Trek to Kondana Caves

This time around the monsoons are at below average levels. We might be on the brink of drought.

This worried us. Immensely.

Not the drought, but the possibility of lesser monsoon treks. Determined, we decided to make the best of what global warming et al had left us with. And so was planned a trek on the second consecutive Sunday.

This time it was more planned than earlier. Destination Kondana Caves. We would drive to the village and trek up from there. Our planning was exhaustive (we checked out exactly three blog posts). Our execution, flawless (all of us knew exactly what we had signed up for as we started). One way or the other, we started. The ‘we’ here is Vikas, Ankur, Mona and me. By virtue of it being a family trip, we were accompanied by a basket full of home cooked picnic food.

It was an early morning start. I am still amazed at the fact that we started around the time we had planned to. Given that more than one of us was not exactly what you would call a morning person. Guess the starting from home helped.

We took the eastern express highway to Ghatkopar, post which we joined the Sion - Panvel highway; and eventually NH4 to Karjat. It was a pleasurable drive. Especially till Powai. Though I have a feeling my co-travelers might not agree too emphatically. I loved it though; I was on the wheel after all. But having decided that I liked peeping out of the window and making faces at passing cars better than driving intently, I forsook the wheel for the right to relax with my feet out of the window.

The drive was green as ever. The icing on the cake (literally) was Ankur and Mona’s sandwich making skills. Fully loaded, we reached Karjat from where we started towards Kondivade village and eventually to Kondana Village. Imagine my surprise when on reaching Kondana I realized I had been to the exact same village earlier! And this was no de-ja-vu. I realized then that a certain rafting expedition last year had started from the exact same place!

The disappointment though was the presence of about four cars and a bus! Apparently all those people had also trekked up to the caves. Having resigned to the fact that it was going to be crowded on the top, we started our trek. We decided not to carry anything up (except some money and a camera). And it was the best decision we ever made. We got wet in the rain without the pressure to stay dry. Trod on slippery terrain without having to balance weight on our shoulders.



It was a good trek. Green. Not very difficult. Except for the often slippery surface. We took breaks in the guise of “photo breaks” every time we were tired. Result being a LOT of photographs! But we made it to the top. In one piece. Rather four pieces.

The caves were both disappointing and awe-inspiring at the same time. Disappointing because there were too many people; and because the waterfall at the mouth of the cave had little water (given the below average monsoons). Awe-inspiring because it was really something. That architecture carved in a mountain which was not very easily accessible! I felt like it was one of those mystical places; that seekers of nirvana would look for. A cave in a distant mountain; hidden behind a waterfall. Found only by those who already knew of its existence. Where Buddhist monks meditated; for days; maybe even weeks or years.


A little playing the waterfall later, we decided to start our descent; away from the noisy crowd. We decided to stop by another largish waterfall we had seen on our way up. We reached there (wondering all along if we were on the right trail) only to find people there as well! We played in the waterfall anyway. The guys, being guys, picked up a fight; forcing us sensible women to pull them away towards quieter places; meaning the way back.

It was an easy job downhill. Almost uneventful. When things took a turn; we heard an unusual noise. It sounded like a pig, only deeper. And as if it was a grunt; rather than a snort. Inquisitiveness took over; and discovered an Ostrich farm! In our very own Sahyadris. There were hundreds of them. They are quite some birds; an almost dainty stroked neck with very well defined nostrils and ears. And intelligent too. All of them gathered around us; one even venturing out of the fence to get a better look at us. We stood there mesmerized. It took one of us almost getting pecked for us to move.

After a while we reached the village. Wet. Happy. Tired. Content. We found an interesting place to change. Took turns getting dry. And started back. Knowing we could check Kondana caves off the list :)