Nilkantheshwar, Pune

Heard about the place Nilkantheshwar, and many time though of visiting the place but finally last week (28-Aug-13) and decided the plan to visit on Saturday – 31-Aug-2013.

Heard that there is quite stiff road in mountain to walk so dropped idea of taking my mom with us. Manisha’s friend Swati is coming with us. Generally we don’t eat outside so decided to take home made food. I have already searched the how to reach Nilkantheshwar from internet, see the map below.

There are two routes one from NDA-Peacock bay and other from donje-panshet, we have selected  NDA-Peacock bay route.

 

We have started abound 10 A.M. with delicious breakfast of POHE and with tasty homemade food, thanks to Manisha for this hardwork.

After NDA-Peacock bay road is along the back water of Khadakwasla Dam. Recently seen the fence along the road side towards the backwater (to get rid of road Romeos of out of backwater). On the road side there are patches of beautiful yellow colour flowers, we have taken photographs here. We have some school boys/girls returing to home, morning school on Saturday.

 

 

First 25 Kms upto Davje village left turn road is in good condition, but after that road condition is bad.

 

 

A spot where from both NDA-Peacock bay and donje-panshet route meets the nilkantheshwar mountain starts. After you climb some distance you see beautiful secenary and back water of panshet. In this area we could see green crop of rice and strong aroma of rice, immediately you could feel hungry.

 

 

This hill side road is stiff. Then we have reached points where there is parking for vehicles. There are only 3 to 4 four wheelers and half a dozen bikes. We have enjoyed the Rava laddo which Swati has brought for us, he mother made them specifflay for our trip by last night. Laddo was tasty, ISHA liked them very much. There is 10 Rs. You need to pay for parking. We have reached around 11:45 here, this place is approx. 30 Kms from Warje, pune.

From this spot onward you have to walk to the top of hill. I though there will be reainy climate but sun is shining and we could feel the heat. Staring phase of hill is of very stiff. Literally we have to stop after every 5 minutes walk due to sun and stiff hill.

 

Manisha enjoyed the butter milk from local village school girls.

 

In the pictures you can see the stiff and turning hill roads, with no trees. There are beautiful scenes of khadakwasla backwater and you can also see the Panshet dam while climbing the hill. We like everybody else though it was only small distance to cover but it is hectic journey for we city people who don’t have habit to walk and climb the hills. It took almost 1 hours to reach at the top. At the top we are welcomed with giant statues. All over the hills there are statues depicting the various gods and Hindu mythology.

 

We have visited the main temple of god Shankar, it was very hot there as the rood of temple is of steel sheets and no ventilation. After that we have searched the pace where we can eat food. We have enjoyed the home made food, bhendi, capcicum,  pualo rice and Chinese sos. Pualo rice and Chinese sos are brought by Swati, her mother is famous for cooking tasty rice dishes. And swati like rice very much. It is fortunate that we have brought food with us as there is no hotel at the top, there is one canteen where you could get mineral water, cold drink and snacks but not the meal. And also no hotel in nearby village, so advised to take food with you.

 

 

 After lunch we have tried to have nap but there is lot of disturbance school boys (It was school trip of nearby village). So we have started to windup and started descending around 3:30 PM.  Descending down from hill is much more comfortable than hectic climbing. So have seen lot more people are now climbing the hill.

 We have reached home around 5:30 PM.

Sanjay and Shyam’s Family Trip to “Pawankhind” and “Kolthare” – DIWALI 2012

My friend Shyam and I have decided to go for a trip in 2012 ‘Diwali’. We are mainly looking for sea shore (beach) where our children can enjoy the holidays. I have heard of Pawankhind so we have decided the Pawankhind and Kolthare beach as our trip destinations.

We have booked our resorts / hotels from Mihir travel, Kothrud, Pune. We have decided the next day of ‘Laxmi Pujan’, from 14-Nov.2012 to 16-Nov.2012.

I have booked Innova for our trip, but unfortunately it has cancelled by the owner, so munna (through whom I have booked innova) has made arrangement of Xylo for us. We have faced one more problem of road closure (BAND, chakka jam) in Kolhapur, Karad by sugarcane farmers. We have also ready with Plan B if we cannot make it through Karad.

On 14^th we have started early in the morning at 7:00 AM, we have decided to let’s try to go though Karad if there is road closure, we can follow Plan B (go though Poladpar instead of Karad).

We had our breakfast at famous “VIRANGULA”. When we have enquired there is no road closure at Karad, so we have relaxed. Our driver Sachin is slow in driving.

We have taken route of Pune – Karad – Kale Phata – Malkapur – Pawankhind.

We have reached Amba (From where Amba Ghat Starts, Village at top of Amba Ghat) around 1:30, where we had our lunch (which is bit expensive) at Pawankhind resort. Lunch is very tasty; especially I liked Tomato Sar very much. We recommend food from here. Here is the lunch plate:-

We have spent some time to explore resort, so we can see the possibility of coming here again with all other friends. Resort is very beautiful and suitable with large group of friends. Some snaps of resort.

Khushi, Isha, Sai relaxing before lunch.

Of course there is play ground, Swimming pool and garden!!!

