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Cordelia Cruises - A memorable seacation : Part 2

2022-11-08T10:58:00.005-08:00

"A place where you enjoy your sea-cation in a city on the sea with lots of panoramic views of the ocean, and will certainly have lifetime and memorable experience." - Quote about 'Cordelia Cruises in India' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

If you are searching for some information about Cordelia cruise experience, like what's inside, what you shouldn't miss and what you must remember before on-boarding the cruise. You are at the right place. For the experience, you have to be on top of the cruise in person, no photos/videos could ever give you the feelings to sail on the cruise.

Don't forget to read Part 1 of this, where I have written more about 'What's inside the Cordelia Cruise'.

What you shouldn't miss at Cordelia Cruise:

The cruise has few of its own production shows, which is not to be missed like - 'Balle Balle'.

Magician Show by Tejas.

Enjoy unforgettable, Indian Cine-magic performances to songs hand-picked from India's most iconic films.

The exotic 'Burlesque Show' set to the Bollywood music for 18+ adults only. You can also plan to purchase tickets for Twilight movie being held at 'Cordelia Academy' during the same time, if you are with kids.

Star Gazing from top or 10th Deck.

Try your luck in games in Casinos.

You can also get a lot of exclusive paid activities booked for yourself or the kids – which include fun games like Tambola.

Take some photos at entry by photographers as memories of a lifetime, which you can get at cruise later during your sail times.

What to do/remember:

EU/Universal power adapter to recharge your mobile, cam battery, etc. As Indian charging points aren't available in cabin.

Make sure to do online check-in 24-48 hours earlier for seamless experience.

Reach early at Green Gate (Colaba, Mumbai) for Check in (at least 4 hours before Cruise depart time), as It is long process due to many reasons. Enjoy the lunch too at cruise, if you are reaching early.

Even if you have taken full package, Top up your card during check-in for exclusive shows, games, food, drinks, etc, as nothing would be done in Cash/Card but via pre top-up 'Cabin Card' which is also your room key-card. Else you might need to top up your card again at Cruise (where you might feel standing in queue at time to time).

Have ample of sleep before, so you can plan your time accordingly, and enjoy the most.

Get your schedule of everyday from reception, in case you don't find it in your cabin, to enjoy the fullest.

Keep attention to periodic announcements for the activities that are ongoing and where upcoming ones will be held.

Wi-Fi facility is available on the cruise. But you can choose to disconnected with the world to have internet-free experience. Just capture the videos and photos for your memories.

Remember based on your package, where you have free entry.

Keep drinking lots of water regularly.

You will get hand soap, and shampoo only. You need to bring your own other toiletries - shower gel, shaving kit, toothpaste, and brush, etc.

Chose floor 6th or 7th for walk and photos during daytime, as you can be saved from direct sun heat at 10th or top deck, which has similar views.

There are a variety of food options available on the cruise. You can also choose, where you want to have your food. Do you want a royal restaurant or a sea view dinner, or Starlight Restaurant, all up to you and your mood.

The hospitality and the staff of the cruise is so humble and always ready to help. Everything on the cruise was well-defined and clearly pointed out at every place with directions. Trust me, if you love to travel and want to have an unique experience, I would HIGHLY recommend Cordelia cruise if you are considering this at all for any excursions available. The Empress is now cruising the West and East coast of India, both national & international trips. It is right fit for all ages and groups - whether you are a solo traveler, a romantic couple, a parent wishing for a holiday with little ones, or group travels with friends or company colleagues.

If you would like to book Cordelia Cruise, you can check out their latest plan & packages on their official website, which also have various offers at time to time.

Cordelia Cruises - A memorable seacation : Part1

2022-11-08T10:27:00.001-08:00

"A place where you enjoy your sea-cation in a city on the sea with lots of panoramic views of the ocean, and will certainly have lifetime and memorable experience." - Quote about 'Cordelia Cruises in India' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

I have been looking for this since quite sometime. So, after a lot of research and consideration – we finally went on this trip which comes out to be an extra-ordinary trip. What an amazing cruise trip!!! We had very smooth experience in booking Cordelia cruise, which took us from Mumbai – Goa – Mumbai. Thanks to Pragnesh and Dhananjay for quick & smooth online bookings and support.

Onboard the EMPRESS, Enjoy & elevate your staycation with lifetime experience with different choice of source and destination. You can choose 2 nights to 5 nights plans, where there are literally unlimited options to enjoy, relax and recharge.

Cruise Departure Ports:

Mumbai
Goa
Kochi
Chennai

Trending Cruise Destinations:

Goa
Lakshadweep
Mumbai
Vishakhapatnam
Chennai
Kochi

What's inside the Cordelia Cruise:

796 cabins

11 Decks

Food restaurants serving buffet and specialty restaurants.

Bars, Nightclub & Lounges.

Spa, Salon

Marquee Theater

Live bands & Musical Performances

Magic show by world class magician - Tejas

Stateroom : There are different rooms available according to your preference. We chose Premier Ocean View room.

Non-stop entertainment schedule

Many activities planned for kids at time to time.

Reception area at 5th Deck

5th Deck : Chairman's Club where you can enjoy live music, dance and instruments being played most of the time.

Deck 6 : Casino ($) : Try your luck in Roulette, Black Jack, 3 Card Poker, Mini Flush, etc. 18+ Only.

6th Deck - Connexions : Lot of workshops are being held here from time to time. Workshops include Magic Workshop, painting workshops, and others.

9th Deck : a library and a kid’s playing area.

10th Deck : It has a rock climbing area for the kids. There is a 'Dome' restaurant, which also has a gym above. The Dome Restaurant is a lounge bar, where you can drink and have food.

Cordelia Academy : Let your children enjoy the time

There is a swimming pool & bar too – where you can enjoy your drink with your partner, friend or family. Then you have a pool, which is available for both the kids as well as the adults. The DJ is always playing in this area.

Top 11th Deck : Sun deck is the topmost part of the ship, where you can enjoy a scenic views of the sea with sunset, sunrise – which are unforgettable and unbelievable at the same time. You can also do star gazing here at night. You can also come and do yoga, or practice exercises.

There is a BIG screen available, which can be watched from 10th or top deck locations. We also enjoyed T20 World cup cricket match here.

Click here for Part 2 of the post for 'what to remember', 'what you shouldn't miss in Cordelia Cruise' and many more photos.

A visit to New Palace Museum, Kolhapur

2022-01-16T05:32:00.000-08:00

New Palace, Kolhapur is a palace situated in Kolhapur. One of the best preserved heritage places in Maharashtra as well as India. Being an excellent specimen of Indian architecture built in black polished stone, it has been an attraction for tourists. While visit to Goa, we took a halt at Kolhapur and visited this place. It is an historic building on the Bahvani Mandap-Kasaba Bavda Road and constructed during 1877–1884.

Address : New Palace, Kolhapur, Maharashtra 416003

The whole palace is eight-angled and has a tower in the middle. On every glass are painted the events in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's life. The ground floor of the New Palace is converted into Museum. The magnificent Darbar Hall is in the center of this Palace and the ambiance has been recreated to give a glimpse of Maratha history and its regal splendor. This museum is dedicated to a fine collection of possessions of Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur like costumes, weapons, games, jewelry, embroidery and paraphernalia such as silver elephant saddles. There is also one of Aurangzeb's swords at the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum. One section has stuffed Tigers, Tiger heads, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, staring Wild Buffalo, Lion, Black Panther, Wild Boar, Black Buck, a number of other Deer varieties, and a Himalayan Black Bear.

Photography is strictly not allowed inside the museum. We took quite a few pics from outside.

Even today, it is the residence of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaja, the direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja. Several tourists from across the country visit the New Palace every year. There is a small lake in the palace with an open zoo that has several migratory birds like flamingos. There are also peacocks, emus, spotted deer, geese. The zoo forms a good side attraction to the Museum which is a must for history buffs. Though one can visit the palace anytime, but best time to visit this palace is June to February.

