Day trip to Mahabaleshwar

             Since I joined new company, I was too busy in the work. I was unable to find complete weekend for my next travel destination. Somehow I manage 1 day and decided to visit Mahabaleshwar. You can visit Mahabaleshwar in a day or over a weekend. As this was our 3rd visit to Mahabaleshwar, we (Me and my wife Renuka) decided to visit few places rather than covering entire region.  If you want in detail information then click on my last year’s travel blog “Mahabaleshwar Weekend Trip: Land of strawberry “

Sunset at Table Land, Pachgani

About Mahabaleshwar:
             Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of the Governor of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency during the colonial era. It is easily accessible from Pune (120km) and from Mumbai (285km). It is one of the most popular weekend destinations.
             Tourist gets attracted towards Mahabaleshwar because of breathtaking valley view, nature, adventurous sports etc. This place is also known for its Strawberries production.  Another popular hill station, Pachgani, is just 20km before Mahabaleshwar. Mostly, the tourists visit both places together. It is also famous Honeymoon destination within Maharashtra.
             Pune to Mahabaleshwar is a 2 to 3 hours’ drive. Best way to reach Mahabaleshwar is Pune – National highway 4 – After 75 km journey on NH4 Take right at Surul – Wai – Pachgani – Mahabaleshwar. There are many signboards which guide you to Mahabaleshwar and at all tourist points.

Day 1 (26th May 2013): Pune -> NH-4 -> few points/spots in Mahabaleshwar -> Pachgani – Pune:
            Our journey began bit late in morning at 7.30. Without taking any pit stop, we reached at Mapro Garden by 9.30 AM. NH-4 highway is now extending up to 6 lanes highway so work is in progress. Apart from few patches, rest of Highway is in excellent condition.
            We had our breakfast at Mapro garden which is my favorite location. It is very popular halt for tourist for breakfast/brunch and some Mapro product shopping. It is located just 6 km ahead of Pachgani. Ambiance of Mapro garden is very beautiful and you get yummy food.Classic grilled sandwich/Mini grilled sandwich, pizza and Fresh Strawberry Cream with Ice cream are my favorite dish among tourists.

Mapro Garden

Mapro menu Card!

Fresh Strawberry Cream

             While proceeding to old Mahabaleshwar, we went in Panchaganga temple. There are plenty signboards which will guide you perfectly. As per the Hindu mythology,  five holy rivers Krishna, Venna, Koyana, Savitri& Gayatri show their token appearance here (Panchaganga temple) in five springs flowing closely. I liked this temple during my last visit so we again came here. Without wasting too much time, we headed towards Mahabaleshwar. During our last visit, we missed Lodwick Point. We went to the point and from here you can view Pratapdad fort and green valley with Ghat road. Pathway to Lodwick point goes through tiny but dense forest. He was the first European visitor to the Mahabaleshwar hills. A twenty five feet high column erected in memory of the late general Lodwick is the chief attraction of this point.Due time frame, we were not able to visit Pratapdad fort. We will visit this historical for in post monsoon season.

Way towards Lodwick Point

Lodwick Point

Hatti-matha point

              By the Lunch time, we came back to main market for Lunch. We had lunch inrestaurant from main market. We did some shopping after lunch and then tasty Strawberry with cream as dessert in Bagicha ice cream parlor. Strawberry Cream is very famous dish from Bagicha and my favorite after Mapro Garden’s Fresh Strawberry Cream with Ice cream. After some time we went on Venna Lake and had a walk around lake. Boating here is too costly so we skip that and enjoyed some fun fair games at stalls. As we wanted to spend our evening time at table land, we proceed to Pachgani for Table land.

Venna Lake

Table Land at Pachgani

             It is 2nd longest mountain plateau in Asia. Horse riding is the main attraction herebut due to an accident (1 girl was killed as horse carriage falls off from table land) in May 2012, horse carts and riding was banned. Now it was partly lifted back by government in November 2012. You can enjoy horse ride on land at around INR 160/- per person. We were least interested in riding so we had nice walk on table land. We spend sunset time together on tableland and then left Pachgani. After sun set weather turned cold and cloudy.

