Five best places to visit in Navi Mumbai

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February 2, 2022

Navi Mumbai tourist destinations - Thane Creek - Flamingo Boat ride

A planned city, also ranking top 5 as the cleanest city in Swachata Abhiyan, there are many places to visit in Navi Mumbai. Did you know NMMC has made a request to tag Navi Mumbai as Flamingo City? Yes, the request has been made to the Central Government for Swachh Abhiyan.

As someone who has spent most of her life in Navi Mumbai, I love my city. Also called as the city of 21st century, Navi Mumbai is much affordable, when it comes to housing, schooling, and even the cost of vegetables and fruits, considering its proximity to APMC Market, Vashi.

Besides, Navi Mumbai is less populous as compared to Mumbai and it does feel good to walk freely without bumping into others and even cross the road, without forming many stress lines on your forehead. However, that is just my opinion; I am not getting into the argument of whether Navi Mumbai is better than Mumbai. To each its own!

Places to Visit in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai’s famous places that many of you must have heard or visited are Pandavkada Falls, Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary, Wonder Park, Central Park, Karnala bird sanctuary, etc. As a local to the city, I will be sharing my most favorite places to visit in Navi Mumbai.

Table of Contents

1. Mini seashore, Vashi

Mini seashore Vashi is a picturesque location to spend some peaceful time amid nature. Health enthusiasts usually enjoy a brisk walk along the beautiful promenade encircling the seashore, during mornings and evenings. This is also the best spot for a wonderful family time, with boating and other fun activities available. You can gorge on street food and enjoy ice gola as well. There is also Sagar Vihar nearby from where you can enjoy the full view of the ocean and if lucky, the migratory birds. However, this place has a notorious name and is most popular among couples.

Mini seashore, Vashi Navi Mumbai — ***Mini seashore Vashi, Navi Mumbai***

2. Wonders Park, Nerul

One of the best places to visit in Navi Mumbai, Wonders Park is a unique park unlike any other amusement park you might have visited in Mumbai. It houses replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World and hence the name – Wonders Park. The cute and tiny replicas are so beautiful and exactly like the real ones, except for the size. My absolute favorite is the Taj Mahal.

Wonders Park is a huge park, spread across 30 acres, and has many activities to offer, for both children and adults. I enjoyed the Ferris wheel ride, and the toy train ride. For refreshments, there’s a food court where you can enjoy several cuisines.

The entry fee for adults is Rs. 35 & for children, Rs. 25. This does not include the charges for rides. Park Timings are 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 – 9:00 PM. For now, Wonders Park is closed for renovation. It is likely to open in January 2023 with a new look and several new rides.

3. Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary

Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre, famous as the Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary, is one of my top favorite places in Navi Mumbai. Spread across 50 acres of land, the sanctuary houses two well-designed informational museums and a breathtaking flamingo point, from where you can spot thousands of migratory birds in their natural habitat. To know more about the best time to visit, entry fees, and other details, check out my blog: A Day trip to Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary: Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre, Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai bird watching paradise — ***Airoli Flamingo Centre***

places to visit in Navi Mumbai - flamingo sanctuary, airoli — ***Airoli Flamingo Centre***

4. Karnala Bird Sanctuary

Karnala Bird Sanctuary, near Panvel, is my top spot to visit when I have a day’s worth of time to spend amidst greenery. It houses a bird sanctuary and a fort, which you can trek. The Karnala Fort is a must-visit place for trek enthusiasts. Located on the outskirts of Panvel, this place is a paradise for nature lovers. Peaceful and green, you must visit this place for a picnic with your family. To plan your travel itinerary to Karnala, check out this blog: Nature lover’s paradise – Karnala Bird Sanctuary & trek to Karnala Fort, Maharashtra.

***Karnala bird sanctuary Panvel, Navi Mumbai***

5. Kharghar Hills

Kharghar Hills is one of the best places to visit in Navi Mumbai for some quiet time amid the green hills. You can go here for a peaceful walk or jog whenever in need of a break from the busy city life. I had been to these hills a few years ago on a bike. It is allowed to take your vehicle to a certain point, from there you need to walk and explore the surroundings. If you are quiet enough, you might spot exotic species of birds. The hills are clean and green and so one should not litter.

There are several tourist places to visit in Navi Mumbai and I have yet to explore some of them. Navi Mumbai also has many malls and restaurants. Seawoods Grand Central Mall is the biggest mall in Navi Mumbai spread over 1 million sq. ft. Plan a trip to the city of the 21^st century and I am sure you will not be disappointed.

This list of places shared in this blog is my personal favorite. Hope you enjoyed reading the blog. If you have any queries or want to know anything, please leave a comment.

Kanha National Park- Exploring Tiger state of India in MP

By

Namita Sawant

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December 29, 2021

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Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh — Kanha national park is located in Madhya Pradesh

Kanha National Park, famously called the Kanha Tiger Reserve, is the largest national park, approx. 940 sq. Km., situated in central India. Until I visited this state last week, I didn’t know Madhya Pradesh was called the Tiger State of India, due to the maximum number of tigers living in its dense forests.

Jungle safari at Kanha National Park — Jungle safari at Kanha Tiger National Park

Kanha National Park, covered in lush green grasslands and Sal & bamboo forests, is the best place to visit for a memorable Jungle safari experience. In addition, we spotted exotic birds, and even Barasingha or Swamp deer, which Kanha national park is famous for and is found only in the dense forests of Kanha.

Swamp deers — **Barasingha or Swamp deer at Kanha National Park**

Where is Kanha National Park located in India?

Kanha National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh, the center part of India. From Nagpur to Kanha by road is approx. 250 km. Therefore, after exploring Nagpur, the next morning we started our journey by car to Club Mahindra Kanha.

