Day-1
The First Day of our Dangs journey was nothing short of incredible, packed with excitement, newfound friendships, and a whole lot of rain-soaked fun!
The day kicked off with a playful twist as we(Me and Rahul) affectionately nicknamed our destination “Dangsss”(Those Who Know, Knows 😅) a name that would soon become synonymous with enthusiasm and unforgettable moments it was something that can only be cherished and enjoyed at that moment. Our adventure began around 11 PM from Ahmedabad, and yes, you guessed it, we were running a little late due to some unexpected rain in Ahmedabad. But hey, isn’t unpredictability what makes trips like these all the more thrilling?
Well, the whole trip was full of unpredictability for me…
As we hit the road, something remarkable happened I transformed into a complete extrovert! It’s not something you’d typically associate with me, but the journey had a way of bringing out the chatterbox in me. I even made a few friends on the very first day!
- Kabir
- Darsh
- Dhruvi
- Jaydeep (The Latecomers 😉)
- Radhika
The road was restless, and sleep eluded me throughout the night.
Around 6 AM, we made our first pitstop, and it was a serene morning with a hint of mist in the air and a drizzle of rain🌧. We were already just 30-40 minutes away from the mesmerizing Gira Waterfall. Freshen Up and took some snacks(Energy Required). The tea we drank in that hotel was the worst tea ever I/we came up with.
Upon arriving at Gira Waterfall, we were greeted by heavy rain, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. We had to trek for about 2 kilometers since vehicles like buses weren’t allowed to enter. The view at Gira was nothing short of spectacular, and I couldn’t resist capturing the memories in photographs📷.
After our waterfall adventure, we set off around 11:10 AM for the Base Camp, where we’d be staying for the next two nights. We reached our destination by noon, received some instructions, and were allocated our tents Set the backpacks and the things in our tent.
The thrill of staying in a tent for the first time added to the excitement.
By 12:30 PM, it was time for lunch, and of course, charging our phones took top priority. We learned that we had to rest up and leave by 2:30 PM for sightseeing in Saputara & Trek/Hike,
There we visited the
- Rose Garden,
- Boating Area (Nice Experience 😄),
- Sunset Point Trek(There should be sun visible to see the Sun Set…),
- Step Garden(Haha!, Must visit),
- Museum(Boring),
- Local Market(Full of crowd),
- Food Street, and more.
Now, here’s the kicker we had no rain gear! Undeterred by the rain, our small group embarked on a memorable adventure, strolling through the streets, enjoying the boating experience, exploring the market, and savoring the local street food.
Shoutout to our newfound friends,
Dharmesh,
Utsav,
Mahi,
Charmi,
Yashaswi,
Vishwa,
Rajat,
And Of Course Jeel, and Aniket, for making this day even more incredible!
We were drenched for nearly 4 to 5 hours, but the joy of being in Saputara during the rain made it all worthwhile😇. Oh, and a little side note the umbrella we bought barely lasted a few minutes 😜 thanks to the strong winds during boating. Lesson learned!
We said farewell to Saputara around 6:30 to 7 PM, reminiscing about our day while going back to the Base Camp. The rain had cast its magical spell on us, leaving us with cherished memories.
Dinner was served around 8:00 PM Dinner was such an excellent thing that day to overcome the exhaustion and everything🥴️, and as we planned our schedule for the next day, exhaustion finally caught up with me. Really Really Enjoyed it and was thrilled.
I called it a day around 10:30-11:00 PM, eagerly anticipating what Day 2 in Dangs had in store for us.
Day-2
The second day of our Dangs(Don Of Dang) expedition was a rollercoaster of excitement, thrills, and unforgettable moments. Buckle up, because I’ve got a lot to share!
I must confess again, that I’m an early bird, and on this particular morning, I sprang to life at the remarkable hour of 3:30 AM. The heavy rain persisted throughout the night, but that didn’t deter my enthusiasm. I ventured out for a morning walk in the midst of the downpour and dense fog, returning around 5 AM, feeling invigorated.
Breakfast was waiting for us, and by 6:45 AM, we were all set to leave the campsite for the Don Hills. The journey commenced around 7 AM, and as we reached the Don outpost at 9 AM, we split into groups of eight friends just like yesterday. Our group hopped into a mini car, and let me tell you, the view from that car was nothing short of breathtaking, resembling the picturesque landscapes of Kashmir. But here’s a twist I and most of them couldn’t carry the rain bag for smartphones so instead of capturing it into the mobile we embrace it.
Here, in this remote paradise, there was no mobile network to connect with the outside world. Walkie-talkies were our lifeline, although the chances of connectivity were slim. We were essentially in the clouds, so sticking together was a must, and getting separated was not an option.
After securing a spot to store our bags, we embarked on the hike/trek to Don Hills, a mesmerizing experience filled with unrelenting rain. We even encountered some adorable baby crabs 🦀 along the way. The trek was unforgettable, and it led us to the grand Don Hill Waterfalls.
Due to the relentless rain over the past two days, the waterfall was in full force, with powerful currents. While capturing memories there, I had a little adventure of my own I slipped off the trail and was swept up in the waterfall’s current. Fortunately, I emerged with minor injuries, primarily some torn socks and shoes. I must thank Jeel for pulling me and my heavy weight(hehe! 😂). We savored the moment with friends and fellow adventurers.
