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.