Pune Mumbai Taxi Cabs Service - Contact : +919867366166, +91-22-32198484

Valvan Dam | Valvan Information | Popular Dams Pune | Lonavala Attractions | Lonavala Places of Interest

2010-01-27T01:57:00.000-08:00

Very few locations can be as beautiful as this one. Located on the outskirts of Lonavala, Valvan Dam is one of the most popular picnic spots in Pune. Valvan Dam is surrounded with natural beauties and greenery. Valvan Dam is situated at Valvan village, 2 km away from Lonavala in Pune District of Maharashtra. Constructed on the Valvan lake by a private company for supplying water to the nearby hydroelectric power plant, this dam is known for the scenic beauty of its surroundings.

Valvan Dam is a favorite hunt for the tourists and locals alike. A beautiful garden in its vicinity is a prime attraction for the visitors. It is a beautiful garden with vast expanse of landscaped plains. The Valvan Lake and the surrounding dam sites and the garden are popular evening relaxation spots. Lots of tourists come here to spend some peaceful moments in the evening. Lots of visitors frequent this scenic spot in their leisure.

Baneshwar - The most exciting picnic spot in Pune

2010-01-12T03:46:00.000-08:00

Continuing where we had left, this time we have come up yet again with another exciting place, not to be missed at all. We all know that Pune is abundant with natural beauties. We have seen some of the most beautiful places here in Pune in most of our previous posts. Today, we will be exploring one more such place - Baneshwar.

Located among fabulous green locales, Baneshwar is a must see place for anyone coming to Pune. The breathtaking landscape with resonating waterfalls, makes you feel like being in heaven. Baneshwar, to be more specific is mainly famous for the Shiva temple which is located 35 km to the south Pune off Pune-Satara road. This Shiva Temple was built by st Bajirao Peshwa centuries ago. There are idols of Lord Shiva, Devi Laxmi and Lord Vishnu in this temple, which is a huge attraction among local as well as international tourists. Today the temple is maintained by the Baneshwar Temple Trust, who have looked after the temple, and also provided for basic amenities for visitors at the site.

Now, if you are looking to visit this place then make sure that its rainy season otherwise you will be missing the whole excitement. This rainy season is the perfect season to be here in this place because the lush forests and the streams around the temple can be experienced in their true element. However, as the peak season it does tend to get too crowded. So for those who want enjoy a quiet day of solitude at the temple, there is always time during the rest of the year.

So, get ready to be awed by the breath-taking simplicity of this place. Be here and experience the magic of this natural wonder..

Pune Hotels | Hotels Pune | Pune Hotels Information | Pune Hotels Details | Luxury Hotels Pune | Budget Hotels Pune | Pune Best Hotels | Pune Tourism

2009-12-28T21:31:00.000-08:00

We have seen a lot about Pune in our previous posts. We have been through many interesting places to be visited in this place. There are still many more places to be explored which we will do it for sure in our future posts.

But today in this post, we have come up with something interesting. Yes, in today's post we will come across some of the most exquisite hotels in Pune. No doubt, Pune being the cultural state of Maharashtra attracts a huge number of tourists every year. Tourists in large numbers come at this place to take a glimpse of true culture and tradition of India which abounds in Pune. The destinations like Mumbai and Goa are situated close at hand from Pune which makes it highly frequented by tourists. Therefore, to meet the need of the growing tourism, there is also a growth in the Pune hotels both economical and 5 star that serves well to the leisure and business traveller. The hotels of Pune are well appointed, exuding an exceptional infrastructure.

Below is a list of some of the best hotels in Pune - Must see for those who are planning to visit this city during any time.

Hotel Sun-N- Sand
Taj Blue Diamond Pune
The Sagar Plaza
The Pride Hotel
The Central Park
The Westin Koregaon Park
The Golden Emerald
The Corinthians Boutique Hotel
Courtyard Pune, Hinjewadi
Hotel, The Oakwood
Gandharv Residency
Le Royce Hotel
Hotel Aurora Tower
Nest Hotels, Ivy Studio
The O

So, here we have been through a list of some of the best hotels in Pune. All of the hotels listed above are equipped with all the requisite amenities, facilities and conveniences to make available the utmost comfort to the guests. From luxury hotels to the budget hotels, Pune has a lot of choices for each and every traveler. Almost all the hotels in Pune astutely provide accommodation to every traveller. The luxury hotels of Pune suit the requirements of affluent class and prove to be an excellent choice.

So, the next time you are planning to visit this city and you are worried about where to stay and which hotel to consider, the above listing can then be very useful to you. Hopefully you will remember it forever.

Empress Garden - Famous Gardens in Pune

2009-11-17T23:08:00.000-08:00

In this post today, we will explore one more famous garden in Pune. This garden is popularly known as Empress Garden. Located near the Pune Race Course adjacent to the Pune Sholapur highway, this garden is truly one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. It is spread over approximately 59 acres.

To say it as a fruitful garden won't be wrong in any case as this garden boasts of being home to a number of varieties of fruit bearing trees, most of which are those of the tropical type of vegetation. The chief products of the garden are mangoes, tamarind, etc.

The Empress Garden is also known as Botanical garden and Soldier's Garden. It is one of the best spots in Pune for sight seeing and picnic. People mostly kids enjoy being in this place. This garden is now under the Agri-Horicultural society of Western India. Today, the garden is frequented by locals as well as tourists in large numbers. It provides them the much-needed peace and serenity that seems to have become lost in the mundane routine of city life.

Peshwa Park - One of the most popular gardens in Pune

2009-11-06T04:07:00.000-08:00

We have seen many exciting places to be visited in Pune. In this post today we will be knowing about Peshwa Park. Peshwa Park is one of the oldest and popular gardens in Pune. Pune is known for its gardens from many years, this garden is one of them which is beautiful and has historic background. This garden was built by king peshwa in 18th century of indian history. King peshwa was very much fond of gardens in this city and so he started to build this place with thousands of workers and approximately 8-9 months it took to build such a nice place.

Right now this garden is also known for children play garden. This garden is located near saras baug in Pune. The zoo, also known as the Peshwa Park Pune is located away from the hustle and bustle of city, and is quite popular amongst children. The zoo has some exciting animals like monkey, lion, tiger, various birds and apart from that also provides exciting entertainment facilities like animal rides, boating facilities, joy rides, etc. The Peshwa Park Pune is a popular family outing spot in the city.

Inside this park there is toy train called as phoolrani which is very popular among the children. Children like to take ride of this train as a part of enjoyment. This train is designed for all round trip to garden in park. Peshwa park is also known for its greenary and grass all around the park where people can sit and watch various birds and can easily go near to nature. Normally in city we don't see much species of birds. But we can see that in this park a lot.

Panchgani - One of the most beautiful hill stations of Maharashtra

2009-10-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Like many other popular hill stations of India, Panchagani too is a very popular hill station. Panchagani is located in Maharashtra and it is one of the most beautiful hill stations. Formerly the British used to come here in an attempt to breathe fresh air and gulp water rich in iron. Panchgani is a startling hill resort of India, which still retains the signs of the British influence over the region.

