A Trek to Remember

The name Rajmachi literally translates to Royal Fish in Hindi (not sure if that what it means in Marathi). So when I booked the trekking event to this hidden hamlet in the clouds in the Sahyadri Mountains, I least expected what was in store. I had been pondering over doing something different from bingeing on Netflix and Prime over the weekends when I came across the Facebook pages of the myriad trekking groups of Hyderabad. On an impulse I booked the Rajmachi event with Hyderabad Adventure and Trekking Club.
The group assembled at the Nampally station and after the customary introductions, off we went towards Karjat (our base location) in the Hyderabad – Mumbai express. We encountered our first piece of adventure in Pune. When the train didn’t leave even after being stationed there for 30 minutes, we got to know the reason for the hold up. Due to incessant and heavy downpour in Mumbai and surrounding areas, the train was cancelled. The organizers were quick to act and booked us in a bus within an hour. After a quick round of the quintessential Marathi snack of Vada Pav and tea, we went hurtling towards our destination. We reached the base village at around 4pm and were instantly awestruck by the natural beauty of our surroundings. The lush green surroundings with numerous waterfalls lining the background, the gushing of the nearby stream and the magical element of rain transformed the location into a paradise on earth. Well, that was just the beginning and what lay ahead would just make this trip an experience to remember for a lifetime.
After snacking on some steaming bowls of noodles, we started our first real test. All first time trekkers were geared up and ready to go with the experienced lot showing us the way. With our bags secured with covers and raincoats pulled on, we trudged along the beaten path encountering waterfalls, myriad varieties of flora, and many other groups of enthusiastic trekkers and not to forget the Royal Enfield group who kept roaring past us. With every turn, nature unmasked its multiple layers of beauty. At one point I lost count of the number of wow moments. Waterfalls, streams, crevices, fog and rain kept us engaged throughout. With the light fast fading, we tackled dirt, rocks, knee deep sludge and slime and the relentless rain to reach the hidden in the cloud hamlet of Rajmachi. Sore backs, aching feet and hurting shoulders welcomed us into the darkness of the no electricity village. Dinner was simple and filling – baakri (rice flour rotis), dal, veggies and rice. A round of cards followed before we all called it a night.
The next morning brought in new surprises. At 4:30 am we were up and ready for trekking up to the fort. The enthusiasm was contagious and even after the back breaking trek of the previous evening every single soul in the group was raring to explore new heights. The darkness was shedding its shroud as daylight started to peep through the clouds. With dawn breaking in the horizon we started uphill, treading cautiously on the narrow path through the rocks while the clouds hovered all around us. Once at the peak we waited to get a view of the valley while the clouds played hide and seek. The moment the clouds cleared we all went up in a roar as nature presented us with yet another marvelous sight. Another round of photo shoot followed and we discovered hidden caves amongst the rocks.
We trekked back to the village while the rain continued to shower its blessing on us. Post breakfast, consisting of poha, pickle and tea, we started our last leg of the trek. The descend was as eventful as the ascend as we continued to encounter sights to behold. Nature in all its glory guided us back to the base village while the incessant rain showed us how beautifully it combines with nature to present us, city dwellers a break away from the maddening chaos of the rat race.