Korlai Fort, Revdanda, Rameshwar Temple (Chaul), Sundar Narayan Temple

Travel date: January 25, 2026
Mode of transport: public transport (MSRTC Bus).


    Life has been full of ups and downs, by the grace of God, there was a lot of wandering in 2023 - 2024. After the Kedarnath and Tungnath trek in May 2025, the wandering came to a halt. I don't know how six months passed while facing family troubles and what rubbed salt in the wound was that I had to cancel my ticket after taking a vacation from work for eight days for traveling to Rameswaram, Madurai, and Jinji. My heart was sad but I was also irritated, the medicine for this illness was a one-day wandering. It was necessary to return home in a day, so it was necessary to plan the wandering accordingly. Since the younger brother had a holiday, it was decided that he would leave the house and wander. There are many places for wandering near Mumbai, but it was not clear which place to go. Also, if you have friends with you, the journey will be even more beautiful, but at that time, the usual trekkers and friends were busy with their personal work. So I started looking to see if anyone had posted any advertisements on the WhatsApp group " Sahyadri Mumbai TTMM Community ". I came across an advertisement by Abhishek Dharmadhikari, " Korlai, Revdanda, Rameshwar Temple, Kanakeshwar Temple ". I sent him a message at 2 am, received his message in the morning, when I inquired about the plans, I found out that I had to reach Panvel at 7:30 am on Sunday. It was a bit difficult to reach Panvel from Goregaon at 7:30 am, at that time Abhijit suggested coming by bus from Dadar. I told him that I would inform him by evening, and started preparing.

    As usual, I asked Shailesh Dada about the places and told him how the planning was going. As soon as I heard the names of the places, Dada immediately said that it would not be possible to visit all the places in a day. This created confusion in my mind whether to go or not, but Dada said that it would be okay to visit one or two places, but you should go and come. Then, saying what will happen, I nodded to Abhishek and started packing my bag. This time, the journey was a little different for me, this time I did not have my usual friends with me. I was going to travel with strangers. Although there were countless questions in my head about what the person in front of me would be like, what his nature would be like, it was certain that I would leave the house for a journey. I went to sleep after setting the alarm for 3:30 in the morning.

Travel Description

    I woke up at 3:30 am with the sound of the alarm but I hadn't slept well, I got ready and left the house at around 4:30 am. While waiting for the first bus of the morning below the building, the watchman uncle told me that the first bus will be late today because it was Sunday. Since I was late reaching Dadar, I reached Goregaon station by Uber auto. I boarded the Churchgate local at 4:56 am. While reaching Santacruz, I got a call from Abhishek and he said that our plan has been cancelled. 2-3 people who were coming with us are not coming. I was disappointed to hear this, but at that moment I told Abhishek that we both should go and Abhishek also got ready. Around 5:40 am, I got down at Dadar station and came out towards the east, walked towards Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road (Eastern Express Highway). I didn't know where the ST buses stop, I had gone roughly. When I asked a person there, he told me to go to the right (towards Lalbagh). After going some distance, I saw Shivneri buses going to Pune. When I went there and inquired, the conductor uncle asked me to go outside to the highway. At approximately 06:20 in the morning, the Mumbai-Murud bus arrived, I boarded the bus and sat directly at the back seat since there was no reservation. Since the last seat was not reserved, I got to sit till the end. I took the Korlai ticket from the conductor uncle and informed Abhishek because he was going to board the bus from Panvel and he had already made his reservation.

    The bus reached Panvel at around 7:40, with Abhishek there was one more person (Kavita Chalke). So now there were three of us wandering around instead of two. As the bus moved forward, my attention was drawn to the clock and I was estimating how long it would take to reach Korlai. I thought it would reach by around 11:20. The bus reached Alibaug bus station at around 10:20 and the conductor informed that the bus would stop for 20 minutes to fill the CNG, everyone got down. So it would be even later to reach! At this time, we took a nap and came back to the depot and stood waiting for the bus. The bus did arrive but the unreserved passengers boarded the bus first and filled the bus. However, the reserved passengers had to stand outside the bus. Due to this, the conductor got all the passengers down and let the reserved passengers in first. Another 20 minutes were wasted in all this. So we were supposed to reach Korlai at 12:00 PM instead of 11:20 PM. The bus left Alibaug depot and went some distance and got stuck in traffic. We were stuck in traffic till Chaul Chowk, so we wasted about 40 minutes and got down at Korlai bus stop at 1:05 PM.

• Korlai fort
• History of Chaul and Korlai Fort
• Korlai Fort Tour

• Revdanda Fort
• Revdanda History
• Revdanda Fort Tour

• Shri Hareshwar Temple

• Sri Rameshwar TempleHistory of Sri Rameshwar Temple

• Shri Sundar Narayan Temple

• Expense details

• Time details

Korlai fort

    It took 15 minutes to walk from the Korlai bus stand to the foot of Korlai Fort. While we were walking towards the fort with the help of Google Maps, a local person helped us. He told us to take the straight path along the seashore instead of going through the village. There is a path leading to the fort from behind the Shiva temple at the foot of the fort, and one can also enter the fort from the north side of the fort by circumambulating the fort. The fort is situated on a hill and is not very high. We started climbing the hill from the south side, from behind the Shiva temple. In just 20 minutes, we happily reached the entrance of the fort and got lost in history for a while.

History of Chaul and Korlai Fort

    The village of Chaul in the Raigad district of Maharashtra and the nearby Korlai Fort are considered to be very important centers in the maritime history of Konkan. Since ancient times, from the Portuguese, the Marathas and the British, many powers have exerted their influence on this region. A unique blend of trade, war, religion and culture can be seen here.

    There is evidence that the history of Chaul dates back to 300 to 400 BC. In ancient times, Chaul was known by many names such as the following.

Champanagari : According to ancient mythological references, Chaul is mentioned as ' Champanagari ' or 'Champanavati'.
Simul : In the early years of the Christian era, the Greek geographer Ptolemy mentioned this port in his records as ' Simul ' or ' Timula '.
Chemul : In inscriptions from Kanheri and Naneghat , this place is mentioned as ' Chemul ' or ' Chimulo '.
Simur : Arab travelers of the 10th century (e.g. Al-Masudi) mentioned this city as ' Simur ' or ' Saimur '.
Revdanda : During the Portuguese period, a part of Chaul was given the name 'Revdanda', which is still popular today.

• Chaul was a major port during the Satavahana, Shaka, Kushan, Vakataka and Chalukya dynasties.
• Evidence of direct trade with the Roman Empire is found.
• Roman coins, beads, pottery, and archaeological remains have been found here.
• Arab and Persian traders used to come and go in and out of Chaul regularly.
• Chaul exported spices, cotton, cloth, gems, ivory, and aromatics.

Chaul was not only a trading port but also an important religious center.

• During the Buddhist period, stupas, monasteries and caves were built here.
• Temples were built during the Hindu rule.
• Later, Islamic and Portuguese influence led to the coexistence of various religions.

The Portuguese arrived in India in the 15th century and recognized the importance of the Chaul.

• The Portuguese established their colony in Chaul in 1507 AD.
• They divided the Chaul into two parts: “Chaul de Baixo” (Lower Chaul) and “Chaul de Cima” (Upper Chaul).
• They built many churches, forts and trading warehouses and spread Christianity. Even today, the remains of Portuguese architecture can be seen in the Chaul-Revdanda area.

