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Must visit beaches in Alibaug – Alibaug, Varsoli & Nagaon beach

By
Namita Sawant
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5
Must visit beaches in Alibaug

Must visit beaches in Alibaug, let’s find out my favorites! Staying in an Alibag beach resort, close to Nagaon, gave us ample opportunities to explore the Nagaon beach stretch over our three days stay. The walk from Bougainvillea beach house to the long stretch of coastline was hardly a few minutes. The beach that was within a walking distance from the resort was not crowded. Probably, because of its hideous entry, or perhaps the Nagaon beach is far more famous than this stretch.

If you are traveling with a toddler, this beach is best for some family time to play and frolic in the sand and water. After exploring the clean waters for a while, we took the horse ride, since my baby was excited to experience it. Also, mostly because there were not many visitors and the guy kept on circling us 😛

After spending a good few hours at the beach, we walked back with all the sand stuck on to us and enjoyed a warm bath at the beach house.

Three must visit beaches in Alibaug

1. Alibaug beach – Crowded, less clean

A trip to this beach paradise close to Mumbai & Pune is of course incomplete without a visit to the main beach or the Alibaug beach. Seated on our Royal Enfield, we enjoyed the 7 km ride to the Alibag beach. The roads are lined by beautiful trees and that makes for a worthy ride.

Must visit beaches in Alibaug
Alibaug beach

Frankly, I did not much enjoy my visit to the Alibaug beach as it had too many people and with the Covid-19 panic, it was hard to enjoy the funfair. Here, water sports were in full swing. So, if you look forward to enjoying some adrenaline rush, then bargain hard and enjoy the several water rides at Alibaug beach. Also, while there, you can sit on a camel’s back and cherish a mesmerizing view of the ocean from atop.

After spraying the sanitizer on the concrete chairs installed for seating, we enjoyed an ice cream after God knows how long, at the Alibaug beach. Of course, post it, we clicked a few pics with the iconic attraction.

For shoppers, you will find many vendors here selling jewelry, goggles, and the likes. Don’t forget to add these cute shell-shaped earrings to your collection. I shopped for shades and earrings too. Aren’t they beautiful?

Must visit beaches in Alibaug - the Alibaug beach

2. Varsoli beach – Cleanest, must visit beach in Alibaug, less crowded

Varsoli beach surely tops the list of must visit beaches in Alibaug. This place was the highlight of our visit to Alibaug. Pristine, clean, golden sands, less commercial, I am short of adjectives here. When we visited this beach, it was just us on the beach and hence, perhaps we enjoyed this beach the most. The road that led to the Varsoli beach was a little narrow and perhaps the reason why fewer tourists visit the spot. We took our bike right on the beach and enjoyed a cool ride. Near the beach, the area is populated by locals engaged in the fishing business. But when you reach the varsoli beach, you feel passing the nasty environs totally worth it.

Must visit beaches - Varsoli beach, Alibaug
Varsoli beach, Alibaug

I and my daughter played for a long on varsoli beach. We even spotted exotic birds and chased them. Imagine being the only person on the beach, it was like our private beach, but of course, we went during the afternoon time and so we could have it all to ourselves. The cleanest beach to enjoy family time.

3. Nagaon beach – Clean waters, a little crowded

Another one of the must visit beaches in Alibaug is the Nagaon beach. Unlike Alibaug beach that was crowded with vendors and visitors alike, this beach was better in terms of sellers and crowd. One of the best places to enjoy the setting sun, this beach offered me Goa vibes. Again, water sports, horse rides, ATV rides, etc., the funfair was galore at this beach. Still, its charm and liveliness made us visit this one more than once over our three-day visit.

Must visit beaches - Nagaon beach, Alibaug
Nagaon beach, Alibaug

After visiting Nagaon beach, we pretty much visited it again for the rest of our time in Alibaug. Mainly because the road leading from Bougainvillea beach resort to Nagaon was lined with amazing food joints. Like I mentioned, in my previous blog, Weekend getaway to Alibaug beach, Mahesh Lunch Home was our go-to joint whenever we felt hungry and didn’t wish to spend more!

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog. If you have any questions or need more information, do leave your comments.

If you are planning a stay at, Club Mahindra Tropicana Alibaug, you must read this blog.

Weekend getaway to Alibaug beach – How to reach & where to stay?

