Ghumakkar's Diary

Have you ever appreciated that visiting few places becomes a religion for you? Like, visiting that particular chae wala shop around the corner in Kolkata or that old movie theater that has stopped screening new movies in Old Delhi since a long time or that particular CCD in Lucknow where you had coffee with your soul mate? Nostalgic, isn't it! I find this theory true to our travelling too. Just a view of Vishwanath Temple of BHU, idling at Assi and Dashaswamedh Ghats of Banaras, trekking every year at Naneghat, bathing at Nagaon - Alibaug are the few of the travelling things that I do almost every year. The new entrant to this annual travelling pilgrimage list is Kas Plateau. Just like the last year we rode to this place again and were happier than ever. Trivia Kas (Kaas) Pathaar or Kaas Plateau is located in the Satara District, some 30 kilometers off NH-4 (now NH 48) towards West. Plateau is about 300 kilometers from Mumbai via NH-4 and 375km via NH 17. We took...

Bliss is to have A Life you always wanted to... Blessed are thou If live that... Another mobile-camera shot, somewhere near Belgaum on NH4 almost a year back. This picture post is an Entry to PADE-2013, a month long  Photo-blog  event. To know more and participate, click  here  or  here . Check themes  here .  

Goa was on the cards when we planned it, but as the date of riding neared plan changed and changed a lot. I was a lonely rider on the NH 4, and wasn't sure about the place to stay on the first night of the ride. Goa isn't,  like , much of fun for an introvert like me ( yes introvert, else I would have been telling stories than writing ;) , and so I was all ready to stay somewhere in a roadside motel en route on the first night. Night before the ride, I received a  call from Vinni minutes after I posted about my ride on Bisons’ forum and twitter etc. He not only got me a room booked at Hubli with help of Mr Sanjay Hubli’s 99Cannons Bullet group but also advised to visit Gokarna especially Om Beach. As it told ( wrote ) earlier, riding alone I was way ahead of time and reached Hubli well before sunset. So, I replanned the plan again and took a right turn ( by actually turning left on NH 4 and then through an underpass ) towards Gokarna. Gokarna...

What’s the highest intensity of itch you have ever tolerated? Well, it actually depends on the person; some just can’t survive it a day, others have mastered the art of living with it forever. I had this itch of riding for last few weeks. After multi-unsuccessful attempts to ride on a Sunday with friends, last Sunday was the ultimately the savior. All I need a little scratch, if not a long ride. I had had a plan to visit the Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai. While preparing for the ride, I remembered a picturesque spot about which Abhimanyu , my unofficial photography guru, told. This spot is somewhere near Mumbra. So, I decided to first visit this place, have some snaps and then ride back/ahead towards Gorai for some 50km a side ride. It certainly was an unplanned plan; and I was really happy to be on such a subtle ride. View Larger Map I started at about 11:30 and took Belapur-Thane Highway, and at Kolwa, took the NH 4 towards Mumbra. On the way I gave lift to a roa...

Every ride has its own story, own roads, own riders and unforgettable memories ~ Ghumakkar Most of the rides I had with Rudra, has been planned and executed within a day or two. Way back in August, it happened in similar way; we did the reconnaissance, finalized the ride to Bheemashankar, asked a few mates, and got on to the road. We were 4 guys on 3 bikes, me on my TBTS – Achtung, Rudra on his Pulsar 220, Palzor on his RE Bullet Standard with CMS as pillion. Rudra on Pulsar220, Palzor on Std 350, Me on TBTS-Achtung Bhimasahankar is some 200 kilometers from Mumbai and about 120 km from Pune. The Temple is located in the Bhorgiri village, near Khed, Pune. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas . Interestingly, three out of twelve Jyotirlingas are located in Maharashtra at Bheemashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar . Bhima River originates at Bhimashankar and flows south east to merges with the Krishna near Raichur. This region falls under the Bhimashankar Wildlife S...

For the last three weeks, we had been planning a night out at Eco Camps, Mahabaleshwar ; but to no avail. Last week also, we failed to book the camps, thanks to superfast, super- ghumakkad Mumbai janta ! We needed at least a good ride, if not a Saturday exotic night stay.  I had heard of Slope of Hell , from Inddiethumpers and also my regular ride mate Rudra . He had been there once, few years back. So, we finally decided to ride and conquer the Slope of Hell last Sunday. I was on my Bull RE-TBTS, and Rudra on his Pulsar 220. He was aware of the route up to Kamseth, Pune. Also, not much of information is available online about the place. So, our motto was not only to beat the slope, but also to mark it on Google Maps. We have though got it published on GoogleMaps, it's still not searchable. So, I am  providing  here a route map, and also the location i.e. 18.73, 73.54 . Route Map to Slope of Hell, towards West is Lonavala We met at about 7AM, at NH 4B ...

“ So, you opened illegitimate sites on your office PC! Can you come down to Bldg No. X-A and meet your HR, Mr. Ravi ?” “Who are you?” “ I’m Pankaj, calling on behalf of Mr. Ravi; and it is necessary for you to meet him asap so that we can resolve the matter and arrange counseling session for you. ” “But, I know, I haven’t opened any such site, and if I really have, mail my Boss and Cc it to me, then only I’ll meet whosoever.” “ Okay. What about a ride to Lohagad ? We’re planning to organize a picnic there, tomorrow morning and want you to come with us. ” “What the hell!? You were talking about breach of policies and now that you are inviting me for picnic!!!” “ Abe, this is Pankaj on line. Are you coming for ride? ” “What man!? F***! And, I thought you were actually calling me from HR!” “ He he he! That means you actually open such sites?! ;p ” “Ha ha ha! No, not at all! Okay, for the ride, yes m coming.” “ Fine! Then be present at More Mart, Koparkhairane at 5:00...