Sunday Trails – Best Day Trips Around Nasik

Challenging situations bring the best out of us. I am an outdoor person out and out. As a traveler, Lock down brought unseen and unending challenges.

Treading cautiously I started venturing to spots around Nasik, Not only I am driving a lot, I have started enjoying the drive. Pandemic has forced me to take on some challenges and see my city and countryside through a new bio scope. I am on my own, on my own preferred time, in my vehicle stocked with all the necessities.

I am sure every city and its countryside must be beautiful and, many like me must have done the same what I did through the pandemic. The only difference is I am sharing my drives and experiences to take you all on a virtual visual ride so that you can be on the move and find out the pleasure of exploring around your hometown.

Drive from Nasik to Jawhar via Amboli Ghats

Blessed with the Western Ghats or the Sahyadri ranges, the city of Nashik is surrounded by thick forests, many rivers, and ample rains. The climate year-round is pleasant and best suitable for Drives and picnics at any spot. Monsoons though are very special as the geography is at its best and, makes it most picturesque and is irresistible not to be amidst nature.

The 80km drive from Nasik to Jawahar is through the Amboli Ghats full of vegetation and rich fields emanating their Aura.

The drive from Nasik to Trimbakeshwar through well-maintained roads, thanks to KUMBH Mela happening every 12 years. With a string of tourists visiting one of the 12 Jyotirlingas the place is revered for its religious value.

Rich Countryside

This agro-based countryside is enticing in all seasons. In summers fields in Earthy tones with golden grass awaits the monsoons, in winters lush crops dance to the tunes of the winds while the rural green natural carpets invite you for a picnic.

 Monsoons are the most beautiful with romance in the air, the clouds descend to kiss the Sayahdris, and they, in turn, gush down blushing in the forms of waterfalls, it is just enchanting. It’s a kaleidoscope of what you want to see and the actuals on nature’s Canvas with the crisp cool breeze, helping you to get lost and relax.

Romance with the Landscape

By the time you choose which place to have a picnic you are on to the JOWHAR road, a little climb, and the natures costume changes, the vegetation gets thicker with the canopy of leafy verdant trees welcomes you to the Amboli Ghats a tribal belt, with small settlements make it more scenic and bouts of rains add on to the romance of the drive and the nature.

The music depicts your moods and the smiles reach your eyes, a stop for a quick hot cup of tea or boiled cornels, from the tribal on the way deep into the forest, a word with them makes all activities add on for the day.

As I climb the Ghats, I am deep into the forest, taking many pit stops to get the freshest oxygen booster, I stop at one of the many waterfalls, and follow the path upwards to its origin. That’s the Vantage point for the day, gushing down is the waterfall and landscape from the top that is the most serene.

 It’s hard to believe to be true, the picture-postcard is just perfect with a landscape dotted with colored head caps, these are bent figures sowing rice in knee-deep water, the wildflowers are in full bloom, and Natures romance is in full swing and my heart swells with the oxygen booster and happiness.

The next 40Km amidst the rusty potholed road towards Jawahar is lost in the drive. Located in Palghar District, it’s smugly nestled in the Western Ghats. This erstwhile Princely state founded in 1343 by Raja Jayaba Mukne, has seen it all through many transitions before it was finally included in the Union of India.

“WARLI”

Known for its World famous Tribal art “WARLI” this is amongst the few tribal regions of Maharashtra. Jawahar Holds many attractions which I will mention below, but for me, the Drive and Picnic amidst nature was my motto, amongst many I could only Visit the Jai Vilas Palace.

JAI VILAS PALACE

We walk through the Cashew Plantation, an attraction in itself, for a kilometer and a half, hidden in the vegetation sits this Neoclassical residential Palace of the Royal Family. Known as the Raj Bari, the palace made from Pink Stone was excavated from a quarry some 12 Km away from a place called Sakhare. The Palace is inhabited even today and is a great site to visit.

Built by Raja Yashwant Mukane, the Indo western Palace is open for tourists and is a treat to visit. You can also visit the following Places when in Jowhar and do visit and make some purchases at the Warli art Museum from the tribal artist to sustain the art and their legacy.

 My Sunday trail accomplished all that I looked for, well in the boundaries of Pandemic, and gave me a booster Dose to await for the Next. Upcoming Is WINDMILLS …..The Airpower Natural and converted.

Places to visit In Jowhar: Hanuman Point, Dabhosa Fall, Kal Mandi Waterfall, Khad-Khad Dam, Shirpmal al in the Vicinity of 30 km around Jowhar.

My Picnic Basket

• Picnic Chair and Table.
• Picnic Mat
• Fruits and Knife
• Plates, spoons, and Fork
• Sumptuous Breakfast and Teabags
• Paper glasses for all-purpose
• Mask and Sanitizers
• Dustbin bags