Sunset from Table Land

We reached home safely by via same NH-4 route by 8.30 pm

Following are the points for 1 day trip to Mahabaleshwar:
1. Leave in early morning.
2. Mapro Garden
3. Old Mahabaleshwar temple
4. Arthor Seat point
5. Lunch at Market and some shopping
6. Venna Lake
6. Sunset at Table land OR Sunset at Bombay point, Mahabaleshwar
7. Return Journey to Home

• Car petrol for trip: INR 1200/- (approx. 16 Liters)
• Toll at NH-4: INR 110/-(Return toll)
• Mapro’s mini grilled sandwich: INR 79/-
• Mapro’s Fresh Strawberry Cream with Ice cream: INR 199/-
• Mapro’s Fresh Strawberry Cream: INR 169/-
• Pachgani pollution tax: INR 50/- (For Car)
• Pachgani Entry tax: INR 20/- per person (valid for 7 days)
• Mahabaleshwar pollution tax: INR 30/- (For Car)
• Mahabaleshwar Entry tax: INR 20/- per person (valid for 7 days)
• Lunch: INR 150/- (Only Pavbhaji for 2)
• Fun faire games: approx. INR 20/- per game.
• Coffee: INR 20/- at tableland
• Boiled masala Corn: INR 30/-

I will try to upload more and more travel blogs. Thanks for reading this Travel Blog.

Courtesy: http://pritskulkarni.blogspot.in/2013/05/day-trip-to-mahabaleshwar.html

Ellora Caves & Bibi Ka Maqbara at Aurangabad

Posted by Shashank Shekhar on April 19, 2013

The Splendid Kailashnatha Temple at Ellora Caves

A passing glance at the magnificent Kailashnatha Temple inside the Ellora Caves is enough to leave you jaw-dropped for a good 5-10 minutes. This 8^th century splendid structure, entirely carved in stone, was designed as a replica of Mount Kailash – Lord Shiva’s abode. The Kailashnatha Temple is cave number 16 among the 34 caves of Ellora.

Aurangabad is an overnight bus journey from Mumbai or Pune and is a tourist hub primarily due to its proximity to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves and its very own marvel – Bibi Ka Maqbara also called the ‘mini’ Taj Mahal. The Ellora Caves are located about 28 kms from the city and Ajanta caves fall at a distance of 102 kms or a three hour drive. Thus, the day tours are divided into two days wherein you can visit Ellora and the rest of Aurangabad’s tourist attractions on day one while the second day is earmarked exclusively for visiting Ajanta.

And the easiest way to experience the caves of Ellora along with Aurangabad’s other attractions – Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort and Panchakki – is to hop onto the Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporations’ (MTDC) bus service that conducts daily day trips to these places for Rs. 300/head. However, do not rely on this service in non-peak season as the buses are cancelled often and without any prior notice.

I started my day tour at 7:30 am from the Man Mandir hotel at Aurangabad. Generally, any hotel’s staff at Aurangabad will be more than glad to book your tickets for the day tour as I experienced at Man Mandir.

Ellora Caves

My first stop was the Ellora Caves which is a 45 minute drive from the city. Apart for the grandKailashnath Temple, there are 33 rock-cut caves in all at Ellora; some breathtaking and some that could be bypassed. Of the 34, 12 are Buddhist caves with 17 Hindu and 5 Jain caves.

While it is a possibility that you may be short on time and will find it difficult to visit all the caves, I’d recommend that you must visit the caves 10, 11, 12, 15, 29, 31, 32 and 33. The Buddhist caves are rich in paintings and iconography. Cave 10 that represents a Buddhist Chaityagriha (prayer hall) especially stands out to the visitor for its distinct ceiling and the positioning of the Buddha’s statue a little farther away from the centre.

