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