History of Korlai Fort

• The Portuguese built Korlai Fort in 1521 AD.
• The Portuguese named it "Morro de Chaul".
• The main purpose of the fort was to protect the port of Chaul.
• Between 1657 and 1660, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj launched campaigns against the Portuguese.
• An attempt was made to conquer Korlai Fort around 1665 AD, however, due to its strong fortifications and protection from the sea, the fort could not be completely conquered.
• In 1739, Chimajiappa sent Subhanrao Mankar to Korlai, and within a year the fort was captured. The Marathas changed the names of the forts, renaming San Diego as Pusti Buruj, and San Francisco as Ganesh Buruj.

Korlai = “Kor + Lai (or Lai/Lai)”
Kor → Edge / Tip / High Cone
Lai → Place / Terrain (Old Native Word)

Meaning:
----------
A high ridge / place on a tip by the sea.
This meaning fits geographically very accurately, because Korlai Fort is located on a high ridge adjacent to the sea. 👉 Go to the top of the page

Korlai Fort Tour

    We started our tour of the fort, moving from history to the present. The entrance and the bastion of the fort are in a dilapidated condition, needing some repairs and the willpower of the archeology department. There are inscriptions and some symbols in Portuguese on the arch of the entrance.

South entrance of the fort

Royal insignia and inscriptions at the main entrance

Information about the symbols and inscriptions in the photo above

1. Symbols: Portuguese Heraldry

This carving is a classic example of Portuguese imperial iconography.
Royal Crest: The square frame in the center once held the official coat of arms of Portugal.
Seven Castles: On the right side of the main frame, you can clearly see the "castle" symbol. These represent the Moorish cities that Portugal reconquered.
Ornamental Leaves: The leaf-like carvings on the left and right sides of the frame are ornamental features of the 17th-century Portuguese "Manueline" or "Baroque" architectural style.

2. Inscription
The text is in ancient Portuguese and many abbreviations have been used to save space on the stone. The text of the inscription appears to be worn out and is therefore unreadable.

The term “ Del-Rei ” was used for the Portuguese king.
“ Anno ” is a Latin-influenced date system.
The words “ Fortaleza / Castelo ” refer to military architecture.

    After going inside the entrance gate, turning left and climbing a few steps, we reached the top of the fort. Right in front of us, we see a very large building, this building is the old church. This building is still standing. There is some carving on the entrance arch of the church. We took pictures and moved on.

Church on the fort

    In front of the church is a castle gate, and at the back of the church is an entrance, which also has a royal coat of arms and text written on it.

Coat of arms

The symbol of the spherical astronomical device seen in the picture above is called an 'armillary sphere' .

    

Meaning: This was the personal emblem of King Manuel I of Portugal . This emblem is considered a symbol of the Portuguese's worldwide maritime expeditions and navigation.


Text of the inscription
----------------------------
The lower text is very worn, but the text below can be roughly determined by comparison with similar inscriptions on Portuguese forts.

GOVERNOR AND CAPTAIN GENERAL
FROM THE STATE OF INDIA

MANDOU FAZER
THIS FORTRESS
IN TIME
KING D. JOHN

AS GOVERNOR
AND CAPTAIN GENERAL
...

YEAR 1XXX


    From the entrance of the building / bastion we went to the other side (the southern end of the fort). On the left side there are two guns and on the right side there is a temple / temple-like structure. Walking a little further, we reached the end of the fort. We spent some time there and then returned and came back near the church. We spent some time near the church and went to the door in the opposite direction (northern side). When we went there, there was a large inscription on the ground, which is as follows.

Official inscription of the Portuguese king

    The stone is placed horizontally, later broken (probably during the Maratha period or later during reconstruction), the text is engraved in Latin script. On the right side is a decorative floral / vellum motif with text engraved in Latin script. A square hole (for hanging a wooden beam / door)

    This stone is originally an inscription of an entrance or administrative building . It is a Royal Foundation Encryption type inscription . It is an official inscription of the Portuguese king , and the full script was used only on political/government inscriptions.

Text of the inscription
-------------------------

The text below can be roughly determined by comparison with similar inscriptions on Portuguese forts.

DOM IOANNES
PORTVGAL ET ALGARVES REX
MANDOU FAZER
THIS FORTRESS


Full meaning
------------
This fort was built by order of Dom João, King of Portugal and the Algarves.


    After seeing the above inscription, we moved on to the northern door. There is also an inscription on the arch of this door with text engraved on it. There is also another small four-letter inscription on the right side of the door, which is mounted on a stone back, as follows.

Royal Inscription of the Portuguese Monarchy - Coat of Arms

Explanation of the image above
---------------------------------------

Upper part – Coat of Arms 

Crown → Portuguese King
Shield → Political power
5 small shields (quinas) in the shield
5 dots in each small shield (Christian faith and royal legitimacy)
Creepers carvings around → Royal/political monument


Text on the stone – reading by letters
-----------------------------------------------
The lower text is very worn, but the text below can be roughly determined by comparison with similar inscriptions on Portuguese forts.

SOBRE O REINADO DE
DOM JOÃO
REI DE PORTUGAL
E DOS ALGARVES

SENDO GOVERNADOR
E CAPITÃO GERAL
DO ESTADO DA ÍNDIA
...
MANDOU FAZER ESTA OBRA

(The middle lines contained the governor's name and the exact year, but those letters are now completely worn away.)

Complete Meaning
----------------------------
This fort was built by order of Dom João, King of Portugal and the Algarves, while he was the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Empire in India.

Stone wall on the right side of the door

Although the above letters are no longer clearly visible, the letters S and R are clearly visible. As mentioned in the Gazetteer of the Department of Archaeology, the letters SPQR were engraved on the Korlai Fort as evidence of Portuguese administrative power.

Meaning of SPQR: These letters stand for SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus). This symbol was used as a symbol of power in the Portuguese Empire.

Portuguese Usage: The Portuguese Empire had adopted the ideological heritage of the Roman-Christian tradition. Therefore, they used the Latin language, Roman-style abbreviations, symbols indicating imperial authority on their forts around the world (Korlai, Vasai, Diu, etc.), administrative buildings and inscriptions.

We took photos of the inscriptions and went to the third part of the fort, there is a dilapidated structure on the left, ignoring it as there was nothing inside, we went ahead, and there are steps to the bastion on the right. In the distance, we saw a Tulsi Vrindavan, behind it is the tomb of an unknown hero and in front of the Tulsi Vrindavan is the Ratneshwar Shiva temple. We turned back a little and walked up the steps and went to the bastion. A cannon is placed on the bastion. The area of ​​Revdandya looked beautiful from the bastion and the structures on the guard looked like Drona Viv. While descending from the bastion, a tourist was seen drawing water from a bucket with the help of a rope, this is the same structure that we had ignored. There is a water tank in this structure. The tank is tied up from above to prevent water evaporation. The water is clean and suitable for drinking. After washing our face with water, we freshened up and went to see the rest of the fort. 👉 Go to the top of the page

Ratneshwar Shiva Temple

Although the fort is small in width, it is quite large in length. After crossing each gate, another part of the fort comes in front. After crossing another gate, we reached the fourth part of the fort (from south to north). There are no buildings in this part, although it may be black, this part currently looks empty.

Another entrance is visible in front, probably a building / watch tower. The length of this entrance must be approximately 12-15 feet, which makes it seem like we are going through a tunnel. There are towers on both sides of this building and guns are placed on it. Immediately there is another entrance. As soon as you exit this entrance, you have to climb some steps (dilapidated). The width of the fort decreases from this part (this is the fifth part of the fort). After going some distance, you can see a lighthouse on the left. A path from the fort leads to the lighthouse, due to lack of time, we avoided going to the lighthouse.

