AJANTHA
CAVES
My heart's desire was fulfilled when a group of us landed in the picturesque settings of Ajanta Caves. The Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected monument in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India. Its lovely location at a cliff overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river, hidden under thick vegetation for over 1200 years, was discovered accidentally and all the 29 caves of a Buddhist monastery complex, were excavated. The rock-cut cave monuments full of paintings and sculpture are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. The bewitching beauty of the feminine figures have had a considerable artistic influence all over the world of pictorial art. The walls, ceilings and columns of the caves are covered with ornate floral and animal decorations interspersed with ornamental scenes from the Jataka stories. Five of the caves are temples and 24 were monasteries consisting of several viharas (monastic halls of residence) and stupa monument halls, adorned with architectural details, sculptures and paintings. The various episodes in the life of Gautam Buddha are depicted in sculptures. Monuments and pictures. Many hours of strolling in and out of all the caves, admiring the past glory of our cultural heritage was a very fulfilling experience for me.
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2 Our next stop was at ELLORA CAVES representing the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture, built about 1500 years ago and excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills . There are 34 caves in all, 12 Buddhist , 17 Hindu and 5 Jain caves, numbered chronologically, starting with the oldest. It requires a whole day at least and lot of stamina to go over all these caves. These structures consist of viharas or large monasteries, multi-storeyed buildings carved into the mountain face, including living quarters, sleeping quarters, kitchens, and other rooms. These monastery caves have shrines including carvings of Gautama Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Saints. It is amazing to see in front of you Masterpieces of rock cut Hindu Temples, Buddhist Biharas, Jain Monasteries- all cut into from a single piece of rock mountain. It is beyond our imagination, how much load of skilled work has gone into the carving of this all these wonders, out of a monolithic rock. Every cave was a treat to the eye.The masterpiece at Ellora is the Kailasa Temple, dedicated to Shiva. It is the world’s largest monolithic sculpture, shewn from rock by thousands of craftsmen over a few generations of artisans.The enormous Kailash Temple is a stupendous piece of architecture, with spatial effects and amazing sculptures. It is absolutely astounding, and could easily be a world class Heritage site on its own, a marvelous show piece of the greatest achievement of human culture and civlization. There is no heritage site anywhere in the world, manifesting man's creative achievement on hard rock, as large and stupendous as this.
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3. We reached NASIK in the night and stayed in our friend's house. NASIK is located on the banks of the Godavari River, where Lord Rama, the King of Ayodhya, made his home Panchavati during his 14 years in exile. It was here Lakshmana, cut off the nose of Surpanakha and thus this place was named as "Nasik". Panchavati was the place in the forest which literally means " a garden of five banyan trees " It was very fulfilling to visit all sacred places in the city and watch crowds of people performig rites and taking sacred bath in the river. It is here the Kumbh Mela, the largest peaceful gathering in the world of over 100 million people , takes place once every twelve years in rotation with Haridwar, Allahabad, and Ujjain. This place is believed to be the holiest and ideal place to do Shraddha ceremony. Godavari originates from the Brahmagiri hills in this town. We visited the TRIMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE an ancient Hindu Pilgrim centre locatedat the source of the Godavari River, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is the Linga in the temple is in the three faced form embodying Tridev, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. All other Jyotirlingas have Shiva as the main deity. The Linga is crowned with a jewel studded crown believed to be from Pandavas. The crown is adorned with diamonds, emeralds, and many other types of precious stones.
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3. We reached NASIK in the night and stayed in our friend's house. NASIK is located on the banks of the Godavari River, where Lord Rama, the King of Ayodhya, made his home Panchavati during his 14 years in exile. It was here Lakshmana, cut off the nose of Surpanakha and thus this place was named as "Nasik". Panchavati was the place in the forest which literally means " a garden of five banyan trees " It was very fulfilling to visit all sacred places in the city and watch crowds of people performig rites and taking sacred bath in the river. It is here the Kumbh Mela, the largest peaceful gathering in the world of over 100 million people , takes place once every twelve years in rotation with Haridwar, Allahabad, and Ujjain. This place is believed to be the holiest and ideal place to do Shraddha ceremony. Godavari originates from the Brahmagiri hills in this town. We visited the TRIMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE an ancient Hindu Pilgrim centre locatedat the source of the Godavari River, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is the Linga in the temple is in the three faced form embodying Tridev, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. All other Jyotirlingas have Shiva as the main deity. The Linga is crowned with a jewel studded crown believed to be from Pandavas. The crown is adorned with diamonds, emeralds, and many other types of precious stones.