Pertaining to travel and tourism, this hill station has always been a privileged haven. The etymology of term Panchgani suggests it is made out of two terms 'Panch' and 'Gani', which stand for 'five' and 'hills' respectively. A volcanic plateau, that is second highest in Asia after the Tibetan Plateau, top these five hills. In local term, it is known as 'Table Land' because of its flattened surface. The weather usually remains pleasant throughout the year; however one should avoid visiting the place during monsoons.

Panchgani is a charming hill station, drenched in serenity and tranquility. Since it is visited by tourists throughout the year, there are many hotels in Panchgani. Varying from deluxe hotels, luxury hotels, budget hotels to guest houses, you can find every possible accommodation as per your requirement and budget. Thus, plan a trip to Panchgani and get swayed by the sheer charisma of its lovely surroundings.

Resources - http://www.mumbai.org.uk/excursions/panchgani.html

Marine Drive - One of the most popular romantic spots in Mumbai

2009-09-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Marine Drive - One of the few must visit places in Mumbai. Located along the shoreline of the Arabian Sea from Nariman Point to the foot of Malabar Hill, this place is ideal destination for lovers and couples alike. Yes, Marine Drive is one of the most romantic spots in Mumbai. Also, if you are fond of having a glimpse of the sunset then this place become must visit. The sunset view from this pace is just amazing. Tourist brochures are fond of stating it as the Queen's Necklace, because of the dramatic curve of its streetlights at night.

A quick stroll through the Marine Drive and you can discover the whole of Mumbai. To add to it, Marine Drive is also one of the most busiest roads in Mumbai, an important artery for the heavy suburban traffic heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile stretch, past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. This is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh air.

Believe it or not, Marine Drive has one of the most art deco building alongside its sea front than any other place in the world. Miami in the United States is the only city in the world that has more art deco buildings along the seafront than Mumbai. Also, Marine Drive is home to many celebrities, mostly bollywood stars. Many hotels dot the drive, most prominent among them being the 5-star Oberoi (formerly the Oberoi Hilton Tower however reverted to the original name as of early 2008), The Intercontinental, Hotel Marine Plaza and a few other smaller hotels. Marine Drive is the preferred connecting road between the central business district located at Nariman Point and the rest of the city.

Marine Drive is also known as the Queen's Necklace because if viewed at night from an elevated point anywhere along the drive, the street lights resemble a string of pearls,forming a necklace.It is also the world's largest viewing gallery and hence has been a host to a number of events that take place along the promenade.

Hope you get enough of this fabulous place. Happy Visiting !!

Resources - Wikipedia

Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai - One of the most famous hindu temples in India

2009-09-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

Mumbai has many exciting places to visit. The city has everything for everyone. Yes, from world class monuments to funky bollywood, this city seems to rock all the times. Now, today in this post, we will be exploring something religious. We will be exploring one of the most famous Hindu temples of India which is located in Mumbai - Shri Siddhivinayak Temple.

Shri Siddhivinyak Temple is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was originally built by Mr. Laxman Vithu and Mrs. Deubai Patil in November 19th, 1801. The original belief behind this temple is dated long back when Deubai Patil thought that there must be a temple where people's wishes would come true. Deubai Patil herself was childless and so she wanted those suffering from the same, to get rid from it and be granted a baby upon visiting the temple and praying. And so the idea to build temple, finally originated. It’s said that many people have had their wishes come true over the years. The sincerity and intensity in which devotees visit the temple is inspiring, and despite the heat and crowds, it’s definitely possible to feel the increased energy there.

Talking about the structure, the temple has a small mandap (hall) with the shrine for Siddhi Vinayak ("Ganesh that grants your wish"). The wooden doors to the sanctum are carved with images of the Ashtavinayak (the eight manifestations of Ganesh in Maharashtra). The inner roof of the sanctum is plated with gold, and the central statute is of Ganesh. In the periphery of the temple, there is a Hanuman temple as well.

The popularity of the temple can be seen from the fact that on an average day, the temple draws over 25,000 people. Every Tuesday, the most auspicious day of the week, this number swells to over 100,000 people. That is just unbelievable !! Unlike most of the other temples of India, this temple has an open door policy. Anyone can visit this temple. Religion is not a bar for anyone here.

Have a wish that you want fulfilled? Pray to the elephant headed Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, at the Shri Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.

Ecabs Car Reservation System - The best traveling choice from Pune to Mumbai and Mumbai to Pune

2009-09-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

We have seen in earlier posts that eCabs is the best option for those looking to travel from Pune to Mumbai and from Mumbai to Pune. It is an idea solution for those looking for better pickup services from Mumbai airport and Pune Airport. You can read more about it here - Why eCabs is the best Car/Taxi Reservation System ?

Getting ahead with the same topic, today we will see more on why you should choose eCabs over any other traveling option. There are lot many traveling options available but why eCabs exels ? What is the problem with other traveling options? Why all other services are not as better as compared to services as being offered by eCabs?

We will examine each and every thing in detail today. We well look into various other modes of transport and then compare it with eCabs finally. So, here are the comparisons -

Traveling by Train: Indian railways do not offer any airport connectivity options . Hence there are no planned trains that may help passengers reach Mumbai International Airport in time also overall travel time by train is more then by road. There is no train station for airport.

Traveling by Busses: There are few busses that connect Pune to Mumbai Airport. These bus services at present do not have correct schdules for connecting to International flights. Most of the international flights are at Night and most such busses are mainly schduled for Day time travel. This means that a passenger may have to wait for sevaral hours at airport if they use these busses.

Traveling by Car/Mini Bus: Few travel service providers offer pre-schduled mini bus and car travel to Mumbai airport. Unfortunately these services are not prfessionally operating, leading to lot of time wastage for the passengers. These services are cost effective only for the shared travel. They normally pickup passengers atleast 1.5 hours before the schduled departure time from Pune. They may wait or pickup more passengers before departing for the Mumbai airport. Normal travel time is 5-6 hours. In case you want to hire the full car , the charges are very high. Similarly at Mumbai airport pickup, they may wait for passengers from different flights before starting for Pune and may drop passengers to different far off places in Pune. At present this is the only alternative other then hiring a private car.

Traveling by Private Car: Private car is available easily for Airport Pickup or Drops from Taxi stand or from travel agents. The only problem is that all travel agents will charge you for return fare, which means that you are paying for 2 journeys where as you use only one. This significantly increases your international travel cost and many people are looking for other suitable options. Security is one of the major concerns for the passengers using private car travel. On Pune - Mumbai Express you are at the mercy of the cab driver.

And finally, Traveling by eCabs - eCabs is a service that provide you a private cab for Pune to Mumbai AIrport or return journey and charge you only for the one way travel. Our rates are nearly half that of other private car operators. We offer highly secure and managed service that ensure timely pick-up and drops with minimal waiting time. You can call our call center to book a car immediately, in most situation you can get a cab within short time at airport or in City. We can pickup you form your home and drop you at the airport.

The complete journey is tracked and managed by our call center executive form remote location. In case of emergency or breakdown, our call center executive will arrange a new car for you within short time to avoid reaching late at airport.

