From high up there, it seems as if you are Gulliver and the land below, Lilliput, the farms like a patched quilt, all those shades of
green outdoing each other, the station at Malavali and the cars on the Pune-Mumbai express highway appear like a child's toy.

To be atop the Visapur and Lohagarh forts in the Sahyadris, at nearly 3500 feet above sea level, is a heavenly feeling. The slight drizzle, fresh air and the shattering silence is a welcome change from the air-cum-sound pollution ridden city of Pune.

We trek through the thorns that line the trail, or descend through waterfalls, occasionally stopping to admire wild flowers or dewdrops glittering like gems on the leaves or a snake skin shed in the water.

Lunch is best appreciated and enjoyed when you are about to drop dead due to an empty stomach, an enthusiastic and adventurous colleague even managed to concoct a dish consisting of a boiled egg with some groundnut chutney on it plus some yoghurt and jam.

This was the second real trek I have ever done and I cannot thank my friend Rashmi enough, for lending a helping hand, literally, whenever I was in dire straits. Whoever said trekking is child's play obviously does not have grip-less feet like I do :)