Bhushi Dam, The Busiest Place Near Pune - July 24, 2016

Bhushi Dam has become the busiest place near Pune during monsoons. And this is only from recent decade or so. The place is always in discussion for all the wrong reasons every year when monsoon visit this part of India - heavy rush, traffic jams, drunk public, accidents. It feels as if whole of Pune & Mumbai visit here as soon as it starts raining.

Earlier it was not so. I remember having gone here without any rush about 15-20 years ago. After that I was always terrified of visiting here in fear of getting stuck in traffic.

This year I thought of doing it in a unique way. We decided to leave early & return back before rush starts.

Bhushi Dam actually is one of the oldest dams of the region. It was built on Indrayani river during 1860 for Railways. It was used as a water source for Steam Engines. Even today it is owned by Indian Railways.

As the water level rise, there is a under-cut in the dam-wall. Water starts overflowing & falls over 15-20 steps constructed on other side of the wall. The view is awesome & all these people mentioned above die-hard to get drenched here & enjoy.

We started at 6.30 in the morning from Pune. We took the old Pune-Mumbai Highway. We directly headed towards our destination as we didn't want to lose the congestion free time. With heavy heart with DID NOT STOP at Hotel Ramakrishna. Ahead of Ramkrishna, there is a left turn which goes over the Railway Flyover into Lonavala town. From here Bhushi Dam is about 5 kms. We reached the parking at 8 am.



There is heavy loot by the locals here. Car parking is charged Rs. 100. Toilet & Changing Rooms are charged for Rs. 10. Onion Pakodas were for Rs. 50. And you don't have any option. However, one thing was noteworthy - toilets were really clean & were worth 10 Rs.

There is a brief walk of about 300 meters till the Dam Wall. Once at the steps, the enjoyment is extraordinary.

When we reached, already 150-200 people were playing on the steps. It means so many of them had planned like we did & reached here early. They were just getting drenched in the white, gushing water and taking selfies. The locals were selling Vada-Pavs & Corn over the steps. Over-all the environment was jolly & picnic-mood.

The water was crystal clear. We were able to see the bottom. Cleanilness around was so-so types. Mostly the tourists need to be blamed here.

We returned back by 9.15 am. By this time rush started to rise and we started our return journey. Now we could feel the traffic on opposite direction. Traffic Police were on job & they had started to regulate the traffic. At one point there were vehicle queued upto 500 meters. But this was for the on-coming lane. We were completely free.

We had a breakfast at Lonavala & reached back home by 12 noon. So, our plan was successfull. We didn't stuck into traffic anywhere; we got good car parking location; no hurdles in taking out the car; there was no mad rush anywhere; and more importantly, there were no drunkards; there were only family groups.

Pavana Dam - August 1, 2013

We had to undertake a vehicle trial of our upcoming model. We decided the Pavana Dam - Dudhivare Khind route; the kind of route we wanted - Highway, Cross-Country and Ghat Section, with lot many pot holes due to the rainy season. So this was our official trip at one of the many scenic drives near Pune.

We started off from our office in Pimpri at 10 am. We took the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway (NH-4).

There is a left turn at Kaamshet (after Talegaon) towards Kalewadi. After Kalewadi, the road is extremely scenic. On the left Pavana Dam Wall is visible as the road climbs a small ghat.

Pavana Dam - River flowing past the Dam

Pavana Dam - Wall & Catchment Area

With the backwaters on the left and the road twisting & turning through the ghat, the drive is awesome. And driving an SUV on this is like an icing on the cake.

We could see many waterfalls on the way. It was an official Test Drive, hence we couldn't stop at all of them; however, we still sneak through couple of them for a brief photography. Again being on official duty, we just photographed and had to resisit our temptation of taking a cool bath inside one of them...

Tunga Fort across the Pavana backwaters

From here, we took the Lonavala route through Dudhivare Khind. It is a small mountain pass on top of a hill with travel distance of just above 100 meters. However, the high walls of black rock on both sides with a very narrow road to pass was giving a very eerie feeling. Just a note, do not stop your vehicle in between; there are chances of land-slides (they are not fatal though). Park the vehicle before or after the pass and then walk in between.

Dhudivare Khinda

From here we went to Lonavala, had lunch in between and then reached our office in Pimpri.

Map:

Ghorawdeshwar - May 5, 2013

If you ask any fitness-freak from Pimpri-Chinchwad about the place he'll visit on a holiday, it is Ghorawdeshwar. A hillock situated right on Pune-Mumbai Old Highway (NH-4) just after Dehu Road.

