Journeys for Knowledge

Following my stay in Delhi, I set off to Pune in the south-west to visit my family stationed there. Since my uncle is in the military, they frequently move around India from base to base. As such I was quite excited to finally see them after so much time. Now residing in Pune, they decided to take me and my cousins into the hills near Pune to get away from the crowded cities for a change.

First up was the extravagant town of Lavasa, which seems very out of place in the middle of the rural hills of Maharashtra. Using cheap land, wealthy developers created a facsimile of a quaint European valley town as a playground for the wealthy, and an attraction for everyone else. While it certainly was pretty, that could not mask how polished and unreal it felt.

The rest of our trip through the hills was far more authentic, as we set out for Mahabaleshwar. Known for its stunning vistas, the various peaks and viewing points we drove out to did not disappoint. Far off in the distance one could still see the haze from the cities, but that did not spoil the views of lush green forests and farmlands.

On the topic of cities, one of this viewing points was given the name Mumbai point, and is most notable for its view of the setting sun. As the name suggests, despite a relatively peaceful trip thus far, Mumbai point quickly became crowded and bustling like its namesake as the sun dipped lower into the horizon. In a way, watching this crowd of people grow and swell with the sun, only to vanish after sundown, was more interesting than the sunset itself.

Similarly, my trip to Pune was more than just seeing sights in the hills. It allowed me to reconnect with my family after a long time, and actually act like the elder brother I am expected to be for my cousins. They were even gracious enough to let me sit and read, by far the most restorative of my hobbies. Renewed and refreshed, I left Pune ready for a new adventure, out in the desert.

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