SAPUTARA: JOURNEY MORE THAN A DESTINATION

     A journey planned 15 days ago took place on 12th of February. Three families of three friends who lived their life together since childhood. But this was not a bachelors trip. Wives and single child of all three were on the board. After many years this trip was taking shape and all were excited. Till date we had only local trips.....but this outstation was planned for first time...

    Road trip was planned to Saputara only hill station in Gujarat. Located on the Gujarat and Maharashtra border. 230 km from Thane. 

    Prior preparations like booking a car with driver was done by the great engineer (parshu) originally Pritam his pet name in bracket was given by his own family. Since our childhood parshu was "parshu" only.... "He will kill me for this".... Married to Rupali and a beautiful daughter pari.... packed themselves for the journey. Less know facts about his married life..........top secret......ssssshhhhh

    We had one more friend along with three monkeys. He is no more with us and we feel like it broke our table's fourth leg. 

    Second great personality is (pintya) originally Amol. He is surrounded by young girls at his working site lucky champ...."Piyu will not like this"......... He was studious since childhood and a perfect pintya. Married to Priyanka and he too have a cute daughter Adhira. Priyanka was curious for the  trip searching for locations to visit and posting them on the Whatsapp group for some time. Hoping that this might work.........

    And the last one with family was none other than me, who is writing this blog and its experience, for all you out there. Wife Sneha with daughter who runs faster than her mother.... hahaha......sheru will like this all her life. Sheru means my daughter Shravasti. Wait you must be thinking "parshu's" daughter name is not mentioned. I like to tell you out there his daughter is also named Shravasti. So we had two Shravasti on board. If no one knows about Sneha can read my earlier blog "Trip to Malvan" you will get some idea about her....."no reply on this comment please"

    Back to the trip Innova was hired for two days with all its travelling expenses bared by all. Journey started from Shastri nagar the  ultimate playground since childhood. Many dreams are waiting to fly to reach sky in this locality. 

    Car dickey was packed with bags everyone seated .....men in front rows females backbenchers. Wheels started moving fast on the road and then the real excitement begins. No no .....excitement does not mean happy one but.........kids started feeling nausea and they omitted one by one. Starting girl was Adhira.....car stop .....everyone out ....clean...change.... medicine... drinking water....back to car..journey starts.......omit .....bockkkkkk.....this time "Sheru" the Shravasti....morning breakfast dosa was on the car dashboard on my lap......door....and outside window........again car stop....out...clean... change....medicine....drinking water....back to car....journey restart....

    Now only one kid was left and she did not waited us long...........she puked on her "pappa" again car stop.....blah ....blah....blah....you all must be familiar with it by now. By time we should have travel far but puking was a continue process. We hope to reach saputara by 12 to 1 PM but no way....Music was must in this situation but car tape was fooling us........many wires to connect mobile but no use all were useless.......not working......

    We have to purchase new one to entertain ourselves........pintya bought new portable speaker to get more entertain. Then a pit stop for breakfast...breakfast was done...what to expect when on the road for breakfast same items everywhere in India......journey restarted........

    Looking at the kids conditions backbenchers were of the opinion that somewhere near Nashik we should plan...but that was acceptable and non acceptable too....finally Saputara only...parshu and mrs parshu were not ready to change the plan.......anyways we proceeded......

    We reached Saputara around 4pm .......it was hot out there.......then next thing to do was search for the hotel.....parshu found local guy who guided us to some fully booked hotels......and then here we are ...we got 3 rooms to lay around.in a hotel... people in this area speak marathi like gujarati.........but was understandable.....who wants to learn that fast tone........

    All pukers were clean from top to bottom and there parents too........obviously clean selves........We had a lunch which was a must needed.......coz.......all were exhausted .......the journey which was to take 4 hours took 8 hours..........some hot arguments.......some funny comments......tensions........fun......was filled in the journey........

    Nice non veg and veg food ...........however taste may be but was delicious.......enjoyed.....Next step site seeing.......Sunset........'sneha farmaeesh'...........we reached sunset point......and aahaha...........crowd....no corona was to live here......if found will be dead .......no mask no sanitizer......no precaution......but sunset was the ultimate goal.......local businesses horse camel rides.....bike rides.......all seem to be useless........now we needed to walk and make ourselves free.......

    Sunset photos were taken ......gujarati aunties and there uncles....not to forget.......were dressed in mumbai style looked funny .......... We too took some snaps with the poor sun who was setting down...smogy valley nothing was clear....horse rides blew up the soil...to make surrounding difficult to see.....Pintya had maggi to this daughter some tea........some chats ......and go ahead..

