The person who visits Pune never misses his visit to Tulshibaug. I somehow feel that Tulshibaug is more attractive to outsiders than the Punekars. I remember when my cousins used to come to Pune during their summer vacation they always wanted to find time to visit this place.

But somehow the architecturally attractive and somewhat mystical Vishrambaug Wada which is actually just across the road from this busy and bustling marketplace called Tulshibaug has not scored those many points on the list of the must-visit places.

As seen from across the street

For me, this Wada has always held the old world charm. Earlier I was a bit hesitant to visit this place as I was not really sure if it is open to general visitors the way we visit Shaniwar Wada. Thanks to the different heritage tours held during the last 4,5 years such beautiful yet less-visited attractions in Pune have opened their doors to everyone.

The wonderful windows of the hall

Associated with Bajirao the second, Vishrambaug Wada attracts visitors with its exquisite beauty and superior interior. As the story goes, this place was earlier a small park owned by Haripant Phadke.
After marrying his daughter with Bajirao Peshwa (II) this place was transferred to the Peshwa’s who renovated the existing structure and built a three-storied edifice.

The beautiful architecture stands even today still maintaining its charm.

Vishrambaug Wada is a very important historical building standing on the Bajirao Road in the heart of Pune. Bajirao II was not ready to stay in Shaniwar Wada due to earlier bad incidences and he was scared to go and stay there. He built his own lavish Palace. It is said that this Bajirao II was prodigal and used resources and money extravagantly. Another story famous about this is about a dancer named Venkat Narsi who made a record of dancing here for 36 hours non-stop.

Delicate wooden carvings on the columns

Vishrambaugwada was built in the year 1807. Excellent use of teak wood with attractive carvings have added to its beauty. Even today when you see the East facing teak wood canopy and the carving of crocodiles on it, it still captures our attention.  The main attraction is the fountain in the centre of the main square.

Fountain at Vishrambaugwada

There is a  big hall on the first floor which has many artillery equipment of the Peshwa era on display. This hall has well-decorated columns and beautiful lampshades. Various antiques, pictures and scriptures are kept on display in the hall which will surely give you a glimpse of the glory of Peshwas and the Maratha empire. During our visit to this place a few years ago,  we got to see a drama practice based on the life of  Shivaji Maharaj. That experience almost took us back in time.

Hall(Diwankhana) on the top floor

There is a permanent exhibition in this place called ‘Punawadi te Punyanagari’ which is also a must-see.

Spacious Corridors of Vishrambaugwada

After the Peshwa era in 1818, it went into the hands of the British. This beautiful mansion is in the heart of the city. It is better to visit it by public transport like auto or bus since it is very difficult to find a parking place near-by for private vehicles.

Quick Facts:

Visiting hours: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed on Monday)

Entry fees: There is no entry fee to visit this historical monument.

Parking: Is a challenge due to the extremely busy roads around this place. The Best mode is to take an auto or come to the nearest bus stop known as Shanipar – (more about this place in some other blog)

The main attraction in the centre of the building

**Don’t forget to eat Bhel(a savoury snack) at ‘Pushkarni Bhel’ and do taste some delicious snacks at Sweet Home snacks centre, both these places are situated just opposite Vishrambaugwada. Of course, the most famous Chitale Sweets shop( diagonally opposite to Vishrambaugwada) is not to be missed

Sometimes you travel for pleasure, sometimes for religious reasons, sometimes you do it to have a great family outing. Reasons could be varied but at the bottom of all reasons lies one truth: you are looking for satisfaction and peace.  Do you get it when you stay at a five-star hotel or when you visit a hot and happening destination and share each and every pic from each angle?

For some people, it might bring happiness but for most of us, it does not.

In the midst of all these travel destinations like hill stations, amusements parks, beaches and resorts, there are a few places which are sacred, which have gained purity with the stay of great people and saints and that has an impact on the terrain. One such place is Chaphal which situated near Satara city in Maharashtra.

