View
216
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
1/14
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
2/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 2
sparkling rivers and sleepy hamlets dot the surrounding countryside.
The best time to visit Panchgani is between the months of October to
February
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Pune 98 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Wathar 45 kms on the Miraj-Kolhapur section of South Central Railway.
By road:
Bombay-Panchgani via Pune 295 kms.
Bombay-Panchgani via Mahad 266 kms.
Chikaldara
Chikaldara lies in the district of Amravati, 763 kms away from
Bombay by road, in the Vidharba region. Situated in the Gavilgarh
Hills, a offshoot of the Satpura range, it is surrounded by lakes and
waterfalls. Chikaldara is the home of the Korkus tribe. It offers an
abundance of wildlife. Animal lovers will be delighted to spot
magpies, chitals,sambhars, and langurs. And the Dhakana-Kolkaz
National Park nearby is famous for its tigers. The Melghat Tiger
Project is located here too. Chikaldara's cool breezy climate makes
it an excellent place to get away to in summer. The MTDC-run
Semadoh Forest Lodge is a comfortable place to stay.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Akola, 150 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Badnera.
By road:
Bombay-Chikaldara 763 kms.
Nagpur-Chikaldara 230 kms.
Amravati-Chikaldara 100 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Amravati and Nagpur to Chikaldara.
The MTDC runs daily excursions to the game sanctuaries and
sightseeing spots.
Matheran
Matheran lies in the district of Raigad, 170 kms away from Bombay,
up in the Western ghats. Getting to Matheran is half the fun. A toy
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
3/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 3
train meanders up the mountain,
treating you to a breathtaking view.
Matheran is rich in greenery and
there's plenty to see -- Lake
Charlotte, Honeymoon Hill,
Panther's Cave and lots more. You
can also go horse riding and shop for exciting cane and leather
articles. Equally entertaining are the monkeys that inhabit the place.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Bombay, 100 kms away.
By rail: Bombay-Neral-Matheran 108 kms.
By road:
Bombay-Neral 90 kms.
Neral-Matheran 21 kms.
Pune-Neral 120 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Bombay and Pune to Neral.
Panhala
Panhala lies in the district of Kolhapur. Situated at an altitude of
977.2 metres, Panhala is a charming hill resort steeped in history.
Panhala's historic fort was the site of Chhattrapati Shivaji's heroic
escape from the forces of Siddhi Johar. Situated here too is theSambhaji temple, Someshwar temple, Teen Darwaza, Raj Dindi and
several other places. Of special interest are the blue basalt temples
on the sacred Jyotiba hill nine kms away. And the 7th century AD
Mahalaxmi temple at Kolhapur 18 kms away. As well as the wildlife
sanctuary at Radhangari 52 kms away.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Belgaum 123 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Kolhapur, 18 kms away, on the South
Central Railway.
By road:
Bombay-Panhala 428 kms via Kolhapur.
Kolhapur-Panhala 18 kms.
Aurangabad
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
4/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 4
Aurangabad was re-built by the Moghul
emperor, Aurangzeb, to commemorate
his Deccan conquests. But the city has a
history that spans the Maurya, Satvahana,
Chalukya and Rashtrakuta periods. The
Bibi-ka-Maqbara, the mausoleum of Begum Rabia Durani,
Aurangzeb's wife, which resembles the Taj Mahal, is one of the most
pretty landmarks of the city. Panchakki, a water mill, and SunheriMahal are equally beautiful. Not far from the city are the famous
Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Getting there
By air: Connected to Bombay by daily flights.
By rail: A main junction on the South Central Railway.
By road:
Bombay-Aurangabad 388 kms.
MTDC runs luxury bus services every day from Bombay to
Aurangabad, and from Aurangabad to Ajanta, Ellora and Paithan.
.
Murud Janjira
Murud Janjira lies in the district of Raigad. Murud Janjira is popular
for the its fort which is located in the middle of the sea. It is arguablythe only fort that remained unconquered for 300 years. The palace of
the Nawab and the Janjira caves are worth a visit. The palm fringed
beaches at Murud Janjira are refreshingly clean and happily quite
desolate. However, other than the fort and the beach there isn't much
else to do in Murud Janjira except to chill out.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Bombay, 165 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Panvel 122 kms away.
By road:
Bombay-Murud via Revdanda 165 kms.
Pune-Murud via Mahad 230 kms.
Alibag-Murud 52 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Bombay and Pune to Murud.
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
5/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 5
Ganpatipule
Ganpatipule is in the district of Ratnagiri. The
place gets its name from the temples built in
honour of Ganpati. What is the reason for
journeying here? A great locale to mix business
(religious) with pleasure -- a religious pilgrimage
and a relaxing vacation. An important pilgrimagespot at Ganpatipule is the temple that houses
Swayambhu, an idol of Ganpati hewn out of rock by Mother Nature,
located a few yards from the glittering white beach. Another popular
landmark is the Ganesha Temple, which has been a place of
pilgrimage for over 300 years. Nearby is the Jaigad Fort and the
Thebaw Palace.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Ratnagiri, 50 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Kolhapur 144 kms on the South
Central Railway.
