Nighoj - A Thrill(Chill)ing Ride

The day had not started with the sun still sleeping, and there I was riding my bike, freezing in the morning fog and dew. I started at 5.15 A.M from Pune towards my destination Nighoj. A small village around 100 kms from Pune. I had heard a lot about this place and seen some beautiful pictures of the largest potholes in Asia found here, wanted to experience them first hand.

The first thought that crossed my mind when on the road was, "Its Freezing out here, why did I choose travelling on a bike", but then my hands worked even harder on the accelerator, and I felt the cold a bit more. Around 5.45 A.M I took my first pit stop, in middle of no where, just to take a leak. I dont remember the last time I did this, but there is a tremendous sense of freedom in this, unlike the red led staring back at you in the office.

Starting back, I really felt my fingers and toes going numb with cold so I had to take my second chaI break around 50 km from my destination. I had a life saver with me, Parle G which I had with a hot cup of tea. Again, nothing can match a TaprI Chai, no exquiste tea/coffe. Was on my bike in no time, this time only to stop to take a few pictures on the way, but no brief stops.

I took a left turn at Shirur, from where Nighoj is some 20 odd kms. The initial 5 kms on this road were quite a ride, zip zap zoom zang ... literally. And yes, did I mention the temperature feel even more and I literally forze on my bike for the very first time in my life. Reaching Nighoj, the first thing to do was to have a couple of cups of tea just to feel all my body parts. Another reason for this stop was interacting with the locals, they are the best source of information. Had a simple chat with the tea vendor, took directions and then set for the actual destination, which was 3 kms from there.

Reaching the location, the first thing that caught my sight, was a simple white temple. It's a very small temple, with nothing extravagent of the goddess Malaganga Mata. She is another version of Ganga, residing in the the jata's (hair) of Lord Shanker. She was sent in place of ParvatI(who had already taken 9 avatars and had killed many deamons on earth). Malaganga Mata avatar, along with her seven sisters was taken for destroying the deamon named Dhumraksha.After a hugh victorious battle, Malaganga and her seven sisters stayed in Nighoj where she resides even now. The villagers here get to see a miracle every year when a Ghagar (a water retaining container) comes out of a well on a fixed date every year, post which there is a procession for one day and the villagers put back the ghagar back in the well, only to see it next year. Yes, India is a magical land :)

I checked out the temple briefly and then I was walking on the banks of the george, to get the first glimpses of the sight I had travelled for. Its a marvellous sight, the pictures will not lie. You can keep watching this water swirl and flow for hours. Technically, the small pebbels in the water hit the bottom of the george and eventually over time, corrode it in a circular fashion. Historically, this place was created by Malaganga Mata and was used as a Kund ( generally a place to take a bath ).

















I took pictures of this place for some time, but only to my bad luck, the day stayed cloudly and the light was not good to shoot pictures. Managed only some good ones :(. As I was all set to leave, I saw the priest of the temple sitting on the banks, looking at the water. Again, locals are the best source of information and who better than the temple preist himself. I sat beside him and had a good hour long chat with him. We discussed everything, the history and importance of the place, road conditions, educated but unemployed relatives, caste system, illegal things going on in the village and Alka Kubal ( A famous marathI film actor) who has played the part of Malaganga Mata in a recent marathI movie. I took leave of Babasaheb Gatak(the priest), and my next destination was the temple inside the village. Again picked up a local on the way to show me the way. It was interesting to know that Nighoj has an even distribution of Hindu's and Muslims as we crossed a Mashid on the way to the temple. Once I was done with my prayers, only one thing was in my mind "I am really hungry now". It was already 10 A.M. by then.

I choose not to eat in the village instead cover some ground before my pitstop. I started my return journey and reached Shirur, reaching a lot earlier this time, coz the sun was up :). At Shirur, took a brief stop to have something to eat and what better than Misal Pav :). Once done, I was back on my bike doing around 70 kmph average and reached Shikrapur much early this time. Here I took another road this time, heading to Chakan as that is much closer to PimprI Chinchwad. On reaching Chakan, getting home was much like a victory lap for a trip well done, in which I froze for the first time :). Was back in my bed around 12.30.

Anybody who doesnt mind travelling 200 kms for watching this beautiful spectacle, this will be a good ride.