We went some distance further and thought that the fort tour was over, but it wasn't, we saw another entrance. But now it felt like we were done. Abhishek and I crossed this gate and went to the other side, but due to fatigue, we didn't dare to go further (the sixth part of the fort). While we were both sitting near the gate and resting, Kavita came and left saying that she was coming to see what was next. After some time, Kavita called us and called us. We went further and reached another gate. However, we avoided going to the lower and last seventh part due to lack of time. We inspected it from above, there are also guns placed on the bastions there. And here, after finishing the fort tour, we turned back.

Ganesh gate(St. Francis Xavier gate)

On the way back, another inscription was found near the entrance, as follows.

The name " S. FRAN. XAVIER " (St. Francis Xavier) is engraved on it.

Reference : Saint Francis Xavier was a famous Christian missionary who came to India during the Portuguese period. The fort's bastion was named after him.

When Subhanrao Mankar conquered the fort in 1739, he gave these forts Marathi names:
San Diego gate was renamed Pusti gate.
San Francisco gate was renamed Ganesh gate.

* The Portuguese were exhuming the body of this same Saint Francis Xavier and praying, when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj invaded Goa in 1683.

    We thought we could explore Korlai fort in an hour, but the fort is so long that it took us two hours. We had to visit many places, if we had more time, we would have visited remaining part. We reached the fort at around 2:40 pm. It took only 7-10 minutes to reach Korlai village, at the base village of the fort. We visited the Shiva temple at the base. We had prayer at Mahadev temple and spent some time in the temple. We saw a Satishila in the bushes in front of the temple, took photos of the Satishila and headed towards the Korlai bus stop. 👉 Go to the top of the page

Traditional Konkani Kavalaru Shiva Temple (Gad Paitha - Korlai Village)

Sati Shila in front of the Shiva temple

    The Satishila is an important monument in medieval Indian history, erected to commemorate the act of 'Sati' committed by a woman after the death of her husband.
The important features and meanings of the Satishila are as follows:

Structure of the Sati stone

The sati stone is usually in the form of a standing stone, on which certain symbols are engraved:

Blessing Hand : The stone depicts a woman's hand raised from the elbow. This hand is in a blessing position, palm facing forward.

Bangles and lemons : The hands are seen adorned with bangles, which is a symbol of being a lucky woman. The hand is often shown holding a lemon between the ring and index fingers.

Moon-Sun : The moon and the sun are carved on the top of the stone. This means, "As long as there are moon and sun in the sky, the virtue and memory of this woman will remain immortal."

Couple : The lower part often has a figure of a husband and wife (a woman who has committed Sati) carved in it.

    While going towards Korlai bus stand, we saw a lighthouse on the way. We stopped there to drink water and saw an auto rickshaw. We were going to go to Revdanda by bus, but to save time, we decided to go by rickshaw. When I asked the rickshaw driver, Mansi said Rs. 40. Without thinking, we got into the rickshaw and reached Revdanda fort in just 10 minutes. 👉 Go to top of page

Revdanda Fort

    We got down near Revdanda rickshaw stand. We walked for 5 minutes and reached near the 7-storey tower. I came here in 2023, at that time I did not know much about history, but this time I came after studying a little.

History of Revdanda / Chaul Fort

    Revdanda Fort (also known as Chaulcha Fort) is a very important and historical water fort on the Konkan coast. Its history mainly revolves around the conflicts between the Portuguese, Marathas and the Angres.


Some of the major milestones in the history of Revdanda Fort are as follows:

1. Portuguese foundation (16th century)

Construction (1524): The Portuguese made an agreement with the Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar and built their warehouse and fort here.

Trading Center: At that time, Chaul was a major center of international trade. The Revdanda Fort made it easier for the Portuguese to control this port and trade in the Arabian Sea.
Architectural Style : This fort is magnificent and its walls and towers are built in European style. The remains of many churches, palaces and administrative buildings can still be seen inside the fort.

2. Conquest of the Maratha Empire (1739)

Chimaji Appa's Campaign : In 1739, the Marathas launched a major campaign against the Portuguese. After the victory of Vasai, the Marathas' attention turned to the forts of Revdanda and Korlai.

Subhanrao Mankar's achievements : Chimaji Appa sent Subhanrao Mankar to conquer Revdanda and Korlai. After a long struggle, the Marathas captured this fort from the Portuguese.
Changed name : After the Marathas conquered this fort, its name became more popular as 'Revdanda'. This victory ended the Portuguese rule in North Konkan. 👉 Go to top of page

Revdanda Fort Tour

    As mentioned above, I came in 2023, so I knew that only the fort's ramparts, a seven-story building, and a tower remained intact. Abhishek and Kavita were taken straight to the seven-story building, currently the top two floors have fallen and now the building is five stories high. Different types of guns are placed on both sides of the building. After seeing the seven-story building, they were taken directly to the beach. There is a sculpture of Sharba on the rampart there. When I came last time, I had wondered what the sculpture of Sharba was like on the Portuguese fort. Later I learned that the Marathas had conquered this fort in 1739. Perhaps the sculpture of Sharba was installed while rebuilding the rampart at that time.

Sharab sculpture on the banks of Revdanda fort

    The last time we came, we missed seeing the cannon on the bastion . This time, we had decided to see the cannon, but we couldn't find a path to the bastion. When we asked the locals, they said that there was a path on the other side and that we could also go through the broken rampart. The sea water had reached the plate, so we decided to go through the broken rampart as our shoes would get wet. The large sharp stones of the rampart, the small canals on it, made walking on this a bit difficult, but there was no other option. After some effort, we reached the bastion, but the cannon was not visible, the cannon was right in front of us, but we were wandering around as if in a daze. After a 10-minute search, we did find the cannon, but seeing the liquor bottles lying on the side made my heart hurt. Currently, this fort has become a hideout for the Talirams. Anyway, we took photos of the cannon, we had heard that the cannonball is still in the cannon, but the cannon is currently rusty and it was difficult to move it. So the temptation to watch the cannonballs was overcome. The view of the vast sea and the coastline from the tower is amazing. Another thing I saw from this tower was that there was a way for soldiers to move around inside this fortification . This was the first time I had seen such a structure. I knew that horses could be ridden on the fortifications, but moving around inside the fortifications was the skill of the Portuguese engineers of that time! 👉 Go to the top of the page

Shri Hareshwar Temple

    After completing the Revdanda fort tour, we headed towards Shri Rameshwar Temple, Revdandaya Hunda Rameshwar Temple is 2.5 km away. Due to this, we thought of walking. While going to Rameshwar Temple, we saw Shri Hareshwar Temple on Google Maps, since it was nearby, we turned our steps towards it. The temple premises are very beautiful, there is a pushkarni on the side of the temple, and in front of the pushkarni there is a replica of Raigad made of small bricks. We had darshan of Mahadev and after going to the Kalbhairav ​​Temple located on the side and having darshan of Kalbhairav, we headed towards Rameshwar Temple. 👉 Go to the top of the page

Hareshwar Temple

Hareshwar Temple Pushkarni

Shri Rameshwar Temple (Chaul)

    We reached Rameshwar temple in just 15 minutes at 5:15 pm. We entered the temple from the footpath, the first thing we saw was the Ganapati temple (Vairagi Ganesh). The temple has idols of Shri Ganesh and Shri Dattaguru. After having darshan, we headed towards Rameshwar temple. Rameshwar temple is a traditional Konkani style wooden structure with wooden beams and a Kavalaru. The two bells built outside the temple prove the antiquity of the temple.