Our technology allows you to save time, reach airport on time and have a enjoyable and tension free journey. Our call center also keep detailed information about the flight timings for your assistance.

Aurangabad Places | Ajanta Caves | Ellora Caves | Aurangabad Historical Monuments | Aurangabad Tourist Places | Tourist Attractions Aurangabad

2009-09-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

The City of Gates - Yes, it is the picture that comes to one's mind immediately when we hear about Aurangabad. Today in this post we will explore this historical city of monuments.

Aurangabad is a hugely popular tourist destination in Maharashtra. And the reason why it so famous?? It is because of the world famous Ajanta-Ellora Caves - One of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian architectural heritage. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the famous Ajanta and Ellora are cave shrines cut out of rock. The Ajanta caves have been designated as the World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. A set of 29 caves, Ajanta is among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of lord Buddha and various Buddhist divinities.

The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Sculptors, inspired by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, created elaborate rock carvings. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, Viharas or monasteries and Hindu and Jain temples.

Apart from Ajanta and Ellora Caves there are many more attractions in this tourist hub of Aurangabad. Some of the most popular attractions are -

Bibi Ka Maqbara: Situated about 3 km. from the city is Bibi Ka Maqbara, the burial place of Aurangzeb's wife, Rabia-ud-Durrani. It is an imitation of the Taj at Agra and due to its similar design, it is popularly known as the Mini Taj of the Deccan. The Maqbara stands in the middle of a spacious and formally planned Mughal garden with axial ponds, fountains, water channels, broad pathways and pavilions. Behind the mausoleum is located a small archaeological museum.

Panchakki (water mill): Is a 17th century water mill situated at a distance of 1 km from the city. An intriguing water mill, the Panchakki is famous for its underground water channel, which traverses more than 8 km. to its source away in the mountains. The channel culminates in a mesmerising 'artificial' waterfall that powers the mill. The beauty of the mosque housed in the inner enclosure is enhanced by a series of 'dancing' water fountains.Bhadkal Gate built by Malik Ambar in commemoration of his victory against the Mughals.

Gates in Aurangabad: One of the things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India are its 52 'gates' each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them. Not many people are aware of the fact that Aurangabad is also known as the 'City of Gates'. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary from Majnu Hills, Aurangabad.

Aurangabad Caves: Situated at a distance of 5 km, nestled amidst the hills are 12 Buddhist caves probably dating back to 3 A.D. Of particular interest are the Tantric influences evident in the iconography and architectural designs of the caves. One is also treated to a panoramic view of the city as well as the imposing Maqbara from this point.

Ellora-Ghrishneshwar Temple: Is half a kilometer away from the Ellora Caves, and 30 km. from Aurangabad. The present structure is an 18th century temple that presents outstanding architecture and carving. This place forms one of the five Jyotirlinga sites in Maharashtra where Lord Shiva is worshipped. The Ahilya Devi Holkar temple nearby is a must-see.

Khuldabad: Is a walled town lying at a distance of 3 km. from Ellora. It is also termed as the Karbala town and forms the holy shrine of Deccan Muslims. It is believed that the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb was buried here.

Pitalkhora Caves: Lies peacefully nestled in the Satmala ranges of the Sahyadris, at a distance of 78 kilometres from Aurangabad. There are 13 cave sanctuaries embedded in this region. These monasteries date back from 2nd century BC to 5th century AD. Rich carvings with elaborate details can be seen in these monuments.

Daulatabad fort: Earlier known as Devgiri, is situated at a distance of 13 kilometres from Aurangabad. Also termed as the city of foutune, it houses a stupendous 12th century fortress well placed atop a charming hill. This invincible fortress boasts of a 5 kilometer sturdy wall and an intricate series of ramparts.

Well, these are just a few of the most popular attractions in Aurangabad. There are many more popular attractions.

Resources -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangabad,_Maharashtra

Mahabaleshwar | Mahabaleshwar Information | About Mahabaleshwar | Mahabaleshwar Tourism | Mahabaleshwar Travel | Mahabaleshwar Holiday

2009-08-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Today in this post, we will be talking about Mahabaleshwar, yet another popular hill-station in Maharashtra. Mahabaleshwar is located on the Western Ghats of India and is being known as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj.

Mahabaleshwar is a popular holiday spot in India. It is one of the most popular honeymoon spots in Maharashtra. Reason why most of the newly married couples come here to spend their time amidst these natural beauties. Very few people know that Mahabaleshwar is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. The famous Mahabaleshwar temple is located here in Panchgani, a popular summer spot for tourists. Apart from this temple, Mahabaleshwar is well known for honey and strawberries. If you really want to enjoy the true flavors of strawberries then Mahabaleshwar is the place to be in.

Talking more about the tourists attractions here, how can one forget the Venna lake ? The Venna lake is one of the biggest tourist attractions here in Mahabaleshwar. The lake is surrounded by trees on all sides. A late winter evening boat ride through the slight fog is well appreciated. Tourists can enjoy a boat ride over the lake or a horse ride next to the lake. A number of small eateries line the banks of the lake. The Mahabaleshwar city market and the S.T. bus stand is about 2KM from the lake and makes for a nice walk during the day.

Yet another popular attraction is Panchgani. The 'Table-Land' phenomenon of nature at Panchgani is breath-taking. Panchgani's famous 'table land' has been the location for many Indian Movies (remember the flat hills in all those song and dance sequences?) and was also recently the location for the acclaimed movie, Tare Zameen Par. Panchgani attracts many tourists throughout the year, and many well-to-do people from Mumbai visit it on weekends. A well-known Ganesh Temple is located close by in Wai.

So, these was all about Mahabaleshwar. It is not yet finished. There are many more places worth visiting in Mahabaleshwar. You can find more information on such places here on this site - http://www.mshwar.com/june99/guide.htm

Sinhagad | Sinhagad Information | Sinhagad Pune | Sinhagad Holiday | Sinhagad Picnic | Sinhagad Travel | Sinhagad History

2009-08-06T00:21:00.000-07:00

There are many places in Pune where you can spend your time with your loved ones. And one such place is Sinhagad. Sinhagad is one of the most popular picnic spots in Pune. For those who want to experience best in the trekking, Sinhagad is the place to watch out for. This holidaying destination is located on a hill rising 800 metres above the surrounding countryside. Previously called Kondana (Devanagari), the fort has been the site of many important battles, most notably the battle of Sinhagad in 1670. It was also strategically located at the center of a string of other forts such as Rajgad, Purandar and Torna.

Actually, Sinhagad is a Devanagari term meaning Lion Fort and this fortress is located roughly 30 kilometres southwest of the city of Pune, India. Going back to the bygone era, this lion fort holds a great deal of historical importance. The fort is a reminder of the historical battle fought by the brave Tanaji Malusare, Shelarmama. Tanaji's samadhi can be easily found on the fort. Along with Tanaji's samadhi and Rajaram Maharaj's samadhi, one can also find the bungalows of Lokmanya Tilak and famous Marathi Poet G.D. Madgulkar ( Ga Di Ma ) on the fort. Not to forget, the famous tank with sweet and cold water - which is extremely popular among tourists.

