My Travel

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Arnala Island fort : It is a small Island sea fort near Virar railwaty station. From Virar, one can visit the nearby hill - Jivdani - with a temple on top (3 km). From Virar, travel to Arnala by bus (9 km) and then take a ferry to the fort. A small fishing village nestles among its intact walls. There are two watchtowers which are worth a visit.

The watchtowers are standing far from the fort near the beach and has an entry. One has to crawl to enter the tower. A walk along the beach at Arnala island is a nice experience. There are two temples and a Dargah in the island. The fort is hidden and has three entrances. The entrance has a tiger and an elephant on it's walls. The way to the fort is through a domed gateway. It has wells, good fort walls and a Ketralite Swami lives inside the fort !.

Swami Paramnand Yogesh from Kasarkod, Kerala speaks English and Marathi fluently. If you want any help, call the Swami in his mobile : 9822 775209 or on 0250 - 6803609. So don't feel lonely when you are at Arnala.

Rs 8 for launch (fibre boat fitted with engine) 1600 h to 2000 h in the evening (return fare). There are morning launch services to the fort. Night stay in the island is not permitted by the locals. Plenty of fresh water is available on the island. Inquire in advance about the ferry timings, which are not regular, specially when the sea is rough. One has to board the launch by walking around waste deep water in the sea. And the waves make the boat to move violently.

The sea at Arnala is very differrent (rough and deep) from that of Alibag. At Arnala, the fish is dried by hanging it on wooden poles. It is a small fishing harbour and the fish market is a good place to see the vareity of fishes. The Arnala - Vasai area houses has one household item in common - the swing made of wood.

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Vasai fort : The fort weas built by Bahadurshah, Sultan of Gujrat (1526 - 1537). Portuguese occupied the fort from 1534 until 1739, when the Marathasa captured it. Portuguese developed the place into a city with cathedral, churches, convent, asylum etc. The fort has long walls and two main entrances. The fortress has arched buildings, tombs, statue of Shivaji, a High school, few huts and Nageshwar temple.

In 1739 AD Sriman Chimaji Appa, the brother of Peshwa Bajirao I, after storming the Sam Sabastio's bastion, captured the city. In 1802 AD under the treaty of Bassein, the Marathas handed over the city to the British, who, 16 years after incorporated it in the Bombay province.

Reach Vasai from Churchgate, Mumbai by local train and travel to the fort by ST bus. The nearby area is inhabited by fisherman community. The style of their dress is noteworthy. They have a different complexion and good in health. One can also see salt making by evaporating seawater. One can take a bus to Arnala fort from the Parnaka bus stand (16 km).

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Harihar (1120 m) : Harihar is a unique fort in the Sahyadris, built on a triangular prism of rock. Its three faces and two edges are absolutely vertical. The third edge is inclined at an angle of about 75 degree. A one meter wide rocky staircase is hewn on this range. At one place, it goes through a hole, carved in rock. The rocky staircase has good fingerholds, so it is an easy and interesting climb. On top, there is a small temple, a shelter, a rocky hill with an easy route to top and 16 water tanks. One can stay a night at this shelter/room, which is in good condition.

The British officer Capt. Briggs described it as wonderful route and wrote : 'Words can give no idea about its dreadful steepness. It is perfectly straight for, I suppose 200' and can only be compared to a ladder over a height of this nature'. This was one of the forts surrendered by Shahji from Bijapur control to Mughal general Khan Zaman of forces of Shajahan. It surrenderd to the British in 1818 after the fall of Trimbak.

Travel to Kasara from Kalyan by train (1 hour) and then to Khodala (31 km) by jeep. Appraoch the base village Nirgudpada via Devgon phata (24 km) by Trimbakeswar jeep. From Nirgudpada climb the connecting ridge coming from Fani Dongar - Harihar fort plateau. The to and fro trek takes 3 hour. Fani Dongar (992 m) a triangular hill with a 30 m cobra like projection is nearby (difficult). Bus service is infrequent on Khodala - Trimabk route. Trimabk is 21 km from Nirgudpada.

Khodala, Jawahar and Mokhada are tribal (Adivasi) dominated area situated amidst of mountainous country with forested areas. Drivers of this zigzag route drive leisurely with caution. The dress is of special interest - special type blouse and a red scarf with white dots are commonly used. Every village has its own deity and night long pujas/bhagans followed by animal sacrifice is still practised here. Evening time is for enjoyment with home made (desi) liquor.