By
Namita Sawant
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0
Alibaug beach
nagaon beach alibaug

Alibaug beach it is! After almost a year of staying at home, we took our first vacation to Alibaug, a coastal town situated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Most people from Mumbai, Pune, and the neighboring cities have probably been to this place before. Still, its beautiful beaches and the amazing regional cuisine attracts most of us to this place, time and again. Its proximity to Mumbai and Pune makes it more appealing as a weekend destination.

Alibaug beach
Alibaug beach

How to reach Alibaug beach?

It may sound exhausting but this time we chose to travel by our bike, a Royal Enfield Thunderbird. Since we were three of us, frankly it was not a great decision. But we enjoyed most part of the journey, until our body became numb from sitting uptight for this long.

For young couples and bike aficionados, this however is the best way to reach Alibaug beach, from Mumbai or Pune. The route is scenic and the roads are well-maintained. We left on a Wednesday morning at around 10 am and reached by 1 pm. There was hardly any traffic and once we crossed Panvel, the road was clear and the highways buttery smooth.

On our way to Alibaug beach paradise

One tip, if you feel like you need to stop mid-way to just relax or visit a restroom. An ideal stopover would be the Go Green nursery, just a kilometer ahead of the Karnala bird sanctuary. In these pandemic times, you could trust their cleanliness and food refreshments while you can also visit the grand nursery, displaying all types of exotic and usual plants.

Where to stay?

So, on our previous trips to Alibaug beach, we never booked any hotel in advance. But this time it was different, due to Coronavirus the threat was high, so we booked a boutique beach house, Bougainvillea – what an exotic name!

Bougainvillea Alibaug beach resort
Bougainvillea Alibaug beach resort

One of my friends has visited this place and she highly recommended this place to us. I must say, I was impressed. It’s a luxury hotel with utmost cleanliness. Bougainvillaea is just seven minutes away from Nagaon Beach and about 20 minutes from the famous Alibaug beach. It’s so close to the beach that you can just walk to the beach in your swimsuit and enjoy the sun and the sand.

The rooms are spacious and clean. The house cleaning was done as and when we requested. The room size was decent and the highlight for me was the wooden swings attached to the balcony. The privacy factor was a little negotiated as the balcony of each room had no walls, just a jute curtain as a separation. But still, it was lovely to just swing and enjoy a view of the greenery and the sound of the chirping birds.

Bougainvillea, Nagaon, Alibaug
Bougainvillea, Nagaon Bandar Road, Nagaon, Alibaug

For the first time, and I say this after staying in several hotels, did I saw some uniqueness in the bathroom. It displayed fresh plants in the extended area, with beautiful wall art. So, never a dull moment even while doing your business. Lolz.

Moving on, the resort has an indoor clubhouse. It has a small section earmarked for kids’ play area and a section for adults to play indoor games, including board games, table tennis, carrom, foosball, and billiards. It also had a swimming pool, but it was not operational due to the COVID pandemic. So, post-dinner, we did spend some time at the clubhouse, situated on the terrace, offering quite a peaceful view in the night.

What to eat?

We dined at the inhouse restaurant quite a few times in our three-night stay, of course, due to the fear of eating at local restaurants and inviting the virus. I vouch that the food was delicious and the service was prompt. They served fish and chicken thali, which is ideal if you are hungry and, in a mood, to enjoy the local cuisine. The fish was tasty and fresh. The highlight of our stay at Bougainvillea was the breakfast buffet. I and my daughter loved the fresh fruit variety. Also, poha, idli, dosa, and even the cereals were served. 

But then after a day or two, when we were not so conscious of the virus anymore, we ventured out and pretty much ate at many local restaurants. Mahesh lunch home was clearly a favorite for me and my hubby. We just loved having the fish thali there. It reminded me of the seafood we gorged in Tarkarli. The best part of the meal was the yummylicious hot modaks, which by the way you can have in Alibaug any time of the day. The cost of eating at local restaurants of course was more affordable than at the resort restaurant.

Yummy modaks
Modak…yummy and fresh

Stay tuned as in the next blog I will share more about the beaches we visited and the secluded beaches we explored thanks to our Royal Enfield Thunderbird.

Strawberry picking at Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra –Where and when

By
Namita Sawant
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2
Strawberry
Pick your own strawberries

Strawberry picking at Mahabaleshwar it is! I have been to this picturesque hill station quite a number of times but had never experienced the joy of strawberry plucking right from the farm. So, in our previous journeys, we never were in Mahabaleshwar during the strawberry season. But fortunately, this time we were and we took full advantage of it.

If you are traveling with kids, make sure to plan this activity. I can vouch they will love it. My 4-year-old was so excited, running around the green patch while plucking strawberries with her little hands.

