Have you been to Kondana?

Well if you haven’t, read on to find out where it is and why I went there.

All my biker friends go for rides on the weekends. That’s normally because they have their 9-5 jobs through the week and the weekend is the only time to let loose and have some fun. But luckily my job lets me go for rides during the week. Sometimes even on a Monday. Trust me; it’s the best way to beat the Monday blues.

For a lot of motorcycle riders myself included, going for a ride doesn’t mean going in a big group of riders to the same destination again and again. I rather prefer going with just 3-5 riders and think of a destination to reach. But for us it’s the journey to that place which is the fun part. Finding a random sign board along the roadside with an arrow pointing its direction and saying ‘Let’s see where this road goes’ can be quite rewarding. 

My plan was to go to Karjat. It’s not too far from Mumbai and had a decent blend of twisties and straight highways. I started off early morning on my trusty stead for the day – the Honda Livo. Yes agreed it’s just a 110cc motorcycle but I was going for a leisure ride. High speeds wouldn’t serve my purpose on this trip. What I did do though was download the Shell Lubricants application on to my phone. I heard from a friend that the app had some good tips for motorcycle riders and would also tell you which Shell oil would suit your motorcycle. So I opened the app followed the checklist and made sure my motorcycle was ready to go. 

Starting off from home before the crack of dawn is the best time to start a ride. As I reached the old Mumbai-Pune highway, you could see the early morning rays of the sun starting to peep out through the mountain tops. This part of the highway has very few curves but just the right amount so that you don’t get bored. The Shell oil I used was doing its duties well and had decreased engine noise and kept the motorcycle running smooth even at higher speeds. As I reached the left turn for Karjat the road became narrower but the left right corners were soon approaching. But before I started going for the corners, down the road was a place I wanted to visit. The famous ND Studios. Apart from films, it’s also the location of reality TV series; Bigg Boss. Hollywood production companies such as Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney and DreamWorks are also setting up mega studios and production facilities here. The Academy Award winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was shot here too. So after a quick photo with the legendary sign, I started back on the road again. 

Almost like a hungry dog I was eagerly looking forward at each corner making sure to hit the apex at just the right speed. The new Shell oil was working wonderfully and was keeping the engine very happy. But I soon slowed down as I saw a pond filled with beautiful lotus’s that looked spectacular. I continued further on to the road leading to Karjat but saw a sign saying Kondhane Caves. So I thought why not. I’ve come this far, let’s go take a look. After I took that left turn and the subsequent right the road narrowed further but the surrounding view changed drastically. Before I knew it, I was riding along the Ulhas river. The river was glistening with the early morning sun and the grass still had that early morning dew. There are a few spots where you can even take your motorcycle down to the river and get some spectacular pictures. 

Further along, the road deteriorates and as you pass by a few villages, a pebble laden road awaits till Kondhane village. It was fun skirting along the pebbles but I had to stop soon as the path for the Kondana caves had arrived. After I had clicked some mandatory pictures of the motorcycle with the rough terrain and scenic background, I asked a local how long is the trek up to the caves. He said one hour. On hearing that I put my helmet back on and took you turn. That day was excruciatingly hot and there was no way I was going to trek for an hour up a mountain in full riding gear. But if you are planning a weekend trip then I‘d suggest you bring some comfortable shoes and a lot of water. 

So now you know where Kondana caves are and these 200BC Buddhist caves are supposed to be worth the trek up. Remember it’s not about the destination. It’s all about the journey.