Maharashtra Kokan Trip

We wanted to explore Kokan of Maharashtra ,hence i & my friend both planned a longest trip of 3 days in a pulsar bike ( Rented in pune) , I dont know how to  drive ,my friend drove the bike of 668 km of entire trip ,only i was guiding him on sight seeing & routes .

1st day-  Ghugar Beach
Route-  Pune to Umraj Phata( National highway) -  Patan - Chiplun - Guhagar Beach.

Entire half day he drove the bike & we reached the destination . Guhagar beach is the best beach in Maharahstra and less crowded ,here rather waves you will find wrinkles in the water and very slow small waves . We don't have smartphones ,we had a small nokia mobile with 1.5 mega pixel camera ,shoot-ted the entire trip locations.

                                                                  Ghugar beach

                                                                 Beach routes

2nd day
Route- Ghugar - Ganpatiphule - Ratnagiri Beach
We both went to  the piligrimi place ganpatiphule beach & temple .A fantastic place to  enjoy with  family ,one can view the beaches from the top of mountain while riding the bike.Many resorts & restaurants will serve you fresh cooked Fish, Prawns & crab curry .

                                                                          Ganpanti phule Beach.

                                                                        Ratnadurg fort

                                                                  Malgund beach

                                                              View point-  Ratnadurg fort
Driving from Ganpatiphule to Ratnagiri we visited Jaigad Fort & crossed in a ferry to reach Ratnagiri .

Day- 3

The last day we relaxed on the beaches and spend some time .Then we want to return to Pune  city so we took a different route from Ratnagiri .

Route - Ratnagiri - Mahad- Varundha Ghat - Bhor - Pune.

The best is the we thought our journey is completed ,however we surprised to see  the views of Varudha ghat , i was mesmerized to  see the place . If  some one  interested in destination wedding, then this will be perfect place with  less crowded group along with water falls . You will  feel you are in heaven with 6 to  7 waters falls parallel to the  mountains looks like pyramid structure . My ever most best place till now is Varundha Ghat ,& i want to see the same beauty hence i plan only in monsoon for this location to  capture the same views in mind.

                                                                           Varudha ghat.
 Dated-14 /09/2013



     

The Paradise Mulshi

                                                                  Mulshi  Mountain Views               

                                                              Trek Routes

                                                            Mulshi Waterfall

                                                                   Mulshi water fall

This was my second trek  in the Sayadri range ( Mulshi) . Mulshi though out the year you can visit ,during monsoon you will find numerous water falls and full of mist & fog. This place is heaven for pune residence during monsoon ,also romantic place for couple. This is the longest back water river ,you will also find Tata Dam on the way . The travel route takes you to kokan of maharashtra , panvel also via Damini ghat you can travel to  lonavala hill station.

Hundreds of water fall you will find on the way during monsoon till damini ghat road . if you have a DSLR camera this is the best place for photo shot , best place for trekking and scenic view locations .Many resorts and home stays are available for relaxation . if you trek towards mulshi peak you will find a private uncrowded water fall close to Atmantan resort ( see my last pic) were you can take a bath. Every month i visit this place and take a bath with aromatic aroma oil & relax my self .

Best buy- Gavta chai and Pakode .
Distance from Pune- Around 50 km

Lohagad Trek via Malavali water fall

                                                                    Trek to Baja caves

                                                                         Malavali water fall

This was my first trek in Maharashtra ,from here i started my trekking journey too. From base of malavali water fall you can trek to Lohagad fort  & Baja caves.This trek is slippery during rainy season ensure you carry rain coats or umbrella .Best place to enjoy with friends and for trekkers you can reach lohagad fort also there is another  way to trek till Visapur fort .

Best Buy- Sweet corn , Gavta Chai and Pakode.
Dated- 14/07/2013

Baneshwar Water fall

The Baneshwar water fall is very famous and close to pune city around 36 km .Beside the water fall you will find Lord Shiva temple which was built by Peshwa bajirao son ( Balaji) .You will also find the hanging bell of Portuguese in the temple .

This place is Suitable for picnic & best time to visit  here  Aug- feb . Baneshwar market is a local market ,you can buy fresh  fruits and vegetables.

Dated- 23/06/2013

City of Cruise -PANJIM

The capital city Panjim , this was my small tour again to Goa & explored Panjim city . Mini cruise ,casino's  you will find on the Mandovi river ,During evening times after  6 pm the booking starts for small cruise ship ,you  can buy the tickets and enjoy the ride .

Best  Buy- Zanty's Cashew nuts , Liquors & wine   ( ensure you get  permit from the same shop if you are crossing border)  and Fish.

Dated- 10/06/2013

Once Again Lavasa (Summer)

During the end of winter ,i & my friend visited Lavasa closest to Pune City . We went in a activa and explored Temghar Dam & view  points  in Lavasa .Hardly you  will find the greenery scene ,still you must visit during evening times ,you  will feel cool Breeze and you  will  enjoy. 

                                                                   Top of water beside Dam

                                                                   Lavasa City

Dated- March 2013

Sinhagad Fort & Kadakwasala Dam

                                                                    Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad fort ,belongs to  the Maratha warriors , it is also called kondana fort . I and my friend visited this place in summer ,its more than 1300 mt above sea level , best place for night trekking. You can visit this place in two wheeler , as well as four wheeler ,but keep in mind you can not carry Gutkas, cigarette and Alcohol because there is check post on the way .Most of the time it will be chill and foggy in the evening ,you  can buy snacks -Bajiya and tea . The second pic is the kadakwasala dam , one of biggest  water  storage dam in pune ,on the way  to sinhagad fort you  can  halt there for tea and snacks also  best place  for  couple  to spend their time.