We office colleagues visited this place one Sunday morning; the most exciting part is we went by a Local train; with Begdewadi Railway Station at a walking distance.

I was only one from Pune; 3 others were from Pimpri. I caught a 5.51 am Lonavala local from Shivajinagar. They joined me from Pimpri at 6.08 am. And we reached Begdewadi at 6.30 am.

We started walking towards the nearest hill that is seen towards the highway. There are two ways upwards - by steps or trekking through the hillock.

We took the trekking option. 1/2 hour later we were on the top. There are caves cut in the rock at two different locations one above other. These are believed to be during 3rd or 4th century, later taken up by a Shiva shrine.

Shiva Temple inside one of the caves

The view from top is spectacular with the NH-4 highway & the railway lines running parallel on one side while the Pune's own international cricket stadium on the other. Similarly the large statue of Birla Ganesh as well as the Prati-shirdi (Shirgaon) is also seen.

Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium - view from Ghorawdeshwar

We decided to return using the steps, 300 odd of them, some nicely constructed while some still broken. We rushed down and in 20-25 minutes we were back to the railway station. It was 8 am in the watch.

The Talegaon-Pune local was on time - 8.13 am at Begadewadi. My colleagues got down at Pimpri, while I reached Shivajinagar station at 8.45.

Local time-table here. Total expenses incurred, Rs. 20 only. Rs. 10 for 2-wheeler parking at Shivajinagar Station and Rs. 10 as a return ticket for Begadewadi.

Map:

Ashtavinayak - Ballaleshwar of Pali - December 16, 2012

We decided to visit temple of Ballaleshwar (बल्लाळेश्वर), Lord Ganesh, at Pali (पाली) - one of the Ashtavinayakas (अष्टविनायक).

We left Pune at 7.15 am and took the Sinhagad Road to pick my in-laws on the way. We went through the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway (NH-4) and reached Khopoli (खोपोली). By 9.15 am, we were eating Batata Wada Sambaar at Ramakant.

From Khopoli we took a road towards Pen (पेण). After 4 kms there comes an over-bridge above Pune-Mumbai Express Highway. After crossing this bridge, take immediate Left towards Pali and Wakan (वाकण). Straight goes to Pen and Alibaag (अलिबाग).

By 10.30 am we reached Pali. This was my second visit here after our Alibaag trip 2 years ago. There is a car parking just opposite the temple entrance. It is a paid parking with charges of Rs. 20 per hour. There is one more free parking behind this one.

The temple as well as the town is situated just by the side of a massive fort Sarasgad (सरसगड). River Aamba (आंबा) also flows nearby. Actually we crossed the bridge on that river on the way.

Sarasgad

This is the only Ganesh amongst Ashtavinayakas which is named after his devotee Ballal (बल्लाळ). The story goes that there was a Brahmin boy named Ballal who was engrossed in the devotion to Lord Ganesh. He use to take his friends (other village kids) also along for the Ganesh Pooja. Villagers disapproved this act. Once his father caned Ballal and tied him to a tree in the forest while he was performing his Pooja. He also damaged the Ganesh Idol & left, leaving Ballal to die in that forest. At that time, Lord, impressed by Ballal's devotion, himself appeared before him and granted him a wish. Ballal wished that the Lord to remain in that village permanently. Ganesha obliged by staying there by the name of Ballaleshwar (Ballal's Lord).

This story is written there in another small temple just prior to the main temple - Dhundi-Vinayak Temple (धुन्डी-विनायक). There is a board written there, that this temple is to be visited before entering the main temple. Dhundi-Vinayak is the idol which Ballal used to worship and his father had destroyed.

Main Temple is about 50 feet away from here, made of black stone. It is said that this stone construction was done during the time of Peshwas. Earlier it was a wooden structure. Even the insides of the temple show some wooden structure (pillars and beams). There is one stone crusher (जाते in Marathi) kept outside which was used during that period to crush limestone for construction.

Lord Ganesh is East facing with Diamonds in its both eyes and naval. Outside the Main Sanctorum there is a Secondary Sanctorum which houses a Mouse (vehicle of the Lord) with a laddoo in its hands. Opposite these two Sanctorums is the Principal Hall having pillars on both sides with a large bell tied on thick chains. It was gifted by Chimaji Appa (चिमाजी अप्पा) - Military Commander of Peshwes, younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa (बाजीराव पेशवा). He had looted it from one of the Churches after his win over the Portuguese. Outside is a water body equivalent to a small lake.