Most of the caves are rich in ancient carvings, scriptures and iconography. The Kailashnath or Kailasa temple (cave 16) is the largest monolithic structure in the world and was carved out by cutting three deep trenches of the hill (see picture). Protruding from the walls are exquisite sculptures of Shiva and other gods in different avatars while the main foundation for the temple (the plinth) commands its own presence with beautiful carvings of elephants all around it.

These caves were built between the 6^th and 10^th century AD and building the Kailasa temple itself consumed over 150 years and 7,000 labourers in all! The caves of Ellora come across as nothing less than an ancient wonder and I ended up spending about 5 hours simply hopping between caves! The rich sculptures and architectural style speaks volumes of refinement of our ancient society. This is a must visit, period.

A different view of the Kailasa Temple

Inside the Kailasa Temple

Exquisite sculptures carved out of the walls at Ellora

The Chaityagriha, Cave No. 10

The Daulatabad Fort

The caves did exhaust me a bit as my next stop was the strategically placed Daulatabad Fort which is located right on top of the Daulatabad hill at a height of 600 feet and is a 45 minutes climb from the main parking area.

But the fort impresses you immediately upon entrance with its high thick walls and a display of cannons in an aptly titled enclosure called, ‘topkhana’. The topkhana leads into the climb to the top where the ruins of the Nizam Shahi palace are located.

The Daulatabad Fort had been a seat of power for over a thousand years and has seen numerous dynasties come and go. As one walks past the ruins, the realisation creeps in that once these walls that stand so lonely today must have been witness to innumerable battles, blood must have been spattered endlessly and sultanates must have been destroyed.

The Chand Minar is the single most recognised structure of this fort which was once a stronghold of theYadav dynasty in the 12^th century AD but later passed on into the hands of the Turko-Afghan ruler, Ala-ud-din Khilji. Daulatabad, which was once a thriving city known as Deogiri, has also been the capital of Mohhannad-bin-Tughlaq in the mid 14^th century AD.

The part I enjoyed the most was the dark passages that lead to the citadel. Built to confuse the invaders, the passages have many devious routes through which they’ll eventually be trapped or better still, killed either by falling off the cliff or into hot oil! These passages are collectively called ‘Andheri’.

The summit offers a splendid view of the surroundings and then you realise its strategic importance. Although I visited the fort just at the beginning of the summer season, something tells me that the adventure will be twice as much the fun during the monsoon season.

The Chand Minar

The Daulatabad Fort

A cannon at display at the Topkhana

Bibi ka Maqbara

After sweating it out at the Daulatabad fort it was time to head back to the city. It was a 30 minutes drive from the Daulatabad Fort and I found myself standing in front of the most recognised monument of Aurangabad. As in what the Gateway of India is to Mumbai or the Red Fort to Delhi, the Bibi ka Maqbaraor the ‘Mini Taj Mahal’ is to Aurangabad.

This immensely beautiful reproduction of the Taj was commissioned by the austere Mughal rulerAurangzeb but built by his son Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother Dilras Banu Begum in the late 17^th century. As I entered the venue, I hired for guide (he appeared more like a tout) for 50 bucks who promised me a ‘value-for-money’ crash course on the structure!

He made me stand next to the monument’s main gate and in 2 minutes flat rattled over 1000 words! Only if he knew who Baba Sehgal was!! Still whatever I could make out from his monologue was this: That the mosque was built as a symbol of love not by the father (Aurangzeb) but by Dilras Banu Begum’s son. That the plaster of Paris required for the mosque was made by grinding sea shells. He also muttered some figures relating to the cost of building this monuments which was considerably cheaper that the Taj Mahal. Vroom…50 bucks gone!  

But, in reality, the mausoleum is a sight to behold. It may not be bathed in the whitest marble but the complex carvings and the overall feel of the structure is enough to justify its moniker, Dakkhani Taj or Taj of the Deccan.

Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangabad

The maqbara of Dilras Banu Begum

Inside the mausoleum

http://blog.travelyaari.com/aurangabad/aurangabad-ellora-caves-mini-taj-mahal/

Package Starting from Rs. 9000 for 8nights/9days

Includes:

• Train Ticket in 3tier AC
• Mumbai (3N) Aurangabad (3N) drop at Mumbai - Hotel Accommodation on quad sharing
• Meal: Breakfast + Dinner(except while in train)
• Sightseeing & Pick up drop by Non A/C Bus 
• Toll parking includes in rates

Excludes:

* Any other charges which is not mention in rates

Itinerary:

Day1: Travel from Kerala by Train

Day2: Pick up from LTT Local Half day tour of Mumbai Night stay at  Mumbai

Day3: After B/f Proceed for Local Sightseeing of Mumbai Night Stay (Elephanta)

Day4: After b/f Visit to Water Kingdom/ Essel World Night stay at Mumbai

Day5: After B/f Proceed for Aurangabad Local Sightseeing Night stay at Hotel 

Day6: After B/f Proceed for Ajanta Ellora sightseeing night stay at hotel

Day7: After B/f Proeed for Grishneshwar / Bhimashankar Night stay at Aurangabad

Day8: After B/f Check out from Hotel Drop at Mumbai Station 

Day9: Arrive back in Kerala

A Doorway to Paradise, at Munnar

18 Dec 2012

Gayathri

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There is a doorway to heaven, and I can tell you how it looks like. Heavenly swirls of clouds passing beneath you, amidst the greens and vast mountains. Also, luscious reds and purples, beautiful flowers with shades of yellow and pink. Feel the breeze embrace you when leaves from the pines and oaks dance to the tunes of the wind. Munnar it is! Pure bliss.

Credits: Jayesh Mohan

A hill station located in Idukki District of Kerala, Munnar is the centre for merging of three rivers, and hence the name ‘Munnar’. This time, you would know why the tag ‘God’s own country’ to Kerala means much more than just another cliché. With the beauty of Western Ghats encompassed, and charm of a hill station captured at its best, Munnar is a treat to a worn out soul. It refreshes, rejuvenates and relaxes every visitor.

The nearest railway station is at Ernakulam or Aluva, with a 3 hour journey on road to Munnar. Finding a place to stay in Munanr wouldn’t be difficult as it is one of the most sought after hill stations in the country. That means, you can easily choose a place to stay with your budget. Hiring a taxi to take a round in the town is best suggested. Also, you can opt to rent a cycle and go around places. Once a retreat to the British Empire, you can still see the remains of British era in the form of archaic buildings and tombs made for the English.

Credits: Jayesh Mohan

If you are lucky enough, you can see the ‘Neelakurinji’ in full bloom. This is a flower that blooms once in 12 years. The carpet of purple flowers spread across the hills would take your breath away. A rare sight and a treat to your eyes, this is the time when tourists flood the region. Just so that they can see this inimitable beauty on the hills!

Credits: Jayesh Mohan

Munnar is a wildlife paradise. From rare species of insects to animals, make sure you take a camera to capture this classic beauty. A walk around the place is something you wouldn’t want to miss when you are at Munnar. Nature at her best, and in sync with all universal beauty, that is Munnar for you!

Courtesy:- See more at: http://padhaaro.com/blog/doorway-paradise-munnar/#sthash.mPdBTwo9.dpuf

About the Author

A lifestyle journalist working with an online magazine in Kochi, Gayathri is passionate about experimenting with the uniqueness and beauty of literature. She believes traveling makes a person hold a grab of the charm in entirety offered by this lovely world. And that traveling is when you get to know your own self in-depth. 
- See more at: 
http://padhaaro.com/blog/doorway-paradise-munnar/#sthash.mPdBTwo9.dpuf

Hogenakkal Falls - The Cascading Beauty

The beautiful Hogenakkal Falls in the state of Tamil Nadu are a part of the River Cauvery.  A perfect picnic spot, the falls are known for its curative and healing powers.   Ranging in height from 50 feet to 150 feet, Hogenakkal Falls are sometimes referred to as the “Niagara Falls of India” given the similar U-shaped configuration that they both share.  The word "Hogenakal" is derived from two Kannada words which together mean ("smoking rocks")...a reflection of the spray that is created by the waters crashing on to the solid rock base below. In Tamil Nadu, Hogenakkal Falls is referred to a "Marikottayam" .

