Last time we went to Gambhirgad..

We had flat tyres two times; an enterprising aunty diverted us to a wrong side of the country that took us to a mud road (muck road) where our bus got stuck in a deep muck and we had to organise a crane to pull it out..when we were in the small village having our late lunch an old villager informed us that Gambhirgad was cursed and only those people whose destined to be reaching Gambhirgad can reach the fort..Persistancy being the nature of Nature Knights we continued on our journey and finally we reached a place from where U start the trek..at 4:00 pm. We decided to go as far as possible till 5:30 then turn back. We reached a reasonable distance and had to be content for its was not in our destiny that day to reach Gambhirgad.

This time Nature Knights has taken up the challenge to make our own destiny and take up the challenge to reach Gambhirgad, so friends here it is August 23, 2008 Gambhirgad

Gambhirgad (2252 ft.) is a double rigged mountain. Like every conspicuous mountains this one stands tall on a huge plain keeping the union territory of Dadra and Nagar haveli to its north and Maharashtra to its south. So strategic is its location that the Maharashtra gazetteer uses the fort as a landmark to demarcate the border between the state and the union territory.
River rafting- 31st August
The sport of white water river rafting calls for a triumph over the swift swirling river as it gushes past spectacular mountains. It is practiced mainly in the upper reaches where the water is wild and white as it froths and foams, crashing against narrow gorges, rocky outcrops and falls at deep g
radients

Visit us on www.natureknights.com for further details

Nature Knights goes on Vagabond Konkan Safari

Konkan …Perhaps the only place in India that offers landscape that has beaches with palms side-by-side to hills, rivers, backwaters and waters falls. The landscapes along with friendly people their culture and appetizing Konkan food makes a perfect recipe for delicious safari adventure.

Note: This is a Gypsy style exploration safari; we are not making any advance bookings of hotels, nor-any restaurant pre-decided for food.


First-Cut Plan for Konkan Safari (August 15 to August 17, 2008).

Start Date:

August 15, 2008

(First batch leaves from Andheri at 6 am)
(Second batch leaves from Andheri at 9 am)

We are expected to back in Mumbai on August 17, 2008 evening.

Potential Stay Places, where accommodations is available

Day 1 - Murud (Fall back plan – Kolad / Nagaon / Kashid)
Day 2 – Shrivardhan / Hareshwar (Fall back Plan – Mahad / Kolad / Murud)

Other options avail
Murud / Alibag (only as plan C) / Nagaon
Kashid
Kolad
Pali
Mahad
Shrivardhan
Hareshwar


Tentative Route (We may extend few more kms of Safari)

Andheri – Sion – Chembur – Vashi – Panvel – Karnala (Mumbai – Goa Highway upto Pen) – Dolavi – Alibaug - Nagaon – Chauri – Revdanda – Kashid – Nandgaon – Murud – Rajpuri – Balgaon – Ghaosale – Tanmin Wadi – Roha – Kolad – Varasgaon – Indapur – Karkarshet – Tala – Kuda – Padre – Mahasala – Shrivardhan – Deogarh – Hareshwar – Kole – Ambet – Mahad – Kolad – Pali – Pen – Karnala – Panvel – Vashi – Chembur – Sion – Andheri

Few Places of Interest, others need to be discovered (and Loads of Temples / Beaches on the way to be discovered).

Alibag Beach
Nagaon Beach and Village
Revdanda (Beach, Fishermen Village, Light house and Korlia Fort)
Kashid Beach
Murud – Janjira Fort, Murud Beach, Siddi’s Palace and Murud Village
Shrivardhan
Deogarh
Hareshwar
Mahad – Temple
Kolad – Kundalika River
Pali – Temple / Forts
Karnala – Bird Sanctuary / Fort
Birla Temple
Phansad WLS

Transport Options -

We are receiving requests from individuals for Car Pool, first list will be put up shortly

Own Vehicle (Jeep, Car or Bike)

Hired Vehicle (Per head cost) – Rs.1350/- for 3 days (and 700 km); if it exceeds 700 km then each person has to share Rs.1.5/- for every additional kilometer.

Event Registration

Rs.450/- only

Budgeted cost for transport, lodging and food

Lodging (2 nights) – Rs.2,200 approximate cost (Cost will be on actual billing)
Food (3 days) - Rs.1,100 approximate cost (Cost will be on actual billing)
Transport (3 days, budgeted for 700 km) – Rs.1350/- per head
(If we cross 700 km, cost per head for every additional km Rs.1.50/- only).
Carry Extra amount of Rs.1500/- for emergency.

How to register?

For registration drawn a cheque on: “Nature Knights – ICICI Bank A/c No. 041205000027”

Drop the cheque in any ICICI ATM Cheque drop box

Or

Simply do electronic funds transfer (EFT). Our Banking branch is Versova.

Complete registration at our website with details as requested on our website

Please note: Participants doing Electronics fund transfer from bank other than ICICI Bank, need to add Rs. 25/- extra per transaction.

Cancellation charges
Registration charges are non-refundable
For cancellation after August 12, 2008 – cancellation charges is Rs.450/- + Rs.1350/- = Rs.1750/- (i.e. registration charges plus cost of provisioning a seat in Jeep)

For children below 10 years of age; 30% discount of transportation and 50% discount on registration. Food and Accommodation charges will be on actual bill.

Additional Expenses
Misc. expenses like mineral water, in-between meals / non-standard meals have to be borne by individuals.

Konkan Cuisines
Konkan cuisine is strong in spice, red chillie powder, corianders, and prepared with coconut oil. It is prepared using a deep purple berry that has a pleasing sweet and sour taste, kokum and raw mango as souring agents along with tamarind and lime. Konkan cuisine is of two styles, first one is Brahmin cuisine, which uses little spice and more of coconut based ingredients. Another version is known as non-Brahmin style, prepared with lots of spice. Konkan cuisine would find prepared with peanuts, sesame and coriander as the main spicing agents if one goes a bit further towards inland. Lots of charcoal grilled onions, which are either used chopped or ground along with masalas after being grilled are used in Konkan cuisine. Coconut is also used in various forms as raw grated, fried grated, coconut paste and coconut milk.

A couple of important etiquettes followed on Nature Knights events

We strongly believe that leave only footprints and take only memories

Alcohol and Drugs prohibited during our events

Checklist:

1) Change clothes; get prepare for wet weather
2) Rain gear
3) Shoes and (spare slippers / floaters)
4) Cap
5) Towel
6) Bed sheet or sleeping bag
7) Plastic sheet (2 meter x 2 meter)
8) Personal first aid and toiletries
9) Aid for beach games
10) Other goodies like (Camera, binoculars, local tourist maps, list of eco-nomy lodges, places of interest are welcome).
11) Carry 3 liters of water per head (If you would like to save money on mineral water; carry 2 jerry cans of 5 liters each per head for 3 days).