When to visit?

If you are planning a visit to a strawberry farm to pick your own strawberries, you could visit between November and March. Although, travelers vouch for January and February to be the best seasons. Luckily, we went in March 2020, just before the lockdown was announced. The climate was cool in the morning, but the afternoons were hot. So, we visited the farm early in the morning. Most farms open by 8 am in the season.

Where to visit?

There are several pick-your-own strawberry farms in Mahabaleshwar. We did a quick google search and visited the Laxmi Strawberry Farm, mainly because it had the most reviews.

Strawberry picking at Laxmi Strawberry Farms, Mahabaleshwar
Strawberry picking at Laxmi Strawberry Farms, Mahabaleshwar

It was approx. an hour drive from our hotel. After having a light breakfast, we headed to this beautiful farm, following google maps. We called a night before our visit to make sure strawberries were waiting to be plucked 😛

I have visited one more farm, Green Valley farm, for strawberry picking. You can read the experience here: 

Our experience of strawberry picking at Mahabaleshwar

Run by a local family, this farm is beautiful and well-maintained. So before taking you inside the farm, they brief you on their charges. For every person deciding to pluck, they will hand a basket and charge for each basket (Rs. 100). So, if you are in a gang, and not everybody wants to pick, you can decide to take a few baskets.

Picking strawberries in a farm
The joy of picking strawberries in a farm

Their only rule is to after you are done picking strawberries, you will have to compulsorily purchase them at their rate. It is not a big issue as the strawberries were fresh and juicy and the cost affordable considering you get to experience picking them on your own.

Tips for strawberry picking at Mahabaleshwar

Well, I had the most fun searching for red strawberries amidst the vast green patch. The rule is to pick the berry carefully, leaving the stem attached. Also, the redder the strawberry the better it is. Half green or orange berries mean they are not ripe and if you pick them at this stage, they may not ripe even with time. And yes, don’t fixate on the size of the strawberry, it has nothing to do with its sweetness.

Strawberry plucked by me!
Yummy strawberries

How do I know so much? Well, the farm staff helped us with tricks to choose the best. How to find them and pluck them. Please be aware of your surroundings, and make sure not to run around or step on the plants. The fun is when you follow the centre lines and pick them carefully.

So next time you are in the idyllic hill station of Mahabaleshwar, do go for strawberry picking fresh from the farm. And it’s ok if you have them as soon as you pick. My daughter had it and relished the experience.

Do check out some cool pics on Insta. Follow me @bestofindiatravels

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra – Your Perfect Getaway for long weekends

By
Namita Sawant
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1
Hills
Beautiful Mahabaleshwar

Strawberry picking in Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra is fun but can be enjoyed during the strawberry season, i.e., winter. But have you visited this place in monsoon? It is heaven. I am in love with Mahabaleshwar. Rightly so, because of its lush green mountains and food delicacies. By the latter, I mean strawberries. Every year, it has become a routine for us to spend at least one long weekend in Mahabaleshwar. My family is in love with strawberries, mulberries, blueberries, and everything that ends with berries 😛 

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra - Places to visit
Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra hill station in Monsoons!

Best of Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra during monsoons

I visited this hill station during the rainy season, and it was an absolute delight. The climate was so cold, we almost had the feeling of Nainital, the fun of blowing out fog from the mouth while speaking. Boy! You don’t get to do that very often. Imagine having this experience so close to home in Maharashtra.

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra in Monsoon!

How to travel – Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai

If you are from Mumbai or Pune, reaching to this idyllic hill station is ideally simple. There are regular buses plying from these locations. My family prefers a sleeper bus at night. Therefore, on a Friday night, post dinner, we got into the bus from Rabale, Navi Mumbai, around midnight. By six in the morning, we reached Mahabaleshwar.

Sleeper bus from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra

The best part was we avoided the Ghats totally. My family and I are not much of a Ghats fan but we simple love traveling to mountains. Nevertheless, if you are driving by your car, it is ideal to plan a day trip, as the Ghats are rugged but you might not face many issues in the daylight as the roads are well maintained.

Where to stay in Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra?

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra is populated with resorts, hotels and lodges. Since we were not traveling by our own vehicle, we decided to book a hotel right at the heart of the market. This time, we stayed at Hotel Shreyas, bang opposite to the bus stand, is a decent stay location if you do not want to spend much on accommodation. The hotel is well located and the rooms are clean, well maintained and full of amenities. There is a swimming pool, separate for adults and kids, a play garden for the little ones and functional clubroom with the standard table tennis, carom, karaoke and the likes. We travelled just before the bizarre pandemic or Coronavirus, so I can’t comment on the facilities related to sanitization at the moment.

