Malvan: An Indelible Trip!

It was December 2022 when we, a group of five friends decided to go to a trip at my native place. It was quite successful but not quite far from our homes. Then in June 2023 we decided to go a little far and for real ended up going to Shirdi which is almost 291 km. It was a one night trip rather a pilgrimage wherein we spent the night in our sleeper train itself while returning. Then, since our trips were succeeding by the grace of supreme, we decided to plan a larger one for the next time and guess what!? We didn't only plan it but also have now executed it and now we are lost in the nostalgia of that trip. Since happiness increases by sharing, I decided to share our experiences with you, hope you enjoy. Happy reading ahead.

Umm, I very well remember we had our "Periodic Test II" in the month of October 2023 from 9th to 12th October and since the syllabus of all the subjects had been declared over by then, for 13th of October weirdest of weird time table had been issued, that even our teachers did not want to follow and no one followed it. It was then, when we sat in our college canteen when three of us decided a trip to Kolhapur and almost planned it but we had to face opposition from the remaining two. Extreme opposition, I would say, then, we had no choice but to terminate Kolhapur and we had to keep it as a last option. After that directly on 27th October after infinite reminders from my side regarding the trip, we had an online meeting wherein five options were polled and everyone, chose Malvan. (Malvan ko BJP waalaa feel aa rhaa hogaa).

Now entire financial planning came into the picture, travelling expenses were easy to handle since we were going to book Non AC Chair Car anyways (of course in train). The only challenge was finding rooms to stay and our good karmas from this as well as previous births worked and we found Shri Swami Samarth Niwas in Malvan. The rooms appeared neat and clean in pictures, 2 rooms were there for 6 people, 4 in one 2 in another. (When we visited, the rooms were actually neat and clean). We found it on make my trip and for booking it from MMT, some extra charges were being applied, so we decided to directly pay to Mr. Vikram (Owner as well as the caretaker of the homestay). Guess what, It costs only rupees one thousand per night for one person. Since we didn't want this trip to be Mundane we had decided to rent scooters to hover all around Malvan, Mr. Vikram also helped us in this thing and helped us rent three scooters from Mr. Lawrence, a localite. Each scooter costed Rupees 400 and we had to fuel them. Fuel was not inclusive. (Come on man! Petrol is used in scooters! Not Diesel! Hope no confusion.)

Our semester exams started from November 22, 2023 and ended on December 4th, 2023. We were all waiting for 11th December 2023 as it was that very day, when we were going to go to Malvan. Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you all one extremely important thing. As I mentioned earlier we were a group of five friends who toured places but this time we were lucky enough since H. G. Mr. Prasad Arote (Shri Patanjali Nath) and the topper of our college had agreed to come with us. So we were six of us, during this trip. 

I broke the chain I think, so lets return, it was 11th December 2023 (Monday) all of us were eagerly waiting for our beloved Jan Shatabdi express at our respective stations. We boarded the train and enjoyed the train journey somehow in the midst of chaos. We ate poha in train that Mr. Ghade's mother had cooked for us whole heartedly.

We travelled through 15 tunnels in our way, one of which was Asia's largest tunnel until the inauguration of 11.2 K.M. Pir Panjal tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir. We reached Kudal station by 1.00 pm, we had lunch there and straight away walked to the Kudal ST bus depot. From there we boarded for a bus in Malvan and reached in almost 45 minutes. Then we met our hero Mr. Vikram. The man is extremely polite and quite alert at the same time. Then, thereafter after keeping our luggage in the rooms we headed to Rajkot, where P.M. Modi had recently inaugurated a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Along with it we sat on the nearby rocks and were watching the adorable sunset. Then we visited the rock garden where a musical fountain was there. We enjoyed it. Then we walked to our homestay narrating horror stories to each other and we also became the victim of rage of dogs, then played Uno, most probably and were listening to legendary music but at last the message was clear. Yes, that means, we did hear "Bole jo Koyal" as a tribute to M. S. Dhoni. Then we had our food at the homestay only and it was extremely delicious, though it was a veg thali. Mind you, Shri Swami Samarth Niwas allows offers only vegetarian food and no drinks, etc. are allowed. Day 1 was over and then we started watching a movie called Ludo, in its very initial phase the insult of Lord Lakshman (Yog Yogeshwar Shesh Naag) had started. So I protested against the movie and asked to shut it down. Some might call me conservative, but let them call, I got to know Lakshman only after 83,99,999 births and I couldn't see him being insulted. Then we watched "Blackmail" movie, which was quite interesting and did not hurt my sentiments at least. I have made the mood quite serious now, let us move on to the next fun filled day. Let me show you the Shivatmak tej.