Other major attractions are - Sweet curd, Buttermilk, Kanda bhaji and Pithle-Bhakari of Sinhagad. The tower of Doordarshan -Mumbai is also there on Sinhagad. This tower provides reception to Pune region. You can see the Panshet, Khadakwasla and Varasgaon dams and Torana fort also.

All in all, Sinhagad is an ideal destination for holidaying in Pune. It is one of the very few places in Pune from where you can have the most spectacular view of the entire Pune city. Just make for the trip once and experience the story of courage, heroism and adventure !

Further info -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhagad

Essel World - Welcome to India's Largest Amusement Park

2009-07-28T00:32:00.001-07:00

image source -http://www.esselworld.in

Essel World - The place to be ! For those of you who are unaware about Essel World, let me tell you that Essel World is one of the most popular amusement parks in India. It is located in Gorai, Mumbai, India. Spread over 64 acres (260,000 m2) of land, Essel World attracts over 10,000 visitors everyday. It is an ideal destination to have fun with your family and ofcourse.. friends. Essel World has 34 major rides not including the coin operated games and the rides involving water. Also, it actually consists of two parks - Essel World proper and Water Kingdom ( added in 1998). Essel World is considered to be India's first amusement park. It’s never-before seen attractions set amidst unique architecture with international standard amenities and hygiene; catapult Water Kingdom into a different league. It is the only, truly international water park experience in India. With an an turnover in crores, it is now being seen as a "huge success"

Fun never stops at Essel World. The major attractions at Essel World are:

Rides - Family Rides, Adult Rides, Children Rides
Ice Skating Rink
Bowling Alley
Dance Floor
FAB5Team

Plus there's lot more!

Come and experience a whole new world of excitement and fun.

Source - http://www.esselworld.in

The Gateway of India - The most famous monument in Mumbai

2009-07-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

Mumbai has many famous monuments. One such famous monument is - The Gateway of India The Gateway of India is located on the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, the Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 ft) high. In earlier times, the Gateway was the monument that visitors arriving by boat would have first seen in the city of Bombay.

The Gateway of India is a symbol of both Hinduism and Islam. This is evident from the architecture of the monument. Most of the architectural style has been derived from the Muslim architectural style. The design pillars have been taken from Hindu temples whereas the design of the gateway's window come from Muslim architectural style. Thus making it a symbol of unity among Hindus and Muslims.

A little about the history behind the Gateway of India - The foundation for Gateway of India was laid in the year 1911 and the whole structure got completed by the year 1924. It was designed and developed by a well know architect during that period named - George Wittet. The main idea behind creating this world class monument was to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, prior to the Delhi Durbar, in December 1911. And one more historical fact associated with it is - The last British troops to leave India, the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, passed through the Gateway in a ceremony on 28 February 1948.

The Gateway of India truly stands as a testimony to the imperial bygone era of the city. It is an architectural wonder in real sense, definitely worth visiting !

Hazi Ali Dargah | Hazi Ali Tomb | Hazi Ali Information | Hazi Ali Mumbai | Hazi Ali Dargah Mumbai | Hazi Ali Tomb Mumbai | Hazi Ali History

2009-07-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

In this post today, we will be seeing everything about Hazi Ali Dargah - One of the most popular religious places in Mumbai. One can visit many popular places in Mumbai but Hazi Ali stands out from the crowd as its the most sacred place in Mumbai.

Hazi Ali Dargah is located on an islet off the coast of Worli in Southern part of Mumbai. Lying as it does in the heart of the city, the dargah is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Mumbai. It is most likely for anyone to believe that Hazi Ali Dargah is the sacred place only for the muslims but its only a myth. The Hazi Ali Dargah is popular both among hindus and muslims. And surprisingly more among Hindus. It is extremely famous amongst the Hindu population in Mumbai, Maharashtra and South Gujarat.

To tell you more about the Dragah, this Hazi Ali Dargah was built in 1431 in memory of a Muslim preacher, Syed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. There are many legendary stories associated with it.

Two of the most popular stories associated with the making of Hazi Ali Dargah are :

It is believed that it is the tomb of Hazi Ali, a wealthy merchant who gave up worldly possessions and became a saint after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Also, it is believed that the tomb or dargah is actually the place where Hazi Ali died.
Another popular story associated with the Dargah is that while on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Hazi Ali got sick and he died. Before his death, Hazi Ali had directed his followers to cast his coffin into the Arabian Sea in case he dies. His followers did the same after his death. His casket was casted into the Arabian Sea. Drifting in the high seas for many days, the coffin finally came and rested on a tiny islet around half a kilometre in the bay off what is today known as Worli, south-central Mumbai. Taking that as some kind of divine sign, his followers buried the coffin on that islet. Gradually over the years, small additions were made to the shrine, which progressively became famous as the Haji Ali Dargah.

As many as 40,000 pilgrims visit the shrine on Thursdays and Fridays.

About the structure, The dargah is built on a tiny islet located 500 yards from the coast, in the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli. The islet is linked to the city precinct of Mahalakshmi by a narrow causeway. This causeway is not bound by railings, and is lashed by the sea during high-tide. Therefore, the dargah is accessible only during low tide. This 500-yard-walk on the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of a trip to the shrine.

The whitewashed structure occupies an area of 4,500 metres, and an 85 foot (26 m) tower is the architectural highlight of the edifice. The tomb within the mosque is covered by a brocaded red and green chaddar (tomb cover sheet). It is supported by an exquisite silver frame. The main hall has marble pillars embellished with coloured mirror work: blue, green, yellow chips. The ninety-nine names of Allah are also written on the pillars.

Hazi Azi Dargah is a must visit for anyone traveling to Mumbai. It is truly one of the most sacred places to visit in Mumbai and ofcourse, India.

Sources -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Ali_Dargah

Goa - The Holidaymaker's Paradise

2009-07-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

Goa is truly the holiday-maker's paradise. Undoubtedly, Goa is the best holidaying spot in India. Goa has everything to offer to its visitors. Breathtakingly beautiful blue beaches, sensuous silvery sands, fabulous flora and fauna, rich cultural heritage, captivating churches, and terrific temples, Goa has it all. The feasts and festivals of Goa are the other things not to be missed. The Indian state of Goa beckons you for the time of your life.

A diverse tourist locale, Gorgeous Goa is celebrated the world over for its laidback culture, sun kissed beaches, Gothic churches and rocking nightlife. What’s more, Gorgeous Goa’s exotic seafood will have you licking your fingers and asking for more. So come and sip a beer, enjoy bird watching, relax with a massage or indulge in water sports. At Gorgeous Goa travels, everyday is a holiday!