It is a simple, peaceful Ashram of Samarth Ramdas Swami. In fact, All Samarth Ramdas math or ashrams are always clean and neat and of course simple(check out  Shivtharghal – A cave of wisdom    It was on my mind to write about Chaphal for many days. I had visited it many years ago but still remembered the cave and the tranquil stay at clean and simple Bhakta Niwas (rooms provided to devotees to stay for few days at a nominal charge or even for free). Even as a child I used to sit near the window soaking the calmness for many hours; these places truly bring out the inner peace in most of us. So I was really looking forward to this trip and a profound experience again.

To Reach Chaphal from Pune you can take Pune-Bangalore Highway. Chaphal is situated in Patan taluka. On the highway, you can take a right turn at Umbraj. We were lucky as we were travelling by our own vehicle because we were forced to stop by bright Gulmohar and other trees with their full Spring blossom.
We could not resist ourselves from taking pictures all along the way.

Since we had taken a halt at Satara the earlier day we had started pretty early and we did not mind spending time with our best friend: Nature.

The road quality was excellent and the overall travel was very smooth and enjoyable.

Once we enter the Ram Mandir premises at Chaphal,  on the left-hand side we see one old temple of Hanuman. It is one of the 11 Hanuman temples. ‘Veer Hanuman’ and ‘Das Hanuman’ are located on the same premises as the Ram Mandir whereas ‘Khadicha Maruti’ is located some distance away towards the west. On the right-hand side, you just have to climb a few steps to reach the temple. They have also kept a road for taking wheelchair up.

After entering you see a beautiful Ram Mandir (temple of Lord Ram) built in the white stone.  All walls of the temple are designed with intricate sculptures. Even inside the temple, the ceiling is full of beautiful carvings.

After entering the temple other than the three beautiful idols of Shree Ram, Sita, and, Laxman you will also see one black stone idol of Shree Ram with Laxman and Sita on either side. This is the original idol which Samarth Ramdas got from Angapur. He installed it here in 1649 and constructed a small temple around it.

In 1967 major earthquake shook Koyana Nagar and the surroundings. This temple was also damaged. The trustees like Sardar Bhimrao Patankar, Dattopant Paranjape came immediately for the rescue. Businessman of Mumbai Mr.Mafatlal offered help. He helped to reconstruct the temple. The white stone was brought from Vadodara and a beautiful temple was constructed which we see today.

Mysterious Cave:


There is a beautiful underground cave where Ramdas swami used to meditate. We can go down to the first room easily. You would feel a cool effect immediately once you reach this room. It was really tough to believe the temperature outside was almost 40 degrees. All components of  Nature even stones are always blissfully comforting us. This amazing cave also has other interconnected rooms. Only people with a very slender and flexible body can enter there.

Cave at Chaphal

I remember my grandmother telling me that in the last room God Hanuman (who is immortal as per the Hindu Mythology)  is still sitting and meditating.

Celebrations at Chaphal:
From the first day of Hindu New Year i.e. Gudhipadwa till Chaitra Shuddha Ekadashi festival takes place at this temple. We missed the opportunity to witness this ceremony just by a few days when we visited this place last year.

From the premises of the temple, you can see a breathtaking view of Mand river and especially in the Monsoon season the whole surroundings wear a green attire which is just a visual treat.

Another Historical Attraction on the way: Bara Motechi Vihir at Limb, Satara

We also visited a historical well (Bara Motechi Vihir) on the way just before Satara. It was a welcome addition to the trip. Check out a video to get details of this well here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjhNjeXezhk&t=58s

P.S.
Photography is not allowed inside the Chaphal Ram Mandir and we believe in abiding by the rules strictly. So, we can’t bring you the photos of idols and the inside view of the temple but I am sure after reading this article you must have made up your mind to visit this place personally and experience it by your self.

Quick facts to remember:

Distance from Pune: 155 KM
Toll charges: Rs.90/- at Khed Shivapur and Rs.60/- at Anewadi
Food: Simple snacks and meal available just outside the premises.
Temple remains closed from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM and from 9:30 PM to 4:30 AM

Today on 25th January 2018, questraveler enters 3rd year. Initially, I started this blog to quench my thirst for sharing, writing, expressing and exploring.

