Bhuleshwar Temple

Place: Bhuleshwar Temple

Route from Pune: Pune > Hadapsar > Lonikalbhor > Uralikanchan > Bhuleshwar
Distance from Pune: 55 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotel kanchan 7 kms before the temple. No place to eat or Drink near temple.

Places to stay: Nil
Best time to Visit: Anytime.
Experience: Bhuleshwar temple is located around 55 kms from pune on the solapur highway. A right turn just 3 kms before Yavat takes us to Bhuleshwar. The temple is situated at a distance of 7 kms from the highway.The condition of the road is very bad for the first few kilometeres and just for a moment you might think of turning back. But the sufferings are forgotten as soon as you see the temple while you drive up on a winding path on the hill. Another right turn after about six kms will take you to the temple steps. No food or drinking water is available in the temple vicinity.

The temple is said to be built somewhere in the 13th century. The place is really beautiful. It offers a breathtaking view of fields on all four sides of the hill. It feels very cool and calm as we enter the temple. Two staircase take us to the upper floor of the temple. The sculptures on the pillars and walls of the temple are very beautifully carved. Like all typical shiva temples, a huge nandi is situated in front of Lord Bhuleshwar. The sound of 'Om' coming out of the speakers makes the environment even more peaceful.

On the way back, 1/2 Km after you touch the highway, there is a restaurant called Kanchan that has a very good ambience and serves excellent food (Punjabi, Maharashtrian). There are lot of other dhaba's too.

one can visit the Theur temple (one of the ashtavinayaks) as well on the way back, which is about 22kms from Pune.

Cypher

Mahabaleshwar in Monsoon

Place: Mahabaleshwar

Route from Pune: Pune > Katraj > Shirwal > Wai > Panchgani > Mahabaleshwar

Distance from Pune: 120 kms (Approx)

Places to eat: Hundreds of options available. Try Strawberry icecreams and shakes at Mapro Garden.
Places to stay: MTDC resort. Lot of options available

Best time to Visit: Anytime except Monsoon. Sight seeing is difficult in Monsoon

Experience: The forts around pune are the among best places to visit during monsoon
Monsoon is off season in Mahabaleshwar. Shops open late and close early. Most of the specialities like choco-walnut fudge, strawberries and carrots are missing from the scene. It rains very heavily most of the time.
But there are some positive features as well. Hotels and resorts are easily available at extremely cheaper rates. The atmosphere is wonderful if you just want to spend some time relaxing. People who like a very peaceful environment would love the walks to nearby points. Most sight seeing points in mahabaleshwar (including boating at venna lake) are closed but one can still enjoy a trip to pratapgarh. Food at pratapgarh is tasty as ever though variety might be less. The waterfalls on the way to Pratapgarh are amazing. Every waterfall will have some shops nearby that sell roasted sweetcorn and hot beverages.

A very good place to relax.

Cypher

Flowers on the way

Mulshi & Tamhini

Place: Tamhini Ghat

Route from Pune: Pune > Chandni chowk > Pirangut > Paud > Mulshi > Tamhini

Distance from Pune: Mulshi - 45 kms (Approx), Tamhini - 60 kms

Places to eat: Hotel hill view and Quick byte at Mulshi. Lot of other options available near Mulshi.

Places to stay: Lot of resorts on the way

Best time to Visit: Anytime . Most beautiful in Monsoon.

Experience: Always pleasent

Paradise can't be better.............................

Cheers,
Cypher

Rajgad

Place: Rajgad fort
Route from Pune: Pune > Katraj > Velu > Nasrapur > Baneshwar > Rajgad
Distance from Pune: 35 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotel at the foothill

Places to stay: Temple on the fort
Best time to Visit: Anytime except summer. Dangerous in Monsoon (Beautiful though)
Experience: The forts around pune are the among best places to visit during monsoon. Sushil and I planned this trek at the very last minute on Saturday. We decided to meet at 7:00 am on Sunday at chandani chowk and plan was to go either to Torna or Rajgad.

Sushil had called two of his colleagues, Swapnil and purva too. Me and vaishali were to meet them for the first time. Nice & jolly people to be with. Rajgad was finalized. All of us started from chandni chowk at around 7:45 am.
Took the pune satara highway (Katraj Bypass) and then right turn towards Baneshwar (near cheladi). The climate was fantastic. After travelling 24 kms from Baneshwar we reached Rajgad.

A small hotel at the foothill is the only source for food. We had some snacks that thankfully purva had with her along with tea. It was 11:00 am already. We had also packed some bhel enroute. We booked meal for us thinking that we would return by 4:00 pm.

None of us had been here before so had to ask for direction initially. Met Nandini and Rahul on the way. Rest was the trip to paradise. Clouds, Greenery, Rain. It was a great experience.

The fort enjoys an important place in history and you can guess that when you see it. We went half way to the Bale killa , when it was decided to turn back or we might not get back on the highway before it gets dark (we were on two wheelers and swapnil’s bike had some problem). We came back to the foothills by 6:00 pm.We were very hungary and the food was very delicious. Finished the meals in 10 min flat and started back.

Sushil and I are planning more treks for coming sundays.

Karla and Bhaja

Place: Karla and Bhaja caves

Route from Pune: Pune > Pimpri & chinchwad > Dehu Road > Karla & Bhaja > Lonavla

Distance from Pune: 40 kms (Approx)

Places to eat: MTDC resort

Places to stay: MTDC resort

Best time to Visit: Anytime except summer. Water park at MTDC can be enjoyed in summer.

Experience: Karla and Bhaja are situated at 10 Kms from lonavla on opposite sides of the old mumbai pune highway. These caves are 2300 years old. Some of the wooden architecture is still intact. Karla caves are a little bigger in size than the Bhaja caves but both places are equally nice to visit. The Ekvira Devi temple near Karla is very well known among devotees. MTDC resort at Karla is a nice and not so expensive place to stay.

Bhaja Caves

Karla caves

Around Pune

One of the advantages of living in a socially and geographically diverse country (like India) is that you have lot of options when it comes to travelling and enjoying various cultures and cuisines.
For example, Pune (Maharashtra) has lot of places around it which can be visited and enjoyed without spending much time and money. You have a wide range of choice right from caves, forts, waterfalls, dams, parks, temples, resorts, hill stations etc all within 2-3 hours driving range. if you are willing to stretch some more (4 hours), you have option of beautiful beaches as well.
You can enjoy every Indian and International cuisine in and around pune. Monsoon is the best time to visit some of these places.

Here is a site that gives a lot of info about nearby places.
http://www.aroundpune.com/

There are few places which are still not very famous as tourist places but are very beautiful. These places can be visited with the help of groups that are engaged in Trekking and nature trails.

Here is a webpage of one of such groups.
http://www.giridarshan.com/utreks.html

cheers,
Cypher

The first walk in the rain 2007

Its early June. Most Southern and central parts of India have witnessed the first few rains of year 2007.
Yesterday evening, I came from office had a cup of Tea and then went for a walk in the rains (No Umbrella, No Raincoat). It was magical. The fragrance in the air, the coolness in the breeze, the ligthening and thunder once in a while, the sprinkling rain and the smell of onion pakoras from the nearby tea stall. Enchanting. I roamed for almost one hour.

While returning i planned few one day excursions to nearby places. Next few sundays would be very exciting.

The Journey begins

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
~Roger Miller

I believe that we are gifted with only one life and every moment
should be enjoyed to the fullest.

Cheers