This Independence Day weekend, sign up for a hike that lets you celebrate nationhood in a style that's zaraa hatke, say Aditi Sharma and Melissa D'costa
This Independence Day weekend, sign up for a hike that lets you celebrate nationhood in a style that's zaraa hatke, say Aditi Sharma and Melissa D'costa
Jana Gana Mana at Purandar By: YHAI, Kandivli
On: August 14 to 15
Cost: Rs 600 per head
Call: 9869174605
Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI), Kandivli, has been organising special Independence Day treks for the last ten years to locations that hold historic interest including Daulatabad, Torna and Rajgad forts. The trek to Purandar Fort will begin on the night of August 14, and the group is expected to reach the fort by dawn. After some rest, the group will participate in a flag hoisting session led by a senior member of the trekking party or a prominent villager from the base village. "We will sing the National anthem, and some patriotic songs to
commemorate the day," says Sanjeev Vengurlekar, group leader for the trek.
White water rafting at Kolad
By: Escapades
On: August 15 to 16
Cost: Rs 4,900 per person (for 1 to 3 people booking together)
Call: 9820277797
Instead of spending a lazy weekend watching re-runs on TV, register with Escapades for a two-day weekend adventure at Kolad. You can sign up for white water rafting, kayaking, rappelling, river crossing, a jungle safari to Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, and a waterfall trek. You can wind it all up with a midnight walk through the wild. Look forward to a stay in a forest rest house or farmhouse. Cost includes breakfast, evening snacks and a barbeque dinner.
Eco-adventure trip to KalsubaiBy: Nature Knights
On: August 15 to 16
Cost: Rs 2,850
Call: 9821081566
Enjoy a stay in a remote village near the Bhandardara Lake. Put up with the Mahadeo Koli tribe as you help them with farming, gathering fire wood and tending to cattle. End the day with a swim and a story-telling session. This will be followed by a trek to Kalsubai the next day. The four-hour trek lets you drop by ancient temples, and enjoy a view from the summit. The trek will end with flag hoisting at Kalsubai, one of the highest peaks in Maharashtra.
Go rappelling under Tighar WaterfallBy: Jungle Lore
On: August 15
Cost: Rs 1,350
Call: 9833246740
This group claims Tighar Waterfall was their find. They stumbled on the isolated waterfall located near Karjat,
during one of their trips, and it's been one of their exclusive hideouts ever since. The 120 feet high waterfall is an ideal location to mix adventure with natural beauty. "Rappelling is thrilling, but when you do it under a waterfall, it's a different high altogether," says organiser Gaurav Athalye. The group has tied up with the local villagers to provide desi food, so, get ready to dig into Gavthi Chicken and Bhakri.
Drop by Afzal Khan's tomb By: Kalpavihar Adventures
On: August 14 to 15u00a0
Cost: Rs 1,050 per person
Call: 9820684723
Kalpavihar Adventures takes you on a trek to Pratapgad, a mountain fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji. The fort is at a distance of 24 kms from Mahabaleshwar. Bhavani Temple and Afzal Khan's Tomb are major attractions here. The cost includes transportation, morning tea and breakfast, evening snacks, lunch and dinner and accommodation.