Weekend Stay at Lavasa

2021-10-31T03:45:00.001-07:00

Lavasa is situated between the two metropolises of Mumbai and Pune. Check my old post about visit to Lavasa. This time around we stayed here for two nights, and had wonderful time with friends and family.

Few of the famous activities to do in Lavasa:
Morning trek in Lavasa Nature Trail : Entry point is near Ekaant restaurant.
Lavasa Dam walk & drive : Sunset time
Lakeside Promenade walk : Feel like in Europe
Boating and other Water Sports activities (Timings when open : 10 AM to 6 PM.)
Sightseeing: Visit Temghar Dam And drive to other nearby places
Cycling is the another enjoyable way to explore the beauty of Lavasa.

Lots of people come here for their Pre-wedding shoot and photography.

We did most of these activities this time. Enjoy some of the photographs during our visit.

Wagheshwar Temple in Wagholi Pune

2021-05-30T10:42:00.005-07:00

I am writing this post after a long time, and added old pics to showcase one of the best temple in Pune and around. This place is quite frequently visited by nearby people and from across Pune. It has its own charm during Mahashivratri. It is known as 'Wagheshwar Temple' in Wagholi, Pune. I have visited this places quite many times in past. So you should be able to see photos during day, evening, and night times.

As of now due to local restrictions, simply take a visit through this online post. Please follow all guidelines as set by local authorities and government all the times. Don't forget to wear mask all the times, and go out only if it is very much needed and mandatory.

This is very special photo taken from roadside, where you can see reflection in the water. The beauty of the image is, it looks upside down also the same. I have moved this image clockwise twice (180 degree). So in this image, It is having upper side under water, which is reflection, and lower side is the real temple. Please watch it closely or download to understand it. :)

Sant Tukaram Maharaj - Gatha Temple, Dehu near Pune

2020-02-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

Gatha temple (Mandir) is situated in a village named Dehu which is around 30 Kms from Pune. It is made up of white marbles and located on the bank of Indrayani river near old temple of the Sant Tukaram Maharaj. The views are simple awesome, specially during rainy (monsoon) season. This temple looks even more beautiful during evening time. I visited the temple with my family while my parents visited us. We all loved this place and will try to visit this place frequently.

If you are coming from Pune by bus, It will drop you near old temple of the Sant Tukaram Maharaj. One must visit this place, we visited too. From there you can easily get the auto. Even if you coming by your car or any other personal vehicle, simply follow the google maps. There are enough sign boards to guide you to reach this famous temple. Due to its popularity, Many prominent personalities has also visited this place. At back side of the temple at Indrayani river, there are wonderful ghats across the river, don't forget to visit that place. We parked our car near this place, and sat near riverside for more than an hour, and inhale fresh air.

As soon as you enter the outer gate, you will easily figure out the temple, with two giant elephants statues guarding it. Once you reach up after taking few steps, you will see an attractive idol of Sant Tukaram Maharaj, sitting with a Veena in his hand in the middle of the temple. Once we enter the place, we feel full of positive energy. He was a great saint. All his Poti printed on the walls for public to read. This is one of the main attraction, that's why it is called Gatha temple. More than 4000 Abhang (gatha) are scripted on the white marbles walls. There are also paintings of Gods on the walls surrounded by statues, which narrate few mythological and old famous stories. There is also a small garden to sit and relax. Pathik also had a fun and playful day.

There is also a Bhakt Niwas for pilgrims to stay here. Don't miss the chance to have Mahaprasad, The temple offers Mahaprasad in between 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. We loved it, which was served with immense love. Outside this temple, small shops are available for snacks and other items to eat. We loved the temple environment a lot. I must say that entire temple is very calm, serene and spiritual, where people can relax and meditate. Overall very neat and clean surroundings. Everyone must visit this place, if want a good spiritual experience.

Mayureshwar Morgaon Ganesha Temple

2020-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

Shri Moreshwar Ganpati temple (or Shri Mayureshwar Ganpati temple) is a quite big and ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple was built in the 14th century, is a treat to visit for Ganesha devotees. This temple is located in Morgaon (Village of Peacocks) about 65 km (2 hrs) from Pune District. The temple is 230 km from Mumbai (4 hrs). The temple is the starting and ending point of Ashtavinayak Yatra/Tour (a pilgrimage of eight famous Ganesha temples).

I traveled here with my family by car. We saw quite a lot goats and sheep on the way. Pathik loved it.There wasn't much rush while we visited, and got Darshan within 10 minutes. The Ganesh Idol is also very beautiful. It is certainly a very peaceful place, having positive vibes. We loved it and sat here for 1 hour, within temple premise near a tree. There is always a liveliness near the temple areas shops, and people are quite energetic. No one can miss sweet guavas sold outside the temple. There are quite a lot food options nearby.

Address: Shree Mayureshwar Ganapati Temple, Morgaon, Taluka Baramati, Pune District, Maharashtra 412304

There is also a Bhakta Niwas.

Mayureshwar Ganapati Temple Bhakta Niwas: Shri Kshetra Morgaon Manager, Shri Mayureshwara Temple, Chinchwad Devasthan Trust Office, P.O. Morgaon, Taluka Baramati, Pune district, Maharashtra, PIN – 412304

Mayureshwar Morgaon Temple Timings: Opens at 5:00 AM and Closes At 10:00 PM [Few days differ]

Photography: Not Allowed inside main temple and Ganesh Murti areas.

Vehicle Parking: Good part, There was free car parking space available, when we visited.

Lord Ganeshji is riding a peacock so he is called Mayureshwar. The temple is easily accessible by climbing few steps and built on a raised platform. The temple is built with black stone with a big surrounded wall & the beauty of the architecture can be seen all over the temple. This temple is situated on the banks of river Karha. The two main attractions are (a) An idol of Nandi (Bull) is situated at the entrance of the temple. (b) Nagaraj (Cobra) poised over the idol protecting the lord.

Best time to have a peaceful darshan (visit) is on week-days except Ganesha festival days. The temple tends to attract a lot of crowd during Chaturthi and during the 11 days long Ganesh festival mostly in the month of Sep- Oct. Avoid week ends and holidays.

Morgaon to Other Ashtavinayak Temples by 2-4 Wheeler:

Morgaon to Lenyadri Ganpati Distance: Approx 3 hrs 30 min (145 km) via Shirur
Morgaon to Mahad Ganpati Distance: Approx 3 hrs (150 km)
Morgaon to Ozar Ganpati Distance: Approx 3 hrs 20 min (135 km) via Shirur
Morgaon to Pali Ganpati Distance: Approx 4 hrs (190 km)
Morgaon to Ranjangaon Ganpati Distance: Approx 1 hr 30 min (70 km)
Morgaon to Siddhatek Ganpati Distance: Approx 1 hr 30 min (65 km)
Morgaon to Theur Ganpati Distance: Approx 1 hr 15 min (62 km) via NH65

Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Trimbak near Nashik

2019-06-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

Trimbakeshwar (Trambakeshwar) is an ancient Hindu temple in the town of Trimbak, in the Nashik District of Maharashtra, India. It is 28 KM away from the city of Nashik and 40 KM from Nashik Road. One can easily reach to this place via road from Nashik, Mumbai, Pune and Shirdi. It is advised to visit the place early in the morning as temperature is very high during the midday mostly. After our last day - Sula Vineyard trip, We visited the temple early in the morning as we stayed in Nashik only. We had the car to reach the place. VIP darshan is available at 200 INR though we did not go for it as it wasn't much crowded. Soak yourself in the holiness and purity of the place which washes away all your regrets and sins; and brings wisdom and spirituality.

Trimbakeshwar temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The origin of the sacred Godavari river is near Trimbak. Plenty of parking is available for private vehicle. The temple is located between three hills namely Brahmagiri, Nilagiri and Kalagiri. When you reach the place you see the ancient and old temple building from far. This is a black stone structure or turned into black shade due to atmospheric effects of Sun and waters. You can carry phones and take pictures inside premise but not inside the sanctum. The Shivalinga is small and located in a garbha griha that is down in a flight of stairs. However, a mirror is placed for easy darshan by devotees. It is not allowed by the priests to touch or go down to bow head. Usually one can stay there just for a few minutes.

