While Travelling - Road Trip to Sindhudurg

Dajipur-Dhamapur-Malvan-Bharatgad-Mangaon

WRITE-UP in process..

Benzill Villa

Benzill Villa, Dajipur, Radhanagari Dam

Our Ride

Dhamapur

Dhamapur

Tatunchi Wadi

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Mangaon Temple

Mangaon Temple / Ashram

While Travelling - Road Trip to #Khajuraho

This essay, the piece attempted is concoction of my travel experience and brief info about the destination which I know or I heard of. So, pardon me for vague and unnecessary personal briefing in and around the piece.

It was Saturday evening when I got a call from one of my travel buddies saying "Pack your bags, we are leaving for #Khajuraho". That whole conversation was so elusive that I totally ignored it and got back to work. Later that evening, he was at my office to pick me up. That's how and when we began our #RoadTripToKhajuraho.

As it was subtle decision to go for a Road Trip of about 2500 km, initially we decided to move forward as far as we can to reach our destination and plan our trip gradually.

We were 3 of us this time too. 

Day 0 -

So, we embarked on our journey the same night this Road trip was planned and decided to reach Aurangabad for night stay. But by the time we reached Ahmednagar, it was past midnight and too late to get any lodging in Aurangabad, so We stayed in the Hanuman Temple of Nirmal Nagar near Ahmednagar only.

Day 1 - 

We got up early in the morning and started moving forward and decided to reach Indore. At that moment, one of the travel buddies got call from our another friend and asserted to join. So we took detour towards Shirdi and decided to wait for him there. There is quite peaceful place just 5-7 km away from Shirdi, Swami Nittyananda Maharaj's Ashram in Pimpalwadi Village. Maharaj there was very friendly and helpful to us. We decided not to have lunch as we had heavy breakfast in the morning, it was very kind of him (Nittyanand Maharaj) that he offered us one watermelon each and we couldn't resist as Summer Sun was sucking water out of us. We stayed there until our friend reached Shirdi. We began travelling towards Indore when our friend joined us in the journey.

We reached near Indore and stayed at the hotel.

Day 2 -

Next day, we decided to see Royal Palace of Indore (Holkar Palace). But the palace was closed that day as it was Monday. The Temple part of the Rajwada Mahal was open, it was none less than Mahal. The artifacts paintings and pictures exhibited there were magnificent.

The museum of Indore was also closed. We wanted to see both but moving forward towards destined place was more important.

But, before that we didn't forget to try Indore Special Shahi #Shikanji (Nagori Shikanjvi). One must taste Shikanji when in Indore. Later that day, we started our journey towards #Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. While moving towards Bhopal we crossed a line which is geographically significant, #TropicOfCancer. This was one of the unexpected bonuses of the #RoadTrip. There is this place which #Geography teacher taught us is real. 

The #TropicOfCancer #Raisen 

We moved forward towards #Bhopal, #HindustanKaDil, one of my favourite cities now. We stayed near #Sehore only.
Later, while wandering in the buffer zone of Sanctuary our Forest Guide went little out of the way and took different route other.
Serendipitous is what you call yourself when you decide to take detour from your travel plan then this being decides to show up and stays for more than hour with you. #Tigers of #Vindhya. #Tiger

Day 3 -

On the third day, while reaching Bhopal google helped us to pin point what we were supposed to see. That is, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (#AnthropologyMuseum). The decision of visiting the museum was perfect but time to see the museum was limited as we reached there at 05.00PM. We saw museum as much as possible. We were there till 07.15PM. We got out the museum when we were literally thrown out of there.

We moved on towards Sagar. Stayed in Temple at Sagar.

Day 4 - 

We started moving towards our destination #KHAJURAHO and reached there at approx. 04.00PM and decided to take help of local guide. The guide was more burlesque than information. Actually he was only fun no information. Such tourist destinations are full of people trying to earn bread and butter in various ways. We need to be wise to choose what to buy or otherwise. Getting good local guide for precise information about historical places is always difficult task. We said bye-bye to this "Local Guide" in couple of hours and went to see folk dance and performing arts performed by local communities in Madhya Pradesh. Later we went too see Light and Sound show of Khajuraho, near Western Group of Temples. It was good but not upto the mark, I guess. We stayed at hotel Isabel in Khajuraho itself.

Day 5 -

On this day, we went to see Western Group of temples. Human discretion requested.

The place known for its one of Kind temples.

 A #WorldHeritage site where engravings and sensuous sculptures of temples are portrayal of titillation and explicit sexual desires.

The #TemplesOfKhajuraho must be depicting the yore when hoi polloi celebrated, famed and glorified the act of love making without any inhibitions.

