Lost in the rain forest.
Sort of. Literally and figuratively.
After a long time we as a family ventured out. Slowly opening the doors shut by the corona more than a year back.
It was away from the lively concrete jungle that is Mumbai. To a place surronded by hills all around. Initially through the roads full of vehicles carrying many such people, making one wonder whether the corona fear has finally given way for the busy traffic to take over. Luckily the traffic started thinning and gave way for the monsoon scenery around to show its beautiful face.
So off we were on our way to Igatpuri, a hill town in Nashik dist. On the way the hills were beaming with mini water falls and cascades due to monsoon rains. The sight never fails to make us feel happy to get out of the car not only to stretch ourseves a bit, but to breathe in more fresh air full of monsoon fragrance and for allowing the eyes more spectrum to enjoy the enthralling scenery of the green filled hills near and far. If the road travels along the sides of one set of mountains, another set lie far away, covered with rainbearing clouds that look like caps protecting them from the sun above. The sun accepts the defeat gracefully and hides behind the clouds. But plays fun with both the mountains and the clouds by peeping through a lazy cloud and lighting only a little patch of the mountain with its sneaking rays.
And in the valley between the two sets of mountains railway lines, connecting Mumbai to Igatpuri and from there to some of the north Indian states, enjoy their privilege of providing the passengers with the beauty of the place around. After breathing in this breathtaking sight for some time we proceeded to our destination.
Here we are. In Igatpuri. Hardly about a kilometre from the railway station. The area is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The mountains, covered with dark clouds, look so near. They are in fact very near. So near that you can see the clouds turning into rain droplets and see them moving towards you. So it was drizzling all the time. The temperature is so cool always. You can reach out to the mountains and start climbing whenever you feel like it. Since the restaurants provide food you don't have to go out of the area for anything.
Just step out of the room, be there standing and enjoying the weather doing nothing else. Climb the mountains and enjoy the views the heights provide.
On our way back we stopped at a place called Camel's back. One of the mountains is shaped lije a camel's back and hence the name. This was in fact the other side view of the mountain we had climbed the previous day. And in a valley nearby there is a beautiful lake with the beautiful background of green hills and grey clouds.
Due to the high range location the internet connectivity was very poor and erratic. Even phone connection network was poor. So you feel like having got lost for two days in a rain forest, literally and figuratively. But you would inhale pleasant air and feel peaceful, far away from the maddening rush of the busy city and mundane routine, physically and mentally. Happy for getting lost.
