Overflowing river in Wakad, Pune

Video capture of the soaring water levels of otherwise quiet river.
Waterlevels were higher by 15-20 feet....

Bhandardara near Pune

Bhandardara a remote village area, nestled in peaks of Western ghats, is lesser known tourist spot outside Pune. By road it seems to be closer to Nashik
rather then Pune or Mumbai.




Until reaching Bhandardara I wasnt very sure of its worthiness, initial plan was for overnight stay at Bhandardara spend 2/3 hours and then drive towards Malshej ghat.

Infact until Ale Phata, town near Malshej ghat, locals didn't know exact directions for Bhandardara which was supporting & adding onto my apprehension. But was also encouraging that we would be able to get overnight accommodation because it seemed lesser known and well known places were fully booked even before starting from Pune.



After a long 4 hours drive we started seeing signs for Bhandardara and also could see landscape gradually transitioning from dry and brown to pleasant green.
Drive after Rajur, town just before Bhandardara, changed drastically from green farmlands to mountainous terrain.

Weather was bright, sunny and clear i.e perfect for photography. Though dry trails of waterfalls on the far mountains meant lesser interesting views, but some places did have gushing waterfalls.

Speelway gate was first impressive offering of Bhandardara which immediately cleared my apprehension. Very impressive Civil engineering work to control very active water reservoir.

Since we still had to hunt for overnight accommodation, we rushed past Speelway and grudingly compromised onto poorly equipped Hotel Aishwaryam due to time constraint, location of overlooking Bhandardara Dam reservoir and biggest of all its proximity to MTDC Bhandardara resort.




After confirming our booking, we drove back down to base of Bhandardara Dam and enjoyed a small track to overpowering Umbrella falls. Havent seen such strong
Waterfall upclose. Turely captivating sight of HUGE dam and STRONG waterfall.

We went back to Speelway gate, enjoyed the panaromic view along with savouring the Vada Pav and hot cup of tea. I was now convinced that visiting Bhandardara was right choice.




Randha falls, our next stop, has beautiful twin strong waterfalls. Best view is enjoyed by 10 minutes walk to the tip of the cliff, where both falls can be
seen and merging into surprisingly tranquil stream. Top view of waterfalls easily reminds one of Grand Canyon.


On Sunday, inspite of hectic Saturday, we managed to complete our breakfast and start by 9:30 am. After unhappily paying entry fee of Rs 110.00 we started
our drive through preserved area towards Harishchandra garh and Kalsubai.



Rustic Panjra village had uncountable waterfalls and took us almost 30 mins to drive through a very small village. Unlike yesterday it was raining steady and
too many. Omen of good journey ahead.

Kalsubai, highest peak of Maharashtra, and nearby peaks were all covered by mobile clouds but driving around them revealed rich craftmanship of nature.



KonakanKada was our next stop a great location overlooking a dam, thankfully clouds sparsed enough for us enjoy the sight.




Amruteshwar Temple, of God Shiva, is impressively located near a pond and surrounded by hills. Very peace instilling location.

50 kms of loop took us three long hours because of indescribable beauty of nature and countless waterfalls acting as magnet; forcing us to stop, drench and
absorb in the flow.




Malshej, 80 kms from Bhandardara was our next stop, took about 3 hours to reach. Mainly due to backroad drive and the battered roads. Banana, Wheat, Brinjal
and numerous other farms along the routes are worth driving the route.



Around 3:30 pm we reached Malshej, after a quick refreshing break at Atur town. Malshej ghat was covered by thick clouds with visibility of bearly 5 meters.

Route is very narrow and heavy trucks and buses plying on it could easily prove fatal so we had to turn quickly around for safety reasons.

Though nothing like Bhandardara dam, Pimple Joga dam was pleasing with birds flying around and fishing.
Highway 222 connecting Ale phata to Kalyan, is already my faovrite route to drive around.

