Hatgad & Saputara : A Monsoon Escape into the Sahyadri

Hatgad & Saputara: A Monsoon Escape into the Sahyadris

This was our much-awaited escape from our daily routine. I had planned it well in advance to celebrate my wife’s retirement.

The real feeling of retirement comes when you can finally relax completely. And particularly for women, there is perhaps no greater feeling of freedom than getting a break from the kitchen and household responsibilities. That is why I scheduled this vacation immediately after her retirement. As you can see from the photograph above, the happy faces say it all!

I deliberately planned the trip to give us more relaxed time together rather than following a cramped sightseeing itinerary. During our working years, both of us were busy with our respective jobs, and although we spent time together, we rarely had the luxury of uninterrupted quality time.

We had many things to ponder over and, more importantly, many things to discuss about our post-retirement life and plans for the years ahead.

I particularly enjoy driving, especially during the monsoon. So, rather than travelling too far, we decided to explore a nearby destination. We chose Club Mahindra Hatgad as our base and planned to explore Saputara and the surrounding areas at our own pace.

We had expected this trip to be a relaxed monsoon getaway. What we got was much more—a wonderful experience of misty mountains, lush green forests, waterfalls, delicious Gujarati snacks and the simple joy of being surrounded by nature.

We stayed at Club Mahindra Hatgad, which turned out to be an ideal base for exploring the beautiful surroundings.

Hatgad in the Monsoon

The monsoon had transformed the Sahyadris. Everywhere we looked, the landscape was covered in different shades of green. The forests were lush, the hills were enveloped in mist and the occasional rain added to the charm of the journey.

One of our plans was to trek to Hatgad Fort. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Continuous rain and deep fog made the trek difficult and potentially unsafe, so we decided not to proceed.

Sometimes, travelling is also about knowing when to let go of a plan.

The trek remained unfinished—but perhaps that gives us one more reason to return to Hatgad.

Saputara: Greenery, Clouds and Monsoon Magic

Our drive through the Saputara region was one of the highlights of the trip. The monsoon had brought the forest alive. The roads passed through dense, lush-green surroundings, with mist appearing and disappearing among the hills.

Saputara is famous for its popular tourist attractions like Table Top, Governor’s Point, Cable car ride but we skipped these points because this was our second visit to Saputara. If you’re visiting for the first time, then these places are must visit places. However we drove through the scenic locations in Saputara and experienced the glide through dense fog. It was heavenly experience.

We also decided to enjoy a boat ride on Saputara Lake. Located in the heart of the town and surrounded by misty mountains, the lake looked particularly beautiful during the monsoon. The boat ride offered wonderful views of the hills and the surrounding landscape.

The photographs above were clicked during the boat ride.

Saputara Monsoon Festival: Celebrating Local Culture

Our visit to Saputara became even more special because the town was celebrating its Monsoon Festival.

The festival stalls were filled with an impressive variety of handcrafted products made by local artisans. We also came across a wide range of products prepared and marketed by self-help groups from Gujarat.

It was wonderful to see the creativity, skills and hard work of these local communities being showcased directly to visitors.

From traditional handicrafts to locally made products, every stall had something interesting to discover. The festival added a cultural dimension to what was otherwise a nature-filled trip.

Gira Waterfall in Dang Forest

Being a wildlife photographer, I was particularly excited to visit the Dang forest area and photograph its waterfalls.

The monsoon is the perfect season to experiment with slow-shutter or long-exposure photography. Falling water is one of the best subjects for this technique because a longer exposure can transform the movement of water into a smooth, silky flow.

So, we drove through the Dang forest area and then walked a few metres to reach the waterfall.

The waterfall was magnificent in its monsoon avatar. The sound of rushing water, the greenery surrounding it and the sheer force of nature made it a moment worth experiencing.

For me, this was the best photography experience of the trip.

A Forest Drive with a Gujarati Twist

Travel memories are not always about famous tourist attractions. Sometimes, it is an unexpected experience that stays with you.

During our forest drive, we stopped to enjoy some Gujarati snacks. Sitting amidst the lush green surroundings and enjoying hot, crispy Methi Bhajji with steaming Masala Chai was a divine experience.

The experience was not limited to taste. Our mouths were enjoying the local delicacies while we inhaled the aroma of wet earth and damp rain-soaked surroundings. It was one of those simple moments that cannot be planned but become beautiful memories.

The drive itself was a thrill. The road was curvy and full of turns, with continuous ups and downs. The narrow road was completely surrounded by lush green forest, while the continuous sound of rain was our only companion.

Eventually, we reached the waterfall, clicked photographs and took a few selfies to capture the moment.

Overall the trip was simple, spontaneous and memorable—exactly the kind of experience that makes travel special.

The Sunset That Never Happened

We had also hoped to photograph a beautiful sunset at Saputara.

But the monsoon clouds had different plans.

The sky remained heavily overcast, and the much-awaited sunset never appeared. Initially, it felt like one more item on our itinerary that we had missed.

But perhaps that is the beauty of travelling during the monsoon. You cannot control the weather, the clouds or the visibility. You simply accept what nature offers.

We missed the sunset—but in return, we got mist-covered hills, dramatic clouds, rain-washed forests and the spectacular Gira Waterfall.

I think that was a fair exchange.

On the Way Back: A Spiritual Stop at Vani

On our return journey, we stopped at Vani to visit the revered Saptashrungi Devi Temple.

The visit added a spiritual dimension to what had otherwise been a nature-filled getaway. After spending the previous days amidst forests, waterfalls and mountains, ending the journey with a visit to the temple was a peaceful way to conclude the trip.

What Made This Trip Special?

Looking back, it wasn’t the places alone that made this journey memorable. It was the combination of everything:

Rain. Mist. Mountains. Forests. Waterfalls. Gujarati snacks. Spirituality. And the company of loved ones.

The real highlight of the trip was the time we spent together—something that was long overdue.

Normally, husbands and wives do spend time together, but during our working years, much of that time is consumed by professional commitments, household responsibilities and routine activities. Retirement changes that equation.

We now have the opportunity to spend much more time together, discuss our future plans and, most importantly, arrive at a mutual understanding about how we want to spend the next phase of our lives.

In that sense, this trip was almost a practice session for our retirement life—a chance to understand what it would be like when we spend much more time together, sometimes almost 24 hours a day!

Perhaps that was the most important part of the journey.

This trip was less about following an itinerary and more about experiencing togetherness in the presence of pristine nature.

We couldn’t complete the Hatgad trek.

We couldn’t see the sunset.

But we experienced the silence of Sahyadri in its monsoon glory.

And perhaps that is the real joy of travel. An itinerary gives you a plan, but the company of loved ones and the nature gives you the experience.

As I often believe, travelling is not merely about visiting places and ticking them off a list. It is about exploring, experiencing and enjoying every moment along the way.

This Hatgad–Saputara journey gave us plenty of those moments.

And yes, there is still one unfinished item on our list:

The Hatgad Fort trek.

Perhaps the next journey is already waiting for us.

Thank you my dear readers for stopping by

Stay happy and keep smiling 😊