Waterfall Rappelling is one of the ultimate adventure sports that can be practiced in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra during the Monsoons when the mountains are lush green and the waterfalls are gushing down in full force.
Waterfall Rappelling means rappelling down a waterfall through the water using techniques. One can't imagine how much fun it is? It knocks you off your feet and the water falls over your head like rocks. It gives you a complete adrenaline rush.
The activity as a whole involves hiking through the small hills and forests to the waterfall and then the rappels descend the breathtaking waterfalls. It's a thrill for all ages and for all those who want to do something different. And above all what else could be a better way of spending a Sunday with your group of friends rappelling down a waterfall that is around 55-60 feet.
I was excited as it was definitely going to be an adventure Sunday. We started our journey in the morning at 6.45 am from Mumbai and reached the base village at around 9.30 am. In between we stopped for some tea at our usual spot Shree Dutt. Once we reached the base village Nivali our journey to the waterfall began. It was a short trek up the lush green mountains for about half hour to 40 minutes to the waterfall. There are two waterfalls here, one which is at a lower level but was a more dangerous one and the other slightly above which is where we chose to do the rappelling. As we were climbing up we were gaping at the waterfall. The technical team led by Prashant Patil and Yogita Shirke.
By the time we reached the falls, Prashant and his team was ready to start. Unlike the earlier Bhivpuri waterfall, this waterfall was in two stages. First one had to walk along for almost five to six steps and then it was a straight drop where you actually start rappelling. The weather was pleasant. We have seen the rain many a times, got wet many times, but this time as we stood at the edge of the valley we could see the rain in the valley, while we stood clear. And then, the wind shifted, and the sheet of rain raced to us, we thought it would rain heavily but it was just a passing shower that stopped after a while and thereafter there were slight drizzles on and off but practically for most time of the activity, the weather was good to rappel.
Seated close to the place where we were to start rappelling, the group got a short safety and instruction talk on rappelling by Prashant and myself.
The participants are provided with all safety gears such as the harness, caribiner and the figure of eight, which holds the rope through the harness that is tied to the participants waist. We also provide with helmet as a part of the safety gear.
Atif was the first participant to go rappelling down. It was his first time. There is certainly an element of fear and more so when you are doing the activity for the very first time. Prashant and myself were guiding him and asking him to move backwards. Imagine walking down backwards on a slippery moss covered rock and water flowing down at fast pace from underneath your legs. Even as you take the first few steps once you get down the first step on the straight drop a thick jet of water hits you in the face. The first few steps are on a rocky patch at exactly an angle of 90 degrees that quite gives one an idea what they are going in for.
Many have rappelled before but never amidst a waterfall. My personal thoughts after having done this activity several times are that the waterfall adds a thrilling element to conventional rappelling. Apart from the safety gears that you are wearing, you are fitted with two ropes– a rappelling rope with which you descend down the rope and a belay rope (a backup rope), which is controlled by a 'belayer' at the top. Most reasonably fit people with a good sense of balance can do rappelling. The latter ensures that even if you lose your footing, you don't hurtle down the mountain.
Everyone followed the instructions that Prashant and me were giving from the top. But there is only upto a point that one can hear us and after that you have to remember the instructions well so as to avoid any accident. The one most important instruction is to look at your foot and not up at the rope lest you meet with an accident.
As I watched everyone rappel down I realized they were comfortable releasing the rope and descending down. As one landed down there was Govind at the base of the waterfall who helped the participant remove the gears in the right manner and also seeing to it that the equipments are handled with great care.
This is not climbing the apple tree in your back yard! Safety is taken very seriously here, we only use top of the line imported equipments kept in good condition and used properly. Conscientious instruction and guiding will provide you with a safe and comfortable experience. All of them successfully finished rappelling once and then everyone was excited to do it once more. We now took a break for lunch before we started the second session of rappelling. We all hogged into the delicious Theplas with Chatni and dahi and to top it all ended our delicious meal with some Sonpapdi (a sweet dish).
After a sumptuous meal everyone was getting ready for the second session. By now the fear factor had disappeared and all of them had gained more confidence.
Finally after being completely satisfied it was around 5 pm when we decided to pack up. We packed our bags, pack our equipments and ropes and then left the site at around 5.30 p.m. to head back to Mumbai after having spent a wonderful and fruitful adventurous Sunday with friends.
Group members: Aditya Singh Chauhan, Atif, Sateesh, Irina, Caspar, Nicholas, Pravar, Piysh and Sugandha