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4. My sister was a devotee of Shri Saibaba of Shirdi and we visited this shrine a couple of times. SAI BABA lived between 1838 and 1918, a very popular saint worshiped by people in India and around the world. Sai Baba's teachingscombined elements of Hinduism and Islam. One of his well known epigrams, "Sabka Malik Ek" ( One God governs all ), is associated with Islam and Sufism. Sai Baba's real name, parents, place of birth or past is still not known.. Some of Sai Baba's disciples became famous as spiritual figures and saints. People started visiting him,because they regarded him as a saint or an Avatar with the power of performing miracles. Baba lived under a neem tree for a number of years. Sai Baba's millions of disciples and devotees believe that he performed many miracles such as entering a state of Samadhi at will, lighting lamps with water, mindreading and helping his devotees in curing the hopelessly sick in a miraculous way. His miracles are spoken even today by his ardent followers.----------------------------------------------------------------
5. We reached AURANGABAD named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara. Bibi Ka Maqbara, situated about 3 km from the city is the burial place of Emperor Aurangzeb's wife, Dilras Banu Begum. It is an imitation of the Taj Mahal at Agra and due to its similar design, it is popularly known as the Taj of the Deccan. The Maqbara stands in the middle of a spacious and well planned Mughal garden with axial ponds, fountains, water channels, broad pathways and pavilions. It was built by Prince Azam Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the late 17th century as a loving tribute to his mother. Exactly like the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum is framed by four lofty minarets that stand freely at the corners of the terrace. It is really worth a visit and a great consolation for whose who have not yet seen the Taj Mahal at Agra. Behind the mausoleum is located a small archaeological museum.----------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Grishneshwar Jyotirling, once known as Devagiri, near Ellora caves is one of the ancient and holiest shrines of India located at Daulatabad near Aurangabad. The Grishneswar temple was re-constructed by Maloji Bhosale of Verul, (grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) in the 16th century and later by Ahilyabai Holkar in 18th century. Grishneshwar is also known as Ghushmeswara. The Lord is also known by several names like Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, etc., We were very happy to visit this Jyothirling temple which is a must for those who have already visited the other temples. Ahilyabhai Holkar constructed the Grishneshwar Temple, also re-constructed the Kasi Viswanatha temple at Banaras and the Vishnu Paada temple at Gaya.
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7.Shingnapur is 35 km from Ahmednagar city, famous for the shrine of God Shani and more famous for the fact that houses in the village have no doors at all, only door frames and no theft is reported in the village. Villagers never keep their valuables under lock and key. Villagers believe that the temple is a "jagrut devasthan" meaning that the God here is very powerful. They believe that God Shani punishes anyone attempting theft. The shrine for Shani consists of a five and a half feet high black rock installed on an open-air platform, which symbolizes the god Shani. A Trishula (trident) is placed along the side of the image and a Nandi (bull) image is on the south side. In front are the small images of Shiva and Hanuman. The temple attracts about 40,000 visitors daily, which swells to around three lakh on amavasya (the new moon day) believed to the most auspicious day to appease Lord Shani. Devotees bathe Lord Shani's image with water and oil and offer flowers and udid to Him.The village is buzzling with crowds of pilgrims and devotees all around.-------------------------------------------------------------------
8.BHIMASANKAR Temple is a Jyotirlinga shrine located 140km from Pune in the Ghat region of the Sahyadri hills. Bhimashankar is also the source of the river Bhima, which flows southeast and merges with the Krishna river near Raichur. Bhimashankara temple is a composite of old and the new structures in the Nagara style of architecture. The shikhara was built by Nana Phadnavis. The great Maratha ruler Shivaji is said to have made endowments to this temple to facilitate worship services. As with other Shiva temples in this area, the sanctum is at a lower level. A big bell in Hemadpanthi structure built by Nana Phadanavis is a feature of Bhimashankar. We have visited this temple many times besides Hanuman Lake, Gupt Bhimashankar, Origin of River Bhima, Nag Phani, Bombay Point, Sakshi Vinayak and a lot more. Bhimashankar is a conserved forest area and wildlife sanctuary where a variety of birds, animals, flowers, plants can be seen. A rare animal "Shekru" can be found in deep woods. We took a tribal guide and ventured inside the jungle, found camp-sites of some trekkers and saw an Anjaneya temple. Bhimashankar is worth visiting for jungle lovers and trekkers as well as for pilgrims.
