After office hours, I took the local to Kalyan; had my dinner just outside the railway station. I had to catch a bus to Khubi village, so I was told by a leader of the trek. I went to bus stand and inquired for the Malshej ghat bus at the enquiry counter. He said: "quick, board that bus". The bus was about to leave for Shivpuri(?). As soon as I boarded the bus, the conducted closed the door. The bus was nearly full. There were about a dozen guys and gals with backpacks. I sat in the last row; a guy was trying to sleep on the bench seat and was mildly pushing me. When some passengers got down at Murbad, I sat on a seat a few rows ahead; things were smoother then onwards. I reached Khubi 5 minutes before midnight. The team from Pune was expected to arrive at 2am. I drank a cup of tea. I heard a lot of noise of the type one hears during Ganpati festival or Dasara. I discovered that the village was enjoying an entertainment program ('Tamasha'). The road leading to the stage was lined up by temporary stalls.
The stage: a skit (in Marathi language, of course) was on.
A section of the audience gathered to enjoy the 'Tamasha'.
The programme was being held on the playground of the primary school of Khubi village run by the Pune district council.
The notice board of the school: someone wishes you a happy neY year!
Several pictures were painted on the wall of the veranda of the school; one such picture of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha.
The stage was just in front of the school; I got a 'green room' view of the proceedings.
Video (45MB): a glmpse of dance by artists
video (4MB): a glimpse of dance, to popular Hindi/Marathi tunes, by artists that was being appreciated (whistle) very much by the audience.
Video (25MB): a glimpse of dance by artists
Video (7MB): a glimpse of dance by artists
Video (40MB): Another glimpse
Video (9MB): a glimpse of dance by artists under the glare of coloured lights.
Video (5MB): a glimpse of dance by an artist
A well decorated house; the raised platform in front houses a holy 'tulsi' plant. Note that some people are sleeping on the front courtyard (they had enough of the entertainment program).
It was nearly 2am, the time of arrival of the leaders and most of the participants of the rappelling adventure from Pune. The mobile phone signal was weak and intermittent; my cellphone started warning that the battery power is low and I was worried. After several attempts, I contacted one of the leaders: they were to arrive 'soon'. I went towards the main road. I saw a temple of 'Bajrang Bali' (Lord Hanuman).
Just in front of the Khubi village is a check dam ('pimpalagaon joga'). I do not know whether the word PSS is an acronym or the result of ignorance of the painter (pass ->pss) - a painter employed by two Government corporations!
The mini bus from Pune arrived at around 2:45am. I introduced myself to one of the leaders. We slept in the courtyard of a house. A 1 foot high compound of the courtyard shielded us from winds. We woke up at around 6:0AM. A view of one unmetalled road of village Khubi. A boy is walking towards the national highway 222 (lower left of the photo). A hill is in the background. It appears like a triple humped camel!
The stalls were still there; the owners were sleeping. Some villagers have woken up. The school and the stage is to the right of the road.
The cloth roof ('shamiyana') of the stage (centre right) is fluttering. To the left of the stage is a cylindrical water storage tank. Loud speakers are still tied to this water storage tank as well as a bamboo pole. The open space that was crowded a few hours ago is empty now. The white coloured building (right) is the school building.
Sun rose in the east. The scenery was nice.
The horizontal straight line at the centre of the photo is the barrage.
There was a cremetorium (center) on the other side of the road. The Harishchandra ghad is visible at a distance (left most peak).
We had a quick tea in a stall on the side of the highway. The trekkers moved on towards the waterfall.
The leaders carried heavy load; the participants carried just their personal luggage and a safety helmet.
A view of 'Khubi' village after walking for about a km towards the waterfall.
The Malshej Ghat resort is visible near the top left corner of the photo.
The path led to a jungle and was going down. Some people suspected that this is not the right path. The leaders dumped their luggage down and started exploring the area in search of the correct path.
Since the search was taking some time, the trekkers decided to have their breakfast right now and here (instead of at a place near the waterfall). Idlis had arrived from Pune!
By then, the 'correct' route had been 'discovered'. we moved on, and saw a shrine enroute.
The Muslim shrine contained the grave of a saint. The would be rappellers are trudging up the hill (left end of photo).
Mr. Tambe, the senior leader, carried a dry log that will be used as firewood for cooking our dinner after traversing the 2nd patch.
Did he really need that extra luggage? That wood appears like the machine gun carried by the Rambo ;-)
Some participants reached the top of the waterfall. Harishchandra Gadh is in the background.
A trekker, wearing a hunter shoe, a blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a yellow helmet. poses for a photo.
