After the summer trek to Kothaligad I was now ready for another one to Ramshej fort,Nasik.What prompted me to take this trek was the visit to Sula Vineyards after the trek to the fort.I had seen photographs and read a lot about the wine festivals organised at Sula vineyards and I wanted to experience a visit there first hand.So on Saturday,the 3rd of May I met the rest of the Trekmates India gang at Dadar and we began our journey towards Nasik in the air-conditioned Tempo Traveller(it was a premium trek after all)
The journey was fun as it always is with the TMI group.There was a non-stop round of Antakshari and mash up songs.I met Rahul Barve and Lawrence D'silva for the first time (they were leading along with Sai Iyer)and these gentle giants were really fun guys to be with. It was a revelation that Rahul knew so many songs and he was specially hilarious at the rendition of the song along with Marathi comments,never heard anything like that before.made a couple of new friends and bonded some more with my old trekker friends.We all sang aloud like crazzy and also played dumb charades on the journey to and fro. Rakesh was too good at enacting Jigar kaleja....a true laugh riot!!!(Those who were there know what I am talking about)
We reached the base of the fort and halted at the dhabha.Most of us slept in the bus or tried to sleep and were ready to go in the morning by seven.We had breakfast of misal-pav or poha with tea/coffee and started our walk towards the fort after the mandatory introductions.It was unfortunate that I could not capture a picture of the rising sun and I regret that.The trek to the top was easy and once there we explored the area.The view from the top was splendid and it was so nice to be surrounded by high mountains on all sides.At the top a cool breeze blew and it was really so calm and romantic.
We had a great time on the top with a story session by Sai wherein he acquainted us to the history of the fort and its importance in the struggle for freedom from the Mughals.I had always been curious about the game Mafia as I had heard a lot about it in the comments passed in other trek posts.Finally I got to play that game at this trek.It sounded so confusing but it was fun to play and poor me,the doctor was killed in the second round itself.There was a lot of healthy arguments and banter in the game and after that we played Zip-zap-zop ,another entertaining game.After spending some time up we began our descent.
Back to the dhabha to have lunch.We were famished and the lunch was served a bit late so by the time my thali arrived I was waiting to gobble it up.There was a non-vegetarian and a vegetarian option available.The food was hot and tasty.Chicken curry,dry prawns masala,rice,bhakaris,boiled egg and pickle made up the on-vegetarian menu.We topped it with strawberry ice-cream for dessert.
After a few minutes rest once again we set out in our sawaari towards the Sula vineyard.Our first view was a large stretch of land with grape vines growing on them.The place was well-maintained.We had opted for the tour and tasting of wine so after a quick look around the place we went for the factory tour.our guide explained the history of the vineyard and the method in which they prepared wine at the factory.He took us around and showed us the huge containers and barrels where wine was blended and stored.The place was sparkling clean and smelt heavenly.The wine tasting followed.It was a wonderful experience where he showed us the do's and dont's of drinking wine.We learnt the 4 s's of wine tasting- see,swirl,smell and sip.Some opted for 4 wines tasting and some for six.After that we posed for pictures with the huge wine bottles on display and rode back towards Mumbai.
We stopped on the way for tea and the boys played a game of frisbee before we sat back in the vehicle.Some went off to sleep while others chatted or sang songs.We alighted at our respective stops and bid our good-byes.I had a great time and I truly believe that travel brings back love and excitement back to our lives.I just cannot imagine why I missed on something so wonderful earlier in my life.There is so much of catching up to do!I have met so many wonderful like-minded people here at these treks.They have inspired me and taught me so much.These treks have been a source of pleasure and thrill for me at all times.They have challenged me and made me forget my worries and heartaches.I am reinventing myself as a person.....seeing the side of me I have never seen before.Waiting eagerly for many more treks.Travelling is really therapeutic.Those who don't travel or trek,you really don't know what you are missing.
Here are a few snapshots of the memorable trek to Nasik.Some of the photos are courtesy my trekker friends.
