“With the forest ever on guard and the mountains as a companio
n, there she lies in silent meditation.
Responding only to the wind whispering silent melodies, there she lies… the hermit’s abode.”
Dudhani lake is located within Nagar Haveli, around 60 kms to the south of Silvassa and 186 kms from Mumbai. Untouched by human chaos Dudhani offers a psychadelic weekend ride away from the madness of Mumbai. The water spreading across a span of more than 4 kms across and dancing to the silent melodies played by the wind.
The concept of visiting a union territory has always been fun. You feeling that the land has grown some kind of immunity to the daily rigmarole and urbanization. This concept becomes even more enticing if the location takes you through a reserved forest and some good twisters to a tranquil lake meditating amidst the mountains which seem to stand as sentinels on guard. Riding through NH8 is mostly a straight patch of good asphalt with reasonable seasoning of bends and curves. The ride through NH8 gives makes you feel lonely even with a group as the road is almost straight and uneventful. You could maintain top speeds and still sense something missing.
The road from Silvassa takes you through reserved forests puckered with farm
s and some strange looking scarecrows. Too low to be called a ghat the road still has a good share of climbs and testing bends. This is where the fun begins and you feel the road mocking your accomplishments of speed on the NH8. The road has all the qualities to become a potential race track.ling that the land has grown some kind of immunity to the daily rigmarole and urbanization. This concept becomes even more enticing if the location takes you through a reserved forest and some good twisters to a tranquil lake meditating amidst the mountains which seem to stand as sentinels on guard. Riding through NH8 is mostly a straight patch of good asph
alt with reasonable seasoning of bends and curves. The ride through NH8 gives makes you feel lonely even with a group as the road is almost straight and uneventful. You could maintain top speeds and still sense something missing.
The road offers couple of interesting stoppers, a lion enclosure and a deer park. And then as the forests fade out, you can see the lake playing hide and seek amongst the foliage and hills. When the lake fully unfolds, the size of the lake is easily transferred to you with eyes and mouth wide open. Follow the road which ends right at the bank of the lake as a dead end as if it were destined union of the two. Inhabitation is merely a cluster of small villages on the way.
The lake just feels bigger after you arrive at the banks with local jetty ferrying everything from locals, to mid sized tempos across the lake to a mountain right at the centre of the lake. More surprises, there are power boats and water scooters that can be hired at the lake!!
Accommodation is fairly priced with bungalows at the bank that can be hired for within Rs. 2000. There are also tents available at reasonable rates. Food is strictly ok and you cannot expect your favourite dish to really be why it’s a favourite. Alcohol need not be carried as the place also has a restaurant and bar. As the sun rises above the hills and lake for its company, there is an immense feeling of peace and tranquillity that hits you and you feel strongly towards how simplicity and beauty of life. Be it floating on the lake on a locally hired boat or simply relaxing at the banks and watch the way of life. If you like fishing, here’s your chance!
In an urban life filled with under construction roads, dust, potholes and that damn traffic that seems to follow everywhere you go, a chance of peaceful country ride during the weekend is promising. All in all a promising ride, a promising place and that much needed getaway in a not too far away land.
As the name suggests, right on top of the range is a very old Shiva temple. Its only in such places that you find the temple peaceful and above the rest.