There are several resorts in Kanha National Park. The roads are well maintained and there was hardly any traffic. Therefore, we covered the distance in about six hours. If you wish to travel by air then Jabalpur is the airport near Kanha national park. The approximate drive to reach Kanha from there is 160kms.

Jungle Safari at Kanha Tiger National Park

Jungle safari amidst the dense forests of Kanha was an experience of a lifetime. While reserving your air or train tickets, you should book for the Kanha National Park Jungle safari as well. We booked it just a week before the journey and could not get the entry from Kanha gate, but trust me it doesn’t matter.

Deers at Kanha — **One animal you will surely spot – Deers**

So, to give you all a brief, the forests at Kanha are the largest in India and are divided into two zones, namely, the core zone and the buffer zone. The core zones are where the jungle safaris happen. The Core Zones of Kanha have different entry gates, namely, Kanha, Kisli, Sarahi, and Mukki.

Jackal spotted in Kanha National Park — **Group of Jackals**

Now, many tourists, including me searched for ‘which gate is best for Kanha National Park?’ It is funny that you also get different answers. Some say Mukki gate and some say Kanha, mainly because of tiger spotting. But trust me, animals don’t know in which zone they are, they freely move within the jungle. If you are lucky, you will spot a tiger, if not, remember, life is still good, as you will see many wild animals in Kanha national park, no matter which zone you choose to explore.

Indian bison spotted at Kanha National Park — **Group of Indian bison at Kanha**

Kanha Kisli zone

Kanha Kisli zone is relatively new and is carved out of the Kanha zone itself. You can spot tigers in any zone, there’s no such guarantee that one zone is better than the other. Early morning at 5.30, we left our resort in our car, which we had booked from Nagpur, and stayed with us for our entire trip of four days. Kisli gate is just 3.5 km from Club Mahindra Kanha, so we reached the entry gate by 6 am.

After a few formalities at the gate, which hardly took 20 minutes, the four of us were in our jeep along with the driver and guide or naturalist. In one jeep, a maximum of 6 passengers are allowed along with one guide and driver.

Kanha National Park Zones — **Jungle Safari at Kanha**

Do not forget to rent the binoculars for Rs. 100 only, easily available outside the entry gate, they really come in handy in sighting the animals. We visited the tiger park in December 2021 and so we had to layer with extra clothing, as the weather was cold, especially at the start of the jungle safari.

Jungle Safari at Kanha National Park – Points to remember

You can do two jungle safaris in a day as jungle safaris also happen during the afternoon hours. However, it is said that more animals are spotted during the early hours, so we took an early safari. By the sheer fleet of jeeps lined up at the gate, I felt overwhelmed. However, you would not believe we hardly saw other jeeps while on the jungle safari.

Jeeps lined up at Kanha Kisli Gate for Morning Safari

The forest is huge and the driver is trained to drive slowly, not to interrupt any wildlife while letting the visitors enjoy the peace and joy of sighting rare wild animals. My toddler was happy to sight a group of deer just a few minutes into the safari.

Swamp Deers spotted at Kanha National Park — Swamp deers in Kanha National Park

A jungle safari is an exciting experience for all age groups. From my mother-in-law to my baby, everyone was alert, searching for animals amidst the green landscape.

Monkey crossing the road at Kanha — **Monkey crossing the Jungle road**

At any point, leaving your jeep without your guide’s permission is not allowed, as it is dangerous. Therefore, it is important to respect the instructions and never venture without permission.

Also, never shout if you spot an animal, as that would drive it away. Be soft and silent throughout and the possibility of sighing animals would only go up.

Tigers footprints spotted at Kanha — **Tiger footprints at Kanha Tiger Reserve**

The jungle safari approximately lasts four hours and the guide stops the jeep, in between, for relaxation. You can use the open loo, made of bamboo and hay if you wish to.

Exploring Kanha tiger national park was once in a lifetime experience as at every interval we could spot one or another animal. Deer, sambar, jackal, monkeys, peacocks, exotic birds, bison, Barasingha, pigs, wild dogs, etc.

Barasingha or Swamp deer at Kanha — **Sambar, Indian bison, Swamp deers**

Kanha Museum

Kanha Museum is located inside the Kanha National Park, but sadly, its entry is only for visitors entering the jungle through the Kanha zone. Since we had an entry from Kisli, we were not permitted access to the museum. However, if you book in advance and enter through the Kanha gate, you should visit the museum and understand the rich history of Kanha and the wildlife inhabitants of the jungle.

Castle by insects — **Insect made castle is as much deep as its height!**

Food recommendations

Club Mahindra Kanha has an in-house restaurant, but we didn’t enjoy the food there much. Our favorite stop was Maratha Restaurant, located within a walking distance from our resort. Their specialty paneer and aloo sabzi were awesome, something we hadn’t tasted earlier. It was unique in preparation and taste. Chicken starters and Chicken handi were equally tasty and worth the cost. I highly recommend visiting The Maratha Restaurant at least once, while you stay in Kanha.

More on travel places close to Kanha in my next blog! Stay tuned!

MARATHA RESTAURANT, Mocha - Kanha Kisli — **MARATHA RESTAURANT, Mocha – Kanha Kisli**

Hope you enjoyed reading the blog. If you need to know any more information, please ask in the comments.

Exploring the Winter Capital of Maharashtra– Best of Nagpur

By

Namita Sawant

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December 20, 2021

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Exploring the Best of Nagpur, the winter capital of Maharashtra, also a smart city and one of the best destinations to visit in Maharashtra during winters. Popular as the “Orange City”, there are many places to visit in Nagpur and several food delicacies to relish, including the Maharashtrian Saoji cuisine and the famous Tarri Poha.