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra Resort
Hotel Shreyas, Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra

Once we stayed at Mango Hotels – Valley View, Mahabaleshwar. It was a much luxury stay, but this hotel is a little far from the main market and a downhill. So, be prepared to walk up and down.

What to eat?

As I said, one of the main reasons for sticking close to market was due to the umpteen number of food stalls. One stroll around and you will find all the delicacies that one can possibly desire. My favourite without trouble is the corn and cheese tikki. Next to it, around the main market chowk, you can relish Maggie (in various permutations) pulav, egg bhurjee, pav bhaji, different golas and strawberry creams. I bet your stomach will be full but your heart will crave for more. From local cuisine to exotic delicacies, like pancakes, waffles, sandwiches and more. You can find everything to satiate your hunger within this heavenly main market.

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra Strawberry cream
The famous Strawberry cream…

Of course, there are small eateries and big hotels in this area. According to your budget, dig in. The food is tasty no matter where you decide to eat.

Where to shop?

If you are a shopaholic like me, you have several reasons to travel light and fill up your bag while in return. The main market of course is a shopper’s paradise in true sense. From winter clothes, to toys, to sarees, upholstery, exclusive art pieces, not to forget stylish footwear, this market exhausts you with its offerings. In all my trips, I have bought shoes at dirt-cheap cost and winter earmuffs are my absolute favourite.

You can find many travel souvenirs to get it for your loved ones, at an affordable price. This market is abundant with choices, so again, travel light and shop until you drop, on your way back. If you are visiting in the strawberry season, make sure to pack kilos and kilos of fresh strawberry, but on the day of your return journey. There is never too much of strawberries 😉

Stay tuned for the next blog, as I share our experience on picking strawberry direct from a farm and other fun things to do and places to visit in Mahabaleshwar.

A day trip to Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary: Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre, Navi Mumbai

By
Namita Sawant
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4
Navi Mumbai bird watching paradise
Flamingo sanctuary

Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary. Let’s go! Hi, all travel enthusiasts and nature lovers. Hope you are staying afloat in the absence of leisure travel due to the pandemic. So, amidst the Corona Pandemic, I have travelled to a few destinations that too mostly in panic. We took our first family trip to Alibaug, a beach destination in Maharashtra, after travel restrictions were relaxed. I will share more on it in my upcoming blogs.

Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary, Airoli, Navi Mumbai
Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre, Airoli, Navi Mumbai

For now, I have good news for people staying in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. So, I explored a local destination last weekend – Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre – Navi Mumbai, and I must say I am impressed.

Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Park, Airoli, Navi Mumbai
Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Park, Airoli, Navi Mumbai

How big is the Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary?

The state-of-the-art Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary is spread across 50 acres of land. The theme is well-displayed across the campus.

Several attractions at the Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary!
Several attractions at the Airoli flamingo sanctuary!

The moment I entered I was greeted by flamingos, obviously the plastic ones. Kids really enjoy this experience and it will be a welcome break for them too, considering they are stuck in the house too, due to the pandemic.

Beautiful Flamingo Archetype @Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary
Beautiful Flamingo Archetype

Well, once inside the nature trail, I was mesmerized the most by the quaint raised bamboo bridge, a mangrove pathway that led us to a bird-watching paradise, close to the creek.

Bamboo bridge, nature trail leading to bird-watching point @Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary
Bamboo bridge, nature trail leading to bird-watching point

From that close, we could easily spot hundreds of flamingos gracefully dancing in the water. For bird watchers, it’s a treat to see these migratory birds in their natural habitat.

There are two well-designed informational museums inside Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary , fully air-conditioned and clean. They exhibit the importance of mangroves and aquatic life, also explaining at length about marine biodiversity.

Marine Biodiversity Museum
Marine Biodiversity Museum at Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary

In addition, there are gardens for kids to just run around. Make sure to keep two hours in hand to explore this beautiful and planned jungle. Also, don’t miss the sunset, the view is breath-taking from the creek view and flamingo point.

Flamingos & beautiful sunset, Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary
Flamingos & beautiful sunset, Airoli, Navi Mumbai

Key points to remember while visiting Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary:

Best time to visit: Feb end to start of the May! This is the time when these migratory birds fly to the creek and make it their home for a few months.

Timings: 10 am to 6 pm (note, they are strict about the timings).

