Malshej Ghat

Malshej Ghat, famous for its waterfalls and thick mist, is situated at an altitude of 700 metres (2300 feet) above the sea level.

Route Map : Mumbai -> (Eastern Expressway) Borivali ->Thane -> Bhiwandi -> Kalyan -> Murbad ->Sarlagaon -> Malshej Ghat.

A four hours journey from Mumbai will take you to Malshej Ghat.

ENROUTE TO MALSHEJ GHAT

Making our way to Malshej ghat through the lonely roads ! Immersed in the beauty of the surroundings, I looked out of the window, not wanting to miss anything.

Soon we were truly in  natures lap. We stopped  at few places to click photos of  the picturesque scenery around.  It is a sight to behold for its wholesome greenery, village life and a layer of mist as clouds descend into the region.

We were on the highway. The sun blazed high on the sky, as the distant mountains flew past into the blur, some of them still covered in a thin layer of snow. These lofty ranges were constant companions and unsurprising.

The road stretched on ahead with dozens of curves. Further on, was a series of waterfalls plunging into the road.

Almost at every curve of the road, one is bound to find a cascading waterfall.  Walking through the gushing water is a lifetime experience.

AN ATTRACTIVE TUNNEL

Enroute to the village is a tunnel. This was the route's attraction.

The road is extremely narrow but the overhanging greenery more than makes up for the alert drive. After crossing the  tunnel , we saw a beautiful creation of nature’s architecture – a cliff at the edge of a small plateau. It’s a place from where you can get a view of the entire ghat.

Krishna Bela Point. Malshej Ghat

There were  stalls on the way and were the only sources for  snacks and water. They were selling tea, coffee, egg dishes, vada pav and roasted corns.

VILLAGE

After clicking a lot of photos, we headed towards the  village which was a few kms ahead from Malshej Ghat.

BEAUTIFUL LAKE

Just adjacent  to the road is a beautiful lake -Pimpalgaon Joga Lake - which is one of the main attractions in Malshej Ghat. The surrounding was so  nice that I could not  resist myself from clicking photos.

Rolling hills and the gathering clouds lend a surreal feel to the breathtaking scenery.

Mountain in Monsoon,Malshej ghat

VILLAGE LIFE

People working in paddy field during monsoon at Malshej ghat

Had a delicious Maharashtrian lunch - Rice, Dal, Pithla Bhakri, Maas wadi etc.

VIEW POINT

The view from behind the ‘Flamingo Hill Resort’, run by MTDC is a must-see.  Covered with a misty fog,these mountains often seem to merge and disappear into the skies.

A distance view of Krishna Bela point.

If  planning to stay overnight, one can consider  ‘Flamingo Hill Resort’ run by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.

As we were on high altitude, the clouds were on the road and this is an  experience which I love – passing through the clouds.

Malshej Ghat is a must visit weekend destination during the monsoons.

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Velas Turtle Festival and Harihareshar Visit

Are you looking for a weekend destination around Mumbai especially in summer? Participating in the famous turtile festival at Velas, a bonus visit to  Harihareshwar, hugged by golden beaches and delicious home made food -  a perfect choice, all in two days.

About Turtle Festival:-

The Olive Ridely turtle lays eggs at multiple places along the Maharashtra coastline. Velas in Ratnagiri district is the place where most of the action is concentrated. For years, the eggs were being stolen, sold and eaten. That along with pollution and fishing has driven the Olive Ridelys to near extinction.

Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, in joint collaboration with the Forest Department, Ratnagiri, Kasav Mitra Mandal Velas and the Velas Gram Panchayat are trying to save the Ridelys. They conduct the Velas Turtle Festival in Mar-April time frame every year. During this festival, thousands of newborn Oilve Ridley Turtles are released into the sea.

Day 1:

We started  our journey in a private bus from Mumbai at around 11.30 PM. Hardly five hour journey will take you to Velas village in the early morning. Most of the village houses open their doors to the tourists for a nominal fee that includes all meals. This was homestay at its best.

After freshening up, we headed for the beach where the turtle hatchery is located. It was a long walk from the village to the hatchery at the beach.

Just a few feet away, one small area is cordoned off. That's the hatchery. Posters describing details about Olive Ridley Turtles were fixed on the fencing and I noted few of them:-

1. Olive Ridley Turtles are the smallest and the most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
2. These turtles are omnivores eating variety of prey including crabs,shrimps,lobsters,alage etc
3. Male olive Ridley turtles can be distinguished from females by its tail, which sticks out beyond the carapace.
4. The females come to nest on the same shore every year where they were born.
5. Large groups of females gather off shore for nesting, this phenomenon is called 'Arribada'
6. It is said that only 1 hatchling in 1000 will survive and reach adulthood.
7. These turtles are listed as 'Threatened' species in Red Data Book by IUCN.