In this blog, I will share my experience of exploring the Best of Nagpur, a few popular places that I visited in the second capital of Maharashtra. I visited the geographical center point of India aka Zero Mile, Narrow gauge rail museum, and Ganesh tekdi mandir. I missed the famous Ambazari Lake due to time constraints.

**Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Nagpur**

Mumbai to Nagpur

We reached Nagpur after a 12-hour train journey. From Thane Railway station we boarded 12105 Vidarbha Express, at 7.45 pm and reached Nagpur the next morning around 9 am. The journey by 2AC train was comfortable but the scare of coronavirus still loomed.

Check-in at Hotel Dwarkamai, Nagpur

From Nagpur railway station, we got into a local auto-rickshaw, as ola and uber kept on canceling our rides. Our stay for the night was Hotel Dwarkamai, located just 2 km from railway station. After a few hours of rest, we were ready to explore the Best of Nagpur.

Best of Nagpur – 3 Best Places to Visit

There are many popular tourist destinations to visit in Nagpur but we had just one day in hand before proceeding to our next destination, Kanha. So, in a day’s trip, we could comfortably pack these top three places.

1. Shree Ganesh Mandir Tekdi

We started by seeking blessings from Ganpati Bappa at this famous temple in Nagpur, which is one of the Swayambhu temples in the city. Located close to the railway station, the temple is under construction but you can still visit the main idol. We were right on time to attend the aarti, what a peaceful start to our journey!

Being a Sunday, it was crowded, still, we could get the darshan without any hassle as it’s a big temple. Ensure to wear masks and maintain social distance while visiting the Tekdi Ganesh Mandir. Bola Ganpati Bappa Morya!

2. Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

Like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, if you are fascinated with trains too, then you must visit the Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum for a wonderful experience. It’s a unique museum housing vintage models of trains, locomotives, and the likes. It’s a huge premise also housing an amusement park and toy trains, where even adults can enjoy a ride.

3. Zero Mile Marker – Best of Nagpur

Zero-mile Centre of India is precisely the center of India, hence the name Zero mile as it is a geographical center of our country. Zero mile showcases a pillar, which was built by Britishers, to measure distances to several parts of the country.

Just a little walk further and we reached the newly built Freedom Park, inaugurated in 2021. This monument presents the history of India and has a garden where children can enjoy a memorable evening.

Food recommendations

Hungry Eyes, Sadar, Nagpur

We were just for a day in the city, so sadly we couldn’t gorge on the famous Maharashtrian Saoji cuisine. Besides, we are not much of a spice eater. But one place that we had our dinner and we all would remember for a lifetime was Hungry Eyes.

The food was delicious, the prices were decent too but the waiting period to get a table was a little long. Probably, being a Sunday, the rush was more but after we tasted the food, the wait was worth the while. Don’t forget to order the best butter chicken ever when you visit the Hungry Eyes in Nagpur.

Trivia

Did you know Nagpur is also famous as the Tiger capital of India? Yes, it is a city that is surrounded by several tiger reserves and acts as an entry point to forests, like Pench and Kanha.

Stay tuned for my next blog, where I share our experience of exploring the Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

If you are looking to explore more places in Maharashtra, check out the blog:

Strawberry picking at Mahabaleshwar – Where and when (bestofindiatravels.com)

Karjat – A perfect short getaway for Mumbaikars – Best of India Travels

Staycation at Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai – My Experience & Review

By

Namita Sawant

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November 24, 2021

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Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai is one of the premium hotels for a luxurious stay amidst the city. In pandemic times, when traveling seems to be a bigger concern, and many countries have strict traveling rules in place, the staycation trend has picked up big time among regular travelers.

For me, it was my first time, staying at a boutique hotel in Mumbai and, I must say our staycation weekend was fun. Since the hotel is within city limits, it meant no stress of taking long flights or train journeys to reach the destination. However, the stay was short so it comes with its cons too.

How to reach Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai Maharashtra?

Strategically located, just five minutes away from the Mumbai International Airport, in Marol, Andheri East, the hotel is easy to access from any part of Mumbai. For Mumbaikars, you can take an auto-rickshaw, book a car rental, or drive by your own car, as there is ample space for car parking on the site.

What time is check-in & checkout?

Let us start from the start, the check-ins at Waterstones Hotel Mumbai starts from 3 pm, which according to me is not ideal, as we have lost half the day. However, if you are lucky and the hotel is accommodating, you may request for early check-in and the staff usually obliges, at least they did with us.

While doing the check-in formality, do not forget to sip on the welcome drinks, freely available at the reception counter. As for the rest of the hotel interiors, the reception offers a luxurious feel too. Just lounge on the sofas or take a walk at the green promenade as you wait for your room to be ready.

The checkout is at 12 pm. However, we checked out around 1 pm and the staff was polite. They did not put any pressure on timely checkout.

How luxurious are the rooms at Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai?

Unique sand themed displays inside rooms

Being a five-star service hotel, the room features lavish furnishings. Each room had unique displays of stones, sand, and starfish. The image above is embedded in a table. The moment you step into the room, you will notice many luxurious yet modern and cozy features. The bathtub for us was the icing on the cake. Just carry your own bath salts and warm up yourself for a relaxing weekend, away from home. The in-room services were a little slow, probably because the hotel was running at full capacity, and we had to call a few times for towels, in-room slippers, and even water bottles.

What does a staycation package include?

You can grab several offers for your staycation. We booked the package that gave us complimentary access to Waterstones Club facilities, as the stay is incomplete without the fun and frolic at this premium Mumbai club, inside the premises.

Amenities and facilities at the Waterstones Club in Mumbai

Our staycation package for one-night included:

A welcome drink
Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner – Dinner for check-in day and breakfast and lunch the next day.
Four pieces of laundry (which we didn’t even use 🙁 )
Complimentary WiFi
Complimentary neck and foot massage (which we did use 🙂 )
Access to Waterstones Mumbai Club (Hooray!!!)