One notion of Khajuraho also adumbrates dichotomy of human life. #Vyala

The #Quest of life where one path leads to adoration of worldly desires and another leads to self-realization.

One can veritably say, this place grants the beholder what he seeks.

#WorldHeritageSite #TravelIndia #MadhyaPradesh

After watching the Western group of temples till the noon, we had lunch and later subtle decision came up to go to Panna #TigerReserve. This was another best decision of this #RoadTrip. After many inquiries we did at the Khajuraho regarding Panna WildLife Sanctuary and getting negative responses we took chance and went directly to Panna. Everybody including Forest rangers were saying "it is difficult to have a site of Tiger these days". So, we decided to go on a boat ride to see crocodiles in the #PannaWildLifeSanctuary. On the bank of the river Crocs were resting like they never cared of the world.

This sanctuary is full of various wild animals and birds. #Sambar, #Crocodiles, #SpottedDear and different species of birds.

The unique combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power.

#NationalAnimal #TigerReserve

#PannaTigerReserve #VindhyaRange

In total, that was very well spent day. A day to remember. 

On the same day, we embarked our return journey and headed towards Wardha.

We stayed in some Dhaba on highway that day.

Day 6 -

We started our journey and reached Wardha in the evening to see #Sevagram Ashram, Wardha. We cannot spend much time in the Ashram as it was about close. Later, we went to Shegaon for night stay.

Day 7 -

The last day of our trip was non-stop journey from Shegaon to Pune.

Overall it was awesome trip.

Let’s go explore more places.

Malhar Temple, Palace, Indore

Tropic Of Cancer Raisen, MP

Light & Sound Show, Khajuraho

Sensuous Sculptures of Khajuraho

Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho

Sambar, Panna National Park

Crocodile Panna

T1 Tiger, Panna Tiger Reserve

Expenses per person for 7 days - ₹8500.00 approx.

While Travelling - Road Trip to Delhi

ROAD TRIP TO DELHI

I have been thinking of writing about my #travel experiences and this is my first attempt.

Let me start with the introduction of myself and my travel enthusiast group. We are the group of three  college friends stuck together with one goal #travel. We started travelling by doing small treks first with one cause in mind, to go on the top of the mountain and enjoy the serene peace, to be on the beach at night and listen to the sound of ocean, to do nothing at all, "to seek peace in nature's lap". When we (three of us) started travelling as a group, we were broke always, so, we used to plan in such a way that, travelling costs less. After some time, travelling with little money in wallets became habit of our group eventually. Now, even though we are earning fair amount this habit is still with us. Another distinguishing trait of our group is that we never planned any trip place to place. This habit has its own pros and cons.

Now coming back to the title "While Travelling - Road Trip to Delhi". Its been a while we have done this Road Trip to Delhi, so i might miss some details. As I have mentioned above, we never plan trips as they should be "ideally" planned, this trip was unruly from the beginning.

Day 0 -

We started our journey from Pune towards Delhi at night 11.00 PM after having heavy dinner in Pune itself, so, no-one was in mood to drive but still we had lot to catch-up. So, one of us drove as he could and stopped at Temple in Newasa to have some sleep. We always carry tent with us so there is no issue of having roof above us while we sleep.

Day 1 -

Ellora Caves 

Next morning, we started our journey towards Dhar where we were planning to stay that night, but of course we stopped in Aurangabad to see #ElloraCaves. As you all must know, #Ellora caves are India's one of the largest rock-cut caves monastery temple cave complexes in the world. and UNESCO's #WorldHeritageSite having Buddhist, Jain and Hindu monuments.

About such caves there is always more to say. Just being there watching  those sculptures and carving is amazing experience. Those carvings take you to that particular time of history and lets you conceive each and every bit of it.

Visiting Ellora Caves was detour from our rough plan so we made our minds and begun our Journey towards Dhar.

Bhoj-Shala, Dhar, MP

We reached Dhar at midnight and stayed at my relative's place there. 

Day 2 -

Next morning we were supposed to start our journey towards #Udaipur but naturally we got allured into the proposal of kaka (My Uncle) to stay till lunch and go out for sightseeing #Dhar. So Kaka took us out to show #BhojShala (Hall of Bhoja). Now, this place is also known as Lat-ki-Masjid. Then we went to see Fort of Dhar and the museum. Being in Dhar was great experience as my ancestors lived there for some period in 18th century. I wish, I had more time to stay.

After having lunch, we continued our journey towards Udaipur. By the time, we were near Udaipur we realised that if we stay to see Udaipur, our next plan will affect severely. 

So, we decided to head towards #Ajmer and stay there. We stayed at hotel near Ajmer. 