Owner of Resort (host) taking their guests to “Van Bhojan” (Barbeque) in nearby forest.

Shyam ready for Safari ?

We have started at 3:00 for Pawankhind which is 20 Kms from Amba. The road is in very bad condition and bumpy, it took 1.5 hours for this 20 Kms. When we have reached Pawankhind we forgot all our efforts and pain to reach Pawankhind and amazed by beauty of Pawankhind. Our hearts are pounding with history of Pawankhind. We are amazed by the difficult valley road of pawankhind. We have tried to imagine that how Baji Prabhu has fought with enemy, this need big courage and power to do this. We all are inspired by this and roared “JAI BHAVANI, JAI SHIVAJI”

While returning from Pawankhind we have taken route of Malkapur which is longer route but roads are in good condition. We have reached 5:30 at Amba village. Then we have started descending Amba ghat (Without stopping at Amba village, as still there is still some light, we don’t want to decent Ghat in dark) reached Sakharpa at 7:00 which is at the bottom of AMBA Ghat (Now we are in Konkan), where we have taken a halt for Tea. Then we have travelled to our first night halt destination – O-Nest resort, which is at DEVRUKH. (See the map below)

Resort is very beautiful and having garden with opens badminton and table tennis facility. Outdoor of resort are having lot of trees and resting swings attached to those trees. Dining place is also in the garden. Construction of Small wood house on top of Tree is in progress. Rooms are clean and having hot water facility. After getting fresh we have played games while waiting for Dinner. In dinner I have enjoyed fish (only Driver and I am Non-vegetarian) others enjoyed Vegetarian thali. Dinner is typical Konkani and tasty. My wife has liked Kairee Chatani which is simple but very tasty and tangy.

We have enjoyed that day and covered all the places which we have planned. Then we had good night sleep. 

On 15^th we decided to go to MARLESHWAR early morning as it is on the hill and we want to come back before noon.

Marleshwar has steps (around 500) and situated on hill. The temple is at the top and other side of hill there is breath taking waterfall (You can say temple is at the bank of river and waterfall). In rainy season one cannot go to near the waterfall, but climate is very beautiful. Marleshwar is very scenic.  We have enjoyed our walk toward waterfall, we have done photography. There are very big stone and very difficult to reach at the bottom of waterfall, only I and Shyam make it there. Others enjoyed half way and streams of waterfall flowing through rocks.

We have returned to resort for lunch, had our lunch and checked out.

We have started to Kolthare. In a way we have visited Karneshwar Temple which is at Sangameshar.

Sangameshar is on Mumbai-Goa high way (NH-17), around 20 Kms from Devrukh (See the map below).

When we reached the temple, ‘Guruji’ gave us information about the temple.

We have decided to take route of – Sangameshwar – Chiplun – Guhahar – Through jetti – Dabhol – Kolthare. We have started from Sangameshar at 3:00 PM and reached Kolthare at 7:00 PM.

Sidhi resort at kolthare is not very good, it not resort in first place. There are two simple rooms with fan not working, toilet flush not working. We are very disappointed, but we don’t have any other choice as it is very lonely place and not many hotels around.

We had dinner which is also an OKAY kind. We have also ordered MODAK but we are expecting it like Deveagar and we have disappointed.

We had walk after Dinner, where we have passed some comets about driver and enjoyed the walk through narrow dark lane of kolthare.

Next Day (16^th) morning we have early started for beach. Shyam and I had early morning (around 6:15 AM) walk on beach. All other members reached after an hour. We have seen lot of dolphins, though there are far in the sea still visible. We all enjoyed playing on beach. Sea is not deep. Sand is white. Other tourist also started coming and enjoying the beach.

Now we are hungry so we returned to resort took bath and enjoyed GARAM GARAM POHE. Pohe are oily but okay. We decided to have our lunch at Dapoli. Before leaving Kolthare we have visited temple of “Koleshar”.

Then we have visited “Chandika mata” temple of Dhabol which is 6 Kms from Kolthrare. Then we have headed for Dapoli, in the way we have visited Kaju factory and purchase some Kaju.

We had our lunch at “KISAN BHAVAN” at Dapoli, food was not so good. While returning we have decided to take route of – Dapoli – Khed – Bharne Phata – Poladpur – Pratapgad – Mahabaleshwar –Pune.

We have started around 2:30 PM from Dapoli. Pratapgad is on the way so we have visited this historic place.

 In mahabaleshar there was heavy traffic jam. We have visited mapro garden and we had Sandwiches and Pizza (actually for which we have taken mahabaleshawr route, for our children). 

Reached in Pune at 12.00 in the night.

Suggestion to others :- Instead of combining ‘Pawankhind’ and ‘Kolthare’, I am suggesting – one day stay at Pawankhind Resort at Amba – see Pawankhind and enjoy forest. Next day stay at On-nest Devrukh – Visit Marleshwar and Karneshwar. Return to Pune from Amba Ghat. If you have more time you can see Ratnagiri, Ganpatipule (Which is 50 kms from  O-nest resort).

O-NEST Resort,
Ozare road, Devrukh, Tal. Sangmeshwar.
Dist. Ratnagiri. Tel :- 9970841837