The journey was fun as it always is with the TMI group.There was a non-stop round of Antakshari and mash up songs.I met Rahul Barve and Lawrence D'silva for the first time (they were leading along with Sai Iyer)and these gentle giants were really fun guys to be with. It was a revelation that Rahul knew so many songs and he was specially hilarious at the rendition of the song along with Marathi comments,never heard anything like that before.made a couple of new friends and bonded some more with my old trekker friends.We all sang aloud like crazzy and also played dumb charades on the journey to and fro. Rakesh was too good at enacting Jigar kaleja....a true laugh riot!!!(Those who were there know what I am talking about)
We reached the base of the fort and halted at the dhabha.Most of us slept in the bus or tried to sleep and were ready to go in the morning by seven.We had breakfast of misal-pav or poha with tea/coffee and started our walk towards the fort after the mandatory introductions.It was unfortunate that I could not capture a picture of the rising sun and I regret that.The trek to the top was easy and once there we explored the area.The view from the top was splendid and it was so nice to be surrounded by high mountains on all sides.At the top a cool breeze blew and it was really so calm and romantic.
We had a great time on the top with a story session by Sai wherein he acquainted us to the history of the fort and its importance in the struggle for freedom from the Mughals.I had always been curious about the game Mafia as I had heard a lot about it in the comments passed in other trek posts.Finally I got to play that game at this trek.It sounded so confusing but it was fun to play and poor me,the doctor was killed in the second round itself.There was a lot of healthy arguments and banter in the game and after that we played Zip-zap-zop ,another entertaining game.After spending some time up we began our descent.
Back to the dhabha to have lunch.We were famished and the lunch was served a bit late so by the time my thali arrived I was waiting to gobble it up.There was a non-vegetarian and a vegetarian option available.The food was hot and tasty.Chicken curry,dry prawns masala,rice,bhakaris,boiled egg and pickle made up the on-vegetarian menu.We topped it with strawberry ice-cream for dessert.
After a few minutes rest once again we set out in our sawaari towards the Sula vineyard.Our first view was a large stretch of land with grape vines growing on them.The place was well-maintained.We had opted for the tour and tasting of wine so after a quick look around the place we went for the factory tour.our guide explained the history of the vineyard and the method in which they prepared wine at the factory.He took us around and showed us the huge containers and barrels where wine was blended and stored.The place was sparkling clean and smelt heavenly.The wine tasting followed.It was a wonderful experience where he showed us the do's and dont's of drinking wine.We learnt the 4 s's of wine tasting- see,swirl,smell and sip.Some opted for 4 wines tasting and some for six.After that we posed for pictures with the huge wine bottles on display and rode back towards Mumbai.
We stopped on the way for tea and the boys played a game of frisbee before we sat back in the vehicle.Some went off to sleep while others chatted or sang songs.We alighted at our respective stops and bid our good-byes.I had a great time and I truly believe that travel brings back love and excitement back to our lives.I just cannot imagine why I missed on something so wonderful earlier in my life.There is so much of catching up to do!I have met so many wonderful like-minded people here at these treks.They have inspired me and taught me so much.These treks have been a source of pleasure and thrill for me at all times.They have challenged me and made me forget my worries and heartaches.I am reinventing myself as a person.....seeing the side of me I have never seen before.Waiting eagerly for many more treks.Travelling is really therapeutic.Those who don't travel or trek,you really don't know what you are missing.
Here are a few snapshots of the memorable trek to Nasik.Some of the photos are courtesy my trekker friends.
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| A view from the top....breath-taking! |
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| Half way to the top....short rest |
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| kadam-kadam badhaye jaa! |
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| A small temple at the top |
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| Lovely place!Romantic getaway! |
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| At the beautiful arch..... |
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| My trekker friends .....seen through the arch. |
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| Winner of the game zip-zap-zom! |
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| All set to play mafia. |
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| Waiting for Sai to finish with the instructions |
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| Vibrant door at the base village |
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| We had a halt here for cool cool pepsicolas |
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| We are at the Sula vineyards at last! |
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| Vast stretch of grape vines..... |
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| Huge machines for crushing the grapes |
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| View of the barrels where the grapes are further crushed and stored |
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| Wooden barrels for storing the wine. |
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| Time to taste the wine!!!HIC! |
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| Vinay is busy at work.....clicking away. |
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| Gup-shup time after the tour and tasting |
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| Wine gyaan from the one and only Lawrence! |
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| Yes!We bought a few bottles of wine too! |
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| Spicy missal pav |
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| Delicious poha for breakfast |
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| The non-vegetarian thali |
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| Vegetarian thali |
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| My dost-log....Sai and Ranjeet |
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| Conspiracy time.....who is gonna die? Mafia is at it! |
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| Scaling new heights.....tree-trek! |
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| At the wine tasting table...cheers!!! |
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| What a romantic place! |
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| Feeling on top of the world! |
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| Wine wine....have it and you will feel fine!!! |
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| I am loving it!!! |
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| This little one caught a few winks after reaching the top. Poor fellow...he was too tired! |
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