24-Mar-2002 -- Our journey for the confluence of 19N and 73E started at 5am (IST) from Kanjurmarg (Mumbai), though without any rich map or much information about places around the confluence point, we decided to start off relying on our GPS. From the maps of Mumbai we expected the point to lie in the marshy regions of New Bombay.

After alighting at Mankhurd railway station, we took lifts from two trucks and a car to reach Sea Wood Estate (The resident of this estate who offered us lift preferred to call it Non Resident Indian 'NRI' Colony). Now with better knowledge of New Mumbai we should have got off at Belapur Station. We trekked towards west of the main road into the marshy land.

The marshy land was with good enough vegetation, also comprising of some thorny bushes. The damp mud and sinking feet were the real pain. This area is criss-crossed by small and big water channels. While the smaller ones seem to be devoid of any flow they are also difficult to cross as our feet got sunk into wet mud, sometimes as much to our knees, with shoes stuck deep in the mire.

It took an hour for us to realize that we had chosen the wrong path, after stumbling upon a 10 meter wide water canal. We came all the way back to the road next to the marshy region, which had a bridge for the canal, predominantly following the bulwarks meant for collecting water for the salt lagoons which were under development on the other side of the canal.

After another hour of painful trek we reached the shore, which was rocky and covered with shells. Further trek was not possible due to very swampy shore. We were by then 300mt away from the confluence point, which was in the sea. We waited and signaled the fishermen for a lift on their boats to our destination. But the fishermen were very busy in laying the nets as the sea tide was retreating, during 30 minutes the sea retreated as much as 100mt, leaving behind swampy surface saturated with water. The confluence point was in the sea beyond the expectations of our poor maps. We learnt from the locals that the sea water would traverse by 2km into the region until the adjacent road during the full lunar phase, preserving the marshness.

Trombay which is on the other side of the gulf was visible from this shore. We were pretty disappointed for not having reached the confluence point, but further attempt wasn't possible as the retreated sea waters would limit the boats. while the swamp was too difficult to traverse and even dangerous.

We feel that the best way to reach the confluence point is through boats during high tide coupled with major lunar phase. From either of the trombay or new bombay harbors. Though we couldn't reach the confluence point, this experience lasting 5 hours left us completely tired and full of thick mud sticking to our trousers and shoes.

--Bharath & Praveen.