There are many places to be visited in Goa. Some of the most important places to be visited are -

Panaji

* Old district of Fontainhas
* Chapel of St Sebastian
* The Church of the Immaculate Conception
* Mandovi River

Old Goa

* Basilica of Bom Jesus
* Convent & Church of St Francis of Assisi
* Portuguese-Gothic Se Cathedral
* 'Golden Bell'
* Church of St Cajetan

Goa Beaches

* Anjuna Beach
* Baga Beach
* Benaulim Beach
* Bogmolo Beach
* Calangute Beach
* Cavelosim Beach
* Chapora Beach
* Colva Beach
* Dona Paula Beach
* Miramar Beach
* Pololem Beach
* Vagator Beach
* Varca Beach

Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary

Molem National Park

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Dudhsagar Waterfalls

Now, the most important question - How to reach Goa? You can easily travel to Goa via railways, airways and roadways.

By Rail

The Konkan Railway makes Goa easily accessible by rail from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Mangalore , Ernakulam and Thiruvanantapuram . The daily New Delhi (Nizamuddin) to Vasco-da-Gama Goa Express has been resumed. Goa is also linked to Bangalore, Chennai , Hyderabad and Pune via Londa.

By Air

Dabolim Airport, 30-km from the state capital Panaji, has coach services operating to and from the airport. All the major hotels also arrange transport for the guests. A prepaid taxi service is also available over here. All the major airline services have daily flights to Goa from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and twice a week from Chennai and Kochi. The International Service of airlines also connects Goa with Kuwait and Sharjah twice a week.

By Road

The Goan Transport Corporation, Kadamba, runs long-distance services throughout the state from their main stand at Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and destinations in the adjoining states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Private buses, serving everywhere else including the coastal resorts, are affordable, frequent, and more relaxed than many in India.

Sources -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa
http://www.goahub.com/

Shared Cabs Services | Shared Taxi Services | Pune-Mumbai Shared Taxi Services | Pune -Mumbai Shared Cabs Services

2009-07-07T04:54:00.000-07:00

For those who were looking for better alternative to book for eCabs services, there is one good news. eCabs will soon be launching its new service - Shared Cabs Services. As you can make out from the term, this service will enable fellow passengers to have a much better travel experience then before. This is so because previously, one had to book the whole cab to travel from one destination to another even if he/she was the lone passenger. That simply meant more cost and loads of inconvenience faced during travel.

So as to provide much better travel experience to our fellow travelers, eCabs is all set to debut its first of its kind"Shared Cabs Services". With eCabs shared cabs service, now people can easily travel from one destination to another without facing the inconveniences of booking the whole cab. With eCabs shared services, you can -

Travel Much Easier and Faster
Save Cost
Save Time

Some fast facts on Pune

2009-06-29T02:09:00.000-07:00

Pune is known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra.
Pune is known to have existed as a town since 937 AD.
Pune has more than a hundred educational institutes and nine universities, and has acquired a reputation as 'The Oxford of the East', with students from all over the world studying at the colleges of the University of Pune.
Pune has more schools, colleges and universities than any other city in the world.
Pune is the largest centre for Japanese learning in India.
ILS Law College, established by the Indian Law Society is one of the top ten law schools in India
Symbiosis International University, which operates 33 different colleges and institutions in the city, is one of India's largest private universities. The best institution within the Symbiosis Umbrella being SCMHRD (Symbiosis Center for Management and Human Resource Development) amongst others is ranked amongst the top management institutes in the country.
Pune is also referred to as The Detroit of India owing to the many manufacturing companies, particularly automobile giants, having their base within the city's metropolitan area.
Pune is the eighth largest city in India and second largest city in the state of Maharashtra
Pune is the administrative capital of Pune district and the 7th Metro city of India.
Pune International Airport shares its runways with the neighboring Indian Air Force base, the only one of its kind in the world.
Pune has given many famous artists to the traditional Indian music world. Well known names are great vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and in earlier generation to gifted Sitarist Pandit Chandrakant Sardeshmukh.

About Mumbai | Mumbai Information | Mumbai Facts | Mumbai India | Mumbai History |

2009-06-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

This post today is dedicated to the City of Dreams. Any guesses...? Well, its all about Mumbai today. We will be seeing some important information about Mumbai in this post. You will get to know much about this great city.

Mumbai, as we all know is the city of dreams for one and all here in India. Mumbai is located on the west coast of India. The city which is the financial capital of India was probably first recorded as the home of fisherfolk where a group of Buddhist monks established an outpost late during the Magadhan empire. The islands were tossed from one king to another emperor for two millenia, until the maritime trade empire of the British decided to develop the natural harbour into a city. In the four hundred years since then, the city has grown by a series of land reclamations which now link the original islands into one mass.

For the last hundred years, the city of Mumbai was called as Bombay. The name Bombay is believed to be derived from the phrase named "Bom Bahia" which is actually a Portuguese term meaning "good bay". In 1997, the name "Bombay" was changed and renamed to "Mumbai". It all happened by an act of the parliament in 1997. The reason for this change was that in two of the local languages, Marathi and Gujarati, the city has long been called Mumbai. It is believed that the name comes from the name of one of the old Koli goddesses, Mumba Devi, a temple to whom now stands in Bhuleshwar.

Mumbai has a population of over 15 million people and keeps on growing day by day. The core area called the "Island City" is known to be the most expensive real estates in all of India. And is one of the reasons why the city has grown far into the mainland both to the north and the east.

Mumbai is also known as the financial capital of India. The stock exchange of India is located here and also most large business houses have their corporate offices in this city. It is also the primary center for the arts and the entertainment industry. In India it is the city of gold, of dreams. Everyone comes here to make money, whether by selling chapatis on Chowpatti or stolen wallets and used dentures by the roadside. Whatever may be, Bombay does sleep at night, but usually rather late and very briefly.

Well, I hope you people came to know something about Mumbai. To tell you more, Mumbai has drawn global attention in recent times. And its just because it has rose as the hub of the Indian Film Industry. The Hindi Film Industry popularly known as the Bollywood is located here. Bollywood is the largest film producer in India and one of the largest in the world. The name is a portmanteau of Bombay (the former name for Mumbai) and Hollywood, the center of the American film industry. Lakhs of films are produced each year in the bollywood and with now global penetration, Bollywood seems to be rocking everywhere.

