The Aur-Khilao Amboli Trip

Aur Khilao – Aur Khilao …

A total of fifteen kanda-bhaji plates, sixteen vada-pav, ten omelets and eleven sweet-corn were consumed by our motely group of eight people under the pretext of brunch on this trip. Other notable additions were the “very much loved” Gulkand cake, an assortment of pastries from Monginis, methi pakoras, gulam jamun and fruit plate in the Konkankanya Express. We also had a lunch and two dinners apart from this... :D

About Amboli …

The things we love ... 

Amboli is a small hill-station close to the southern tip of Maharashtra at the border of the Sindhudurg and Kolhapur districts. The Amboli village lies on the highway connecting Sawantwadi in Konkan to Kolhapur and Belgaon on the Deccan Plateau and is the topmost point of the ghat of the same name.

The Amboli area receives the highest rainfall in Maharashtra state and coupled with its relatively sparse population, has a dense forest cover which harbors a variety of fauna some of which is unique to this area.

The Trip Idea

During the Vengurla Trip back in April, we had seen that bikes are available in Sawantwadi on rent. Another trip to Vengurla – for the southern stretch up to Redi/Terekhol - was on the cards, however, that would have to wait at least till November. Amboli had piqued my interest a bit the last time I passed through here – in February. Looked it up a bit and it seemed to be an ideal Monsoon trip destination – dense forests, heavy rains, fog, waterfalls … Luckily, even few train tickets were available. The trip was on!

Bikes and rains ... 

Originally the trip was decided on the last weekend of July, but due to schedule conflicts was shifted to the first weekend of August. This gave an added impetus for the trip – a friendship day special!

The final 8 who made it for the trip were: me, Arpit, Sandhya, Devendra, Priyanka, Aarti, Ankit and 

Anish.

L-R: Ankit, Arpit, Sandhya, Anish, me, Deendra, Priyanka and Aarti 

Our Itinerary

Friday, 31^st July, 2015

                2200hrs: I leave office

2240hrs: Arrive at Thane Railway Station to catch the 10111 Konkankanya Express

Overnight in Train

               

Saturday, 1^st August, 2015

                1000hrs: Arrive at Sawantwadi Road Railway Station

                                Board a local transport (Tata Magic) to Sawantwadi City

                1030hrs: Arrive at Sawantwadi City and collect our rental bikes

                                Proceed to Amboli

                1200hrs: Arrive at Amboli and checked-in to Shiv Malahar hotel

                                Freshen up

                1300hrs: Depart for local site-seeing

                                Sunset Point, Mahadevgad Point, Shirgaonkar Point, Amboli Main Waterfall, Other Waterfall

                1700hrs: Return to hotel

                                Freshen up, rest and TP

                2000hrs: Dinner at hotel

                2130hrs: Night Safari

                                Rode up to Mahadevgad Point and JRD Hotel – sighted a snail :P

                                Return to hotel and TP

                                Overnight in hotel

Sunday, 2^nd August, 2015

                0945hrs: Departure for local site-seeing

                                Nangartas Waterfall and Hiranyakeshi River Origin

                1200hrs: Return to hotel and check-out

                1245hrs: Departure for local site-seeing

                                Kavlsesad Point and Amboli Rajwada

                1500hrs: Departure for Sawantwadi

                1600hrs: Lunch at Sawantwadi City

1720hrs: Bikes deposited at rental place

                Proceed to Sawantwadi Road Railway Station

                1745hrs: Arrive at Sawantwadi Road Railway Station to catch 10112 Konkankanya Express

                                Dinner and overnight in train

Monday, 3^rd August, 2015

                0400hrs: Train arrives at Panvel

                                Devendra and Priyanka alight

                0450hrs: Train arrives at Thane

                                I alight from the train

                0800hrs: I’m at my desk in office

Expenses:

The total per person expenses for the trip were INR2100, all inclusive.

Essential Contacts and Rates:

1: Bike Rental

                Mujib Shaikh

                094044 48030

                200 per day any bike

2: Accommodation at Amboli (many options)

                Shiv Malhar

                087932 91298

                600 per day

                12pm check-in & check-out

                Veg thali – 80

                Chicken thali – 140

- Kapil Pilankar