Day 3 -

Next day, as usual we took detour to visit Ajmer Sharif Dargah. When we entered the premises of Khawaja Garib Nawaz, we saw group of singers singing #SufiSangeet. That was it. We got enticed to sit there and listen to them. Listening to Sufi songs at that place is another level of Bliss. We got of Dargah with Happy faces. Having said that, we had lost of time there which we were supposed to go further towards #Jaipur.

We commenced our journey towards #Jaipur and reached Jaipur in the evening and saw Light and sound show at #AmerFort. We stayed in Jaipur.

Day 4 -

Amer Fort

In the morning after having breakfast, we decided to take help of local guide. In such tourist places, taking a guide is always a risky job. This "Guide" showed us nothing but 4 local clothing and apparel stores. Total waste of time and money. By noon, we got rid of this "guide" and straight headed towards #Jaigarh. Watching Light and Sound show before visiting Jaigarh and Amer Forts was truly a perfect decision. Knowing at least little history of such  historical places  before visiting makes the visit more meaningful.

Visiting museums also proves to be useful to learn about history of the place in detail.

Jaywan Cannon, Jaigarh

At Jaigarh, there is cannon named Jaywan which is one of the largest Cannons made in those time (1720AD). The size of the cannon is 20 feet. Awfully large Cannon. Later that day we headed towards Sariska National Park but couldn't make it in time. That is before 2.30PM. So, they stopped us at gate and didn't let us in even after we tried convincing them that we will be out before 6.00PM. So, there was no option for us other than letting it go. But then Google played significant role and we got to know about Bhangarh, one of the most haunted places in India.

Haunted & Abandoned Fort, Bhangarh

Peacock, Bhangarh Fort

QutubMinar

Another subtle decision we made which proved to be best for us was visiting #Bhangarh. Bhangarh is an abandoned fort full of monkeys. If you visit this place, I am sure this place will remind you of the Abandoned fort where the Monkey King Louie ruled and apprehended Mowgli there for he needed red flower (fire) from movie Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. While wandering inside the fort we met and befriended 2 local men.They helped to stay inside the fort till 9.30PM which closed at 6.00PM. They knew way outside the Fort other than the main entrance. After coming out, we had local meal there and camped outside near #BhangarhFort. Well, one cannot elaborate the Joy of #Camping in the Jungle, under the stars in words. One has to experience this himself. Loved it.

Day 5 -

Three of Us at Lotus Temple, Kalkaji

We started heading directly towards our Final Destination of our #RoadTrip, #Delhi. But on the way, we went to see #LotusTemple in Kalkaji.

There we met some people who are believers of #Bahai Religion. According to these promoters of #Bahai I met at the #LotusTemple and what I have learnt about the teachings messenger Baha'u'llah, the "nucleus" of this religion is "Unity", "Unity of God".
Now the point is, with The God comes the religion. So ultimately it leads to "Unity of Religions". This principle seems to be great. There is no problem with it.
But, problem arised when the follower said they consider Baha'u'llah as (one more) prophet "next to God" and Baha'i as another (plus one) religion.
Here, (plus one) religion One more could be the thing populace MAYnot broach well.
WORLD MAYNOT DEAL WITH ONE MORE.
Though, the principle notion of Baha'i which goes "As humankind metamorphose and develop its character, religion should metamorphose and develop itself" to ultimately Aurify Human as whole. #Peace #Hope #Life

After having seen and
For the first time, "posting a check in status" on Facebook helped. I posted a "travelling to Delhi" status on Fb. And got a comment from my lost high-school friend and he offered me to stay at his Place, The Air-Force Station, Palam.  So, we directly headed towards Palam. When we reached there, there was a huge group of Air-Force Staff waiting to welcome us. We were overwhelmed. It seems my friend commissioned all of his staff for us that day.  We saw Air-Force Museum, Palam That day and had rest remaining day. Enjoyed the Dinner with new "Air-Borne" friends in Air-Force canteen.
Day 6 -

On this day we did what every tourist does in Delhi. One does not have to expatiate Delhi, right? Things to Do in Delhi: Visit #RedFort, #Qutubminar, #IndiaGate, etc. Try variety of local Cuisines. DONE. That's it. 

Stayed outside Delhi in hotel that day.

Day 7 - 

Our return journey started and we traveled as much as we can and stayed at the hotel on the way.

A quick detour to Udaipur just to say that we have been to there too. We continued our Journey till we reached Godhra, Gujarat and stayed there.

Day 8 - 

Travelling whole day. Reached Pune. Back Home. Coming back home is as important as travelling. HOME FEELS GOOD ALWAYS.

Overall the experience of this road trip influenced us to travel more and we did and we are going to travel more and explore new arenas.

Travelling Rejuvenates us.

EXPENSES:

Approx. Rs.8000.00/- per person for three of us.