 The roaring and the gushing Hogenakkal Falls are spread over half a km and in the second section the river flows calmly down through a narrow and steep gorge. The carbonate rocks around the innumerable falls are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and also the oldest in the world.  At Hogenakkal, the Cauvery River slows down and spreads out to create sandy beaches of either side making for excellent picnic spots.

Set in a lush green setting, Hogenakkal Fall are also considered sacred bathing grounds place and a healthy / curative resort cum destination.

Things to Do in Hogenakkal Falls:

•  Close to the Falls is View Point tower from where entire topography of the area and the gushing waterfalls can be best viewed. 

• Boating in Hogenakkal Falls: Coracles are circular boats called as Parisal in the local language. The boatman can take you close to the falls where ou are completely drenched with spray and mist. The boatman often tends to swirl the boat, a dizzying but exhilarating experience. 

• Another famous feature of the Hogenakkal Falls are the Malishkarans or masseurs, who treat tourists to oil massages, followed by a bath in the curative powers of the waterfall. On wide slabs of rocks the malishkarans treat customers with oil massages to the 14 points of the human body followed by a bath in the curative waters of the falls.  

• Picnics on the beaches below Hogenakkal Falls with fresh fish caught from the river cooked up for you.

While technically a destination in Tamil Nadu, Hogenakkal Falls shares borders with Karnataka. It is possible to experience the falls, and take boat / coracle rides, from both sides.

How to Reach Hogenakkal

By Air: Nearest airport is Bangalore, 150 km away By Rail: Nearest railhead is Bangalore, 150 km away By Road: Several taxis and buses ply from Bangalore to Hogenakkal. It is a two and a half hour drive to the falls.

About Hogenakkal: Hogenakkal Information & Fact File

Altitude 250 meters Temp Summer 34 (Max) & 23(Min) Degrees Celsius Winter 27 (Max) & 13 (Min) Degrees Celsius Best time to Go October – March Monsoon June - September Summer April - June Winter December - February Clothes Cottons all year round Nearest Airport Bangalore, 150 km Nearest Railway Station Bangalore, 150km Bus Station Hogenakkal (Direct buses from Bangalore) Hospital & Doctor Hospitals equipped to handle emergencies are located in Bangalore (150 km) Places to see Hogenakkal Waterfalls, Pennagaram village, Theerthmalai…

For Hogenakkal Packages, please contact greenoasisholidays@gmail.com

Ooty Honeymoon Destination

Situated in the Nilgiri district, Ooty is definitely touted as one of the most beautiful honeymoon destinations in the Southern region of India and hence, witnesses a large influx of global travelers and tourists all year round. Most newly-weds opt for Honeymoon tours in Ooty owing to its popularity for being one of the most visited and scenic honeymoon destinations in India.

Very well said by pandit jawaharlal nahru OOTY "Queen of hill stations",but its original name is origin of the name Ootacamund "mund" means Badaga which refers to the toda village and the Ootaca means "Otha-Cal" means Single Stone.Probably British could not pronounce it well so it became Ootacamund from Udhagamandalam it further changed into Ooty from Ootacamund.The change of the name of ooty could also be because 
Britisher were not able to pronounce Ootacamund and further it came up as ooty.
initially it was a tribal land and was dwelling with the Todas, who now known for raising water buffalo.Further, Mr John Sullivan the Governor of Coimbatore took ooty under his rule.He boosted the dwellers for growing tea, chinchona, and teak trees. Tribes cooperated the governor and together they came up with the flying colors.