Turtle eggs collected from all over the beach are brought here and again buried in sand - with a wooden stick next to it indicating the date on which they were put there. When the eggs are about to hatch, the movement increases.  These are then brought to the surface and a basket is kept on top of them.

People had gathered around the barricades with lots of excitement and had positioned their cameras as well. We were lucky to witness the journey of two baby turtles.  The coordinators explained the do's and dont's while placing the baby turtle on the sand. Our eyes were set on the baskets from where the turtles had to be taken to the sea. The baby turtle was placed on the sand. With effort, it raised its head and decided to hit the waves.

With shiny eyes and a precautionary look around, they started their maiden walk into the sea. The waves are in sight now.

It was picked up by a bigger wave and then the baby reached  its home.

Besides the Turtle festival, Velas is also famous for its simple home stays and delicious Konkani food. The houses in the village were simple and quite interesting. The narrow pathways and coconut trees on both sides reminded me of my home village in Kerala.

After the Velas beach visit, we headed for the nearby Bankot Fort. The road towards the fort is narrow. Bankot is a very beautiful fort and surely worth a visit.

The secluded, small, square shaped fort close to the sea offers a breathtaking view of the Savitri River meeting the Arabian Sea beneath. Sitting on the top of the fort and watching the waves in the sea is a sight to behold.

We bid goodbye to the fort and started back towards the village. Delicious Konkani meal was awaited  us. The food was served on banana leaves which gave a typical village feel.

After having lunch and taking few hours of rest, we headed back to Velas beach at around 5 pm. This time we were lucky to witness the maiden march of three baby turtles into the sea.

When the sun sinks down, the sea shivers with a colorful light. We spent few hours at the beach, having fun and clicking photos.

It was getting dark, we headed back towards our house in the village.

Day 2:

In the early morning, we woke up at around 4 am and went for stargazing. Lying down on the top of the rock and watching the sky  full of stars is something to be experienced and cannot be explained. We saw some shooting stars, Jupiter and some constellations.

We had our breakfast and were ready for Harihareshwar temple visit. Boat service is available to cross the river and we took our bus along with us in the boat.

Harihareshar, known as Kashi of the South, is famous for its temples.  A parikrama of this pilgrimage site can be a delightful experience. We have to climb a few steps to reach the  top of the area.

Harihareshwar is renowned for its tranquility and picturesque beach. En route you will get a beautiful view of the beach.  It is one of the finest sea shores in India.

Then we walked down the long winding path cut between two hillrocks before reaching the sea.

Sitting on the rocks and watching the waves, just an arm away , was a memorable experience.

The hill rocks were studded with beautiful rock sculpture.

Then we started our return journey to Mumbai. En route we had a pit stop for lunch.

Witnessing a baby turtle finding its way to the sea by those baby steps is an unforgettable moment. We enjoyed the village, the stay, the food, games, stargazing, the ferry ride, fort and the journey. I highly recommend to visit this place at least once in a lifetime.

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A day in Sula Vineyard, Nashik

It was a much awaited trip to Sula Vineyard, Nashik, Maharashtra,  just 180 KM from Mumbai. This 30 acre campus has many attractions like a tasting room, coffee shop, souvenir shop, amphitheatre, restaurants, vineyards and winery. This is all about the story of Rajeev Samant who converted this 30 acre family estate into a winery.

Sula Vineyard, Nashik, Maharashtra,India

PLANT VISIT

We reached the place at around 9 AM and after taking some rest in the Green Room, we headed for plant visit.  Our guide was ready to take us to plant visit. We uncovered the mystery behind wine-making including step-by-step process,  the equipment used, type of grapes and maturity process.  We saw gigantic containers – separate ones for red and white wine – used to separate out the stem, seed and skin. And the walk ended up in  a room that stored barrels and barrels of wine.

WINE TASTING

Finally we reached wine tasting room which was the last part of the wine tour. We got an opportunity to taste 5 wines. I came to know the new wine tasting skills : Swirl - Sniff -  See - Sip.

DELICIOUS LUNCH

It was around 1 PM and we headed for lunch.

GRAPE-STOMPING

After having yummy lunch, we assembled near the grape-stomping area and they allowed 4-6 persons at a time for grape stomping for about 15 minutes.

Our plan was to leave at 5 PM to Mumbai so we had enough time for purchase and photography. This place is not only a picture perfect sight but also an ideal place to relax and enjoy for those who want to move away from the hustle and bustle of  city life.  Cheers !

For details to reach the place, please visit : http://sulawines.com/Visit/Directions-to-the-Sula-Winery-and-Beyond-Resort/6/
                        

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A walk down the Suruchi Beach,Vasai(West), Maharashtra

 

Situated about 45-55 kms away from Mumbai and surrounded with lush green trees, this eco-friendly beach is one of the best place for relaxing.  A Facebook post is all it took me to join for a Photowalk at Suruchi Beach, Vasai (West), Maharashtra, India. These photos were taken during the walk.