By road:
Bombay-Ganapatipule 375 kms via Mahad.
Pune- Ganpatipule 331 kms via Satara.
Kolhapur-Ganpatipule 144 kms.
Lonar
Situated in the Buldana district, Lonar is most
famous for the magnificent 'hyper-velocity
meteorite-impact crater'. Of interest are the ruins
of temples constructed in the Hemadpanti style,
where Lord Narasimha, Ganesh, Renukadevi and
Shiva were once worshipped. If visiting temples is
not appealing there's always a spot of bird
watching to be done. A fascinating sight is the
presence of hundreds of peafowl here, who live
inside the crater. Besides the birds -- there are migratory birds and
the local avians -- Lonar is the place to spot monitor lizards,
Hanuman langurs, chinkaras and gazelles, if you are lucky.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Aurangabad, 122 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Malkapur on the Bombay-Bhusaval
line.
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
6/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 6
By road:
Bombay-Aurangabad-Jalana-Lonar 600 kms.
Lonar- Buldana 95 kms.
Lonar-Mehekar Taluka 23 kms
Lonar- Aurangabad 145 kms.
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a place of verdant
greenery perched high on the Western Ghats.
Mahabaleshwar has enough 'lookout points',
as they are popularly called, to keep one's
camera clicking non-stop. And most tourists
would find it difficult to visit Mahabaleshwar and not do a bit of
horse riding and boating on the waters of Lake Venna or visit the
Lingmala Falls. Of late however, there has been a steady increase in
commercialism and ugly tourism and the place has lost some of its
charm. The historical forts of Pratapgad (24 kms away) and Raigad
(80 kms away) are well worth a visit.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Pune, 120 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Wathar, but Pune is a convenient
railhead.
Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar, located in the district of Pune has enormous religious
significance and houses one of the fivejyotirlingasof Maharashtra.
Constructed by the eminent Nana Phadnavis, the Shiva temple has
gorgeous carvings. Its Mahashivratri fair is most popular and nearly
25,000 pilgrims converge here for this festival. The wilderness
surrounding Bhimashankar has a lot of wildlife. The MTDC already
has tents available on rent at this location.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Pune 95 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is also Pune.
By road:
Bombay-Bhimashankar 265 kms via Pune.
Ramtek
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
7/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 7
Situated in the district of Nagpur, legend has it that Ram resided here
with Sita and Lakshman during his exile and that is how Ramtek got
its name. It was here too that the prolific Sanskrit poet Kalidas wrote
his epicMeghdootam.Other than these places of religious
significance, one can visit the Ramgiri Hill, Ramsagar Lake and
Khindsey Lake.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Nagpur, 58 kms away.
By rail: Ramtek is a station on the South Central Railway and regular
trains ply between Nagpur and Ramtek.
By road:
Bombay-Ramtek via Nagpur 913 kms.
State Transport buses ply from Nagpur to Ramtek.
Tuljapur
Tuljapur is in the district of Osmanabad and Tulja Bhawani ,
popularly known as Durga, is worshipped here. If you have seen this
temple, you have covered the sights of Tujlapur and the only thing left
to do is to kick back and relax.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Aurangabad, 257 kms away.By rail: The nearest railhead is Solapur on South Central Railway.
By road:
Bombay-Tuljapur 452 kms via Solapur.
Aurangabad-Tuljapur 257 kms.
Solapur-Tuljapur 40 kms.
Osmanabad-Tuljapur 19 kms.
Nanded
Nanded lies on the Godavari river. This is the place where the Sikh
guru Gobind Singh was assassinated. A short distance from Nanded
is lies the important Sachkhand Gurudwara. Nanded is a major
railhead between Aurangabad and Secunderabad.
Fardapur
Buddhist cave temples and monasteries cut into the rock, dating from
200 BC to 650 AD are spread across this region. But Fardapur is
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
8/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 8
mainly a forest area. The town lies about five kms
away from the Ajanta caves and much of the
tourist traffic is people traipsing through the town
on their way to the famed caves. Besides the
MTDC holiday resort there is also a forest rest
house. Quite an ideal place for those wanting to get
away from it all.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Aurangabad, 108 kms away.
By rail: Jalgaon, 58 kms away on the Central Railway is a convenient
railhead.
By road:
Bombay-Ajanta 491 kms via Jalgaon.
Bombay-Ajanta 487 kms via Manmad.
Bombay-Ajanta 499 kms via Pune.
State Transport and luxury buses run from Aurangabad and Jalgaon
to Ajanta.