I started writing with full energy and enthusiasm and kept the target of writing at least once a week and that too with the focus on writing about the areas in and around Pune. Slowly my canvas became wide and I started writing about the places in the other cities and countries as well. But there was always one unwritten rule. I write about the places I visit personally and it is not taken from or based on someone else’s experiences. All the places are visited, experienced, photographed personally. All the photos are captured by me and my husband ( He is an amazing photographer). Some write-ups are based on the recent visits but few them are also a recollection of memories Whereas some places like Kshetra Mahuli, Pataleshwar etc. I keep visiting every year or every alternate year to make me richer, content and satisfied.

There are so many places like Hyderabad, Mysore, Banglore, Mahabaleshwar, Fatehpur Sikri, Indore, Ujjain, Mahoo, Elephanta caves, Shaniwar Wada, Vishrambaug Wada etc.  which I have visited but before writing I would like to understand the history of the place, the architecture prominent in that area, the various dynasties which ruled these places. Then and only then I would be able to justice to my write up. In the year 2018, you can expect all these write-ups plus few more places which are on my must-visit list.
There are also some fun write-ups coming up which can give you an account of famous parks in Pune, Famous historic places in Pune, top ten spots in Pune to spend your weekend etc. So do stay tuned.

I wish all the readers a Happy New Year. You may visit newer places, reach and explore newer destinations and gather more experiences and amazing memories of your journey……

……………… The quest continues. The traveller is hungry and fond of walking. Let us begin this new year with newer and offbeat places to visit, feel and experience together.

Bhimashankar Part 1…

The end of winter in the Indian subcontinent is traditionally marked by the full moon night that occurs somewhere in the middle of March. In the Hindu calendar, it is the Holi Pournima (the burning of the demon Holika) the triumph of good over evil, the burning of bad things and the expectation of good things. It also marks the beginning of harvesting season in many states in India. And, as with any working professional, it also signifies a holiday from work. This year, the much awaited and wanted holiday came adjacent to a weekend.

Since the whole family had a holiday on this Holi day, we naturally headed outdoors. This time we booked a cottage at a resort in the famous forest reserve hill station called Bhimashankar, a place which is famous amongst many trekkers and adventurers in Maharashtra and beyond. The temple of Lord Shiva at Bhimashankar is well known.

A brief research on the Internet gave us options to stay. We had narrowed down to a couple of them. But the Blue Mormon was also recommended by a close acquaintance. We called them and booked our cottage for 3 days and 2 nights. The charges were not very high.

We took the Nashik road from Pune till Rajgurunagar and then took a left road to go to Bhimashankar. This is a very beautiful road and winds through some scenic mountains and the backwaters of the Chas Kaman dam. We saw wonderful shades of blue and green in the water during our drive. The road is a bit bumpy and pot holed at places so we could not speed up. But no one was complaining as we had the beautiful scenery and the great views to keep us company. We also had to cross some ghat section and as we neared the Blue Mormon hill resort, we noticed the drop in the temperature. This was almost like a guarantee that we were going to enjoy our stay and our picnic.

Having some breakfast on the way at one of the small hotels, we continued our journey, sometimes stopping for photos or sometimes just to watch the view. The Blue Mormon is slightly off the road – around 2 km from the state highway. Rest assured the road is fully motorable, though quite narrow. On reaching and finishing the check-in formalities, we were shown our independent cottage with a car parking available just outside the gate. I had noticed a beautiful and healthy looking German Shephard as we checked in. Little was I aware at that time that he would be one of the most memorable things about our trip to Bhimashankar.

