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In tourist destinations around mumbai and pune

Ajanta-Ellora Caves Aurangabad-You can’t miss on this world Heritage marvel

22/01/2024 No Comments

One of the UNESCO sites in terms of monumental history and artifacts, Ajanta-Ellora Caves stands tall against the tide of time. I can say I have a lot of time to spare for these two marvels and lots to explore. You need two days to be here to explore these caves fully. Yes, there’s structural repetition, and all seem similar after some time, while a historian will understand the differences between shelters, whereas an ordinary man would generalize the same. Nevertheless, it’s a one-time must-visit place with mostly marks of Buddhism and how monks remained in caves and imparted knowledge in the olden days. Plus, you can trek to nearby forests just after the rains. Bibi ka Muqbara is another highlight that closely resembles the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Six great reasons why you must visit Ajanta/Ellora Caves:

The Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have some exquisite paintings inside caves that depict Buddhist religious art and Buddha life. The Caves consist of five chaityas or prayer halls. Other caves are known as Viharas, which were meant for residents.

Devagiri, a town about 11 km from Aurangabad, houses the famous 12th-century Daulatabad Fort on a 200 m high hillock. Aurangabad is obvious once you get to the top by climbing 800 odd steps.

Bibi-ka-Makbara is the prime tourist attraction of Aurangabad, which is the grave of Rabia-ul-Daurani, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb.
Soneri Mahal organizes a dance and music festival annually, showcasing performances of famous artists like Zakir Hussain, Ghulam Ali, Hari Haran, and Hema Malini.

Location: Aurangabad is 350 km east of Mumbai and 250 km east of Pune.

Ajanta Caves is known for Cave paintings

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

Ajanta and Ellora Caves,Bibi ka muqbara

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Chikhaldara, Bhandardara hill stations, Shirdi Sai, Nagpur, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, and Kaas.

Bibi ka Maqbara,Aurangabad-resembles Agra's Taj Mahal — Bibi ka Maqbara,Aurangabad-resembles Agra’s Taj Mahal

Distance Charts:(Aurangabad)

Ajanta Caves(100 km)
Ellora Caves(30 km)
Mumbai(340 km)
Pune(240 km)
Hyderabad(560 km)
Cochin(1370 km)
Mysuru(1010 km)
Chennai(1200 km)
Bangalore(930 km)
Rameswaram(1540 km)
Kanyakumari(1600 km)
Delhi(1250 km)

A great place to trek post monsoons-Ajanta Cave

How to Reach Ajanta/Ellora Caves :

Road Routes:

Mumbai/Pune-Shirur-Ahmednagar-Aurangabad(also Nashik-Kopargaon route is possible)-Ellora Caves-Bibi ka Mukbara-100 km-Ajanta Caves,

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1) To see caves and forests around, avoid the rainy season, come here after September month.

2)Have two days in hand to see these caves. These caves are spread over a vast area in huge numbers. Plus, Ajanta Caves is approximately 4 hr drive from Aurangabad. So start early by 6 am, reach before 10 am, give 4-5 hours in cave sightseeing, and then return.

3)You can get a shared bus for under INR 50 within the cave region to take you to the cave site-do. Take that! You’ll already walk so much in the caves area-don’t unnecessarily burn your energy out!

4) Don’t miss the mini Taj Mahal-Bibi ka Muqbara in Aurangabad-superb in ambiance and architecture.

Dome shaped structures are hallmark of Ellora-Ajanta Caves

RAIL: Aurangabad/Jalgaon railway stations are the nearest ones.

AIR: Aurangabad has its own airport .

ROAD: Aurangabad is well connected to cities like Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, and Nashik, and roads are pretty good with more minor portions of bad patches. MSRTC buses ply quite in number-that shall be of immense help.

Map:

Time to Visit:

October to March is an excellent time to be here.

Spend Time With:

Friends, Groups, Couple, Family

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are mainly in Aurangabad at reasonable prices-any. Booking won’t be required as such. This will be the focal point around which the tour will happen. Food options are pretty much out there, but when you go out on the trip to caves, have a bottle of water and some snacks with you!