The smoke portraits

One of the best experience was sitting on the wet land and watching the waves come and go.

You can also enjoy a  horse cart ride or a horse ride.

As the evening descended upon us, we decided to leave the beach. The sun was about to set. The horizon  was stained with a mixture of orange, yellow and dark blue hues.

Sunset at Suruchi Beach,Vasai(West),Maharashtra

We had a beautiful time out there and were happy to find such an amazing place near Mumbai.

How to reach :

On Mumbai Western Railway,  alight at Vasai Road Station west side.

Take auto directly for Suruchi Beach.
From auto stop, a short walk will take you to the entrance of the Beach.

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Matheran in Monsoon

This was my second visit to Matheran Hills.  My first visit to Matheran was in summer last year. But in this monsoon season, I got an opportunity to experience the real beauty of Matheran. 

Situated close to Mumbai, Matheran offers stunning views of the Sahayadri ranges and 38 peaks that offer the best views of the hill station. 

There are multiple ways of getting in. The first option  is to board a toy train from Neral to Matheran. Last time I travelled in toy train. You can also opt for a share-a-cab facility running between Neral and Dasturi point. This time, we took a cab.  And as we went  further uphill most of the way, I craned my neck out of the cab while passing through hairpin curves.  It took only 30 minutes to reach Dasturi point.  Upon reaching we took an entry ticket for Rs. 50/-. Then made our way to entry point of Matheran.   You can also opt for a 30 minute horseback.

There was a light drizzle and we found several old and  abandoned bunglows on the way. And  we were encountered by a group of monkeys on the way.  You will see lots of flowers, reptiles and birds and will make your experience more interesting. Matheran is an ideal place to study bio diversity.  Preserving of nature always plays an important role not only in the life of  people but other species in the nature.

Soon we reached main market.  After tea and snacks, we made our way to various points. Walking to various points through the red soiled path is very rewarding for nature lovers. A two kilometer walk from the main market will take you to Charlotte Lake which supplies drinking water to the residents of Matheran.  The ancient Pisarnath temple is located at one end of the lake and there are also two beautiful picnic spots – Louisa Point and Echo Point.

Charlotte Lake

Those who are interested in adventurous activity can choose valley crossing or just enjoy the view.

Valley crossing over Charlotte Lake

Further up, we halted at echo point. As the name suggests, this point provides echoes to your voice. We quitely sat down at the edge of hill and I found the scene unbelievably beautiful, the stunning view of waterfall  near to us and rolling green hills at a distance.  It was scary to see people taking selfie from the edge of the cliff. Scenes from my last visit flashed through my mind - the same place, our group of 15, had beautiful moments by taking photos.

Depending upon which look out point you are at, you can  see an abundance of mountains.  The beauty gets doubled in monsoon.

The valley comes alive in the monsoon rain. There were lots of people when we reached Lousia point. The area is fenced with iron rail rods. Although it was a slightly cloudy day, I had several “wow” moments. It doesn’t matter how many times I go to Matheren, the views are undeniably stunning.

Situated in the lush green Western Ghats, the elevation of the region is around 80 m above sea level. We could see one tree hill from Lousia point. The highlight of my trip was sitting in a classic rock promontory at Lousia point. A gap allows you through a small path to the top of the rock.  I loved being in that place, breathing in the fresh crisp air and realising just how many mountains I was surrounded by.

Louis Point

Sky high mountains and tranquility will mesmerize you even though it looks scary. To the left side, I could see Echo point at a distance.

I got a beautiful view of Vishalgad and Prabhal forts from Louisa Point.  When you loook down, you can watch the river originating from waterfalls run like a silver line.  Monkeys are seen everywhere.

The beauty of Matheran is that it changes its face every season. During my last visit, when I took the photo of Lion's head, it was coverd by yellow colored grass.

Lion's Head

For few hours we walked around majority of points which includes King George point, Lord point, Malang point, Rambagh point, Alexander point, Echo point, Charlotte lake and Louisa point. We could see peaks in different heights . Overhanging the green meadows and  pinnacles made the whole area beautiful.

As the evening descended upon us, we decided to leave the place. Meanwhile, it started drizzling.

If you are a nature lover, do not miss the opportunity to witness the uniqueness of Matheran especially in monsoon.

My plan and  itinerary :

Reached Neral by local train by 11 am

Shared Taxi from Neral to Matheran Rs.70/
Reached entrance gate of Matheran (Dasturi Naka)  11.30 am
Entry fee to Matheran for Rs.50
Start walking from Dasturi Naka to Main market.
Nature Trail in Matheran about 6 hrs
Return to Dasturi Naka by 5.30 pm
Back to Neral Station by local Transport.

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