The Oath Of Independence Revisited!!!

“आपण हिंदवी स्वराज्याची स्थापना करून एक परिपूर्ण राज्य बनवू आणि त्याची नेहमी रक्षा करू.”



Shivaji Maharaj taking Oath

These are the words of Oath that Shivaji Maharaj took for the establishment of Swarajya. When Shivaji Maharaj was seventeen, they decided to transform what were till then simply games to a reality. Shivaji Maharaj and their friends encouraged by Jijabai and Guru Dadoji Kondeo, decided to take a formal oath to free the country from the shackles of Muslim tyranny. At the cave temple of Raireshwar in the Sayhadris, Shivaji Maharaj and their select band of teenaged Maratha friends slit their thumbs and poured the blood oozing from it on the Shiva-linga.

I had read this oath, when I was in school – 4th Standard, but never thought that I will be visiting this place in future. Since I have been into Pune from 2 years now & this place is only 100 KMs away, I was just waiting for the time to visit the shrine place – Raireshwar.

We all know that, summer starts from February, but you feel the heat in April. This year heat has started suffering us right from the February and it was the main concern for me to arrange a trek to Raireshwar fort. Usually, I recommend one day trek only, but the heat was not allowing me to make it a one day affair. In the mean time, I came to know about another fort in the close proximity of Raireshwar, i.e. Kenjalgad Fort, and one can do these forts in two days. And finally, I decided to go for the night trek of Raireshwar & Kenjalgad forts.

February 4 & 5, 2012 - was the dates fixed for trek to Raireshwar & Kenjalgad forts. I circulated the mail to few of my friends and they accepted the invitation as usual. The plan was to go by S.T.Bus, but it got cancelled and we left Pune on our own vehicles (not my own, but of course my friend’s is mine as well, at least vehicle) with the total head count of 19. The plan was to reach Raireshwar base – Korle Village in the evening –> start trekking –> Overnight stay in the temple of Raireshwar –> Trek to Kenjalgad fort on 2nd day –> Lunch & Return to Pune.

We left Pune on 4th Feb at about 4 pm & reached Korle Village in 2 hours. There is a Sunset point in the mid way of Raireshwar fort & we managed to reach over there in time. I was attending the best moment of my life and Aniruddha captured a great one(he does it every time).

Sunset at Raireshwar Fort

There were 5 people from my project team on this trek. It was the first time for us when we were together and having fun outside, otherwise one can find us in our project space always, even on weekends. All my teammates were having fun & the song came automatically - “Saari Umra Hum Mar Mar ke ji liye…ek pal to ab hamein jeene do..jeene do…Give me some sunshine……”

My Teammates

From this Sunset point, the trek to Raireshwar fort is only of half an hour and it made our mood little unhappy. Hence, I decided to go back to base & start trek and to my surprise the decision was appreciated by almost all. Five from our group (people who didn't wanted to go back & trek) went to the Raireshwar fort directly from the Sunset point & reached the Lord Shiva temple in 1 hour.

Now, the remaining 14 were at the base of Raireshwar & about to start the trek, but before that we had to order our lunch on 2nd day. After inquiring to villagers, we got to know about a family which prepares a lunch. There we had some evening snacks – poha, which was full of quality & everyone dreamed to have this family for breakfast in our offices. We ordered the food for second day & started the trek.

We had brought sweat-shirt, jacket for protection from cold, but in next 15 minutes everyone removed those as it was making us tiring and feeling burden as well . It was a 7 Km walk & the light of full moon made it more delightful. The Moon-light was so clear that there was no need to have a torch. Earlier I said, it was the first time for my teammates that they are on a trek and hence it was taking time. The people who are regular trekkers went ahead & almost lost in the darkness.

After 2 hours of trekking, now we were above 1200+fts & the cold air was giving us a kind of refreshment which no one of us have experienced before. Just the better place to live, rather than the apartment system in big cities. The people were so happy that they called their friends & started telling them the thrill of night trek. Still a 1 hour of trek was remained & we were feeling hungry, so we removed whatever we had brought for eating & grabed it like we were hungry from months.

We reached the temple in an hour (at about 10.30 pm) & had the dinner over there. The dinner was simply great though it was not enough to fill our hungry stomachs. We found some bushes & bamboos around, and bone-fire was the plan. Afterwards, we found a place for sleep & slept there. The coldness was increased little more, which made us to shrink & sleep in close proximity.

Sleeping Time

Bonefire

There is a statue of Shivaji Maharaj, a school atop fort. A sign board is there as well. It gives the information about fort & history. Another 2 temples are there.

Shivaji Maharaj Statue

Signboard atop Fort

Feb 5th – The second day of our trek.We all were set for our next destination, i.e. Kenjalgad fort. But, before we start a morning tea was most needed thing & we found a home which gave us a hot tea.

Trekkers set on 2nd day

Now, we all were on the way of Kenjalgad fort. Sun was rising little fast, actually considering our speed. We were feeling the heat. It was 10.30 am, and we had reached only half of the way for Kenjalgad. The heat was making us to stop in every 15-20 minutes, which actually was leading to the delay, but can’t help. We took a long break in the way & there we had some Glucose – D powder as well, which gave little energy to walk for remainder.

On the right side of our way, the back wtaer of Dhom dam was looking awesome & water had created a structure like amoeba(photo by Aniruddha).

Ameoba

Few of us were leading throughout the way & they had reached the Kenjalgad fort. And we were at the final patch of the fort. It was very risky path as there was a space for only one person or even small for single one, but it has to get crossed & we did it with the help of each other. Without help, it was completely impossible. After one hour we were finally at Kenjalgad Fort with all the players of team tired. Some were tired, some were bumped, some were shivering, but everyone was smiling for photos.

Kenjalgad Fort

At Kenjalgad fort, we had our breakfast at about 11.30 am which is a lunch time for general people. But of course,we are not general ones & that's why breakfast time is 11.30 am. Don’t know about lunch time . Now, it was time for departure. We said bye bye to Kenjalgad & Raireshwar forts, and started to descend. The people who went ahead took the wrong path & were going down with the speed of any car. The path was completely slippery. But they were having the fun of Go-Carting. Following them, we also enjoyed the Go-Carting experience. It was first time for us that we are going down to base of any fort with this speed.

Few of us were too badly tired to walk further for final trail, so we made one clever thing - the people who reached the base first, had to come back again along with the vehicles so that we can take those tired ones on the bikes & make them feel comfortable.

Lunch Time

We had our lunch in the house behind us & walked off from the village at around 3.00 pm. Everyone was very happy & kicked their bikes for Pune. The meeting point for Pune was Sinhgad Bridge, where all reached back to back & got dispersed in no time as everyone wanted some rest to come to office on Monday.