What are the amenities and facilities at the Waterstones Club in Mumbai?

Waterstones Mumbai Club offers a range of activities to do, inclusive of sports, fitness, and leisure games, making your experience more premium. As you enter the club, you are welcomed by an abundance of nature, making you forget that you are indeed in Mumbai. The club has a juniors room for the little kids, which was useful to us to keep our kids busy. It houses all the engaging games that a parent can imagine.

Moving ahead, it has a sand garden with slides and other games. Our kids played until the sun came down. Every inch of the property is well-maintained so we did not have to worry about the hygiene aspect. The Olympic-sized swimming pool was a treat to the eyes, I cannot say relaxing to the body, as we could not swim, due to COVID norms. Nevertheless, you can take pretty pictures here to fill your Instagram with exotic images.

A stroll in the vast garden is soothing to the mind and body. As the sun went down, we explored the games room on the first floor of the club. You can enjoy a game of table tennis, carom, and Ludo while your kids enjoy the board games, available in plenty, at the indoor games room.

Is the food worth the price?

We stayed at the property on a weekend and we had our first meal as dinner. The dinner buffet had limited options but the food was delectable. My family enjoyed the non-veg meal and the basic dal and rice were yum too. All in all, the food was delicious but options were limited.

The next morning, we had our breakfast buffet. Now, the thing is most people usually book stay packages with breakfast only as they are more affordable. In fact, since this hotel is within the city, you can even order from Swiggy or Zomato. The only negative with the breakfast buffet was the crowd. There were so many people that it was hard to find a table. But, the buffet had more variety than the dinner and you could ask for anything that you desire, which was not included in the buffet display.

We ordered pancakes, masala dosa, paneer paratha, etc. The service was not prompt due to the heavy crowd. The other negative was the stress of COVID since many people were sharing the same space for a long.

The breakfast buffet starts at 8.30 am, and ends by 11 am. Therefore, a little planning is needed. We went at around 10 am and struggled to get a table or any kind of service. But the food was delicious.

After checking out we went for our lunch buffet, although we were not at all hungry after having a humongous breakfast. It would be better if the hotel provided a lunch buffet on the check-in day rather than checkout. Anyways the buffet had limited options but it was delicious. We enjoyed the fish curry and rice. There were also chicken and other veg options too. The dessert comprised of jalebi and ice cream, which were delightful too.

Therefore, overall, our experience of dining at Waterstones hotel was wonderful, albeit with a few glitches. Not opting for lunch and dinner hardly saved us a few hundred rupees, but having all the meals included saved more money, so it was a better option for us.

How much does it cost to stay at the Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai?

For a one-night stay for three adults and one child, inclusive of all meals, we paid approx. 10.2k for one room with extra bedding. We booked our staycation on MakeMyTrip. You can grab even better deals if you book in advance. Just be on the lookout and make sure you have complimentary access to the Waterstones club, otherwise, your stay would not be as memorable or fun.

Book a stay at Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai if you want to experience top-class luxury within Mumbai. It is the perfect place for a relaxing and memorable time with your family. As it was children’s day on our checkout day, our kids also enjoyed complimentary activities planned at the club. So, we had two full days of fun at the hotel.

To watch a video review of our staycation, click on the link: Waterstones Hotel | Luxury Hotel Review in Mumbai – YouTube

Hope this blog was informative. Since the pandemic, I have shared many places to travel locally in Mumbai, do checkout the blog on Flamingo sanctuary in Airoli, as the flamingo season has already begun.

Stay tuned for more such amazing blogs about Best of India travels.

Why is Coorg Karnataka a popular place?

By

Namita Sawant

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November 18, 2021

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Why is Coorg a popular place in Karnataka? — Coorg, Karnataka, India

Coorg Karnataka, famously known as the Scotland of India, is a popular hill station in India. Well, firstly it is a fascinating hill station with breathtaking views and secondly, it is best known for coffee plantations in India. Coorg weather is the most pleasant between October and March, and hence that’s the best time to visit this hill station.

A few years back I visited this picturesque hill station and was awed with its beauty. I think, we all have visited a one such place in our lifetime where we felt we should settle after retirement. For me, that place is Coorg. I would so want to shift to this quaint hill station, right away and settle there for good. I mean, who can wait until retirement? But then if only we could act this fast to our wises.

How to reach Coorg Karnataka – First stop – Mumbai to Mangalore

Coorg Karnataka is one of the most popular hill stations in South India, so reaching here from any part of the world is not a problem. We traveled through the scenic route of Mangalore through railways. Mumbai to Mangalore is hardly a 16-hour train journey and throughout the way, you get to gorge on yummy south Indian cuisine, banana bhajiyas. Perhaps, one of the reasons why we choose trains over flights. Of course, it is light on the pocket too, if you travel by sleeper or 3AC.

We stayed at an OYO in Mangalore for a night, mainly as we wanted to explore the pristine beaches of Mangalore. Boarding the airy, local buses of Mangalore, we traveled to the Panambur Beach, showcasing blue waters and breathtaking views. Ola was a little heavy on the pocket and communicating with local auto rickshaws in English or Hindi was indeed a task. So, traveling by the local transport was the best option.

Panambur Beach, Mangalore — Star fish spotted!

After visiting several beaches in India, this tops the list for its cleanliness and blue waters. There were a number of things to do on the beach and the best part was it was not very crowded. Therefore, my daughter had a gala time flying kites, and playing in the sun and the golden sand.

Mangalore to Coorg

From Mangalore to Coorg, the distance is approx. 138 km. You can easily cover the distance in approx. four hours, unless you stop at the beautiful churches or gardens that come in the way. We did halt at different spots and so our drive was more than six hours.

