This weekend we went to the forest of Dang. I wanted to visit this forest since I came to Surat and joined CSS last year. However, the visit remained suspended. Initially, I wanted to do research on the people who live in this forest. I wanted to study how do they perceive the forest and their belongingness with the forest? In other words, experiences of the forest. I started reading books and articles... David Hardiman, Ajay Skaria, essays of my colleague Satyakam Joshi, District Gazetteers etc. But, soon I found that I did not know what I wanted to do. I was not clear why I wanted to do research on people who inhabit the jungle.
So, for quite a long time, the trip to the forest remained suspended. Finally, this weekend, me, Preeti, Akshar, Suresh and Umesh went to the forest. Satyakam was quite helpful when we enquired about how to go and where to go, whom to meet and what to do. He drew the map, contacted people on phone. Umesh happily took us inside. We went as tourists, the tank of my Maruti 800 got filled an evening before and by seven in the morning we were ready to move away from the city.
We took the Songadh route and from Songadh went inside. The Jungle was mesmerising and we stopped by a river (Gira) a water fall.
We further went to Shabri temple
and Girimal waterfall
stayed in a guest house at Uchhal and next morning while on our way back to Surat went up to Songadh fort.
a journey of about 356 kms. quite tiring but equally satisfying and filled with happines.
Interesting. Since it is controversial, I thought your would write something about Shabridham too!
ReplyDeleteI lived near the Gira river for a good 6 years in a village called Mota Tarpada. Maybe you passed it on your way to the Dangs. I wish you had taken more photos.
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