Camping, Photo Walk, Pune, Unplanned Trip

Night Camping at Wai

Life is Best when you’re CAMPING!!!

A solo trip has always been on my bucket list, but this time I went with my friend and I decided that it was about time to tick that off.

This was not planned though but we made a quick plan to stay overnight in our tent and thats how we moved from Pune with bare minimum things with us.

Thats how we started our journey with my friend Prasant in his new companion (WagonR) around 12 pm from my residence. Fresh, green and shinning Guava (Bihi/Peru/Jaam) from the garden pulled us to take a small break after crossing the first toll plaza and this was just a lovely cool saturday.

With great enthusiasm this trip was planned with a group of 5 ppl as always, but on finalization it was conclude with 2 lost souls to make out this wonderful trip. This was the great start of 2020 with night camping and I grab this opportunity.

Leave the roads take the trails…
what are you waiting for?

I planned to stay in a camp site and booked a tent with a contacts. On the day of camping I come to know that my booking is not confirmed. However, we decided to move with our own tent and bedding.

“The outside is the only place we can truly be inside the world.”
― Daniel J. Rice, THIS SIDE OF A WILDERNESS: A Novel

The weather was so soothing and sunny like a sweet winter day, and after an hours of drive from last break we reached to Wai and our tummy was shouting as we had seen some banner of mutton bhakri on the way, so couldnt resist and stopped at Torna Mutton Khanaval, its a newly open restaurant and the ambience was really nice.

Without thinking a lot on menu we ordered special Torna thali and we were really amazed with the first look of thali, certainly it was the delicious thali and with butter milk it completed the lunch. I really enjoyed the food, it was perfect maharashtrian gavran mutton thali. I must recommend to stop by at this junction if you are passing by this way.

Post lunch we moved towards the “Menavali Ghat Temple” to get the suitable place to put our tent. Menavali Ghat, Wai has become famous for the superhit films like Swades, Mangal Pandey, Gangajal, Omkara, Bol Bachchan and Dabangg has been shot here.

Menavali Ghat Wai has become famous for the superhit films like Swades, Mangal Pandey, Gangajal, Omkara, Bol Bachchan and Dabangg has been shot here.

Menawali Ghat Wai
http://www.mycanvass.in/bollywood-hindi-film-shot-menavali-ghat-wai-maharashtra/

We moved further ahead on the same road, dam is on the left and mountains are on the right and a beautiful road we were moving. After an hour we found a place to erect our tent and this is another memorable story of this trip.

While gathering some veggies we met with an old couple at a small grocery store, they were the true image of humanity, looking at us they offered tea as their guest and forced us to have dinner with them. Since they found us alone and treat us like their child. We were not able to refuse them since they were so caring and showed a love to us.

They offered us to put our tent in the corridor of their house and finally we decided to stay there, as it was the safest place in the village. Old couple served us a delicious Masala Rice at dinner. It was another mesmerizing moments for me and Prasant during this camping trip. Kind gesture and delicious food will stay with us for life long.

This was Khavli a small village near Wai, around 111kms from Pune.

Night was pleasant with minimum cold this was not expected in the peak winter. We off to bed at 11:30pm after long hour of talks. Next morning was started with strong tasty tea offered by the old couple (Mrs & Mr Sanas). It was a great memorable, loveable and comfortable stay.

We headed to Panchgani and first thing we had a good breakfast and tea, then went to famous Dhananjay shop where you will get flavored Chana’s, Chocolates and Chikkis.

Red fresh strawberries are the main attraction of panchgani and we could not stop us, so we bag couple of KGs home.

Strawberries and Jellies: Mapro Garden

Panchgani is known for its many strawberry farms. I made a quick dash to the Mapro Gardens, which thankfully is open until 8 pm. After a tour through the nurseries, I bought an abundance of the plump juicy strawberries and some jams to accompany.

How to get to Panchgani?

Panchgani is 100 km from Pune and 285 km from Bombay and is connected to major cities by buses. The nearest Railway station is the Chiplun Station, 26 km from Panchgani and the nearest airport is the Lohegaon Airport, 92 km away from Panchgani. So plan a visit to Panchgani and experience the magic.

Whlie returning from panchgani we stopped at Mapro garden factory and store to have a famous classic sandwich this is how we concluded our Camping trip :).