Entry fees: Rs. 50 per head for adults, and Rs. 25 for children above five years. (Please and I say this from first-hand experience, carry cash in your pocket. They don’t accept any UPI payment option or card swipe too.) These charges do not include the boat ride charges.

Address:
Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Centre
2/Mangrove Forest, Sector 10, Diva Nagar Road
Airoli, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400708

How to reach:

The nearest railway station in Navi Mumbai is Airoli. This place is easily accessible by road, via both Eastern and Western expressway.

Essentials to carry

  • Water bottle as you might feel thirsty with all the trek.
  • Comfortable shoes, of course you will have to walk a lot to explore the nature trail.
  • Binoculars, if you have them, carry it. It will enable you to observe flamingos, up and close. I had binocs too but didn’t remember to carry, my bad!

So, plan a trip to Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre this weekend and enjoy a good time with your family. Also, stay tuned for more updates. I will be sharing a post on boat rides when I get a chance to take one. Its not everyday and mostly depends on the tide.

For any more information, here’s a number you can save and WhatsApp for inquiry: 99876 73737

Here’s the link to Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary Facebook profile! Coastal & Marine Bio Diversity Centre | Facebook

Update: Thane Flamingo boat ride – All you need to know! Click to read the blog. 

Thekkady in Kerala – The picturesque hillside in Kerala

By
Namita Sawant
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1
Kerala tea estate

Thekkady in Kerala, a god’s own country, is blessed with abundance of nature. You can visit this state as many times and still never get bored. I have been to Kerala, a few years ago, and then we visited Munnar and Ashtamudi Backwaters. That is the perfect plan, to cover a hillside and a backwater destination.

This time around, we clubbed Thekkady, a hillside destination famous for Periyar Tiger Reserve, and Cherai, a beach destination in Kerala but with an icing of backwaters.

Just before the corona outbreak in India, we took this trip, from February 21 to Feb 29, 2020. So glad we could travel and unwind, right before the biggest pandemic that ruined all our travel plans for the year.

How to reach Cochin?

We took a 24-hours grueling train journey from Mumbai to Cochin. I know that’s not a preferred mode for most, however, it was fun. First, good stuff is sold in trains plying to south of India. For book lovers, here is an opportunity to grab cheap books, sold in the train, and at every other station. For kids too, there were coloring books and crayons that kept my little one busy in the long train journey.

Second, the route is scenic and you will not regret taking a long train journey, after all Kerala is blessed with bountiful of nature. After we got down at Ernakulum station, we spent a night in OYO, as Thekkady is a good four to six hours drive from Cochin. If you are traveling by a flight, you may decide to continue your journey to Thekkady, but we were exhausted.

First stop – Marine drive

Marine Drive, Kochi, India

After a little rest, we went around to explore the Kochi marine drive. Yes, only Mumbai does not have a marine drive. This as well is a beautiful promenade featuring a rainbow hanging bridge. It is a perfect place to spend a few hours with your family, walking and enjoying the breeze. Best to go when the sun is setting to capture a magical view. You can decide to do boating in the pristine waters. We did not do it, as it was getting dark and the laziness in us had overwhelmed us to just sit and relax.

Where is Thekkady in Kerala located?

Thekkady Club Mahindra resort was our next point. For that, we booked a car from MakeMyTrip, which was albeit a tiring journey due to hairpin bend roads, the only consolation, were the awesome views. One tip do not load yourself with a heavy meal if you plan to travel to Thekkady, as the narrow roads make it uncomfortable to sit for longer. After a good five hours on the road, we reached Club Mahindra Thekkady resort. Thankfully, this resort is within the market area, unlike many of their other resorts that are secluded destinations, far from the hustle-bustle. Post check-in and exploring the green vicinity, we went around the Thekkady market in the evening. It gave us the feel of a mall road, lively with many food joints and events. The first thing we relished the most here were banana chips fried in coconut oil. Heavenly and tasty. Do not miss out to gorge on these little munchies while in Kerala. Stay tuned for Day two fun in the picturesque hill station of Kerala.

 
Club Mahindra, Thekkady in Kerala
Club Mahindra Thekkady, Kerala

 

Homestay near Tarkarli beach & Scuba diving

By
Namita Walia Sawant
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1
Tarkarli beach
Best of Konkan Travels
Homestay near Tarkarli beach is a perfect holiday for a memorable family time. Tarkarli is a heaven on earth, a place that can soothe your mind & relax your soul. Fill you with so much warmth, good food, adventurous activities, and a lifetime of memories, that once you visit this place, you will want to keep coming back.
Almost after eight years of my first trip to this beautiful beach destination Tarkarli in Maharashtra, I was here again for a short four day picnic. This time our group was quite big with varied personalities spanning different age groups, from 1 year old to 70 plus.
One big family! 
 
