About Tail baila
One of my resolutions for 2020 was to be on the road every weekend and visit as many places near Pune as possible. But 2 weeks into January and I found myself sitting home at noon and not able to pick a place to go. I didn’t want to do a short one day ride but rather an overnight stay.
I decided to visit Tail Baila. My friend Aditya had camped here a few years back and had a great time. Tail Baila is located 90 kilometres from Pune near Lonavala which meant even though it was almost noon, I could make it before sunset. I phoned Aditya and he agreed to join along with 3 of his friends who also were happy to join in. He was going to leave from Navi Mumbai and me from Pune.
The ride and route
I started from Pune at 3 PM on my bike while the others started from Navi Mumbai at almost the same time. The rendezvous point was decided as Sunils celebrity wax museum. We reached by 5 PM and after stocking up water and some snacks we continued ahead. To reach Tail Baila you have to pass through Tiger point and Aamby valley. The road is great till Amby valley after which it deteriorates. The Tail Baila village exit is marked by small signboard so you have to keep an eye out not to miss it.
Camping at Tail Baila
We reached the village after sunset and stopped at the first house near the ST bus stop. This is where we would meet Mr Rokade who provides tents, food and firewood for camping. We spoke to him about where we could camp and acquire necessities. He had set up a campsite near the Tail Baila fort but there was already a group camping there. As a result, he offered us a spot facing the cliff which we accepted since we were already here and didn’t really have much choice.
He sent a helper who accompanied us to the camping spot. Due to tall grass and only a car’s light, it became difficult to reach the spot. However, after driving for 20 minutes, we reached. The place was overlooking the valley, we looked around for a flat land to set up our camp. Found one and got our camping gear out.
We set up the tents, chairs and refreshments, which took us 30 minutes. By this time, the helper rejoined us with the firewood. We got the campfire going and kicked back to enjoy starlit sky.
The food arrived in sometime.As the campfire started burning, I pulled a chair and looked above to see the numerous stars. I can personally say, Tail Baila is a great place to stargaze near Pune.
The food was simple but tasty, well, anything that is made at home always tastes good. There was a cool breeze which made it enjoyable to sit in the open next to the campfire. I finally crashed around midnight.
We got up early morning to catch the sunrise at 7 AM. The backdrop of Tail Baila fort made the sunrise great. After packing up our camping gear, we reached at Mr Rokade’s house for a breakfast of Poha and some tea.
We saw the group that was camping last night gearing up. On inquiring, I realized they were getting ready for climbing the 200 foot wall of the Tail Baila fort which from what I could understand is a rock-climbers dream. I wanted to do it, so took down the contact details of the person who organizes the climb and told him I will reach out to do this soon.
We hung around for some time and left Tail Baila around 9 AM with me riding to Pune and the other group going back to Mumbai.
Tail Baila is a great spot to camp near Pune. It’s still not crowded, the host offers everything from tents to food at affordable rates. We spent Rs 700 per head including fuel for this camping trip. You get a great view of Tail Baila fort, the stars and the moon keep you company on a good night. If you are up for some trekking: you can reach the foothills of the Tail Baila fort. If you are looking for a quiet place, great food and an awesome sunrise, this is highly recommended.
I was happy to have done Tail Baila camping instead of sitting back home. I explored a new place and my 2020 travelogue continued!
Things to carry
1. Water
2. Chairs. Very important, you won’t be able to sit comfortably on the rocks
3. Mosquito repellent
Good Read …