A Visit to Paradise

With Indian Independence Day falling on a Saturday, everybody had the entire weekend off. It’s a rare scene in India, as most of the organizations here still follow the ‘six days a week’ work culture. So, everybody I know had made their big weekend plans.
It was a different weekend for me as well. Not for the reason of two back to back holidays. That, I always do. It was different because:
(a) My family and all my friends had their weekend off and they had plans; and
(b) My C. A. Final results were to be declared just before this particular weekend.
I’d refused to join my parents, my sister and my friends for their respective trips because I was sure that I would flunk. And when everybody was out, enjoying, I wanted to sit back at home, regret and sulk. That was my big weekend plan.

But God had other plans for me. On Thursday the results were declared and I’d managed to get through one of the two groups I’d appeared for. As a result of which, I wasn’t in a mood to sulk any more. And now, just like everybody else, I wanted to go out and have a blast on the weekend.
Everyone I know was going in such weird groups that I couldn’t fit into any of them. The only silver lining in the dark clouds was, if Amit’s trip with his colleagues didn’t materialize, then we would go somewhere. On Friday afternoon Amit told me that they aren’t going after all and then began a quick search for places we could possibly visit. And of course, just when I need the internet the most, it is at that precise moment that it has to get disconnected. From my earlier search on the internet, I’d remembered a place called Jawahar. So, we decided to visit the same.
Till midnight Amit was busy searching for driving directions and like that was not enough, he made a route map using Google Earth. I came home only to find that, all of a sudden, of all days, it was today that my PC was not working. With instructions from my engineer cousin, I repaired my PC and then began to make a list of places to visit in and around Jawahar and copying songs on my pen drive.
At 8 in the morning on Saturday we began our ride to the Tribal Village of Jawahar. The road to Wada via Bhiwandi was in a terrible state. By the time I reached Wada, I almost started to regret our decision to visit Jawahar. But once we crossed Wada, we were rewarded. We missed the left turn to Malawane and I’m glad we did. About 5 kilometers from there we saw the one of the most beautiful roads in our country. You are welcomed by a clean, good road, with an expanse of green fields on both the sides. There are hardly any cars or humans to interfere with what the nature has in store for us.

It was the first time during the trip that we decided to get off the car. On stepping out, the first sound that we heard was that of the birds chirping. The first smell we smelt was that of fresh air. A few photographs and realization of being on the wrong path later, we headed towards our destination.

Four kilometers after turning for Malawane we found river Pundalika. You have to see the water to believe how clean it is. All you get to see here is clean white water and rocks surrounding the river. The sound of the fast flowing river was a treat for our ears.

We finally reached Jawahar post twelve and headed straight for lunch. It is better if you do not have high hopes when it comes to the eateries there. We went to Shivneri, a basic eatery with tin roof, plastic table and chairs, stored water for washing and excellent chicken masala. The pleasure of eating hot, spicy and well cooked gauti chicken masala, with roti and kaanda, while it is pouring outside, is something you have to experience to understand. Two chicken masalas, four rotis, two papads and one chai, all for 100 bucks. Good food never got this cheap.

After lunch we took the short path from Shivneri to the New Palace at Jawahar. There’s nothing magnificent or royal about this palace. Still, it’s worth a see. And then, when I was heading towards the exit, Amit insisted we visit the backyard. The view from there is breathtaking. As far as your eyes can see there are green fields and at the end of these fields there are green mountains. The shadow of movement of clouds on these fields is a sight my eyes will never forget.

After walking back to Shivneri, we drove towards Dhabosa waterfalls.

On the way to Dhabosa, we saw a lake and decided to halt there on our way back. Dhabosa waterfall was disappointing. Due to low rainfalls this year, the waterfall was not in its fullest form. A perfect example of how we are ruining the nature.

On our way back, as decided, we stopped by at the lake. The lake is at a two minute walking distance from the road. And it’s a beautiful walk on wet grass. But humans are lazy and destructive. I found people who drove over the grass, till the lake. I could not help but wonder that how on earth could anybody have the heart to ruin such a beautiful place.

The lake is almost deserted. It has clear, transparent water and when sunlight falls on that water, it sparkles like diamonds. We sat on a small rock at the edge of the lake with our feet in the water. In my life of twenty five years, I’ve never seen a place so beautiful and so harmonious. Everything there was in perfect harmony. The colors – green grass, clear water, green trees and green hills. The sounds – flowing water and occasional mooing of cattle. The feel – water flowing against our feet and fishes nibbling at our feet. The place is so serene and so quiet that when Amit clicked a photograph, the sound of the click sounded like a loud noise.

It was one of those few places I’ve visited in my lifetime, where I didn’t want to talk, click pictures or hear music. All I wanted to do was just sit quietly and see, feel and hear the place. Amit, in Shahajahan style, rightly said that this is paradise. Kashmir must be what most of the paradise is made of, but this lake surely must be a small part of it. I didn’t want to leave from there. But like all good things, even this had to come to an end.

The best thing about Jawahar is that it is untouched. The trees, the birds, the cattle, the hills, the mountains, the water, the people, all of them are in their purest form. On visiting Jawahar, you will realise how rich our country is. I've never seen so many shades of green ever.

Do not go there if you are expecting "to see" something. There's nothing to see. There's eveything to experience.