[Ketan_R15]

This pandemic and especially the work from home schedule really takes a toll on our minds and we really crave for a break for the mundane routine. A breather out in the open, in the lap of nature, away from the four walls. And thanks to our previous rides, we knew just the place to relax, unwind and rejuvenate - Tapola also known as Mini Kashmir of Maharashtra.

Best part of this place is that it's not breathtakingly beautiful but there's hardly any cellular network to all major network providers. So you feel truly disconnected from the constant buzzing of cell phones and social media.

All of us went prepared for the rains but we were lucky and there was not a single drop of rain throughout the ride and days were absolutely beautiful - dry and sunny! I'll share a few important details of the trip below and will let the pictures do the talking because the views were so magnificent that it's very difficult to put them in words.

Dates -

17th - 18th Sept 2021.
We wanted to make it a 3 days ride but since 19th Sept 2021 was Ganesh Visarjan day we didn't want to get stuck in traffic on our way back. Though there was strict ban on processions this year, you can not rule out the possibility of traffic on last day of Ganesh Visarjan.

Bikes -

Me and my wife on KTM 390 Adventure
My friend Prasad on KTM Duke 390
My friend Rohan on Suzuki VStrom 650

Route -

It was a pretty straight forward route. Mumbai - Lonavla - Pune - Mahabaleshwar - Taldeo - Tapola.

Overall road condition was decent but there was a lot of patchwork on Pune - Satara road. So one needs to be careful. Mahabaleshwar - Tapola section of 25 kms is in poor condition. In fact, there were 3-4 very recent landslides on this stretch and they had cordoned off those sections. Since we traveled on Friday there was hardly any traffic and it was a fun trip.

Accommodation -

Kinara Agro Tourism and River Camp, Tapola

We have been to this place several times before and the owner knows us well. So we had booked our rooms in advance by calling them. Since Ganpati visarjan was just around the corner there weren't many tourists and we were pretty much the only people staying at the property. This is an excellent place to stay in Tapola - beautiful river facing rooms, good food, helpful staff and decent rooms with basic amenities like AC, hot water, TVs etc. They charge per person which usually includes all meals, few activities like bonfire, kayaking and indoor games.

All our bikes performed flawlessly, mainly because of the weather was good, not heat whatsoever. Mahabaleshwar temperature was 22 degrees at 12 noon. As you can see in the pictures we enjoyed a nice kayaking session in the evening. I managed to capture few drone shots but since it was overcast and could rain any moment I didn't shoot much.

Now I'll let the pictures do the talking

First pitstop of the ride before Lonavala -


NH4. Bridge over river Nira


Breathtaking views from Khambatki ghat


Harrisons folly, Panchgani




First glimpse of Shivsagar lake







Our stay - Kinara Agro Tourism







Few drone shots of late evening Kayaking session







Mahabaleshwar trip is incomplete without this



Here are couple of videos of the trip -

Harrisons folly panoramic view -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE7DeYMOzJU

Drone footage of Harrisons folly -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bcpUMnqG_E

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Motorcycle section. Thanks for sharing!