Expense:

A 2 day trip to Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: INR 350 for all the three places-Bibi ka Mukbara by shared auto; Ajanta Ellora caves by state transport

Lodging: INR 600/day X2

Entry Fees: INR 150, including camera charges(not mobile phones)

Total: 2300 INR

Nearby Attractions(Aurangabad)

Ajanta Caves(100 km)
Ellora Caves(30 km)
Mumbai(340 km)

Pune(240 km)
Hyderabad(560 km)
Nanded(260 km)
Chikhladara(360 km)

Various type of stones are found in Cave region

In tourist destinations around mumbai and pune

Bhuj-The Rann of kutch’s vibe in festivity and Dwarka’s gift of peace-with Somnath’s Legacy!

23/12/2023 No Comments

Today, I am here to talk about the two prolific and must-visit places of Gujarat-the Rann of Kutch in Bhuj and Somnath temple and Dwarka city near Okha. One provides the vibe of the local culture of Gujrat along with performances far and wide, whereas the latter one gives a sense of pride as to how vibrant our ancient India was. Somnath temple marks India’s wealth in the past, and Dwarka celebrates the kingdom of Lord Krishna, which though submerged, is intact in deep waters!

Reasons why you must visit Bhuj and Dwarka:

Kutch Rann Utsav is a colorful festival that takes place in Rann of Kutch, lasting for three months from November to January, which includes camping, musical and dance performances, camel rides, handicraft shows, etc. This is one of India’s most anticipated festivals, which everyone should visit once.

The Rann of Kutch is a spectacular site for photography, especially at night, sunrise and sunset. Yes, you get to see several cultural and musical performances, which give you a glimpse of local traditions and cultures.
The Nava Talav Lake in Kutch is an excellent spot to view birds like pink flamingos, pelicans, storks, and cranes. This place is just a must-visit for bird watchers and photographers.

Bhuj, the capital of Kachchh, is known for its Kachchh handicrafts and historic buildings – the Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal, for example, are both worth a sight.

Location: Bhuj is 400 km west of Ahmedabad, and Dwarka is 450 km west of Ahmedabad.

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

In Mahal Palace Bhuj-Aaina, Prag Mahal Palace, Kutch Museum, Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Kutch-Rann Utsav; Mandvi-72 Jinalaya Jain Temple, Mandvi Beach, Vijaya Vilas Palace; In Dwarka-Rukmani Devi Mandir, Dwarka Beach, Shree Dwarkadhish Temple; Somnath Mandir and Beach

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Ahmedabad, Gir Sanctuary, and Diu UT in the vicinity

Distance Charts:(Bhuj/Kutch)

Dwarka(400 km)
Gir Sanctuary(400 km)
Ahmedabad(330 km)
Mumbai(850 km)
Jaipur(880 km)
Pune(990 km)
Lucknow(1450 km)
Margao,Goa(1450 km)
Delhi(1150 km)
Dehradun(1340 km)
Shimla(1460 km)
Hyderabad(1500 km)
Chennai(2180 km)
Cochin(2300 km)
Kolkata(2340 km)

How to Reach Bhuj-Dwarka-Somnath:

Road Routes:

Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Palampur-Samakhiali-Bhuj-Samakhiali-Jamnagar-Dwarka-Veraval/Gir/Somnath

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)The Kutch is to be visited during the mid-November to Mid-January period when the whole Kutch region brightens with festivities and people(It goes upto mid-Feb, but most of the aura is gone)-don’t forget to get your light woolens-gonna to be cold!

2)Somnath Temple and Gir Sanctuary are must-visits in Gujarat-both are known for prominent reasons-the former for the representation of Golden ancient India and later being home to Asiatic lions. So do have a day for both of these reserved!

3)Gir Sanctuary usually can be seen by taking a car inside the Sanctuary-you don’t need to pay extra for a Safari van in the Sanctuary- if you have hired a car or have your own -pay the entry fees, and you are good to go-way cheaper!

RAIL:Bhuj, Somnath and Dwarka -all these 3 have their own railway stations connected by long distance trains.

AIR: Rajkot and Ahmedabad have their airports from where rail/road both can help in serving.

ROAD: The roads are butter smooth, but GSRTC state transport lags behind in terms of maintaining timings-so don’t make a tight schedule – have a buffer of 2 days.Dwarka and Bhuj sections have good road networks and they both connect each other as well, though you will need to change transport systems time to time.

Map:

Time to Visit:

September to March is a good time to visit these places

Spend Time With:

Friends, Groups,Solo, Family,Couple

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are lots more, so guest houses in large numbers with mere charges of INR 300-500/day. And I didn’t feel a need to book. Food is available in main towns like Somnath. Veraval, Dwarka, and Bhuj have many options, but when you go towards kutch, the shops are few and quite distant, making carrying some food necessary.

