Play hide and seek with a 300-ft high waterfall

Defying gravity, the weather and treacherous terrain, Dhvani Solani combined thrills, chills and a few spills in one adrenaline-packed adventure sport weekend at Dabhosa waterfall

Defying gravity, the weather and treacherous terrain, Dhvani Solani combined thrills, chills and a few spills in one adrenaline-packed adventure sport weekend at Dabhosa waterfall

Few moments can compare to the time you had your first crush, back in school a pounding heart, riveted eyes, trepidation to turn your back and escape to regain your breath. I would've never imagined that standing at the edge of Dabhosa waterfall, watching the furious waters hitting the periphery of the cliff and flowing down in an endless motion, would remind me of those feelings.
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Fight or flight? This question toyed my mind as I tread through a dangerously slushy path, aided by a local guide, on to mossy rocks where I sat, safely ensconced until I had to take a leap of faith (quite literally), as I dangled from a rope and slid my way down the Dabhosa waterfall.

The Dabhosa waterfall in the Jawhar region of Thane district (a three-hour drive from Mumbai) is a sight to behold, every monsoon.

Nature Trails, a travel group that is in the business of campsites and resorts at unusual places around Maharashtra, has a hideaway that is no high-end luxe site but charming nevertheless for a weekend getaway, overlooking the 300-ft high waterfall.

When we reached the retreat on a Saturday morning, the temperamental weather went from bright sunshine to a gloomy rain in seconds. Clusters of youngsters and corporate groups soon checked in.

As my photographer, Atul, was led to a spot near the drop of the falls to capture every heart-stopping moment, I made my way to the cliff's edge, where trained adventure instructors Kewal and Parag waited.
Waterfall rappelling (technically known as canyoning) is associated with a technical descent down a gushing waterfall, using rappels (abseils) and ropework.
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I watched as Parag rappelled down the 300 feet, so he could help with my part of the action. Since the monsoon had hit these parts with gusto, evident from the burst of songs that we heard en route from farmers tilling their land, Dabhosa's waterfall appeared voluminous and overwhelming, with a muddy character.

Putting safety above all else, my instructors informed me that we wouldn't descend through the waters, and instead climb down a rope that was thrown parallel to it.

Taking the Plunge

11.45 am. Once Kewal doled out instructions, checking the straps of my life jacket, strapping on the gloves and double-checking the harnesses, I took my place at the edge of the waterfall. I clutched the rope with my left hand and started to 'feed' the rope with my right. I began walking down the cliff with my feet perpendicular to the slippery rock face. The mist from the plummeting waters

Zip through the Flying Fox for your Superwoman moment

soaks you, even if the rain clouds take a breather. I kept chanting to myself "Don't look down." But every now and then, I sneaked a peek, below. I've never been afraid of heights, but when you are dangling from an overhang that doesn't allow you to see your instructor on the edge of the fall and your vision includes enormous oppor-tunities for a watery grave, you are allowed a fleeting dizzy moment. Thankfully, panic hadn't set in.

The beauty of this rappel is that after covering one-fourth of the fall, it drops to a complete overhang. This means that you rappel in mid-air, with no support to rest your feet on, and your right shoulder bearing most of your weight. It was 12.15 pm and waves of exhaustion were sweeping over me.

Tiding through testing waters

It seemed forever but I finally managed to reach the base. I lowered myself in to the waters, as Parag helped free me from the equipment. After the monsoon, a raft is usually arranged to carry participants to the shore, but since the waters were too ferocious to launch a raft during our trip, we had to latch ourselves on to a rope attached to the bank.

The only hurdle for this activity was that after every three feet, the rope would get entangled within the rocks along the waterbed.

After Parag had dived underwater on three occasions to free us, we decided that it would be better to swim to the landside on our own. By now, a motley bunch of locals had assembled by the bank to watch this spectacle. Once we were done, we plunged into the waters and swam over to the other side.
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This energy-sapping exercise from water to land took us almost an hour. As we rested on the rocks, much-needed sunshine warmed our drenched, tired selves.

The adrenaline-packed minutes seemed to rush past that day. Memorable action to savour for a lifetime, for sure.

You can also try
Activities like kayaking, valley crossing, zip line, trekking and fishing. Waterfall rappelling is only for those who have rappelled before. Cost of waterfall rappelling: Rs 1,500 per person in the monsoon, and Rs 500 to Rs 750 for the rest of the year.

Nature Trails, third floor, Hemendra Shopping Centre, Gokhale Road, Naupada, Thane (W).
Call: 66557777.
LOG On To: www.naturetrails.in

Must Carry
Waterproof sunscreen
Slip-resistant sneakers
A change of clothing
Towel
Slippers / open footwear once you are done with rappelling
Camera and batteries

How to reach
Jawhar lies 180 kms from Mumbai. The waterfall is situated at a distance of 16 kms (near Dabhosa village) from Jawhar towards Silvassa. After a certain point, the road to the falls is a kuccha one that goes through Dabhosa village.

Where to stay
The Dabhosa Waterfalls Resort, a property of Nature Trails, is a medley of tents and rooms overlooking the waterfall. These guys can also organise a local folk dance performed by the tribals living in the area, along with a haunted night walk and witch craft demos.Call: 09096775163.
IDeal duration: Overnight
Best time: June to March