9. On the eve of New Year's day we visited the famous Mahalaxmi temple at Kolhapur, in the company of my in-laws. The Temple of Mahalakshmi, the consort of Vishnu is one of the Shakti Peethas. The image of Mahalakshmi is made of gemstone and is considered to be at least 5000 to 6000 years old and weighs about 40 kilos. The precious stones that adorn the deity indicate the antiquity of the idol. It was in existence in the times of Parashuram. A stone lion, the vahana of the goddess, stands behind the statue. The crown contains an image of the Sheshnag — the serpent of Vishnu. Kolhapur was a princely state ruled by the royal Bhosale Chhatrapatis of the Maratha Empire, before Independence. Rajendra Chola II marched on to Kolhapur and erected a jayastambha or victory pillar in the city. Pheta turban is a speciality in Kolhapur. Kolhapuri chappals are hand-crafted buffalo leather slippers and quite famous. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
10. Sajangad fort located near the city of Satara, placed 3000 feet above sea level, is a mere 2 hour drive from Pune to reach. . The climb is quite steep. One has to take 750 steps in order to reach the entrance of the fort. There are two water reservoirs inside the fort. It is the final resting place of Sant Ramdas, a saint and social reformer in 17th century who had lived here throughout his life. (born 1606). His teachings and works are written in books such as Dasbodh. Prayer and reading of the manuscript Dasbodh written by Sant Ramdas goes on. God Ram’s idols are worshipped on top of the temple and in the basement of the Samadhi the trustees serve food as (prasad) to devotees.There is a Dharmashala for devotees who came from far off places and it is free of cost for all. Previously known as Parali, it was renamed to Sajjangad after Shivaji Maharaj requested Shri Ramdas Swami to set up his permanent monastery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Pandarpur. We hired a driver and drove off to a few spiritual spots in Sholapur district. After a few hours we reached Pandarpur on the banks of the Bhima River, alternatively known as Chandrabhaga because of its half-moon-like shape. It is a religious town visited throughout the year by thousands of Hindu pilgrims, in honour of the deities Vithoba, an incarnation of Vishnu, and his consort, Rukmini. The 12th century temple is associated with the the bhakti sect poet-saints of Maharashtra and Karnataka namely, Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, Gora Kumbhar, Eknath,Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasa,Gopala Dasa, and Jagannatha Dasa. The worship of Vitthal in the Pandharpur temple is based mainly on the contents of the Puranas, and the contributions of the above Vaishnav saints.The annual Pandharpur Yatra or pilgrimage or wari to the famous Vitthal Temple held on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi, has been held without break for more than 700 years. 
About 300 years before, the youngest son of Tukaram introduced the palkhi, an important part of the pilgrimage 
of carrying of the silver padukas (foot prints) in a palanquin from Dehu to Pandharpur and of Saint Dnyaneshwar from Alandi. The palkis of Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar are joined by Eknath’s from Paithan, Nivruttinath’s from Trimbakeshwar, Sopan’s from Sasvad, Muktabai’s from Muktainagar, and Saint Gajanan Maharaj from Shegaon. Warkaris accompany the palkhis singing Abhangas and we are lucky to reside in the route and partake in this mammoth human procession. Mainly venerated by the Warkari Sampraday or the sect, the appeal of Lord Vitthal has spread far and wide attracting devotees from nearby states like Karnataka and Andhra undertaking the pilgrimage, (including foreign nationals). The Legend of how Lord Vitthal came to be venerated at Pandharpur relates to the Lord visiting the home of his devout bhakta (devotee) Pundalik, who was engrossed in taking care of his parents. Pundalik continued to serve his parents despite knowing the fact that the Lord had come to visit him. He threw two bricks for the Lord to stand on and wait till he finished his work. The Lord did not take offence and was impressed with Pundalik’s devotion to his parents. At Pundalik’s request, the Lord agreed to stay forever at Pandharpur so that others could also venerate him. Since, he stands on bricks Vitthal is also called Vithoba. Saint Dnyaneshwar, who is credited with translating the Bhagwad Gita into Marathi and making it accessible for the common man, spread the fame of the Lord far and wide. Saint Tukaram also spread the message of Bhakti among the poor masses. We therefore joined the long queue of devotees thronging at this Temple to have the darshan of Lord Vittoba, whose feet have been eroded by constant placing of the head of generations of millions of devotees in veneration..-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Akkalkot. We drove to nearby Sholapur for our night stay and moved next day to Akkalkot, widely known for its association with Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj, held by some to be a reincarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Swami Maharaj lived for over two decades at Akkalkot, where his samadhi and shrine are now located. The shrine complex, which is known the Vatavruksh Mandir since it encloses the banyan tree beneath which the swami would preach his message, is the hub of devotions for his followers. It is said that the tree speaks and some sound comes from the tree. Free accommodation and meals are provided to pilgrims by the Shri Swami Samarth Annachhatra Mandal. The other local shrine is the samadhi of Akkalkoth Swami located some distance from the main shrine within the city limits.