Dated-10/12/2012

Karla Caves

The Karla Caves were once a Buddhist monastery and consist of 16 excavations/caves. Most of the caves belong to the early Hinayana phase of Buddhism, except for three from the later Mahayana phase. The main cave is the huge prayer/assembly hall, known as a chaityagriha, that's believed to date back to the 1st century BC. It has a magnificent roof made out of carved teak wood, rows of pillars decorated with sculptures of men, women, elephants, and horses, and a large sun window at the entrance that deflects rays of light towards the stupa at the rear. 

The other 15 excavations are much smaller monastery living and prayer spaces, known as viharas. Reaching the Karla Caves requires a walk up 350 steps from the base of the hill or nearly 200 steps from the car park around halfway up the hill.

Tickets are required to go inside the caves. The ticket booth is at the entrance at the top of the hill. The entry fee is 25 rupees for Indians and 300 rupees for foreigners.The shrines were developed over the period – from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE. 

Karla is located just off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, near Lonavala. Travel time from Mumbai is around two hours, and it's under an hour and a half from Pune

.Try to  Trek on top of Karla  cave, you  will  find the western ghats Red crabs on Rock Patches .

best buy- peda "s.

dated- Nov 2012

The Private City -Lavasa

The  private city - Lavasa ,closest to Pune .My first  trip  was amazing with some IT guys , this is the city  more than 3000 acre  along with  DAM and super view of sayadri Moutain range. One must visit this place if you  come to pune , its hardly  60 km from pune  Airport and halt at Temghar dam for  a tea time . Lavasa is the best place for children picnic as well as adult can enjoy  the same .Activity  such has boating ,kyak available ,you  can also trek  to  the peaks.

DATED-14/10/2012

The Varca Beach -Goa

Again i had a small official trip to goa , got a chance to see south goa beaches , the white sand varca beach and colva beach .
Dated- 01/2/2012

The Goa

                                                                        the ferry

                                                             Salim ali bird sanctuary

                                                                   Varca Beach

                                                                  Baga Beach

                                                                     Panjim Church

                                                        Cruise from Panjim

This was my first trip with my friend , where he went one day before to goa & i went the next day to GOA , i never expected my self to travel the paradise place Goa , finally because of my friend i had a chance to visit GOA .I never booked the tickets ,just took a general ticket and boarded the train ,it was total 12 hrs journey i reached Madgaon junction  , then locals said to catch a bus to panjim ,again  took a bus to Calangute beach  where my friend had booked our accommodation .i  was surprised to see the people in bikini also first time i saw white sand beach .We had some beer & wine then we planned to move for some sight seeings, in my thoughts there were no plan about sight seeings ,but my friend took me some less crowded places like -Salim ali bird sanctuary ( best place for Adventure guys ) full of mangrove Forest & Also we went Mayem Lake for boating .  The panjim church was beautiful ,we did good shopping, and beach walks .GOA is not only  the place for beer & whisky or massage ,its really more than that ,if you want discover goa there is many places to enjoy your holiday.
Dated- 27/08/2011

Nashik & Trimbakeshwar

This was the another solo  trip  via  local  Bus to NASHIK & pilgrim Trimbakeshwar -this is the first jyotir ling i  have visited in my life .First time i saw aghori "s , types of Rudrakash Mala's, Godavari river ,panchavati & ramtekadi ,Also i  visited the sangam River where Lord lakshmana cut the nose of surpanagayi . Nashik is a holy place ,very neat & clean ,you will  find the sayadri mountain range and peaks during on the way  from  pune to Nashik  is around 240km. Nashik  is the major grape production district in India also  if you  have time try to  visit SULA WINE  YARD of India .

The Panchagani & Mahableswar

The  only  hill  station of Maharashtra 's Beauty is Mahableshwar almost some peaks are more than 1500 Mts from Sea Level  , you  can see the  range of sayadri Mountains Peaks and Various points ,This was my first solo  trip  to  Mahableshwar i went through red color MSRTC BUS and got down in Panchgani ,the first pic which  you  see is sydney point ,the rang of mountain was so  spectacular , again from panchgani to mahableshwar i took a bus and reached mahableshwar ,during monsoon with in 5 km from mahableshwar it continuously rains through out the day. .Its located 150 km from pune and via mum-banglore highway you can reach this place after reaching Wia . If you want to have adventure games , taste of berries like strawberry, rasberries ,shoesberries, canberry, bluberries,mini tomatoes this is right place . You will find more number of berries also visit Mapro strawberry farm to taste the essence of juicy fruit and mock tails & Chocolates .You will find boatings, many worth full points and mahableshwar temple . If you travel towards west from mahableshwar you can reach to kokan of maharashtra (Arabian sea).
Dated- 30/11/2011

The Tung Fort & Pavana River- Lonavla

Once again i had a  work  shop in Lonavla ,close to  Tung Fort we captured some moments & pics of mountain  peaks and Tikona Fort during Monsoon.

The Malsej Ghat & Naneghat - Junnar

This was  the  sudden trip we have  planned in the weekend , Malsej Ghat , if you  want to  seen  the heaven  then its Malsej , the  first pic which  you  see is bhairav gad with 100's of water  fall ,completely  mesmerizing view ,full of flora  and surrounded  by  clouds .The fourth pic we took  below the foot hill of famous trekking place naneghat with my  friends . The last  pic you will find the bright sun rays which falls  in the  water is mesmerizing view  of  Pimpalegaon Joga DAM. Please  visit during Monsoon ,from pune it is 130 -150 KM also you can see  SHIVNERI fort on the way ,where our chattrapathi  shivaji was born . This place has many trekking points and for trekkers its heaven ,the famous harischandra gad is located here ,you can also  trek  to this Kokan Kada .
Dated- 7/08/2011