Harihar fort trek photos

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Ajinkyatara (Satara fort, 1006 m) : Fort built in 1150 by king Bhoja of Panhala. One can reach the fort walls by a motorable road (private vehicle). It changed hands several times and one of the important events were imprisonment of Chand Bibi, widow of Adil Shah, in 1580. Since 1749 it was Satara's state prison and finally went to the British in 1818.

The to and fro trek takes 3 hour. The fort has three temples, 7 water tanks, a well, TV tower, other communication antenae and a good aerial view of the city. One can night stay in the temple if desired.It has two main entrances on both sides of the fort. A flag post near the temple is in good condition. The entrance of the fort has carved tiger, elephants, peacocks and other incidents. Visit the near by Jhansi Rani memorial on the way.

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Sajjangad : The fort has temples and many monuments on top. It was home of Swami Ramdas, the spiritual guru of Shivaji from 1608, when he lived in Parali and later from 1673 to 1681 on the fort. It had a small history and the Mughals controlled it from 1700 after the death of Shivaji and Swami Ramdas.

Buses ply directly to the fort from Satara ST stand (10 km). The fort has three temples (pilgrim centre), ashrams, accomodation and ruined buildings. Swami Ramdas samadhi is visited by many and is a good temple with a gopuram and an underground chamber for meditation.

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Koyna river originates from Mahabaleshwar, which gets an annual record rainfall of 6000 mm plus. The dam at Koynanagar is 807 m long and 103 m high. It has 98.78 TMC storage capacity, 600 MW underground power station at Pophali and the used water goes to Kolkewadi reservoir. From there it is fed to a 320 MW power station. The total power generated from different phase power stations ia around 1920 MW.

The construction work of Phase IV is in progress. A 130 m deep pit is carved from rock and it connects two underground (under lake) tunnels. The dam has a depth of 80 m and the tunnels are below the lake bottom. When the work is completed the tunnels will be opened by using explosives and water will be fed to turbines in the power plant - an engineering marvel at Koyna.

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Jungle trek - Jungli Jaigad fort

Location : Koynanagar near Chiplun. Chiplun is on the Mumbai - Goa Konkan railway route.

Jungli Jaigad (901 m) is a small, little known fort near the Koyna dam. Situated in thick forest infested with wild animals. From Chiplun travel to Koynanagar by Karad bus. Then travel to Navja (11 km) and to Panchdhara tunnel, the road leads to Alora in Konkan. The road passes at the foot of the fort. The entry to the fort is through a 1 m wide 15 m long route, cracked by an earthquake. The fort is 500 m long and 30 m wide with no water.

Travel from Panvel to Chiplun by train (4 hour). Travel to Koynanagar by Karad bus (1.5 hour). Koynanagar is 250 km from Panvel or 200 km from Pune via Satara. The route climbs from Alorey via Kumbharli ghat to Helwak and to Koynanagar. The dam (no entry/photography) is 3 km away on the Navja route by jeep. The near by Nehru Smriti Udyan offers a good view of the lake and dam. Entry fee Rs 10. The Koyna history museum gives details about the dam construction, power generation by underground power stations, underground water intake tunnels etc.

Travel to Navja by jeep. The road leads to Panchdhara tunnel (540 m long) and then to Alorey at Konkan after passing through two more tunnels. Jeeps reach upto Patel colony from there the tunnel is 3 km by walk. One can reach the tunnel by private vehicle by getting permission from the Chowkidar as the road has restricted travel. Just before the tunnel an unmettlaed road on left goes to the hills where a transformer is located. From there the route goes through forest and the route leads to the remote village Dicholi on the banks of Koyna river. One can travel from Koyna dam to Dicholi by launch after getting permission from Forest/Police authorities. The launch to Dicholi from the dam is at 1400 h daily. The travel takes 4 hour. The return launch from Dicholi is at 1000 h.

The route above Panchdhara tunnel gradually climbs through forest - trees prevent the sunlight to come downwards. So one can trek easily without bothering about the hot sun. After a 45 minute trek take the left diversion for Jangali Jaigad fort. Stone heaps mark the spot and the route is well marked with yellow paint on rocks. The route leads to a flagpost. Here the forest ends and one has walk on the hot sun to the fort. A left track over a narrow ridge leads to the fort. The only thing remains on the fort is a small shrine and a Deepmal (light stand). The to and fro trek takes 4 hour.

If one is not taking diversion for Jangali Jaigad the route leads to Dicholi. After around 800 m one reaches a white washed stone heap. Further the route climbs down to Dicholi and the route is well marked (white washed stones). From Dicholi one can trek to Jhungti fort, if one is adventurous.