Shivling and ancient bells

    On the right side of the hall is the temple of Shri Narayana and on the left side is the temple of Ganapati. A large Shivling was made from small Shivlings in the assembly hall, which is mainly called 'Parthiv Shivling Mandani' . When many small Shivlings are arranged in a specific shape (e.g. in the shape of a large pindi), it is also called ' Sahasraling' Puja . We came out with the darshan of Rameshwar.

Parthiv Shivlinga (Sahasralinga Puja)

    We went to Vitthal Rakhumai Temple, which is adjacent to the assembly hall of the temple, and had darshan. There is a Navagraha Pata on the right side of the Rameshwar Temple, seeing that, we found the temple of "Ashapur" Mata, which is adjacent to the nearby temple, had darshan of the Mata and spent some time exploring the temple premises. The large Pushkarni in the temple premises further enhances the beauty of the premises. It was 5:40 pm, so we took a break and headed towards the "Sundar Narayan" Temple. 👉 Go to the top of the page

Navagraha Pat

Ashapura Mata

History of Rameshwar Temple

    It is believed that Chaul formerly had 365 temples, corresponding to the 365 days of the year, of which Rameshwaram is the main village deity.
Construction and Restoration: The exact date of the original construction of this temple is unknown, but it is estimated to be at least 400-500 years ago.
1741: Srinivas Dixit Baba renovated the temple with the help of Nanasaheb Peshwa and Manaji Angre.
1769: Visajipant Sarsubhedar built Deepmal and Tulsi Vrindavan.
1816: The temple's Nagarkhana was built.

Folklore : According to a folktale, this temple was built by the Pandavas in one night, but it could not be completed. It is also said that Kanhoji Angre later completed the work.

Architecture and Features

Temple Structure: This temple faces east and has a Konkani style sloping roof. The temple's nave is of stone construction with a 7.62 m high spire.

Swayambhu Shivling: There is a brass-plated shalunka in the nave. Unlike other Shiva temples, this place does not have a tall linga but a Swayambhu Shivling in a square pit. Women are not allowed to enter the nave.

Three tanks (Agni, Vayu and Parjanya): There are three special tanks in the assembly hall of the temple
Agni Kund : It is in the middle.

Vayu Kund : It is located in front of the idol of Ganesha.

Parjanya Kund : It is located in front of the idol of Narayana. It is a custom to open this 'Parjanya Kund' to bring rain in case of drought (e.g. there are records of this kund being opened in 1731, 1941). 👉 Go to top of page

 

Parjanya Kunda

Rameshwar Temple Complex and Pushkarni

Sundar Narayan Temple

    Coming out of the Rameshwar temple area, we came to the main road, i.e. Alibaug - Revdanda road, when we asked the rickshaw pullers at the intersection, they told us to go to the right (towards Revdanda - Murud). We reached the temple in just 8 to 10 minutes. The temple is adjacent to the road but a little inside, so it is not usually noticeable. We found the temple after reading the name board. Currently, the temple is under renovation. The idol of Shri Narayan in the temple is different, the moment we saw the crown on the idol, it seemed to be in Indo-Nepal or Indo-Tibetan style . The idol is very beautiful and attractive as the name suggests. Out of the 24 main forms of Lord Vishnu (Chaturvimshati Keshav Naame), 'Sundar Narayan' is considered a very charming and peaceful form. According to the iconography of Vishnu, the name of the idol is determined by the order of the weapons (conch, chakra, mace, padma) in his four hands . Eight avatars of Vishnu are shown on the side of the idol. We can remember which six of the eight incarnations are, but it is not clear which two of the statues belong to. Perhaps the sculptor could not have carved them in the right position or our study may be lacking.


The detailed features of the beautiful Narayan form are as follows:
​
1. Weapons in the hands of the beautiful Narayan form
In the forms of Vishnu, the order of weapons is measured 'clockwise', starting from the lower right hand, and moving to the upper right, upper left, and lower left.
The order of the beautiful Lower right hand: Conch, Upper right hand: Mace, Upper left hand: Padma (lotus), Lower left hand: Chakra


​2. Main features of the idol
The beautiful Narayana Murthy is recognized not only by the arrangement of her arms, but also by her expression:

• Gentle Pose : As the name suggests, this form is very 'beautiful' and pleasant. It has a smile on the face of the Lord and compassion in the eyes.
• Ornaments : This idol is usually adorned with all kinds of ornaments. There is a crown on the head, a Kaustubh bead around the neck and a Vajrayanti garland.
• Standing idol (Sthanak): The beautiful Narayana form is usually depicted in a standing position (Sthanak idol), symbolizing his readiness to bless devotees.
• Prabhaval : Behind the idol is a beautifully carved praavaval, which may have other avatars or ten avatars of Vishnu carved in it.

3. Differences between the forms of Vishnu
A total of 24 forms are created by the interchange of Vishnu's

Lord Sundar Narayan

    We had darshan of Shri Narayana and to go back to Mumbai, we came near Tita (three road crossing). It was quite late, it was 6:00 PM. The last boat from Alibaug Jetty leaves at 7 PM and it would take us 30-40 minutes to reach Alibaug Bus Depot (if there is no traffic). So instead of taking the boat, we decided to take the bus. Since Abhishek's relatives were in Alibaug, he was staying in Alibaug. We had decided to go to Alibaug Depot by share rickshaw and catch a bus to Panvel. By that time, the " Murud-Borivali " bus arrived, and we reached Mumbai by that bus. 👉 Go to top of page

Expense details

Time details

👉 Go to the beginning of the page

Nature's Compass: How to Find Your Direction If You're Lost in the Forest? (A Detailed Guide)

    Trekking in the Sahyadri Mountains or wandering through dense forests is a thrilling experience. But think about what if your team goes ahead, your mobile battery runs out and you are left alone in the forest? In such a situation, if you don't 'panic' and pay close attention to nature, it can become your greatest guide.

1. Alchemy of Sun and Shadow (East-West Direction)
2. Moss and bark on trees (north direction)
3. Ants' nest and nest (north-south direction)
4. Bird's nest (sign of the East)
5. Night Sky (Dhruvata and Mriga Nakshatra)
6. Soil and water flow
7. How to protect yourself in the monsoon forest? (Monsoon Survival)
8. What should you do when you know the direction but don't know where to go?
9. How to recognize human signs?
10. With the help of voice (Whistle or Shout)
11. With the help of light (Flashlight or Mobile Flash)
12. Mirror or shiny object (Signal Mirror)
13. With the help of fire (The Signal Fire)
14. Ground-to-Air Signals
15. Use of clothes
16. Water planning


    Nature is giving us signs step by step. We just need the eyes to recognize them. So let's learn how to recognize directions with the help of nature.

1. Alchemy of Sun and Shadow (East-West Direction)

The oldest and most reliable method is the use of the sun.

    Simple Shadow Stick Method: 1. Place a straight stick on the ground. 2. Place a stone where the end of the stick's shadow is (this is your west direction). 3. After 15-20 minutes, when the shadow moves, place another stone at the new end (this is your east direction). 4. The line connecting these two stones will show you the exact 'east-west' direction.

2. Moss and bark on trees (north direction)

The trees in the forest are living compasses.

Moss: Moss needs shade and moisture to grow. In the Northern Hemisphere (India), the north side of a tree is protected from the scorching sun. Therefore, the side on the tree trunk where the greenest moss is visible is generally the 'north' side.

Bark: The bark on the south side of the tree may be rough or cracked, as it receives more sunlight, while the bark on the north side is relatively smooth. 👉 Go to top of page

3. Ants' nest and termite (north-south direction)

Insects are very sensitive to weather.