Expense:

A 5-day trip to these three places will cost:(Assuming you reach Bhuj by morning from Ahmedabad the prev night)

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X5

Transport: INR 2000 for Ahmedabad-Bhuj/Dwarka/Somnath round trip by bus/train.INR 100 for Bhuj local sightseeing and keep INR 600 for kutch aside.INR 500 for Mandvi and INR 300 for Dwarka and Somnath.

Lodging: INR 500/day X5

Entry Fees: INR 300 with the INR 100 fee in kutch. Many places within Bhuj and Somnath have this entry ticket system.

.

Total: 7800 INR

Nearby Attractions(Bhuj/Kutch)

Mumbai(850 km)
Pune(990 km)
Bhopal(920 km)
Mt. Abu(430 km)
Bhandardara(880 km)

Dwarka(400 km)
Gir Sanctuary(400 km)
Ahmedabad(330 km)
Jaipur(880 km)
Ajmer(750 km)

In tourist destinations around mumbai and pune

Kolhapur and Ratnagiri-One a historical realm,other a ocean of riches!

16/09/2023 No Comments

Kolhapur and Ratnagiri-both big cities in the Maharashtra state of India have lots in wraps for history. Kolhapur had been a throne to many Maratha empires for decades and centuries, whereas Ratnagiri-the birthplace of unforgettable freedom fighter-Lokmanya Tilak. However, Kolhapur has a freshening vibe with less soaring temperatures and a beautiful lake view in late evenings with palaces and street food apparent. Ratnagiri is an excellent place to scuba dive, plus had great beaches to visit -beaches are mostly clean and less populated!

Reasons why you must visit Kolhapur and Ratnagiri:

Panhala Fort is one of Kolhapur’s most popular attractions consisting of structures like the Teen Darwaza, Konkan Darwaja, Andhra Bavai and the Kalavanticha Mahal.

Rankala Lake is at the heart of Kolhapur and is an excellent place to chill out in the evenings with many food stalls and the hustle and bustle of a humongous crowd. There are several gardens around this lake where you can take some rest and have some merry picnic time as well. In the evenings, this is the place you should be in Kolhapur.
Ratnapura Fort is a 1300 m long fort overlooking the Arabian sea and jetties and is located on a hilltop in Ratnagiri, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. A lighthouse is also situated in the fort, which guides the ships and vessels. This is a beautiful place to view the ships and boats passing by, with a cool breeze across the Arabian Sea. Another fort, the Jaigad Fort, is a historical fort built in the 17th century.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s birthplace is at 10 min walk from the bus stand of Ratnagiri. Visit this converted museum for sure!
Thibaw point is located on a small hill in Ratnagiri, from where you can get a panoramic view of Bhatye beach, the Arabian sea and Someshwar creek. At a short distance from Thibaw point is Thibaw Palace which was built in 1910-11.
Ratnagiri is famous for Alphonso’s mangoes. So grab some at a lesser price right here.

Location : Ratnagiri and Kolhapur are about 350 kms south from Mumbai and about 300 kms south from Pune .

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

In Ratnagiri-Jaigad Fort, Ganapatipule Beach, Thibaw palace, Ratnadurg fort, Bhatye Beach, Gateway, Mandavi Beach, Marine Museum, Aare Beach, Lokmanya Tilak Birthplace

In Kolhapur-Rankala Lake, New Place, Mahalaxmi Ambabai Temple, Shalini Palace, Shree Jotiba Devasthan

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Kaas Pathar, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Doodhsagar Falls and even Goa from hereon.

Distance Charts:(Kolhapur | Ratnagiri)

Mumbai(375 | 330 km)
Kolhapur(0 | 130 km)
Hyderabad(530 | 665 km)
Panaji-Goa(200 | 240 km)
Cochin(1060 | 230 km)
Ahmedabad(885 | 840 km)
Chennai(970 | 1100 km)
Bangalore(620 | 750 km)
Kanyakumari(1300 | 1420 km)
Delhi(1700 | 1770 km)

How to Reach Kolhapur-Ratnagiri:

Road Routes:

Mumbai-Pune-Satara-Kohlapur-Ratnagiri

An important note from my experience:

1)Ratnagiri is best just after the monsoons when it doesn’t rain much and is pleasant enough. Summers are very humid and warm. The best time is between November to January, when the climate is pleasant.

