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Where the river meets the sea

Harihareshwar was the residence of the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom who were appointed by Chhatrapati Shivaji to assist in the expansion of the great Maratha Empire. That was sometime in the 18th century.

Here we were, in the 20th century, driving down the curving roads, looking at the river winding along with us, and imagining what it must have been like in those days, in carriages and horses, legging it up the hills. I was glad we were in our Zen.

We drove to the little town by the sea from Mumbai via Panvel and Mangaon on the Mumbai-Goa highway. It was a strenuous 230 km drive. The road was good, though the route was quite long and winding, going through the Ghats. It was deserted at some points with sharp curves, and quite scary... and then we would be treated with flashes of beautiful vistas though the Ghats. As we neared our destination, the river Savitri appeared and then disappeared among the hillocks till we finally saw her entering into the sea at one point. That is where Harihareshwar is located.

Text and photographs: Susmita Bhattacharya

Also see: Next time you travel, take the train

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