Lingana
It was mid December when I received a text from Aniket. “I am planning a trek in January. Since you are here in Pune, I think you can make it this time”. I was very excited and angry at the same time. All my co-workers had New Year and post New Year plans with their college/school friends. And all I was doing was faking a smile and listening to their plans. BTW I am Pankaj and this is my version of the trek.
So this was the moment I was waiting for. Finally I had a plan with my guys. But I was angry with the last part of the text. ‘THIS TIME.’ Instead of asking where and when, I replied “What do you mean this time?” And it came back to me. When he planned for Sandhan Trek I was the only person from our group who was not able to attend. I was in Chennai and if he had waited for 20 days or more, I could have attended Sandhan-Ratangad too. I blame him. Anyways, I met him a couple of weeks later and he gave me all the instructions and the location. LINGANA & TORNA!
A week before the trek I was sick. Yeah, that’s me! I was working my ass off in project and this is where it got me. Still I was not going to give up so easily. I took bunch of tablets with me and was ready for trek (I wish I thought this through).
Part 01 Day 01
We a team of 10 Trekker’s started from Aniket’s House at around 4 in the morning, thus heading towards our first destination Lingana Fort. Our First halt was at ‘Kavlya Fort’, with a target of watching sunrise through this fort but unfortunately we were not able to make, and hence after skipping it we reached Paane village which is located at the base of Lingana Fort. A mesmerizing view of Lingana fort was seen from Vardayani temple located just before this village. The location of temple was on one dried brook and was worth watching. It is heard that the original temple is located under water and there existed a cave path which have other end coming out from near Shanivarwada, Pune.
Valan-kund Bridge and Lingana
Kal River
Vardayani Temple and Lingana
With a quick breakfast in Paane village we started our climb at around 10am with spirited energy. Our plan was to reach first at Lingana Machi, then climb towards the cave located just below the pinnacle, fetch water and stay for a night.
Gang
Paane Gaon
Lingana Trail from Paane Gaon
View of Raigad from Lingana Trail
We reached the Lingana Machi by 11am. We quickly ate some Parathas. While we were resting in some old remains of houses over this Machi, we came across one hiking group who claimed that they were coming from Lingana Fort. Some of us asked them the route to reach the cave as they were having second thought about Aniket’s research. And this became a turning point of the Trek.
Lingana Machi
The route told by that group and which we knew was total contradiction. With a dilemma, and a group vote, we decided to follow the route told by those trekkers as because they had just come down. Aniket revolted but he had no choice but to follow us. We started this around 12 pm. We went on following the Paayvatand soon we started realizing that this route is something which was going to take us to Mohori village via BortyachiNaal. Actually this was the extended tail of BortyachiNaal called as The Col between Lingana and Raîling Plateau.This was plan for day 2. Mohori was our next camping location. Aniket decided to change the plan and our stay for day 1 was Mohori village. He is very furious with Pawan, Prithvi and Rohan. Thank God I was not on the receiving end of his wrath.
Boratyachi nal Trail
A Lagori kind of structure is made by some trekkers using the Stones, which gives the signal of diversion which is required to turn for Machi while you’re coming from upwards. It is rocky route with rocks more than 5-8 meters and you need to climb and jump on and over it. We all were enjoying that route. And during this journey we were sure that this route is not going to take us to Lingana pinnacle. Due to rocks and steep climb our speed was slow.
Around 4pm we were at a point which had two paths one going towards BortyachiNaal and other going towards pinnacle. It is called the Start point of that Col which we had just climbed from Lingana Machi. We rested there for some 10-15 mins. I was suffering from severe cramps in leg during climbing. And the worst part was that if I stop walking the cramps were too severe, so I couldn’t rest.
At same time we saw some trekkers were climbing with ropes to reach pinnacle. We tried contacting them by shouting and asking time to reach Mohari village from that point. A very slight sound of some 1-1.5 hours was heard by one of our teammate.
With that hopes Aniket and I decided to start ahead and figure out the route. Shardul and Vivek accompanied us. While we were traversing after the Col towards BortyachiNaal, the second turning point came.
We had a cliff in front of us and in order to go to other part of that cliff there was need of ropes. And we saw there were climbing bolts hooked into the mountain stones. And here our first mistake came into picture. We forgot our ropes; YES we went for trekking and that to without ROPES. Aniket and I saw there was no way out but to turn back. Still two of our friends, Shardul and Ritesh, just came forth to see the condition. I remember that scene when Shardul tried putting hand on that cliff to take some grip and go ahead and at the same time that stones came in his hand he lost balance.
This was the moment where we all were scared and within no time we all decided to turn back. I saw the time, it was 5pm. We all immediately started from that point and thought of reaching the Start point of the Col. In next 30 mins we were at that point.
