Goa

Place:  Goa
Route from Pune: Pune > Shirwal> Kolhapur > Nipani > Amboli > Sawantwadi > Bonda > Goa
Distance from Pune: 415 kms (Approx).
Places to eat: various places on the highway
Places to stay: countless.

Best time to Visit:  Anytime. You may not be able to enjoy the beaches during monsoon.

Experience: Beaches of Goa and night life are well known and need no introduction. Goa also offers examples of amazing portuguese architecture for those who look for something in addition to exciting Calangute and Baga beaches.

Basilica of Bom Jesus

Church of St Francis of Assisi  & Museum

Dona Paula

                                            Church of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Amboli

Place: Amboli & Sawantwadi
Route from Pune: Pune> Shirwal > Kolhapur > Nipani > Amboli > Sawantwadi
Distance from Pune: Amboli: 350 kms, Sawantwadi: 380 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotels on highway
Places to stay: MTDC resort (Amboli), Shilpagram resort (Sawantwadi)
Best time to Visit: Anytime except Summer

Experience: The places are full of natural beauty in monsoons. Just enjoy the drive. You can also proceed to Panaji, Goa which is 60 kms from Sawantwadi.

Amboli

Amboli

Kaas

Place: Kaas Plateau
Route from Pune: Pune> Khed shivapur> Shirwal > Satara > Kaas
Distance from Pune: 85 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotels on highway till Satara
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: September

Experience: These beautiful flowers fill up the Kaas plateau for approx. 3 - 4 weeks every September. Locals say that number of tourists have increased many folds in last few years. Forest department was considering closing down the area since people walk over /pluck the flowers. I think it may still be possible to view it from the road. Check for fresh updates before visiting.

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Hedshi

Place: Hedshi 
Route from Pune: Pune> Pirangut > Paud > Hedshi
Distance from Pune: 35 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotels enroute. A small snacks center outside temple
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: July - October

Experience: A very nice place. Very clean and peaceful. Amazingly beautiful during monsoon.

Bhandardara

Place: Bhandardara
Route from Pune: Pune> Chakan > Rajgurunagar > Manchar > Narayangaon > Bote > Brahmanwada > Bhandardara
Distance from Pune: 175 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Hotels on highway till Bote, MTDC resort
Places to stay: MTDC resort
Best time to Visit: July - October

Experience: Bhandardara is awesome. Full of natural beauty. Not many options to stay/eat. MTDC resort is disappointing.

Sangameshwar (Tulapur)

Place: Sangameshwar (Tulapur)
Route from Pune: Pune > Alandi > Markal > Sangameshwar (Tulapur)
Distance from Pune: 28 Kms (Approx.)
Places to eat: Various places enroute, A small hotel at sangameshwar.
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Experience: Sangameshwar is the place where three rivers Bhima, Bhama and Indrayani meet and hence the name. Boating facility is also available.

Besides the famous Sangameshwar temple, the place is also known for Samadhi's of Sambhaji maharaj and Kavi Kalash.
I had not expected such a clean and peaceful environment but it was surprisingly very pleasant. Worth one more visit…..

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

Parshwa Pragyalay

Place: Parshwa Pragyalay
Route from Pune: Pune > Dehu road > Parshva Pragyalay
Distance from Pune: 27 kms (Approx).
Places to eat: various places on old Pune – Mumbai Highway
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Experience: Parshwa Pragyalay is a Jain temple situated on a Hill slope near Talegaon on the old Pune-Mumbai highway. It offers a fantastic view of Talegaon and surrounding area. The temple is still under construction but the pillers that are already in place have beautiful sculptures carved on them. The idols in the temple are also very beautiful. The environment is very peaceful.

Prati Shirdi

Place: Prati shirdi
Route from Pune: Pune > Dehu road > Shirgaon > Prati shirdi
Distance from Pune: 25 Kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Various places on old Pune – Mumbai Highway
Places to stay: -
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Experience: The temple is exact replica of Shirdi. It also has the replica of Dwarkamai along with the ever burning flame. Nice place to visit.

Rohida (Vichitragad)

Place: Rohida Fort
Route from Pune: Pune > Katraj > kapurhol > Bhor > Bajarwadi > Rohida.
Distance from Pune: 65 kms (Approx).
Places to eat: Plenty of places between Pune- Bhor.
Places to stay: Hotels at Bhor
Best time to Visit: Monsoon.
Experience: Rohida (Vichitragad) is at a distance of 5 kms from Bhor. We started early in the morning and reached Rohida base at around 9:00 am. Had a break in between for a misal pav at khed shivapur. Also spent some time at Bhatghar dam. It is the longest dam that I have seen in my life.

At the very first glance of Rohida, we knew that the trek is going to be difficult. There is not even a single tree on the entire Hill. The sun was killing us by the time we reached near the fort. Vaishali was very tired and so we had to quit before we could reach the fort. Sushil continued. He then told us that the view from the top is very good though there is not much to see on the fort except one temple which is also in a bad shape.

Rohida

Sinhgad (Kondhana)

Place: Sinhgad fort
Route from Pune: Pune > Khadakvasla > Donje > Sinhgad
Distance from Pune: 30 kms (Approx)
Places to eat: Lot of hotels on the fort that offer Maharashtrian food (especially Pitla Bhakri).
Places to stay: Lot of options available in and around Donje village.
Best time to Visit: Anytime
Experience: Always pleasant and rejuvenating.