Click for more Photos

My video capture of Bhandardara on YouTube:

Randha falls Video

Bhandardara waterfalls Video

Kalsubai mountain peak Video

Umbrella waterfall Video

Konkankada Site Video

Nearby Places to see:

Malshej Ghat, Pimple Joga dam, Nashik City, Ojhar and Lenyadri Ashtanvinayak Ganpati temples, Shinveri fort at Junnar, Bhimashankar temple

Directions:
From Pune its about 200 kms, takes about 4 hours due to single lane Nashik Highway (NH-50). After crossing Manchar and reaching Narayangaon, make sure you ask villagers the directions for Bhandardara.
Malshej ghat is 40 KMS after turning left from Ale Phata, which is NH 222, Bhandardara can be reached both ways either continue straight from Ale phata (NH-50) or by taking left towards Malshej continue right and then turning right on reaching Autr town ( about 20/30kms) on NH-222

Pu La Deshpande Park

Okayama park a.k.a Pu La Deshpande park of Pune, openly highlights the grand living disparity of Indian Society - chaotic, unplanned, growing Indian cities (like Pune) implusated by occasional exception of planned execution and impeccable maintenance.

Yes, Okayama or Pu La Deshpande park of Pune is that fantastic exception of this city.

This amazing park, located at foothills of small Parvati hillock, is indeed a good tranqulizier for visitors just coming out of congested and chaotic Pune city traffic.

Okayama park of Pune is symbol of friendship between Pune and Okayama cities and has been built with Japanese collaboration. You can easily spot Japanese and international tourists enjoying the beautifully designed park.

This park has been named Pu. La. Deshpande park, after popular Marathi writer and actor Purushotam Laxman Deshpande and is impressively well maintained by otherwise notorious and negligent PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation).

Till the entrance of the Pu La Deshpande park, Pune visitors wouldn't find anything different but crossing the gate of Pu La Deshpande park is the step to beautiful transformation from disorderly to disciplined and orderly.

Built on 10 acres of land, Pu La Deshpande park begins with sturdy bamboo trees and colourful plants leading the visitor to artifical, yet beautiful and green, hillock of the park with the natural back-drop of Parvati hills. For Pune's Pu La Deshpande park visitors enchantment begins with the soothing water canalsbeautifully cutting through the green grass and colourful plants.

More Photo of Pu. La. Deshpande park

Even before Pu La Deshpande park tourists can complete appreciating, one encounters a beautiful pond with two small islands for birds and amphibians of the park. With backdrop of green hillock backdrop, small bridge this small pond with two green islands is indeed marvelous.

Pu La Deshpande park's small pond is the heart of the park not only for the visitors but also its nautral inhabitants : the rich marine life and chirping birds.

More Photo of Centre pond rim Pu. La. Deshpande park

More Photo from Hilltop of Pu. La. Deshpande park

More Photo of centre pond of Pu. La. Deshpande park

East of park has mini cascaded waterfalls, If visiting Pu La Deshpande park during afternoon then tourists can evidently feel the refreshing moisture and lower temperature while walking towards it.

While walking towards the west, do stop by and enjoy the aligned agri-farming section.

North East of Pu La Deshpande park (way towards exit) is my favourite because walking amongst the neck high colorful plants gives feeling of being in the woods and the beside steady flowing canal stream is very refreshing makes you feel part of the energy flow.

Architects of Pu La Deshpande park smartly used this downhill trail to open into center pond, which however was dry yet beautifully maintained.

After crossing this second center pond, of Pu La Deshpande park,is the most audible water stream donating a great pacifying feeling.Make sure you sit and enjoy the free natural peaceful energy overflowing in abundance in this area of Pu La Deshpande park.

Before visitor of Pu La Deshpande park can step out park offers one more mesmirizing mini vista looking over the pond and overlooking bridge of the park.

More Photo of peaceful ambience of Pu La Deshpande Park

Pu La Deshpande park is like a self sustaining natural ecosystem, where humans are indeed visitors gradually exposed to other natural beings.

From Pu La Deshpande park, visitors take away the calm and placetness, much required for peacfully dissolving into mad urban race.

So whats the disparity I mentioned earlier?

Pu La Deshpande park cuddled by Parvati Hills shanties indeed make this well maintained park look a lavish luxorious spending.