Some interesting facts on Mumbai -

Mumbai singlehandedly handles about 25% of the domestic and 38% of the international air passenger traffic in the country.
Mumbai's suburban rail systems carry a total of 2.2 billion passengers every year. Incidentally, the world's population is 6 billion.
Mumbai's literacy rate is 85.6% (female: 82.7%, male: 90%) compared with India's overall literacy of 65.4%.
Mumbai's per capita income is Rs 48,954. This is almost three times the national average!
At the end of financial year 2002-03, Mumbai paid Rs 28,000 crore in taxes, 35% of India's collection of Rs 82,000 crore!
The original Walkeshwar Temple was destroyed by the Portuguese, but was rebuilt by Rama Kamath in 1715.
Bombay University was founded in 1857 at the Town Hall, and was shifted to the new complex near Oval Maidan in 1874.
The Elphinstone College was originally built for the Government Central Press at a cost of Rs 7.5 lakh.
The city's first church - the St Thomas Cathedral - was built at Horniman Circle in 1718.
The first post office in Bombay was opened in 1832 at the residence of the junior magistrate of police at Byculla.
The Stearns & Kittredge company was given permission in 1874 to start Bombay's first tram service with a fleet of 900 horses.
The East India Company appointed Sir George Oxenden the first governor of Bombay in 1668.
Until 1864, the city's highest ranking police officer was called Police Chief. Post 1864, the title was changed to Police Commissioner.
The Hanging Gardens at Malabar Hill was built over three reservoirs which can store up to 300 lakh gallons of water.
The first inter-city railway was built between Bombay and Surat, and was completed in 1864.
The Great Indian Peninsular Railway laid the first rail tracks in India between Thane and Bombay.
It took 60 years to merge the seven islands of Bombay into one landmass between 1784 and 1845.
Bombay's highest population growth rate was between 1661 and 1675 when it rose six times from 10,000 to 60,000.
The 2nd governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier, was behind its development into a major centre of commerce.
The name Bombay was derived from Bom Bahia (The Good Bay), a name given by Portuguese sailor Francis Almeida, in 1508.
When a person travel towards Mumbai,one can see milestone stating Mumbai 35 Kms, but where is Mumbai Zero Kms, it is at Flora Fountain
The railway tracks of the Churchgate Station originally extended beyond Azad Maidan in the direction of Afghan Church, which was later changed to a tar road.
Former English cricket captain Douglas Jardine of Bodyline fame was born in Malabar Hill, Mumbai, in 1900.
India’s first cricket club, Orient, was founded in Bombay in 1848.
Mumbai orginally was a cluster of seven separate islands, and the southernmost island was called Old Woman’s Island.
Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling who wrote Kim and The Jungle Book was born in Mumbai.
There are 14 platforms inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, earlier called Victoria Terminus.
Mumbai’s first ever meteorological observatory was built in Colaba in 1826.
The wooden pole in the centre of the Banganga Tank in Mumbai signifies the centre of the earth. Legend has it that Lord Ram created the tank by piercing the earth with his arrow.
The Lumiere brothers introduced Motion Pictures to India with six soundless short films at Bombay’s Watson’s Hotel in 1896.
There is an original portrait of former US President Abraham Lincoln at the Prince of Wales Museum.
Lord Elphinstone performed the opening ceremony after railway tracks were laid between Bombay and Thane in 1853.
The railway line from Mumbai to Pune through Bhor Ghat was built by a woman named Alice Tredwell in 1863.
The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in Mumbai in 1942 from Gowalia Tank. It is now called August Kranti Maidan.
Mumbai industrialist Jamshetji Tata was the first Indian to own a car.

Resources -
http://blog.monsterindia.com/my/manojmehta78@gmail.com/Little-known-Facts-about-Mum-16699.html
http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/

Alibaug | Alibag | Alibaug Information | Alibag Information | Alibaug Travel | Alibag Travel | Alibaug Tourism | Alibag Tourism

2009-06-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

Moving ahead with our new post, today we will be featuring yet another great place to visit in and around Mumbai. And the place is Alibaug. Alibag or Alibaug is a coastal town and a municipal council in Raigad District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. It is headquarters of the Raigad district. The town and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterland of Bene Israeli Jews. There is a Synagogue in the "Israel Ali" area of the town.

Alibaug is a must visit place for nature lovers. Being located at the southern tip of Mumbai, Alibagh or Alibaug, is fringed with tall coconut trees and golden sandy beaches lapped by the ocean. Apart from the quaint village houses, it also has farm houses of Mumbai's affluent folk.

Nearly 300 years old, Alibaug was founded in the 17th century by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, a naval chief of Shivaji's kingdom. The Marathas made Alibagh a Taluka in 1852 and named it Shribag. Because Alibaug was not connected to the mainland by road at that time, the only way to get here was through the sea from Revas, Dharmtar or Mankule. However the construction of the Dharamtar Creek opened its doors to a wider public, connecting it to metros like Mumbai.

A weekend getaway and a popular business centre today, Alibaug is frequented by affluent Mumbaiites, mostly to enjoy the beauty of the sea. The town and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterland of the Bene Israeli Jews, who migrated to west Maharashtra in the 19th century from nearby Indian cities and parts of modern Pakistan.

The Kulaba Fort is the prime attraction of Alibaug. Encircled by the sea, it is best visited within an hour of the low tide and unless you leave before the high tide, you will be stranded there for the next 5-6 hours. The other places worth visiting here include Magnetic Observatory, Kanhoji Angre Samadhi, Vikram Vinakyak temple, various small churches and synagogues, and the tower of St. Barbara.

The sandy stretches of the nine beaches here are ideal for long walks and sunbathing. Some of the more popular beaches include Akshi, Revdanda, Kihim and Nandgaon. A little away from Alibaug is the Janjira Fort (about 4 km from Murud). Although in ruins now, it is interesting to know that there were people actually live in this fort till 1971.

Food is very local here with most of the restaurants serving 'thalis' with some lip smacking sea fish like pomphret and surmai.

The following are the main beaches in and around Alibag:

Alibag beach - This is the main beach of the town.
Varsoli Beach - Located about a mile from the main beach, home to a very large naval base.
Akshi Beach - It is situated 5 km away from Alibag.
Nagaon beach - It is situated about 7 km away from Alibag and is famous for coconuts and betel nuts.
Kihim Beach - Kihim is a secluded place at a distance of 12 km from Alibag. The Kihim beach is famous for dense cover of Coconut trees. It is also famous for woods which are home to rare butterflies, birds and flowers.
Awas - It is situated about 16 km away from Alibag.
Saswane - It is situated about 18 km away from Alibag.
Rewas - It is situated about 24 km away from Alibag.
Chaul Revdanda - It is situated about 17 km away from Alibag.
Mandawa - It is situated about 20 km north of Alibag. The catamaran/ferry services are available from Mumbai to the Mandawa jetty. Many Bollywood celebrities own bungalows here.
Kashid Beach - It is situated about 30 km away from Alibag, on the Alibag-Murud highway, also this beach is possibly one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the region with almost 'white' sand.

Other Attractions -

Kolaba (or Kulaba) fort (Not to be confused with Colaba in Mumbai) - Is situated in the sea at a distance of 1-2 km from the Alibag shores. During low tide one can walk to the fort.
Kanakeshwar temple - Is situated on a hill near Mapgaon village, about 12 km away from Alibag and falls on the way to Mandawa.
Tower of St. Barbara
Chaul - Is a historic town situated about 15 km away from Alibag. It is famous for its Portuguese ruins, an old church, a synagogue, Buddhist caves, the Hamam Khana and a temple.
Vikram Vinayak Temple or Birla Temple, Salav - Is situated about 20 km away from Alibag, on the way to Janjira.
Sagargarh
Kanhoji Angre Samadhi
Uma-Maheshwar temple
Balaji temple
Murud-Janjira - Janjira is the legendary fort situated not very far from Alibag.
Datta Mandir - Situated at bhowale, 2 km away from chaul.
Hingulja Mandir - Situated near datta mandir,historic temple built by pandwas.
Magnetic Observatory - Established in 1904 by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism.

