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-   -   Magnificent Maharashtra - The Mahalog! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/67725-magnificent-maharashtra-mahalog-22.html)

VRP, nice log there. Now where are the others?
Ashish Bhai, your picture of Varanda Ghat looks awesome to me!

This multi color tree looks like the one in Switzerland ..... Magnificent Maharashtra :thumbs up

Everybody seems to be on weekend vacation?

MX6, where is Matheraan? :)

''kahe ka weekend and kahe ka vacation!!''


where are guys?

@mx6,

Is it expected to post places in Maharashtra in this Mahalogue by anyone who is interested?

@others,

has anyone done the trip to pawankhind and panhala?[ i have done it it but no pics]

Ok ok. Sorry guys. I wasn't well since a week. Had taken off from office as well (but used it to meet fellow BHPians).
I shall roll out the Matheran now, shortly after lunch.

:OT

MX6 Sir,

Require leave of absence. Urgent family commitments (see posts in a thread about career choices:D)

If my application is considered favourably, I may venture on a long trip like this :
Pune-Kolhapur-Hubli-Yellapur-Ankola(halt)-Udupi(halt)-Mangalore(halt)-Cannanore-Calicut
and back.

Trip to start on 14th June.

Require tips on accommodation and route - so busy going through the threads here (whew! never knew there were so many on Karntaka)

Thanking you, in anticipation of your favourable consideration,

vrprabhu

PS - Any takers for the small questions that I had posted earlier - about the cooking ingredients and the tree names?

Is it tejpatta?

Don't know the exact botanical name though.:D:

Knock, knock, MX6. Where art thou? Still having lunch, eh!:D

No, bhau!

Actually it is leaves of the jackfruit tree! We use them for making a delicacy called 'kotte'. It is nothing but idli batter poured into a container made from these leaves and steaming them just like regular idlis. The aroma of the leaves is passed on the idli and it tastes wonderful! People from South Karnatak will know this item.

BTW, we managed to pluck some green / tender jackfruit also. What do you call a 'fruit' which is not yet ripe?

And, I have no idea of the names of the trees which I posted. Thinking of putting my daughter on the job.

NN, Think MX6 office must have found out about the posts... and cut his net connection:D

A couple of (rare) photos of Pune from my side - supposed to be more than 100 years old!

All work and no T-BHP makes MX6 a Jack-a.s.s.

So let me continue on the Matheran leg.

There are altogether 28 points, 2 lakes, 2 parks, 4 major worship places and a racecourse to visit inside Matheran. If you want to see all of them then you may need 2–3 days on your feet. One can move around on foot or horseback, but it is recommended moving on feet to take the best glimpse of nature. If you are on Horse back you may not be able to spend your desired time on the points.

My wife and I decided to walk the whole of Matheran and not go horseback. Reason? We can stop any place we want and enjoy the views at leisure.

One of the hotspots, rather the main attraction of Matheran is the Charlotte lake. This is at a distance of 2 kms from the post office in Matheran. Go there on a busy day and you'd find the perimeter of the lake dotted with people selling edible stuff. One end of that has stalls selling mouthwatering chat items and bhaturas. However, too much crowd and stalls mar the beauty of this lake. And it was sad to see people littering all around. I had to wait for hours for the crowd to clear.


The lake is the perfect place for people to unwind and relax. It adds to the laid back atmosphere of the place.


One end of the charlotte lake opens to amazing view of valley beyond. Old style houses with slant roofs paved with bricks (from the kiln) add to the charm.


A bit further away from the lake is another famous place for the noisy creatures of Planet India. Echo point is the place where you see youngsters blaring at their creative best. One is stunned at the variety of noises that emanates from their vocal cords. You feel that you've walked in to a circus in pandemonium.


Zooming in we find what Ashish refers to as vanar lingi. What's the lingi doing there when all the vanar are next to me screaming their throats off?


Dec is not the best time to go to Matheran. Rains are better. But Dec ensured that the crowd was less. Surprisingly we found a lot of greenery too!

Hi MX6,

I have enjoying your log and should compliment you for keeping track of the places you have visited.

@ vrprabhu : must compliment you also for the mind blowing pics you are sharing. Thanks

I visited Matheran in the year 1996. We walked all the way up from Nerul station (or was in Neral??) We saw some cars also going up, till some distance atleast.

My question is that I believe these days, no vehicle is allowed to go till the top, is that true?

Pune Public, I can see outside lots of clouds over head!!
Plans for Weekend cooking up in mind?

:uncontrol:uncontrol

Thanks for your kind words sir. Yes, Cars go only till a distance. That's what adds to the charm. They've managed to keep this place smoke free.
It is Neral. (Nerul comes in the harbour line - famous for a Balaji temple which used to offer wonderful views of the bay area years back).
And VRP has been kind enough to share his photos in my logue to add value here. Eagerly waiting for him to come back and post more.

We are all waiting for it to pour. There's a lot of traction here. Guess you've figured out your trip meter (it happens to all the great drivers - I once struggled with the reverse gear in opel astra in delhi 12 years back only to realise after hours of toil that there's a small lever like thing we need to pull on the stick to engage reverse gear :D)

Thanks for the "shortest reply that has made me happy in T-BHP", kind of reply.
Here's next installment of Matheran.