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13. Next day we crossed and entered Gulbarga district in Karnataka and reached Ganagapura kshetra associated with Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami, the 13th century saint, considered as the second incarnation of Dattatreya lived. The town is situated on the banks of Bhima river. The Nirguna Matha is situated in the centre of the town. The Nirguna Padukas are in the main shrine. To the south of the temple is a small Audumbara tree and under the tree are small shrines of Maha Ganapathy, Shiva and Parvati. To the west of the Temple is a Peepul tree with NAGA (serpent) statues under it. It is said in the sacred book GURU CHARITRA that a Brahma Rakshasa used to live in that tree. To the north of the main temple are small shrines of Hanuman and Ganapathy. 700 years ago, His Holiness Narasimha Saraswati Swamiji installed the PADUKAS here. The Puja method started by Swamiji is continued to this day. It is said that no one has seen the original Padukas as they always are smeared thickly with saffron mixed sandal paste. No Abhisheka has ever been done to the Padukas.
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14. TULJAPUR BHAVANI Temple....We reached the famed Tujapur town and stayed in a Hotel near the temple.Tuljapur, the one amongst three and half Shakti Peethas (abodes of cosmic powers) of the state, wherein resides the Mother Goddess Tulja Bhavani. She is also fondly revered as Aai (mother) Ambabai, Jagdamba, Tukai by her devotees who throng in millions to Tuljapur for her Darshan and blessings. She is a formidable goddess in Hindu Puranas. She is known for combating demons who threaten the stability of the universe. In Maharashtra, Tulja Bhavani worship is of great antiquity and innumerable royal houses and their nobles have been devotees. She is the Family Deity (Kuldaivat) of most of the Maharashtiran families, including the great Bhonsla dynasty, whose most celebrated progeny was Great Shivaji, the founder of Hindavi Swarajya. Legend has it that it was Tuljabhavani who gifted the Bhavani sword to Shivaji to vanquish his opponents in the battlefield. The idol is believed to be self manifested(Swayambhu Murti) and the installation (Pratishtapana) of the Holy Idol of the Goddess was done by Adi Shankaracharya and the idol is rested on the ShriYantra. The unique feature about Tulja Bhavni idol is that, unlike in other temples, the idol is non-static. This is a Chala murti, which means it can be moved from its position. Thrice in a year the Holy Idol is ceremoniously removed from her place on the auspicious days and taken out for the Parikrama or the ritualistic encircling of the Temple. Visiting these historic and spiritually rewarding places of pilgrimage was a very fulfilling moment in the twilight of my life, probably a right step in the right direction..
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15. Alandi is the famous pilgrim center for the Samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar, a famous saint in Maharashtra. Sant Dnyaneshwar spent his short life here in the 13th century. He took Samadhi here at the age of 21 and ended his life. He inspired the entire Maharashtra to worship Lord Panduranga. "Dnyaneshwari" - his famous manuscript (holy book) is a Marathi criticism of the Bhagavadgita in Sanskrit. The work is also considered to be an excellent piece of Marathi poetry.Alandi is situated on the banks of river Indrayani and the ghat behind the samadhi temple is very beautiful in a pleasant atmosphere. This temple was built in 1570. We saw the famous wall in Alandi, on which Dnyaneshwar sat and flew the wall to meet Changdev. The temple has been the spiritual powerhouse for thousands of followers of Saint Dnyaneshwar for centuries together.The Palkhi in the month of Ashadh is very popular and many people walk almost 150 kms. from Alandi to Pandharpur. The place is famous for the beautiful sight on the banks of River Indrayani. Muktai temple, Ram Temple, Krishna Temple, Swami Hariharendra Math and the Vitthal Rukmini Temple are located on the banks of the river.For those who seek solace in the spiritual centers, Alandi is a place worth visiting not just once but over and over again.
