Matheran- Worth exploring

I know its been long since I wrote last but believe me it is worth the wait.

Last time I wrote about my hometown in Himalayas. This time I got an opportunity to visit a small hill station in Maharashtra where one can go either on foot, a small toy train or on a horse.

Any guesses?

No?
Okay then have a look at this one and tell me..:)

Well, the answer is Matheran and I cannot deny that I am completely in love with this beautiful place.
You can call it a small tourist village where no vehicles are allowed and there are a few spots worth exploring.

Attractions:The first point that I explored was a beautiful lake with green water and a yellow colored flower bed close by and believe me for a moment it felt like I was in the mini version of valley of flowers. If you too guys have loved the cowboy kind a movies, then it gave me a very similar feel with tourists wandering on horses and chilling out alongside the lake.

Another vintage point that I loved was the echo point. Well, it wasn't the echo coming back that made me feel wow, but gorge crossing in the valley of 450 feets depth that stirred me for long enough. It was the most thrilling experience of my life and though I am not the one who is into extreme adventure sports, I was simply swayed with this one.

I even tried horse riding and a single horse was available for ride for just 250 bucks. The horses are well trained and I loved the feel that I was controlling the horse and riding my warhorse. (However, its possible that the Horse may have got the vibes that I was a novice rider and therefore might have shown sympathy by walking straight) but still whatever, I loved the way I controlled my Horse:)

Adventure sports:Gorge crossing

Accessibility:On foot or horse(Horses readily available at 250 bucks). A small and cute toy train is also available.

The area has 460 horses which are used on a daily basis to take travelers and their belongings to and fro.

Accommodation: The place has numerous hotels, lodgings and one Gujrat Bhawan which offers cheap yet comfortable place to stay.

Food:I would say that I found very good quality food in Matheran. In most of the places, it was hygienic, less spicy yet tasty.

My trip to Matheran was the most enriching and wow kind of experience after a long time.

ThumbsUp to the clean and pristine air of Matheran!

Love u all---Rich

Pauri- Virtual paradise

Pauri offers a panaromic view that no other hillstation in India offers. Blessed with miraculous beauty, the place isn't just a hill station for me, its a place where I was born and enjoyed the first snowfall of my life.

Major attractions:The place is blessed with lush green forests in the backdrop and an enchanting view of mighty Himalayas at the forefront.

The famous peaks witnessed from the are are Bander Pooch, Gangotri Group, Kedarnth, Chawkhamba, Neelkanth, Hathiparvat, Nandadevi and Trisul.

The place is great to visit round the year and often gives the feel of a European small town.

Summers at Pauri are cool, helping one in getting rid of the scorching heat of the plains while winters are chilly with two to three rounds of snowfall around Christmas. The place is great for tourists who do not wish to spend their weekends at other overcrowded hillstations.

October too is a wonderful time to visit the place as the winter is just setting in and the town celebrate its autumn festival called the “sharadotsav”. This is the prime time when you can witness the cheerfulness of this small town. Each and every area of the town hustles and bustles with a variety of activities whether it be a sports competition, musical night, dance competition or the very popular tug of war.

Activities: Forest around the town too are rich in wildlife and leopards are found in abundance in the area. You can also go for Paragliding activities or enjoy bird watching from the Chaukhamba viewpoint. If you love mountain trails, you will find dozens of them in and around the town.

Just like early morning, a small drive to the road connecting Srinagar in evening will help you in witnessing the twilight of the town.

Accessibility: Nearest railway stations are Dehradun and Kotdwar while buses and private cars are easily avialable to Pauri, which happens to be the center of Garhwal Commissionary.

In case you are coming via flight, you can come to Jolly Grant Airport located close to Rishikesh.

My personal experience: Those fond of visiting religious places will love the centuries old temples in the area. You will also come across a variety of folklore. Do not forget to try out the popular garhwali dishes and sweets served in the area.

I cannot deny that each and every morning in this place is a treat as you can witness the 270 degree range of Himalayas every morning. This is one and only place that showcases the largest range of Himalayas with Chaukhamba leading from the front.

Since my childhood the small town of Pauri has expanded greatly but still the town has its own unique culture and serenity which makes it very different from other cities.

Cheers----Rich

Tarkarli Beach –A Tranquil Location for Beach Lovers

Tarkarli for me is heaven.The beach is popularly called as the “Queen Beach of Sindhudurg”. This beach serves as a convergence of Arabian Sea and Karli River.

How to reach: Its a small town located about 6 km South of Malvan (Konkan region) and 546 km from Mumbai.

Major attractions : Long stretch of beach with crystal clear waters. With its pristine beaches, green clear waters and sumptuous food, this beach has attracted huge crowd of people from all over the world. As it is close to Goa, foreigners are extending their trip to Tarkarli ensuring a delightful journey at this beach. The scenic beauty of the place and sightseeing of Dolphins is what holds the attention of many on their visit to Malvan.

Activities : Snorkelling, Scuba Diving

My personal experience: For me this place is close to my heart as it is located in my native place known as Malvan. I had been to this place many times and have seen infinite changes that has took place over here. Earlier this place was unheard by many people, as it is situated far away in a small town. But today, it has made its way in the list of beautiful beaches of India.

I have beautiful childhood memories of visiting Tarkarli beach with my family. I used to make sand houses and buy peanuts from an old man daily. Yet on my last visit to Tarkarli I observed tremendous changes right from playing activities to eating stuffs.

Now the crystal clear water allows tourists to indulge into water sports activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving. I had great time while doing water sports activity at the beach. I have observed many people visiting this place from all over the world within a short period of time. It is famous because of beautiful, clean beaches and historical fort of Shivaji known as Sindhudurg.

Food:Ultimate paradise for sea food lovers

Kombadi Wade

I am sea food lover and so I have big cravings for Pomphret, Prawns, Surmai, Mandeli and many more found over here. For vegetarians and non-vegetarians, do not miss the traditional food item called as solkadi. For non-veg people, you should definitely munch on Kombadi- Wade. Due to hot destination, you can easily find varieties of sumptuous food that includes Mumbai Chat, Chinese, Punjabi foods and many more. Whether you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, the place has every mouth licking cuisines for tourists. I would even suggest you to visit the Malvan market to buy some fresh packets of cashew nuts available at affordable price .

You can also munch on Aam Papad,Amba wadi, Karwande wadi and Kokam wadi are great .

Accommodation facilities: If you are worried about staying facilities, then just relax. Enjoy staying at MTDC resorts, House Boats and Cottage houses near beach. Bookings in advance are advisable for comfortable staying facilities.

Tarkarli MTDC Resort

Suggested routes: You can either halt at Malvan, a small town from Kudal or can directly enjoy travelling through roadways. Avoid monsoon seasons to visit this place, as this region is recorded for heavy rainfall. I would also suggest you to visit nearby places that extend the list of Devbaugh, Nivti Fort, Bhogave Beach, Crocodile Point and Vitthal Mandir point.

To sum up my visit to Tarkarli, I would describe this place in just one word that is “Paradise”.

It is just awesome. Wake up in morning and enjoy this tranquil beach that wishes you great mornings.

So get ready to plan your next trip to Tarkarli to get rid away from the hustling bustling and maddening city life… Enjoy your trip by spending quality time with your loved ones.

Cheers----Niks