Nakhind Trek

Date: 01/08/2010

Type: Hill

Height: 2311 ft

Grade: Easy

Base Village: Vangani

Duration : 2 to 3 hours

Matheran Range
The Matheran range starts at Shree Malang Gadh in the north-north-west, continues to Tavli in the north, and then runs south and finally terminates at Bhivpuri Road hill. Strictly speaking, this range is not a part of the Sahyadri, but rather runs parallel to the Badlapur-Karjat railway line to its west. The Sahyadris proper run parallel to the same railway line but to its east.
Badlapur is the starting point for treks to Tavli, Badlapur Hill and Navra-Navri. Vangani is 12 kilometres from the city by railway, and is the starting point for treks to Nakhind and Chanderi. Neral is 20 kilometres from Badlapur city and is the starting point for treks to Nakhind, Peb fort and Matheran.

Journey

Inspite of heavy rains forecasted, Six young trek passionists assembled at Dadar for trek to Nakhind. Seems the trek leader(we do so call sometimes), gave us the wrong train info which made me to spend 1 hr in the station. As we are prudent intelligents souls, we strategically planned to catch a different train so as to catch our last sleep spent in preparation for this trek. We took a badlapur train, which was void and empty so as to sleep the whole journey (with wonderful dreams). Reached badlapur at 7:40 and the train to karjat is at 8:10 (we could've waited for 30 mins in dadar to catch this karjat train). I went for a small nap in a nearby train (as the station is wet almost).

The train arrived little late and crowded, which made us happy for making the right decision by catching a different. The base train station, Vangani is around 10km from badlapur and reached in no time. 

Our so called trek leader, have no idea about the route nor do have any experience to Nakhind. Though our trek leader read someone else experience about this trek in a blog. At the station we packed our lunch (Vadapav) and started our journey.

Villages

The base village Vangani is around 4-5 kilometres away and we were guided by the fellow villagers, and by an auto after 15 mins walk. Rain seems to be in full energy and in a mood to do a lot of workout ranging from mild to heavy rain with mild to heavy breeze (wind), but seems unstoppable. The windcheaters that we carried seems no match to them but acted as a phycological advantage to us. The autowala charged 10 bucks for each person to drop us out at the village.

Waterfall

On our way, near to our village there was a stop for waterfall and we witnessed more people interested than for the trek. Anyone who wants to have alternate experience or any sudden change in plan during this trek, can try this one. The waterfall was huge and beautiful made me badly want to be there as well. All i can do that time is to just hope that the time permits to do that.

Waterfall

Finally base village vangani arrives so do rain. One can have a nice pleasant walk from the station to this village.

Without wasting anytime We soon started our journey and only interrupted by the flowing stream.... Damn my shoe has to get wet which i obviously don't want too. Though there is an advantage being shoe wet as one won't care about any stream or water afterwards.The small stream is then followed by a big stream.. a really big one which forced us to form an Human chain to cross it.

After some 30 odd minutes, i was greeted by a plain. This plain leads to a village named "Vanganiwadi" (a small school also present over here). Vanganiwadi exactly lies in the median line between the base village (Vangani) and the Nakhid hill. Our so called trek leader decided to hire a guide based on his previous experience of being lost in the chanderi forest last year.

 

Base village & Guide’s family

The rain just aggravated more and started to trouble me. A single drop combined with the wind gives the impressions that a small stones and being thrown for trying this trek during rain. The windcheater provided no protection and i was completely wet.

The guide we hired was a young boy who charged 150 bucks ( i guess it's too high but accepted due of extreme weather rain). The way followed was a small waterfall and then by a thick forest. After some 40 odd minutes, the Nakhind hills arrives sooner than expected.

Nakhind Hill

The Nakhind hill was filled with strong breeze and felt like heaven (all treks are heaven though). I observed a pattern that at one side it is filled with clould obscuring my visibility and the other side is very clear. The same pattern i have observed in a few of other treks as well.

Thick forest leading to Nakhind hill

One of our friend who is more interested in Bird photography introduced us to a kind of bird existed over there. He also went on to explain that the main reason for that particular bird to exist at that greater height is to avoid any predators. I wondered how the bird witholds such a strong breeze though it easily glide through it. Also are we human being like a predators to them ?

One can see a lot of peeks, clearly visible once the fog clears up. In one of the peeks, there was a waterfall present like an eye in an mountain. The feeling exists over there can't be explained in words for sure, though photos can somewhat capture the place and beautiness, but not the feelings. A few minutes walks leads to a small hole right in the mountain peek. The breeze is extremely rapid here (imagine one can hardly open the eyes) as there was only one opening in the whole hill .

At the Nakhind Hill 

I settled there for the lunch and quite interesting to spend time there. 30 minutes later i started my return journey.

Peb fort from Nakhind

If one not satisfied with this easy trek, he/she can proceed further to reach peb fort hump which is 1.5 to 2 hours from here and start to descend to the neral.

The return journey was fairly quick. Inspite of the rain, I quenched my thirst for Waterfall by spending 30 odd minutes in the waterfall before returning to Vanganiwadi village. After a photosession with  with the guide's family and waving good bye, i started my return jounry to the base Village.

Views from Nakhind Hill

I would say this is one of the quickest trek i ever had so far. When i asked one of my friend for the time at the base, it was just 2:45 pm !!!!!
This is one of the worthwhile trek to remember.

Happy trekking :)