Jhungti fort : This is an unknown small fort on the western ridge of the Koyna lake. It can be approached from Dicholi village. Dicholi is connected by ferry from Koyna (4 hour), or a walk through thick forest (10 km) is possible via the Jungli Jaigad route. Ahead of Dicholi, the route to Jhungti is complicated and passes through very thick forest. Above Dicholi two huge volcanic rock fields locally known as 'sada' are to be passed. Cross the Vaghul sada and traverse north wards in thick forest. Walking along the ridge of the ghats, reach a high point 1027 m. From here, turn west, up and down a spur to reach Jhungti, jutting out into the Konkan. No inhabitation on the way except wild animals !.

Enjoy the company of birds and animals. Be with nature.

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Shaniwarwada fort, Pune : Pune has 25 forts, more than 100 rock cut caves and 125 ancient temples. The Peshwa fort's construction was started and completed on a Saturday. So it is named as Shaniwarwada. The fort has five entrances, four cannons, water reservoirs, palace in ruins (foundation), good fountains, bathing tubs, Durbar hall etc and is rectangular in shape. The fort is well preserved and there is wall paintings near the main gate. Above the main gate, there is a balcony made of wood with carvings.

Balaji Bajirao (1740 -1761) the third Peshwa constructed the Diwan Khana (Main hall of audience) for celebrating Ganapati festival in 1755. Later on Nana Phadanwis, Prime minister to Sawai Madhavrao (1774 -1795), constructed a few more rooms. Captain Moor who visited Pune when Peshwa's power was at its height described the splendour of this hall. He had seen more than a hundred dancing girls in the palace at one time.

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Patta (1390 m) - It is one of the most interesting and towering forts with a huge plateau on top. It was also called Vishramgad ('fort for rest' as Shivaji has stayed to recover from an illness). The weather is always very pleasant here, even in summer due to breeze.

Travel from Igatpuri near Nashik to Konkanwadi phata via Taked by Sinnar bus (30 km, 1145 am). On the way one can see around 40 windmills. The road from Konkanwadi phata bifurcates (left) and climbs to Avandh (1322 m). The right road leads to Konkanwadi (7 km). The Patta hill range has a summit on the left and the range breaks at right with a
seperate hill. The road further goes to base of the fort via this gap.

From the road one can see a small domed temple. Follow the easy 'kachha' road to the temple, 2 caves, a cave cum water tank, a small tunnel and to the top plateau. On the extreme southern end, there is a hall - Muslim style (domed) constructionin - fairly good condition. One km flat walk leads 12 water cisterns in series and two fairly large caves near the summit. The summit is having an grant view of Avandh fort, windmills and lakes. The to and fro trek from Konkanwadi phata takes 4 hour. If one is having vehicle, it is an easy fort to climb (1.5 to 2 hour trek).

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales museum) : Mumbai's premier museum, located near Gateway of India.contains some wondeful pieces. The huge domed building was built to commemorate the King George V's first visit to India in 1905 (while he was still the Prince of Wales), though it didn't open until 1923. Designed by George Wittet in flamboyant Indo - Saracenic style, it's certainly worth seeing.

Open from Tue to Sunday (1000 to 1800 h). Entry fee : R 15/300 (Indian/Foreigner), Camera/video : Rs 30/200 (Without flash for non commercial photography). Students with identity card has concession on the entry fee.Take advantage of the fee audio guide available in English, French, German and Japanese, which will help you zone in on key exihibits.

The museum's collection includes impressive ancient sculpture, terracotta figurines from the Indus valley, Gandharan Buddhas, miniature paintings, porcelain and weaponary. There is a natural history section and a collcetion of second rate European paintings.



One of the best museums in India. If one is interested in antique items, visit the Jew street shops, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala. Few shops have better collcetion than any museums !!.

[melvin]

I visit Machu Picchu, I am Peruvian and was incredible.
Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450, at the height of the Inca empire, and was abandoned less than 100 years later, as the empire collapsed under Spanish conquest. Although the citadel is located only about 50 miles from Cusco, the Inca capital, it was never found and destroyed by the Spanish, as were many other Inca sites. Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew to enshroud the site, and few knew of its existence. It wasn’t until 1911 that Yale historian and explorer Hiram Bingham brought the “lost� city to the world’s attention. Bingham and others hypothesized that the citadel was the traditional birthplace of the Inca people or the spiritual center of the “virgins of the sun,� while curators of a recent exhibit have speculated that Machu Picchu was a royal retreat. Regardless, the presence of numerous temples and ritual structures proves that Machu Picchu held spiritual significance for the Inca.