After a satisfying Darshan, we left for Unhere (उन्हेरे) - place famous for its Hot Water Springs. From Pali we went ahead towards Waakan road. About 2 kms from here after a bridge on a river (supposed to be Aamba again) is a Right turn (info boards are available). 1 km from here is this Scientific & Natural Attraction. There are two stone constructed water baths (कुंड) over the water springs. One among them is covered, reserved for women.

The specialty is that the water is noticeably hot in these Kund. The temperature, they say, is in between 40 to 60 degree Celsius. This is due to the high Sulphur content in the water and its reaction with water salts. You can smell a different Sulphurous odour when you go nearby.

It is said that this water possesses medicinal value for curing skin diseases and allergies.

Only problem is that the water is stagnant. It is not a flowing water. Everybody just enters inside this common bath. This actually should be prevented. People should take the water out using a bucket and they should bathe outside. We actually saw a person sitting by the side and cleaning his teeth.

So I would recommend just to see this unbelievable place, dip your feet and witness the hotness of water and return, considering the unhygienic conditions here. Actually, I would not say this to be a "must seen" place. In case you visit Pali or a place nearby, you can see this place as it is just 3 kms from Pali and the visit will not cost you more than 15 mins of your time.

There is one Vitthal-Rakhmabai temple also between those two Kunds.

From here we decided to return back to Pune. We took the same route back.

We took a lunch stop at Lonavala at Hotel Gurukripa. Nice food, cheap. From here we went to see the Celebrations Wax Museum. Though I had seen it in last March, my In-Laws hadn't. This time I counted the statues - 35 in numbers. It was a nice refreshing second visit, because they had changed the arrangements and some interior renovations are made. I got to know additional information - the statues of Living people are made by taking their measurements while those of people who have died are made using photographs only. Secondly, these statues are made of 6 parts which are disassembled for cleaning and the clothes are changed once a month.

From here we returned back to Pune at 5.00 pm.


Odometer readings:
00 kms         Narayan Peth, Pune
78 kms         Lonavala (via Sinhagad Road and Bangalore-Mumbai Bypass road and then the Old Mumbai Highway)

91 kms         Khopoli exit after Khandala on common Express Highway & Old Mumbai Highway

96 kms         Hotel Ramakant, Khopoli
99 kms         LH turn towards Pali and Waakan; straight will go to Pen
140 kms       Pali
143 kms       Unhere

Return journey
181 kms       RH turn towards Khopoli; LH will go to Pen
185 kms       Khopoli
203 kms       Lonavala
206 kms       Wax Museum
280 kms       Narayan Peth, Pune

Experiment with Star Trail Photography - @ Telbaila - November 25, 2012

Our senior photographer friend, Mr. Vivek Kale (we had visited Rajgad in September 2012), had organised a Star Trail Photography workshop. Location was Telbaila (तेल-बैला).

We started off from COEP, Shivajinagar at 12.15 pm. Vivek picked me up in his Santro. One more person Sandeep was also there. On the way we picked up Sam and Balasaheb.

We took the Old Pune-Mumbai Highway (NH-4). We reached Lonavala (लोणावळा). At Lonavla, we took left on a Railway Overbridge (the road that goes to Bhushi Dam and INS Shivaji).

The road goes by the dam wall (constructed on Lonavala Lake). A little ahead on the left one can see the board for parking for Bhushi (भुशी) Dam. Even ahead of that there is a Y-section. INS Shivaji is on right while the road uphill on the left goes to Sahara Amby-valley.

Cross the Tiger Hill (it is referred as Lion Point on Google Maps) a short distance from INS Shivaji. It is a good scenic view point. A photography pit-stop can be taken here to get freshen-up. After that, Fort Korigad or Koraigad (कोरिगड / कोराइगड) is seen on the left hand side.

Just after Korigad, a road turns towards right; straight road goes to Amby Valley. From here will start the real test for your vehicle. The road is extremely rough. Nothing to worry if you drive carefully. A village by the name Saalter (साल्तेर) passes by.

About 5 kms from here one can see the Tel-baila rock patch standing tall ahead.

We parked our car at the village. It was 4.30 pm. We set to explore the location in order capture some shots before the sun-set.

We had no plans to climb the hill. Our objective was to capture the Star Trail Photograpy at the backdrop of Tel-baila.

It is actually a hill till half-way. Similar to our Parvati (पर्वती) back in Pune, easier to reach. There is a small temple of Bhairavnath (भैरवनाथ) as well as a water cisterns. Presence of water may very well indicate that this cliff must have been used as a observation tower in the history.

But the real fun and adventure starts above that point. There are two large stone girders forming a rock patch; climbing which is not recommended for everybody. Should be done under supervision of expert trekkers, with proper equipment.

