Monsoons are perfect to take a break from your busy schedule. To make the most of the cool weather, the lush greenery all around, and the rains, you need to step outdoors. And what better way to enjoy the outdoors than go for a trek. You just need to slip into your adventure gear and hit the road.
Those living in and around Pune have a lot of choice when it comes to trekking destinations. There are several organisations which plan treks every week and even customise them according to your needs.
Rounak Bhatia, a final year BA Political Science student, MIT Kothrud, and a trekking enthusiast, plans at least one trek during monsoon every year. “Monsoon treks have a completely different feel than the usual treks because they are more challenging and the difficulty level is more due to slippery paths and unpredictable weather but the satisfaction of completing it is something everyone should experience at least once,” he says.
Kaushal Walimbe, pursuing PGDM in Insurance and Risk Management, who enjoys trekking throughout the year, says that monsoon night treks are something that cannot be compared with any other experience. “Exploring paths, climbing with the help of sticks and bamboos, cooking our own meals next to a fireplace is the real essence of trekking and with the sudden downpour, it is a total adventure,” he shares.
Monsoon treks are tough but thoroughly enjoyable too. You would not want to miss out on the opportunity of experiencing something so exciting and thrilling. However, do take precautions and proper guidance, and feel the tenderness of the air and the warmth of nature all around you.
A VARIETY OF CHOICES
Nupur Geete, co-founder of AwaraRahi — a Pune-based group, believes that every trek has a different flavour. As an organisation their aim is to create a great outdoor experience. “Affordable prices attract all kinds of audiences but it might vary since every trek has different parameters and requires different tools,” she says.
Affordability is not always the deciding factor. Vikas Kaduskar, founder of Raw Adventure Solutions, says, “It’s not only about affordability but also the quality and expertise of the organisers.” He emphasises on the idea of focusing on curating experiences for families. Leisure activities and weekend getaways like arranging fireflies festival where families can participate together are more appealing for customers as they get a chance to get away from the daily hustle and bustle.
He also says that the idea of trekking and expedition has changed over time. “It is not restricted only to youngsters or students but families have also started taking interest in cycling expeditions and adventure sports where they can try something different from the usual idea of fun,” adds Kaduskar.
“A lot of time trekkers go through inevitable problems which need to be dealt with carefully,” says Khusboo Jain from AwaraRahi. Recalling an instance Jain says that once they were coming back from a trek, completely exhausted and suddenly the bus failed and it was a total chaos. Since they had a few senior citizens they had to think quickly, “We arranged for transport to Lonavla and took care of their stay, food and everything else,” she says.
To deal with problems like this, the organisers need to have good experience and expertise, backup plans and resources.
LOOK BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA
When you go for a trek, make sure you take home memories of the experience and not just let it be a selfie moment! Aniket Bokil, co-founder of Sahyadri Rovers, says, “Trekking is not merely about clicking pictures but it is necessary to find out about the place and its history before you go ahead.” Nowadays, most people visit a place to click pictures and selfies and create Instagram stories but what genuinely matters is the knowledge and research about the place and its attributes.
Bokil further adds that organisers should have the contact of locals, in case of an emergency. “In my journey of 16 years of mountaineering, I realised that it is very essential to have experience and required qualifications before organising treks and taking the responsibility of others,” he concludes.
