Matheran Hill Station

Introduction and history: Matheran undoubtedly is Maharashtra’s one of the most beautiful and well maintained hill station. Matheran is situated in the Matheran range of sahyadris at a height of 750 metres. It has been quite a long, since an Englishman Hugh Mallet discovered Matheran in 1850 but little has changed in Matheran. In 1855, Matheran grew more accessible and popular under the patronage of Lord Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay. He also developed roadways and opened the first mountain railway in Mathern in 1907.

What to see and when to go: Matheran’s cliffs with incredibly steep drops to the plains below create stunning viewing points. These panoramic vistas, by day and night, leave you feeling light-headed. The Hart Point offers a view of the lights of Mumbai at night! Vehicles of any kind are not permitted in the town, which makes it a very quiet, serene place. The ideal time to visit this beautiful hill station is from October and May.

Things to do: All of Matheran is a series of such quixotically named points that are popular, if isolated, sides of picnic and fireside revelry at night. Charlotte Lake, the Panther’s Caves and Paymaster Park are other attractions, especially for children. The old world charm of the British and Parsi homes are an irresistible draw. Rummaging through the small bazaar in Matheran is an exciting idea.

Accommodation: Matheran has plenty of accommodation options. The town is dotted with mid range hotels to luxurious hotels and resorts.

Mode of transport: Mumbai , 100 kilometres, away is the nearest airport. Neral 21 kilometres away, is toy train is available. As the common mode of transport in this tiny hill station is rickshaws and buggy.

Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.aroundpune.com

See also (nearby places): Charlotte Lake, Panthers’ Caves, Paymaster Park, Khandala and Lonavla, Porcupine Point, Prabalgad fort, Mumbai and Pune.

Mahabaleshwar Hill Station

Introduction and history: Mahabaleshwar, in Sanskrit means God of Great Power, is situated at 1372 meters around Lake Venna. It was summer capital of Governor of the old Bombay Presidency. This is another area that has strong historical connections with Shivaji, the heroic Maratha warrior king. The British had built various mansions, cottages and bungalows around the town, lending it a charming, sophistication. The hill-station is very crowded during vacations like Christmas & Diwali and in summers

What to see and when to go: There are 30 valley viewpoints with panoramic vistas scattered around the hill station and their access roads make for shady, pleasant walks and treks. Mount Malcolm, Catholic Church, Mahabaleshwar Club, Morarji Castle are the places to see in Mahabaleshwar. The ideal time to visit this beautiful hill station is from October and June.

Things to do: Hiking and boating forms the basis for all the tourists at Mahabaleshwar. Panchganga Mandir is situated at the confluence of five rivers the Krishna, Gayatri, Savitri, Koyna and Venna. The water from these rivers pours from the spout of a sculpted cow suckling its young one, and collects in a cistern below. On the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Road, Lake Venna is the ideal place for an evening outing after covering all places mentione above.

Accommodation: Due to the incessant inflow of tourists all the year round, Mahabaleshwar offers many lodging options. The Mahabaleshwar hotels are located close to the major tourist attractions and allow the nature enthusiasts to observe it from very close quarters. It is wise to make a prior booking since the last hour rush could spoil the joy and excitement of travel.

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Mode of transport: Nearest airport is Pune and the nearest railway station is Satara (65 kilometres). It is also well connected by road from Pune and Mumbai.

Related links:
• City information: http://www.mahabaleshwar.com
• Information: http://www.mahabaleshwar.in

See also (nearby places): Tapola, Panchgani, Pratapgarh Fort,
Mapro Garden, Old Mahabaleshwar, Lingmala Waterfalls, Mumbai and Pune

Kangra

Introduction and history: Kangra town is a picturesque spot in the confluence of Bener and Majhi streams, overlooking the Ban Ganga torrent, in Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh. In ancient times, this historic town, then called Nagarkot, had witnessed several invasions and political upheavals. The ruined Kangra Fort stands testimony to its glorious past. The region is also known for its ancient temples. Kangra was the ancient capital of the erstwhile rulers of Chand dynasty, but faced a series of invasions by Mahmud of Ghazni in AD 1009 and Feroz Shah Tughlaq in AD 1309. It was under the reign of Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch that Kangra witnessed an upsurge in miniature paintings. Although a severe earthquake in 1905 destroyed most of the palace buildings, you can still see some of the paintings and murals on its walls.