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16. Our trip to Nighoj village in Ahmednagar District, famous for its potholes in the banks of Malaganga River, was a memorable one. A small river called "Kukdi" a tributary of Bhima River has formed this geological wonder, caused by natural process of water grinding the rock gradually over the long period of time. At one particular point , near a temple , the river forms a deep canyon which has resulted in huge pothole like structures carved in the rock beds because of the natural erosive action of the water and the rocks carried by the river.These naturally created potholes (tinajas) on the riverbed of the Kukadi River attracts hundreds of tourists everyday.Experts from all over the world keep coming here to study the phenomenon of the formation. Geologists surmise that the abundant rainfall in this area causing the River flowing out from the highlands with such force that the scouring of the bedrock took place resulting in the formation of these potholes and the gorge. We ventured entering the george and found it very sharp, slippery and risky. ---------------------------------------------------
17. Malsheghat
is a great sightseeing place, especially during monsoon, full of
unlimited number of never-ending waterfalls.It took us around 3 hours to
reach Malshej Ghat. The place is full of natural waterfalls.
We visited this place in pouring rain in the coompany of my cousins and
it was truly an unforgettable experience. The clouds were floating very
low and we could feel it passing through us. We stopped by several
waterfalls and could not resist from getting wet in the waterfalls. We
stopped at a small dhaba on the way to have breakfast. We enjoyed eating
very sweet and tasty local fruits like mulberry at the MTDC counters.
Many felt like comparing this location to the Grand Canyon of America.
Years later, we visited Thoseghar falls, on
the way to Mahabaleshwar which many consider as the third highest
waterfall in India. It is also a very thrilling and exciting place to
visit during monsoon, except for the fact that it is dangerously
slippery and risky place.
15. Alandi is the famous pilgrim center for the Samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar, a famous saint in Maharashtra. Sant Dnyaneshwar spent his short life here in the 13th century. He took Samadhi here at the age of 21 and ended his life. He inspired the entire Maharashtra to worship Lord Panduranga. "Dnyaneshwari" - his famous manuscript (holy book) is a Marathi criticism of the Bhagavadgita in Sanskrit. The work is also considered to be an excellent piece of Marathi poetry.Alandi is situated on the banks of river Indrayani and the ghat behind the samadhi temple is very beautiful in a pleasant atmosphere. This temple was built in 1570. We saw the famous wall in Alandi, on which Dnyaneshwar sat and flew the wall to meet Changdev. The temple has been the spiritual powerhouse for thousands of followers of Saint Dnyaneshwar for centuries together.The Palkhi in the month of Ashadh is very popular and many people walk almost 150 kms. from Alandi to Pandharpur. The place is famous for the beautiful sight on the banks of River Indrayani. Muktai temple, Ram Temple, Krishna Temple, Swami Hariharendra Math and the Vitthal Rukmini Temple are located on the banks of the river.For those who seek solace in the spiritual centers, Alandi is a place worth visiting not just once but over and over again.-------------------------------------------------------------
16. Our trip to Nighoj village in Ahmednagar District, famous for its potholes in the banks of Malaganga River, was a memorable one. A small river called "Kukdi" a tributary of Bhima River has formed this geological wonder, caused by natural process of water grinding the rock gradually over the long period of time. At one particular point , near a temple , the river forms a deep canyon which has resulted in huge pothole like structures carved in the rock beds because of the natural erosive action of the water and the rocks carried by the river.These naturally created potholes (tinajas) on the riverbed of the Kukadi River attracts hundreds of tourists everyday.Experts from all over the world keep coming here to study the phenomenon of the formation. Geologists surmise that the abundant rainfall in this area causing the River flowing out from the highlands with such force that the scouring of the bedrock took place resulting in the formation of these potholes and the gorge. We ventured entering the george and found it very sharp, slippery and risky. --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
18 MAHABALESHWAR is a visual treat to nature lovers with its thick forests, rugged hills, vast lakes, several waterfalls and breathtaking valleys. Due to its location and beauty, the place offers many sightseeing points including Wilson Point ( highest point in Mahabaleshwar offering spectacular view of the twin peaks of Makrandgad), Arthur’s seat (often compared with the Grand Canyon of Colorado because of its stratification of rocks), Elphinston Point ( overlooking the grand Koyna and Savitri valleys), Malcolm and Hunter Point ( views of the famous Pratapgarh Fort ). It is also the land of strawberries and mulberries. Several strawberry gardens like Mapro and Archies’ take their visitors
through the process of making jams, crushes, syrups, juices and
jellies. They even allow you to sample the products before you decide to
buy Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna River that flows across Maharashtra, Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh. The legendary source of the river is a spout from
the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev in Old
Mahabaleshwar. We visited this temple. Legend has
it that Krishna is Lord Vishnu and its tributaries Venna and Koyana are
said to be Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma, as a result of a curse on the
trimurtis by Savitri. An interesting thing to notice is that 4 other
rivers come out from the cow's mouth apart from Krishna and they all travel some distance before merging into Krishna. These rivers are the Koyna, Venna (Veni), Savitri, and Gayatri. The Venna lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar. The lake is surrounded by trees on all sides. Boating in Venna Lake is a must for all tourists for its serene and beautiful surroundings, especially a late winter evening boat ride through the slight fog. In one of my earlier visits, I remember hiring a Boat and rowing it myself in the lake to the astonishment of my friends. Tourists can enjoy a horse ride next to the lake.
