So we start off from the hotel and move on. Ironically, we had already reached Sankeshwar, however I finally get to understand that only after I cross this small river, all thanks to GoogleMaps baba!
If you are seeing this, then you too have gone ahead of Sankeshwar
I turn around and (
like most idiots on the highway) go back the last kilometer on the wrong side to reach the underpass to catch SH 134 - Sankeshwar Gadhinglaj road.
This is what you'll see if (like me) you are heading from Bangalore side
The road towards Sankeshwar village/town
This is what you'll see if you are heading from Pune side
Immediately the first thing I note is the road quality deteriorates. Of course, we are now on a state highway, and one that is on the border between Karnataka and Maharashtra. Having said that, it is still good enough for sedans, and maintaining good speeds.
But what makes this road worth going are the beautiful trees lined up on both sides. All along the road, without fail. As a kid I used to remember highways like these - single/two lane roads lined with huge trees on both sides. Thankfully, we still have some of these across the highways.
Meanwhile we also hit a minor landmark, one of many that will be passed on this trip. I toggle the MID to check the mileage figures, it's hovering around 17 only.
The route is lovely with hardly any traffic and a small number of village folks going about their work. And then I get to see this - kids on cycles probably going to (or coming from) school! I try to remember when was the last time I had seen kids on bicycles - I can't recollect any! The nearest thought that comes to me is of my office colleagues/friends remarking to me on how they have to drop their kids before coming to office. I hope these guys don't lose this lovely habit!
We soon pass the small but busy town of Gadhinglaj - it's around lunch and the town is abuzz with people! Finally the sun comes out, and I stopover to take a few snaps of the surroundings.
And not too soon. Within minutes of me stopping, the weather makes a complete u-turn! And it starts pouring! The first rains that we experience on this trip. And sadly the only rains I experience for the next 1400 kms!
Do note the jack-fruit for sale on the right bottom corner
Soon we lose contact with the civilized world and enter forest cover - admist the rains, it makes a lovely drive. We pass the occasional ST bus or a truck, otherwise the road is almost empty. At several points there are these heap(s) of jackfruits lined up - probably being sourced from the forest area. I almost decide to stop-over and buy one but sadly decide not to.
Finally we make another temporary stop to catch a few snaps of the beautiful forest cover, and of course with the lady.
Finally we come to well-known (
to me atleast) junction which indicates that the village of Amboli is near, and with that the Amboli ghats too. Do note the left route at the junction connects directly to Belgaum. I haven't been on that route, but I hear the road is decent enough.
Right at the junction there is a chai tapri and we decide to have a cuppa. As it is, our next stop for the coming two days would be Goa, where I doubt if we'll be even drinking water, leave alone tea!
And a few odd kms away, we come face to face with the beaut-i-ful Amboli ghats. Even without rains, the view is a sight for sore eyes!
Just then a green figo passes by - perfectly complementing the green hills. I couldn't have asked for a better picture!
Now in the above picture at the extreme right side, do you see a waterfall?
This is that waterfall.
Ok, not that one but one of the many that adorn these ghats. I remember discovering these falls some 7 years ago when I came via this route for the first time - then they were quite un-touched. You could spend a complete day out here and hardly have any junta around. Not the situation currently - almost every stream/fall had people taking bath and enjoying with their friends and families. Talk about population explosion, I say!
And why wouldn't anyone? The view on the opposite side of the road is stunning! I only hope Pawar and group (a.k.a. Lavasa) don't come prancing out this side thinking of opening another resort out here!
And with a final (customary) shot of the lady, I begin to move ahead when suddenly my old friend is back!
Oh, not these ol' friends!
![Big Grin](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.png)
I meant the GJ-based silver Innova! Somehow, inspite of me taking a break at Sankeshwar and not encountering him for the last 150 kms, we meet up again.
But this time I had the upper hand - clearly my Vento was a far better handler on the ghats than his Innova! Or so I thought. The next 20+ kms down the Amboli ghat was nothing short of a spirited drive. And he keeps following me keeping pace without fail, which is quite stupid and dangerous on his part. However fast or slow I drive, I still follow a few simple rules; slow down at blind curves, honk at ever turn, and overtake if and only if there is a clear line of sight ahead (with no on-coming vehicles). Which my Innova friend was blatantly forgetting to do.
Thankfully we both come out of the ghat sections in one piece, and bored of the "race" I slow down and let him go ahead. Shortly we reach Sawantwadi around 2; and by now the hunger pangs have alread begun. Thankfully the drive to Candolim takes us only an additional hour and we reach the hotel by 3; hungry, but in one piece.