Club Mahindra Madikeri Resort in Coorg

Our first stop in Coorg Karnataka was the luxurious and full of amenities – Club Mahindra Madikeri Resort. This is one of my favorite resorts of Club Mahindra after Goa Varca resort. This is an ideal resort for families traveling with kids, as there are multiple fun activities and gardens to play along. We spent our days amid scenic hills and nights enjoying the varied recreational facilities planned at the resort. Luckily, we stayed at the resort around end of October and could enjoy the Halloween night celebrations in its full glory.

3 Must-visit Places in Madikeri, Coorg Karnataka

Like any other tourist spot, this place offers many tourist destinations too. Here are my top three favorite Coorg places to visit.

1. Abbey Falls

Abbey Falls is a popular waterfall among tourists. Located in Kodagu, the drive from Madikeri to this fall is lined with coffee plantations and several other spice plantations. Wear comfortable shoes, as it’s quite a walk to reach the falls. Also, carry water and some snacks.

2. Namdroling Monastery or the ‘Golden Temple’

The Namdroling Monastery is a spellbinding place for all who love Tibetan architecture & artwork. Its always overwhelming for me to visit a Monastery and observe the simplicity with which Monks choose to spend their lives. The temple is in a huge vicinity that has many auxiliary structures, including an institution and hospital. The peaceful ambience of this place is advanced by the well-maintained gardens, full of myriad flowers and leaves.

Things to remember while visiting this Namdroling Monastery:

Wear clothes in sync with the temple culture
Cell phones and shoes are not allowed inside the main hall
You can carry your camera inside the monastery
Maintain silence and never disturb a monk

3. Dubare Elephant Camp Coorg

The Dubare Elephant Camp is a famous tourist destination in Coorg. Here, you will find crowds of people turning up to see these gigantic animals in their natural habitat. A small boat ride and we reached the point where we saw several elephants in their natural habitat. You get a chance to observe them up and close, even bathe them, feed them or take an elephant ride. For kids, this is one of the highlights places to visit in Coorg.

There are several reasons why Coorg is a popular place in Karnataka. I am sure I will visit Coorg again and next time stay for more time.

What are the best things to do in Mussoorie?

By

Namita Sawant

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October 21, 2021

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Mussoorie hill station — Mussoorie - Queen of the Hills

Mussoorie, a quaint hill station in the state of Uttarakhand, has a special place in my heart. At times, you visit a place and feel an instant connection, a certain calmness, a definite pause. For me that place was Mussoorie.

Popularly called the Queen of the Hills, its sublime beauty is hard to express through words. Pick any Ruskin Bond novel and you will understand why Mussoorie is called the Queen of the Hills. Although at the time of visiting this hill station, I hadn’t read much of Ruskin Bond. But after I discovered his books and his love for knitting beautiful stories around the hills, since then I have fallen deeper in love with hill stations, especially the magical Mussoorie.

Situated at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range, it is just about 35 km from Dehradun, and the journey is quite delightful. For all those people who love to visit a hill station but dread the long unwinding roads & hairpin bends, this is a perfect destination, as the distance from plains to hills, Dehradun to Mussoorie, is around an hour.

Mussoorie Uttarakhand — ***Mussoorie, Uttarakhand***

Table of Contents

Mussoorie – The best time to visit

Summer is the most favorable time among tourists to visit this hill station. As the heat is unbearable elsewhere, it is pleasant up in this hill station. If you want to witness snowfall, it is suggested to plan a trip to Mussoorie during the winter. We visited this place towards the end of February and it was numbing cold. Still, we were a little late, and couldn’t experience the snowfall. But, we managed to get a glimpse of the snow-clad Shivalik range of the Himalayas. Mussoorie weather is pleasant all year round.

Mussoorie – Top places to visit

Agreeably, this is the most picturesque town that I have so far visited and as long as your eyes can see, it is beauty galore. The green mountains covered with white snow make up for the most beautiful view, no matter the accommodation you choose. We stayed at an OYO hotel and were awed by the sunrise view. You will find wonderful, budget accommodation at every nook and corner. Best is to search for Mussoorie hotels in advance.

Sightseeing at this hill station was a lazy affair for us, as we mostly basked in the surroundings and just enjoyed the view walking up and down the hills. That is all you need to soak in the calmness of this beautiful hill station. However, we did explore a few places, renowned amongst tourists.

1. Mussoorie Mall Road

Mall road is a shopper’s paradise, perhaps the only place you will find crowds of people in action. Here, we shopped for ear mufflers, jackets, and other wintery stuff, at quite decent prices. In India, you will find a mall road at most hill stations. One of my other favorite places to shop for winter stuff is the main market of Mahabaleshwar.

However in this cute hill station, my most favorite time to take a stroll on the Mall Road was during the nights, when the crowd receded and only the locals were seen catching up at milk shops. Every night of my stay, I savored the hot badam flavored milk and soaked in the local vibe, as much!

Mussoorie mall road — ***Mussoorie Mall Road***

2. Company Garden

Must visit place in Mussoorie, Company Garden is an enchanting place decked up varied flowers. You can plan a family picnic at this place that has multiple attractions to offer. A lake, an artificial waterfall, kids play gardens with several games, and also an amusement park. You can go boating or simply sit and soak the lazy vibe at the restaurant, sipping coffee. The Company Garden is open from 9 am to 6 pm and has an entry fee. Plan your day and do visit this place for a memorable experience.

There are quite a few other famous tourist places in Mussoorie, like the Kempty falls, Lal Tibba, and Gun Hill. As we visited here around the festival of Holi, many tourist spots were closed. As a result, we spent most of our time walking up and down the mesmerizing mall road.

