Aao Sunao Gokarna wali kahani

It was Friday night and we all met at Wakad Highway with our respective groups. In the beginning, everyone looked confused and tired, and some were still in meetings. I thought to myself, "ye kaisa strange group hai, who knows what they will do."

But oh boy, were we in for a surprise! As we started our journey, our group brought on a level of excitement that we never expected. It was just the beginning, who knew what was yet to come!

The journey from Pune to Gokarna was one heck of a ride! The DJ was blasting all night, and we were all dancing our hearts out. The only thing was, we didn't even know each other's names! We had decided to do formal introductions the next day, so all we knew about each other were our faces and designations. We had HRs, QAs, PMs and whatnot in our group. It was a wild mix of people, seriously har prajati kai log the, and we all became so comfortable with each other that we started calling each other by nicknames instead of our actual names!

It was like a whole new world of craziness had opened up for us. We laughed, we danced, we sang our hearts out! And the best part was, we were all strangers just a few hours ago, but now we were like a big happy family! Gokarna, here we come!

We arrived in Gokarna tired, but hopeful for the next 2 days. Our hotel was unimpressive at first, but to our surprise, it was perfect. The rooms and bathrooms were clean, and we were ecstatic. This was just the beginning of what we knew would be an epic trip.

After freshening up, we were raring to go! Our first stop was Om beach, but not before a brunch that was full of fun and scams (if you know you know). We were all laughing and joking about our breakfast shenanigans, but we were ready to take on the beach and all it had to offer!

The trek from Belekan to Paradise beach was just 20 minutes, and man, was it worth it! As I power-walked through the trek, I suddenly found myself face-to-face with a new person from our group. "What's your name?" I asked, and boom - instant connection. We trekked together like old pals, chatting and laughing all the way. Who knew that my speedy gait would lead to a new friend on the journey?

We were expecting the beach to be super crowded, but to our surprise, there were only a handful of tourists soaking up the sun. The view of the jagged peaks was mesmerizing, and the vibe was peaceful and serene.

The best part? After all the trekking and relaxing, we couldn't resist taking a dip in the ocean. We bathed in the crystal-clear waters of Om beach and it was an unforgettable experience

We decided to take things up a notch and kayak all the way from Paradise beach to Om beach! It was a wild ride, and we were all screaming at the top of our lungs!

When we arrived, we couldn't help but admire the beautiful beach that gets its name from a sacred symbol 'Om'. But, let's be real, nothing about the fun we were having was sacred!

We did a little bit of shopping, grabbed some pineapples and lemon water, and just lounged around sharing stories. It was the perfect break from all the adventure and excitement!

We couldn't resist checking out the sunset at Jatayu beach, so we jumped back on our journey! The ride was filled with even more music and dancing, and we were all hyped up by the time we reached the top.

As we watched the sun set over the horizon, we couldn't help but feel grateful for the incredible adventure we were having. We were having the time of our lives! We decided to spice up the trek by playing antakshari, and soon we were belting out Bollywood hits like nobody's business. We swapped stories and jokes, and even, some of us, took a detour to catch the stunning sunset. Before we knew it, the day had turned into an epic evening of fun, laughter, and friendship. Who knew that all it took to make a memorable trek was a few good tunes and a willingness to let loose?

After a day full of adventure, we were exhausted and starving! So, we decided to explore a nearby beach and restaurant for dinner and drinks. We laughed, ate, drank and shared more hilarious stories, and the night just kept getting better. As the night went on, we got a little loopy and forgot how to get back to our hotel. We followed some people who we thought were part of our group, but it turned out we were wrong, and we ended up walking a lot longer than we planned. We goofed around, trying to lift each other up and showing off our strength. Eventually, we stumbled upon our hotel and crashed into our beds, exhausted but still laughing. Who says getting lost can't be fun? We had little more drinks, shared more stories, laughed a little more and finally we dozed off.

It was the perfect way to end an amazing day, and we couldn't wait to see what the rest of our trip had in store for us!

It was already morning and my craving for some tea started, I found a tea buddy and started the hunt for the perfect cup of tea. On the way we explored the Mahabaleshwar temple, and let me tell you, it was as stunning as it was spiritual. After seeking blessings, finally we had some tea and chatted away like old friends. It's funny how we went from strangers to squad goals in just a few days!

We visited first to Mirjan fort, it is lesser known places to visit hence few visitors to spoil the beauty. The Fort is absolute beauty covered by a green bed. Please make sure to come out of the Fort on time or else doors will be locked and you have to jump off the wall from the back which may not be possible for everyone.