Also Security guards managing the Pu La Deshpande park are indeed creditworthy on ensuring the high orderliness of the park.It makes me wonder why cant same management look after the wonderous Empress Botanical garden, plagued by young romeo-juliets.

Near by places to visit:

Saras Bagh, Parvati Temple, Peshwe Energy Park , Ramakrishna Mutth

Directions:
Located on Sinhgad Road in popular Parvati Hills area and next to Ramakrishna Mutth and 5 kms from Saras bagh.
Entrance ticket is Rs 5.00 per person and Rs 5.00 for car parking. This is money well spent.
Pu La Deshpande on Google Maps

Plight of soothing Sangameshwar

Off state highway 58, at outskirts of Pune city in Maharashtra state, is a hamlet Tulapur.Historically known as Nagargaon acquired name of Tulapur due to Shahji, ancestor of Maratha king's Shivaji and Sambhaji.

However, more than this feat, place is witness of one of the brutal historical events.

Sangamner, in Tulapur, is a quiet and remote junction of three rivers - Bhima with its subsidiaries Bhama and Indrayni rivers.

Sangamner is more than junction of three rivers, it offers a special subtle experience of unifying with nature and overflowing peace.

Sangamner is a quick nature escape for tourists and citizens for traffic crazy Pune city.Drive to Tulapur / Sangamner is pleasant without traffic with lush greenery and hillocks along.

Visitors, tourists and devotees would certainly enjoy God Shiva's Sangameshwar temple near Tulapur.

Reason is ...
Sangameshwar temple is non-commercial with hardly any visitors yet impressivle maintained and well architected temple.Its picturesque location at junction of three rivers surrounded with big green trees and carefree wandering squirrels, chirping birds and flocks of white Cattle Egret birds makes it generous donor of overflowing peace, calm and more ...

Befitting the name, visiting Sangamner is a truely unifiying experience where an individual automatically gets unified with beauty of nature and divine force
behind it - God Shiva.


Sangameshwar temple offers a comprehensive escape package to Photographers.

God Shiva's Sangameshwar Temple is built of solid stones which immediately instills strength and sense of awe with its ancient looking architecture.

Since Sangameshwar temple is lesser known, its isolated location is a great option for tourists looking to be in cradle of nature and peace.

For urban animals and working professionals of Pune, its shortcut to uninterrupted and overflowing peace

Temple is maintained by small village community now known as Shivale. Every individual enjoying Sangameshwar owes deeply to this devoted community for
resurructing and maintaining Sangameshwar.

Reason is ...
Opposite the Sangameshwar temple is grand statue of Maratha king Sambhaji Maharaj.
Brave Sambhaji Maharaj, son of great King Shivaji Maharaj, died one of the most heart wrecking and inhuman death.

What caught my attention was title of Dharamveer (Brave protector of religion)? King Sambhaji chose to martyr his life to protect his religion, people, culture but refused to change religion even after continous torture by hands of Mogul
empire.

A very disturbing event witnessed by otherwise calm Sangamner.

Entire history is recorded on http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/4404.html

Remains of Dharmveer Sambhaji are stored safely in dedicated secured structure as shown in above photo.

Directions : About 1 hr drive from Pune city area.
Option 1: SH60 From Nagar Road, left onto SH 58.
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=18.671916&lon=73.995195&zoom=14&q1=bhima%2520river%252C%2520pune
Option 2: NH-50 Nashik Road right on SH-58 crossing popular town of Alandi where Saint Tukaramji use to live.
Due to isolation no signs one can easily miss the Sangamner. Sangameshwar temple of God Shiva, however, is good and reliable landmark of this lesser known place. Tourists will find very few visitors in the temple.

Time to visit:

Almost anytime except, since Alandi (place where Saint Tukaram lived) is nearby, for 3-4 days around June 15 when lakhs of devotees of Saint Tukaram and Dhyaneshwar participate in Palkhi procession involving walking hundreds of kilometers across cities to follow the trail of two enlightened Saints who blessed city of Pune.