Kusavarta, a kunda (sacred pond) in the temple premises is the source of the Godavari River, the longest river in peninsular India. The current temple was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb). Outside the temple premises, you can see plenty of shops and stalls so you can enjoy and even stay nearby as there are a lot of hotels including a few good ones. This place is also famous for doing many poojas to remove different types of doshas. People from India and all across the world visit this place for this purpose. These poojas are performed by Pundits in the temple complex and their homes during day time.

At Nashik, you can visit other temples like Sita Gufa, Muktidham, a temple of hundreds of Gods. We visited only Muktidham temple and It has really wonderful depicting of lots of Indian Mythologies and Stories in temple premises. En-route to the temple are Coin Museum, Anjneri, Swami Samarth Temple and Gajanan Maharaj temple. Surrounded by hills one can plan to spend a day here visiting nearby places like caves and other temples.

Maharashtra Jyotirlinga Tour is considered to be a very sacred pilgrimage and thousands of pilgrims travel to these holy places every year to get blessings of lord Shiva. In total, there are twelve Jyotirlingas in India. To cover all five Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra, you can start your trip either from Mumbai, Pune or nearby places. These cities are well connected by rail, road and air. It usually take four days to cover all the places. There are five Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra.

1. Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple, Trimbak near Nashik

2. Shri Grishneshwar Temple, Aurangabad

3. Shri Bhimashankar Temple, Bhimashankar

4. Shri Aundha Nagnath, Hingoli

5. Shri Vaijnath Temple (Parli Vaijnath), Parli near Beed

Sula Vineyards Tour at Nashik

2019-05-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Post: "Enjoy the place with your partner in crime, and invite your friends to Sula vineyards to taste its wine." - Quote about 'Sula Vineyards Nashik' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

Several years ago I've visited the Guinness Brewery and Storehouse in Ireland, and so I had little high expectations. I visited Sula Vineyards with my family. As soon as I entered, It was superb feeling. We took few photos at entrance only. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised that the experience was at par or even better in many aspects. We visited the place in the month of April. The experience would have been better if visited in Feb-Mar during the harvest and wine festival season.

Address: Gat 36/2, Govardhan Village, Off, Gangapur-Savargaon Rd, Nashik, Maharashtra 422222

Daily Opening Hours: 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM (Subject to change at times)

Entry ticket is of two hundred rupees (when we visited) but that can be redeemed if you purchase any thing like wine there inside. We used it for wine tasting tour. The wine tour, the professionals, well informed wine tour guide, the wine tasting and of course the souvenir shop was a great experience at Sula Vineyards Nashik. The wine tour was informative as well as interactive. The wine tasting ceremony towards the end was quite nicely designed and they gave extra information on how to hold glass of wine, taste it, and so on. One of the picture depicted there, also shows the art and science of Wine Barrel Making. At the Sula tasting room, you can enjoy good food and music along with different types of wine to taste. Just beware of that you shouldn't start rhyming Madhushala or Shayaris, and shouldn't share your secrets after drinking Sula Wines.

Just before the tour, our son need some water, so we requested for a bottle, but at restaurant, team mentioned that you have to make minimum 1000 INR bill, that's the only area, I would request Sula team to look into. Given the location of the vineyard it's good that there is a rooftop restaurant on site. Good Place to relax with few glasses of wine and food. They also offer stay. Hope to stay here sometime in future.

Enjoy some of the photos taken during our visit. Our son also enjoyed the place, though he couldn't taste the wine :) Away from the hustle bustle of places like Mumbai, Pune, this place will not only put rest to your wine temptations but also allow you sometime amidst the stunning expanse of vineyards. Best time to visit is around Feb as they have famous Sula Fest every year. I must say, This is a must visit place for wine lovers, if you are in Nashik, Maharashtra.

Mumbai Magic Continues...

2019-02-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Post: "The place where every place is renowned and famous landmark for one or the other reason." - Quote about 'Mumbai (Bombay)' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

Mumbaiii, Here I go again with family!!! Continuing from my last MumbaiDiary post, This time we started from Pune around 8:00 am by car and started with famous ISKCON Temple Juhu to visit in Mumbai, then #Juhu Beach #BandraWorliSeaLink #NehruPlanetarium #SwamiNarayan Temple #Mahalaxmi Temple #MarineDrive #GirgaonChowpatty during the first day. We had lunch at ISKCON Juhu itself, which was simply amazing with lots of varities.

Next day morning, we visited #TheGatewayOfIndia #TheTajHotel #SidhivinayakTemple and #MuchMoreMumbai. During the first half of the second day, We also took short 90 minutes cruise trip from Gateway of India and back. We enjoyed the Mumbai skylines from sea and got to know many known unknown stories from cruise guide. You can enjoy Taj hotel old & new, Gateway of India and many more in the same frame, as soon as your boat/cruise moves away from shore.

It would be best to hire a cab or taxi for full or 2-days for lifetime memories and experiences while Mumbai visit, as you will save lots of time without searching for parking etc. Even if you have your own car, I would recommend to hire a driver, like we did, to enjoy the trip fullest.

Enjoy previous posts for more details about Mumbai Diary - Part1, Part2. So, I am just sharing these photographs during this Mumbai trip with family.

Amanora Fern Resort and Club near Magarpatta Pune

2018-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

It being our 7th Anniversary, although it feels like yesterday! I wanted to make it special for us, at the same-time to be comfortable for our 2 yr old brat. After all googling, I zeroed on 'Wintergreen Premium' room (post a detailed discussion with Dimple and Aadrika) at Amanora Fern Hotel and Resorts near Amanora Mall. It was a surprise for my better half and the team at Ferns didn't leave any room for me to complain. Right from a warm welcome to beautiful room decoration, an Anniversary cake to best wishes from their staff, they just pampered us... and our lil one loved it to the core, swimming pool and kids play area being his favorite.

As we see in places like Dubai, and across Europe, the structures here are grand and are a treat to eyes. Wintergreen Premium room is big, lavish with comfortable sofa and terrace. Terrace view was spell-binding...be it evening or morning. it was just picturesque! The lake, lush green garden, fountain and Amanora sky-high towers - all in one frame. We also took some pictures as usual. The reception area is located in a lovely white dome shaped architecture with glass work all around and the Big Clock Tower right next to it adds to the beauty. Amanora The Fern is the most premium club & hotel committed to offer top notch facilities perfect for couple, corporate as well as leisure travelers. The hotel is very well connected to the important business (mainly Magarpatta) and entertainment hubs of Pune city. Free private parking is available on site. Anyone can easily reach the place, It is approx 8 km away from Pune International Airport. Make yourself at home in one of the 26 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LED televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment.

One can take an early morning walk alongside the man made lake and enjoy the greenery & view of water reflection of the hotel. With our little one's morning tantrums, we could do afford a late morning walk for about an hour. The lawn is huge enough to accommodate over 1000 guests, and good for any kind of party, team event, or even marriage function. The food was superb at every meal (evening snacks, dinner, and morning breakfast with lots of options). Staff at the restaurant arranged baby chair for my son and he even enjoyed the food. We had little uncooked pasta, which they right away changed. There is also a general store in the premises, from where one can buy required stuff. The gym is huge with every equipment one can imagine, but I couldn't explore. Also, I didn't get the time to experience the spa but the facility seems impressive.

They had beautiful swimming pool, badminton court, squash court, children's play area, tennis courts, and much more to keep the adults & kids busy. Next morning, we enjoyed at the pool. One request and a suggestion to the team, pool water should be warm during winters, specially for kids, so they can spend more time. Water being super cold, I had to pull my son out of it within 10 mins. The best part was the fountain view from kids play area and green lush garden. Our kid enjoyed this place around an hour, and needless to say that he was not ready to come out of this place. So many playful stuff for kids were present. The best part was, everything was so neat and clean, and properly placed.

Great holidaying and awesome experience, 5 stars in all departments, lovely property, courteous staff specially Dimple, Aadrika, Laxmi at kids area, Reception staff, Room service, Housekeeping all were tip top. The check-in was smooth and very fast. My compliments to the management for maintaining such a beautiful hotel & resort. All in all, a charming place to relax after a hectic schedule. I will suggest this hotel to all my friends, and recommend anyone visiting this part of Pune.

