November 26 2015 Thursday 3:37 PM

November 26 2015 Thursday 3:37 PM

Home | 34°C

Hello guys ,

I know I am blogging after quite a while . Been caught up at work for so long …projects after projects ..since September to November .

Today I am embarking on first real vacation in the past 6 months ! And am super excited .

Apart from that , I am happy to announce a change in the overall format of the blog .
Now instead of writing an article after i reach home from travel , i thought jotting down the travelloge - as and when - i travel , in real time .
I think this would go a long way in making the reading experience “realistic” and will help fellow readers to feel as if they are travelling alongside me !

So each article would start with “ Month date year Time , Loaction , weather “..and then the actual matter will follow.

Oh and by the way …My new vacation is taking me to Kuala Lumpur ! Then after to the heavenly  Archipelago of Langka Wi !!!! 

Packing is almost complete , waiting for my cab to arrive ......

Stay tuned ..more to follow soon.

A Speck of Green in an Urban Jungle...Parsik Hills

   A Speck of Green in an Urban Jungle...

   Parsik Hill - Navi Mumbai

Hi Readers ,

                

                  Now this is going to be a rather short article as compared to my previous ones !

For those of us living in Metropolitan concrete jungles , an evening stroll into neighbouring patch of natural greenery , comes as a blessing . So for those of you, living in Navi Mumbai / Mumbai MMR , and those who are visiting Mumbai , don't miss to explore this Oasis of green amidst the city .

                 

                 Parsik hills in its entirety stretch some 9 kms long , north south parallel to the railway lines,right from Mumbra to Kharghar . Most of the northern stretches have been destroyed partially or completely levelled , due to Quarrying activities . But fortunately for us,some regions especially the southern most tips adjoining Seawoods,CBD and Nerul are in almost pristine condition . 

                 Parsik hills have become a very popular evening getaway for Navi Mumbai folk. People come here to enjoy the panoramic view that this place offers of the neighbouring Suburbs and  some come to just to have a refreshing jog through the forests .

A Hair-Pin Bend ...en Route to ..Parsik Hills.

               Parsik Hills is home for some residential structures too . There are quite few pockets inside the forest where the burgeoning premium real estate of Navi Mumbai has managed to infiltrate into .Who would not love to stay here !?! 

No wonder even the Mayor's Bungalow ( Mayor of Navi Mumbai ) is perched right on top of the Hill. Having said , that majority of the area is still protected by the forest department and construction is prohibited . 

               The main highlight of the hills , and probably the most visible landmark from below , is the ISCON Krishna Temple , perched right on top . The iconic structure is visible from a quite a distance , because of the absence of taller structures nearby .

ISCON Temple

               Just adjoining the temple complex , is a small and neat garden , from where a picturesque panoramic view of the adjoining Navi Mumbai can be seen . Many photographers come here to snap some of the most beautiful sunsets in the Navi Mumbai skyline . 

               The garden is literally built on-top , or probably as a cover for a huge water tank .. yes parsik hill is almost in entirety a big water tank , probably serving to all adjoining suburban regions . Therefore the probably downside you will feel when you visit the garden complex , is the unmistakable smell of Chlorine in the air , resulting out of chlorination of water . Let us let the pictures do the talking ..

                                                                       Sunset in Navi Mumbai.

                         
                                                                    A few more sunset snaps.

            
                                        
                            Time for FACT-SHEET.........

  FACT SHEET :

  How to get there : 

                            Step - 1 : Reach Mumbai.
                            Step - 2 : Take a CAB/LOCAL/Bus to CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai.

What to see: 

                           ISKON Temple , Hanging Gardens ( Sun-Set Point )

Must see :

                           

                           Hanging Gardens .





So fellas till my next article ....PEACE !

                 

                  

                  

The path less traveled - Matheran

A forest Trail

 Matheran  ( A forest atop a hillock - Marathi) 

Matheran is probably the most special of all hill-stations in India . 
Nestled amidst the sprawling Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats in India , Matheran is a shady hamlet overlooking deep gorges.

The moment you set your foot at Matheran , time stands still . It seems to be completely cut off from the rest of civilization . I doubt whether the place has undergone any changes at all , in the past 30-50 years ( of course except the mushrooming Hotels , Lodges and Resorts in the "Market Area" of the town ).

Ok now time for some history lessons . Matheran was originally built as a Holiday Home for britishers during the colonial era , where they could escape the sweltering heat of the neighbouring Mumbai and Kalyan areas , and escape into the wilderness . The task of building a winding rail road to the top ( which was nothing less than an engineering marvel in those days ) was entrusted to an Enginner by the name Abdul Hussein Peerbhoy who built the one and only narrow-guage railroad to the summit . This track is functional till date , and is considered to be the 'must-experience' thing , if you are visiting the hill station.


