The Konkan Journey: Pune- Tamhini- Raigad- HariHareshwar and back

The Konkan Journey: Pune- Tamhini- Raigad- HariHareshwar and back

It was like any regular evening in the hostel when we decided to visit Mulshi, knowing nothing about the place. Holi was next day. We were four of us, all medical students, and that was the road where we had not been before on a bike. Mulshi was a dam, this I had heard before, so we headed to Chandni Chowk on two bikes, and took the turn to Paud. The road is beautiful, and things looked good as we crossed the Pirangut ghat, the sun was setting and we went ahead, reaching Mulshi after 20 kms. Mulshi Dam is a huge water body, but there was no place which looked good to get into the water. The road moved along the reservoir, where we clicked few photographs, including the full moon. Grossly dissatisfied, I remembered that this way led further to Alibaug, from a previous bus journey. I asked a local who confirmed. Those with me gave a nod, and we went ahead. As we went further, the road condition worsened, and there were many turns where… At one point, there is a narrow road running between steep cliffs on both sides, crossing it was a Thrilling experience.

The road is generally avoided in the night, as there are incidences of robbery. It is a road less used, and during our journey down the ghat, hardly any vehicles came from the front. This added to our fears. None of us knew where we would find the next petrol pump, and we weren’t prepared. After some distance, we found an armed forces establishment- The Rajmachi Centre, and the guy there directed us further. The road was bad, and we did not know how far Alibaug was. On descending down the ghat, and buying adulterated petrol, we reached a diversion, and took the wrong turn, reaching the road which goes to Mahad, much south than Alibaug. The moon accompanied us throughout, and as we returned to civilisation, there were villages where ‘holi’ fire was being burned. We went down to Mahad, hoping to find a less expensive lodge, but not getting any place to stay, inquired about places where we could visit the next day. We realised that Raigad fort was nearby (30km) and set off for Raigad at night. All the way, there were huge fires being lit for Holi. People said that it was not a good idea to go to the fort at this time. It must be around 1 am by now, and moving at a slow pace, negotiating the slippery gravel and turns, we reached Raigad in 1 hour. There, we could not see a single soul. There was a group of dogs, that barked the whole night, not letting us sleep. We saw a bus stop, and then, slept there, to catch a nap of 2 hours. On waking up, and having breakfast, we waited for the sun-rise, and then, went to Trek the fort, reaching up in an hour. There is a ropeway too, for those who cannot walk to the fort. It felt nice to see the morning sun between the Hills of Sahyadri. Raigad was once the Capital of Shivaji, and this was the place where he was coronated as king. The fort has ruins of the market in those times, a durbar, temples and the final resting place/ tomb of Shivaji. It was a nice Experience being there- Accidently.Coming down was tiring, after the lack of sleep. Now that we came here to see a Beach, we proceeded to Hari hareshwar.

The roads in Konkan have many characteristics. They are narrow, red soil on both sides, there are many ways to reach a particular place, via different Villages, the signs are sometimes misleading, as the same place can be reached by different routes. Ask locals, and confirm. Though if you do not have time constraints, trust your gut feelings and you will discover for your self the best places that nobody can tell you. Bike is the best way to enjoy these roads, but the riskiest too.
After a long ride, going up and down on the ghat roads, we had our first sighting of the sea for the day, and this sea was going to accompany us for a while. On reaching HariHareshwar, we visited the Shiva temple and went to the beach, which was an average beach. After spending some time, getting wet, we inquired about nearby places, and after skipping the srivardhan beach, went straightaway to Dive Agar. The road to Dive Agar passed along the coast, and while coming back, we enjoyed the sun-set. Reaching there, we took our bikes to the beach, and for the first time, rode bikes on a beach, This was truly a Great Experience, as we took them into the water, and somehow, brought back, later pulling them out of the sands, after the tiring journey. The temple here has a gold idol, which was found in a nearby stream. From there, it dawned on us that we had to return, and the road was dangerous, and now that we knew what lied ahead- the bad road, we asked if there was another way. The alternate way is too long, but people adviced us against going on the Tamhini Ghat section in the night. Still, we decided to go by that route, and drove continuously for 100 kms, then after a 5 minute stop, drove again, and reached Pune by 10 pm. All our friends were searching us the whole day, as Holi is celebrated in Hostels in the most memorable ways. The guy whose bike I took was cursing me, to whom I apologized, but we had a good time.

Article source by yuvarajasthan in Travel

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The Best Summer Vacations Places in India For 2013

The Best Summer Vacations Places in India For 2013

Asia / Hills / Honeymoon

Summer vacations are the mark of opening of fun, joy and adventure. Summer vacation spots in India will give you cherishing memories of summer holidays. Enjoy summer vacations abroad, these 5 destinations are ideal for a summer vacation in India. Summer season is starting during the months of May, June and July.  Summer vacation is an outstanding way to get relaxation from city Life. Get ready to beat the summer on your own way.

Here are some of the best summer vacation destinations in India :-

Summer Tour India

If you want to take you kids on a holiday in the coming summer vacations than the list provided below would be of great help to you. Zero in on the destination that you find most appealing and get started on a journey which would definitely help you come even closer to your kids as well as help you preserve a load of memories that would invariably bring smile on your lips whenever you would be reminded of those days.

Matahren Tour

Matheran : A beautiful tourist place located near Mumbai, Matheran is one of the eco-friendly hill stations in India. The place is famous for its greenery, unpolluted ambiance and bird’s eye view of the plains. Some of the most popular tourist’s attractions that exist here are Charlotte Lake, Panorama Point and Prabal Fort. Mumbai Airport is closest to the place and is about 100 km away.

Shimla Tour

Shimla : known as Queen of Hills and is located in Himachal Pradesh. The paregoric beauty and snow covered mountains in Shimla attract all and sundry. Some of the most popular tourist’s attractions are Christ Church, Jakhu Hill, Summer Hill, Kufri, Summer Festival, and Ice Skating Carnival. The best season to visit Shimla is summer. Distance between Delhi and Shimla is just about 370 km.

Kashmir-india

Kashmir : Kashmir is known as “the paradise”. A quiet valley surrounded by high mountains and forests. The valleys of Kashmir are known for its beauty & charm, also considered as heaven on Earth. The best thing to do in Kashmir is to relax and enjoy the beauty of the valleys. Some of the popular tourist’s attractions in Kashmir are Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Patnitop, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh.

Munnar tour

Munnar : Munnar is Located in the Western Ghats in Idukki, state of Kerala Situated at the height of 6000 ft. Munnar is a beautiful hill station easily reachable from Cochin, Coimbatore and Trichy. Munnar is a good place to hang in your boots and chill. Munnar attract tourists to see its pristine natural beauty. Visit the wildlife sanctuaries at the Eravikulam, Tea Museum, and mountain trekking.

Manali tour

Manali : Manali is one of the most famous hill stations in India. Manali is situated in the Beas river valley in Himachal Pradesh & near the Kullu valley. The main attractions of Manali are Hadimba Temple, Manu Temple, Vashishta Temple, 3 Buddhist Monasteries, Solang valley, the Rohtang pass & Club house. You can also participate in activities like skiing, paragliding, trekking, river rafting and fishing. Manali is a haven for adventure sports.

Article source by :- travelzink

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