"I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud... " Trek to Peb Fort near Matheran

"I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high over vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. "
- William Wordsworth

This is exactly how I feel when I look back and glance at the time that has gone by…Even after two days I am still nostalgic about the entire Peb fort trek and only words that can describe the entire trip are enigma and unfathomable. And when the trek is along with passionate and trekkers par excellence like Prateek and Sheriff it is nothing but a dash of wonderful dark chocolate on freshly baked black forest cake.

One can never understand the concept OF LIFE AWAY FROM LIFE with out really experiencing what it is…So let’s commence the journey.

It all started when Prateek the captain of the ship decided to take us too Kalsubai peak which is the highest peak in Maharashtra. But due to some reasons it didn’t really workout. But then there is always an alternative or you can say that something else was to come and yes that is how Prateek decided a trek to Peb fort. As per me I was always an ever ready member just about to jump into any kind of adventure, though was a little apprehensive as to what is Peb fort and where is it. I had never even read in the history (that was taught to me in the school) that such a fort exists. But that apprehension soon faded in front of the shear excitement that had made home in my mind.

I spoke to Prateek over the phone and got the details like where is the fort (which is at Neral) what train to catch, what time do we need to start and what all need to be packed etc etc…
I was even fascinated to know that the fort is in Neral… for past 6 years I have been going to Neral to stay as we have a house there, but never even once I knew that there was a beautiful fort just behind my back… I just had to turn around and see it, but I never did that

As per PD (That’s Prateek) we were supposed to board a 7.ll am Karjat fast train from Kurla. So keeping the timeline in my mind I started of my journey from Borivali by boarding a 5.45 Churchgate fast local which made me reach Dadar at 6.20am, post which I had to spent around 15mins in the queue for getting a ticket to neral, the queue was so long that at a point of time I actually felt that I missed the karjat fast local but I made it exactly at 7 am to Kurla after which I received a call from PD asking where was I to which I said I am just coming towards platform number 5. Till that time I had not met Prateek Deo, my only connection with him was through ORKUT and today was the first time that I was going to meet a person who was himself all through the trek, a natural and simple guy who mesmerized me with his vision, undying love for forts, mountains and “Living Life King Size” attitude in any given situation.

As I neared the clock that he was standing underneath, he was there with his buddy from Ladhak Sherriff. We boarded the 7.11am karjat local bang on time (felt that some how central railway train time table was falling into place)

So began the journey towards the mighty fort. While in the train PD and I spoke at lengths about various topics ranging from fake communities on orkut to forts to 20000ft mtrs Stok Kangri climb. Never came to know when we reached Neral. It took us precisely an hour and a little more than that to reach the Neral station (My second home.)

Post reaching Neral we purchased some fruits and decided to have a breakfast at in a small place, to my surprise the owner of the small hotel new PD very well, from here one can actually make out that PD had explored this fort umpteen number of times. We had our breakfast and commenced towards the aim that we all had set in mind for the day. We started walking towards the mountain at 9.20.

We started walking on the road towards Neral station and then came the real part a walk through the fields, which I only could imagine. As we passed through fields we smelt fresh grass. The smell was so refreshing that it revived my senses and from there on started my relation with life away from life

But at the same time I was aware that I was a first timer and did not have the capacity to climb, which came as a signal to me when my legs started aching. But it did not really bother or deter me anymore as I started enjoying the picturesque ridges that the sahyadri ranges formed. PD was all the way explaining that on the right hand side is nakhind ridge and on the left hand side is the beautiful matheran. We walked past fields, a small sparsely populated village and a river which formed the source of livelihood for the people residing in it. This can be only visualized if one essentially passes through the trail and feel the simplicity that people lived in. As we moved further on I realized that we had started to climb the mountain. I was getting tired and had started to ventilate, I could hear the sound of my breathing at the same time my heart was pounding (Lub Dudub…Lub Dudub) and suddenly my foot went into one of the crevices that was created in a stone and that was the time I had a great fall. I think that was much needed it was my Naman to the mighty fort that I was about to climb. By the time I got up it was a happy realization that we had actually reached the first stage that is the cemented wall on which the electric pole stood (though dono for how many years it had been there)