[melvin]

More about Machu Picchu.... it is located in Cuzco, Peru.
All visits to Machu Picchu at some point leave from Cusco, which can be reached via a domestic flight from Lima, or international flight from La Paz, in Bolivia. Taking the tourist train from Cusco (which takes 3.5 hours to get to Machu Picchu), you have several options.
The most common way is to take the train to Machu Picchu in the morning, explore the ruins for a few hours and return to Cusco in the afternoon. The train terminates at Puente Ruinas station, where buses take tourists up the mountain to Machu Picchu. Strangely, Machu Picchu station is at Aguas Calientes (2km before Puente Ruinas station) but is not the station used by tourists on a day trip.

[melvin]

Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As Peru’s most visited tourist attraction and major revenue generator, it is continually threatened by economic and commercial forces. In the late 1990s, the Peruvian government granted concessions to allow the construction of a cable car to the ruins and development of a luxury hotel, including a tourist complex with boutiques and restaurants. These plans were met with protests from scientists, academics and the Peruvian public, nearly half of which is indigenous. Critics worried that the proposed facilities would not only destroy the beauty of the site but would enable far greater numbers of visitors, which would pose tremendous physical burdens on the ruins.

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Hi melvin, Thank you for the interesting info. Do you really visited the place ?. Will you share some of your travel photos in the forum.

Machu Picchu, Peru : UNESCO World Heritage site - Inca empire in ruins.


Travel planning is like sex !. The foreplay and thinking it sometimes as pleasurable as the actual act.

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Alandi (near Pune)- Pandharpur Yatra, thousands of 'Warkaris' walk the 240 km route to Pandharpur near Sholapur in Maharashtra. The pilgrimmage takes 21 days of walk with the phalkis. Devotees come from all parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka to Alandi. The bullock driven chariot is followed by thousands of devout pilgrims all along the route.Pilgrims sing devotional songs all the way with their musical instruments - 'Veena' and 'Dhol'.

The Yartra started on 09 July 2007 from Alandi. Views of Pilgrim's progress from Alandi & Dehu .

Thousands of devotees come in trucks equipped with tents, cooking utensils, LPG, stove, fire wood, food items, berth to sleep. They camp all the way in tents, cook the food and walk daily with the phalki by singing songs. Hundreds of makeshift tents make the yatra comfortable to devotees.

Pandharpur is one of the most respected pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. It is located on the banks of the Bhima river, which is also known as Chandrabhaga (fondly referred as it appears like a half-moon, actual Chandrabhaga river is now called Chenab and is in J&K). Pandharpur hosts the famous Vithoba temple, on the banks of the river. Vithoba is considered to be Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu; Vitthala is said to have been derived from the word Vishnu in Kannada. Vithoba's consort
is Rakhumai or Rukmini.

The worship of Vishnu - Vitthala - at Pandharpur is derived mainly from the puranas and has been augmented by the contribution of the great Vaishnava saints of Maharashtra and Karnataka from the 13th through the 17th centuries: Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Sant Eknath, Tukaram, Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasa, Gopala Dasa, Jagannatha Dasa.

This temple, covering a vast area, has a total of six gates. The eastern entrance to this temple is known as the Namdev gate. The sanctum enshrines a standing image of Vithoba also known as Panduranga, Pandhari or Vitthala. Vitthala is said to have been derived from the word Vishnu in Kannada.

Pandharpur hosts four "Yatras" in a year - of which "Aashadhi Yatra" attracts most (around 0.5 to 0.7 million) pilgrims to Pandharpur. Pilgrims take holy bath in river Bhima and usually stand in queues 3 km long in order to take "Darshana" of Lord Vitthala. The second most important yatra is Kartiki.

Warkaris do not leave Pandharpur on wednesday. Pandharpur, known as “Sourthern Kashi of India�, proudly hosts the “Kuladivat� of Maharashtra. The Vitthal of Pandharpur is undoubtedly the premier deity of Maharashtra. It is, perhaps, the greatest centre of attraction for the masses as far as S. India. Sholapur (65 km).

Panduranga is a sanskritized form of Pandarga, the old name of Pandharpur. Pundalik, a saint was closely associated with this shrine, and hence this shrine is also known as Pundarika pura. Stylistically the image dates back to the 5th century AD.

There are inscriptions in this temple dating back to the 13th century. Namdev, the 13th century saint was closely associated with this temple. Copper plate inscriptions of the Rashtrakootas place this shrine in the 6th century AD. There is also a shrine to Pundalik at Pandharpur. Pandharpur is also the birth place of famous painter M.F. Hussain.

More than 1.5 million devotees had visited the Pandharpur temple in 2007 pilgrim season.