Varadvinayak Ganapati temple-mahd & matheran pass

     This journey was a short bike trail of around 130 kms. A very blissful day I opted to range up this trail was 5th April 2016, prior to a day for my birthday. The aim was only to roar for Varadvinayak temple, plan of Matheran pass started carving in my brain while returning from the temple.

       The Varadvinayak Ganapati temple is located at mahad - near Khopoli, it is amongst the eight Astavinayak Ganapati Temples. It was built in 17th Century.

        I started my bike at 6:30 AM from my home at Badlapur. The route I planned for the trail was via Vangani, Neral, Karjat, Kelavli, Palasdari, heading straight to Mahad. The morning schedule shattered a little for some Nature-cozy snaps. While crossing Vangani, there was a smashing scenario of cloud-layering on my adjoining Mountains (Sahayadri ranges initials). I captured it in my Canon and then visualized a frame for cloud - sun, in Low ISO & low Shutter speed. The capture what I got was a sheer masterpiece!!

CLOUD LAYERING

CLOUD - SUN UNDER LOW ISO & SUTTER SPEED

       My further ride continued till Mahad without stopping & reached around 8:15 AM. These morning 52 kms from Badlapur hold my back-pain to a little. Ignoring that, I visited the temple. It held a healthy, divine & clean atmosphere all around. No rush, no waiting line, no superstitious activities, just a pure pray to Lord Varadvinayak Ganapati. I foot out of the temple Captured some snaps. I dint got a usual or a good frame their in!

SELFIE AT VARADVINAYAK TEMPLE, MAHAD

VARADVINAYAK TEMPLE AREA'S ENTRANCE

       Later, I came near the highway region a (1.2 kms from Temple on my returning Road), standed my bike aside and captured a non-objective & meaningless, time spending snaps !

BIKE'S SNAP AT MAHAD

TUNGSTEN CLOUD SKY, MAHAD

       I started tracing my path back to Badlapur around 9:00 AM. En route at Palasdari, I winked my eyes and took a hold for a bird named Indian Roller. ( Many times I have captured Indian roller bird in closed wing , but my wish was to capture it open winged - it is a pure beautiful winged bird & so my wish came true ) I capture him in both sitting (close winged) & flattered (open winged).

INDIAN ROLLER(CLOSE WINGED) AT PALASDARI

INDIAN ROLLER(OPEN WINGED) AT PALASDARI

       I walked back towards the bike and my eyes sighted one more bird. It was a red-wattled lapwing. I captured him too.

RED WATTLED LAPWING AT PALASDARI

       Then, while reaching to Karjat, I thought of taking a secondary practice trail on a average altitude by Matheran Pass. I crossed Karjat and reached Neral stop in 20 minutes and decided for sure to commit Matheran pass.

       I started the pass with full patience, concentration, dedication on my brain & control on my bike. enrooted I stopped many time to capture snaps. Few of them are lined below.

INITIAL STAGE OF STARTING MATHERAN PASS

TREE OBJECTIVE AT JUMMAPATTI

VIEW FROM JUMMAPATTI

MY RIDE #ENROUTE MATHERAN PASS

TERRACE VIEW FROM ONE MOUNT TO OTHER(BETWEEN JUMMAPATTI & WATER PIPE)

ENROUTE CAPTION BEFORE REACHING MATHERAN FEE COLLECTION POINT

EN ROUTE CAPTION BETWEEN REACHING MATHERAN FEE COLLECTION POINT

       I reached the stop where taxi drops & fee collection point starts the original Matheran border. I have toured Matheran on various points for any times. My main concern was the bike expedition. I waited and cooled down for a few minutes their-in.

MATHERAN FEE COLLECTION POINT / TAXI STAND 

       Started the bike riding down from there. While coming down, en route I got few captures on Grey Langurs.

GREY LANGUR GIVING A DANGEROUS LOOK

THIRSTY GREY LANGUR ENJOYING DRIPPING WATER FROM BIG VALVES

EN ROUTE #RIDING DOWN

FEEL LIKE DRY AUTUMN IN SUMMER (WHILE RIDING DOWN)

       I got a frame in my mind as well as a last snap picture for the trail. For this frame, I stopped near Water Pipe station (one of the rail track staion for Matheran mini train)  and view a place where rail tracks cross the roadway for Matheran. I got a clean & healthy capture of my bike there, as I framed in my mind.

DESIRED FRAME CAME TRUE (AT WATER PIPE RAIL STAION)

DESIRED FRAME CAME TRUE (AT WATER PIPE RAIL STAION)

LAST SNAP NEAR JUMMAPATTI WHIL RIDING DOW

       Later, I took my ride down to Neral & further reached Badlapur  around 1:15 PM.

The whole ride was a new experience for me enchanting sharp bike controlling, braking on step slopes by rear wheel smashing and much more. Always remember that nature is large at its whole, but we should surely enlarge our wrist to capture few parts of it.