Its longitude is 11.4 and its latitude is 76.7, it is situated 2,240 meters above sea level.Its premises comes under Tamilnadu. Basically ooty is situated on the lap of nilgiris which means blue mountains.

Ooty is aptly known as the 'Paradise for Honeymooners' and is no doubt one of the most naturally blessed quaint hill stations in South India. Ooty Honeymoon tours are extremely popular in India especially for city dwellers looking for the best and the most affordable honeymoon tours in India.

Ooty is a paradise for couples set away from the usual crowd where newlyweds can enjoy quality time and complete privacy together. The enchanting beauty of Ooty can only add to the honeymooner's delight cradled within the lap of nature offering them with that much wanted break.

A honeymoon trip to Ooty will ensure all the joys of being together in boat rides or enjoying a slow and long romantic stroll through the eucalyptus laden tracks and undulating trails off the beaten path transforming your stay in Ooty into one of the best romantic experience.

Ooty will ensure that you take back home some of the most unforgettable memories as couples. Ooty beckons couples to spend many more honeymoon vacations here and re-tune with the abundant beauty that Ooty has to offer.

Ooty also witnesses an influx of new couples every year especially after the wedding season. While a few couples visit Ooty during the summers, a few enjoy visiting Ooty during winters to enable them to enjoy solitary moments together that adds to the romantic experience of their visit.

Ooty offer couples with a wonderful retreat with the added combination of a pleasant climate and scenic charm transforming this region into one of the best honeymoon destinations in India. Ooty is sure to captivate Honeymoon couples with its abundant natural treasures seen in forests, stunning peaks and viewpoints, fresh water streams, rugged gorges, verdant valleys and green meadows.

Honeymoon in Ooty is also apt for adventurous couples seeking a destination for numerous trekking grounds. It gives couple an opportunity to re-discover themselves and also learn about the traditions and customs of the ethnic local tribes who have been a part of Ooty for centuries.

The options for sightseeing in Ooty for honeymoon couples are aplenty and diverse that matches well with some of the best accommodation options in Ooty to choose from. Being an extremely popular honeymoon destination, Ooty features some of the best Hotels to stay in and apt for every budget equipped with beautifully furnished guest rooms and all the modern amenities and world class services and facilities that will spoil you for choices. Irrespective of the Hotel options ranging from Heritage Hotels to Luxury Hotels, 5 Star Hotels, 4 Star Hotels, 3 Star Hotels and Budget Hotels in Ooty, couples will be promised with all the comforts for an unbelievable and memorable honeymoon vacation experience.

The prime idea for a Honeymoon in Ooty is to revel in its exquisite & natural verdant surroundings and to enjoy every moment and time that you get to spend with your partner.

Honeymoon in Ooty is a definite experience to explore where you get to enjoy its pleasant climate and some of the most unique and panoramic views to look forward to. Ooty offers one of the most unforgettable experiences for couples looking for a range of activities from leisure travel to adventure expeditions.

Couples are sure to enjoy their honeymoon in Ooty with all the splendid tourist attractions that Ooty has to offer. They can enjoy a tour and excursion to the nearby places of the region.

Ooty is a place where visitors and couples get to experience the true and warm hospitality of the people of Ooty, who are always open to welcome you to their abode all year round, irrespective of whether you are visiting Ooty for a honeymoon vacation, family vacation, weekend getaway or adventure tours.

The main tourist attraction in this District is the Botanical Garden. Besides the Botanical Garden there are several other places. The important among them are the Boat house near Bus-stand, the Rose Garden, the Deer Park, and the Doddabetta peak in Udhagamandalam. Sim’s park,Pasture Institute, Kateri falls, Lamb’s rock and Dolphin’s nose are the Important Tourist sports in Coonoor. In Kotagiri block Kodanadu view point and St. Catherine’s falls are the two main tourist attractions. In Gudalur block the main tourist attraction in Mudumalai wild Life Sanctuary.

For Tour Packages to Ooty, you may feel free to contact greenoasisholidays@gmail.com