Lonavala
Lonavala is a charming hill resort,
three hours from Bombay and one
hour from Pune. It is ideal for
mountain climbers. And it is a goodstopover if one is planning to visit
the Karla and Bhaja caves and the
Lohagad and Visapur Forts, which lie in its vicinity. There are several
small waterfalls and plunging valleys nearby ideal for picnics. Spots
like Lonavala Lake, Bhushi Dam, Tiger's Leap, Ryewood Park,
Tungarli Dam, Barometer Hill are rather scenic. Khandala, the twin
hill station nearby, is equally popular for its scenery and picnic
possibilities. Lonavala is famous too for its chikki, a candy made
from nuts.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Pune, 66 kms away.
By rail: Lonavala is on the Bombay-Pune line of the Central Railway.
Bombay-Lonavala 118 kms.
Pune-Lonavala 64 kms.
By road: Lonavala is on the Bombay-Pune road
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
9/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 9
Bombay-Lonavala 104 kms.
Pune-Lonavala 66 kms.
Solapur
Solapur is the centre of the cotton growing industry. It is a highly
industrialised area. But Solapur is surrounded by prosperous farms
and is therefore a very scenic destination. Located on the mainrailway line between Madras and Bombay, it is a good stopover.
Kolhapur
This is one of the most important towns of Maharashtra. It is popular
for theghatsand pretty temples situated on the banks of the
Panchganga river that runs through the town. The Mahalaxmi temple
is the chief draw. Other sights include the Brahmapuri hill, Rani's
Garden and Rajwada.
Alibag
Alibag is one of the only unspoilt beaches in close vicinity of
Bombay. Some stretches of the beach are today rather crowded but
mostly ir is quite clean and privately owned.. There are boats and
hovercrafts leaving from the Gateway of India on a daily basis.
Alibag is a great place to relax.
Grishneshwar
Grishneshwar gets its name from the
gigantic Grishneshwara temple. Another
the home of another importantjyotirlinga
of Maharashtra located 30 kms away from Aurangabad in Parbhani
district. Virtually a suburb of Ellora, the influx of tourists to
Grishneshwar is due to the fact that it is a convenient stopover for
tourists on their way to the caves. The mood of this quiet town takes
a major upswing during Mahashivratri when Grishneshwar celebratesEllora Yatra, an annual fair.
Parli-Vaijnath
Parli-Vaijanth is situated in the district of Beed. Anotherjyotirlinga
hot spot, the town draws pilgrims from near and far. Thejyotirlinga
is housed in the town's the famous Shiva temple complex. Parli-
Vaijanth is a must stop for an ambitious and persevering Shiv
devotees.
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
10/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 10
Malvan
Malvan is a temple town, a few centuries old, located in southern
Maharashtra. Malvan is slowly evolving into a beach resort. The two
most famous temples in these parts are the Sri Devi Sateri and the
Rameshwar temple. As significant is the Padmagad Fort nearby. The
town is famous for its jackfruit, mangoes, cashew nuts and coconut
groves.
Amboli
Amboli is a small hill station, in the Sindhudurg district, situated on
the Western Ghats, nestling in the Sahyadri mountains at an altitude
of 690 m. Surrounded by thick forests and verdant hills and valleys,
Amboli is ideal for long walks. Hiranya Keshi offers hours of fun for
anglers. Nagarta Falls and Narayangad are perfect for picnics.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Belgaum, 64 kms away.
By rail: Belgaum, 64 kms away on the Central Railway is a
convenient railhead.
By road:
Bombay-Amboli 549 kms.
Pune-Amboli 390 kms.
Ratnagiri-Amboli 215 kms.
State transport and luxury buses run from Vengurla, Belgaum,
Sawantwadi and Ratnagiri to Amboli.
Nagpur
Nagpur was once the capital of the Central Provinces. It lies on the
Nag River, and is most famous for the Sitabaldi fort surrounded by a
moat and located on a bluff overlooking the city. Other places of
interest are the Anglican Cathedral, Bhonsle Palace and the GondRaja's palace. In the month of April the city is popular for its
celebration of the festival of Ram Navmi, the birth of Lord Ram.
Paithan
Paithan, Maharashtra's ancient educational centre, lies on the banks
of the Godavari river. It is one of the oldest cities of the Deccan.
Paithan's chief claim to fame is its shrine of the much revered Saint
Eknath. It is also known for its annual ten day fair -- the Paithan
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
11/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 1
Yatra Fair -- held in March or April. Gyaneshwar Udyan, the city's
popular park is worth seeing.
Velneshwar
This coconut palm fringed village on the
banks of the Shastri river . It is a great place
to relax and has a few small beaches whichare safe for swimming. It is also famous for
the Shiva temple known as Velneshwar
Temple which is a high point for those on a
Ganesh pilgrimage. Karad is the nearest
railway station.