3. Clock tower café

Situated right next to the clock tower, this is a cute café offering breathtaking valley views. Ironically, we went there for a dinner and couldn’t cherish the views, but the food was scrumptious. Popular for pizzas and Chinese food, clocktower café is a popular hangout place for a relaxing time with family or friends.

I had such a beautiful time in Mussoorie that I plan to visit this place again, hopefully very soon.

My debut novel, A Girl on the Run, is also based in Mussoorie, such was my fondness for this quaint hill station. Perhaps I share a past connection with this place. Do check out my book on Amazon and share your review. Thanks and enjoy safe travelling!

Karnala Bird Sanctuary & trek to Karnala Fort, Maharashtra

By

Namita Sawant

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September 24, 2021

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Karnala bird sanctuary Panvel — Trek to Karnala Fort

Karnala Bird Sanctuary, near Panvel, is a paradise for nature lovers wanting to spend a peaceful day amidst lush greens. Just before the coronavirus outbreak, we visited this popular tourist spot in January 2020. What a memorable trip it was. We not only explored the bird sanctuary but also trekked up to the Karnala fort and touched the Thumb Mountain, literally!

Karnala bird sanctuary is best visited in winter if you plan to trek to the fort. Although, in the past, we had visited this place in monsoon and the beauty was irresistible. Little waterfalls, thick greens, and colorful butterflies make you pause and just revel in the beauty. Add to it, the beautiful singing of birds, and the ambiance becomes breathtaking. In fact, we saw a peacock opening feathers and dancing. That was the only time I ever saw this mesmerizing dance.

While in winters too, you can spot quite a few exotic birds, provided you stay patient. Besides, the sanctuary also displays a few birds on its premises. After spending a day at the Go Green Nursery, India’s first every garden mall, we made our way to the Karnal Bird Sanctuary.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary Trek –Points to remember

Karnala fort trek is worth taking at least once if you are a trekking lover. For beginners, this trek would seem a little difficult. It takes a little more than an hour to reach the Karnala Fort. Situated approx. at 1500 ft., it is an easy trek with just a few difficult rocky climbs, as wet rocks make the route slippery. There are quite a few trails that you can trek; the best is the Karnala Fort Trail if you wish to climb up. We somehow missed the trail and took a different route, which made the trek a little longer and harder too! However, it was worth an uphill climb as the view from the top was mesmerizing.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary Trek – Start early

If you plan to trek all the way to the Karnala fort, you should start, as early in the morning as the trek is a little challenging, especially if you have been out of form. We trekked with our four-year-old and we had a time of our life. While she is an outdoor enthusiast and cooperates well, after a point, she started to throw tantrums, as she was tired of walking the steep rocks.

My husband had covered this trek in the past and was adamant that we finish it, and so we did!

Karnala Fort Trek – Beware of monkeys on the way

Monkeys are a regular sight in and around the vicinity of Karnala bird sanctuary. They might intimidate you and make you want to turn around, but do not fret and venture ahead. Remember, not to keep loose packets of chips or any food item in your hands; these monkeys are good at snatching stuff. The best is to carry a backpack. Carry essentials only as you would not want to load your bag while climbing. Water bottles, dry snacks, etc. would suffice. Also, do not litter the surroundings, it is so beautiful and we should not rob its beauty with ugly chip packets or mineral water bottles.

Essential things to carry:

Water bottles
Trekking shoes (Psst… we randomly decided to trek so no proper trekking shoes :P)
Hat/Cap, Goggles,
Rainwear (if trekking in monsoon)
Dry snacks/dry fruits
Masks, Gloves, Hand Sanitizers

Other key information:

Karnala bird sanctuary timings: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Entry fee: Rs. 35, Camera charges: Rs. 100

Karnala bird sanctuary official website: Karnala Bird Sanctuary (maharashtratourism.gov.in)

Karnala bird sanctuary best time to visit: July to August & October to February.

Go GREEN Nursery: Go-to place for nature lovers

By

Namita Sawant

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September 14, 2021

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Go green nursery, a beautiful plant nursery for shopping plants has become my go-to place to spend quiet time amidst nature. Strategically situated, near the foothills of Karnala bird sanctuary, we first discovered this garden mall almost a year and a half back.

On a random weekend, geared on our bike, we decided to spend a night at a resort near Karnala. There are quite a few resorts situated on the outskirts of Panvel. Sadly, Visava Amusement Park & Resort right next to Karnala bird sanctuary was fully occupied.

Flower plants at plant nursery Maharashtra — **Flower plants at Go Green Nursery Panvel**

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S.K. Resorts, Karnala

That’s how we made our way ahead on the Mumbai – Goa Highway and discovered the Go Green nursery. Right next to it was a decent resort where we spent the night, S.K. Resorts, Karnala. The best part of our stay was that we got affordable accommodation. Each room in the resort had a theme – a popular social media name. For instance, we were in the Pinterest room. Likewise, there were rooms themed on Facebook, Instagram, and the likes.

The resort offers basic accommodation but has a swimming pool and rain dance facility too. However, our stay was not memorable as the resort lacked basic cleanliness. There was literally no room service, but then at the throwaway cost they gave the room, what could we expect after all? It had a restaurant attached to it and the food was decent. Anyways we just had to spend a night. The night was indeed memorable as the resort is bang on the highway and the heavy vehicles running through the night added an eerie feel.

Go Green Nursery Panvel – Plant paradise.

Go Green Nursery is the best place to visit for nature lovers. The moment you enter the vicinity you will feel one with nature. The nursery is aesthetically pleasing, and the backdrop of mountains just adds to the whole canvas. If you are a plant lover, you will find all the plants under the sun at this nursery. From kitchen essentials to flowering plants to herbs. They offer more than 1500 plant varieties, labeled as per the botanical and local names. You can find all information about their unique services, like nature dating, on their website.

