Tikonapeth

This is journey for an overnight stay at Rusticville near Tikonapeth (on foothills of Tikona fort) near Lonavala
The location is RusticVille - in a farm where all the necessary amenities are provided (including stay, food, water, bathroom, television (on request) and Barbeque (which is most unique - as its in open air)

Direction from Mumbai - The road reaching to Rusticville is also very exciting from Mumbai to Lonavala you take Expressway - exit from 1st exit to Lonavala - after kamath - take RIGHT turn after Kumar Resorts and then continue till you get a Shivaji statue ahead of Lonavala rly station. From the statue take LEFT (you will cross the lonavala vegetable and fruit market) and continue towards your right side till a Y junction - towards your right is Sinhagad Institute entry but you need to take LEFT (reference - Amarja Estate) continue straight uphill and then you cross a temple (Wagoba devsthant - Tiger temple) to your right.

Once you cross this temple you get a straight and LEFT road - take the left road which will look like cutting of rock mountain (experience the cool atmosphere here - if you keep your car windows open)

This is a lonely road with a single track and very few vehicles execpt the village vehicles or on weekends when people visit the resorts....after 5-6kms on this road ...there lies ahead the PAWNA DAM water body....breathtaking view with mountains on all sides and BLUE water and you drive all the way for next 10kms ....be sure to stop in between to have photographs or a look at the beautiful picturesque.

Once you are done with the uphill road and cross Pawna dam you will travel downhill on the other side of the dam with SHANTAI restaurant and hall on your right side - now take the RIGHT turn and go ahead 6kms uphill again till you reach Tikonapeth or your destination - tikona fort/ Rusticville

This is Rusticville on the foothills of Tikona FORT:

The best part of this so-called-resort is its OPEN AIR and we stay close to NATURE with stay in TENTS and river nearby - being an offbeat location provides you a good ambience and stay.

If you need any more information; do write to me.

thanks
Rahul

Alibaug-Kihim beach

This is information about our travel to Alibaug - Kihim beach resort on 14th Feb 2011

Instead of regular ROAD travel, we selected the water transport and finalized on MALDAR tours - they have AC and NON AC section (u can sit on upper or lower deck) and can easily accomodate upto 100passesngers at a time. they take 60-90mins from Mumbai to Mandwa Jetty

There are other provider - private jetty which takes just 7-12mins from Mumbai to Mandwa jetty and can accomodate 7passengers only but their charges are uuuuufffffffffff Rs. 12000/-one side.

 From Mandwa jetty - you board a BUS (free of charge) to Kihim village - this journey takes 30-40mins and from here you need to take a AUTO to kihim beach.

The beach is not very crowded and is surrounded with tall trees (with one of the ship getting hit in 2010 with oil spill on the beach - traces are still visible) but beach is good, safe and can be safe for swimming too.

The best part of the beach is the PARACHUTE ride 15-20sec duration and charges of Rs.150-250 depend on how you bargain...its available in morning and evening only. - BUT A GOOD EXPERIENCE.....TRY it dont MISS OUT.

Go enjoy your day.

MTDC - Karla (Lonavala)

This is our 1day 1 night picnic to MTDC - Karla (Lonavala) - a great place to be - close to Mumbai and easily accessible from Pune too.

Reached MTDC and then went to Karla Caves and Ekvira Devi Mandir both are on same Mumbai Pune old highway, from Mumbai Karla caves is on RHS and Mandir on LHS.

After visiting the Karla Caves; the next is Ekvira Mandir - Avoid SUNDAY - its FULL HOUSE there even at 7am in morning and you will regret not able to take darshan of the diety. Yes there are around 150steps climbing upwards to the mountain and you will enjoy the view from the top as it has the caves in which the mandir is being constructed.

There is another good location in Karla - next to MTDC is Dr. Balaji Tambe clinic - he has a clinic which heals your disease and many people are benefitted (all medicines are made inhouse) with people coming from overseas too.

You can also visit Tony Da Dhaba which is 15kms from MTDC resort.

Enjoy your day!

Borivali National Park - Waterfalls

Better than Bushy Dam and other locations for enjoying rain water dance and enjoyment with your friends and family is inside Mumbai without any high entry fees is BORIVALI National Park - waterfalls.

I think the above pictures and the crowd justifies the reason of my recommendation at SGNP - fresh water from the mountains - ideal time - mid July - August - September

Konkan - Diveagar, Harihareshwar, srivardhan

weekend tour to Konkan darshan - Diveagar, Harihareshwar, srivardhan

The beaches are very clean at Diveagar...whereas as worst in Harihareshwar...

Enjoy your stay! and ideal weekend destination!