Source -
http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/Alibaug-Overview.html

Nashik Travel | Nashik City | Nashik Places | Nashik Information

2009-06-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

We have seen in our previous posts that there are many places in Maharashtra that are worth visiting. Today in this post, I will let you know about another popular place - Nashik.

Nashik is one of the most rapidly developing places in Maharashtra. Being popularly known as the City of Grapes or the Wine Capital of India, Nashik is located at a close proximity to two major tourist destinations of India - Pune and Mumbai. Being close to both Mumbai and Pune and because of its pleasant climate, Nashik has brought horde of settlers from nearby towns and villages making it a realtor’s paradise.

Nashik's Picturesque Surroundings

The city is located on the banks of the holy River Godavari. The Deccan Peninsula on its Western edge marks a boundary for the city and the hills of Western ghats create a ring of protective hills around the city. The nine hills surrounding the city are Pathanpura, Jogwada, Pandav, Ganesh, Chitraganga, Durga, Dingerali, Konkani and Mahasarul. There are other peaks in the districts with names of Hindu Gods like Hanuman.

There are many man made lakes in Nasik, notably Wagad, Chanakapur, Gangapur and Darna lakes. These have been created by making dams across the two rivers flowing across Nashik. The Ramkund lake of the city has a pious and mythological relevance; it is believed that Lord Rama and bathed in the lake during his fourteen year exile.

Nashik's Natural Wealth

The district of Nashik with its geographical location and two major rivers, the Godavari and Girna flowing through it has a verdant ecosystem. The forests of Nashik are famous for the flora and fauna. The forests are abounding with teak and sisal trees. Apart from the wood there are numerous shrubs and herbs found in the area. The jungles also have many wild animals; wolves, hyenas, fox and gazelles are in plenty. The jungle trails are a paradise for ornithologists who have sighted rare species here.

Nashik's Climate

Nashik has a mild climate with plenty of sunshine all through the year. In summers May is the hottest month with maximum temperature reaching 100 degree Fahrenheit. The dry summer day, the heat is oppressive and not suited for any outdoor activity. Winters are generally mild with minimum temperature of 50 degree Fahrenheit in December, though sometimes the temperatures have dropped down to freezing point. The monsoon generally brings ample rains and the months of July – August are the hot and humid. The months of September to March are the best to visit Nashik and nearby areas.

Nashik's Economy

The agriculture was the main stay of Nashik and the city was fondly known as the backyard of Mumbai, supplying vegetables to the metropolis. Onions, pomegranate and grapes are the famous produce of Nashik and exported to the Middle East. The other crops grown are millet, rice, wheat and sugarcane. The advent of ITES and BPO in India has now entered the smaller cities. There are many IT industries in Nashik and generating employment for thousands.

The development is welcome but it is sad that the natural verdant forests have come under the axe of housing companies. Many new localities are being created to pander to the fancies of the growing upper middle class, who prefer holiday homes in natural surroundings. The effects of deforestation are already palpable; low and erratic rainfall, landslides, flash floods and rising temperatures. Hopefully the government will wake up sooner than later.

Source - http://www.nashik.net.in/

Shirdi Sai Mandir | Shirdi Sai Temple | Samadhi Mandir of Sai Baba | Travel to Shirdi

2009-06-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

In one of the previous posts, we have seen how Ecabs provided better services to those who wished to travel to Shirdi. Continuing with the same series, today in this post we will see more about Shirdi.

As most of you must have come to know that Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is one of the most spiritual places in India to visit to. So, to let you know more about the activities taking place at Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir, let us know about the various events taking place inside Shirdi temple from morning till night. Shirdi Sai Temple is a very busy place and this is the reason why -

From morning 5 a.m till 10.00 pm in the night, these events go on continously. It is one of the primary reasons why Shirdi Temple is so crowded and the most busiest temples here in India.

Shirdi Sai Mandir or say Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar here. However, according to the legends, Baba himself became Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The assembly hall also houses a showcase having various items used by the sage. The first floor of the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the Saint.

The temple opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with night prayers. Situated on the right side of the entrance of the Samadhi Mandir is Dwarkamai, a mosque. This was the place where the sage stayed until the end of his life. Main attraction of the site is the oil paintings of the sage.

The place from where Sai Baba first came to Shirdi in the form of a Bal Yogi (child ascetic) is known as Gurusthan. A temple has been constructed on this site. There is also a small shrine in Gurusthan.

At a short distance lies Baba's Chavadi. Baba used to sleep here every alternate day. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white chair belonging to him.

There is a cottage of Abdul Baba, an ardent devotee of Shri Sai Baba, in front of the Chavadi. Photos and various items that were handled by Sai Baba and Abdul Baba are there in the cottage. There is a Maruti Mandir located at some distance from the cottage of Abdul Baba. This mandir was visited by Baba for the sat-sang with Devidas, a Bal yogi, who lived at the Mandir ten to twelve years before Baba arrived.

There are also temples of village deities named Shani, Ganapati, and Shankar that are worth visiting.

At some distance from Gurusthan, there is the Lendi Baug. This garden was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It got its name from a nullah (a drain), which used to flow there. Baba used to come here every morning and afternoon and take rest under a neem tree. Baba dug a pit, 2 feet deep, under the neem tree and kept a deep (a lighting object) lit in that pit. An octagonal deepgriha (lighthouse) called Nanda Deep has been built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly burns in a glass box. On one side of the deepgriha is a pipal tree and on the other side is a neem tree.

Other sites to visit are Datta Mandir and Khandoba Mandir.

SITES NEARBY

Situated around 5 km from Shirdi is Sakori. The place is home to the Upasini Maharaj.
Shanisinghnapur is 70 km from Shirdi. A temple devoted to Shani is located here.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The most important festivals and events that are celebrated in Shirdi are Guru Poornima, Dussehra, and Ram Navami. These are the only days when the Samadhi Mandir of Shirdi opens for the whole night. Every Thursday, a palakhi bearing a photograph of the sage is taken out from the temple.

WHERE TO STAY

Shirdi has accommodation available to every income group, starting from budget to high-end. STD facilities are available in most of the hotels.

WHAT TO EAT

The administrative body of Shirdi temple runs a prasadalaya to provide lunch and dinner to the devotees. Nearly one thousand devotees can take Baba's prasad at the same time. The kitchen of the prasadalaya is equipped with modern cooking machineries and is free of pollution. Food-packets are available to the devotees from 8:00 in the morning to 12:00 noon. There is a canteen service available to the devotees day and night.

HOW TO REACH

Nearest airports are Mumbai (260 km), Pune (185 km), and Aurangabad (125 km). Flights for all the major cities in India and abroad can be taken from Mumbai. The nearest railway station is Manmad (60 km) on the Central Railway, which is connected to many parts of the country with express trains. Most of the trains touching Nasik Road railway station also touch Manmad. Shirdi has railway reservation office for trains from Manmad. Taxis and buses are easily available at Manmad railway station for transfer to Shirdi. Regular taxi service also operates between Manmad railway station and bus stand. State Transport Corporation and private operators run coaches to Shirdi from Mumbai.

Where is Shirdi and How to get there?

Shirdi is located approximately 296 Kilometers from Mumbai (Bombay) City in India. The nearest railway station is Kopargaon 15 kilometers on Manmad-Daund section of Central Railways.

