Chokhi Dhani Village

Place: Chokhi Dhani village
Route from Pune: Pune- Nagar highway @ Wagholi
Distance from Pune: Shivaji Nagar to Chokhi Dhani - 15 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Chokhi Dhani
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime (except monsoon)
Experience: ‘Chokhi Dhani’ is rajasthani translation of a ‘Fine Hamlet’. It offers an insight into Rajasthani village culture including the traditional dances, music, handicraft and food. The first ‘Chokhi Dhani’ was started in Jaipur in 1989 and since then has opened up other branches at Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

Map of Chokhi Dhani

Chokhi dhani in Pune is a little smaller in size than the one in Jaipur but provides almost equivalent entertainment. The place is open from 5 pm – 11 pm. Coporate discounts are offered on the entry fee (INR 350/-) for some select few companies. Do not forget to your company ID to avail the same.

A very nice Rajasthani experience……….

Parshuram Temple & Dervan

Place: Parshuram Temple & Dervan
Route from Pune: Pune to Bharne Naka (refer previous blog entry- Karde beach) Bharne naka > Khed > Parshuram temple > Chiplun > Dervan
Distance from Pune: Bharne Naka – Parshuram Temple 25 kms (Approx.)

Bharne Naka – Dervan 65 kms (Approx.)
Places to eat: Various places enroute
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Experience: Lord Parshuram is considered to be one of the many Vishnu avatars and one of the seven immortals mentioned in Hindu myhtology. He is said to be the creator of Konkan. The Parshuram temple is situated on a hill between Khed and Chiplun.

Parshuram Temple

The main attraction at Dervan is Shri Samarth gad, which is an artificial fort depicting important incidences in shivaji Maharaj’s life in form of sculptures.

Velneshwar Beach

Place: Velneshwar Beach
Route from Pune: Pune to Bharne Naka (refer previous blog entry- Karde beach) Bharne naka > Chiplun > Velneshwar
Alternate route 1: Bharne naka > Dapoli > Dabhol (Ferry) > Guhagar > Velneshwar (My favourite)
Distance from Pune: Bharne Naka – Velneshwar 85 kms (Approx.)
Alternate route 1: Bharne naka – Velneshwar via Dabhol ferry 90 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Various places in Dapoli, Guhagar & Velneshwar
Places to stay: Home stays
Best time to Visit: October – February
Experience: Alternate route suggested above is my favourite. Chandika Devi temple few kilometers before Dabhol, the power plant at Dabhol and above all the Ferry ride from Dabhol to Guhagar are the main attraction of this route. The chandika devi temple is situated in an underground cave and it is said that Shivaji maharaj was among the frequent visitors to the temple. The ferry ride, though short, is fun and you can take your vehicle on the ferry as well.

Ferry

Fishing boats

Velneshwar is famous for its Shiva (Velneshwar) temple and a small beach. The famous Ganpati temple at Hedvi (15 kms) can also be visited. The place does not have big hotels but comfortable homestays are available. Velneshwar is a very typical Konkani village and has not yet adjusted to tourism needs. The place becomes a little spooky after 8 pm and you hardly see any people around.

Velneshwar Temple

Velneshwar beach

Ganpati Temple - Hedvi

In all, it is fun………….

Karde Beach

Place: Karde Beach
Route from Pune: Pune > Velu > Khed shivapur > Bhor > Varandha > Poladpur > Bharne naka > Dapoli > Karde
Alternate route 1: Pune > Pirangut > Paud > Tamhini > Mangaon > Mahad > Varandha > Poladpur > Bharne naka > Dapoli > Karde
Alternate route 2: Pune > Velu > Khed shivapur > shirwal > Wai > Pachgani > Mahabaleshwar > Poladpur > Bharne naka > Dapoli > Karde
Distance from Pune: 180 Kms (Approx) ; Alternate route 1 : 230 Kms (Approx.) ; Alternate route 2 : 245 Kms (Approx.)
Places to eat: Various places enroute. Hotel Kinara and Sagar Savli offer good sea food.
Places to stay: Beach resorts- Whistling Palms, Sagar Savli, kinara etc
Best time to Visit: October – February
Experience: Pristine, clean beach & excellent Konkani food . No doubt that Karde beach is so famous among tourists. Though the place is not very close to Pune/Mumbai, it offers everything required for a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday. Dolphins spotting ride @ INR 100/- per head is another major tourist attraction.

 

Boat Ride: Search for Dolphins

Private vehicle is a must. Frequency of Public transport is less. If you have time, visit to nearby Suvarnadurg fort (10 kms) , Ganpati temple at Anjarle (20 Kms) and Keshavraj temple (12 Kms) could provide fascinating insight into the country side & Konkani life style.

Suvarna Durg

View from Ganpati temple (Anjarle)

Raigad

Place: Raigad fort
Route from Pune: Pune > Velu > Khed shivapur > Bhor > Varandha > Mahad > ladavli > Pachad > Raigad
Alternate route: Pune > Pirangut > Paud > Tamhini > Mangaon > Mahad > ladavli > Pachad > Raigad
Distance from Pune: 150 Kms (Approx) Alternate route : 180 Kms (Approx.)
Places to eat: Various places enroute
Places to stay: MTDC resort on the fort. Hotel Visava near Mahad..
Best time to Visit: Anytime except summer. Monsoon is best.

Experience: We took the route via Bhor. Personally, I like this route very much. We had planned a one day trip and after spending most of the time enjoying the views of Varandha ghat, we realized that we would not get much time at Raigad. It is my favourite among all the forts in Maharshtra therefore i insisted for a short visit & it was worth it......

Niradevghar Dam

Waterfall in the ghats (just before Waghzai)

Waghzai Temple in Varandha ghat

Chattrapati Shivaji

Raigad Fort - Market place of old times

Raigad Fort - Shivaji Maharaj's Samadhi

Bhimashankar

Place: Bhimashankar
Route from Pune: Pune > Chakan> Rajgurunagar > Manchar > Bhimashankar
Distance from Pune: 160 Kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Various places on the highway.
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime except summer.
Experience: Despite being one among the 12 jyotirlingas, the place is not well maintained. Disappointing......

Kolhapur

Place: Kolhapur
Route from Pune: Pune > Shirwal > Satara > Karad > Kolhapur
Distance from Pune: 240 Kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Various places on the highway and in kolhapur.
Places to stay: Many. Hotel Shalini Palace in Kolhapur is good heritage hotel.
Best time to Visit: Anytime

Experience: Kolhapur is an ancient city and has an important place in history. It is famous for the Mahalaxmi temple built in seventh century AD. Millions of people visit this place every year from all over India for Mahalaxmi darshan. Besides the Mahalaxmi temple, Kolhapur offers other site seeing options like the Rankala lake and New Palace. People also visit the nearby holy places like Jyotiba, Narsobachi wadi and Ramteerth.

Panhala (fort), Amboli (Hill station) and Ganpatipule (Beach) are very close to Kolhapur. Accommodation and food is not so expensive in Kolhapur.
Worth a visit….

Panshet & Varasgaon

Place: Panshet & Varasgaon
Route from Pune: Pune > Khadakvasla > Donje > Khanapur > Panshet > Varasgaon
Distance from Pune: 45 Kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotel at Panshet
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Experience: Panshet and Varasgaon are two dams very close to each other. Panshet is famous for its boating club and trekking/cycling competitions in the nearby region. There is one restaurant near to the dam that provides good food at reasonable rates along with a splendid view of the lake.

Boating at Panshet

Panshet

Varasgaon