PD thereafter told me and sherrif that there were two more stages after which there is a straight climb which would take us to the fort. So putting those words straight into mind we all again started to climb. In-between we had a Tang party which instilled a lot of positive energy with a dash of much needed glucose for the climb. The Stok Kangri stories those were so great that I had actually figured out Ladhak in my mind.We reached a certain part on the plain which was full cool breeze enough for relaxing. The air was filled with fresh green grass and fresh green leaves smell (one can never get to experience in the city life). Yes it’s true I could even feel the colour of the smell green and fresh indeed. I felt fresh like I never felt before. We 3 sat beneath a tree and rested for a while, the cows grazing around us felt that we were evading their territory; it was for the first time that I tried understanding a different kind of language other than that of human beings. 

After a short break we again marched towards the desired destination. Though after some time I did not really feel tired as I thought that a certain rhythm was starting to build in me. It made me forgot about the fall that I had and the amount of ventilation that I was going through.The violet flowers on the green grass were absolutely beautiful; there was a patch which had a lot of yellow coloured flowers. The most amazing thing that I loved was the butterflies that kept on flying from one place to the other. A rare sight to see in the cemented jungle.A little further we found some ladies whom we happily named “Maushi”. Well PD named them Maushi.com. I was amazed to see how they could climb down the mountains with a load on their head. The entire mountain was filled with noises that small creatures made which sounded like a cascading waterfalls, every time I heard I felt there was a river flowing.Slowly and steadily we climbed towards the summit, it was a very steep and a difficult climb. Thanks a million to Sherrif that he was always motivating me and guarding by saying that I was doing really great.

Finally at 1.30 we touch the summit of Peb fort. After four and half hours of ascend we…no rather I made it. It was exhilarating experience when you see a lot of open space and the beauty around. It just feels like wish you had wings that you could spread and fly. On the summit, there was enough water for us to drink. It was crystal clean and sweet to taste as it was harvested rain water. And one cannot even defeat the fact that it was 10 times better than the drinking water that we get in our houses.At the summit it was the best time having lunch of poori, batatyachi bhaaji and mouth watering pickle, thanks to PD’s Mom who had made such a lovely lunch.  Post which there was a session of Shairo– Shayari by Sherrif. Not to forget that they were all great and funny. PD’s Don Jokes went on and on which kept the atmosphere full of fun and masti.

We spend around 2 hours on top of the summit talking with each other, clicking snaps and than finally it was time for us to descend. But something within me kept saying there’s still more time and I didn’t want to get down so soon. But finally had to say a sweet goodbye and descend making a promise to myself that I will be back again.

We started to climb down slowly and steadily. We passed through the same trails of rocks, planes and beautiful grass land. The grass land made me feel as if I was in Savanna grassland.

We managed to complete the trail in flat 2 ½ hours. In between there was a lot of fun that we had eating fruit, tang party and the very important photo sessions. Also I heard the sound of electricity that passed through the huge electric cables which was one of a kind experience. Ever tried listening to them in city, don’t even try the stunt. As we kept walking towards Neral station, I could see the smoke coming out of the houses, children playing around, women in the houses preparing for supper which made me realize that life could be simple yet filled with contentment and happiness.

At around 6pm we reached Neral station and we all treated ourselves with buttermilk, lassis, pav bhaji and missel now doesn’t that look like party time. The hotel wall had a picture of Shivaji’s coronation ceremony. Still we had an hour left before the train arrived which would take us to respective destinations.On the whole trek to Peb fort was not just a trek but a mode of self purification, a built up on the mental courage. It made me feel like I was there in the lap of Mother Nature enjoying the divine creation so be it a bird, a butterfly, the smiling sun, the welcoming cool breeze, the pure blue skies, the grassland. The only thing that I missed was staying underneath the blanket of star studded sky which I guess would be my next experience breathing Life Away From Life  All along in my mind I felt that PD was a walking talking encyclopedia on forts and the strategic location that they were built in. I would describe him to be reincarnation of Raje Shivaji, so much in love with the mighty forts. 

Thanx PD and Sheriff for guiding all through this beautiful trek to Peb fort

-Written by Deepti Kamble
Deepti is a research analyst and a good human being.