Mr. Tambe has arrived; other leaders are about to start the setting up.
The participants are enjoying the view.
A leader is teaching the techniques of rappelling to an amature participant
One is guaging the depth of the valley.
A better view of the valley.
Different people try different techniques to peep down the precipice.
The rappeller (with a pot belly). The breeze towards the valley is apparent from the shape of the bent bush.
Video (39MB): A panoramic view of the Selu valley from the top of the 5-stage Malshej ghat waterfall
Mr. Makarand Bapat is exploring the best angle for a shot.
This tiny stream carries the overflow water of 'Pimpalagaon joga' dam. During monsoon, this will be a roaring river!
The water stream close to the rapelling line.
'waterfall' and the valley, 1200 feet below. We have to rappell down that depth.
A leader goes down first without the safety of a control rope. Then, he will control the descent of other rappellers.
Video (6MB): The leader rappelling down without a controller below. Another leader is orally explaining the techniques to participants.
Video (20MB): A participant rappelling down the first stage: Due to concave wall, the rappeller is simply hanging from the rope with no contact to the wall.
Video (15MB): A participant (right edge of the frame) is getting down the first patch. The controller is shouting instructions.
I rappelled down the first patch. I forgot to keep the left hand loose; instead, used the left hand to control the descent; consequently the muscles of left hand were damaged heavily. Halfway through, I just gave up and came down somehow. I thought over this later and realised my mistake. Things were smooth for later rappellings. In this picture, you can see two participants rappelling down. There is an over hang (concave surface) in the first stage. One person is seen rotating in an uncontrolled manner (in horizontal position on right); the controller will tighten the rope and stabilise the rappeller.
Waterfall and the rappeller.
He is almost down.
The rope is being readied for traversing the 2nd patch.
One snap for the record.
Participants waiting for the 2nd stage rappelling system to be setup.
A portion of Harishchandra Gadh at the centre.
A shallow pool at the bottom of the 2nd stage.
The 2nd stage of the waterfall.
The live, branchless tree appeared like a pregnant women.
The volunteers have set up the kitchen on a gully. The next day morning, a guy (near the fire) is filtering tea; others are enjoying the tea.
The leaders have started working fairly early. In addition to the tea and breakfast, they have to setup the rappelling. The ropes are being unbundled for today's use. Some participants are yet to fold their sleeping bags. The uneven surface of the gully is visible clearly in this photo.
The photo shows the first two patches of the waterfall. Notice a man near bottom centre of the photo to get a feel of the height.
The participants are enjoying 'phodni chi bhat'; the idea of making 'khanda poha' was abandoned as there was enough leftover rice from yesterday.
A participant starts rappelling down the 3rd patch.
Video (10MB): 3rd patch waterfall and the enticing pool below.
Mr. Bapat and the water fall.
The narrator in front of the camera.
The 3rd patch of waterfall forms a pool behind the bush.
The alluring pool at the bottom of the 3rd stage of the waterfall.
Video (5MB): A participant (top of the frame) is ready to rappell down the 3rd patch. The waterfall results in a serene pond with water drops falling from a height of about 500 ft.
Ms. Gandhi sitting on a rock at the centre of the pool.
A close up.
Mr. Bapat swims in the pool.
Water drops falling from a height of at least 500ft.
Video (9MB): Mr. Bapat swimming in the enchanting pool.
Video (6MB): Mr. Bapat jumping into the pool (after having guaged the depth) at the bottom of the 3rd patch of the Malshej ghat waterfall.
Sahil dips his legs in the cool water. Note the ripples.
Thanks Makarand for the nice photo; the colours are very vivid as you told earlier. This photo shall be the cover photo of the album.
Video (10MB): The 3rd stage of the 5-stage waterfall, the pool below and people relaxing/swimming.
Video (8MB): While the participants are enjoying the pool and the scenery, the leaders are busy dismantling the setup at the 3rd patch before they can re-setup the system for rappelling down the 4th patch. The last leader, before rappelling down, sets up a "U-loop" structure with a rope coming around an anchor at the top in a sophisticated U turn such that the rope can take his weight without slipping (Of course, the controller below does control the descend by belaying the rope as needed). Once the last guy is down, two or 3 leaders pull the rope down; thanks to U-loop, the rope slides down the anchor at the top due to combined pulling force of 3 persons (and the other end of the rope free, not held by the controller). A video of the rope being pulled to the synchronising call of "one two three".
Amarja, one of the 7 leaders, carrying luggage down.
The valley beyond the 4th stage.