Sevagram
Sevagram lies eight kms away from Wardha. Of great historical
importance, Sevagram like the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad,
was ashram set up by followers of Gandhiji during the freedom
struggle and it is a Utopian community, representative of his
philosophy. Sevagram is a must see for those interested in India's
struggle for Independence. A visit to Gandhiji's Ashram, Gandhi
Gyan Mandir, Maganwadi and Bajajwadi is recommended.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Nagpur, 67 kms away.By rail: Wardha is a junction on the Central Railway 759 kms from
Bombay
. By road:
Bombay-Wardha 822 kms via Amravati.
Nagpur-Wardha 77 kms.
Yeotmal-Wardha 58 kms.
Nawegaon
Nawegaon, Vidarbha's most popular forest destination, is the
ultimate adventure spot. It is said to have been built by Kolu Patel
Kolhi in the beginning of the 18th century. There's a picturesque lake
set in the midst of the hills. And Nawegaon is something of a 'wildlife
resort' with the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary also situated nearby. The
sanctuary has a wide variety of colourful bird species. Almost 60%
of the bird species found in Maharashtra have been recorded in
Nawegaon. Every winter, huge flocks of migratory ducks visit the
lake. There are boating and water sports facilities at the lake and
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
12/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 12
jungle safaris organised by the locals. Nearby are watch-towers that
enable you to view wildlife.
Getting there
By air: The nearest airport is at Nagpur 145 kms away.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Devalgaon, 1 km away, on the South
Eastern Railway.By road:
Bombay-Nawegaon 995 kms. The route is actually Bombay-
Dhule-Akola-Nagpur-Bhandara-Nawegaon.
Nagpur-Nawegaon 132 kms. The route is actually Nagpur-
Bhandara-Sakoli-Nawegaon.
Devalgaon-Nawegaon 1 km.
State Transport buses ply from Bhandara, Nagpur and Devalgaon to
Nawegaon.
Sindhudurg
Sindhudurg, the headquarters of Sindhudurg district, is located on a
low island in the sea. Sindhudurg was once upon a time Shivaji's
coastal capital, a city of magnificent buildings. Today it is a ghost
town famous only for the haunting Sindhudurg Fort, one of the 350
forts that Shivaji built for the defence of his kingdom. The fort houses
a black stone statue of Shivaji. But Sindhudurg has some fine
beaches -- sparkling, white and deserted.
Pali
Pali too is situated in Beed district and is also a place of religious
interest. However, the various temples located in neighbourhood of
Pali are Ganesh temples. Situated in Pali is one of the eight
ashtavinayakas, shrines of Ganpati that are of great religious
significance. Pilgrims doing the Ganesh Temple circuit , are
guaranteed everlasting bliss if they manage to stop in at a
ashtavinayakas spot.
Norsobachi Wadi
Norsobachi Wadi is situated close to Kolhapur. Quite undiscovered
by tourists, this place has great has great archaeological significance.
Sangli
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
13/14
2/26/2014 Redi ff On The NeT Travel : A travel feature on bed and breakfast locales in Maharashtra, India
http://www.rediff.com/travel/jun/24mtdc1.htm 13
Sangli is a religious spot on the border of Karnataka in south-eastern
Maharashtra. There are several shrines dedicated to Lord Shiv in the
vicinity of Sangli.
Vijaydurg
What's Vijaydurg's claim to fame? A bit of
history and a great beach. Located inSindhudurg district the town's main sight is
the fort of Vijaydurg,. Also of interest are
the Hanuman temple, the Bhavani Devi
temple and the Shiva temple. The temple
dedicated to Lord Shiv is one of its kind in the country.
Kelve
Kelve is located in the district of Palghar, in northern Maharashtra.
The main attraction is the beach -- splendidly beautiful and empty.
Great hide away for those who want to get away from the grind and
be lonesome-ownsome.
Jaysingpur
Jaysingpur is a small but flourishing town in western Maharashtra.
However, other than influx of people to the engineering colleges that
are located here, the town is more often than not, just a place for
travellers to stop overnight.
Anjarle
Anjarle is situated close to Nasik and is most popular for the Anjarle
Fort which is situated here.
Kunkeshwar
Kunkeshwar is situated close to charming border town ofSawantwadi, in southern Maharashtra. Kunkeshwar has a rather
pretty Shiv temple located smack on the beach. The town is gaining
fame these days to as a new undiscovered beach resort.
Akalkot
Akalkot is a small town situated near Solapur . It is mainly a place of
religious interest because of the ashrams dedicated to the Swami
Akalkot, who was a disciple of Datta, who was considered to be an
8/12/2019 Rediff on the NeT Travel_ a Travel Feature on Bed and Breakfast Locales in Maharashtra, India
14/14
Recommended