Panshet day trip

Panshet Dam's biggest tourist attraction is the water sports facility.Panshet Dam's tourist can enjoy motor boat, jet sking, rowing in theresevoir etc.
Panshet Dam's water reservoir is called Tanaji Sagar.

Group motor boating is for 8-10 persons. Panshet motor boatinghas two packages and lasts for 15-25 minutes in the silentand secluded hillocks.

But unsophisticated motor boats are noisy and disturbing.Nevertheless they offer a good view of the Panshet dam's wall.Boats are not allowed close to the Panshet dam wall

Surprisingly motor boats ride are in the drinking water of Pune.It is indeed a health hazard.

Kids and Teens have more to do at Panshet dam, it has a micro-small race track with mini-scooters and mini-cars. Panshet Dam vacationers can enjoy teens doing small stunt in the Panshet race track.
Trekkers in Panshet dam have plenty of option and canget good view from height of few hundred feet, but didn'topt for any such adventure since we started late afternoon.

Panshet drive dam is not bad, actually one can easily climb the Panshet dam wall - but its illegal. We didn't climb the wall stleast I didnt want to spoil me outing by getting in legal row

Time to visit
Post monsoon and winter one see plenty of delighful birds on the way to Panshet Dam.

Nearby Places
Panshet Dam's visitors can plan a days vacation to Panshet dam area.
Khadakvasla and Varasgaon dam are within 5-12 kms.

Hisoric Singhgad fort is much before Panshet dam and is normallycrowded. Many people visit Singhgad during weekend for trekkingand jogging.
Farther trail of Singhgad fort offers a breathtaking view of thevalley including the Panshet dam.



Spiritual center of Yoganandaji is also on the way. Organisation was started by author of internationally acclaimed book Autobiography of a Yogi

Directions
Panshet Dam, South West of Pune, is about 45 kms from Pune and takes 1 hour to reach.

Parking charges, Boating Charges, Race Track Charges. Parking charges can be avoided by parking outside the property,while Race track charges arr only for riders.Boating charges cannot be avoided, else there would be hardlyanything to do.

Chaturshringi : mother of Pune University

Since the Chaturshringi temple of Pune is peacefully overlooking the Pune unversity area, I like to call it mother of Pune University.
Chaturshringi temple offers good package of spiritual and physical well-beingChaturshringi temple is located opposite Pune university on Senapati Bapat Road or S B Road.

Chaturshringi is most crowded during both Navratri (9 days of spiritual devotion) of the year and elaborate people co-ordination perparations are done.

Ambience of Chaturshringi temple impressive due to beautiful hillscaping and fine maintenance. A virtue which many temple trusts of India need to pick and learn.

More Photos

Chaturshringi Temple Grand entrance

Chaturshringi Temple Steps

Devotees have to climb more than 100 steps to reach the actual goddess Chaturshringi shrine on the hill.
Whats striking is that phera (Divine walk around the idol) is on small hill which offers a pleasing view on Pune University Road.

During afternoon do wear socks to avoid feet burn due to intense sunlight.
Temple also has God Ganesh temple and includes 8 miniature idols of Ashta Vinyaka along the periphery.

Hillscaping offers a good place to relax for family, visitors, tourists of Chaturshringi temple. Early evening is good time to visit to enjoy beatuful birds and solace ofthe place.

Chaturshringi temple of Pune is also used for quick getaway from hustle-bustle of chaotic Pune traffic.

Many groups organise scoial gathering in big campus of Pune Chaturshringi temple.

Bhimashanker God Shiva's Jyotirling temple near Mumbai Pune

Bhimashanker temple, one of the 12 jyotirlinga temples of God Shiva, is of spiritual and religious significance. God Shiva's Bhimashanker temple is very ancient, but due to current renovation only few parts of temple reveal the ancient construction.Intricate artwork on the solid stones at the narrow entrance door of the temple is one area which proclaims the historical value.
Bhima river originates from Bhimashanker.


More photos:
Bhimashanker Temple
Small dam near Ambegaon on-way for Bhimashanker temple
Scene before Bhimashanker temple

Maha Shivratri (somewhere in Feb / March) is the good time to visit the temple as devoteesand followers make the atmosphere vibrant and overwhelming.To grasp the true vibrations of the place we visited during Navratri.