This was a great hotel at decent price. Thank you once again, hope to visit the place again with bigger group, and other Fern group hotels.

Camping Experience at Dreamlandd Resortt at Mulshi near Pune

2018-10-20T12:02:00.004-07:00

After a long time, we decided to visit a resort for team event. We chose Dreamlandd Resortt near Mulshi with camp tents stay for a weekend getaway. The place is well placed close to the mountain ranges in Mulshi, Pune which can offers breathtaking waterfall views from the resort in monsoon season. Dreamlandd Resortt is a growing attraction on a hilltop, kissed by the clouds & blessed by nature, just a little beyond the Mulshi dam near Pune. The place is owned by Degaonkar family and their staff manage it. After enjoying the beautiful views from Pune and taking few pics on route, we reached here early in the evening.

Dreamlandd Resortt Address:

Dreamlandd Resortt, Nandivali Rd, Nandivali, Taluka Mulshi, Pune

One can easily reach the place following google maps.

https://goo.gl/maps/hwmd9tSJD2L2

There are multiple outdoor activities inside the campus like - swimming, volleyball, cricket, badminton, rain dance with music. We just loved rain dance with music, they have this cool setup just near the pool area. Swimming pool was clean and well maintained. We enjoyed in the evening and next morning as well. You can also plan some evening/morning walk around the campus in the fresh air and experience the ambiance and quietness of the place.

We got good food served with good service by the local staff here who manages the property. Bottled water and other basic stuff were available. They do have fridge, if you have some drinks to maintain cold. We loved the fresh ginger tea and onion rings (Bhaji) in with evening snacks, which was simply superb. Dinner was fresh, well prepared with hot rice flour roti, daal, and vegetables. We had lots of chat, music, dance, poetry, guitar time and fun filled night. It was total serene environment under the stars. Camping is always a wonderful experience, which keeps us close to nature. Tents were pretty neat and clean with proper bedding, sheets, and blanket. Morning tea and snacks in breakfast along-with Kanda Poha was well prepared as well.

As per our discussion with staff, they have 4 rooms with the capacity for 20 persons, and camping tents with the capacity for 70 persons which is best for corporate outings, team building and adventure activities, birthdays and kitty parties, bachelors and spinsters, group outings, etc. Single room with attached bathrooms are good for a family of 3 and can accommodate 1-2 persons with the additional bed. Just about 3 km from this resort, you can visit the Mulshi backwaters and get a panoramic view of the huge reservoir and take beautiful pictures. Views of dam en-route dreamland farms are simply amazing. We also took few pictures while coming back. Overall it was very satisfying experience for the whole team.

Prati Balaji Temple Ketkawale near Narayanpur, Pune

2018-06-30T04:16:00.001-07:00

Across different regions of India, there are numerous God and Goddess and their dedicated temples in Hindu religion. Everyone can't always visit the main sacred place. So some of the Indian states are building the replicas of major Hindu temples such as:

Replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas at Siddhesvara Dham, Sikkim

Replicas of Char dham at Namchi, Sikkim

Replicas of 51 Shaktipeeth at Ambaji, Gujrat.

Replica of the most famous Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (Prati Shirdi) at Shirgaon village near Pune.

Other replicas of famous monuments and major places of pilgrimage such as the Taj Mahal and Replica of Angkor Wat Temple in Bihar were under construction at the time of writing.

Near Pune we have replica of most famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (Tirupati Balaji) named "Prati Balaji Temple" near Ketkawale-Narayanpur. If you have limited time and want to visit Balaji temple near Pune, this could be right place. For us, It was a short and half day trip from Pune. I have visited this place twice so far. There are multiple routes to reach this place. If you can come early, you can also trek for nearby Purandar Fort on same day.

Address: Prati Balaji Temple, Saswad-Kapurhol-Bhor Road, Ketkawale, near Narayanpur, Pune, Maharashtra

It was built by the V.H.Group at a cost of 27 crores. It is located outskirts of Pune and also known as Shri Venkateshwara Temple. The priests of this temple have come from Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Balaji temple at Pune is constructed under the guidance of Tirumala Tirupati Temple Devasthan. It took almost 7 years to built this temple during 1996 to 2003 and it is one of the best religious places in Maharashtra. The temple premises is quite clean and very well maintained.

Prati Balaji Temple Ketkawale Timings: Daily 5:00 am to 8:00 pm. At the time when we visited, there was not much crowd at this temple. Even during the weekend, there were limited people, and within 5-10 minutes we got to see the replica of the Balaji idol inside. This place also has timings and Pooja details alongwith Darshan (visit) closing timings.

No photography is allowed inside the temple, though Balaji Idol is pretty visible once you are inside the temple. They do not allow mobiles, cameras, leather waist belts and wrist watches inside the temple for security reasons. The lockers are available to deposit all these things. However, visitors can take photographs outside the main temple. We had few photographs during the 'Parikarma Marg' & Pathik also enjoyed this place during my second visit. This place in itself is beautiful amidst lush green hills, and all the color carvings are pretty amazing all around, which depicts lots of stories of Hindu Gods. After the visit don't forget to have Prasadam near exit.

During both the visits, We relaxed here for an hour. Near the parking area of the temple, there are few shops, where one can buy souvneirs and also have snacks. Just outside of the temple, and near to main entrance there are quite many shops, and small market, that make this place more lively. As per current situtation, parking space seems to be good enough. Do visit this place, If you are in Pune or nearby.

Other Famous Replicas Visit:

We had visited "Prati Shirdi" at Shirgaon village near Pune as well.

We had also visited "Mini Siam" - "The miniature world", place with most of the wonders at one place named "Mini Siam" in Pattaya, Thailand. We had a couple of hours around Mini Siam with a quick tour of most of the landmarks of Thailand and replicas around the world.

River Rafting & Riverside camping at Pawna Dam

2018-01-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

As a traveler, enjoy soothing breeze, serene night, starlit sky, warmth of bonfire and many more at the camp-site near dam. - Quote about 'Camping near Pawna Dam' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

This was one of the best camping site I have visited so far. Camping on a side of a dam, with just the moon light and stars above you. A perfect weekend gateway near Mumbai and Pune. A mesmerizing view and camping time far away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It was an amazing experience for all of us. We stayed here for a night and it was totally worth it. If you are expecting a resort type fun, this is far from it, whereas this is pure nature stay near damside. This campsite is owned and managed by nice people, and their services were simply superb.

Transport: You can directly reach to the campsite by your scooter, bike or car. Campsite is approx 110 km away from Mumbai and 60 km away from Pune. The drive to the spot is little steep at times to avoid night/evening drives. It would be best to reach before 4 PM to enjoy the fullest. As soon as you would be about to reach this place, you will see lots of paragliding near the hill.

Follow this route from Mumbai: There are regular trains from Mumbai to Lonavala. From Lonavala railway station you cal also get shared/private jeeps to the campsite.

Mumbai - Khopoli - Lonavala - Kamshet - Pavananagar-Kamshet-Rd - Karunj - Yelse - Pawnanagar - Kale - Camping Site

Follow this route from Pune: There are regular trains/buses from Pune to Lonavala. From Lonavala railway station you can also get shared/private jeeps to the campsite.

Pune - Vadgaon - Kanhe - Naygaon - Pavananagar-Kamshet-Rd - Karunj - Yelse - Pawnanagar - Kale - Camping Site

Inclusion & Itinerary (As per our experience)

Accommodation in Twin/Triple Sharing tents (Blankets, pillows and mats provided)

3 PM- Check-in, and reporting at site, and tent allotment (mainly on first come first serve basis)

4 PM- Evening snacks - Pakoda and tea

4 to 6 PM- Enjoy swimming with caution or just relax and witness a beautiful sunset and evening.

Complimentary Fungames - Archery, Badminton, Volleyball, Darts.

