GADESHWAR - A treasure hidden in plain sight!!!

I used to think about spending a day at a peaceful, beautiful, less populated place and the options that I had were Matheran, Lonavala, Alibaug, etc.... but that changed two years back. Now, whenever i have to spend time at a place thats close to the nature and far from pollution, I can go to a place thats just an hour away from my home. An unspoilt, untouched, unexplored, picnic spot right below the nose of our city just 40 kms away.... Thats Gadeshwar !!!

Two years back, I took a week off work and had spent four days at home. I realised how much time i had wasted and decided I would spend my Friday out of home and would do something really exciting.  I went to google maps and found about a village with a lake in Panvel.  Next morning, I picked up my back pack and went off alone.  I had no idea how to go to that place, I had no idea how would that place be, no idea about my travel and i had no companion either. I just knew that there was a lake in a village near Panvel and it was called Gadeshwar. The excitement and thrill of going to a place about which i knew nothing, was awesome and being alone just multiplied those feelings!!

The chart at the depot...not very trustworthy though

I took a bus till Panvel depot and inquired about that place but there were not many people who knew that place, not even the rickshaw walas... most of them  were listening that name for the first time!! Luckily, i got hold of a bus driver and he told me that I could get a bus for Gadeshwar. It was the bus to Dhodani that would drop me at Gadeshwar.

I got a bus within 20 minutes from reaching the deopt and was told by the conductor that the stop is Gadeshwar dam. The first 10 minutes did not give me any hint of what was waiting ahead. For the first 10 minutes i could only see the usual busy signals and pollution but once the bus crossed Mahalaxmi Nagar, the scenes change drastically....

It started with small farm houses that isn't common in the city, then followed a couple of large grasslands and in the background were some beautiful mountains....Freshness was in the air!!

As the bus moved forward scenes became more beautiful and less crowded. So much more less that I had to literally search for people.. but the scenes passing by were beautiful enough to make me forget my search.  It was getting better every minute.

This 1 is from google - not clicked by me...

The pictures here will explain what I can't express...

After a pleasing drive, I reach my destination - Gadeshwar.   The site was breathtaking...I got down from the bus and i could see no other human being around, literally, no one.  It was just me and a beautiful landscape to my right and Gadeshwar lake and dam to my left.  My first visit to Gadeshwar was during summers. It was a very hot summer and the last drop of rain that poured on the land was around 8 months back so it was not lush green then.

What was amazing was that I was just about an hour away from one of the most busiest cities and all i could hear was silence and the sound of wind in the background.  In my company was a lake, mountains, greenery, grazing cattle and some busy birds. I was experiencing calmness in the lap of nature, that moment touched me deep!!

I was there for 4-5 hours and during that period I took a stroll around the lake and did manage to  meet a few villagers.  A worker at the dam told me that the this place looks mystical during monsoon and is worth a visit.  A group of kids were busy building their own water-slide. A few ladies brought their laundry along.  Rest of my time was spent alone, with mother nature...

I did not get anything to eat or drink along with me and there weren't any shops around not at least in the radius of one kilometer or so.... Hunger took over and i had to leave.... but i was happy that an exciting day was coming to an end with a successful visit to a place where i would surely come back again..

I went back home, told my friends about the place showed them the pics and they were impressed.  So much that they all decided to visit the place during monsoon.... This time it was more fun!!

We were 8 of us and i was the guide...We took the same route but this time the scenes were even more beautiful or should I say more glamorous..... Look at the pics and decide for yourself...

It was raining heavily that season, much to our pleasure! The lake was full, the landscape was lush green and the mountains were covered with thick clouds!!! To add to all of this, I had friends along.
Needless to say, they were all very glad to be at such a beautiful place.

My sister had got some idlis for snacks and just when we started eating, it started raining heavily, very heavily.

We quickly pulled our umbrellas out so that we could protect the yummy idlis from getting wet.  It was fun to have idlis over a hill right next to a lake during heavy rainfalls, it was such an experience.  We all still cherish those moments....

Idli in the rain

After a fun filled snack, it was time to explore the place with friends and do much more....

Lying on the grass

Laughing in the rain

Capturing a fly

Bothering a crab

having a blast

and relaxing!!!

Lake, waterfall, mountains, clouds, greenery, birds..... for a nature lover, that's the real treasure. That is Gadeshwar.

GADESHWAR

P.S.: IF YOU HAPPEN TO VISIT THIS PLACE, PLEASE RESPECT ITS BEAUTY BY NOT LITTERING.  DO CARRY A COUPLE OF EXTRA BAGS TO DISPOSE ANY AND ALL SORTS OF GARBAGE.