Canyon Valley : Reign of waterfalls

On the way from pune to Mumbai , there is a ghat section near khandala with hills on one side and deep valley full of waterfalls in monsoon on the other side , Ulhas river originates from this valley called as canyon valley or tiger valley or ulhas valley.

 Canyon valley trek is certainly one of the most exciting treks , it is unusual as we descend first ,cross the river and then ascend . Descend is from lonavla and (fortunately)trek ends at khandala near kamat restaurant  with delicious south Indian food.

This is my 4^th or 5^th time to the tiger valley and every time it’s a different experience.  Almost always trek starts with a nice heavy breakfast at Annapurna hotel in lonavla. Zeenath explained the no smoking and no plastic rule and one special warning “don’t leave the group , if you get lost it will surely take few days before anyone finds out”  .Dense forest and the name “tiger valley” is self explanatory for first timers even though there are no tigers recorded in this area its always good to keep the suspense alive J

Small walk takes the group into the deep forest and a sudden descend into the small gorge starts the trek ,  cold and crystal clear water and small ponds immediately gets the group excited and then we start making our way through the rocks , jumping , crumbling in the cold water.

And then the first rock patch appears , by this time we would have know the quality of the group J and based on that we decide if rope is to be taken out …most of the time we do take it out. A small but scary enough rock patch with sharp fall on one side , a small plant has grown on the rocks , one of the volunteers uses this for support and stands ready to receive the group and guide them through the rock patch , zeenath becomes the guinea pig …she descends easily and waits at the end , creating second tier of support , we pass the bags and then the participants one by one .This is the first time participants get to know what canyon has in store for them.

Half an hour passes and group of 20 would have made it through the first patch … few meters more  and then we reach on the top of the waterfall  with highway visible infront … everyone enjoys small break on the top of the waterfall , photo sessions starts , “are we going to rappel down from here”  a common question from the excited participant …. “no we are not” we disappoint the group …”now keep moving ,till lot more distance to cover”some more addition to the disappointment  …  walk begins again there are no rocks here …just a loose soil and a sharp slippery descend …thorns and bushes taste the human blood …we descend down into the second gorge ..no water here , only rocks ..second rock patch …slightly bigger than the first but fortunately some philanthrop has already put a permanent rope here …after half an hour more valley is full of sounds “oh my god its so scary !!” …”I am going to slip” …..”aaaaaaaa I am not going ” … “keep moving” zeenath is strict but makes sure everyone passes safely

Few more rocks and we are almost at the base of the valley ,small waterfall is visible now , one more small rock patch and we are done …we reach the base …group is dead tired by now but excited they keep moving through the rocks to reach the bigger waterfall , this ones all season waterfall , but lonavla sewage is mixed in the water so not really clean and refreshing but surely worth visiting , water here is not potable ..small waterfall nearby is …nature’s alternate arrangement.

Clean or not everyone enjoys a nice bath in the waterfall and the lunch.  Rest for some time and we are ready to move again. Volunteers move ahead to inspect the route and the water flow …if its too strong there is no way we can cross . Voulnteers are well placed now , one on each bank , one at the top and one handling the rope … participants now cross one by one with help of volunteers …careful walk by the rock edge and we are back in the river basin again , its not really a river in summer and winter but in monsoon its impossible to reach the valley base.

After a walk for some time , ascend starts from a waterfall route , all rocks and khandala is visible at the hill top …but still a long way to go …participants have started feeling the heat by now , each step is a big effort for few now , legs have started to pain but they keep moving .Valley is full of insects , huge wood spiders and snakes , you wouldn’t want to stay here once its dark. “why the hell we came here” …”I will never come again for trek ” ….”our friendship is over ” ….. “I hate you ” ….. we have heard this all before and we know they will make it to the end and everything will be back to normal. But it takes some time before all this happens.

Few more rock patches …now volunteers don’t waste time in guiding …they just lay the rope and pull participants up …sun is going down …it’s a race against time .

Just before the sunset group successfully comes out of the valley …and smiles are back again. They are proud that they made it , “which is the next trek ” they enquire