We kicked off the day with a breakfast full of laughs and scams and headed straight to Yana Caves. The trek was long and tough, but we kept each other motivated with some hilarious chit-chat. Finally, we reached the top and took a much-needed break with some refreshing lemon soda and not so chilled water. The temple was stunning, and we clicked countless group photos that will forever be cherished! After what felt like an eternity of walking (okay, maybe just an hour), we finally stumbled upon the holy grail of desserts - mango ice cream. It was like the heavens had opened up and blessed us with a sweet, icy treat. We savoured every spoonful, feeling like champions after conquering that trek.

short summary of the temple; Let me take you back in time to the era of demons and gods. The story goes that a demon king named Bhasmasura was granted a dangerous boon by Lord Shiva - the power to burn anyone to ashes with just a touch on their head. But, as you might expect, this gift proved to be a ticking time bomb. The gods were terrified of the ever-growing power of the demon and knew they had to do something about it.

After an adventurous trek to Yana caves, we needed some water therapy to soothe our souls. So we headed straight to Honnaver backwaters for a cool breeze and a quite boat ride. We couldn't resist clicking tons of pictures together, and the best part was laughing and enjoying every moment together. It was like a dream come true!

As the evening approached, we arrived at the temple and had a fabulous darshan! The towering 20-storey gopura was a sight to behold and we couldn't resist climbing to the top for the most amazing view. The sea, the world's second largest Shiva statue, and the intricate sculptures around the temple all made for a truly breathtaking experience. And of course, we took plenty of selfies to capture the moment!

After taking a mesmerizing view of the temple from the top, we headed towards the sea and witnessed a breathtaking sunset view that left us in awe. The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, and the sun was setting behind the sea, creating a picturesque view. We clicked some amazing pictures with the beautiful backdrop and ended the day on a high note.

After a thrilling and unforgettable trip, we sadly had to bid adieu to the stunning Gokarna. But, our hearts were filled with joy and unforgettable memories. As we boarded the bus back to Pune, we promised to plan another trip soon with the same amazing group of friends. The journey may have ended, but our bond and love for travel will continue to grow stronger.

Have you ever stayed up late knowing you were going to be tired in the morning but it didn't matter at all. Because it was worth sleeping less to have a great time with people.

As the trip wound down, we all felt a deep sadness creeping in. We had grown so close, and the thought of parting ways was unbearable. So, we made the most of every last moment together. We laughed until we cried, danced until our feet hurt, and talked until the sun came up. And as we watched the best ever sunrise together, we knew that this trip would forever hold a special place in our hearts.

When we finally made it back to Pune, we decided to keep the good times rolling with a movie, prolonging our time together just a little longer. When it was time to go, we all hugged and promised to meet again soon, our hearts overflowing with love and gratitude for the unforgettable memories and stories we had shared.

The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.

Little bit for our group:-

The group was off the charts! you know, I'm always content with the quite things, I love the independence of solo travel and exploring new places on my own, but unlike my previous blogs you must have observed this trip was more about people I shared time with, than places. I've traveled to so many places before, but I've never had a group like this. Everyone was bursting with energy, fun, and laughter. It was like we were all old friends from the get-go.

We had all these nicknames for each other too! We had HR, agent QA, badi bhabhi, choti bhabhi, cheche, bandiya, madam singer, jatayu, blushy boy and many more. I don't think I'll ever forget these people, even though we didn't yet officially introduce ourselves. But that's the beauty of it, right? When you're traveling with such an incredible group of people, names don't matter as much as the memories you make.

Hell yeah! Let's give a massive round of applause to Trekhievers and our super awesome trek leader Qadir! These guys totally nailed it with their planning skills and gave us an unforgettable experience. And how can we forget the Jatayu of our group, Shobit! This dude had so much energy and enthusiasm, he could power up an entire city! He was like a party starter, keeping us all awake and vibing throughout the night, and making sure our driver didn't doze off. Kudos to you, man! You made even the dead players come back to life!

As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. I knew deep down that the chances of us all reuniting for another trip like this were slim to none. Even if we did cross paths again, it wouldn't be the same - the same people, the same place, the same memories. But as I reflected on the journey we had just shared, I realised that that's what made it so special. It was a moment in time that was uniquely ours, filled with laughter, adventure, and a shared sense of discovery. I knew I would never be able to relive those moments, but I also knew that I didn't need to. The memories we had created together were treasures to be cherished, not to be repeated. And so, as I write these words, I feel grateful for the experience and for the people who made it possible. I know that I will carry those memories with me for the rest of my life, a reminder of the magic that can happen when you open yourself up to new experiences and the people you share them with.

Why is it that when the story ends we begin to feel all of it?

Until next time...