On the night of Christmas, we boarded our train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at around one & reached Kankavli station by nine am in the morning.

Best homestay near Tarkarli Beach – Nature plus agro tourism

From there, we took a bus, pre-arranged by one of our friends, to the most amazing homestay near Tarkarli beach one could imagine. For the next three nights our destination was – Nature plus agro tourism, in Sindhudurg. As the name suggests, the homestay was right in the arms of nature. Just one quuick glance around and you could feel the warmth this place has to offer.
 
homestay near tarkarli beach
Pic Courtesy – Nature AgroPlus
 
Peaceful and serene, I felt one with nature as soon as I entered this homestay. Simple & cozy rooms, yummy food and picturesque outdoors, the Agro farm is perfect to have a fun vacation with family.
 
As I mentioned, our group ranged from kids to elderly, and all of them had great amount of fun. While kids simply reveled in sand play, the elderly enjoyed the laidback air on a hammock and the tree top, just soaking in the nature and pure air.
 
homestay near tarkarli beach
Tree top view @ NaturePlus Agrofarm
 
For me, this place gave me that silence to ponder and chillax. For once, my mind was not running and I was at peace, such is the calming effect of this place – Tarkarli.
 

Scrumptious sea food

The best part of our homestay was the food. The special fish thali lunches were scrumptious, wish I could still revel it. The fish was yum, fresh and soft, and not to forget the famous Solkadi. Oh man, must have drowned a few glasses along with the tasty food. This homestay offered the best food, both in veg and non-veg, along with the best view. 

homestay near tarkarli beach
Tarkarli home-stay
 
The days were mostly spend in eating, more eating, and the rest of the time in exploring the nature around the resort. Kids were busy playing in the mud while we adults got some time to detach from the fast life and just breath, at a slow pace.
Tarkarli beach resort
 
Here, we used to wake up early to catch the fresh landscape of fog and dew. Everything around it looked surreal, simply magical.
 

Tarkarli scuba diving

After enjoying our healthy breakfast, we did step out of the resort only on the second day. Our moto to enjoy water activities, especially scuba diving. Straight away, we headed to Sindhudurg Fort. Since December is a peak season in Tarkarli, there was a huge wait. But that gave us many opportunities to visit the fort and dwell a little in the history.
 
Sand Ganpati @ Sindhudurg Fort
 
There are many water sports activity operators in the area. All are certified, so pick any one, as the pricing is also same for most of them. You need to tell them before hand as to how many members from your group are going to do scuba diving. A rough number is all they want so that they can arrange a boat and take you to the exact spot.  
 
Tarkarli Scuba diving
Two hours inside the fort, we got hungry and had the yummiest Zunka Bhakar. You should try this local food while exploring the fort. In my next blog, I will share my scuba diving experience with all of you. Stay tuned!

Hampi Karnataka (Day 2) – Travel Tales to The City of Ruins

By
Namita Walia Sawant
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3
Hampi Karnataka is the best place to plan your visit if you love exploring the history of our Incredible India. Today morning I woke up to the news that the monuments at the world heritage site in Hampi Karnataka have been flooded with water. The places where I was wandering so peacefully just two weeks back are in a state of deluge. I hope it recovers from this difficult situation soon, without losing any of its glory. 
 

Places to visit in Hampi Karnataka

1. Lotus Mahal 

So, Day 2 of our trip to Hampi started with a visit to the Lotus Mahal. An architecture marvel, you can spend good two hours to explore the ruins & the adjoining gardens. 
 
Lotus Mahal, Hampi Karnataka

2. Pushkarani

Another must visit places to visit in Hampi is Pushkarani, as it unveils many glorious stories of the Vijayanagara Empire. The step-well was a scene to remember for a lifetime. Such precision in architecture is just spell-bounding. Therefore, I suggest you take a guide to see this place as it has startling stories attached to it. Like this stepwell was discovered much later in the 1980s after the researchers found a water pipe which was leading to somewhere. They dig up the entire area, which was until then used for parking the tourist vehicles and discovered this beautiful step-well. Isn’t it amazing?
 
Pushkarini Stepwell, Hampi Karnataka
 
 
The guide also took us to the secret cave where the King used to conduct his top-level meetings. The entry had two small elephants made of musical stones that could produce a bell-like sound when tapped lightly. Remarkably, their food plates were also made from stones and also had music in it. It’s simply enchanting to visit this place full of mystical stories.
 