7 to 9 PM- Enjoy roasting barbeque (8pcs per person, Veg/Non-veg)

9 to 10 PM- Dinner (Veg/Non-veg unlimited)

10 to 11:30 PM- Bonfire/Campfire & Music. You can request for your personal group as well, if you are more in numbers.

Other than that we enjoyed star gazing, and the place is all about Dam-Mountain-Sky, You, and your team-mates.

Post that we continue the acoustic guitar session by Sanjay with end-less chatting, till we felt like sleeping (who feel very sleepy)

Basic Washroom facility was available at campsite.

Next morning, 6:30 AM Enjoy the beautiful Sunrise (optional)

7:30 AM Enjoy the live waterstream released from the Pawna dam

8:30 AM to 9 AM- Breakfast (Poha/Upma/Omelette/Bhurji)

If you have opt-in for rafting, you can go for rafting after breakfast. People also do kayaking. Many people were swimming and enjoyed that to the fullest. The place was great, so when in afternoon temp increases, you can sit under the shade, as tent will be very hot. But even better take a dip in or drive up to Tikona fort (in morning) or Tikona picnic spot (by noon). Nice place for kids to play around too. Be careful of the flow as its deep in some places and could be dangerous if you don't know how to swim.

11 AM Check-out and saying goodbye with a promise to meet and do something like this again.

Rafting timings:

1st batch: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

2nd batch: 12 Noon to 1:30 PM

Things to Bring:

- Torch

- Winter wear

- Extra Clothes

- Extra Bed sheet

- Shoes (preferred)

- Cap and sunglasses

- DSLR and tripod if you're interested in Astrophotography.

They were having total three offers as of now:

Offer 1: (Only Rafting) - Rs.1000 per person - White water rafting of 4kms in Pawna river (Start point to end point)

Offer 2: (Only Camping) - Rs.1250 per person - 1 Night stay in riverside tents + All Meals (Veg/Non-Veg) + Barbeque (Veg/Non-Veg) + Campfire with Music.

Offer 3: (Camping + Rafting) - Rs.2250 per person - White water rafting of 4kms in Pawna river + 1 Night stay in riverside tents + All Meals (Veg/Non-Veg) + Barbeque (Veg/Non-Veg) + Campfire with Music.

More details to be checked at: raptorholidays

We had wonderful event with amazing and enthusiasts team-mates. Beautiful and pristine location and to be remembered for long, loved the live music session, games were good, food can be better and washroom facility should be improved. Witness the sunrise by the dam. Calm, Peace. Good Vibes. The night stay in camp was one of the experience and morning fog around the place and dam looks superb. It was the perfect team event we could ask for. What better can you get in this package!

May the moments of life experiences, team event, group together and celebrations lit up our lives.

Morning to Moonlight - Mumbai in a Day

2018-01-13T08:25:00.001-08:00

Quote of the Post: "The place where every place is renowned and famous landmark for one or the other reason." - Quote about 'Mumbai (Bombay)' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

Be ready to soak in the trendy yet traditional and colorful vibes of Mumbai. Continuing from my last MumbaiDiary post, This time we started from Pune around 6:30 by car and started with famous MumbaDeviTemple to visit in Mumbai, then #MarineDrive #GirgaonChowpatty #HaziAli #SidhivinayakTemple #JuhuBeach #MumbaiFood #SaintMaryChurch #BandraWorliSeaLink #TheGatewayOfIndia #TheTajHotel and #MuchMoreMumbai during our visit. It is always a clever choice to visit The Gateway Of India and nearby areas during sunset till night, as it has its own charm, visibility and no time constraint. If you are coming by train or air and want to make the most of a single day, it would be best to hire a cab or taxi for full day for lifetime memories and experiences.

To cover best places of Mumbai in a day is not possible, You must have minimum 3 days to visit the places (even those would be less), but what If you have just one day, and want to explore the best places of mumbai (like my brother Tanuj) from morning to moonlight. Each place require 30 mins to 45 mins stay to enjoy, and further travel time and waiting time depends on your luck.

If you are coming from outside Mumbai after 2-3 hours of drive. Based on your liking, interest and time availability, your can choose or skip the places. You can follow below tentative timeline map to visit best wonders of Mumbai (Bombay) in a day, and ask driver to keep telling landmarks and famous buildings on your way.

#MumbaDeviTemple (10 AM)

#MarineDrive (Walk one side to another) and park your car other side of the road. (10:30 AM)

#GirgaonChowpatty (11 AM)

#HaziAli (Haji Ali Dargah) (11:30 AM)

#MahaLaxmi Temple (1 PM)

#Dhobi Ghat (laundry) which is visible from the bridge over Mahalakshmi station.

#SidhivinayakTemple (2 PM)

#HangingGarden on Malabar Hills

#JuhuBeach (4 PM)

#MumbaiFood

#SaintMaryChurch (5:30 PM)

#BandraWorliSeaLink (6:00 PM)

#SunsetPhotography

#TheGatewayOfIndia #TheTajHotel (6:30 PM)

#MumbaiDrive #MuchMoreMumbai

Best Street Food to Try in Mumbai: Don't forget to eat and taste Mumbaiya food. If you wish you can walk down to the Marine Drive promenade and take a long walk towards Chowpatty beach for a snack of Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji and also some Indian icecream called Kulfi and another sweet dish called Rabdi. We had Pav Bhaji at Juhu Chowpatty. Below is the list of food to taste, if you are in Mumbai.

Pav Bhaji
Bombay Sandwidth
Bhel Puri
Misal Pao
Vada Pav (Bombay Burger)
Tibbs Frankie
Pani Puri
Mumbai Samosa
Anda (egg) Bhurji

Shopping In Mumbai: If you or your family members are interested in shopping then depending on what you want to shop for, there are many specific markets. Zaveri Bazaar is famous for gold and silver jewelry, Mangaldas Market for clothes, Chor Bazaar (Thief Market) for antiques, Bandra Linking Road for lots of designer shops. Lots of other shopping arcades and malls have recently opened up in many areas so you can just roam around based on the timings for a quick look and buy as per our choice.

Being most popular destination of India, Mumbai hosts lot many national and international events throughout the year in almost every field. Keep enjoying My Mumbai Diary ...

Mulsi Lake Trek and Paradise Cafe at Mulshi

2017-11-05T07:19:00.001-08:00

If you are coming from Pune, you will also see Mulshi Dam, which is ~40 KM away from Pune. It is a very good place for nature loving people. As it is quite far from city, so better to have your own vehicle, if you are traveling from Pune or nearby areas you can ride on your two wheeler as well. The roads are not in good condition when you are near Mulshi. But the scenic beauty will surely touch your heart and mind. Water from this dam is even used for irrigation purposes. Lots of small local shops near the area sell tasty delicacies (bhaji, fresh corns etc.) which are ideal during the monsoon season. We too didn't miss these, and stop by during my each visit to Mulshi Lake.

Paradise Cafe and Trek to Mulshi Lake:

Mulshi Lake is among the most visited places near Pune in Maharashtra, which is away from the hustle bustle of the city and crowd. It's a good place to visit during monsoon season. We stayed at Paradise Cafe for one day with friends. You can spend quality time with your family, friends or loved ones. The view from cafeteria is simply superb, for which they are charging. Paradise cafe has a great view and lake access. I have read about this place and feedback at multiple forums. Please keep in mind that all the money you need to give in advance, then you will enjoy your stay and you will be in peace. Do not expect too much. They need to improve on their services, and room conditions. The owners converted their farm house into a business place. I would not recommend this hotel to stay if you can stay somewhere else because now you have lots of options nearby. If by all means you decided to stay, you need to have your own music system, and your own trek and camp accessories to enjoy. We had all that as we have done multiple trips. But food is overall good specially the Punjabi food like parathas, lassi and other items, but price is at high side. There is a Souvenir Shop, where prices are little costly too.

There is a trek from Paradise cafe which goes to Mulshi Lake side. Be aware of slippery paths during rains. It is small 15 mins walk which is good in early morning or evening. We love this quick short trek to Mulshi lake. There is a gate which leads to Mulshi lake. After touching serene water, felt so fresh. We had few photos during our trip as always.

