Cycling tour to Chikhaldongri near Vaitarna

Cycling to Chikhaldongri near Vaitarna..

Tour: Agashi to Chikhaldongri 

Cyclists: Irish Pereira, Sunil Dmello, Alwyn Rodrigues, Simpson Dmello

Date: October 2017

It was lazy sunday morning and we had planned to spend on cycling tour to Chikhaldongri jetty on Vaitarna River near Virar.

As planned we cyclist were to gather at spot near Agashi police station at 5:30 Am. But due to some misunderstanding in time schedule of fellow cyclist we gatherd at the spot at 6:15 Am. As saying goes 

"Better late than never".

So we 4 cyclists started from Agashi from near the famous lake. There riding northward for a kilometer was end of tar road. So we enquired a local person about route to Chikhaldongri. He pointed towards a small 4 -5 feet cement road big enough for a two wheeler to ride on. There the village ends. So here we took this serpentine route in northward direction.

The route is flanked by dense mangroves on both sides. The route was devoid of any humans or traffic as it was early morning. There are few canal passing beneath the road as this mangrove covered area is actually filled with backwaters from Vaitarna creek. It was all green cover surrounding us. It was very pleasant and tranquil without any human interference. Cool breeze blowing in between was very refreshing. We had good time riding leisurely on discussing latest political happening in the country.

Route through Mangrooves.. PC. Simpson Dmello

The small cement road is cracked in many places offering us a bumpy ride at few spots. Some spots were so bumpy so much so that they got us worried of our cycles as to whether we can make out of the place without any breakdown or tyre puncture.

So after around half an hour of ride came across we came across a wooden bridge on one of the canals joining Vaitarna creek. There were fishing boats parked on this canal. By now the it was time for sun rise. There after clicking few snaps we continued on regular motorable road with paddy fields on both sides. The road was in good shape and there was no traffic on this road. 

Wooden Bridge

There we enquired a fisherman about route to Chikhaldongri. He directed us to continue on the same route northward.  Then after riding for another 20 minutes we came across a small waiting structure and besides it was jetty all surrounded by mangroves. There was low tide on Vaitarna creek.

Mangrooves - Only safe haven for birds

We reached the on jetty with our cycles.

It was so pleasant sight with sun just risen. The view was one worth the ride.

Sunrise

There were no ferry boats at the jetty only few small fishing boats parked near jetty. There were mud crawlers along with variety of small crabs in the quick sand surrounding Jetty. There after refreshing ourselves and clicking few snaps we started of our return journey.

Quick Sands 

Mud Crawlers in the quick sand

Our team at Chikhaldongri Jetty

We decided to avoid the small cement route again with fear of cycle breakdown and followed route towards east which gets besides Viva college on the bypass road near Narangi village. So after another 20 minutes of ride passing through Virar we reached Bolinj at 8:15 Am. So here my fellow cyclist decided to have quick breakfast. So here i bid adieu to our team.

To sum up it was very pleasant time cycling early morning, exploring new places with cheerful fellows in tow; It was is one of refreshing moments to cherish.

Happy Cycling, Keep Exploring!!!!

Cycling Tour to Vasai Fort

Cycling Tour to Vasai fort

Tour: Nala to Vasai Fort
Cyclists: Irish Pereira, Sunil Dmello, Alwyn Rodrigues
Date: October 2017

It was sunday and i so had no plans for trekking on that day. There on our local trekking whatsapp group was a unusual plan posted which i decided to be part of. It was an early morning cycling tour to Vasai fort (Bassien fort) The plan was to begin from Pasaydan church Nala at Nalasopara west to cycling down to Vasai fort. It is a 13 km one way journey from Nala making it around 26 kms round trip cycling tour.

Our Cycling Route Map

As planned we were expecting atleast 5 cyclists but on the spot were only 3 cyclists present including myself. We were in October and the climate was very pleasant in the early morning. We started at 6:15 Am from Nala and continued along the state highway. The route was Nala-Nirmal-Girij-Remedy-Parnaka- Vasai fort. It was almost 13 kms ride and we made it to the fort in Just 45 minutes.

