Takmak Trek

Route: Bandra → Virar → Sakwar Village → Takmak-gad

Height: 2700ft

SAKWAR VILLAGE.

One Friday morning, Sr.Bindi and I boarded the 5.39am train to Virar where we were met by our fellow-trekkers, Leena, Suparna, Deepa and her three friends. After some hot chai, we spent some time haggling with the rickshaw drivers before starting off on the 25km long ride to the base village of Sakwar.

OUR GUIDES

Sakwar village is a very picturesque place with little houses, lush, green fields and a river bubbling merrily by. We managed to enlist the services of two little village boys, Ajay and Suraj, who were more than willing to lead us up the Mountain.

RIVER

Takmak falls in the Raigad district of Maharashtra and is said to be one of the approx’ 300 forts built in Maharashtra by Shivaji. Although not much information is available about this particular fort, it is said to have been used as an execution site from which sentenced prisoners were hurled to their death.  

En route to the peak, we had to wade through the cold river, climb over styles and rickety fences that bordered the many fields around us. Here and there, we caught sight of a villager or two busy toiling in the fields.

VILLAGER IN THE FIELD

After a long, mosquito-infested, yet enjoyable climb we stopped at the first plateau to have a snack of sandwiches and boiled eggs. We spent some time munching into the sandwiches and admiring the valley below and then started off again. Our next stop, after about an hour or so, was at a tiny, yet full waterfall in which we splashed about for some time.

LOOKING AT THE PEAK

The last few minutes of our climb were rather steep, but we managed it somehow, only to realize that there was still quite a long trek ahead. The main peak was some distance away, playing hide-n-seek among the rain clouds. Visibility was rather poor on account of the swirling mist and we could barely see the peak. Every once in a while we caught a glimpse of a flag waving at the peak. It looked like a rather difficult climb, and, since many of our group were trekking either for the first time or had lost touch with it, we decided to avoid the peak this time. 

VIEW FROM TAKMAK-GAD

So, after three hours of climbing and scrambling, we sat atop this plateau and admired God’s creation all around us. It was here that we also had our lunch and then started on our way down. I must say that getting down was much faster mostly since some of us slid down at many places.

VILLAGE BOYS TAKING A DIP

Once at the base, we spent a good time splashing about in the cold river and then stood waiting for a rickshaw to take us back to Virar station. while we waited, we were entertained by the antics of the little village boys taking turns to jump into the river. After what seemed like a very long time, when we realized that getting a rickshaw wouldn’t be easy, we hailed one of the passing truckers and hitch-hiked all the way to Vasai station from where we took a train back to Bandra.


Pics by Misha