Skip to main content

Bedse Caves – Outdoor Craving Appetizer

Casual mornings can have active afternoons like how the weather can sans notice. Last weekend we realized that the monsoons had finally come in full stead and as a family who treks religiously during this season decided to inaugurate it with a short hike.

Taking off at half past one we headed towards Talegaon.




An hour’s drive from Pune on the old Mumbai-Pune highway. At the Kamshet exit we pulled over towards the road that leads to Pawna and took the following route towards the village – Bedse. At the base of this village begins the small hike of a few hundred steps to third century Buddhist caves named after the village. Our visit began with the rain tearing into our faces soaking us to the bone, just the way it is supposed to be. The village known for the caves along with its dense population of snakes was also peppered with mango trees at the initial stages of the climb. The rain knocking on our heads and giant fresh water crabs making a dash for the nearest exit were the customary signs that these were indeed the monsoons and a good way to begin them.




The climb was not really a climb like the ones you experience at Rajgadh, Visapur or Harish Chandragadh but similar to the one at Lohagadh. Steps leading to the top make the hike fit enough for a man even if he is age 90.

After 35 minutes we were at the caves. Carved in the side of the mountain into with three sections the cave is placed on a platform as its foundation in the mountain. The three caves stand on fresh water wells that can be accessed at their entrances.
The caves first section opens with two grand pillars in stone nearly 35 feet in height. At the top of the pillars are idols that resemble Indian deities. Inside the cave stands a huge Stupa nearly 20 feet in height. The most appealing part of this cave was this section which has pillars that surround the Stupa except at the entrance. We having reached at mid noon gave us the sunlight beaming straight into the caves in all the three sections. Taking a few picture we moved onto the next cave that appeared incomplete with rooms carved along its circumference preferably for those who were travelers or just monks at the religious site. This cave, unobstructed by an entrance like the first one opens up into the sky. Once the rain had stopped and clouds scattered we could see the national express way to Mumbai snake its way across the plains. The final cave was a small shelter near another entrance to the underground well.

Taking a scale of the age and art that these caves had, they cannot be compared to the ones around Maharashtra. These do not measure to the impeccable size of work bestowed on them. However these caves lie away from the public eye and do not attract any footfalls. So if you are one of those who prefer the greens to get away from the crowds Bedse is a must visit destination.

Heading down towards the village which took us lesser than what it took us to climb up. The walk downhill was also coupled with a hectic mango plucking. Let’s say the plucking was not as easy as its dictionary definition, but we managed a few mangoes sampled by parakeets.

.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Women

Contrary to the undercurrents prevailing in the present state of our hallowed nation, I for one have always been grateful to women who are and always will be the better of the two sexes. Here are some who made 2012 an absolute rocker. Their mentions are in the order of how I met them or how they have always been around me. Sisters Neha & Aarti (Indescribable) Renu a.k.a Renuka (Temperamental, Mental, Temperate zone dweller - mood defined) PC a.k.a Priyam 'LongBongSurname' Mood capturer, Part British, Exotic Indian living in the land of the long sword (Oman) Chetasi, Neha, Vigya a.k.a Chittu, Chotu & Vigsy (Green card holder, Fashionista, Dreamer - respectively) Arunima a.k.a Shorty (Lights up your Dey, thinks in technicolour & conveys in Dolby) Deb a.k.a Debby (Thinks Dolby, talks Dolby & lives Dolby) Shilpa (She sings, strums,serenades & is one hot Tam babe) Praachi Kapse a.k.a Ponchy (PR Prof/pract

Rear view records

If I say a lot happened this year it will be quite the understatement of sorts.  Life took all kinds of turns around bends that could give anyone a heart attack and also had its share of astronomical highs that one had never anticipated. If you saw a number 9 of the Indian cricket team score a ton in a test last week, my life felt the same too. Although, the speed at which it came was akin to a ton in a T20.  Never been the one to complain but this year seemed to be one of the toughest in terms of a million things such as the health of loved ones. However, it was one of the best years of my life too when you see all that the universe conspired to throw at me. Not one to trust in religion, I have consistently believed that life's zeniths are not far behind from its dreariest lows. It reminds me of an old post that I wrote on up being the only way to go when you are at the bottom is up. That has been followed to tee and I am proud to say so. - Personal life lifted

Happiness Is...

So this ones a lift from a friends post who writes way better and more often than me. Her post made me think of attempting the same on what defines the word. So what is it to me? - Watching a river float a leaf as it runs past until the leaf runs out of sight - Sitting alone in a corner of the house with a book in dead silence - Watching dust particles bath and glow in sunlight as it peers through the cracks in a window - By standing and watching a joy wave ride through a bunch of special people - Look at swallows at dusk and imagine them to be planes - Watching strangers greet one another at airports - Driving in the rain on an open highway - Watching my sisters happy and then watching them try to conceal the emotion - A drink with Dad - Also, being his caddie on the course - Perfect barbecue sauce & the family savoring it up - A successful snake rescue - Writing letters and this blog - Receiving a call from a long lost friend - Genuine Thank You's - Hardb