Tiny pools just before the 4th patch.
While others get down the rock on the left and then cross over to the right, Sahil jumps directly; caught in the act.
The man in blue helmet is rappelling down the 4th patch. The 5th and the last patch is also visible (right edge of the photo).
Mr. Rao, one of the leaders.
Dhawal (lower left of photo) is in the process of setting up the rappelling system.
One participant has already got down the 4th patch and is taking rest (lower right corner).
The 4th patch on the left and the 5th patch on the right.
The river continues after the 5-stage waterfall.
One participant is about to get down the 4th patch.
Chief drinking water from the flowing stream.
A participant is rappelling down the 4th patch.
The view from the ledge at the bottom of the 4th stage.
Video (5MB): A luggage is being ported down the 4th patch. The last and the fifth patch is visible at the right of the frame.
A pool at the bottom of the 4th stage. Mr. Bapat took to swimming again!
The controller is holding the rope that controls the descent of the rappeller.
A well-lit view of the 3rd patch (upper half of the photo).
Mr. bapat tries to climb up!
Video (4MB): Mr. Bapat is successful in climbing up a rock patch near the waterfall.
Aha, he has conquered. In the previous video, someone said: "chalo, ek photo ho jaay". Here it is :-)
Interesting action video (3MB): Mr. Bapat, now, becomes ambitious. He wants to climb higher and give place to another swimmer (whose head is just visible). In the process, Bapat slips and falls down. The other swimmer quickly swims out of the fall zone ;-)
The last stage of the 5-stage waterfall. The 4th, and even the 3rd, stages are visible.
Video (10MB): 4th and 5th patch of the 5-stage Malshej Ghat water fall.
Video (18MB): A participant is rappelling down the last patch. If he comes down normally, he would land in a water pool. So, the controller has to pull him horizontally away from the wall so that the rappeller can land on a dry rock patch. The rappeller's release of rope has to be just after the controller pulls the rope.
Ah, Mr. Bapat has succeeded to land on the dry rock!
All the 5-stages of the water fall of Malshej ghat are visible in this photo. The stage 1 is about 300ft high and the stage 5 is about 100ft high; in the photo, the heights appear otherwise!
Luggage coming down the last patch.
Video (6MB): A synchronous act between the rappeller and the controller to avoid landing in water.
Youngsters are relaxing on a rock below the last patch of waterfall.
Video (2MB). The youngsters are relaxing.
Video (13MB): 5th patch of water fall; leaders are enjoying after hard work.
Aha! what a pose!
A group photo at end of the rappelling session.
A close up
chief declaring the end of the adventure, for the moment.
Mr. Tambe is clicking away to glory as Dhawal looks on!
A view of the 'dry' 5-stage waterfall from a distance. There are plans to build a check dam half a km downstream to collect the water flowing down a hydroelectric power generation plant, and pump it up above the fall to the upper dam during period of lean demand for electricity (midnight to 5am). The cost of pumping up water during the lean period is about 20% of the value of the resultant power generated during peak power demand (7pm - 10pm). This method of repeated usage of water for power generation (a rechargeable power storage) is being used in Pykara hydroelectric project near Ooty, Tamil Nadu.
Video (16MB): Hill range of Malshej Ghat
This area will be under water a couple of years from now, thanks to the check dam.
Finally, we see the 'Thitbi' village, a road head. We will have lunch here; a vehicle will take participants back to Pune.
The primary school of Thitbi village.
A close up. Goddess Saraswati blesses the students.
Some students (it was a sunday).
The 'kitchen shed' (mid-day meal scheme) of the school.
Children were playing.
Bhairav Gadh (the finger shaped structure) as viewed from Thit-bi village.
The Thit-bi village and the Western Ghat in the background.
The method of protecting hay; stack it up on a raised platform.
He claimed that he had climbed it up the last time he was here. At that time, there was a ladder to climb up unlike this time. So, he had to climb the tree to get to the top of the 'machaan'.
Interesting action video (3MB): An elder transforming into a kid for a short while.
Life in a village is tough. Despite being below Pimpalagaon dam, women have to carry water from a distance.
The participants inside the traveller.
We reached Khubi village at around 7pm. Mr. Bapat gave me a lift till Vikroli. I had a smooth travel back home. . . . It was adventerous and fun. The leaders were working nearly non-stop while the participants had enough time to enjoy the serene environment. Thanks inventurers!
Due to two extra persons (Mr. Bapat and myself) till Khubi, the leaders sat down on the floor. Here Mr. Tambe, the senior of the 7 leaders, sitting near the gear rod and yet grinning!