If you recall , i had mentioned earlier that Matheran was unique in its own way , among the rest of Hill-stations in India. The reason for that is Matheran , presumably , is the only Hill-station in India where Vehicles/Automobiles are banned . 
Once you enter the gates , you have to explore the entire territory on foot ! 
For those of you , who are not very excited with the idea of exploring the winding forest trails of Matheran on foot ... worry not ! They have got horses to make life easier .
In fact , you will find more horses than men once u begin from the gates .

You don't have a Asphalted road once inside . Its just a clayish road strewn with small brown stones , that will lead you everywhere inside through the forest.
You will be greeted initially with roadside shopkeepers selling all kinds of stuff from Fruits to munch on while exploring ,  to caps for warding off the sun , juices , shoes and what not .
Neighs of horses trying to accommodate a weary tourist on their back ( sometimes even two at a time ! ) , horse owners soliciting tourists , bargaining and offering "5 points for 300 /- " is a common sight . Oh and "points" refer to strategic and scenic spots on the edge of the forest from where u get a breathtaking panoramic view of the valley below.
Apart from horses , you can also avail the services of a pull-rickshaw like the one below.

Hand-Pulled rickshaw ...Your leg giving up ? Hire one of these Chauffeurs .

But once you are through and leave the "Market Area" behind , you are greeted with dense untouched forests  and , nothing but the sounds of leaves rustling in the cool mountain breeze enchant you .
They say , the journey is more fascinating  than the destination . I think the secluded and winding forest trails of Matheran do complete justice to this phrase .
Personally i have enjoyed the walk through some of the many paths inside the forest ( like the one in the picture below ) than the scenic view of the valley below  , at the end of it .Somehow you feel your mind emptied of mundane thoughts , you are conscious of nothing but just the forest breeze refreshing you with each step you take , and the sight of the road ahead of you flanked by dense green foliage .
Ostentatious and massive-looking roots of age-old trees , twisting and turning and making their way amidst rocks , sometimes force you to wonder how old these forests are.And for how long they have stood the test of time , and witnessed the world around them changing hues .

A captivating section of forest path , cutting through the edge of a cliff.

Each "point" offers almost a panoramic view of the valley below from different angles .
You can witness nearby mountain peaks , and lakes underneath scattered across the mountain ranges . 
It is astonishing to know that almost each of these mountains belong to the same Western Ghats range that extend a whopping 1200-1300 kms long western coastline of India . 
That means hypothetically if you were to walk from one mountain and continue to the next , you would end up  reaching the southern most region of India ( yes you read that right " hypothetically" !).
No wonder the Western Ghats have been accredited the UNESCO world heritage site for bio-diversity .

Magnificent View of Valley ....En Route to Panorama Point ( Mentioned below in FACTSHEET )

Yet another Valley View .. a Hazy Afternoon.

A monkey perched on the edge of a valley , overlooking a dense forest.

I would recommend Matheran strongly to anyone out there , who loves to escape into raw    untouched nature . It is thrilling and instills a sense of adventure .
And most of all it comes as a breath of fresh air , to all of us who are too busy in our own little universes.

Time for some more pics and finally FACT-SHEET for fellow nomads !

A bright Blue Bug ..basking in the hot afternoon sun.

Valleys....Valleys ...Valleys

If you notice ..you can spot the Toy-Train chugging along cliff edges..worth a journey that one !

FACT SHEET :

How to get there : 

                            Step - 1 : Reach Mumbai.
                            Step - 2 : Hire a CAB directly to Matheran .

                                        :  Or Use the Local suburban trains to alight at NERAL station                     adjoining Karjat Station.From NERAL you get countless Share Taxis to the top .

                                        :  From NERAL , if you are lucky and on time , you might get the Toy - Train to Matheran . Though i have never got the opportunity to board it , i have been told it is a "MUST" if you ever visit this place . Thoroughly enjoyable train journey. 

Where to stay:

                                         Too many options available to stay at Matheran . My personal recommendation would be MTDC Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation  cottages called " Shruti Villa" . Specially convenient if you have drove your way to Matheran . As the hotel is situated just next to the parking spot.

What to see: 

                                         Points , Points and Points ! . There are too many views that Matheran can offer that includes , Hart Point , Sunset Point , Alexander Point , Louisa Point , Chowk Point .. and the list goes on and on .

                                         You could always get maps for free from shops in the market area . The Maps will give you a fairly good picture of where you are , and where all the points are relative to your position .

Must see :

                                        Again points you don't wanna miss . Panorama Point and One Tree Hill Point .

Where to eat :

                                       1. MTDC Resort Restaurant ( for simple indian food ..nothing flashy)

                                       2. Hotel Lords ( for Typical Parsi food )

Meet you fellow travellers with my experiences of a new exotic destination. Till then ...PEACE .