2)Kolhapur local sightseeing can be done by shared transport and autos, whereas in Ratnagiri, most places need a private auto, so it is better to make a deal and visit prominent places or fix spot basis rates.

3)If Scuba diving is your love, spend an extra day at Ratnagiri and learn some scuba diving from experts. There’s a dedicated institute to serve this purpose.

4)Food is not an issue at both these places. But do have water and an umbrella, especially in Ratnagiri, as you tend to dehydrate owing to the coastal region,

RAIL:Both the places are well connected by railways.

AIR: Pune or Hubli can be nearest ones.

ROAD: The Mumbai-Bangalore highway will cover most of the portion of Kolhalpur journey .For Ratnagiri, you’ll need public transport (MSRTC bus transport) to reach from Kolhapur through thick forested Western Ghats.

Map:

Mumbai-Kohlapur-Ratnagiri Map via Pune and Satara

Time to Visit:

October to March will be good time to be here

Spend Time With:

Friends,Groups,Solo,Family,Couple

Food and Lodging:

Cheap and best Hotels are available at both these tourist spots .No bookings needed and no worries. For food local food at these places will suffice.

Expense:

A 2 day trip costs:(start from Mumbai late night to reach Kolhapur next day morning)

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: For Kolhapur, most places can be covered by public buses and autorickshaws, whereas for Ratnagiri, you may need private auto booking and ferries to reach a few places. A total cost of INR 800 is considered for local site seeing.

Lodging: INR 700/day X 1

Entry Fees include various places (varies): INR 200 is an approximate fee per person.

Camel stares sweet!!!

Total: 2300 INR

Nearby Attractions(Kolhapur | Ratnagiri)

Mumbai(375 | 330 km)
Kolhapur(0 | 130 km)
Hyderabad(530 | 665 km)
Amboli(120 | 205 km)
Bhandardara(400 | 470 km)
Lonavla(290 | 360 km)

In tourist destinations around mumbai and pune

The South Goa-Jump in quick if you love secluded beaches away from crowd

14/05/2023 No Comments

I have divided the tiny state of Goa into three parts, and you might be wondering why so? And yes, I have covered states in one post because I saw a glimpse of important places and not the whole of it! But yeah, I covered almost all important sites. Though small, Goa has lots on offer; South Goa is just one of them. If you are looking for less crowded beaches with peacetime with yourself-South, Goa it is! Some beaches say Cola beach or Honeymoon beach, you’ll find merely a bunch of people and if you are lucky -none! What’s so special about South Goa beaches is the tranquility and clean beaches. If camping and picnic is something you love all day, be right here!

27 Reasons why you must visit South Goa:

Kayaking in the waters of the Sal and Nerul rivers of South Goa for an hour or two will be lots of fun, considering that these waters are super transparent and peaceful too.
Scuba diving in South Goa is a great way to go below waters and discover the sea world!
Jet skiing, surfing, banana boat rides, parasailing, and water scooters are some water sports mainly available on Palolem, Benaulim, and Colva beaches.
When you think of relaxing beaches, shacks come to the rescue, especially on quieter beaches like Patnem, Cola, Polem, and Cabo de Rama Beaches.
If it’s monsoons, then how can you miss Dudhsagar falls! Just grab a bag, light clothes, and raincoat, and go off to visit India’s most happening waterfall in Goa.

A cashew-coconut product of fermentation known as feni is served as local liquor here in Goa; you shouldn’t miss that!
Goa Carnival, one of the main highlights of Goa, happens in February for four days, and you can’t miss the showcasing of Goa’s culture and traditions and the fun and music!
DJ at Neptune’s Point in Palolem beach is known for silent beats that get you grooving every Saturday night, so jump in!
The fireworks in the evening by professionals on many beaches is a beautiful event to be part of and awed at!

Majorda is a fantastic beach with beach shacks known for European bread, cookies, and cakes.
Zuri White Sands Resort on Varca Beach is well known for its Casino called Dunes.
Cavelossim Beach is known for its sandy beaches and fantastic sunset views. Also, River Sal is close by meeting the Arabian Sea.