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19. PANCHGANI
is located just 20 km from Mahabaleshwar and nestled between the five
hills of the Sahyadri mountain range is the small quaint town of
Panchgani. Also called the ‘Switzerland of India,’ it lures travelers with its charming colonial setting amidst silver oaks and undulating valleys surrounding the famous ‘Table Top,’ which is the second highest volcanic plateau in Asia after the Tibetan Plateau. We enjoyed a ride in a cart drawn by a horse.The famous Sydney Point near Panchgani bus stand offers spectacular views of the sparkling waters of Dhom Dam on River Krishna. The place, which boasts of cool weather all the year round, is home to several reputed residential schools, which attract students from across the world. The monsoons transform both Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani into a lush green haven and the mist adds a surreal touch to the beautiful scenery.
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20. PRATAPGAD FORT is the site of the epic fight between Shivaji and Bijapur general Afzal Khan, at the foothills of the fort on 10 November 1659. The fight here between the wily well built Afzal Khan and small frame Shivaji, is a part of history in school books. Shivaji and Afzal Khan met in a hut and Shivaji wore armour beneath his clothes, concealing metal "tiger claw"on his left arm. In the ensuing battle, Afzal khan was killed and this unexpected and unlikely victory made Shivaji a hero of Maratha folklore and a legendary figure among his people.Pratapgad stands testimony to the greatness of the Maratha King. We saw the Afjal Khan's Kabar (place where he died). A winding, sharp mountain road leads to Pratapgad fort at an elevation of 3500 ft, about 20 km away from Mahabaleshwar. You can get stunning views of the Raigarh Fort and coastal Konkan from the top of the Pratapgad Fort.The Bhavani temple is located near the edge of the fort with cliffs on three sides and a sheer drop of over 800 ft. Quite frightening spot.
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21. RAIGADH FORT located in the Sahyadri mountain range, about 3000 feet above sea level, was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj. There are about 1700 steps leading to the fort, quite a formidable option. We took the ROPEWAY ride to the top, an easy reach for children, the old and the disabled. It is quite thrilling to reach the top over a long distance. The ruins of the Fort consist of the queen's quarters: six chambers, with each chamber having its own private restroom. The main palace was originally constructed using wood, of which only the bases of pillars remain. Ruins of three watch
towers can be seen directly in front of the palace grounds overlooking
an artificial lake called Ganga Sagar Lake created next to the fort.The
fort has a famous wall called "Hirakani Buruj" constructed over a huge cliff. Its story is that a woman by the name of Hirakani from a nearby village at the foothills of Raigad had come to sell milk to the people living in the fort. She was inside the fort when the gates were locked by sunset. The love for her infant son back at her village gave her the courage to climb down the cliff in the dark. She repeated the feat in front of King Shivaji, and was rewarded for it. In appreciation of her courage, Shivaji arranged for a wall built at this location.