3.Vijaya Vittala temple 

The highlight of the day was a visit to the VITTALA TEMPLE. Simply breath-taking. I have never seen something as beautiful as this temple. Rightly so, the locals of Hampi call this place as the Main temple. Everything about this place is fascinating. The grandeur simply took my breath away, right from the moment we reached the temple vicinity, which is by a small club car that is driven by women drivers – way to go women empowerment.
 
Vittala Temple, Hampi Karnataka
Vittala Temple, Hampi Karnataka

GOLDEN CHARIOT

It’s good to invest in a guide here as well, specially, to explore this temple, which has a rich history attached to its every stone and pillar. The entrance is fascinating and a few steps inside, you can see the GOLDEN CHARIOT. The craftsmanship over here is spellbinding. Every symbol carved on the chariot has a story to narrate about Hampi Karnataka.
 
Golden Chariot, Hampi Karnataka
Golden Chariot, Hampi Karnataka
 
Moving close to the main temple, you can witness the most mystical aspect – the 56 musical pillars, so aptly arranged with symbols denoting the sound each pillar emits. Intriguing as it can be, the guide shared the story behind these pillars. The Queen used to love dancing and hence, the King built these pillars for her to practice dancing. While dancing, the whole place would be enclosed with curtains and the proof of it can still be seen as the rock hooks stand tall on the edges of the large Ranga Mantapa or the main hall. The symbols carved on these pillars depict the different dance forms and various activities that used to take place in that era.
 
Hampi Karnataka
Musical pillars of Hampi Karnataka
 
 
The backside of this temple has a river which makes for the most scenic wallpaper image. Here, as well you can enjoy the coracle ride, which we did to end our amazing & memorable sight-seeing journey of this beautiful place called Hampi Karnataka. 
 
 

Hampi Karnataka – final words

 
Peaceful, self-rejuvenating, mystical and full of rich history of the golden years. I plan to visit Hampi Karnataka again but this time maybe for a longer period. A three-day trip is not enough to explore the ruins of Hampi. If you want to soak in the peace, nature and the enchanting stories of the yesteryear era, plan a week’s visit to this postcard town called – HAMPI. I hope you enjoy reading this blog, stay tuned for more travel tales of our Incredible India.

 

THE POSTCARD TOWN OF HAMPI in Karnataka

By
Namita Walia Sawant
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0

Hampi in Karnataka, what’s the first word that comes to your mind when you search for this place… It is the RUINS… Yes, it’s the city of ruins. All the pictures that you see online cannot do justice to the real beauty that this place has to offer. Housing a number of ruined temples and stories of the golden yesteryear (kings & queens), this city surprises you in more than one way.

Situated in Karnataka, we reached this place after a rather eventful train journey, which instead of 16 hours, took close to 30 hours – Thanks to incessant Mumbai rains on 26 July 2019. On the bright side, we could reach this place and enjoy our three-day stay in a pleasant weather. 

How to reach Hampi in Karnataka?

Hampi can be comfortably reached via Hubli. A three-hour train journey from Hubli to Hospet put an end to our never-ending struggle to reach Hampi Karnataka. But in the end, it was all worth it. Hampi has this exclusive charm to it, right from its cafes to various historical places, everything has an attitude that you can soak in. The first place we visited was the VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE. Never seen something as beautiful as this landscape – a true post card from all angles. This is a must-visit place if you are heading to the town of Ruins.

VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE 

virupaksha temple, Hampi in Karnataka

 

 Before you enter the vicinity of the temple, it is advisable to fill up you belly at the Mango Tree restaurant. The food, ambience, paintings, seating arrangements and not to forget the crowd, everything is so unique, as if you are in some French town in a countryside.

 A laidback air surrounds you as you enjoy your Italian, French, or Indian food delicacies. Catch up with the foreigners in here, all engrossed in their own world, soaking in the climate as much as they can. One look in their eyes and you can feel they are at peace with their surroundings. The food is yum. Don’t forget to have Nutella, banana, coconut pancake while you are at this eatery. 

 

 

 After visiting the temple, spend some time on the rocks, behind the temple & soak in all the peace and divinity that this place has to offer. This view, I can still close my eyes and feel the sheer warmth of this beauty! 

 

 One tip – make sure to wear comfortable shoes as you have to keep on walking the massive ruins if you wish to explore Hampi in Karnataka.

