As I sit in my balcony, and watch the rain pour so heavily that the window has gotten frosty and the view outside thick with a wet white blanket. No, I am not complaining!
I actually love the rain. My favourite season in Goa is monsoons. It might be gloomy but the weather is amazing, it's cool, pleasant and filmy! It is as dramatic as my own personality.
So this rainy view from my balcony is just not making me sentimental but rather nostalgic. Specifically for one of the nicest treks I had the opportunity to try out!
I'm talking about Andharban.
As the name suggests this trek involves wading your way through a dense jungle that is alive in a whole different way in peak monsoons! Why? The waterfalls and thin streams turn into gushing waters and is a mix of scary and magical.
When me and my friends found ourselves on an organized trek to these lush jungles on a rainy day - I admit, I was not exactly prepared. After living in Mumbai, for a while the rains and I had changed our relationship status to complicated. So this trek was one of the first times where I had the opportunity to enjoy it like I used to before. With a new pair of BATA shoes and a cheap jacket from Hill Road (Bandra) I thought I was ready.
But once I realised I would have to cross gushing water and no plastic hoodie will stop my hair from getting drenches, I decided to stop thinking and just focus.
Focus on the view.
Western Ghats and monsoons are always a good idea.
While it was not the easiest trek for beginners, I was relived when I realised that there was not much climbing to do in this dense Sahyadri forest.
But what I was worried about were the cascading waterfalls that you have to cross during the trek. The experts and even non-experts on the trail with me seemed to manage it with ease but with my history of clumsiness. I was nervous.
If you are planning this trek, here is what I recommend:
* Go with experts (I had chosen Travel Trikon) they even took care of the food aspects
*Get a terrain and water friendly shoes, keep your legs covered and choose a real rain jacket
*Keep your bag light, carry snacks that are packed well and lots of water. And basic first-aid
*Waterproof your phone or camera in proper covers, but be with the group. Do not water off to take those Insta photos
*Do not litter the place
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