Location: Cantona is 550 km northwest of Bengaluru and 100 km south of Panjim(Goa)

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

A lot of beaches— Palolem, Patnem ,Mobor ,Carmona, Varca, Zumbrai, Benaulim, Sernabatim, Colva ,Betalbatim, Betul, Sunset, Majorda, Utorda, Arossim Cansaulim,Canaguinim,Honeymoon, Butterfly, Cabo De Rama, Agonda, Cancona ,Fatrade, Velsao, Polem, Xandrem, Galgibagh, Talpona, Rajbagh, Patnem, Cola, ChhotaCola, Kakolem, Colomb beaches, Cabo De Rama Fort

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Old Goa, Panjim, North Goa , Gokarna, Ratnagiri, Doodhsagar Falls, Murudeshwar, and Jog Falls if you want to!

Palolem Beach is one of the best ones in south Goa with quite a crowd

Distance Charts:(Madgaon | Cantona)

Ahmedabad(1120 | 1130 km)
Jaipur(1640 |1650 km)
Chandigarh(2140 | 2150 km)
Shimla(2240 | 2260 km)
Kolkata(2200 | 2250 km)
Bhubaneshwar(1760 | 1740 km)
Mumbai(610 | 630 km)
Hyderabad(700 | 690 km)
Cochin(750 | 710 km)
Mysuru(590 | 550 km)
Chennai(930 | 900 km)
Bangalore(580 | 550 km)
Rameswaram(1200 | 1060 km)
Kanyakumari(1250 | 1120 km)
Delhi(1920 | 1950 km)

How to Reach South Goa:

Road Routes:

Mumbai-Ratnagiri-Malvan-Margao-Cantona(South Goa)-Karwar(halt for the night here)

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:

1)Karwar undoubtedly is the best place to halt-Its in Karnataka; it is very close to the Goa border, and hotels are cheap with so-so rooms and decent food-if. But, you are getting to stay at 300-500 INR; what’s the big heck!

2)A day shall be okayish, but you need two days to cover all of south Goa, and yes, it’s time taking, and you’ll be on the beach to relax-not to the marathon!

3)Have a tent and camping essentials so that you can rest all day watching clean beaches and calm seas. Let the drinks join in!

4) There’s a lot of walking uphill and downhill on beaches like Cabo Da Rama or, say, Cola Beach, so you must have some stamina to walk quite a bit and then have some rest. Through forested areas, though!

5)Public transport is limited in south Goa with fixed timings. For remote places like Cola, it’s even less numbered-so plan things accordingly; sometimes, you’ll need to walk for kilometers and trek down beaches because of lack of public transport.

RAIL: Cantona is the nearest railway station where few trains stop; otherwise, Karwar can be the next better stop.

AIR: Goa Dabolim Airport, Panaji is the nearest one-50-60 km is what it takes(2 hrs)

ROAD: Roads are good all over, goa-just a bit of hard luck with local buses. KTCL buses might help in a few places. The Mumbai-Mangalore route also runs through Goa, so it’s easy to be here anytime with frequent bus services.

Map:

South Goa Map 2 (Betul Fort-Cabo De rama-Canacona-Polem)

Time to Visit:

October ends in February. Even Feb end becomes a tad warm!

Spend Time With:

Friends, Groups, Couple, Family(selected areas)

Food and Lodging:

Hotels are there in Cantona region and a few dispersed over Pallolem-Polem region but, advise you to save bucks and be at Karwar where the so-so accommodation will hardly cost you a grand.No bookings in advance if Karwar is your choice otherwise, better book one using Goibibo or Makemytrip or Yatra websites if peak season is when you be here. Food is a bit of an issue price-wise as most hotels will be on the beach side, and some beaches are barren of facilities. So better get some bread-cookies and snacks and spend your day-add some fruits too in your diet.

Expense:

A 2 day trip to South Goa with a one-night stay at Karwar:

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: I will take INR 300 for public transport and INR 500 for Pallolem-dolphin-honeymoon boat rides(as walking is trekking through lost jungles here)-INR 800 in total!

Lodging: INR 700/day X1

Entry Fees include various places (varies): Zero it is!

Total: 2100 INR

Nearby Attractions(Margao | Cancona)

Mumbai(610 | 630 km)
Hyderabad(700 | 690 km)
Mysuru(590 | 550 km)
Chennai(930 | 900 km)
Bangalore(580 | 550 km)
Cochin(750 | 710 km)