To get to Shirdi from outside India:

First, you have to travel to India. (Check with the Office of Consulate General of India in your region for visa and travel requirements.). You could either go by Sea or by Air. Presuming that you want to go by Air, the first choice of landing airport should be Mumbai (Bombay) . Alternatively you could land in any other city which has an international airport. After reaching India, you have many options to travel to Shirdi.

To get to Shirdi from within India:

From Mumbai (Bombay):

a. You could take a Cab, hire a private taxi or drive. (If you are an international tourist you may want to check the requirements for Driver's license and road regulations with the Maharashtra State Road Transport department.)
b. You could take a Maharashtra State Transport Bus.
c. You could take a Bus operated by Private operators.
d. You could take a Central Railway train of the Indian Railways from Mumbai (Bombay) V.T. station to Manmade station and then take a bus to Shirdi. State transport buses are available from Manmad to Shirdi.
For Fares, Schedules and other details contact your local travel agent, the Government of India Tourism Office, the Maharashtra State Tourism Board Office, the Central Railway booking office or the Maharashtra State Transport booking office.

From any other City within India:

a. You could first go to Mumbai by train, bus or an airplane and then follow the steps listed above.
b. You could take a train from the city of origin to Manmad. Not all trains go directly from point to point. You have to check if the train goes directly to Manmad or if you have to break your journey and change over trains. From Manmad you have to take a bus or cab to Shirdi.
c. You could drive, hire a cab or private taxi to take you directly to Shirdi. (If you are an international tourist you may want to check the requirements for Driver's license and road regulations with the Maharashtra State Road Transport department.)

For Fares, Schedules and other details contact your local travel agent, the Government of India Tourism Office, the Maharashtra State Tourism Board Office, the Central Railway booking office or the Maharashtra State Transport booking office.

Please note:

Nearest airport is Aurangabad.
Nearest railhead is Kopargaon, 15 Kms. on the Manmad-Daund section of central Railway.
Mumbai-Shirdi,296 kms. (Mumbai-Nashik-Niphad-Yeola-Shirdi) Nashik-Shirdi 112 kms. Aurangabad-Shirdi 126 kms.(Aurangabad-Vaijapur Yeola-Kopargaon-Shirdi) Pune-Shirdi,183 kms. (Pune-Kalamba-sangmner-Talegaon-shirdi). State Transport buses ply regularly from Mumbai, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Pune and kopargaon. MTDC runs a bi-weekly round trip bus service to Shirdi form Mumbai

Khandala - Must visit hill station in Maharashtra

2009-06-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Been to Maharashtra but not been to Khandala, means you have been to nowhere. Yes, located in the lap of Sahyadri mountains, Khandala is one of the most popular hill stations of Maharashtra. It is just 5 km. away from Lonavala, which is another very popular weekend destinations in Maharashtra. Khandala is a popular weekend escape for residents of Mumbai and Pune. Pleasant weather throughout the year, beautiful vistas of the western ghats, ancient cavesto explore, and myriad streams and waterfalls, all add to its attractions. This hilly region offers ample opportunities for trekking, hiking and other outdoor activities.

If you are planning to visit Khandala, then you won't find any problems related to accomodation. Khandala has many hotels that are ideally placed in close proximity to the scenic places like Duke's nose or the deep valley that overlook the village settlement below. These hotels provide state of the art accommodation, a fine dining experience and a host of other facilities at a reasonable rate. Incase you budget is limited, you can then go for many low budget hotels that offers you simple but clean and spacious living quarters at a reasonable rate. And if you are looking to spend more then you also have provision for Luxury Hotels that provides you with state of the art conference facilities, exclusive eateries, coffee shops, a host of recreation facilities and most importantly customer centric services.

Altogether, Kahandala is a must visit hill stations in Maharashtra. Come, see and feel the nature in its purest form.

Mumbai - Pune Expressway Travel through Ecabs

2009-05-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

The Mumbai Pune Expressway (Marathi: मुंबई-पुणे द्रुतगती महामार्ग) is India's first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway. eCabs always travel to Mumbai by Expressway. Some unorganized car providers may take you via old Pune-Mumbai Highway to save costs. Please travel with eCabs to enjoy the best of Pune Mumbai and also the Hill station of Lonavala & Khandala. Pune Mumbai (Poona - Bombay) Cab service offer you best and fast service vaia Expressway.

It spans a distance of 93 km (58 miles) connecting Mumbai, the financial capital of India, and the neighboring city of Pune. It has introduced for India new paradigms of speed and safety in automobile transportation. The expressway has reduced the travel time between the cities of Mumbai and Pune to approximately two hours. For most practical purposes, it has replaced the older Mumbai-Pune National Highway (NH4), which had become extremely congested and accident-prone over time. The expressway starts at Kalamboli (near Panvel) and ends at Dehu Rd. (near Pune). It cleaves through the scenic sahyadri mountain ranges via passes and tunnels. It has five interchanges Kon (Shedung), Chowk, Khalapur, Kusgaon and Talegaon.

The expressway has two carriageways with three concrete lanes each separated by a central divider and a tarmac or concrete shoulder on either side. Vehicles with less than four-wheels and agricultural tractors are not permitted, although tractor-trailers (semi-trailer rigs are permitted).

The Expressway pass by beautiful hills of Lonavala & Khandala Hill Station. You can also stop and enjoy the greenery. Khandala is a famous destination for film shoots and holiday destination for both Pune 7 Mumbai residents. Its half way on the Express.

Services: Pune Mumbai Taxi, Radio Taxi, Poona - Bombay Taxi via Pune Mumbai Expressway. Lonavala & Khandala taxi service. if you are looking for services better then hertz, Avis, Budget then contact eCabs Today.

Lonavala - The most popular weekend destination from Mumbai and Pune

2009-05-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Lonavala is one of the most popular weekend destinations in Maharashtra. Being a popular hill station, it is located between Pune and Mumbai, in the lush green hills of the Sahyadris. Often termed as the jewel of Sahyadris, Lonavala is an ideal destination for tourists and locals alike. If you are planning to visit Pune or Mumbai then Lonavala is a must visit place. Lonavala is famous throughout India for the hard candy sweet known as chikki and is also a major stop on the rail line connecting Mumbai and Pune. For Mumbai suburbs local trains are available from Karjat It is also an important town on the Mumbai-Pune road link. Both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well as the Mumbai-Pune highway pass through Lonavla.

View Larger Map

Well, I've been to Lonavala quite a number of times. And I have to say that I had a great experience there. Lonavala is simply an awesome place. The best time to visit to Lonavla is during monsoon season as it is the only period when countryside turns lush green with waterfalls and ponds. Pristine woods and valleys, gushing waterfalls, historic caves and scenic vistas are some of the prime attraction of this place. Lonavala is also highly popular among celebrities and industrialists alike. And to add to it, Khandala, another popular tourist spot is just 5 k.m. away from it.

I will visit it again and again that is for sure. And I think everyone who is coming to Mumbai or Pune, must visit this scenic splendour once.