 Coracle ride, Hampi in Karnataka

From Hampi Virupaksha temple we sat in our autos, which by the way is a good way to navigate around the town on a budget. Just a few minutes and we reached the spot where we enjoyed the coracle ride. It is a fun and safe ride as they handed us life jackets before we entered the circle shaped boat or popularly called as CORACLE. The water was serene and cold. A half an hour ride that was peaceful and exciting at the same time. One look around, and you will see several rocks stacked one over the other, making up for a picturesque scene. The balancing rock was a true marvel, a circle-shaped rock balanced perfectly on a flat surface. Gravity totally defies at this place.

 

coracle ride, Hampi in Karnataka

Before the ride end comes the best part. The rider let the boat roll in fast circles to let the traveller enjoy the adrenaline rush. This is another must thing to do when in Hampi Karnataka – CORACLE RIDE.

Narsimha statue, Hampi in Karnataka

 Then, we visited a few temples one after the other, the scene pretty much the same from one ruin to other. A temple with a huge, one-stone carved Ganesha, Narsimha, etc. A place called Queens Bath, where the Ranis or queens of those era would bathe. The stories that accompanied each destination would just made us imagine the rich lifestyle of the yesteryear Raja & Ranis.

 

 

Tungabhadra Dam

Many temples here don’t have any idol as during the war, most idol statues were ruined. Our first day of tour ended with a visit to the Tungabhadra Dam which is developed into a tourist spot with fancy sound and light show and a fish aquarium to appeal to the little ones. Another must-visit destination of this postcard town.

 Tungbhadra dam, hampi in karnataka

 

 

 

 

 

A day visit to Shirdi Sai Baba

By
Namita Walia Sawant
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2
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is a must visit destination in India. Last weekend I along with a group of people and two small kids ventured on a divine journey to seek blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba. A night journey is most suggested for people heading to Shirdi from Mumbai or Pune. Take a Volvo bus or a car, start by 10 pm and reach by 4 am, before the Kakad arti, which starts from 5 am in the morning. However, our plan didn’t quite go on this route.

How to reach Shirdi Sai Baba?

We started our journey to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple on a Saturday night after midnight and reached Shirdi at six in the morning. Since it was monsoon, at least season per say, we decided to take a non-AC 17-seater minibus/van. Honestly, the van was quite uncomfortable to sit for long hours. There was no arm rest and the seats were not adjustable. The leg space was small and all in all, I wouldn’t recommend a minivan for more than 10 people. Especially if you travel with small toddlers ensure to check the vehicle before hiring one.
Enroute shirdi sai baba
After reaching Shirdi, we checked into a nearby hotel to freshen up. Most hotels offer warm water for a specific time period, ensure you ask the manager before taking the keys. Don’t go to a fancy hotel and get cheated. Take one that is charging reasonable as you just want it for an hour’s time. The room was fine, but the washroom was pathetic. Anyways, we took turns to take bath and were ready by 7.30 am. 

Important points to remember:

Once we left the room, we walked to our minivan to keep our belongings (phone, camera, etc)., and our shoes. Remember, you cannot carry these things inside the temple and hence, make sure to hire a trustable driver. We stood in the line by 8 am without any breakfast, thinking we will be done earlier and can eat after the Sai Darshan. But, we were in a for a surprise. The visitors’ line was too long as it was a Sunday and we learnt our lesson. Never go to Shirdi Sai Baba on a Sunday or else, visit before 6 am.  

We stood there for more than five hours with no food. Luckily, there were vendors selling water and biscuits, which kept us alive. Beware of thugs who promise to take you inside the temple in less than hour through some special gate. These guys loot you of money and make you stand in lines for hours. Don’t fall in the trap and take care of your belongings. It is better not to carry costly stuff inside as the number of people inside the temple are huge.
 
We could get inside the temple only after a decent five hour wait. Through the journey, I could list the following lessons:
  • Never plan your Shirdi trip on a Sunday, especially if you lack patience.
  • Don’t take small kids along, less than a year toddler is a no-no.
  • Stick to the schedule, reach early before 5 am and get done fast.
  • Stay in group, there is no way of communicating others if you lose track so stay close-knitted.

The journey doesn’t end here. Though we were done with darshan by 2 pm, we couldn’t get anything to eat by 4.30 pm. Lots of confusion, anger and temperaments followed …

Vani temple, Nashik,

After seeking blessing from Baba! OM SAI RAM J

Next destination was the Vani temple, Nashik.

Vani Nashik, post shirdi sai baba darshan
Vani Temple Nashik
 
 
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