Wonderful Seven Wonders Park at Pune

2017-09-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

If you would like to visit wonders of the world from Rome, Paris, Agra, Egypt and Pisa at one place in Pune. You should visit 'Seven Wonders Parks at Pune'. The dream park is in the city area and so is fairly accessible. This park is also known as 'Yashwantrao Chavan Garden'. The place is beautiful and have replica of famous wonders of the world. Though you wouldn't find 'The Great Wall of China'. Miniatures are in good shape and constructed well, which are really made by hard work. You can traverse wonders of the world in the park in below order:

1. Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

2. Statue of Liberty, New York, USA.

3. The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.

4. Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.

5. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy.

6. Colosseum, Rome.

7. The Great Pyramids of Cairo, Egypt.

This place is a very good learning for young kids. Even small children love it. This is a nice place for photo-shoot, though little congested. There is no dedicated parking for the garden, so please come before time to park the car outside the park at the road parking lanes as per directions. There is no facility of drinking water inside, so bring along some water if you are coming with kids.

There is a 4d hall inside park where you can watch 15 min movie by showing them ticket. This show has stories of Aladdin, Alice and the wonderland and Dracula's. Cost of the ticket is very economical and 20 INR only. Usually in malls, you pay 200-500 INR per person for similar shows. It is fun to watch with family and friends. There are many cartoon icon placed which are good entertainment for kids as well. Children can pose for photos with these characters. Though this place need regular maintenance.

Address: 1, Shiv Darshan Road, Anurag Society, Sivadarshan Poorgrasta Vasahat, Parvati Paytha, Pune, Maharashtra 411009

Opening Hours: 6–9 AM, 4–9 PM (daily)

It is a good place to spend a lovely evening. As per my experience, The best and recommended timings to visit the park is 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Also plan to visit evening laser musical fountain at Bagul Udyan nearby. Usually 7 pm (post sunset).

Camping near Panshet Dam - Under the twinkling sky

2017-03-19T05:04:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to escape the city life somewhere near Pune or Mumbai in Maharashtra? Need a much needed break from the traffic and crowded streets. Camping near Panshet is the place to head off to for a weekend break or even mid-week outing. Enjoy the experience of sleeping under the open sky by the Panshet Lake. Panshet is a beautiful night camping site in the open, under the twinkling sky. Panshet is quite close to Khadagwasla dam, and approx 50 km from Pune, and approx 150 km from Navi Mumbai.

The travel from Khadagwasla to Panshet itself is one of a kind where most of campers and photographers don't sit inside the vehicle but prefer to stop at time to time due to amazing surroundings. We started from Pune and reached here in 3 hours including multiple breaks. We choose Panshet Eco Village camp-site near Surya Shibir resort, which is still developing. This itself was a great experience. As soon as we reach the place, we had splendid views of the lake. Soon we got set up our camping tents, mats, and started the bonfire for the night camping.

Soon after sunset, the real fun begins around 8 pm. We got our evening snacks ready and temprature started to drop. Everyone free to enjoy the evening as we want. Sanjay also bring his Guitar along-with him, and Chanchal his open-air speakers. We sing and dance at time to time and prefer playing music from our phones as per choice. We also had time to photograph at times, and enjoyed star gazing and bonfire till midnight. Everyone had dinner as and when we feel hungry. We also see few shooting stars during the night. If you have your telescope with you, This place is good to observe the constellation of stars and planets. Please note that it becomes quite cold in night, and during winters temprature drops a lot, so carry woolen clothes and blankets is very important. The tents we got were new, and good quality. We have nets inside, so we opened few zips of tents, that keep flowing fresh air all the time.

Few of us just slept for 2-3 hours and wake up early to adore the beautiful sunrise by the lake. We enjoyed it fully and had few clicks as well. Later we had our breakfast, and stayed there till 11 AM. The best time to do camping at Panshet is October to March. Avoid during the monsoon. Panshet is also very safe place to camp out in the open since there is no wild animals or even snakes around the place. But still be aware of surroundings, for your own safety. Swimming in lake is prohibited, but boat tour can be enjoyed after the sunrise. Our full group was full of energy. Really enjoyed the night and day throughout. Looking forward to more of these adventures to come.

There are many other camping sites in Maharashtra, which can be enjoyed with trekking:

Bhandardara Camping

Konya River Camping

Krishna River Camping

Rajmachi Trek and Camping

Karjat Trek and Camping

Kolad Camping

Sahyadri Camping

Panchgani Camping

Torna Camping

Dapoli Camping

Alibaug Trek and Camping

Pawna Trek and Camping

Murud Camping

Kaas Trek and Camping

Lonavala Trek and Camping

Pune Trek and Camping

Mumbai Trek and Camping

Bibi Ka Maqbara (Tomb of the Lady) in Aurangabad

2017-01-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Bibi Ka Maqbara (Tomb of the Lady) is a tomb located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra also known as Tomb of Rabia Durani. Due to the strong resemblance, it is also called 'The Mini Taj of India' - the Dakkhani Taj (Taj of the Deccan). The layout and surrounding of the tomb is very much similar to Taj Mahal in Agra (UP). Bibi Ka Maqbara has four towering minarets like Taj Mahal. It was built by Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb, in 1678 in memory of his wife, Dilras Banu Begum (known as Rabia-ud-Daurani). It is about 110 km from Shirdi, about 210 km from Nasik, about 230 km from Pune and about 280 km from Mumbai.

Panoramic views of the site are simply amazing. After passing through the entrance a small tank is provided and a low profile screen wall leads to the main structure. The screened pathway has a series of fountains at its center. After climbing few stairs we reach the upper level. Soothing sunset can be enjoyed here. At the main place, there is a sanctum with the tomb of Dilras Banu Begum. An octagonal lattice-screen of white marble surrounds the raised plinth supporting Rabia Daurani's grave inside the tomb. The tips of its pillars are made of red stone.

A part of the song 'Jab Tak' from the movie 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story' was shot in Bibi Ka Maqbara and surrounding hills. Bibi Ka Maqbara has featured in a number of documentaries and short films, and movies. MTDC also organizes a fair every October as the 'Bibi Ka Maqbara festival'. For people who cannot visit Taj Mahal, this looks to be an decent replica of same. I loved the time with mom and Tanuj throughout the day. For sure, This is a nice place for taking photographs and selfie as well. :)

Recommendation: Certainly a must and worth visit for all tourists visiting Aurangabad. You can even adore the beauty of the place again and again. It was my second visit to this place. I have also added a memory 5 years back when this site was renovating. In my opinion if anybody wants to enjoy its magnificent view, spend 1-2 hours in the evening. Don't go with too much expectations with the Taj Mahal in mind, then you will not be disappointed. There is safe parking available near the attraction and its open until 9:30 pm. Good thing is it is opened till 9:30 pm, so while coming back from Aurangabad Fort, Ellora or Ajanta you can visit this place. Try to avoid visiting on weekends, as there is quite long queue even for tickets.

Near by places of interest:

Ellora Caves, Aurangabad

Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad

Grishneshwar Jyotirling and Temple, Verul

Daulatabad fort (Devagiri fort)

Sai Baba temple, Shirdi

Daulatabad Devagiri Fort - An Architectural Wonder!

2017-01-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

If you like to time travel, then go to Daulatabad fort (Devagiri fort). You will get a lifetime travel experience here. During our one day trip, after visiting Grishneshwar Jyotirling Temple, we moved to visit 'Daulatabad Fort'. It is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot. Entry point is on the road itself, it can be easily accessed via bus or through cab, and lots of parking available. It is about 16 km of Aurangabad, about 230 km from Pune and about 280 km from Mumbai.

The way the fort is built and the architecture is certainly worth admiring. Just get your ticket from outside window, and enjoy the fort. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. It is situated on a hill top and gives breath taking views for the city from top. We just loved it. The Moon Minar (Chandminar) is a tower which can be seen from all around. It was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. The fort has 7 gates in zigzag path. The only means of access to the top is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope. At the top, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. The cannon on the top was so mesmerizing, that we spent 15 minutes at that place. There are cannons which have signatures of Aurangzeb engaved on them. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.

