Indore sarafa: one thing you should try atleast once in your lifetime- A sneak peak

Indore is always very close to my heart and one thing which makes it different from other cities is its food ...and the best place is to have delicious delicacies is Indore sarafa....some sneak peaks are here.... details coming soon so stay tuned to accompany me on savoury journey and I guarantee no one will be disappointed.. 

Virgin Beaches of Western Ghat :Dapoli-Ladhaghar-Harnai-Anjarle-Kelshi- A Photo Blog

Ratnagiri is known for its mangoes , greenery and beaches and as many as times you visit this beautiful coastline you discover something new. In my this road trip I discovered virgin beaches and humongous coastlines and natural beauty .

Literally a visual treat for us and for our camera. Some glimpses of this trip are..

Day-1

At Fern Samali Resort , Dapoli

Drive down to Dapoli from Mumbai, it takes approximately 4-5 hours. Check-in in hotel and enjoy the peaceful evening on top of the small hillock. My recommendation is The Fern Samali Resort.

Day-2
Next day start exploring near by beaches start with Ladhghar beach and on the way you can visit Parshuram Bhumi.

View from Parshuram Bhumi ( A monument having big statue of Parshuram)

Ladhghar is a beautiful beach and a beautiful old temple is situated on beach known as Tamas Tirth.

View of Ladhghar Beach from a Temple ( Tamas Tirth) Situated on Beach

Proceed further for Karde beach , a clean virgin beach where you can witness beautiful sunset.

Sunset at Karde Beach

Sunset at Karde Beach

Stay in any beach resort in Karde.

Day-3

Next day experience the famous fish market of Harnai and witness the Suvarna Durg Fort.

Suvarna Durg Fort in Harnai

Then proceed to most scenic road of Maharashtra , which goes parallel to huge coastline Harnai to Anjarle. You can also visit some near by temple and one temple known as Kadyawarli Shri Ganpati Mandir is very famous among locals.

On the way to Anjarle

On the way to Anjarle

On the way to Anjarle

And finally proceed to a most peaceful beach in Kelshi.

Going back from Kelshi Beach

You can stay here for one night or can proceed for you home town.

For More information for planning your itinerary click here.

Have you ever herd of Bamanghal ? Nature's Crack..

Nature is always ready to amaze us with it's beauty and one such you can see on Hedavi beach near Ganpatipule in Maharastra. This beach is situated around 3 km from Hedvi Ganesh temple. With ganesh temple there is one more temple of Lord Shiva (Uma Maheshwar) on the beach.

Hadevi Ganesh temple is a very beautiful temple , situated on a small hillock and the statue of Gnesha having 10 arms so it is famous as Dashbhuja Lord Ganesh ( 10 arms Ganesha). Click here to know more about the history of the Ganesh Temple.


From this temple at distance of 3-4 km there is one more temple known as Uma Maheshwar ( Lord Shiva Temple) temple situated on Hadevi beach ,with this temple there is a very interesting place formed by nature known as Bamanghal.

Its basically a gorge formed due to constant force of tides colliding on rock. This gorge is made of black rocks and around 20-25 feet deep, 30-35 feet long and 2-3 feet wide in dimensions. Rainy season and high tide is the best time to see this place as water enters in the gorge and after the collision it makes a big fountain like structure , which may reach up to the height of 10 meters. It's super fun to witness this. Check videos to get an idea as well as you can also feel the power of nature.

Word of Caution- Make sure you walk slowly and your shoes have proper grip . Also make sure you are extra cautious visiting this place and do not take any risk. 

With this you can also see other near by attractions such as-

Velaneshwar beach

Jaigadh Forth

Jaigadh Light House

Guhaghar etc.

For planning your itinerary click here.

You can also enjoy jetty ride in between

How to reach - You can reach here from Ganpatiphule or from Dapoli.

Best time - November-February

Time Duration- 3 /4 ( Including near by destinations) Cost has been mentioned for 1 day.

Tarkarli: A perfect beach destination for winters....you can also enjoy fog here :)

I wanted to go to Tarkarli for long , a beautiful coastal village situated on Arabian sea in Maharashtra. Then finally I packed my bags during my winter holidays and got ready to explore something extra ordinary.

White sandy beaches , cool breeze and delicious food , what I was expecting ... just like any other coastal village of Konkan but what I explored was really extra ordinary.

After my train journey I reached little late in the evening and checked-in, in MTDC's beach resort and I was welcomed with a hot cup of coffee and kanda Bajiya ( Fried snack made of pulse and onion) and beautiful sunset. After exploring the resort I ordered my simple dinner and soon went to bed as I was feeling little tired.

Next day I woke up early and decided to take a morning stroll and and what I witnessed .......the foggy beaches and serene but mysterious jungles behind and I felt like I am on a hill station. Virgin clean and cold beach......super cool breeze and pure air.....made my morning walk as one of the most healthy morning walk I ever had and could not stop myself taking lot of pictures.............I sat there for almost 3 hours and was ready to explore near by places........

