A TRIP TO TUNGARESHWAR AND CHINCHOTI WATERFALLS

Date: 29th July, 2007

Vasai and its nearby precincts wear a different colour during monsoons. Just two days prior to this trip the rains had started their second innings in Mumbai. Although it was good news as I had plans to visit the ‘Chinchoti’ waterfalls, however heavy rains might have caused serious problems.

Early morning on a Sunday I reached the platform by 5 am. I was to catch the 5:33 Vasai shuttle. I had read about the Tungareshwar hills and the presiding deity, Lord Shiva. The temple was to be the first destination followed by ‘Chinchoti’ waterfalls. It was nearly 5:50 am when the Push-n-pull arrived. It left in 2 minutes flat. I occupied the window seats fortunately. I was reminded of the time when my neighbour, Santosh and I had once traveled by this very train to visit his friend in Vasai. At that time Vasai was not as well developed as it is today. It was more than 10 years when that trip was undertaken.

As I glanced outside, I could see that the rains were still on and were making me a little nervous. As the train was running behind schedule, I could see so many wonderful landscapes which were not visible in my last trip. The train reached Vasai Road station by 6:48 am. I got down on the east side and enquired with a newspaper wallah as to how I could get to Tungareshwar. He told me if I was going alone the Rickshaw wallah will charge some 12 Rs up to Tungareshwar Phata. From the phata I could hire another rickshaw up to the temple. Buses did ply up to Sativali, which was some 4.5 kms from the ST Bus stand. From Sativali, I had either to catch a rickshaw or walk the 3 km stretch to reach the temple. I headed towards the rickshaw stand after purchasing a Times edition from the newspaper wallah. There were some three more youngsters, whom I had seen in the shuttle also going to Tungareshwar. So I joined them and we reached the phata by 7:10 am. I crossed the Western Express Highway and made way towards the temple path.

By around 7:30 am I reached the Sitaram Bapu Mandir. After seeking Sitaram Bapu’s blessing I continued on the way to the Tungareshwar temple. Midway by around 8 am I had tea. It was a nice experience sipping the hot tea and enjoying the sight of a stream flowing by. After having tea, I trudged along the scenic path. I had already crossed two streams until now. The tea vendor had mentioned that there were in all three streams to be crossed. And I would reach the temple in 15 minutes time.

However I reached the temple by 8:35 am only. The setting of this temple is so very divine. Stairs leading to it, a huge tree providing a cover, a stream flowing behind and the mountain ranges covered by mist in the background made for a perfect picture. I paid visit to the Gokarna, Kodiar & Hanuman Mandir. The priest at the Kodiar temple told me a little bit about the significance of the temple. He told me ‘Kodiar’ means ‘Kho Jaana’ (meaning getting lost). He told me the goddess at the Kodiar temple was an avatar of Ganga. Her vehicle was a crocodile. She was also known by ‘Rajmatha’. And she belonged to Kutch.

As I was nearing the end of my Tungareshwar trip I was curious about how to get near Chinchoti. But no one within the temple premises had heard about Chinchoti waterfalls. With the thought that a youngster might know about this waterfall I enquired with a lad sitting on a bike. He told me that since I was new to the area and all alone I had a good chance of getting lost in the forest. So he suggested that I got back to Tungareshwar Phata and then took a rickshaw up to Chinchoti, which was a stop on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway. Jayesh, for that was his name showed me a nice picture he had taken from his camera phone of the falls. Agreeing to his advice, I made my way back to the Phata. It was 9:10 am when I started the trip towards the Phata and by 10 am I had crossed the Phata and asked a rickshaw-wallah if he would take me to Chinchoti. It is better to be in a group sometimes I concluded as the rickshaw-wallah charged me a hefty sum of 40 bucks. I reached the spot by 10:10 am. The rickshaw-wallah pointed towards a group of trekkers and told me to follow them as they were headed to the waterfalls.

I am yet to witness such a lovely village ahead of the path leading to a waterfall. Paddy fields immersed with water and lush green mountains behind the village are still embedded in my eyes. I soon was one with the group of youngsters. We reached the waterfalls by 11:30 am.

The falls had a unique feel. Jayesh had remarked that Lonavala was pale in comparison. I couldn’t disagree. Lunch was done by 12 pm. By around 1 pm, the number of people reveling increased, so I decided it was time to leave. I bade the Andheri group good bye and made my way downwards. A security personnel also came along with me. As we started conversing he informed me that he was a Beat Officer. His name was Sampad Patil.

Patil informed me that his duty was to cover the nearly 450 hectare area and look out for any signs of tree-felling, poaching, etc. The staff has to compensate their wages with the amount of stolen goods in case there is a theft of firewood etc. He also remarked that there was a way from the Tungareshwar temple to the Ashram on the top which passed through Chinchoti but known only to locals and forest guards. All the way along I was thinking of which could be the nearest possible railhead. As Chinchoti came enroute Bhivandi Phaata, Bhivandi Road station was accessible by road too. Sampad Patil told me to catch a 10 seater from Chinchoti and get down at Bhivandi Naka, from where I could get to the railway station. We reached the base by 2 pm. Sampad gave me a ride up to the road leaving for the Phata. I reached the phata by 2:15 pm. It was 2:35 pm when I got into a 10 seater and the journey began. I reached the Bhivandi Phata by 3:20 pm. From there a rickshaw dropped me off at the Bhivandi Road station. The station wore a deserted look. It was 3:30 pm. I purchased a ticket up to Khopar. The train was to arrive by 4:10 pm. However it was 4:20 pm when it finally arrived. I got down at Khopar by 4:40 pm and walked back home remembering the pleasant journey.

Reaching There:

Rickshaw from Vasai to Phata: 10Rs per head
Rickshaw from Phata to Chinchoti: It cost me 40 bucks so roughly 10-15 per head.
10 seater from Chinchoti to Bhivandi Phata: 15 Rs per head
Rickshaw from Naka to Station: 6Rs per head roughly.

When To Visit:
Monsoons

Things to remember:
The forest area is prone to wild cats. Some two three have been spotted. Although they don’t come near the motorable road from the Phata to the Ashram try to remain in a group. Just before you embark for Chinchoti please mark a personal mail to me.