The recommended weather to visit Daulatabad fort would be monsoons to experience the beauty surrounding the fort and will also help to climb the fort at ease. But if you are planning some other timings, better to avoid summer's afternoon. The fort gives you a great sight in the evenings. Now a days, the walkway is surrounded by nice green gardens, so it was a pleasant walk. Carry loads of water and don't forget to visit old Bharatmata temple and a 1000 years old Ganpati temple which is located on the fort itself. I just loved the time spent together with Tanuj and Mom, and then moved to Bibi Ka Makbara.

Recommendation: Certainly a must and worth visit for all tourists visiting Aurangabad, particularly for those who have not visited this fort earlier. In my opinion if anybody wants to enjoy its magnificent view, he should spend atleast 4 hours. Since Daulatabad Fort lies on the route to Ellora caves and Grishneshwar temple, one can plan to visit this fort in the morning, visit Aurangzeb’s tomb, spend afternoon time at Ellora caves and visit Grishneshwar temple at early evening time.

Near by places of interest:

Ellora Caves, Aurangabad

Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad

Sai Baba temple, Shirdi

Grishneshwar Jyotirling and Temple, Verul

Bibika Makbara (Mini Tajmahal), Aurangabad

Grishneshwar Temple and Jyotirlinga Aurangabad

2017-01-07T04:09:00.000-08:00

Grishneshwar temple, sometimes referred to as the Ghrushmeshwar Jyotirlinga (linga of light) or Dhushmeshwar temple, is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. This is the smallest Jyotirlinga temple in India. Ghrishneshwar Temple is one out of five Jyotirlingas situated in the state of Maharashtra. This pilgrimage site is located in Ellora (also called Verul), less than a kilometer from Ellora Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is about 30 km from the city of Aurangabad, about 250 km from Pune and about 300 km from Mumbai. Enjoy the drive from whatever way you are reaching Aurangabad.

We got up at early morning 5:30 AM since we had to reach Aurangabad as per plan, and first in the list was to visit Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple visit with Tanuj and maa. Tanuj also had fun while driving our new Dzire. Here we reached entrance of Grishneshwar temple at around 12 at noon. This temple is presently an important and active pilgrimage site of the Hindus and attracts long lines of devotees daily. Anyone can enter the temple premises and its inner chambers, but to enter the sanctum sanctorum core (garbha-ghrya) of the temple, the local Hindu tradition demands that men must go bare chested. We were quite surprise to see it, and respected that. One can touch the jyotirlinga here and perform abhishek through Pandits/Purohits.

The Grishneshwar Temple was constructed by Ahilyabhai Holkar who also re-constructed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi, UP and the Vishnu Paada Temple at Gaya Bihar. There is a court hall inside which is built on 24 pillars. We watched few carvings summarizing various legends and mythologies of Shiva on these pillars. The feeling inside the Garbhagriha is simply amazing. The temple was quite peaceful and calm with very less crowd. As we visited on a weekday, so we had ample time inside Garbhagriha. There is a Nandikeshwara (Nandi bull) in the court hall. The temple houses carvings and sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses.

The temple is made up of Red stone and looks artistic. Photography is not allowed inside temple premises, so we took few photographs from back side and outside areas. You need to keep all your belongings outside only. Better keep your mobile/cameras in your hotel room or vehicle or deposit in the locker which is at the side of the temple gates. We also had a glance at Shahaji Raje Samadhi which is located just besides the Temple. There is small market outside which sells items for worship and handicrafts at very nominal costs. It was one of most peaceful and less crowded jyotirlinga I have ever seen and know. After that we headed for Daulatabad Fort and then Bibi ka Makbara (Mini Tajmahal).

Near by places of interest:

Ellora Caves, Aurangabad

Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad

Sai Baba temple, Shirdi

Daulatabad Fort, Aurangzeb Tomb,

Bibika Makbara (Mini Tajmahal)

Visit to Shri Sai Baba Temple at Shirdi

2016-12-17T04:15:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Post: "Shirdi Saibaba Temple truly attracts millions of devotees of all religions, castes and creed from all over the world and deserve to be in India's most famous shrines." - Quote about 'Saibaba Temple, Shirdi' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

If you are searching for Shirdi Sai Baba visit, what you should know about, what to keep in mind, what places to visit in Shirdi Temple, what instructions to follow, what are the Puja timings, you are at the right place. The Shirdi Saibaba Temple, located at Shirdi, Maharashtra, India attracts millions of devotees of all religions, castes and creed who come to pay homage to Shri Sai Baba from all around the world. The temple is a beautiful shrine that was built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba. Shirdi is a small village in Kopargam taluka, in Ahmadnagar District of the Maharastra State. Shirdi is located about 270 kms from Mumbai (MH) and about 190 kms from Pune (MH) in India. If you are planning to travel by train, Kopargaon (KPG), Manmad Jn (MMR), Nasik Road (NK) and Aurangabad (AWB) are 4 nearby train stations near Shirdi.

Important Instructions for Shirdi Sai devotees: These points I have collected after my visits to this place, and also includes family and friend's experiences.

- If you have not visited this place before, make sure on arrival at Shirdi, devotees should immediately get in touch with one of the Niwassthan Office for booking of their accommodation which will be made available after registration of name and other particulars. No deposit is required for accommodation.

- Sai Devotees are requested that they should not keep of their foot wears any where except Chappal stand. it is near Darshan 'Q' entrance.

- Sai Devotees are requested not to carry their cell phones and cameras in Samadhi Mandir. Please keep it in lockers provided by Sansthan in Mandir Premises.

- All the devotees, especially women and diabetic persons, are requested to eat some food before joining the darshan queue as during heavy rush days time required for darshan will be from 2 to 3 hours.

- It would be best to keep all your belongings in your vehicle only, so you can save some time.

- Thursday is the day Saibaba is specially worshipped. On this day devotees from all over India visit Shirdi for Darshan of Saibaba.

- For VIP pass, only one family member need to be in queue, and now cashless (card) payments are also available. It may take more than an hour on weekdays and more than 2 hours on weekend, and important dates.

- Now Online Darshan Booking has introduced for Sai devotees which are providing them an option of not standing in a queue for several hours to have darshan of Siababa Samadhi Mandir. Refer this link https://online.sai.org.in. Devotees need to be first register themselves in the Website and create an Account, after that they can select the Online services like Darshan, Accommodations, Donation, etc and make their payments online.

- It was good to see that the devotees were being offered free tea/ water / coffee while they waited in queues.

- As the Samadhi Mandir is overcrowded at the time of Aarti, devotees should safeguard their ornaments and purses from pick-pocketers and take care their children.

- All the necessary assistance and guidance is readily available to the devotees at the Niwassthan Office of the Shri SaiBaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi.

- As the various dealers and vendors of Pooja articles are not connected with the Shri SaiBaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, devotees should first fix the price before buying these articles to avoid any trouble thereafter.

- Medical facilities are available at the well-equipped Hospital run by the Shri SaiBaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi.

- The Laddu counter is always very crowdy. Free dry boondi also distributed in similar 50 gms packet per head.

- The three main festivals in Shirdi are of two to four days each. They are Ramnavami (March/April), Guru Purnima (July),and Vijayadashami (September).

- There are programme running throughout the year of puja, music (bhajan) public parayana (reading of scriptures and devotional texts) and exuberant processions with the palanquin and the Rath (cart).

Make sure to visit all places within the Shirdi temple boundary.

Sri Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir

Shri Saibaba Sansthan Temple

Dixit Wada Museum

Lendi Baug

Maruti Mandir

Dwarkamai Masjid

Baba's Chavadi

Adul Baba Cottage

Literature about Shri Sai Baba containing authentic information in various languages has been published by the Shri SaiBaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi at reasonable prices and is readily available at its Book shops near the Samadhi Mandir.

Khandoba Mandir: Khandoba Mandir is situated on the main road. In front of this temple Baba was welcomed by Poojari Mhalsapati of this temple, who said "Aao Sai (Come Sai)", when Baba stepped in Shridi. In this temple there are icons of Khandoba, Banai and Mhalsai.

