My consistency eventually made my parents curious about trekking.
Weekly treks became normal—so normal that they simply decided to join me. There was no need for convincing. They were happy to walk.
My father had always wanted me to adopt healthier habits. For a very long time—almost 15 years—I tried to out-debate him. I thought I knew better.
I didn’t.
When I finally found my way onto the right path, his interest grew naturally. He was genuinely curious, almost relieved.
My mother was just as happy. She enjoyed walking long distances with me, soaking in nature, moving through the jungle at her own pace. Watching them walk beside me felt grounding in a way I hadn’t expected.
Choosing Irshalgad
That week, I decided to try a new mountain—Irshalgad.
I had heard of this place years ago, but not in a trekking context. It was in the news because of Irshalwadi, a village that was buried under a devastating landslide. It had been major news at the time.
Back then, I never really thought about where the place actually was.
Even later, my father-in-law mentioned this mountain during conversations about the landslide. Still, it remained just a name—distant and abstract.
When the landslide happened, there was widespread discussion in the media about environmental degradation—how we are slowly damaging nature, and why such disasters are becoming more frequent.
Walking toward Irshalgad now, with my parents beside me, those old conversations came back with a different weight.
Learning to Walk with Uncertainty
Once again, I left home with a slightly doubtful mind.
There were mixed reviews about Irshalgad. Some mentioned that the path to the fort was closed. Even Google Maps wasn’t showing the trail clearly.
Earlier, this uncertainty would have stopped me.
Now, I’m more comfortable with it.
So we reached the base village anyway.
As we began the climb, the mountain revealed itself—its unique rock structure clearly visible from a distance. It looked inviting and intimidating at the same time.
My father assumed it would be a short trek. His logic was simple: a flag usually marks the end. Somewhere along the way, an orange flag had been placed, and he assumed that was the summit.
When he reached it, he was surprised to learn that the fort was still far away.
But he didn’t complain.
He adapted.
Accepted the challenge.
And kept walking.
A Quiet Reality Check
The most surprising part of the trek was this:
My parents climbed faster than me.
My father is 60.
I’m 35.
The age difference showed up—in reverse.
We crossed a long, almost straight stretch and finally reached the base of the summit. From there, the terrain changed. The rock formations and the climb through them were strikingly beautiful.
Just like Sondai, Irshalgad sits along the banks of Morbe Dam. The view of the water was expansive and calm.
Still, if I’m being honest—
nothing quite beats the views from Sondai Fort.