The 1st Trip during Diwali (2018 to Chikmagalur) made me an amateur writer.“Traveling – It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller – IBN Batutta”

I was neither a writer nor good at English (I used to stand or kneel outside the classes during English periods :P), but my first blog which I wrote for Travelista, about Chikmagalur and Hassan was a big hit.

This year, my brother shifted to Pune and we all planned to visit him and celebrate Diwali, visiting the places around Pune. Below is the Itinerary of our trip

Day 1

This trip we took a train from our home town and reached my brother’s house the previous night. We covered all the places by traveling in a tempo traveler.

MUMBAI

Mumbai is the most welcoming city, I love it! even I have dedicated my first post to Mumbaikars. But the city doesn’t have much to offer, for the tourists. The spots are so minimum that even a day is enough to cover them all.

Early morning we started from Pune and reached Mumbai around 8 30 AM. We hired a local guide. Started with Siddivinayak Temple, Marine Drive, Gateway of India, Taj Hotel, Haji Ali Dargah, Hanging Gardens, ‘Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount’ church in Bandra, Bandra Link road. On the way, the guide showed us the Celebrities’ houses.

Overnight stay at City Palace Resort Lonavala [1750 per room for 4 persons]

Day 2

Lonavala

Its the Diwali day. Our first destination for the day is Shree Narayani Dham Temple. Rooms are available and they provide awesome food for a minimal amount[Buffet dinner and breakfast for Rs.105 and Rs.65 respectively].

Karla Caves – This is a Buddhist rock-cut cave. The structure is similar to Cave 26 of Ajanta cave. Reaching the cave requires to climb 350 steps from the base or 250 steps from car park.[From the base to the carpark the auto wallas charge Rs.100 per head]. The entry ticket to visit the cave is Rs.25. There is a temple nearby the cave, dedicated to goddess Ekveera

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Bushi Dam – Bushi Dam is fun. There is a series of steps and water flows through the steps.

Tiger Leap – Its a viewpoint.Just a photo stop.

Ballaleshwar Temple – This temple is located in Pali village. This is one of the eight (Ashtavinayak) temples. Overnight stay at the temple complex, Pali [500rs per room for 3 persons]

Day 3

Raigad Fort

Raigad Fort is one of the best places I had visited during this trip. There are nearly 1700 steps to reach the fort by trekking. Most people avail of the rope car facility which costs Rs.300 for the round trip.

Raigad fort is rich in history. This was the capital during the Shivaji Maharaj period (1674 CE). He had his Coronation here. Shivaji’s memorial, as well as his loyal dog’s memorial, is situated here[Wondering how such great valor who fought for his people(It’s said that his body would always bleed because of the wounds, such that he was fighting continuously), till the last breath, traveling every nook and corner with his horse, could pet a dog and have a memorial equivalent to the height of his own memorial!! The topic of controversy 😐 ].

The memorial Tomb had been hidden in the dense forest and during 1880, Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule walked all the way from Pune to Raigad and discovered the tomb. (** Jyoti Rao Phule’s wife, Savitri bai Phule is considered as the first female teacher of India, she is a social reformer, educationalist and a poet, who played an important role in improving women’s rights)

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After reaching the upper rope car station, we need to flight a few steps to enter the Mena Darwaja aka Main palace. Left of the main palace is six queen’s quarters with attached restrooms(with proper outlet facility,990 years ago). Only the basement remains. The palace roof is made of wood and everything is burnt to ashes by British(some say it’s burnt by our people because of internal disputes)

Shivaji’s main palace now contains fragmented ruins of three watchtowers overlooking Ganga Sagar lake. There is a royal bath with good drainage systems, Granaries, Secret chamber for discussions, Execution place called Takmak Tok where the prisoners were executed by pushing off the cliff, Shivaji’s Coronation place, Ruins of Market place where the people can shop horseback. One side of the Market place has the statue of Shivaji, the path on the other side leads to Jaghadishwar Mandir, his samadhi and his Dog’s samadhi.

I suggest you read the history before you go there because the guides over there speak only Hindi and Marathi.

Tapola

Tapola is 150kms from Raigad (15kms past Mahabaleshwar)which took nearly 5 hours to travel. We had Tapola in plan exclusively for Tent camping (we couldn’t stay in Tent because of rains that night). But we thoroughly enjoyed the other aspects of the resort-like lakefront location, DJ, Barbeque, the ambiance, the food, extraordinary and beyond our expectation.

Overnight stay at Palvi Argo tourism and river camping resort [Rs.1150 per person, includes – Tent /Room, Veg /Non-Veg Barbecue, Veg/ Non-Veg Dinner, DJ set up, Campfire, Breakfast, and Kayaking] https://goo.gl/maps/Fbw7VaSTW4u

Day 4

Tapola

Early morning walk in a hill station with wonderful views and covered with fog is Bliss!!! After the walk, we went on a short trek to the lake and did kayaking there. A wonderful experience to kayak in a 300ft deep lake.We took a motorboat and went to Shiva Mandir and did some water sports.

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Mahabaleshwar

We reached Mahabaleshwar around 4PM in the evening. we went to a short trek in the jungle near Mapro Gardens. It isn’t worth the visit. Also, do not visit the so-called Wax museum there.Mapro Gardens have strawberry plantations and Processed Fruit products.Overnight stay at Mahabaleshwar.

Day 5

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is full of viewpoints. We visited Elephant’s Head point, Lodwick point, Echo point, Savitri Point, Venna Lake, Bombay Point/ Sunset Point, Parsi Point. Mahabaleshwar Mandir and Panch Ganga – The water here is very tasty here.

On the way back from Mahabaleshwar to Shirdi ,we visited Mahaganapathy temple at Wai.

Day 6

We visited Shirdi and Ranjangaon Ganapathy mandir which is one among the eight vinayaka temples.Overnight stay at my brother’s house Pune.

Day 7

Pune City Tour

Aga khan palace

This palace was built by Sultan Mohammed Shah Aga Khan , who gave it for charity for the poor in nearby areas, hit by famine. This palace now houses the museum containing important incidents of Gandhiji’s life, collection of pictures , marble memorials of Mahadeobhai Desai and Kasturba Gandhi .They have also placed small amount of Gandhiji’s ashes near his wife’s memorial.

Aha khan palace is closely related to Indian independence as it is served as a prison for Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi,his secretary Mahadeobhai Desai and Sarojini Naidu during the Quit India Movement.

We had also visited Shaniwar wada, Daguduset Ganapati Mandir and Laxmi road for shopping.While in Pune never miss Dairy products and milk sweets.Get Lakshminarayanan Chiwda and milk pedas as take away.

And that is the end of our week long trip 🙂

Spread Joy!! Spread Positiveness!!!