**Variety of plants at Go Green Nursery**

Go green nursery – India’s first-ever garden mall

Go green nursery is India’s first-ever garden mall and lives up to its name completely. So much so that we have, become a regular to this place. Almost every monsoon we take a trip to this place and fill up our home with the amazing plants from this nursery. Even the refreshments served at the hotel are yum. In the corona times, you can make this place your stopover while on a trip to nearby places, like Alibaug or Karjat. It is the best stopover on the highway with clean washroom facility. Recently they have opened a restaurant – Pantree – that serves delicious vegetarian meals from 7 am to 10 pm. The food is high quality, and the service is prompt.

Unique plant displays going green nursery — **Unique plant displays, Go Green Nursery Panvel**

Yusuf Meherally Centre Panvel

One another gem of a place that we discovered on our unplanned weekend trip to Karnala was the Yusuf Meherali Centre. The center is situated on the Panvel-Goa Highway, right next to the Go Green Nursery. It’s so strange that the place we never even heard was so much full of surprises. If you are planning a day trip to the Karnala bird sanctuary, then do stop at Go Green nursery for refreshments and take a nature walk at Yusuf Meherally. It’s a wonderful place to spend a day with your family. I will share more details about Yusuf Meherali Centre in another blog.

Here’s a video of this peaceful plant nursery in Maharashtra.

See you in next blog!

Karjat Farmhouse – Weekend getaway for Mumbaikars

By

Namita Sawant

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August 19, 2021

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Karjat farmhouse stay is a perfect weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune. A picturesque town in India, Karjat is located in the Raigad district, Maharashtra. Being equidistant from Mumbai and Pune, many travelers head to Karjat resorts to escape the city life. We did it too and what better time than the monsoons to unravel nature’s magic, in this quaint town, surrounded by green hills and mesmerizing waterfalls.

Karjat - Town in India — Karjat – Town in India

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Karjat to Mumbai on Royal Enfield

Karjat to Mumbai is less than 100 km, from both Mumbai & Pune and a journey best taken on a bike. The refreshing greens and the breezy winds, what would you ask for more, especially after being locked down at home for what seems like infinity.

So, geared on our dependable Royal Enfield Thunderbird, of course with helmets on all of us, we embarked on this escapade. The Karjat weather is so dreamy in monsoons that you will want to come back to this destination, again and again. In addition, the journey on bike was a smooth, two-hour ride, with a stop in between, at Shedung village in Panvel, to gorge on hot vada pavs.

Resort in Karjat – The Whey Side

Radisson Karjat was our first choice, perhaps as it pops up first on the internet search, but who were we kidding. It is too expensive for a stay and we are thrifty travelers. So, we instead searched for a forest resort karjat, and came across, The Whey Side.

What a beautiful karjat farmhouse it is! I cannot emphasize enough on its strategic location. Right in the arms of the tall, green mountains, The Whey Side, is a perfect resort in Karjat for a peaceful, short stay. By short, I mean two nights, on weekdays. Since the pandemic, we have stopped going on holidays over the weekend. Firstly, on weekdays, you get accommodation at economical rates, and secondly, the crowd is less, so the pandemic fear is a little subtracted.

Moving on, The Whey Side has six wooden cottages, offering you the most pleasant view of this quaint hill station. These glass cabins were cool from inside and the rains added to the beauty, making it dreamy heaven. Our stay was comfy and divine. Nothing can soothe my soul as much as mountain views, and hence, I add the adjective DIVINE. I couldn’t get enough of this view <3

The Whey Side Farm house, Karjat — The Whey Side Karjat farmhouse

I might go back to this resort again and just revel in the beauty of it all. Laze around the balcony and probably write my next book, after ‘A Girl on the Run’.

The Whey Side Karjat farmhouse review

Karjat villa or Karjat farmhouse, most of us come across these two choices when searching online. The Whey Side Karjat was more of a farmhouse as it was pet-friendly. The owner Mr. Subramanian Venkat, was a friendly and helpful host. His love for animals was quite evident. He had two dogs, several cats, with whom my daughter was in love, and a few parrots, one of them could speak a few words. Also, the wooden cabin had all the amenities, two large-sized beds, AC, and a TV, which kept my baby busy in the night when there was nothing much to do around. The highlight of my stay was this little balcony, giving a perfect view of the enormous green mountains. The hospitality staff included the locals who did a decent job of cleaning the room once a day.

The Whey Side – Karjat Farmhouse Food review

The food was fresh, tasty, and wholesome. The in-house food staff did a wonderful job of serving hot food in the rainy weather. So, we had breakfast, lunch, evening tea with snacks, and then again dinner. It’s surprising how the body’s food intake increases in cold weather. Since the accommodation was inclusive of food, it made the stay even more affordable for us. We booked this resort directly by calling on the owner’s number and could steal a good deal ?

This resort in Karjat offers a swimming pool and it was big enough to enjoy a swim. For kids, there’s a garden area in the center. What my baby girl enjoyed the most was the run from our cabin to the lunch café to play with the cute cats and pet them till they were scared of her ?

Karjat waterfall

There is a waterfall close by the resort, about 10 mins on the bike. Since the stones were rolling down due to heavy rains, the locals advised us not to trek all the way to the top. We paid heed to their suggestions and settled on a much smaller waterfall, but the experience was worth it. The cold water and literally no other people made our escapade more memorable. The trek was hardly anything, but wear comfortable shoes if you want to trek to the waterfall. Beach and waterfalls are two things kids enjoy the most when outdoors.

Karjat farmhouse – In conclusion

Villa – Accommodation type makes a lot of difference to your overall holiday experience. I would recommend a stay at The Whey Side, Karjat farmhouse for its warm host, lip-smacking food, cozy cottages, and mesmerizing views. To checkout more pictures of the villa, head to my instagram – bestofindiatravels.