Ant Hills: Ants consider sunlight when building their hills. The side of the hill that has the steepest slope or where the most soil is stored is usually the south side . This is because it receives the most heat, which is needed to incubate their eggs.

Termite Hills: Termites are located on a north-south axis. Their narrow part is north-south and their wide part is east-west, so that the hot afternoon sun does not affect the temperature in the mill.

4. Bird's nest (sign of the East)

Birds carefully position the opening of their nests to protect themselves from the wind.
Since monsoon winds blow from the west in Maharashtra, nests are often found facing east. Also, their structure is tilted towards the east to allow the gentle morning sunlight to reach the nest.

5. Night Sky (North Star / Pole Star  and Orian Constellation)

If you need to find your way at night, there is no greater friend than the sky.

North Star / Pole Star: This star is always fixed in the north direction. To find it, use the group of seven stars called the 'Big Dipper'. If you look five times further along the line of the first two stars of the Big Dipper, you will see the bright North Star.

Orion Constellation: If you are trekking in winter, the middle three stars in the Orion constellation (Orion's Belt) are parallel to the east-west direction. 👉 Go to the top of the page

6. Soil and water flow

Water flow: Water flowing down a mountain always flows downhill. As the water flows, it carries soil with it. If you go with the flow of the stream, you can quickly reach low-lying areas (where human habitation is more likely).

Soil moisture: Since the north side of the mountain is in the shade for a longer period of time, the soil there is more moist, while the soil on the south side is dry and reddish.


Summary:

1. Don't get confused: If you can't find your way, sit quietly in one place and drink water.
2. Check more than one sign: Don't judge by just looking at the moss, check the wind and sun as well.
3. Mark the path: Mark the path you are taking by placing stones or marking trees.

As beautiful as the forests of Sahyadri and Konkan are during the monsoon, they are also challenging. Along with finding direction, survival is a big responsibility. 👉 Go to the beginning of the page

7. How to protect yourself in the monsoon forest? (Monsoon Survival)

Nature changes during the monsoon. The following things can be your shield during such times:

A) Protection from leeches and insects

'leeches' is the biggest problem in the rainforest.

Solution: If a leech sticks to your body, do not pull it off, as this can cause injury. Always keep salt or tobacco with you . If you put it on the leech, it will fall off automatically.
Applying odomos or neem oil to the feet provides protection against insects.

B) Lightning Safety

If you are on an open plateau or mountaintop and lightning starts to flash, then:
Don't stand under a large tree: Lightning is more attracted to tall trees.

Find low ground: If possible, go to a valley or low ground. Keep metal objects (e.g. trekking poles or umbrellas) away from you. 👉 Go to top of page


c) Be careful while crossing watercourses.

During the monsoon, small streams in the forest can become violent at any time (Flash Floods).

Take a guess: If the stream water is muddy and has driftwood or mulch floating in it, it means heavy rain is falling upstream. Don't dare cross the stream at such a time.

If the water is above your knees, do not cross the stream alone.

d) Falling path and stones

During the rainy season, the rocks and soil become extremely slippery.

Watch your step: There is a 90% chance of slipping on the green moss that has accumulated on the stones. Use a walking stick to assess the ground before stepping.

If possible, walk on the edge of the dirt or with the support of grass.


E) Maintain body temperature (Hypothermia)

Constant exposure to rain can lower body temperature, leading to fatigue and shivering.

Waterproof bag: Cover your bag with plastic from the inside. Keep at least one pair of dry clothes wrapped in a plastic bag so you can change into them once you find shelter. 

Keep jaggery, nuts or chocolate with you to maintain energy.

"Nature is our friend, but respecting it and following its rules is the mark of a true trekker." 👉 Go to the beginning of the page





Finding your way in the forest is half the battle, but choosing the right path is the other half. If you can't find your original path, follow these steps:



A) Use the STOP rule

When you realize you're lost, the first thing you should do is:

S (Sit): Sit quietly in one place.

T (Think): Think - where was the last time you saw a familiar sign?

O (Observe): Look around - do you see any footprints, broken branches, or human traces?

P (Plan): Plan calmly rather than running in panic.


B) 'Water flow' is the biggest path.

The surest way out of the forest is water .

Find a small stream flowing down the mountain.

Start walking in the direction the water flows.

Streams continue to merge into rivers, and there is a 99% chance of finding human settlements or villages along the banks of rivers. 👉 Go to the top of the page

C) Reach the high ground (Survey the Terrain)

If there is dense vegetation around, climb a hill or high place and look around.
What to look for? Power lines, mobile towers, rooftops, fields, or a road visible from a distance.
If smoke is visible, there is a strong possibility that there is a human settlement there.


D) Walk in a straight line (Avoid Walking in Circles)

When a person is scared in the forest, he unconsciously starts walking in circles. To avoid this:
Determine a direction (e.g. north or west).
While walking, keep two trees in front of you in a line.
Look back at the tree behind you to see if you are in a straight line. This is called 'Zeroing' .

When leaving the forest, look for these signs of 'civilization':

Electric wires or poles: If you see electric wires, they are connected to a village or pump house. You can get out by walking under or along them.Cattle: If you see signs of cattle or dung, then there is probably a cowherd or village nearby. 

Foot Trails: Both animals and humans use footpaths in the mountains. A path marked with footprints or cairns can lead you to a safe place.

"You don't get lost in the forest, you lose your confidence. As long as your gaze and thoughts are steady, you can never forget the path." 👉 Go to the beginning of the page

When you are in trouble in the forest, it is very important to give the 'SOS' (Save Our Souls) signal to attract the attention of the rescue team. This is a globally recognized signal. You can give this code as follows with the help of simple tools you have:


10. With the help of voice (Whistle or Shout)

If you have a whistle, it is most effective.

SOS pattern : 3 short whistles - 3 long whistles - 3 short whistles (. . . --- . . .).Short: Blow the whistle for 1 second.

Long: Blow the whistle for 3 seconds.
This allows people at a distance to understand that this is not a natural sound but a call for help.



11. With the help of light (Flashlight or Mobile Flash)

You can signal at night using a battery or a mobile phone flash.
Method: Blow 3 short bursts of light, 3 long bursts, and 3 short bursts again, just like a whistle.
If you don't have a battery, you can move your mobile screen with the brightness at maximum.


12. Mirror or shiny object (Signal Mirror)

'Signal mirroring' can be done using a mirror, a steel box, or even a mobile phone screen in the sunlight during the day.
Catch the sunlight on a mirror and flash it towards the rescue team or helicopter.
Constantly flashing the flash quickly attracts people's attention from afar. 👉 Go to the beginning of the page



13. With the help of fire (The Signal Fire)

Fire is considered the biggest signal in the forest.

The number three : According to international rules, three bonfires in a row or triangle are a sign of trouble.

During the day : Put wet mulch or green leaves on the fire, which will produce thick white smoke .

At night : The brighter the fire, the better.



14. Ground-to-Air Signals
If there is a possibility of an airplane or helicopter flying overhead, make markings on the ground.
Dig out stones, wood or soil and write the word 'SOS' at least 10-15 feet long.
Make sure the letters are a different color than the surrounding ground (e.g. white stones on green grass).



15. Use of clothes
Tie the brightest colored cloth you have (red, orange, or yellow) to the top of a tall tree or stand on a high place and wave it.