Our return trek to our bag-drop spot was nothing short of thrilling as we walked through the clouds, making everyone around us seem like distant, invisible figures 500 meters away. Upon arriving back at the designated spot, we once again piled into a car in our group of eight, heading back to the Don Hills entrance where our bus was parked. Here is one incident was happened to me I got a head injury twice while back and fro sitting in the car but didn’t notice the blood because of rain, Someone(Possibly Jaydeep or Dharmesh) on the next day saw my head full of dry blood. I was so lost in mood that I couldn’t even know something like this had happened to me even after 24 hours someone saw it and told me... So we’re returning back to Bus.
However, there was a twist in the plot! A massive rockfall had blocked our path on the return journey, so we took a different route, unveiling another side of Don Hills’ beauty.
We finally hit the road at around 1 PM, and we were due for lunch at 1:30 PM. As we waited for the group that had gone back to retrieve a forgotten watch at Don Waterfall, time seemed to slow down.
Eventually, we left for the base camp around 2:15 PM, engaging in an epic game of “Antakshari” on the bus.
Radhika, Dharmesh, Darsh, Mahi, and others turned into champions, and guess what we emerged victorious!😜
We arrived at the base camp around 5 PM, granting us ample time to rest and recharge our phones. The real fun kicked off at 7 PM with a lively Garba night. We danced and played with boundless energy, even though I had a small cut on my foot from the Don Hill adventure. The festivities continued until 9:20 PM, leaving us exhilarated.
At 9:30 PM, we savored a delicious dinner, and by 10:20 PM, we gathered for a meeting to plan our schedule for the tomorrow. Got to know that there was a landslide in the Road in our tomorrow's destination as our tomorrow destination was epic and more thrilled than any other day.
I called it a day around 12:30 to 1:00 AM.
Day 3
The third day of Dang's adventure marked a bittersweet end to our journey, filled with fond farewells and a final dose of thrilling natural wonders(Girmal Waterfalls).
Once again, my early-bird nature got the best of me as I rose at 4:00 AM. This time, I had Aniket joining me, and Mahi was ready to join at 5 AM. However, due to the heavy rain, I advised Mahi to continue her slumber. Aniket, Rajat, and I roamed around like frogs (Hehe! 😁) and managed to make the most of our time until 6:00 AM.
By 6:30 AM, we enjoyed breakfast and began packing up, knowing that we were bidding adieu to the base camp. Our destination was the enchanting Girmal Waterfall, a journey that promised a morning filled with adventure.
We departed the base camp around 7:40 AM, stowing our bags in the bus’s luggage compartment. The morning road and weather were nothing short of magical, with the persistent rain making it feel as though the bus was gliding through the clouds. Everyone was conserving energy, knowing that another thrilling trek awaited us at Girmal Waterfall.
Around 10:00 AM, we reached the Maharashtra border, and Girmal Waterfall was only a short 40–50-minute drive away. The natural beauty and lush greenery surrounded us, creating a captivating atmosphere.
At 10:45 AM, we arrived at the starting point of the trek, which spanned about 3–4 kilometers. It felt like we were walking through a valley, with breathtaking views on both sides. The valley’s charm gave us the sensation of strolling through the picturesque valleys of Kashmir.
Our rendezvous time was set for 11:30 AM, but we all reconvened around 11:55 AM, taking group photos and cherishing the moments. Lunch was served at 12:20 PM, and by 1:00 PM, it was time to bid farewell to Girmal Waterfall and head back to Ahmedabad.
A heartfelt thanks to Chirag and Ravi bhai for their tireless efforts and guidance throughout this incredible journey🥳️. Your dedication was truly appreciated, and it was a pleasure to know and be with both of you.
During our return journey:
- We played countless games on the bus.
- We had introduction sessions, getting to know each other even better.
- We received thoughtful appreciation gifts from Ravi and Chirag.
- A dance party ensued on the bus, revealing hidden talents like Charmi and Mahi’s dance moves.
- Some of us managed to catch a bit of much-needed sleep.
Dinner was enjoyed around 7:55 PM on the Baroda Bharuch highway, but we only had 20 minutes before departing for Ahmedabad. A few folks still had the energy for games, but I chose to take in the sights instead.
As we arrived back in Ahmedabad, our bonds of friendship and the affection we had built over the past three days were palpable knowing that we were never going to meet again. We bid heartfelt goodbyes to each other, and the mixture of exhaustion and the desire for the journey to never end was evident on everyone’s faces.
And so, we said our goodbyes to these newfound friends, knowing that this incredible trip had come to a close. Though we part ways physically, our hearts remain connected by the threads of this remarkable journey. As we bid farewell, let it be not goodbye, but rather, “until we meet again.” Our adventures may have concluded for now, but the chapters of our stories are far from complete.
This trip has been nothing short of a grand odyssey, a voyage into the depths of nature’s wonders and the inner recesses of our souls. We’ve witnessed breathtaking landscapes, braved unexpected challenges, and forged bonds.
Thank you, dear fellow travelers, for making this trip an unforgettable and cherished experience. As we head our separate ways, may life continue to bless us with adventures, laughter, and the enduring joy of friendship. Farewell, until our paths cross once more.
Thanks to All, And the routine life starts again…