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20. PRATAPGAD FORT is the site of the epic fight between Shivaji and Bijapur general Afzal Khan, at the foothills of the fort on 10 November 1659. The fight here between the wily well built Afzal Khan and small frame Shivaji, is a part of history in school books. Shivaji and Afzal Khan met in a hut and Shivaji wore armour beneath his clothes, concealing metal "tiger claw"on his left arm. In the ensuing battle, Afzal khan was killed and this unexpected and unlikely victory made Shivaji a hero of Maratha folklore and a legendary figure among his people.Pratapgad stands testimony to the greatness of the Maratha King. We saw the Afjal Khan's Kabar (place where he died). A winding, sharp mountain road leads to Pratapgad fort at an elevation of 3500 ft, about 20 km away from Mahabaleshwar. You can get stunning views of the Raigarh Fort and coastal Konkan from the top of the Pratapgad Fort.The Bhavani temple is located near the edge of the fort with cliffs on three sides and a sheer drop of over 800 ft. Quite frightening spot.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. RAIGADH FORT located in the Sahyadri mountain range, about 3000 feet above sea level, was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji Maharaj. There are about 1700 steps leading to the fort, quite a formidable option. We took the ROPEWAY ride to the top, an easy reach for children, the old and the disabled. It is quite thrilling to reach the top over a long distance. The ruins of the Fort consist of the queen's quarters: six chambers, with each chamber having its own private restroom. The main palace was originally constructed using wood, of which only the bases of pillars remain. Ruins of three watch
towers can be seen directly in front of the palace grounds overlooking
an artificial lake called Ganga Sagar Lake created next to the fort.The
fort has a famous wall called "Hirakani Buruj" constructed over a huge cliff. Its story is that a woman by the name of Hirakani from a nearby village at the foothills of Raigad had come to sell milk to the people living in the fort. She was inside the fort when the gates were locked by sunset. The love for her infant son back at her village gave her the courage to climb down the cliff in the dark. She repeated the feat in front of King Shivaji, and was rewarded for it. In appreciation of her courage, Shivaji arranged for a wall built at this location. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I carried my infant son, as an infatuated father to the irritation of many. I carried milk bottle and a transister with me to entertain the baby. I was left stranded near tiger point, as I could not proceed further. Anyway that was first time. We have visited these twin hill stations, manytimes later, famed for its waterfalls, steep valleys, ancient caves, lush green hills and many other scenic landscapes for a relaxing weekend of fun and frolic-- as an ideal vacation paradise. The nearby Tungarli Lake, Valvan Dam and the beautiful garden are the best picnic spots. The Tiger's leap gives a picturesque view of a 2000 ft. sheer drop from the cliff top, quite scaring. Trekking to Rajmachi Point showcasing awesome view of Shivaji's fort is quite thrilling. Bushy dam, Lions Point, Duke's Nose, I.N.S Shivaji etc., are equally attractive places. The sheer serenity and charm of this place offers a break from the hectic stressful city life.
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23 Khandala, provides the panoramic view of the valley, woods and the mountain terrain. We saw many enthusiastic trekkers besides others enjoying a walk or stroll in the natural surroundings, admiring the innumerable waterfalls.
The ghat is busy of road and rail traffic. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, linking Mumbai and Pune, passes through Khandala. The famous Amrutanjan point is located high up in Khandala providing panaromic view of the valley as well as the Duke's Nose (named after Duke Wellington, who had a pointed nose resembling the cliff). Bhushi Lake with its serene, tranquil surroundings and crystal clear water is the ideal spot for recreation. Watching the trains coming out of Khandala tunnel is quite exciting.
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24 Two bus loads of us visited KARLA CAVES- just 60 km from Pune - one of the finest examples of ancient rock-cut caves. After a steep climb of around 20 minutes we reached the main cave reflecting high degree of architectural skills on such a difficult terrain. The magnificent hall for congregation and worship,the stupa, images and shrines are a visual treat making us wonder at the rich cultural heritage of our past. The Buddhist monks diligently built not just shelters but everlasting tributes to their beliefs. We found a waterfall on the way and some of us enjoyed splashing under it. We had our lunch at a wayside dabha.
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23 Khandala, provides the panoramic view of the valley, woods and the mountain terrain. We saw many enthusiastic trekkers besides others enjoying a walk or stroll in the natural surroundings, admiring the innumerable waterfalls.
The ghat is busy of road and rail traffic. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, linking Mumbai and Pune, passes through Khandala. The famous Amrutanjan point is located high up in Khandala providing panaromic view of the valley as well as the Duke's Nose (named after Duke Wellington, who had a pointed nose resembling the cliff). Bhushi Lake with its serene, tranquil surroundings and crystal clear water is the ideal spot for recreation. Watching the trains coming out of Khandala tunnel is quite exciting.------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 Two bus loads of us visited KARLA CAVES- just 60 km from Pune - one of the finest examples of ancient rock-cut caves. After a steep climb of around 20 minutes we reached the main cave reflecting high degree of architectural skills on such a difficult terrain. The magnificent hall for congregation and worship,the stupa, images and shrines are a visual treat making us wonder at the rich cultural heritage of our past. The Buddhist monks diligently built not just shelters but everlasting tributes to their beliefs. We found a waterfall on the way and some of us enjoyed splashing under it. We had our lunch at a wayside dabha.
K O N K A N
25.