Important note:

When giving any signal, try to give it in 'counts of 3' (3 whistles, 3 light flashes, 3 fireworks). Nothing in nature happens naturally in groups of three, so the rescue team immediately knows that this is a human action. 👉 Go to top of page


16. Water planning

Water is the most important element when you get lost in the forest while trekking. In such a situation, the following are some important survival rules to follow to plan and use water wisely:

A. Do proper water rationing:Drink water in small sips: Instead of drinking half a bottle at once when you feel thirsty, take small sips of water. This will keep your mouth moist and save more water.

Don't drink water to save water: Not drinking water at all can be dangerous. Keep drinking water little by little to keep your body hydrated.


B. Retain water in the body (Reduce Water Loss):Rest in the shade: Avoid walking in the hot midday sun. Sit in the shade of a large tree. This will reduce sweating and maintain the body's water level.

Keep your mouth closed: Breathe through your nose while breathing. Breathing through your mouth can quickly dry out your throat and make you feel the need for water.Keep your clothes on: Keep your clothes on all over your body to protect yourself from the sun, so that sweat does not evaporate quickly. 👉 Go to the top of the page


C. Control food: If you are very dehydrated, avoid eating anything. The body needs more water to digest food. Even if you feel hungry, it is best to avoid eating until you have water.

D. Finding natural water sources:Moist soil: Where the soil looks a bit damp or where there is dense vegetation, digging a hole is likely to provide water.Bird watching: The direction in which birds are flying or where their noise is loudest is more likely to be where there is water.Dew: Dew that accumulates on the leaves in the morning can be collected by wiping it with a clean cloth.etc. Water purification: Be careful when drinking water directly from a river or stream. If possible, boil the water or use water purification tablets if you have them.


E. ​Stay Calm: Panic increases the heart rate and depletes the body of energy and water at a rapid rate. If you stay calm and think, it will be easier for you to plan your water intake.

It is always beneficial to always carry a little more water than you need when going trekking and to know in advance where water sources are located along the way.

Kedarnath, Tungnath Trek and Religious Pilgrimage - Part 2

Travel date: May 21 to May 27, 2025

Mode of transportation: Train and private vehicle

Information about Tungnath Temple and surroundings

 

    Tungnath Temple is one of the tallest Shiva temples in the world and the highest of the Panchkedar temples located in Rudraprayag district in the Uttarakhand. Tungnath (literally meaning: Lord of Peaks), the Tungnath mountain forms the basins of the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers. Tungnath Temple is located at an altitude of 3,680 metres (12,073 ft) and just below Chandrashila Peak. During the winter, the temple is closed and the symbolic image of the deity and the temple priests are shifted to the Markandeshwar Temple in Makkumath village, which is 29 km away. It is located near Duggalbitha, 10 km from Chopta to Ukhimath. 

Tungnath Temple Peak - (PC - Amey Vipat)

    The valley between Chopta and Tungnath Temple consists of wooded hills with rich alpine meadows containing rhododendron copses and also agricultural fields. When the rhododendrons are in full bloom in March, they display brilliant colours ranging from crimson to pink. The Garhwal University's Centre for High-altitude Botany is located here. Near the top of the temple, just opposite the Kedarnath mountain ranges, there is a forest rest house at Dugalibitta. The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, was established in 1972 to conserve the endangered musk deer found in the region, and there is also a musk deer breeding centre at Kharchula Kharak near Chopta. (Ref - Wikipedia)

Alpine Research Center Board

Chopta - Tungnath - Chandrashila Trek Map

Flora and Fauna Information Board

👉  Important instructions

👉  Expense Tracker 

👉  Time Tracker      

👉  Day Five - Tungnath Trek and Darshan 

👉  Day Six - Dhari Devi Temple and Rishikesh Ganga Aarti 

👉  Day Seven - Return train journey

Important instructions

• For the Tungnath trek, keep the weight of the bag as low as possible. Essential medicines, raincoat, warm clothes (jacket), an extra pair of clothes (dry fit), extra socks, head torch, power bank, these items are enough. 
• Important medicines such as (medicines for fever, cold, vomiting and diarrhea, and electrolyte/energy powder) should be kept with you.
• The palanquin arrangement at Tungnath is very limited.
• The Tungnath trek is 4 kilometers long and the terrain here is quite steep.
• Like Kedarnath, here too, to manage the crowd, cars are parked at Chopta, and and further travel is either by shuttle (jeep) or on foot.

Travelogue

Day five 

    The previous day, due to rainfall, landslides occurred in many places, causing traffic jams, which resulted in a delay in reaching the lodge. Additionally, considering the weather forecast, there was a prediction of rain in Chopta and Tungnath in the morning, so we decided to leave late for the trek to Tungnath. We woke up between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on May 25, 2025. The first thing I did was check my toe blisters. Due to antifungal powder, they were slightly dry, so I hoped that walking for the Tungnath trek wouldn’t be troublesome. The past two or three hectic days had left us feeling relaxed today. Everyone got ready, and around 11:10 a.m. had breakfast and set out towards Chopta. This time, there were four vehicles instead of three; a Pednekar family was joined us. Due to the exhaustion of the previous two days, Ameya’s mother stayed back at the lodge to rest. Because of the rainy weather, I only took a poncho; I didn’t carry warm clothes to avoid extra weight in the bag. As the vehicle ascended to higher altitudes, the cold increased, and I began to regret for not bringing a jacket. Even here, police had designated parking spots 2 to 3 kilometers earlier for crowd management. Tourist vehicles heading to Tungnath are parked here, and further travel is either by shuttle (jeep) or on foot. Our driver managed to persuade the police, claiming we were headed to Badrinath, and dropped us off further ahead. Due to some traffic jam, we also got down 300 to 400 meters earlier and walked to the entrance of Tungnath. After approximately two hours of travel, we reached around 1:15 p.m.

Tungnath Trek Entry Arch

    Many members of the group had dispersed everywhere for shopping 😃. I, however, was shivering from the cold, so I drank tea to boost my energy. Ameya’s father, on the other hand, was not willing to go to the temple upstairs; he planned to stay in the car. Kaushal decided to go on mule this time, as he was feeling a bit unwell, so I did not insist him to walk. Several members, exhausted from the Kedarnath trek, had decided to go on mule this time. Vijay and Ameya stayed behind to arrange a mule for everyone. Due to the drizzle, I put on my poncho and started the trek around 1:30. Seeing the rain and cloudy weather, I felt disappointed; I began to fear that if the weather worsened further, the trek might have to be canceled. Shortly, I encountered Rahul, and while chatting with him, the trek continued. Since most of the group was behind, we were strolling, taking photos and time-lapses casually. While walking, we saw mule coming down from above, nearly falling along with some elderly women. His foot slipped, causing him to lose balance, and the women seated on it also almost toppled over. The person handling the mule caught her just in time and saved her from falling. Seeing this scene, my heart missed a beat; I was stunned. Luckily, the women weren’t injured, but they were frightened. I moved ahead, and as we ascended, the weather cleared up; the rain had stopped. Soon, all the group members were seen heading forward with the mule, and I bid everyone goodbye 😁.

    Rahul and I were having a chat while the trek was in progress when Pradeep came up to meet us from behind. As we were walking, a beautiful view caught our eye, and Pradeep exclaimed, "Such a beautiful sight is in Uttarakhand, so why go to Pahalgam?" And it's truly true—Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh offer scenery as stunning as Kashmir! A little further ahead, Rahul and the other members took a shortcut and went ahead of us. Seeing them, Pradeep and I, both of us, also took two shortcuts. While taking a break and resting, I saw Ameya’s father approaching from the mule, and I was surprised. Uncle wasn’t supposed to come—he was supposed to stay in the car. When I called Ameyla and asked, he was also surprised to see his father. He said he was convinced when Padhnekar uncle insisted.  (We are not lesser than anyone! A surprise from the father to the son!) 🫡. We were proceeding along the easier shortcuts. Out of the 4 kilometers of the trek, 2 kilometers had been completed. The mule was resting, and after eating the Theplas and almonds brought by Padhnekar Kaki and Ameya’s father, Pradeep and I moved ahead. At this time, Rahul had gone quite a bit ahead. 

