Aadrai Forest Trail

Our office group wanted to plan an outing during the 1st monsoon after the office re-opened after covid. The entire team had changed during their covid with many having relocated to Pune for the first time. 
We shortlisted a couple of places but finally zeroed in on "Aadrai Jungle Trail".
We opted to go with a professional trek group. So the arrangements were done by them. 

We were a group of 25+ and hence a 32-seater was hired. The bus started it's route from Kharadi with 3-4 pickup points. 
We reached the base village "Khireshwar" at around 9:30am (in around 2.5 hours from Pune's last pickup point). 

The bus was parked at Hotel Aishwarya where we got down to have our breakfast - kande pohe and tea. 
After breakfast, we decked up in our raincoats as it was raining heavily. 
Our trek guide advised us to cover our heads as well. 
Most of us started without any baggage and it actually proved sensible. 
We covered the trail, crossing the Aadrai river and splashing our feet in tons of muddy puddles. With the rain constantly pouring, it made the trail slippery and the weather very pleasant and cool. 
We finally reached the aadrai waterfall after coincidentally meeting a close friend on the way. 
There were a number of waterfalls at the view point gracefully flowing down the mountains and the rain still pouring. It was an experience to cherish and enjoy. 
After having spent sometimeat the view point, and clicked pictures, we started our return trail. 
On reaching the river, the flow was stronger than what we faced in the morning and hence it wasn't possible to cross the river. 
We then checked with any locals we could find around to figure out a way around. 
After around 20mins on the alternate way, we were back to the base village where out bus was parked outside Hotel Aishwarya. 
There were a few spaces to be used as changing areas where the females could change their wet clothes to get into comfy dry dresses before having lunch. 
We then had a fulfilling lunch comprising of dal, rice, chana curry, chapati, pickle, fryums and sheera. 
Post that we started our journey back to Pune. 

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