We refreshed ourselves and were ready to have our late lunch. We ordered and decided to take a short look around the resort. It is big and is spread over a tableland. With huts and bungalows spaced all over, but with sufficient privacy for the guests. I had my camera and went off clicking. As I checked my camera later, we had clicked around 350 photos here. Almost a 100 each day

After a good lunch, we were just lazing on the traditional rope wired bed called as Khat in the lawns waiting for the sun to go down a bit so that we could move around more freely to explore the resort hotel further.  As we sat here, I had the first up close encounter with Bush, the German Shepherd; as my kids were busy with the trampoline, I stood up keeping one eye on the kids and the other on views and photo opportunities. He came close and as if checking me out, had a quick sniff at my hand and my foot. I let him do it and immediately realised that he was an extremely friendly and playful 6 years old ‘pup’. There was another dog sitting close by who did not bother to check anyone out. We later came to know this was Basanti, the other dog of the resort. I petted Bush a bit and continued on my photography. Bush would follow me around the resort while I took the photos. He would simply come with me and sit down while I did my stuff. I did not really think anything about this on our first day.

Our cottage was a very short distance from the main check in counter and the restaurant and it was best to explore on foot. The resort has a lot of greenery and some dedicated flower beds which had roses and lilies and a few others. The entire resort is easily accessible on foot and does not take more than 10 minutes to go from one end to the other.

We asked for directions to go to the temple the following morning and also asked the supervisor to arrange for a guide to take us around the next morning. Another thing to note about this resort is that there is no mobile network coverage and they do not accept any cards. Please carry cash. (I know it can be risky, but that is how they accept payment)

A quick chat with the manager and a few employees suggested that we could explore the area on our own. We still were hoping to go with the guide as we wanted to venture into the forest as much as possible so as to get the feeling of a jungle trek.

The next morning, we expected the guide to show up at 6:30 am sharp and were ready by that time. When I went to the resort office to ask them for the morning tea before we left on our jungle trek, Bush and Basanti both came out barking and I was really scared to see two charging dogs. But this was just momentary, both recognised me right away and their manner of approaching me changed the moment they sniffed and confirmed that I was a friend they had met the previous evening. Basanti went off on her way but Bush kept on with me. He actually came back with me to our cottage and sat outside in the verandah; he looked royal in the way he sat.

The guide did not turn up. But we were glad since the night had become so cold on that plateau that the kids, wrapped in the warm blankets, did not stir till 8:30 am. We, however, got up, had our customary walk around the resort looking for birds and flowers and interesting views to photograph.

We then went to the temple. On our way, we were hoping to have a true jungle feel and also catch a glimpse or two of the giant squirrel – the state animal of Maharashtra. On a particular turning of the road, we stopped the car to get some photos of the greenery around the valley. That’s when I noticed a stir on some branches above. We saw the squirrel jump from a branch to another and go down into the valley.

But before he disappeared, he did give us a few poses and we were able to catch those in the camera frame. A few simians were also there to welcome us and gladly took whatever food we offered. The typical scene of a baby monkey clinging to the mother’s belly was adorable and we tried to offer this particular mother some food as well.

We got along our road and reached the temple parking lot; which is nothing but the local bus stand that also runs a pay and park.

The way to the main temple is covered by a wooden ceiling for most of the pathway. They also have the customary shops selling toys, sweets, and other paraphernalia that can be expected near any of our temples.

We had a VIP style darshan of Lord Shankar as the guy who was regulating the crowd and the queue was probably on his break and we could enter the main sanctum directly. On coming out we saw that the guy was back and there was a decent queue. We were not complaining!

We enquired with the local shopkeepers about the trek and jungle pathway to walk around. We were told about two more temples and were shown the way. We took the necessary permissions and the tickets to enter the reserved forest and after confirming with the guard that it was safe to go with kids, we began our 4 km walk on the trail. It was hot and sunny and we were exhausted walking, but the trees and the small butterflies kept our spirits high and we walked till we reached a Ganpati temple where we met two middle-aged gentlemen who hailed from South India. They were chanting some wonderful mantras in their language. Though we did not understand anything, the tune and the overall atmosphere was so religious that we wanted to stay there longer. There was another temple but since we were really tired we decided to head back to the parking lot.

We returned enjoying the greenery and sometimes dense forest and large boulders; clicking photos on the way.

Honestly, we did not even miss the guide at all.

On the way back, we enjoyed the drive again and kept looking for the giant squirrel, but I guess his appearance in the day was done and he had retreated to his safe haven, somewhere below in the valley.

To be continued……