Lush green forests and Himalayan mountain ranges

    I Continued trek with Pradeep, but Pradeep was quite exhausted. He advised me not to wait for him, so I shifted into fifth gear and moved ahead. As we progressed, the beauty of nature became even more pronounced; I started to see the white, pristine mountain ranges of the Himalayas, along with the spire of the temple coming into view. It was estimated that I would reach near the temple within the next hour, and with that, we hoped to have enough time to ascend the Chandrasila peak. Trusting this, I called Organizer Vijay to inform him. Due to network issues, Vijay couldn't be reached on any of his phones, but I knew Amey was with him. When I called Ameya and he handed over phone to Vijay and requested permission to go to Chandrasila peak, he refused, saying the weather could deteriorate at any moment. I had arranged many treks before, so I knew that the safety of the members accompanying us was the organizer's responsibility. Respecting Vijay’s decision, I dismissed the idea of going to Chandrasila peak from my mind. Deciding to reach the temple as soon as possible, I increased my walking speed. A little further ahead, I met Rahul Nair again, and he also expressed his desire to go to Chandrasila peak. I told him Vijay had forbidden us, but he didn’t listen (Vijay has forbidden you, no to me, and you didn’t tell me anything 😂). Saying "Alright," we continued walking and took a large shortcut that went close to the temple. It took us 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach from below the temple; it was already 4 in the evening.

Tungnath Temple Entrance

    Seeing the queue for darshan, it was certain that an hour would be wasted. I took off my shoes and stood in the queue. Rahul left the queue saying that he would come and see if there was any shortcut and came running in 2 to 3 minutes and called me. Saying that the Rahul must have done something, I also ran after him and joined the queue with the members who came forward on mules 😂 (After a little cheating, I entered the middle of the queue). The other devotees in the queue objected and said, "Excuse me, where are you going? Do you have a special pass?" When asked, I also said to them, "Yes i have special pass" and went ahead 😂. I had darshan of Mahadev in just 10 to 15 minutes. I went to see other temples in the temple area. After seeing the temples in the area, Rahul Nair left saying that he was going to Chandrashila peak. We did a photoshoot in the temple area with Kaushal and Prajwal and while leaving for the return journey, I met Amey and Vijay. After giving an important message to Vijay that Rahul had gone to Chandrashila Peak, we left the temple premises and waited for Amey, accompanied by Kaushal and Prajwal.  👉 Go to the beginning of the page

Tungnath temple peak and five Pandava temples

    Everyone in the group had darshan of Lord Tunganath Mahadev. After completing the darshan, I began my journey back to base. Vijay and Pedankar Uncle were waiting near the temple, while Kaushal and Prajwal were heading via mule. Once again, I took a shortcut and reached the main trekking trail, where I waited for Ameya and Jotsna. I met both of them, and the three of us started descending while chatting. After some distance, Ameya mentioned that there was also a Konkankada here. Curious, I asked him where it was, and he pointed to a small Ganesh temple and said, "Go to the rock right next to it and look down." I eagerly moved forward, had darshan of Lord Ganesha, and lying on the adjacent rock, looked down. I saw a deep pit, and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly stepped back—who knows if the rock was loose gravel and the stone might have broken, sending me straight to heaven 😅. I took a photo on the rock and then descended. Chatting along the way, we started our descent further down. Jotsna was taking many photos with the help of Ameya, and I couldn’t resist I also asked Ameya (Boss the artist) to take my photos from different angles as well. 😂. When you go for a trip, you should definitely have a photographer friend with you!

There is bright spot in every dark cloud. (Photo credit - Amey Vipat)

Sunset and red hues in the sky

    We spent so much time taking photos that Vijay and the other members who left late had reached ahead of us by taking shortcuts. We had already descended quite a bit, about one and a half kilometers, and captured a beautiful view of the sunset in the camera. By around 7:15 PM, we had reached the bottom, completing our Tungnath trek. All members except Rahul Nair had arrived at the base. When Vijay called Rahul and asked, Rahul said he would arrive in 15 minutes, and indeed, he reached within that time. Everyone saluted him and congratulated him. Rahul Nair had essentially achieved a feat of endurance—his own weight was over 100 kilograms, and he was carrying an additional 10 to 12 kilograms in his bag, yet he successfully reached the Chandrashila peak! We all took a group photo together. I, along with Amey, Rahul, and Nishikant, each had a cup of tea, after which we went and sat in the car. I was hungry, but after seeing all the oily snacks at the shop, I decided to go to the lodge to eat. 

Mr. Rahul Nair - From Chandrashila Peak

Group photo - After completing the Tungnath trek.
Sitting below - Pranali and Prasad. Standing behind, left to right -
Jyotsna, Pradeep, Ameya, Rahul, Nishikant, Prathamesh (me), Vijay, Ameya's father. 

    Around 10:00 p.m., we reached Shikhar Lodge in Chandrapuri. All of us arrived on time, so we reached the lodge early. After everyone freshened up and had dinner, we started playing Uno at 11:30 p.m. and continued until 1:30 a.m. If we didn't have to wake up early the next morning, we would have played all night. Thus, by the fifth day, the trip to Uttarakhand had pretty much come to an end. 😒 👉 Go to the beginning of the page

Day Six

    On the morning of May 26th at 8:00 AM, Vijay arrived in our room and, upon seeing us (me, Kaushal, and Prajwal) sleeping, exclaimed in surprise. "Are you still sleeping? Hurry up and get ready; we need to leave," he said, then went to his room. We had decided to leave late at night, but we didn’t know exactly when that decision had changed. We quickly got ready, packed all our belongings, filled our bags, and had breakfast. After finishing breakfast, we held a feedback session. Whether it was a trip, trek, or religious journey, it was so enjoyable that everyone's feedback was primarily positive. we received a call, and we brought our bags downstairs. After loading all the bags into the vehicle, everyone was busy taking group photos. Once the photos were taken, we bid a final farewell to Shikhar Lodge and set off towards Rishikesh.   

    At around 10:30 AM, we departed towards Hrishikesh. Just outside Srinagar, we stucked in traffic because, the landslide had blocked the road, and work was underway to remove the debris. Nearly 35-40 minutes were lost. Once the road was cleared, our journey resumed. Approximately at 12:00 PM, we reached near Dhari Devi Temple. We stopped the vehicle to seek the goddess's blessing.  👉 Go to the beginning of the page

History of Dhari Devi

    Dhari Devi is a Hindu temple located on the middle bank of the Alaknanda River between Srinagar and Rudraprayag in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The temple houses the upper half of the idol of Dhari Devi, while the lower half of the idol is at Kalimath, where she is worshipped as Goddess Kali. She is considered the patron goddess of Uttarakhand and is revered as the protector of the four Dhams. Her temple is one of the 108 Shaktisthalas in India, as mentioned in the Shrimad Devi Bhagavad Gita.