It seemed as if Two wafer biscuits are kept on a Cake

Star Trail Photography:
In short it is the capture of motion of stars using long exposures. Actually the result which comes is not due to motion of stars, but the motion of Earth. But since our camera moves with the Earth, it gives the effect of Stars motion.

Technically, one should be at a place away from city to avoid surrounding light (Light Pollution), mount the camera on a tripod, manual focus to infinity, use large apertures (low value) and very slow shutter-speed (large exposures) of about 30-40 minutes.

However, such large exposures have its own problems - sensor getting hot leading to noise problem and over-exposure.

To avoid this, there is another technique. About 60 to 80 continuous snaps are taken each with 30 secs exposure. These are then merged together using photo-editing software.

We identified our location for the experiment. By the time Sun went down, we set our cameras and waited for the stars to show up. Since I didn't had a tripod and a remote switch, I was observing others doing it.

Then we started the camera to take 80 snaps of 30 secs each. So there were these 40 minutes when we had nothing much to do. So we opened our tiffin boxes and had a quick dinner; occasionally trying to figure out whether there is any leopard nearby ...  ;-)

The best time for Star Trail Photography is that time of the Lunar Calender when the moon is neither bright (nights nearer to Full Moon - पोर्णिमा) nor it is totally absent (nights nearer to the New Moon - अमावस्या). Bright moon makes the Stars disappear because of its light, while its absence makes so many Stars available in the sky which results in a clustered photograph. The better time is during the eighth day of the Lunar Calender - अष्टमी.

We took the first click at 7.15 and the last one exactly 40 minutes.


From here we got back to our car. It was 8.00 pm. We decided to get near the Navra-Navri cha Dongar (नवरा-नवरी चा डोंगर) for one more attempt at Star Trail.

Navra-Navri cha Dongar actually is a twin hill side-by-side and hence referred so (Hill of Bride And Groom). It is also called as Taj-Mahal because of its resemblance when seen from a distance.

We reached the place by the name Bhamburde (भाम्बुर्डे) which is at base of "that" Taj-Mahal. It was 8.30 pm. We started one more Star Trail of 30 minutes. We were photographing with our tripods set in the middle of the road. With covered trees around, that time of the night was feeling as if it was already midnight. There must have been a temple around as the Bhajans and Aarti were heard.

Photo captured by me by putting the camera
on our car roof - Exposure of 30 secs

Star Trail - Photo captured by Mr. Vivek Kale

We wrapped our session by 9.15 pm and started for our return journey. We had planned to return via Tamhini-Mulshi (ताम्हिणी-मुळशी) route. We joined this route just before Niwe (नीवे) village, and reached Pune via Paud (पौड), Pirangut (पिरन्गुट) and Chandani Chowk (चांदणी चौक).

Odometer Readings:
00 kms         Narayan Peth
60 kms         Lonavala - take a LH turn towards Bhushi Dam and INS Shivaji
80 kms         Fort Koraigad
85 kms         Saalter village
91 kms         Tel-baila

Return journey
96 kms         "Y" section - take RH towards Tamhini; LH will go back to Lonavala

99 kms         Bhamburde - Navra Navri cha Dongar
126 kms       Mulshi-Tamhini Road - take LH here towards Pune - then comes Niwe village

176 kms       Paud - then comes Pirangut and Chandani Chowk
190 kms       Pune

Karla Caves clubbed with Wax Museum - March 18, 2012

We decided to plan out the “With Family” trip for the first time since we started our excursions in my new department. After various cancellations and rescheduling of venues, we planned for Karla Caves – just before Lonavala, about 55 kms from Pune.

This is one of the very sought after locations for people in and around Pune; however I missed to visit this place earlier.

Two families and a bachelor started off our journey on Sunday morning of March 18, 2012. I left my house in Pune at 6.30 am. We took the Pune-Mumbai (NH-4) Old Highway. I collected Bala on the way from Pimpri and reached Bhakti-Shakti (Nigdi) where Ashutosh was waiting with his family in his brand new Brilliant Blue colored Vista VX Quadrajet.

We cooched ahead at 7.15 am from Nigdi. At the Toll Booth after Dehu Road, we came to know that the Old Highway has been closed ahead due to an accident. A LPG Tanker had overturned and the Traffic Police were diverting the traffic from Express Highway to avoid any further mishaps due to LPG leakage. Now we had no option but to go via Expressway till Lonavala and come back to Malavli.

We had a sumptuous breakfast at Rama Krishna (at Lonavala). No trip to Lonavala is complete without a Chikki. Since we got a chance to visit Lonavala, we bought packets of Chikki as well.

