Bhukhi : Where adventure can turn into terror…
So yesterday was the last day of vacation. Today it’s the new school year, new friends due to class reshuffling (I’m not too fond of this idea), new books, new teachers, and everything new. And that’s why we wanted to make today’s outing fun and less strenuous. So we have selected a place in Panchmahal. We did not know much about the place apart from its name and terrain. On Google Earth, we could see a few elevated landscapes with boulders and rocks, but those were enough for the kids. And as such, Shaurya and Satva were very excited as they were doing this trek with their cousins.
Usually, whenever we go to a place, we first talk with village people, or we generally have some idea about the area. This was new. And we were a little overconfident or, dare I say, careless or reckless. Why am I telling you all this? You will come to know shortly.
You have to take road to Kalol and before Kalol you have tontine right exit for Malava. then follow the road to Adadara, but before that you will get a sign board of Salka village on your left, take that turn. and then after going a while on your right side you will get this rustic sign board of Bhukhi village. Follow this road. After asking a few people about Bhukhi village, we finally reached there. The roads are good, and the people are very much helpful. We asked about a small hill, and they gave us the location of one with the temple because there are Manu small mounds in the area.
We parked our car, and the kids were so excited, so we started walking at once. It was just a small mound with large boulders and rocks, a beautiful temple, and a well on it. Bhajans were being played in the temple on speaker, and village l; ladies were getting up and down carrying two or three pots on their heads. How come they maintain their balance? I still can’t understand. They don’t even hold them while getting down on a slope. Laughing and gossiping off the went!
Climbing on large rocks and boulders is very exciting for kids, so they had no bounds, and soon we were on top (it is hardly any climb, honestly speaking), but the experience is unique.
And then our excitement turned into an adventure as we planned to get down from another side where the boulders were a little huge. Everyone was enjoying and doing nicely. We split into two groups, and suddenly one gentleman who was a priest in the temple came and said you are in front of the cave of leopard. The gap between two giant boulders was the entrance of the leopard’s den, and he asekd us to move from there immediately. The climb was a little tricky, and we all were scared now as our adventure turned into terror in a few minutes. But kudos to the kids, as without any fear or drama, they all understood the gravity of the situation and started crossing giant boulders, and we came down with that gentleman.
This was the entrance of the cave.
He was our saviour…
As we were consoling the tense kiddos, we heard a roar-like sound. We don’t even know if a leopard can make a sound like this. Was it our hallucination? We don’t know. How can five people have hallucinations together? And we turned to that person; he was gone.
I have heard that there is a supreme power, whatever you name them. The energy that guides you and that helps you. We call them Gods. We search for them in temples or idols, but incidents like this tell us that God is in us, in every human being, and he/she makes his/her presence feel on days like this. It is up to you whether you believe it or not. I do! I truly do!
There is a small temple just on the side of the main temple. The main temple is Ma Brahmani mandir, and the small temple is Wagheshwari Maa Mandir. The cave entrance is just beside that small temple.
When we reached Main Street, a few ladies were there. We asked them about leopards, and they told us there were not one but four leopards in that cave. But until now, they haven’t harmed anyone from the village. They usually come out at around 5 or 6 in the evening, so if we want to see them, we should also come at that time, and the leopards sit just at the top of the hill. One another person has also told us the same story. We were amazed to hear this. How people and wild animals live in harmony, there was a simple response from the villagers, “If we don’t do anything to them, they won’t do anything to us.” One simple logic and one simple truth!
So the lesson we learned today is don’t be over-enthusiastic. And from now onwards, whenever we go to such remote places, we will talk with the local person first and, if possible, request them to accompany us.
Life teaches us many lessons daily if only we keep our senses open!!
That’s it.
We are sharing the location of the main temple.:
https://goo.gl/maps/HE7kco4A3oWyo6TU7
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It is very very informative n it’s like magic of god that one person suddenly come n become saviour. I feel he is none other than super power
Really We also thought the same.
It was a thrilling experience, the kind which we’ve never had before! I would really love to go in the evening and watch those leopards sitting on top of the mountains once. We were literally in the front of the cave laughing and giggling and suddenly those laughs turned into fast heart beats and worry, but we all handled the situation nicely without panicking. It was indeed a memorable experience!! Thankyou mami for taking us to this place🌼
Surely. Shaurya was also telling the same thing. We will surely pan but this time we will just sit in a car and look from afar.
Yes…it was a terrific adventurous experience……but God is with us…n we all r safe….n kudis to all the kids….thank you safar with Sasha for such a vivid knowledge n update of the remote but wonderful places n people around us…..once again …thank u…keep writing….
Definitely. One of the most memorable Sunday. Those 10 minutes were scary. Though we have not seen anything but hearing those stories were definitely scary.