    On 16 June 2013, for the construction of the 330 MW Alaknanda Hydro Electric Dam built by Alaknanda Hydro Power, the original temple of the goddess was removed and moved to a concrete platform about 611 metres above the Alaknanda River. Coincidentally, within hours of the goddess's idol being moved, one of the country's worst natural disasters struck the region. A cloudburst occurred on the Chorbari Glacier in Kedarnath, causing devastating floods and landslides that swept away the entire pilgrimage site and claimed hundreds of lives. Locals and devotees believe that Uttarakhand faced the wrath of the goddess because she was moved from her original location, which was destroyed after a flood.

Dhari Devi Temple Entrance Gate

    Let's return to the travel narrative. Out of the four vehicles, two got stuck in traffic at the back. We (myself, Kausal, Vijay, and Prajwal) went to see the goddess Dhari. To reach the temple, one must descend approximately one kilometer downhill. Facilities are available for removing footwear; we took off our shoes and washed our hands and feet under a faucet nearby. Since the temple is located in the middle of the Alaknanda River, we crossed the bridge to enter the temple complex and stood in line for the darshan. While waiting in line for the darshan, a security guard suddenly called us forward and created a new queue, allowing us direct entry into the temple. The goddess's idol (face) is intricately carved and beautiful, made of black stone. The roof of the temple is arranged in such a way that the sunlight's rays continuously fall on the goddess's face. After viewing the goddess, we sat in the temple for a while. 

Dhari Devi Temple

    Coming out of the temple, I picked up the shoes I had left near the stand and went to the nearby bridge to take a photo. Two cars stuck in traffic had just arrived near the temple, and Vijay had received this update. Since the line for darshan was large, it was going to take some time for them, so we decided to have lunch at a small restaurant nearby. After having a lunch, we trek about a kilometer and reached at the vehicle, by the time everyone had darshan of the goddess. Ameya’s father came near the cars searching for something, and when asked, he said he was looking for his hand bag. Despite searching all the vehicles, the hand bag was not found, which confirmed that bag was left at the lodge. Uncle had given the bag to Ameya, but in the process of taking photos, he forgot to keep it in the car. When organizer Gaurav Negi was informed, he assured us to remain calm. He also promised to send the hand bag to any tourists from Mumbai who might arrive. After resting, we all headed toward Rishikesh. Since some members had not not lunch, we stopped near a restaurant in Srinagar for a meal. After having lunch, the journey resumed toward Rishikesh with the plan to witness the Ganga Aarti at 7:00 PM. All three vehicles sped up to ensure we could witness the Aarti. The driver’s focus and steering control were excellent. In many places, there was traffic jam. The Haridwar Road in Rishikesh was heavily crowded, but the driver managed the impossible, and we were dropped near Triveni Ghat precisely at 6:50. Triveni Ghat is about 500 to 600 meters from Haridwar Road. We reached there running. 👉 Go to the beginning of the page

Triveni Ghat Entrance

Triveni Ghat Aarti Place

    First, I met my colleague Neeturam Saini, who was waiting for Amey and me to meet. He had traveled 100 kilometers from Muzaffarnagar just to meet us. After meeting the friend and I headed for the Ganga Aarti, we headed to find seats, since all the seats were occupied, we went on the other side of the stand. Two other vehicles that had stopped due to unavoidable reasons caused some members to be late in joining us, and all members from those vehicles missed the Ganga Aarti. Initially, the Aarti began with the Dhoop (incense) Aarti, followed by the Deep (lamp) Aarti. The Aarti lasted for nearly half an hour. Members from the other two vehicles also arrived at Triveni Ghat. We released lamps into the river and spent time chatting with Neeturam. We planned to do shopping in Rishikesh, but it was equally important to give time to the friend. I didn’t take a dip in the river Ganga because I hadn’t committed any sin 😂😂. 

Me, Nituram, Ameya - Triveni Ghat

    Everyone had finished dip in the river Ganga, our conversation with our friend was over, we bid farewell to him and left for Haridwar Road because our cars were going to arrive there. On the way, we met Marathi film actor Amol Kolhe, shook his hand, greeted him, and then left. The cars arrived; Rahul and Pradeep's vacations weren't over—they were still traveling, so they stayed there. We said goodbye to them and started our journey towards Saharanpur. We had to catch the Golden Temple train to Mumbai at 12:15 pm from Saharanpur. Due to traffic, we expected to reach Saharanpur late; the driver speed up again and dropped us off at Saharanpur at 11:40. Note: Personally, I did not find Saharanpur junction safe; I felt it was unsafe for a newcomer and for women. It is advisable not to walk alone in the area outside the station. Even on the return journey, our seats were not confirmed; all the seats were RAC. The train was supposed to arrive on platform number 3. Instead of carrying heavy bags and walking, Amey's father decided to hand over everyone's luggage to the porter. At first, this decision seemed unnecessary, but since the train stopped for only five minutes, not everyone could manage to carry their luggage quickly and board before the train left. The train arrived at 12:15 at night, and we all boarded the train in different compartments. The porter quickly loaded the bags onto the train, and the decision to give the luggage to him started to seem appropriate. 

    Since everyone boarded from different compartments, the process of finding seats began 😆. When we (me, Kaushal, and Ameya's father) went toward our seats, a fat person was lying on a seat. When we asked that uncle to get up, he didn't want to, T.C. already checked my ticket, he started telling us to show our tickets. We showed him our tickets and also explained the rules. Later, he started telling us to go to the upper seats, citing that he was a senior citizen. But by then, the time had passed; if he had politely requested at the beginning, then might we have even considered changing the seats. Ultimately, we managed to get him to get up, and Kaushal and I sat on seats that were RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), while the fat person was forced to move to the upper seat. The person with him also started acting smart, but I restrained myself because six days had passed smootly and now I did not want to spoil the mood by arguing on the last day. In all this chaos, I had missed my meal and I also had a fever. I ate the poli bhaji brought by Vijay and took some medicine for fever and went to sleep. Interestingly, at this time, many seats in the train were empty. Some passengers were going to board from the next station, so the housekeeping staff asked some members of our group to sleep on those seats. Which helps us alot, now we no need to adjust two person on one.  👉 Go to the beginning of the page

Day Seven

    The last day of the journey, May 27, I woke up at 8 am. I freshened up and had tea. I was sitting on my seat watching the outside view, when Abhishek came, I realized that his sleep was not complete. I let him sleep on the seat and I went to the nearest seat and sat chatting with Jyotsna. After a while, Amey also came and our chat got lively. After some time, the other members also woke up and the UNO playing session started 😄. Lunch was ordered online. At 2:15 pm, the train stopped at Ratlam and Vijay went and brought the food. After having lunch, we started playing UNO again until we reached Nalasopara. At 10:45 pm, the train reached Borivali station and I, Prasad and Pranali got off, while all the other members got off at Mumbai Central. At approximately 11:15 pm, I reached home in Goregaon.

    We had fun for seven days, and even had a glimpse of God. We never realized when these seven days ended, it seemed like the seven-day vacation ended in a single day, the reason for this was the sweet nature of all the members of the group. When we go on a trip with a group, everyone wonders what the unknown members of the group would be like, what their nature would be like. But because all the members of this group were so friendly, the seven-day journey was pleasant and happy. Many thanks to all the members of the group, as well as special thanks to the organizer Vijay Sutar and the organizer from Uttarakhand, Gaurav Negi. Also, special thanks to UNO for introducing each other through this game 😀 . 

Oh yes! I forgot to mention Ameya Vipat's handbag. Gaurav Negi sent the handbag with some Mumbai tourists and Ameya received it on May 31.

Expense Tracker

Time Tracker

👉 Go to the beginning of the page

👉 Kedarnath, Tungnath Trek and Religious Pilgrimage - Part 1