We turned back on Old Highway towards Pune. I had heard that there is some Museum of Wax Statues made in the line of Madame Tussauds, London. We decided to take stop here.

It is made by one Mr. Sunil Kandalloor (a Keralite). It houses about 30 statues – Anna Hazare, Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Rajiv Gandhi, Satya Sai Baba, Sai Baba, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussain, Mata Amritanandamayee, A R Rahman, Kapil Dev, Jackie Shroff, Angelina Jolie, Hariharan – to name a few.

This is definitely worth a visit. We boast about Madame Tussauds every now and then. I see photos with the celebrity wax models taken by my friends whenever they visit those countries. Feels great that such a museum by an Indian is present within a quarter day visit from my City. (Coordinates: 18 45’ 33.86” N   73 26’ 13.44” E)

Entry fee is Rs. 100 for adults and Rs. 70 for children. No additional charges for photography; photographs can be taken without flash. Comes without saying, wax-models should not be touched.

However, there were some models which were nowhere near to the original – Angelina Jolie, Sai Baba. However, some others were to the point exact; like Anna Hazare, Saddam Hussain, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Mata Amritanandamayee. Just to mention, when I checked the actual photograph of Anna Hazare, with his wax-model, a small mark on left of his forehead was also seen on the model.

From here we moved towards our original destination – Karla Caves. Just after the Toll comes the village Malavli. This is the railway station prior to Lonavala while coming from Pune. Hence we can visit Karla Caves (and also Bhaje Caves on the opposite side) by coming from Pune by a Local Train.

About ½ a km inside the highway starts ascend for the hillock. There is a small parking area for buses and heavy vehicles. Since the road is extremely steep at the turns, its better to park heavy vehicles and take the rock cut steps. Small cars however can go till the mid-hill where there is another parking. There was high amount of loose gravel on the road. This was making this ascend even more difficult.

There is a suggestion, in case you are new to driving or do not have the confidence, either park the vehicle at the bottom and start walking or else start early so that you can climb the ascent before any traffic.

There are about 250 odd steps from this parking till the top. Steps are easy and there are various shops on both sides that sell pooja items, caps and toys apart from eating, drinking stalls.

At the top there are two main attractions – Temple of Goddess Ekvira and Buddhist rock-cut Caves. Coordinates: 18 46’ 54.08” N   73 28’ 10.24” E

Goddess Ekvira Temple with Caves at the backdrop

Goddess Ekvira is the main deity of the Koli Tribe of Maharashtra (the fisherman tribe). People from all across Maharashtra visit this place. Poeple from Mumbai do visit here on Sundays; and being a holiday can be crowded at times. Its better to start early so that one can reach the top before the Sun starts showering heat and complete the darshan of the deity before the rush.

After the darshan, we went to see the caves. Most important part is the Chaitya-griha (or Prayer Hall) which is just next to the temple.

There is a large pillar at the entrance on LH side. Above it are the 3 lions carved which resemble to our National Emblem. It seems that there should be one more pillar on the RH side; which seems to have damaged. Once inside, before the Chaitya-griha entry is an area where beautiful human carvings made on the walls on both side of door. Large elephants are seen carved on either side as if they emerging from the walls. Almost all of them are severely damaged. When observed closely, there is an opening seen for the tusk. I feel in those days, there must have been real Ivory Tusk fitted.

Large pillar with Lion carvings on the top

Magnanimous carvings at the entry of Chaitya-griha

Human figures carved at the entry of Chaitya-griha

Inside Chaiya-griha, there are about 12-14 pillars on both sides (with the carvings of four humans atop two sitting elephants at the top of each pillar) and a Stupa at the end-centre. The roof is full with wooden arches which give a excellent look to the whole structure. I read it on one site on the internet (link is given below) that its the only place in India where 2000 year old woodwork can be seen. Also, the play of light inside this room is beautiful. More pictures are below:

Chaitya-griha (Prayer Hall)

This Chaitya-griha is the Principle Cave with large area and lot of carvings (as it is in any of the Buddhist Caves). Then there are many Viharas (2 storied) or Monastery for the residence of Buddhist monks. Play of light and the view from here is also mesmerising.

More info of these caves here.

From here we started our return journey. While going back also the road was closed near Vadgaon due to that Tanker accident. We had to take the diversion again through Talegaon. By 2.45 pm we reached Pune.

The journey which was of about 110 kms and 5 hours max got stretched to 160 odd kms and 8 hours. However, this gave us the opportunity to visit the museum also, apart from our pre-planned destination.

Since we had to go through various diversions, I am not providing the Odometer readings in this travelogue as those will be irrelevant. The map below would be more useful.