What to see and when to go: There are many temples to visits such as Behna Mahadev, Brajeshwari Temple, Brijraj Behari Temple, Masrur Temple, Shiva Temple and Siddhanatha Temple. Kangra fort and Sujanpur forst are a must watch to understand the history of Kangra. The ideal time to visit Dharamshala is from the months of May to October.

Things to do: Kangra gives opportunity to become a wild-life lover by exploring the virgin jungles around that. One can visit the Pong Lake sanctuary and other nature parks at Kufri, Manali and Gopalpur.

Accommodation: There are lot of hotels available depending on the budget. The hotels are spread well across the valley and one can suite themselves as per his own preferred style of accommodation.

Mode of transport: Kangra airport is 7 Kilometres away and has got straight flights from Delhi. Nearest railhead at Pathankot is 86 Kilometres away and one is situated at Mukarian is 30 Kilometres. Kangra Valley express is a narrow gauge train, starting from Pathankot and continues to Bajinath. Kangra is well connected by road with Dharamsala, which is 18 Kilometres away. Tourists can hire taxis at reasonable cost from the major intersection of the city.

Related links:

• Official web site: www.hpkangra.nic.in

See also (nearby places): Macleodganj, Chamunda, Haripur, Dharamshala, Bhagsunath, Jawalamukhi, Nadaun, Una, Bilaspur, Rohtang Pass, Keylang, Manali, Kullu Valley, Pragpur.

Ellora

Introduction and history: Ellora caves, also known as ‘Verul Lani’ locally, are located 30 kilometres North-West of city Aurangabad. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century AD, the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (cave 29). The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest single monolithic structure in the world. These caves, unlike those of Ajanta, were never lost only because of their proximity to the trade routes since ancient period.

What to see and when to go: The exquisite carvings and paintings found in Ellora are its major highlights. These carvings have marks of Hindu, Jain and Buddhsim expressions. The wooden beams, graceful angles, steps and the mystical figures of gods and goddesses are absolutely spellbinding. They exhibit the creative excellence of the artist of that time. The best time to visit these marvellous caves is during the monsoon season that spans from Late-June to early November.

Things to do: All the caves at Ellora face west and can be seen best in the afternoon. Although, the Ellora caves are not much different from the Ajanta in terms of space and time, the Chaityas and Viharas of Ellora are architecturally and sculpturally quite different. It is interesting to note that the Ellora representations are earthier, taking elements from the Vajrayana school of Buddhism. This is the primarily reason why the dwarapalas, the gigantic Boddhisattavas and their consorts have lot of earthiness about them. The Ellora Caves are known more for their architectural skills rather than the sculptural aesthetics that Ellora is noted for.

Accommodation: There are hotels available at Aurangabad depending on the tourist’s pocket. Travellers can also choose to stay at Mumbai, Nashik or Pune so as to make a perfect trip to the caves.

Mode of transport: Aurangabad is connected to metro cities in India through rail, road and air. Nearest Airport, railway station and bus station to Ellora caves is Aurangabad. It is recommended to hire taxis for local transport for tourists.

Related links:
• Related Website: www.indiasite.com/maharashtra/aurangabad/ellora.html

See also (nearby places): Dalutabad fort, Ghrishneshwar Temple, Ajanta Caves, Khuldabad, Lonar, Shani Shignapur, Pariyon ka Talab (Lake of Fairies), Paithan and Pithalkora

Elephanta

Introduction and history: Elephanta caves, was known ancient times as ‘Gharapuri’ or The Place of Caves during the ancient times. The Portuguese took possession of the island and named it ‘Elephanta’ after the great statue, which they had found on the seashore. There are in all seven caves, of which the most important is the Mahesha-Murti Cave. The main body of the cave, excluding the porticoes on the three open sides and the back aisle, is 27 m square and is supported by rows of six columns. The gigantic figures of Dvarapalas, or doorkeepers are very impressive.

What to see and when to go: The main temple consists of a large pillared hall and there exists a freestanding square shrine at the west end of the hall. The pillars and relief in the cave are gigantic in scale. Set in various niches are a number of large reliefs depicting different aspects of Shaivaite iconography. Around the perimeter of the cave are sculptured compartments with images from the Hindu mythology. The best time to visit these beautiful caves is from the months of November to March.

Things to do: Elephanta Island is a scenic beauty and a piece of solace, with light-green foliage and monkeys scampering about. It is strongly recommended that visitors do not bring any food to avoid any interaction with moneys. This place is depicting Lord Shivas different avatar. While you enter from the north gate, a 6.3 meter tall sculpture of three faced Shiva will take away your breath. The three faces depict his role as a creator, protector and destroyer. As you progress you will come across his other avatars as Yogisvara, Shiva Nataraja, and Ardhanarivra.