On day 2, we got our scooters, which we had booked earlier. We had three scooters, 4 riders, So I being the most experienced rider, took the most well maintained one so as no damage was made to the scooter (Not flexing, just spitting facts 💀). Mr. Honrao won't agree, though. Let it be, on day 2 we travelled almost 100 K.M. in one day and covered places like, Nivati, Bhogave, Tarkarli, Devbag as well as Angnewadi in one single day. Also, we visited many temples. Then late in the evening we went to Chivla beach and experienced the beach in dark. Then we dropped the scooters to places, where Mr. Lawrence had instructed us to drop them.  Then we returned home, Mr. Honrao, breaking the traditions, slept, immediately, just after having dinner whereas he was expected to watch a horror picture called "6-5=2" with us. The picture, I would rate it 2.5 out of 5. Oh, yes and before we watched that movie, Mr. Ghade narrated us the glory of Kokan. 

On third day, we visited Sindhudurg fort where we were fortunate enough to see the impression of hands and feet of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Then by afternoon, we were searching for a hotel where we had to have lunch. At first our plans were to go for water sports and scuba diving but non vegetarians among us ate so much that they feared dysentery immediately after lunch so we cancelled that plan and decided to swim in the sea. We swam in the sea for almost three hours, only then we realized that a dog took our sandal and started running and only after that the wrestler among us fought the dog to retrieve that sandal. But the one, whose sandals were being taken away, did not run at all. Then while going back to the sea, we saw a dead snake like creature, afterwards that creature was picked up in a Nat Geo style by an Eagle like bird. Then afterwards, finally we returned to the sea. We played ruthlessly with a T-Shirt and forcefully for fun were drowning people as great as H. G. Mr. Prasad Arote. We also wrote our thoughts about Israel on the seashore and our message was quite clear. In late evening we danced like anything and as soon as our door was knocked for dinner, three of us ran to hide in a single bathroom (Introvert Problem) and after all that time, we decided to have dinner, the non vegetarians decided to go to restaurant and we vegetarians ate the veg thali at the home stay. The only fizul kharcha (unwanted expense) in our entire trip we did was, we ate ice cream, that day. Then at night till 3.00 A. M. we played various card games. Finally, slept, woke up the next day in grief of the thought about returning and then went to market, to buy some things. Then we had lunch in Malvan itself and then we sat in bus and went to railway station and then after huge accounting and calculation we boarded the train for return journey, though the train was one hour late, everyone reached home safely.

I am also putting an image of the home stay where we resided.

The trip would not have been complete without some legendary advertisement songs. So, I am specially thanking them.

Ever since, we have returned from our trip, we are filling  void of bond that had become strong in those days. After that trip, yesterday, I climbed up a mountain and got down in dark and today I saw Sam Bahadur, but I am not yet getting over Malvan. Oh, by the way "Sam Bahadur" was a fabulous movie, don't dare to watch it until you are hardcore fauji brat.


All Credits: 

Trip Mentor: श्री पतंजली नाथ 
Trip Coordinators and Inspiration Source: श्रीमान विक्रम कोयंडे, श्री अथर्व होनराव
Special Thanks: हिंद केसरी गौरव घाडे, धर्मवीर पंडित ठाणेकर
Trip Navigator: A.O.B.L.
Trip Driver/ Rider/ Memories Registrar/Blogger: Gyaan Data!

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Glories to Mr. Vikram!!

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येवा कोकण आपलोच असा!!