Travel With a Couple

Meet Sraddha. She is about 12 years old and stays in a one-room house along with her parents and siblings. The sparkle in her eyes perhaps hides the difficulties of her daily grind.

Since the past five years, she is experiencing a new life. Apart from her school, she now tries to fast track her learning of English and Maths. And hopes to fulfill her dream of becoming a police officer. Thanks to Akanksha, a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation working in the field of education. Akanksha’s core belief is that giving a strong educational foundation, self esteem and values to the less privileged children will help them improve their quality of life.

Today, Sraddha  had more reasons to smile. For she was enjoying her first ever adventure picnic near Kanheri caves at Sanjay Gandhi National Park along with many of her friends. And for us it was a different trip as facilitators.

It has been a long time since we did ‘packing-bags-on-early-Sunday-morning’. There have not been many one-day treks of late. So when Nature Knights planned an adventure activity session of rock climbing, rappelling and valley crossing for about 35 kids from Akanksha, we did pack our bags and joined them.

Volunteering for this event was quite an experience for all of us in Nature Knights. Matching up to the kids’ energy levels and answering their innumerable questions was a task by itself. The impact of Akanksha was evident in the confidence displayed by the kids.

More photos here. More about Akanksha. More about Nature Knights

After the Divine tree darshan, let us take you to this tree we came across at Pench National Park. This is not the first time we are seeing a Ghost Tree. But something that can let your imagination fly – is the first time.

Ghost tree is called so because its bark gives a ghostly appearance in moonlight. Ghost trees are often found in the Sahyadris. Known as Sterculia Urens by its biological name, and as Gulur, Kadaya, Karaya etc in Hindi, this is cultivated in some parts of northern India for its gum.

These trees grow in dry deciduous forests and occupy hilltops, exposed ridges, rocky crevices, eroded slopes etc. Is very resistant to drought and will grow on dry stony soils.

Place: Pench National Park. PNP is spread across Maharashtra and Madhyapradesh. This was at the Madhyapradesh side. About 110 kms from Nagpur

With countless number of Gods & Goddesses (83 million by someone’s estimates or 830 million?), roadside stones and trees turning to temples is not new in India. There is no rural-urban divide in these phenomena. All that matters is faith.

This interesting tree apparently has a mild resemblance to Lord Ganesha’s trunk. It is clear that the clever and creative painting is what brings it live. Nevertheless, the Ganesha tree has already started attracting attention of travellers and is listed in the ‘must-see’ places in and around Bordi.

We saw this in the Bordi-Asavali road, about 2 km from the MTDC resort at Bordi.

Place: Bordi in Maharashtra. Bordi is on the North Konkan coast, at about 180 kms from Mumbai towards Gujarat.

If you can’t travel or drive too much and all you need is a quite weekend getaway from Mumbai, then you can try option no #85, Bordi. That’s what precisely we did.  When a family friend wanted a weekend break to introduce their one-year old son to outdoors, we scoured our maps, books and internet to pick a place.

Bordi has a 17-km long beach. Chikoo and vegetable farms dot the quiet village. Hills towards the east and a small dam. More importantly, we haven’t been there. And, MTDC has a resort in Bordi. A perfect combination. At about 180 km from Mumbai, it is convenient for a drive or a train journey.

Bordi retains the charm of the small village that it is (though we did not go into the ‘town’ part of this village) with a broad road running parallel to the beach flanked by old Parsi bungalows, farms and some old buildings that have turned hotels and resorts. While most resorts are on the eastern side of the road, MTDC as ever occupies a prime property on the beach side. On its boundary, the beach starts.

MTDC resorts have never disappointed us. They are about utility value and value for money. No fancy stuff. Simple rooms and clean toilets. Restaurants are often contracted out and one has to expect some extended waiting, especially on weekends when a staff of 3 trying to serve 16 or 18 roomful of guests. Yet, no complaints.

All you can do at Bordi is to just relax. Take a stroll along the long beach. And when you get tired, lie on your back, gazing at the stars.

Place: Bordi in Maharashtra. Bordi is on the North Konkan coast, at about 180 kms from Mumbai towards Gujarat.