A Weekend Spent Well, While Maintaining Social Distancing. PandemicTravel

The pandemic has literally brought life to a standstill. Locked up within our homes 24x7, with work from home schedules, and home schooling (for kids), what most of us craved, is for things to return to normalcy, so that we can all venture out again. With the lockdown easing in India, many of us have started taking baby steps towards resuming our lives (as we knew it). In the “New Normal”, travel takes a new definition, with the need to maintain social distancing. While, several states are easing travel norms, thereby attempting to draw back the tourists, it’s a while before we all would get confident again to venture far beyond our cities and homes. In such a situation, Post COVID travel may be limited to destinations or places where we can either drive down to (so as not to spend the night away from home), places where not too many people venture (and hence not popular touristy places), and places where you wouldn’t feel confined (outdoors, hikes or places with natural abundance)

Since I have a kid, I need to be extra cautious of my decision to venture out in these times. However, the areas around Mumbai, especially the Sahyadris and Western Ghats offer several options that meet the criterion of maintaining social distancing. And monsoon is the time when the Sahyadri range is at its most beautiful.

Morbe Dam

All these factors considering, we as a family, finally ventured out in the mid of Sep 2020, some distance away from the city. We chose to drive down to Morbe Dam, situated some 50kms from Vashi, off the old Mumbai – Pune highway close to Karjat. Monsoons are the best times in the Ghats, and it was true for this place as well. And we chose it well, as barring a couple, there weren’t any other people at the dam.

Built on the Dhavari river, this dam is the principal water source for Navi Mumbai. It is surrounded by popular trekking destinations of Irshalgad, Prabalgad and Matheran, making the view from here spectacular. Entry to the dam isn’t allowed (being a Govt. property), but there is a mud path that goes upto the water’s edge, on the narrow road, a little above the dam gate. With the rain washed greenery and wild flowers growing around (bees and butterfliers were abundant), just standing there and taking in the views was therapeutic after all these months of lockdown.

Keeping in mind the social distancing norm, masks were donned and we ensured that there was nobody around when we stood by the lake. We had planned a little picnic too, but then decided to have that in the car, just to be a little more careful. After spending a couple of hours at the lake, and our car picnic, we drove back to Mumbai, ending what I would consider a ‘weekend well spent’.

While this wasn’t the best way that I would have wanted to resume ‘travelling’, but given the current circumstances, and the fact that I was moving out with my family, I don’t have any regrets. It was our first of such ‘expeditions’ to explore our surroundings, while maintaining social distancing in the “Times of Corona”.

How to Reach :

On the Mumbai - Pune Expressway, take the first exit towards Shedung. Follow the NH - 48 for about 11kms after the toll plaza at Shedung, past Chouk, and you'll see a dirt road indicating the direction to Morbe Dam. This road passes through a village, and hence use Google maps for more accurate directions.

To follow my travel journeys and more, ping me on Instagram @thewanderjoy. See you around!!