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

Vedas flagging Ashthavinayak Ballaleshwar Ganapti temple of Pali

Pali is a popular pilgrim destination due to sacred Ashthavinayak Ballaleshwar Ganapati Temple.
Pali has twin temples of Ashthavinayaks Ballaleshwar Ganapati, DhundiVinayak temple where God first appeared and offered wish to devotee Ballal. Second is the main temple where devotee requested God Ganapati to reside in the village.

DhundiVinayak temple of Pali is one of twin temples of Balleleshwar Ganapati of Pali.and should be the first to visit, idol of Ballaleshwar Ganapati is similar as in main temple. Temple has paintings depicting Ballal's story.

Idol of Ballaleshwar Ganapati is visibly different and stretched horizontly. Though photo it seems to be unusual, but in reality I found it very beautiful compared to other Asthavinayak idols seen so far.

Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak Temple of Pali is not only the spiritual centre but also hub of economic activity for common villagers. Numerous shops and auto rickshaws are common sight of such places but what impressed me is the business acumen of local community. Self help groups of Pali village not only prepare sweets as prasad but also pickles and traditional Indian snacks like papad etc. at home.

Make sure you buy the delicious sweets and seal the treat.

Though the liveliness is good for both locals and visitors, but certainly robs the peace of other wise peace of the temple and its beautiful surrounding.

Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak Temple of Pali is located at the foothill of scenic mountain.Temple has wooden interiors with fine artwork and a small hall for devotees to spend peaceful time. Though the hall is open, but sanctum is low on air circulation, but beautiful idol of Ballaleshwar Ganapati pulls your attention away from this petty ignorable item.

About 4 to 5 kms from temple is natural hot water pond at Unhere village, land mark is Dutta temple. Infact there are two - one for male and other for female. Local villagers smartly use it for bathing and surely saving on energy. They should be indeed be awared some carbon credits so that can make sum extra money for sustainence.

However, didnt find anything great about Unhere's hot water pond and wouild advise to ignored if you are short on time.

Drive to Ashthavinayak Ballaleshwar Ganapti temple of Pali is, on State Highway 92, refreshing due to ample of greenery, remoteness and striking assembly of four mountain peaks.

I call them four vedas : Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva. Vedas are ancient texts of Sanatan dharma, now popular as hindu religion, remarkably detailing Advaita relationship between macrocosm (God) and microcosm (Human) and offering insightful guidelines on interpreting daily life experiences.

Ashthavinayak Ballaleshwar Ganapti temple of Pali is infact located at the base of these mountains visible nearly all along the drive on State highway 92 towards the temple.

Ballal Vinayak temple is named honouring a devotee boy named Ballal whose continued deep devotion was met with fear of abnormality by villagers and their persistent complaint to father resulted in severe treatment and beating of Ballal. God Ganesh then saved and granted wish to unfaltering devotee. Ballal requested God for his continued presence in the village.

For me real Pali hills should be accredited to this small village instead of Mumbai's Pali Hill, in Bandra, where many Bollywood personalities reside. Weather of real Pali hill is more like Mumbai - typical sultry feeling reminding of Alibag beach at distance of 50 or 60 kms from Ashthavinayak Ballaleshwar Ganapti temple of Pali.

Shri Aryabhatt

Following blog, though not exact but ... is translation of text came across at Arya Samaj hall mentioning Shri Aryabhatt, one of Ancient Indian scholar in field of Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrology.

Profoundity of his work is evindent from : India's first satellite was named after Shri Aryabhatt and Pune's IUCCA is proud host of his statue.

More references are available on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryabhata

Shri Aryabhatt, born in 476, was one of the earliest Indian legendery scholar and contributed significantly in field of Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrology. His birthplace is village Kusumpur near city Patna, then known as Pataliputra. Aryabhatiya is the most popular work authored by Shri Aryabhatt in 499 at age of 23.

Aryabhatiya is broadly divided in four sections and the contents are written in Sutra style. Sutra style is one of ancient Indian style of writing where brevity and precision is ensured by using technical terms. Sutra style of concised writing can be idiomised as ocean in a bowl, e.g. one of the shloka mentions 5 different theories of Mathematics while in MolPaad, 4th section of Aryabhatiya, entire Sun theory is mentioned in mere 11 shlokas. Some of the currently accepted facts were invented and discovered by Shri Aryabhatt, e.g. Trignometry, one of first users of Pi ( 22/7 - Greek discovery) in regular mathematics. Many of his works are being thought in schools, globally.

In Astronomy, Shri Aryabhatt was first to claim that earth is round and also rotates around its axis. In one of his books Surya Siddhanth, he provided first meaningful explanation of Solar and Lunar eclipse, instead of accpeting eclipse as work of deamons Rahu and Ketu.

Shri Aryabhatt had calulcated 1 year cycle to be of 365.2586805 days, his calculation was better than Greek calulcation and is still inline with current acceptance.

Shri Aryabhatt's work is mentioned in books like Aryabhatiya, DanshGitika, Tantra.

Shri Aryabhatt is indeed Prime contibutor of late-ancient golden era of free India where it he is believed to be heading the ancient Nalanda university of Astronomy.

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.