Monsoon Tripping near Rajmachi - Camping next to a waterfall stream

Once we returned from the South, I was still feeling travel rush.

We (the husband and I) could not sit still and so, the weekend after the one we came back on, we headed out for monsoon camping, near Rajmachi.


I yet again locked down on Let's Camp Out and this certainly was the most poetic site I had visited in Maharashtra.

We reached the camp site at about 4:30 (half an later than the check in time).

This because sedans don't go to the site. So one parks in The Della Adventures campsite in Lonavala and from there a rickety 4x4 takes you to the site.



Yup yup,you gotta pay. It's not part of the package. FYI - One side is Rs 800 and people generally wait for others to join in and then share the ride but we ain't  like that.

This much impulse does not make for a good bank balance. We got there, saw no one, promptly called the taxi (the number is given by Let's Camp Out) and headed.

Basically, this is the rocky trail that leads to Rajmachi Fort. It's about a 1/2 hour drive to the campsite, from Della.

The drop off is mid way on the trail and we saw the main trail go further and lush trees towards one side, where we saw a small trail leading 'somewhere'.

We walked for about 2 mins on the path and then what we saw is nothing short of magical.

A storybook 'babbling' brook, across which lies the camp ground on a lush green plateau, at the edge of a mountain.

We went across the bridge via a small bamboo bridge and were greeted by the camp manager, Rahul.

Incidentally, Rahul remembered us from our Shirota camping trip, which was also with Let's Camp Out. The Shirota site is a little further away on this same route to Rajmachi.

He told us that that campsite is closed during the monsoons since the lake covers the campsite plateau. This is hard to comprehend since the plateau at the Shirota site seems way above the lake.

Anyways, we selected our tent, which was the last one in the house and hence was closest to the babbling brook. We dumped our bags in and went exploring.

Lo & behold, this was no babbling brook, it was an active waterfall, albeit a wee one. Just after the brook bends towards the mountain, it falls down thousands of feet. Ahhhhh.

 

This sure was a first. One imagines waterfalls to be these mighty beasts full of angry force emerging through a mighty scary roaring river, but here we had an innocent wee little happy babbling brook, jogging down the mountain,

We collectively went, Awwwww!





















On the mountain across the waterfall, beyond the deep gorge, we could see the silhouette of the Rajmachi Fort. The boundary walls are quite easy to see.

The campsite is gorgeous all around. Across the brook, were these mountains which had 2 waterfalls streaming down.









When it got more windy than usual, we could see the fall sway with the wind.

From the dining area, the deep mountain gorge could be seen best.

Since we were carrying our light rain jackets, we were in a very happy place. Sure, it drizzled a tad, but only a very light drizzle, floating in the wind! This was monsoon camping after all.

Others ran to the dining area to get undercover whenever this happened, while we stood like cool cats sipping our beer.

It only rained a tad harder twice and only for about 5 times. And this also was not really bad. Plus, we had our umbrella as well and those 2 times, we opened it and in fact gave refuge to this one guy who was too late to to get to the dining area in time.

See, a little thought goes  long way. The husband was cribbing about the jackets (even though they are the fold-able carry types that becomes a small roll) & the umbrella. Should not have given him refuge. Eh love...

 At around 8:30 PM, we headed to the dining shelter for the barbecue that was being served. There was the usual but 'delicious-because-of-the-environment' camp fare of roasted corn on the cob, cottage cheese, pineapple and chicken.


The wait though, between one and the other was a bit much. They need to prep & plan better.






We actually decided to leave the barbecue before we were really done, simply since we had no more patience to stand around the barbecue, almost pushing our plates to get things first, which is what some ladies & gents were resorting to. The smarter ones had employed their kids. Eh

So we nursed our drinks and tried to capture the moon, which had decided to not show face. It was behind the cloud cover about 95% of the time that night. We had dinner at about 10:45 and called it a wonderful night at about 12.

I actually did not have a good night. The mattress for the 1st time wasn't comfy and I kept waking up multiple times in the night.







I was the first one to wake up at about 6:45 AM and was greeted with the most spectacular sight - a surreal misty day break.










The dew was still hanging in the air & the campsite was soaked in this translucent white light.

The hubby got up soon enough. We went walking around and watching the birds flutter about.













We had enough alone time before the others started stirring.

 

The other benefit of a waking up early at a campsite is getting to use the loo first thing, though one must avoid this altogether and go only if one must . Those who write of camping and do not mention this should be prosecuted for with-holding crucial information.

Anyhow we enjoyed the morning soaking in as much of this nature rush as we could and left at around 9:30 after a good breakfast of poha, bread and omelette.










Another couple joined us on the way back to the Della parking, so the bill was split. Good enough for us.











Walked the 2 minute walk to the main trail where the same 4x4 we came via was waiting for us.