Travelling to Bhimashanker, about 120KMs from Pune, is climbing on 2 land planes.One near Manchar and second aclivity near Ghodegaon. Overall drive is very good, after Manchar is road gets narrow and uphill drive slows average speed but thats when good part of the drive starts, i.e. from Ghodegaon area.

Tourists and trekkers can enjoy a half day trek on the rocky waterfall path of the temple.Yes dont venture during the monsoon to avoid being washed into Shayadri ghats.
Bhimashanker promises adventures for tourists, travellers as there are no proper signsto walk down the long multi-trails. Avoid the trails if you are short on time.

Bhimashanker temple of God Shiva had a nearby MTDC resort but it was closed for renovation.For overnight camping and picnic near Bhimashanker temple of God Shiva, there few local resortsand hotels. However Blue Mormon jungle resort reveals quality and is good, safe place for family with small kids and children. Blue Mormon jungle resort is named after local butterfly.

A small dam beautifies the valley near Ambegaon while driving from Pune to Bhimashaker temple of God Shiva.

Parking Charges are Rs 10.00. After parking one has to walk for 1 km to reach the temple

Directions:
From Mumbai, take central railway train and alight at Karjat station. From Karjat take a bus or a local trnasport.
From Pune, Take Nasik highway - NH 50. After 60 kms at Manchar, turn left on state highway 53 towards Ghodegaon. At the mosque turn left towards Ambegaon and continue for 60 kms.

Blissful Mulshi Dam with Sai

Mulshi Dam is a ideal place for a quick family day picnic or an overnight adventure at outskirts of Pune.
Located at high altitude of Sahyadri ranges, in Western Ghats, Mulshi Dam area offers a good combo pack of a scenic Mulshi dam, beautiful winding roads, calm Mulshi lake, refreshing greenery, simple farming villages and abundance of flora, fauna.


More Photos at ....
Mulshi photos ...

Mulshi Dam is not only good for short family vacation but Trekkers too can enjoy Mulshi area with numerous small trails and a majestic viewof Tamhini ghat leading tourists towards Konkan region.

Nature Photographers have plenty to quench their artisitc thirst in the serene Mulshi Dam area.

Tourists ideally visit Mulshi during monsoon, but winters in Mulshi is also good option for tourists with choice of overnight trip in one of local resorts.

We stayed at private farmhouse Silver Oaks at Malle village near Mulshi.A remote village with no disturbing cell phone but easy roadconnectivity and steady power supply.

Sliver Oaks farmhouse near Mulshi has plenty of sugarcane farms around it, also big lawn for small children to play around etc

Mulshi trip highlight was late night camp fire at farmhouse and early morning Sun-tea of cold winter is still relished.

I enjoyed the bliss of idyllic strolling in farms, melodious birds and yoga in clean open air of winter morning with dewdrops on green grass.

On 2nd day we visited grand Sai Baba Temple and Satya Sai baba ashram at Haadshi village about 15 kms from Mulshi. The Spirital centre is located on a flat hillock circled by bigger mountains ... one naturally feels elevated.


Grandeur of the Sai Baba ashram and its beautiful geographical location overloking small vliages is mesmerizing.

Our luncheon was at Girivan - man made hilltop town. Its location reminded me of Amby Valley near Lonavala and Lavasa high profile scam townships. Food was acceptable but Girivan was bit run-down due to poor maintenance.

World renowned Chinmaya mission's Sadhana (Meditation) center is located nearby.
Mahindra's prestigious and expensive World Institute is located about 8 kms from Girivan on another hill.

Directions:

Mulshi dam is in Mulshi taluka (sub-district) and is located on state highway 60 of Maharashtra state, about 40 kms from Pune.

Rs. 15.00 per car Toll atChandni Chowk, Bavdhan.

Rs 50.00 per head entrance for Girivan.

It costs around INR Rs.1750 per night and extra charges for food at Mulshi resorts or farmhouse.