Accommodation: Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and offers wide variety of accommodation depending on your budget. You can choose your accommodation price from 200 Rupees to a five-digit number.

Mode of transport: You would have tae a ferry from Apollo port near gate way of India. Mumbai is very well connected to rail, road and water ways to national and international regions.

Related links:
• Related Website: www.templenet.com/Maharashtra/elephanta.html

See also (nearby places): Crawford Market, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Flora Fountain and the Gothic/Victorian buildings of the Fort Area, Jehangir Art Gallery, Prince of Wales Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Gateway of India, Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach, Malabar Hill, Mani Bhavan, Mahalaxmi Temple, Haji Ali Shrine, Siddhivinayak Temple, Juhu Beach.

Ajanta

Introduction and history: Situated 100 kilometres from the city of Aurangabad, Ajanta caves are one of the most magnificent Buddhist caves in the entire India. John Smith, a British captain, accidentally discovered them in 1819, while on a hunting expedition. The 29 caves at Ajanta provide a unique combination of architecture, sculpture and paintings. The carvings and the paintings in the caves depict the life stories of Lord Buddha. Along with this, several types of human and animal figures are also carved out of the rocks.

What to see and when to go: There caves are divided into ‘Chaitya-Grihas’ (Stupa halls) and ‘Viharas’ (dwelling halls). Around five of these caves (9, 10, 19, 26 and 29) are ‘Chaitya-Grihas’. The rest of the caves are ‘Sangharamas’ or Viharas (monasteries). The caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 are important from the art point of view. It is said that if you are in Maharashtra, Ajanta caves are a must visit, so you can travel any time throughout the year.

Things to do: Cave 1 & 2 depict paintings including, variety of designs, scrollwork, geometric patterns, miniature seated Buddha’s, dream of the Buddha’s mother, Maya and the birth of the Buddha, procession of female devotees carrying offerings and scenes from the Hamsa Jataka and Vidhurapandita Jataka. Caves 4 & 6 are Viharas or Monasteries of architectural interest. Cave 9, 10, 12 & 15A, are Chaitya Halls of the Hinayana period. Each cave has something special hidden from the history.

Accommodation: There are hotels available at Aurangabad depending on the tourist’s pocket. Holiday resort at Fardpur is just 4 km from caves and provides clean and comfortable accommodation.

Related links:
• Official Website: http://www.ajantacaves.com

See also (nearby places): Dalutabad fort, Ghrishneshwar Temple, Ellora Caves, Khuldabad, Lonar, Shani Shignapur, Pariyon ka Talab (Lake of Fairies), Paithan, Pithalkora, Shirdi, Nasik.

Mangeshi temple, Goa

Introduction and history: The state of Goa is India’s smallest state in terms of area, which is located on the west coast of India, which is popularly known as ‘konkan’ coast. It is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year. The temple of Shri Mangesh is located in a natural location with pleasant surroundings in Mangeshi along Goa’s Panaji-Ponda road. The temple architecture is a mix of Hindu, Christian and Muslim influences and is lit up in magnificent lights during the annual festival, which is held in January.

What to see and when to go: Goa is an excellent tourist destination where one can get to see a whole range of things starting from its beaches. Some of the main beaches include Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Colva, Majorda, Palolem, Benaulim and Bogmalo. It also has a huge number of temples, churches, forts, museums, sanctuaries. Under each category it offers a huge list of destinations. The humidity is at its highest in the summer and quite low from September to early March, which is the ideal time to visit the place.

Accommodation: Accommodation in Goa is plentiful with a variety of hotels, resorts and guest houses to suit every budget and every taste. There are simple and bare rooms available for the thriftiest of back-packers and five-star deluxe luxury suites for those that want to indulge their fancies. A decent budget hotel costs about 200 rupees per day.

Mode of transport: Goa is well connected by airline services to most major cities in India. All flights, national and international operate from the Goa Airport. Goa has two major railway stations (Margao and Vasco-da-Gama), both located in the southern area of the state. The South Central Railway terminus is at Vasco-da-Gama and the Konkan Railway terminus is at Margao. Besides the two main stations, the trains usually halt for a few minutes at a number of other smaller stations in Goa. Goa has a unique and very popular mode of transport known as a ‘pilot’.

Related links:
• Mangeshi temple: http://www.shrimangesh.org/
• Goa tourism: http://www.goatourism.org/

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