For someone who is not particularly interested in birds, I wonder why I visited the Karnala Bird Sanctuary three times in my life. …and do not remember seeing any unusual bird there at all! I did not even bother to carry powerful binoculars to sight some of the rare birds here. The first time I went there was about 22 years ago when I was more bothered about seeing the natural greenery through the excited eyes of my kindergarten going hyperactive son!
The second visit was very memorable. Along with my aged parents and a very big group of 200+ people from 4 busloads pf picnickers, we reached the place to have some awesome breakfast in the natural surroundings. Then along with some of the fitter ones, we started a climb up the uneven steps. This was a slow process and we soon realized that we were probably the slowest group to manage the steady slow climb upto the base of the Karnala fort.
The sight of the almost vertical standing natural Karnala tower is visibly impressive from the Panvel Goa highway, yet this majestic high rising piece of vertical hill looked really awesome from close quarters. At this point, some of our group members decided to return, but I was clear that having climbed up all the way, I just had to see what was inside those old fort walls! I climbed up some more steep steps on the edge of the fort walls waving to some more members of our group that were coming down.
I finally reached a shaded cave like area inside the fort with an unforgettable view of the valley below. Felt like one of Shivaji’s army that must have occupied this fort for its vantage view of the Raigad district! There was also a body of water collected behind me in this cave. The intense thirst that I felt at that moment was quenched by this natural found water( and no I did not get sick after that).
Suddenly I realized that I was the only member of my group left back in the fort along with some 2 other strangers. It was now time to walk down the whole way…all by myself. Armed with my new adidas shoes, my courage, my camera and the immense energy given by the natural forest area…I had my most memorable solo trip down the Karnala hill. With no phone or no watch and no clue of civilization around me, I came slowly down the hill, one step at a time! And yes I did manage to find natural perches to take my solo photos on the timer mode, all along the way. And no, I did not even for once think about the risk and danger of being alone in an unfamiliar place. It was one of the best two hours that I spent alone with nature, as I walked down from the Karnala hill to the base near the highway!
There was no sign of any members from our 200+ group. It was way past lunchtime and really late. Our big group must have moved to another place for lunch and games. A small warning panic button flared in my mind. But at least there were people around me. The only phone number I knew was of my own phone which was with my mother and was completely unreachable.
I decided to walk upto the highway praying fervently from my heart. And then I see him! One of the volunteers from our group was waiting for me. I don’t know who was more relieved to see the other! He told me that the whole group was worried about me when I did not return on time, especially my aged parents. Anything could have happened as I walked down alone from the Karnala hill, I assured him that I always felt protected with the grace of God! The buses had gone away to another location to continue the picnic. He had stayed back just to get me and phoned for a private car to take us back to the rest of the group. And then it was housie and musical arms and group photo as usual!
The third time we went near Karnala was to a resort on the highway from which we could get a view of the fort and tower. It was more of day of getting away with friends from routine life. After the initial shock of seeing the crowded pace, by evening we took umpteen rides in the water slides, soaked ourselves with jet streams of gushing water, did a rain dance and generally behaved like excited kids in the waterpool. Was happy to dance with friends, non stop for 2 hours, and to finish the day screaming silly- bachao bachao as we friends laughed and watched a 10 minute 7 D horror movie together!
Yes if you want to be with nature within 2 hours of getting away from Mumbai then Karnala is place…provided the maddening crowds don’t decide to visit it also on the same day!
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