It was my first long distance drive in my car with my family, to three
coastal towns of Konkan. It took almost 4 hours to pass through the
dangerous ghats and reach ALIBAG. With its mix of sun, sea and popular imagination, Alibag is a favourite weekend destination. Alibag was an important naval base of Maratha King Shivaji. Vast stretch of clean beach, gentle sea, country homes next to the seashore and tender coconuts to guzzle down, fulfills the whole idea of a weekend getaway for holidayers. There is nothing much to do in Alibag unless your sole purpose to enjoy doing nothing other than going to the beach, frolicking in the sea or taking a trip to the numerous forts that lie like a string of pearls along the coastal beach town.
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26. We drove off along beautiful lush green western coastal road towards MURUD, a picturesque little quiet fishing village, just 3 hours drive from Alibag, one time capital of the former state of Janjira. The magnificent Sidi Palace on the outskirts of Murud village stands in testimony to its past glory. We dropped there for a while to have a look.The interiors of the Sidi Palace are now out of bounds to the tourist. There is a 300-year-old Datta Mandir (temple) atop a hill. We stayed in Murud for the night.
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27. JENJIRA, One cannot leave Murud without visiting the great Janjira fort. Janjira is the Marathi corruption of the Arabic word jazirah meaning an island. We took a ferry and reached the island. A black mass of impregnable rock, Janjira fort leaves one awestruck. A stone carving at the main entrance depicts six elephants trapped by a single tiger-a symbol of the bravery of the Sidis. The pride of Murud, Janjira Fort, was once the stronghold of the Abyssinian Sidis during 17th century. Unique spot.
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28 SHRIVARDHAN is about 3 hours drive from Pune, through the Tamhini ghats where we had some stunning views of the valley. It is quite a popular spot and people from across Maharashtra come to Shrivardhan and the nearby beaches all round the year to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Shrivardhan beach is almost two miles long with black smooth sands and is very clean. The water is very clean and frolicking in the water is more enjoyable than a swim. A ride in the boats is welcome and if you can spot a dolphin, it could make a memorable experience.
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29. HARIHARESHWAR is a nearby town 20 km often called “Southern Kashi” because of its temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Harihareshwar is a popular beach town nestling between high mountains. The black sandy beach is clean and relatively less crowded. Harihareshwar beach is one of the cleanest. Boating and water sports activities such as water scooter and speed boat rides are also available on the beach. The hills – Harshinachal, Brahmadri, Harihareshwar and Pushpadiri – form the perfect backdrop for the beach. The hills are dotted with temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Kalbhairav and Yogeshwari. The Kalbhairav Temple built in the 18th century, is dedicated to Kalbhairav, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. It is renowned across Maharashtra. The temple exhibits the architectural style and also offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the beach.
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30 DIVEAGAR beach, facing Arabian Sea, is approximately four km long and undeveloped, an ideal weekend getaway and perfect holiday spot.Blessed with a beautiful picture perfect beach Diveagar is an ideal spot for some quite moments with your friends and family. We stayed in a hired Bungalow for the night and enjoyed strolling in the beach watching the spectacular view of sun-set. We watched numerous crabs running around and disappearing in the sands when chased by a flock of sea birds. With its pristine white sand, tempting azure waters and thick forestation of coconut groves and beetle nut trees, Diveagar is a treat for nature lovers. Another attraction was the Lord Ganesha temple which houses the pure gold idol of Ganesha. We were very anxious to see the same, but to our bad luck the golden Ganesh idol of the temple was allegedly stolen by thieves some time earlier. The thieves before taking away the golden idol killed the two watchmen who guarded the temple. The golden idol weighing about 2 kg. was later allegedly melted.
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31. SHIVTHARGAL in Varandha Ghat in the Sahyadris near Mahad is the place where Samarth Ramdas lived for about 22 years. It is believed that this is where the first meeting between Shivaji and Samarth Ramdas took place. Samarth Ramdas dictated Dasbodh to Kalyanswami in a cave. The cave was discovered recently and the cave and surrounding area was renovated by Samarth Seva Mandal. The campus includes the actual cave under the waterfall, Ramdas Swami temple, dining hall and accommodation. It is a beautriful sight to see a a waterfall in front of the cave, during monsoons.
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32. PAWAS is a prime spiritual place in Ratnagiri district due to a very long stay of Swami (saint) Swaroopanand and we visited the Ashram. We also visited the Temple of PARASURAM, sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, somewhere near Chiplun. “Legend of Konkan” mentions Lord Parshuram as Lord of “Harijan” who protected common human beings from devils and created the beautiful land of konkan by reclaiming the sea.This temple was constructed by “Samarth Ramdas Swami” when he was here with Ch.Shivaji Maharaj. There is a “Hanuman” temple within the promises of Parshuram temple.
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1 comment:
What a wonderful description of Maharashtra !!!
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