A visit to Sondai Trek

"Kuch treks sirf pahadon se nahi, doston se bhi chadh jaate hain."
— Me, after slipping thrice on the same muddy patch

Prelude to the Madness: Let’s Go Trekking!

It all started with a WhatsApp group ping:

“Guys, let’s plan a monsoon trek!”

Simple idea. Noble intention. Questionable execution.

Fast forward to 24th July, 6:30 AM sharp (aka “Indian sharp” = 6:50), 28 excited souls, dressed in activewear that hadn’t seen a gym in months, boarded a 40-seater bus from Borivali.

The vibe was electric — not because of our fitness levels, but because someone brought home-cooked breakfast.

Poha, theplas, upma, and one mystery item wrapped in foil (which we suspect was bhindi paratha) got passed around faster than office gossip.

👉 The journey had officially begun - carbs first, trekking later.

The Bus Diaries

40-seater bus. 28 trekkers.
Mathematically? Spacious. Emotionally? Pure luxury. Everyone got window seats, leg space, and even room to park their massive backpacks — which, by the way, were the size of small children. Raincoats, Bluetooth speakers, and questionable amounts of snacks made it feel less like a trek and more like we were shooting an episode of: “TrekTok – Monsoon Edition”.

Itna comfort tha ki kuch log toh soch rahe the -
“Agar trekking bhi bus mein hoti toh life set thi.”

Desi Pizza Vibes: Who Joined from Where

People joined from Thane, Vashi, and Kanjur Marg - spreading across Mumbai like toppings on a desi pizza.

As expected, kuch log time pe aaye, aur kuch log ne time ko bas ek number samjha. While most of us were yawning at 6:30 AM in Borivali, others were casually walking in like it was a Sunday brunch meet-up.

Because obviously, har trip mein ek time table hota hai…Aur 2 log hote hain jinko uska koi lena dena nahi hota.

Welcome to Karjat – The Land of Chai and Slippery Trails

We reached the base point of the Sondai Fort trek around 10:00 AM.

The weather? Dreamy.
The air? Misty.
The chai stall? Legendary.

A local aunty was selling chai like it was liquid gold. Her invisible signboard read:

“Chai ₹15, Maggie ₹40, Trekking motivation – Free.”

No honking. No pollution. Just the sound of raindrops and someone loudly asking,
“Bhai, washroom kidhar hai?”

The Warm-Up Walk – Or So We Thought

The first stretch was deceptively easy - forest path, light drizzle, excited selfie faces.

Everyone was still walking together, cracking jokes, and declaring things like:

“Yeh toh cakewalk lag raha hai yaar!”

(Plot twist: The cakewalk lasted exactly 15 minutes.)

Then came the muddy climbs.
Gravity did its job. Your fancy shoes didn’t.
Two people slipped, jeans ka color upgrade ho chuka tha, and one guy muttered:

“Main aaya hi kyun?”
While clinging to a rock like his life depended on it.

Pitstop 1 – Maggie, Megaphones & Mini Falls

Just when we needed hope, a chai-Maggie stall appeared like a monsoon mirage.
Perfect for Insta. Even better for refueling.

Because let’s be honest -

“What’s the point of climbing a mountain
if you can’t eat Maggie at 400 feet?”

Some took off their raincoats thinking the hard part was over. (Spoiler: It wasn’t.)

The next climb? Steeper. Slipperier. And filled with oddly shaped rocks sent straight from Knee Pain Land. A small stream cut through the path - beautiful, yes. Safe? Not really.

But we kept going.
Because returning = defeat.
And nobody wants to be “that person.”

Sondai Trek – Where Friendships Are Formed, Muscles Are Tested

Wondering, “Can I do Sondai as a beginner?”

Yes. But Instagram won’t show you:

• You will slip

• You will ask for help

• You will question your life choices

Despite the chaos, the group spirit was real.

Helping hands, shared bottles, “Arre sambhal ke!” echoing through the hills.
We laughed at each other’s falls (with consent), and even bonded over our blisters.

“Yeh pathar kaafi romantic hai…
Ekdum Titanic pose ban raha hai.”

- Someone, dangerously close to the cliff

The Final Stretch – Clouds, Courage & “Ek Machhli Pani Mein Gayi”

The last leg?
Straight up. 90 degrees. Thankfully, there was a railing - otherwise, we’d have turned back like:

“Bhai yeh toh ho nahi paayega.”

But as we climbed… the clouds descended. We were literally walking through mist, surrounded by Sahyadri magic.
Every step felt like slow-motion cinema.

At 1:30 PM, we reached the summit.

Silence. Awe. Screaming. Chaos.
Followed by:

“Guys, group photo toh banta hai!”

Then came “Rock Paper Scissors” and the iconic:

“Ek Machhli Pani Mein Gayi… CHAPAAAK!”

Yes. Adults. Screaming “Chapak.” On a hilltop. Living our best lives.

The View from the Top – Not Just a Selfie Spot

From the summit, the view was insane —
Valleys, forts, rivers, and a blanket of green hills.

Everyone soaked in the view:

• Some clicked 1000 selfies

• Some just sat in silence

• Some cursed their legs

But we all felt it - the pride of making it.

Even the ones who said “Never again” were already planning the next one.

The Descent – More Slips, Less Ego

Coming down? Easier on paper. Not on knees.

Wet trails. Loose stones. Tired muscles.
One guy just slid down like a water park ride.

“Bhai, dignity chhod do. Bas niche pahuch jao.”

Chai, Bhutta & That Victory Feeling

The same tea stall welcomed us back like an old friend.
We sipped chai like we’d conquered Everest.

Spirits were high.
Energy was… somewhere lost in the forest.

And then someone spotted bhutta — roasted to perfection, masala’d like a love letter to monsoon lovers.

Trek ke baad ek haath mein chai, doosre mein bhutta — Bollywood picnic level unlocked.

The Village Restaurant – Food, Finally!

At around 3 PM, we reached a nearby restaurant.
Rustic benches. Tiled roofs. Smell of tadka in the air.

Then came the showstopper:

🥘 Murgh Musallam

Rich, royal gravy. Fluffy rotis. Dead silence. Because food > words.

“Yeh trek Murgh Musallam ke liye hi plan kiya tha.”
- Someone wise. Everyone agreed.

Reflections – What We Gained (Besides Muscle Cramps)

We came for the trek.
We stayed for the views.
But we’ll remember the moments:

✅ Maggie breaks
✅ Chai in clouds
✅ “Aree sambhal ke!” shouts
✅ Stranger-to-friend transformations

In a world of traffic, meetings, and phones…
This was therapy. With a view.

Planning Your Own Sondai Trek? Here's What You Need:

🗺️ Nearest Station: Karjat (cabs available to base village)
⚙️ Difficulty Level: Moderate
🌧️ Best Time: Monsoon (June–Sept)

✅ Carry List:

• Good trekking shoes (grip matters!)

• Raincoat or poncho

• 1–2 liters water

• Dry snacks

• Small towel

• Extra socks

• First aid kit

In Conclusion – Would We Do It Again?

Absolutely.
Will we complain while doing it again? Also yes.

But that’s what makes treks magical.

Not just the summit - but the laughter, chai breaks, Bhutta cravings, and 28 people who didn’t push each other off a cliff.

Trek Summary:

• Trek Name: Sondai Fort

• Location: Karjat, Maharashtra

• Date: 24th July

• People Who Deserve a Medal: Everyone who carried Theplas 💪