WITHOUT Wai, Panchgani, though the lung of the region, would certainly suffocate. There is a very simple reason for this. For almost every small need Panchgani rushes down to Wai. Situated at the foot of the hill-station, Wai is mainland. And therefore more connected and kept better supplied with the needs of life. An old historical town, Wai has character. It has the Krishna river flowing through it and under the very much-in-use bridge situated in the centre of the lively bazaar. On the banks stand ancient stone temples of Hanuman and Shiva, and many other Gods, lending to the picturesque setting. Women washing clothes, children frolicking in the water only complete the homely, village picture in this hard-working, rich, content, religious town.

The �Wai Ghat� is a pleasure to drive on. Twelve kilometres of a long, easy, winding, mountain-hugging road, it leads you more or less into town. Town is a busy ST Bus Depot, with a good clean sugarcane juice stall, Kerala Bakery selling what UpperCrust considers the best rusk this side of the Suez. Town is a row of locals sitting chipping grinding stones and ironsmiths heating metal and transforming it into tools for farmers. Town is innumerable carts selling fruits, hot tea and snacks.

Over the bridge is the market place. Khamkar selling its famous pedas and farsans is right at the end of the bridge. In the small streets going off in every direction one can find the strangest of things. Paints, plywood, construction material, gardening tools, plumbing ware and what not. People from Panchgani even send their pillows and mattresses here for stringing!

Bazaar day in Wai is Monday. It�s perhaps even better than Panchgani�s Budh Ka Bazaar. It is spread over a much larger area, on a broader road, under huge trees. It�s less hot for the trees filter out the sharp sunrays and only present a dappled sunlight. The mutton in Wai is tasty and so also the chicken. Which is why out of town guys go looking for Goanti Komdi restaurants. UpperCrust discovered one, on the road leading out of Wai going on to join the main highway to Pune.

A little less known beauty spot of Wai is the Dhom Dam. As soon as you descend the Wai Ghat , you turn left before a little bridge which is before the first gas-station. Go through a narrow lane lined with a few mud houses and turn left again to join a narrow but motorable road. There are no signs naturally, so it may be better to enquire at the start. For once you are on the right path it is one long beautiful road, with rich fields and country sights. When you stumble upon the water body you wonder how a place as nice looking can be there in the back of beyond. But that�s nature, the more untouched, undiscovered, the better. A serene lake with mountains all around, plants, shrubs, trees in their natural pristine state, a jagged landside, with no prohibitory instructions of no doing this or that is what makes this secluded area so special.