Everyone was very much worried. It had taken around 5 hours to reach from Lingana Machi to this point and now by leaving at 5.30 pm we need to reach Machi again that means it will be dark in no time and hence more difficult to climb down using torch, certainly this was the bad idea. The worst part was that most of us carried more than 6-7kgs on their back. One more thing, it was NO MOON DAY that means no MOONLIGHT for our help. But there was no other option and we were running out of water. We had plan of cooking some stuffs for the dinner. Everything was going against what we had decided. In sometime we started climbing down, this time my Cramps were more severe, along with me Aditya and Vivek were also facing same. Along with cramps as they were noobs, they didn’t have that habit of carrying so much weights and climbing down. Still they were managing well.
It was getting darker. Everyone took their torches out. Some of us had very nice torches with bright light while some of them had brought smaller ones. And the very worst thing happened during this journey. Pruthvi was ahead with me (because of my cramps I was not sitting and Pruthvi was figuring out the route) and Rohan and Aniket were with Vivek and Aditya respectively and rest others were following them. Few mins later Pruthvi heard a scream coming from up. Immediately we turned back and started shouting asking about their whereabouts. There was no response. We decided to stop and wait for everyone to come. After 20 mins everyone came. Now I was on the receiving end of Aniket’s wrath. I was happy I was not alone. Me and Pruthvi were very ahead of them and as per our leader’s decision we all had to remain together (I blame my cramps for all this). We pardoned everyone and asked what happened up? The thing which we heard was terrific. “There was a part which was in U shape. We need to come down and then again go up. But there was a slight turn after coming down and then go up. Everyone was asked to take cross steps when anywhere such situation came, rather you should use cross steps when you are treading down on slopes according to me. Anyways, Aniket went properly from that patch and Aditya was following him as appointed. But Aditya came down with straight stepping and lost control over himself and got slipped from one stone and directly went down against the path and got stuck in bushes. He was hanging on slope holding a branch. This was the horrifying thing that happened and everyone over there were scared. Immediately Aniket rushed to him for help and he somehow managed to pull him up.” Both of them were injured and Aditya was scared to death.
There onwards we decided whatever the time be whatever be the cramps or problems we are facing, we all will stick together. We ate and took some rest before we started again. It was around 8pm and we didn’t know where we were. Aniket informed everyone that we need to search for that Lagori structure which is the sign for diversion towards Machi from the Col. We were heading down together Aniket was on the forefront leading everyone through dark. Rohan and Prithvi assisted others with their bags. I was pacing up with the leader on the frontend. There was one big stone from where we had to jump down; I removed my bag with torch in my mouth 😛 I jumped. And guess what, that torch light felled on a much unexpected thing which no one wants it during trekking, and that was Snake: YES SNAKE, some green coloured snake with that only one name popped in my mind RUSSEL VIPER. I don’t know what it was but at that moment it was some Dangerous poisonous Snake for me. I immediately turned back and asked Ritesh and Aniket to pull me up. They did not understand what I was trying to do, as I was just asking them to pull me up. I went up anyhow with scratches and injuries on my hands and legs. After going up I said there is snake down, immediately Aniket took a stick from aside and everyone lighted that place using torch. (Aniket had experience in dealing with snakes and their rescue). We waited there for 15 mins and taking some chance we decided to start back, luckily nothing came in our way. With again some difficult slopes and rocks it was getting difficult for everyone to handle their torches and luggage. Later Aditya’s and Vivek’s bags were taken by Rohan, Pruthvi and Aniket was shifting some stuff from those bags to his own. And after all these difficulties a Ray of Hope was seen at some distance, when I pointed out Lagori. Without thinking anything I started dancing there. Confused, still everyone understood that my dance was the sign that we are at the diversion point and from their onwards we will be on to plateau which will head towards Machi.
However, now our target was to reach Paane village and not the Machi as we were out of Water and everyone was dying of hunger. I knew Aniket had plenty water but he was not going to open those bottles unless anyone was dying and their dying wish was water. I think it was around 9.30 pm when we reached Machi. We came across that Old house where in Morning we had rested, without stopping there we headed towards village.
By around 11pm we reached that village. We came near one house and we saw some people were still awake. Aniket being our leader immediately approached two people and arranged dinner for us. We told them the entire story. People were very helpful. We asked for some utensils and water, instead they prepared Maggie for us. They just asked us to set aside and tell them what and how to cook. We all got cleaned and ate very nice and hot Maggie. We all slept in the temple. We had a bus to catch by 07.30am. Everyone was so much tired that without any discussions we felled asleep. (My cramps were irritating me, but I slept anyhow). Day 1 ended with lots of uncertainties, ups and downs, thrill, but with memorable experience.
Written by Pankaj Sonar
Edited by Anik
Wait for part 02 and you will get to know what happened next on day 02 at the base of Torna.
-Ritesh Patil
Panorama
मुलूखगिरी 