biscuits which we had and I had thought of gibing him hot milk after we reach the hotel at Matheran, but before we reached the hotel he went away.
The reason I have titled this post as an unforgettable day is not because we successfully managed to reached the top or not because the trek was full of adventure and thrill but because I have never before felt the presence of Lord Dattaguru so profoundly and strongly around me. Or I should put it as of all the times I have felt his presence, I realized it more profoundly this time
|| श्री गुरुदेव दत्त ||
7 comments:
Nice one.. By the explanation about the place you make me curious to visit this place. I must tell our trekking team to go there... I am crazy about this kind of adventurous and risky places.
Thanks Jignesh... I will give you the details if you want but be careful you don't lose your way and also since its monsoon, its slippery
Nicely written.... God is always there to help us... just call him with full faith and he appears... in any form. In your case he might be present there in the form of that Dog or that man who helped you to reach at the top.
But from next time remember... For Matheran trek, NORMAL trekkers follow the route of Neral :-)
Thanks Sachin.. :)
Great one, Nirmal...very well written. I accidentally happened to read it (followed the link from fb). You should share such blogs. I am still living the trek and I share the same feelings. The trek had each one of us praying...and somehow I feel Sri Dattaguru was with us even before we started praying. Sri Dattaguru has a dog disciple and we had the black dog following us (could be Sri Dattaguru's blessing to keep an eye on our safety)
Thanks Ashutosh .. Good to know that you liked my blog
Good one Nirmal...By reading this i am really thinking to go there one day..lets see will go with trecking team someday..Thanks for sharing this..
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