Back on the Trail: Starting My Trek After a Decade
For someone getting back to trekking after almost a decade, the thought of stepping onto the trail again was both challenging and incredibly exciting. There’s something special about returning to the mountains after such a long break. The anticipation, the nervousness, and that familiar sense of adventure all come rushing back.
I woke up at 3:30 AM, ready to make the most of the day and started with a really strong black coffee, just what I needed to begin the day with some energy. Before heading out, I quickly wore y shoes and grabbed my hydration bag, and got ready to head out.
My central pick-up point was Jyoti Restaurant, where I reached around 4:30 AM. The bus was already waiting, with a few participants onboard. We greeted everyone, helped them settle in, and made sure everyone was comfortable before we started our journey.
Once we were on the road, the morning slowly came alive. We coordinated with the other participants and made our way through the different pick-up points, welcoming fellow trekkers along the way. There was a quiet excitement in the bus, some people were catching up on sleep, while others were already chatting about the trek ahead.
We then distributed breakfast boxes to everyone. Some participants happily opened theirs and ate right away, while others decided to save theirs for later because when you’re heading out for local treks around Pune, you quickly learn that you never know when that extra snack might come in handy!
And just like that, the journey had begun. After almost ten years away from trekking, I was finally back on the road, heading towards another adventure near Pune.
Into the Mist: The Climb Towards Duke’s Nose
We reached the Tata Power Plant in Khandala around 7:30–7:45 AM. After a quick briefing with the participants, we geared up and started the trek towards Duke’s Nose.
The initial section of the trail immediately reminded me that it had been a long time since my last trek. The sudden climb pushed my heart rate up, and the monsoon had completely transformed the trail. Overgrown shrubs, thick vegetation and wet foliage covered the route, making the climb feel even more adventurous.
As we climbed higher, we gradually disappeared into the mist. I found myself stopping every now and then to catch my breath, take in the surroundings and simply enjoy being back on a trail again.
After navigating through the thick bushes and trees, we reached a small waterfall. This became our first proper halt. Everyone took the opportunity to relax, sit around the waterfall and, of course, take plenty of photographs. The sound of flowing water, the mist and the lush green surroundings made it a perfect monsoon break.
After spending some time there, we continued our climb. The trail became denser as we moved ahead. Since not many hikers take this particular route to Duke’s Nose, parts of the trail felt raw and relatively untouched. The thick vegetation and mist added a sense of adventure to every step.
For me, this was already turning into the kind of local trek near Pune I had been looking forward to. A little challenging, a little unpredictable, and exactly the kind of adventure near Pune that makes you want to keep going.
A Lakeside Break and the Smell of Wada Pav
After making our way through the dense trail, we finally reached the lake. It was the perfect spot to take a break. Everyone sat down for a while, and many of the participants who had saved their breakfast earlier finally opened their boxes and ate.
We took a few group photographs, chatted with each other and simply enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. After spending some time by the lake, we got ready to continue our trek towards Duke’s Nose.
As we started hiking again, something completely unexpected caught our attention. The unmistakable smell of hot wada pav, Maggi and other local snacks! That’s when we realised there was a small food stall further up the trail.
Naturally, the smell was tempting, and many of the participants wanted to stop and enjoy some of the local delicacies. I wanted to reach Duke’s Nose first, but eventually, we decided to wait for a while and let everyone enjoy the break. After all, trekking isn’t always about rushing towards the destination; sometimes, a hot plate of Maggi on a mountain trail is part of the experience!
Once everyone was done, we picked up our bags and continued towards Duke’s Nose. The trail ahead still had more climbing in store for us, but the energy in the group remained high.
This was turning into a memorable local trek near Pune. A mix of misty trails, waterfalls, lakes, mountain views and, of course, some much-needed wada pav and Maggi along the way.
The Final Climb to Duke’s Nose
Once we reached the base of the Duke’s Nose hill, the character of the trail changed completely. We began the final climb through a rocky section, with loose stones and uneven terrain making every step a little more challenging.
We carefully made our way up the rocky patch, supporting each other wherever needed, and eventually reached the top. For me, this was the main attraction of the trek. The feeling of negotiating the rocks and finally making it to the Duke’s Nose viewpoint made all those early-morning efforts worth it.
What I also enjoyed was seeing the different reasons people had chosen this trek. For some, Duke’s Nose was a way to get back into trekking after a long break. For others, it was a perfect way to prepare themselves for a bigger challenge, such as the Everest Base Camp Trek. And for those looking for something more beginner-friendly, treks like the Baleni Glacier Trek or Dodital–Darwa Pass Trek can be great next steps.
That’s what makes local treks near Pune so special. They give you a chance to test yourself, build your confidence and simply enjoy being outdoors. Whether you’re preparing for a high-altitude adventure or just looking for a memorable adventure near Pune.
From Mountain Views to Hot Chai: Ending the Duke’s Nose Trek
From the top of Duke’s Nose, we could see the newly constructed Mumbai–Pune Expressway Missing Link winding through the mountains. But the weather had its own plans. One moment, the landscape was completely visible, and the next, mist and clouds would roll in and change the entire view.
We spent almost an hour or two at the top, simply soaking in the incredible scenery. After all the climbing, it felt good to slow down, sit back and enjoy the mountains without worrying about what came next.
Eventually, it was time to descend. As we made our way down, we passed the same food stalls we had noticed earlier. And, unsurprisingly, quite a few participants couldn’t resist stopping again! We spent nearly an hour there, sipping hot chai and enjoying wada pav while the rain continued around us. There was something incredibly satisfying about having hot chai and snacks in the middle of a monsoon trek.
Once everyone was ready, we continued along the trail, this time taking a different route back. One of the things I enjoyed most about the trek was meeting new people with different stories but a shared love for the outdoors, mountains and adventure.
Nearly two hours later, we finally reached the starting point. By then, everyone was tired, happy and thoroughly soaked. Most of us quickly changed into dry clothes before getting back onto the bus.
The journey back to the city had one more important stop that was lunch. With the rain still coming down outside, we stopped at a local restaurant and ordered some hot, comforting food. Dal and rice, hot chapatis and aloo sabzi turned out to be exactly what everyone needed after a long day on the trail.
With full stomachs and tired legs, we got back on the bus and began dropping everyone at their respective locations. By the time I finally wrapped up the day, it was almost 6 PM.
It had been a long day challenging, exhausting, wet and incredibly fun. More than anything, it reminded me why I had missed trekking for so long. Sometimes, the best adventure near Pune is simply a day spent walking through the mountains, sharing stories with strangers who become friends, eating hot wada pav in the rain, and coming back home tired but happy.