Vasai Fort Map - P.C. Trekshitiz

It was almost 7 am when we entered the Fort from north end near collector office. There we found many elderly morning walkers and mid aged joggers returning from the fort. See the video of our entry to the fort below.

It was very pleasant out there in the fort with sun about to rise on the south side of the fort. We then parked our cycles and decided to explore the fort. As sun has just rising we decide to visit the Jetty along the south end of the fort. Here there were number of fishing trawlers waiting to start their fishing trips. They were stocking their boats with Ice slabs so that they can preserve their fish. We were fortunate enough to reach the Jetty in time.

Sun rise at Jetty

Fort as seen from the Jetty

The sky was bit cloudy and the sun rising within it made the sky picture perfect. It was so picturesque that it was worth every single minute of sweet morning sleep we sacrificed to reach out here. Here after taking few clicks we decided to move to explore the fort.

The entrance at the south East end of the fort is very huge and is heavyly loaded with pins to withstand any blow from enemy. However it has different structural orientation. It was facing straight unlike most of the Maratha builded sea forts wherein the main entrance door is located at an angle in curved bastion so as to prevent enemy elephant charging directly at the door. But this fort being constructed by Portuguese, this protection feature was not built in the entrance door. Every architecture has his own diversity.

At Dariya Darwaja

Close View of the Entrance

Remnants of the door

Then going inside the main entrance we turned towards the left to climb on the fort walls. There are rock steps to climb up. This walls were just facing the Bassein creek. As sun had just risen the presented with a wonderful view of the creek with fishing boats anchored. There are mangroves between fort walls and the creek. It provided with different greenish shade in the view. 

Creek view from the fort walls

On the Fort Walls

Then after few clicks here we moved on to explore other places in the fort.

Fellow Cyclist Alwyn Rodrigues and Sunil Dmello in one of the church buildings

There we found someone chitchatting around and found out photographers and well dressed to be wedded couple all ready for a pre-wedding photoshoot. The photographer had fallen postrate and was struggling to get a perfect click of couple on the cycle. Its very sad part that such important monuments are used for just pre-wedding shoots.

There we found lots of fort walls in ruins. Also there we lots of creepers had growing on the walls; cracking the walls from within. We explored the possibility of planning a fort cleaning drive to clean such walls of trees and creepers.

Then we came to place adjoining the huge church where our cycles were parked earlier. There in that enclosed church building we found boys playing cricket. 

Fellow Cyclist - At cycle parking spot

These were local guys probably from adjoining nearby areas and have made this historical building their indoor box cricket  court.  We just preferred not to confront them here as we were only 3 of us against 20-25 boys out there. We decided to raise the issue at another suutable platform. The sad part is that there is no authority controlling the fort,  its architecture and its sanctity.

Then we moved to north end to another church building. It reflected unique architecture and unique artifacts. The fort has lots of green cover still intact.

There is another small fishing village named "Killa Bunder" at southwest end of fort. It has a jetty for fishing boats.

There are many mango and palm trees in the fort. The palm trees had vessel hanging on them for collecting their sap. 

The green cover at the Vasai Fort

Palm trees at the Vasai Fort

As mentioned earlier, an authority was needed to prevent such unaccounted activities in the fort. There after exploring this church building we decided to begin our return journey.

There around 7:45 am we started our return journey as i had to make it for Sunday morning spiritual activity in time. By now we were very hungry and decided to have breakfast on the way at some local eatery. I being short of time decided to skip the breakfast. So there we bid adieu to our short and sweet cycling cum fort exploring tour.

The Vasai fort being located at northern suburbs of Mumbai provides cycling enthusiast with an ideal spot for cycling as well as for heritage exploring tour. There are few other spots nearby which can also be explored along with fort.

It is 42 km one way or around 3 hours cycling tour from Sanjay gandhi national park Mumbai to Vasai fort. This distance can be easily covered on cycle by taking 2 or 3 pit stops as per one's endurance.

Happy Cycling, Keep Exploring!!!!