Yercaud hill station – Must-visit hill station in Tamil Nadu

By

Namita Sawant

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June 23, 2021

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Yercaud hill station is a must-visit hill stations in India. Yercaud – a tiny laidback hill station nestled in the north of Tamil Nadu. The first thoughts that come to my mind as I close my eyes and picture myself on this beautiful hill station are – mesmerizing, great hospitality, less commercial, and nature beyond words, simple & pure.

India is abundant in beaches & hill stations. While beaches are my absolute favorite, I cannot deny my love for hill stations too. A few years ago, my husband planned a trip to this teeny-tiny hill station, as I fondly remember it, Yercaud, situated in the Salem District.

Flanked by the Shevaroy Hills, Yercaud is a small hill station abundant in nature, as if specially painted by the almighty in the breathtaking canvas. The climate is cold during winters, the air chilly, temperature close to 13 degrees and below, making it perfect to enjoy some hill time.

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How to reach Yercaud hill station?

This must-visit hill station in India is well connected via air, rail, and road. Since we were in Pondicherry at that time, we booked a private car that took us along the scenic NH79 towards Yercaud. It was the month of December and Pondicherry had a pleasant climate. But as soon as we reached close to Yercaud, the hill station vibes hit us.

The highway ride was smooth and we did not realize the six-hour-long car journey. However, as soon as the hills started, the ride became a little dizzy, if I must say. round and round, the car paced ahead at a slow, uniform speed. Thankfully, the hilly ride was not much, less than 40 minutes, but it was enough to give us a feeling of being on a hill station.

Where to stay in Yercaud?

Yercaud, as I can recall, was not much of a commercial hill station. But you can find all types of accommodation, from budget to premium. We stayed at a Club Mahindra affiliate resort, Lake Forest Resort.

Lake Forest Yercaud - Club Mahindra Holidays — **Lake Forest Yercaud hill station – Club Mahindra Holidays**

It is one of the oldest resorts in Yercaud and hence abundant in old-world charm. The rooms were fashioned old style with vintage furniture and décor. From the door of the room to the insides, it screamed vintage. Nevertheless, having said that, it had all the amenities and comfort of a modern property.

Vintage interiors, Lake Forest Resort, Yercaud hill station — Vintage interiors

After staying at several Club Mahindra resorts, Lake Forest resort is my favorite. Once you take a stroll down this path, inside the vicinity, your mind will forever be stuck in its greens.

Lake Forest Yercaud hill station - Club Mahindra — **Lake Forest, Yercaud hill station**

Our visit was made more memorable all thanks to the Christmas revelry. The resort was decked up with beautiful Christmas trees embellished with the best of jewels and the stars…omg…I don’t even remember how long I sat there and just felt one with my thoughts. For once my toddler was also lulled to just sit and admire nature. Yercaud weather is cool for most part of the year. The best time to visit this hill station is between October & June.

Christmas celebrations at Lake Forest Resort, Yercaud hill station

Since it is a small hill station, we took it slow to explore the nearby spots, mostly one can visit them walking. I will share more about the must-visit places to see in Yercaud in my next blog. Stay tuned and if you have any comments, do share!

Best of India travels

With this travel website, my aim is to provide the readers with an unbiased review of the different places to visit in our Incredible India. With each blog, I make sure to share my personal experience of a destination. And since it’s personal, it is bound to vary from any other traveler’s experience. If you have any comments that you would like to share, please go ahead!

Places to Visit in Navi Mumbai

1. Mini seashore, Vashi

2. Wonders Park, Nerul

3. Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary

4. Karnala Bird Sanctuary

5. Kharghar Hills

Where is Kanha National Park located in India?

Jungle Safari at Kanha Tiger National Park

Kanha Kisli zone

Jungle Safari at Kanha National Park – Points to remember

Kanha Museum

Food recommendations

Mumbai to Nagpur

Check-in at Hotel Dwarkamai, Nagpur

Best of Nagpur – 3 Best Places to Visit

1. Shree Ganesh Mandir Tekdi

2. Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

3. Zero Mile Marker – Best of Nagpur

Food recommendations

Hungry Eyes, Sadar, Nagpur

How to reach Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai Maharashtra?

What time is check-in & checkout?

How luxurious are the rooms at Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai?

What are the amenities and facilities at the Waterstones Club in Mumbai?

Is the food worth the price?

How much does it cost to stay at the Waterstones Hotel in Mumbai?

How to reach Coorg Karnataka – First stop – Mumbai to Mangalore

Mangalore to Coorg

Club Mahindra Madikeri Resort in Coorg

3 Must-visit Places in Madikeri, Coorg Karnataka

1. Abbey Falls

2. Namdroling Monastery or the ‘Golden Temple’

3. Dubare Elephant Camp Coorg

Mussoorie – The best time to visit

Mussoorie – Top places to visit

1. Mussoorie Mall Road

2. Company Garden

3. Clock tower café

Karnala Bird Sanctuary Trek –Points to remember

Karnala Bird Sanctuary Trek – Start early

Karnala Fort Trek – Beware of monkeys on the way

Essential things to carry:

Other key information:

S.K. Resorts, Karnala

Go Green Nursery Panvel – Plant paradise.

Go green nursery – India’s first-ever garden mall

Yusuf Meherally Centre Panvel

Karjat to Mumbai on Royal Enfield

Resort in Karjat – The Whey Side

The Whey Side Karjat farmhouse review

The Whey Side – Karjat Farmhouse Food review

Karjat waterfall

Karjat farmhouse – In conclusion

How to reach Yercaud hill station?

Where to stay in Yercaud?

Best of India travels

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