Foggy Early Morning in MTDC Resort

Foggy Early Morning in MTDC Resort

Foggy Early Morning in MTDC Resort

Foggy Early Morning in MTDC Resort

Foggy Morning on Tarkarli Beach

Foggy Morning on Tarkarli Beach

Foggy Morning on Tarkarli Beach

Then during the day I explored near by places such as devbagh , Sindhu Durg Fort and Market . If interested you can also visit any Cashew nut factory to know how the cashew cleaning process happens and if you love water sports its heaven for you.

How to reach- Well reaching here is not difficult. You can come to Kudal railway station and from here this place is situated approximately 45 km away. If you are planning to drive down, it will take approximately 10-12 hours from Pune/Mumbai.

How May Days- 3 days , 2 nights are ideal.

Best time to visit- November to February ( If you want to witness fog)

Where to stay- You can choose based on your budget and can also click here for some options . You can also book your stay in MTDC resort, for more details click here . But choose boat house rooms , do not opt for basic hut rooms.

What to eat- Sea food, you can also try Kokum and Khas Sharbat.

Where to eat- Athithi Bamboo and Swami Family Restaurant. Both are situated in main market.

What to buy- Cashew nuts , Kokum products , home made local products such as papad, dry chilles etc.

What special- If you are adventurous and like to try some thing exciting, try Scuba diving and other water sports. You can also go to Maharashtra tourism Scuba diving school . For more information about it click here. In-fact they also conduct courses on Scuba Diving where you can stay and become professional scuba diver.

To see the video click here.

So pack your bags and get ready to do something extra ordinary this winter break kyu ki Zindagi Mile na Dobara........so live it fullest.

Witness the world's biggest hollow stone monument in Mumbai :Global Vipassana Pagoda

If you want to see one of the biggest and beautiful architecture in Mumbai then do visit Global Vipassana Pagoda in Gorai. This is one of the best architectural construction in Mumbai and situated in a very tranquil location next to Gorai creek.

This pagoda consists of three sub-domes and largest dome has bone relics of Gautama Buddha enshrined in the central locking stone of the dome. The relics were originally found in Bhattiprolu, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, South India. This dome is known as the world's largest hollow stone masonry structure containing relics of the Buddha.

The height of the dome is approximately 29 meters and height of the building is 96.12 meters and became biggest hollow stone monument in the world, breaking the record of Gol Gumbaz Dome of Bijapur, India. The hollow pagoda serves as a very large meditation hall having capacity of 8000 people. This place also provide classes for Vipassana ( Meditation). This course are held free of charge at the meditation center and you can contact authorities for more details.

So if you are looking for meditation or want to witness the biggest hollow stone monument in the world, this can be a perfect one day tour for you. With this you can also cover near by places.

How to Reach- This place is easily accessible from Borivali Station. You can reach here by boat from Gorai Jetty or can use bus plus auto.

Generally People Spend -1-2 hours

For more information about this place click here.

Please follow the rules and regulations of this place and respect the culture.

Near by Attraction/places- If you have time you can visit Essel World ( Amusement Park) and can also explore some near by beaches such as Gorai and Manor. Both beaches have lot of resorts so you can also have good relaxing Sunday afternoon lunch. My recommendation is Manoribel.

My Cultural Journey Through " A South Indian Wedding".....: A Photo Blog

Travelling is not just about reaching the destination or seeing the places .....its knowing the people , knowing the culture and feeling the fragrance of that place.

I am a north Indian girl......born and brought up in a typical north Indian culture. I have seen various north Indian rituals since my childhood so visiting a south Indian wedding was a cultural journey for me. Being an Indian I was feeling like a foreigner in my own country. But at the end I was proud of being an Indian , a land of such a diverse and rich culture.......So some glimpses of my cultural journey. 

                          Mandapam " A Sacred Place Where All The Rituals Takes Place"

                The Preparation " Applying Heena is an Integral Part of All the Hindu Marriages"

 

                                             The Tiffin " A Typical South Indian Breakfast"

Filter Coffee" To Give you a Kick 

                                            Rituals: A Promise to Tie Together Life Time

                  Blessings " To Fill the Couples's Life with Golden Colors and Fragrance

Simple but Nutritious Meal 

     

                                                          Yakshagana " Folk Dance

Happily Every After ............

Luxury in Pocket Friendly Way: Transera Grand Kancana Villas, Bali

Bali is a popular destination for lot of Indians and available luxurious but economic resorts make is more attractive. So if you are visiting Bali do not miss to stay in private pool villas.........and enjoy the luxury at it best in pocket friendly way.

One such resort is Transera Grand Kanchan Villas Bali , where your beautiful private pool villas will mesmerize you so much that you will prefer to stay inside :)

You may be on your honeymoon or with family this is perfect for you. Villas have their private pool with big sit-out area, a big bedroom and a very big bathroom with open air shower space. While soaking in your private pool you can enjoy green surroundings, clear sky and chippering of birds.

You can also enjoy their Spa services and free shuttle service to main market area. Food options are limited ( Indian) but if you are experimental , it will not be a problem. They will prepare your food according to your choice and try their best to provide you all the comforts you need. Only one thing may disappoint you, its surrounding, but it may be over looked as they provide free drop facility to main market. So, if you are looking for some wonderful experience give it a try.

Special Comment- Good for peace loving tourists