Daily Sai Darshan Puja Timing: The worship schedule at Shirdi Saibaba temple begins early in the morning that continues till late in night. (As of 2016 - It may change.)

· 4:30: Dwarkamai, Gurusthan, Chavadi open

· 5:00: Mandir opens, Bhupali, Abhishekam at Gurusthan

· 5:15: Kakad (morning) Arati, Naivedyam of butter and sugar to Baba in Samadhi Mandir, Oil offered to the lamps in Dwarkamai

· 5:40: Bhajan in Saibaba Mandir

· 6:00: Mangal Snaan (washing) of Statue and Samadhi in Samadhi Mandir

· 7:00: Darshan begins in Samadhi Mandir

· 9:00: Naivedyam in Samadhi Mandir and Dwarkamai

· 8:00 -10:30: Satyanarayana Pooja

· 11:30: Dhuni Pooja with rice and ghee in Dwarkamai

· 12:00: Mid day Arati

· 12:30: Naivedyam in Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai and Gurusthan

· 4:00: Pothi (Devotional reading/Study) in Samadhi Mandir Sunset: Dhoop (evening) Arati

· 6:30: Naivedyam in Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai and Gurusthan

· 8:00 - 9:00: Devotional Songs in Samadhi Mandir and other Cultural Programs (if any)

· 9:00: Chavadi and Gurusthan close

· 9:30: In Dwarkamai water is given to Baba, a mosquito net is hung and the hanging lamp is lit

· 9:45: Dwarkamai (the upper part) closes

· 10:30: Shejarati -Shej (night) Arati, after this , a shawl is wrapped around the statue in the Samadhi Mandir, a Rudraksha mala is put around baba's neck, Mosquito net is hung, and a glass of water kept there

· 11:30: Samadhi Mandir closes after night Arati

Apart from these there are other nearby destinations like Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga, Shani Shingnapur, Renuka Mata Temple, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Ajanta and Ellora, Vani Saptashrungi Shakti peeth devi temple, Muktidham & Panchvati Temple in Nashik are located within 150 km from Shirdi that can be visited by the tourists here.

Om Shirdi Sai.

Farmhouse experience at Camp Temgarh Mulshi near Lavasa

2016-11-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

If you would like to visit a nature's place like Lavasa, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani or Matheran but not as crowded, Camp Temgarh could be right destination near Mulshi. Prior to visit I did not have a high expectation from this place. Camp Temgarh is truly an experience amidst the nature with overwhelming hospitality which is as par with Taj Group of hotels (like my last Kumarakom Kerala trip). I had an awesome outing with Chanchal, Dilip, Sanjay, Satyajit and Sunil. We all friends enjoyed each other's company like we used to enjoy during our engineering days. It was a nice decision that we chose Camp Temgarh for one day stay.

CAMP TEMGARH: Lavasa Road, Mulshi Taluka, Pune Maharashtra - 411032

Directions to Camp Temgarh - The best thing is that the place is not far from Pune. From Chandni Chowk on your way to Lavasa, cross Mutha Gaon and then Kharawade gaon. 1.5kms from Kharawade on the right is a blue bus stop with Ananda Ashram board. Turn left from the bus stop, go straight for 600 mtrs and turn right. Exactly 800mtrs from here on the right is Camp Temgarh.

We booked bungalow (Rajan's bungalow), for which Camp Temgarh is known among nearby villagers. Though there are cottages and Swiss tents for stay as well. This farmhouse is spread across huge resort campus. We reached there in the evening. Though high-tea time was over, but on request we get ginger tea (adarak vali chai). There is a gazebo which has unique experience during the day as well as night. Evenings are for old movies – hook up the projector in the gazebo.

This farmhouse is perfect place for celebrating a relaxed bonfire, food, antakshari and dance. Guess what, we had all together under clear sky, and on a full moon night. Chanchal did great job bringing speaker. We had full house game and Teen Patti all night. At this moment, none win or lose as all 500 & 1000 notes were ban through out. In the morning, Beautiful views and surroundings overwhelmed us. We also had small trek to riverside, and loved the morning dew and soothing breeze. We observed many holes (could be of snakes, rats or any other animal) on our trek, so be in shoes and don't leave children alone. I captured the sunrise and many other pictures during my stay.

We met many friendly people with high quality service, food and atmosphere at CT. All our requests were fulfilled within time. Mahavir and his team are just amazing, they make sure that our stay be comfortable and memorable. I would say - Rajan! keep them, these friendly people are your strength. Tasty fresh food is big big plus at CT. They also have mineral water all the time freely available. They also have refrigerator in the Gazebo to chill beverages. It was surprising to see over-friendly dogs, with whom we play for few time (specially Satya & Sanjay). CT also have facility for multiple options of games as soccer/basketball/volleyball/TT/snooker/badminton, and trampoline for children. We also played as per our choice as we had few in our own kit as well. Biking, Fishing and bird-watching can also be enjoyed here. Good to see dustbins around the farmhouse to dump all the waste. If you are visiting this place during monsoon, don't forget to carry raincoats, umbrellas, good quality shoes, and lights/torch for night. What I feel that rooms can be managed in a better way in bungalow.

The place is very well maintained and truly fit for family and friends of all age and groups. Great place to celebrate small team events. Only note, this could feel like a haunted place, if visiting on weekday alone or as a couple, unless someone has craze to explore haunted place. But place is quite safe, clean, and surrounded by nature at its best. We will love to visit it again.

After checkout we spent few time at Temghar Dam and then back to Pune.

Biggest and Brightest SuperMoon Experiments

2016-11-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

I was quite excited on children's day 14 November. The moon was at its biggest & brightest in the sky after 68 years (since 1948). The moon was closer to Earth than usual on its orbit and the side facing us was fully illuminated by the sun. For anyone who doesn’t get a chance to see it, here is a stunning photo of the supermoon. I have shot the Full SuperMoon with my NIKON D5100 (55-300 mm lens). These photographs are taken from Wagholi, Pune area. For more truly striking photo, you should drive a little out of the city so there’s less light pollution to contend with. (unless you are living in the middle of the desert in which case you'll have the best view) SHARE if you LIKE. You may have these as your desktop wallpaper.

Supermoon Photography camera settings (How to Take a Non-Crappy Picture of the Moon):

Aperture: Set your aperture to f/11.

Shutter Speed: Set your shutter speed to 1/125 on cameras with base ISO 100, and to 1/250 on Nikon DSLRs with base ISO 200.

Lens Focus: Set your lens to manual focus (either through a switch on the lens or on the camera) and set your focus to infinity.

As per various sources, this (so bright & closest) won’t happen again for 18 years. But there’s another super moon on December 14, 2016 which coincides with the Geminid meteor shower.

Yamai Devi Temple Kanhersar near Rajgurunagar

2016-08-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

If you are visiting Bhimashankar temple or Natural Potholes near Takali Haji or Lenyadri caves at Junnar or Ozar Astivinayak temples or Shivneri fort or Ramling Temple at Shirur, You can also include visiting Yamai Devi Temple at Kanhersar (Kanersar) near Rajgurunagar.

If you are coming from Aundh, Wakad, Pimpri Chinchwad or Hinjawadi side, you have to reach Rajgurunagar via Chakan first, then take the turn which goes to Shirur. You will see Yamai Devi Temple at road-side only at Kanhersar. [60 KM]

If you are coming from Wagholi or Lonikand side, take turn at Koregaon Bhima which leads to Chouphula and then Kendur, after few KM you will reach Yamai Devi Temple at Kanhersar. [36 KM]

The temple is quite clean and you will for sure get peace of mind here. It has Main gate and Mangal office gate which leads inside temple. Compound has a small beautiful garden, Sabhamandap, temple gallery. Inside the temple, There is quite unique old water-well point, where people used to draw water from multi-pulley system.

Once you are in the temple, I am sure you will love the place. There are many beautiful paintings in the temple. We had taken few photographs at the temple, and stayed there for 25-30 minutes, then we moved towards Bhimashankar.