    Sheru wanted a toy car ride 100 Rupees for all three girls.........pari and sheru enjoyed ....adhira was reluctant.......then we headed toward the Lake view garden which is located at the entry of Saputara.......this was a nice calm and green space to feel with.....Kids outdoor games.... colourful flowers....well managed green carpet....animal structures for kids.....playing around with girls.......our small little girls.......'not to be mistaken'.........running playing 'Pakdapakdi'......energized us...memorable photos...in all possible angles were taken...to finish our ..first half day at Saputara.

    We three had some other plans but looked like were not possible to execute..........our driver who was parshu's relative ........who only executed it......may be for us next time....

    Dinner was something very unexpected.......very few items to eat in local roadside hotels........"live in rome like romans"..........we ate gujarati chinese pay bhaji and some great food......which was not great at all.......only to fill our empty stomach......empty because we played lot in the garden.......Journey for that day ended in hotel room sleeping..........to wake up the  next day fresh..........

    Jiska koi nahi uska Google map hota hai.............using googles map we started next day looking around  Saputara in vehicle.......before that breakfast was must ...local breakfast......fish aquarium was first pit stop.......good number of ornamental fish..variety of fish.....in just 10 rs per person.........if i am not wrong......good aquatic knowledge was shared by all to their kids..........photos click........click photos......

    Saputara museum was closed due to corona virus.......next stop was Artist village....a local artist made best from waste was the only feature of the place .......some canvas paintings and handmade artefacts........buying was allowed....Rope way was on the list ....it was crowded....and it would have taken our more time so it was cancelled.....first program cancelled....

    Then google told us about Echo point........our vehicle headed to find it ......after reaching the spot local boy tolds us it was closed.......one more loss.......searching for echo point Paragliding..was on the way...we reached the place ....2000 rs for 10 minutes to land at the bottom of valley ....this too was not acceptable...some good clicks of the valley ....photogenic sunlight ....kids photos......mom's pictures....were all at single spot...this is another loss....

Then we moved to Rose garden for which Saputara is known for but ........when we reached the place it was 12 noon and guards closed it........like us other tourists were very angry and argued with them .......but they had no ears....we turned to next Step garden ......and here too same thing CLOSED.......here we lost all that Saputara has to offer its tourist...........anyways next time.....if possible..

        Now we all were like reaching here and if we could not visit those places... our destination offered us nothing than a journey......most of the time we spend was in the vehicle.........it is rightly said Journey is better than destination........and this time we have experienced it......Thank you Saputara....

    We left Ankho ka tara ......Saputara.....for Nashik flower park.......searched by backbenchers......and this time they wanted to do it desperately.......by hook or by crook........meanwhile we had lunch ....unlimited Gujrati thali ....food was good........place look decent....full stomach...some kids gaming around......journey headed......

    Locals selling strawberry and grapes ...could not stop parshu from buying them.......some bargaining and nice fresh fruits made the trip..tasteful....playful music ........some good and more bad..........

    Shuffling was done in the car.....now the  backbenchers were all men.......and front rows were occupied by ladies......now the backbench have their real occupants........heeeheeehee.

    400 rs per person on weekends for Flower park......we backbenchers decided only ladies with kids will go to see flower park.......men will rome around.......tickets were booked by pintya immediately and ladies were in the park..........experience in the park will be shared by them.........(edit)

    We 4 men .....wait 4th man ......our driver.........went to mint and archaeology museum closed to the park.....and what we were cheered to visit the place.......from stone age to present age......everything was presented......systematically .... great piece of collection and good maintained museum........great thing was it had no crowd ... we were only visitors at that time........so we clicked almost all collections......i will add those photos in the blog........from basics to present is always a fun.....

    We finished ...but still girls were not out .......we waited in the parking.......then all ladies came to learn that we were waiting in parking doing nothing...........they must be ...awhhhh........but we didn't.........looks like they had lot of fun then us......nevertheless.....

    Road to home started ........all tired ......sleeping.......car moving peacefully........again fun......so called...We decided to stop for dinner .......but our driver had another plans .......good dhaba's passing by but driver was not in the mood to stop......finally we halted ....were pintya and parshu knew the place.....good dining......and we moved ahead.....we had some chicken laziz.....mughlai......biryani.....rotis....icecream........watering mouth.....go and eat......

    Reached Thane......bags unloaded.......bye bye to all........driver paid .......less talks because whatsapp is available.......in this technology age people like to speak a lot on whatsapp........time time ki baat hai......

HOPE WE ALL COME TOGETHER FOR NEXT TRIP........WERE PUKING WILL NOT BE A TROUBLE.......

THANKING YOU FOR READING....