Weekend Escape :Bhuleshwar

That day I was reading about Pune and got a very interesting explanation of it. It says, Pune is a place where every hilltop needs to have something on it. Be it a fortress, a temple, a view point and if not anything atleast a TV antennae. I know this is completely out of context but just want it to be on my blog so here it is. Well coming back in context, after a long break I was on roads again this weekend.

To start with, I will confess that some weeks back, I didn’t even know of this place. Thanks to a friend of mine and facebook, the secret broke to me. After doing some google over Bhuleshwar, I found it a very interesting place to dump me this weekend.

Going out of box, a Saturday afternoon start (I usually like an early morning start), a 50KM ride on Solapur Rd. and then a right turn on country roads. You can see the temple from a distance as good as 2 KM. This temple is temple by no means.

The first site of the temple that catches you is an Islamic Architecture styled Tomb and you will forced to reconfirm if you are on the right way or not from a local. This Temple has been razed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in an attempt to mutilate Hindu art and restructured it with a mosque styled tomb. This suddenly took me back to my memories of Babri Masjid. You can find more symbol of destruction once inside the temple.

 In the meantime, as you close the place you will find it walls to be that of a fortress, again confused. Well actually, before being a temple this place was a fortress to pheshwas, east gate to Pune.

Finally when you are in the temple, you will be all taken by the iconic Dravidian styled rock curved sculpture.  The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Bhuleshwar in Marathi means “Lord to Seduction”, and you will agree to it by looking to these sculptures.

Though most of them have to destroyed or disfigured, it will take a very little of your imaginative power to appreciate the art, had that been untouched. One of the very unique and interesting sculpture was of Lord Ganesha in feminine posture. This for sure will be one of its types in the world. I spend good 30 min over here to decide if it was a mistake form artist or he meant something.

The place is very rarely visited, peaceful and scenic in its own. Even if a temple visit doesn’t excites you much, you can drop here to see the sunset. Open landscapes all around the hillock will surely put your thoughts churning and you will return back home satisfied.   

It’s already dark here and time to leave. Sign off!! J

Pawankhind :Water Soaked Trip

Well, I have been keeping the tradition and going to places for last couple of weekends. In the same series, me and a few of office friends went to Pavankhind Resorts to enjoy and relax. 

Now before I dive into the details of my trip here are a few facts. ‘Khind’ means a valley in Marathi. This valley has a historical significance, as Shivaji Maharaj escaped through this valley only after his 300 brave Maratha soldiers led by sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande laid down their lives so that Shivaji could get time to escape. As per the local folk lore, Despande fought so hard that his limbs continued to fight even after his head was severed from his body!! A bravery and commitment so hard to find in today’s times.

I began our journey early in the morning. The time when the night is at its darkest and the moon glow the brightest. But since we are professional, can’t afford of not being late. By the time we left Pune, sky was good soaked in a vivid array of yellow.

Once fed and watered our bus trudged on. Here I’d like to congratulate the excellent driving skills of Balaji. Full marks to him for his skills which I can only dream to emulate.

After a four and a half hour ride in our green chariots we reached our resort which was to be our abode for the next 2 days and a night. The place where Rohan would refine his star rating policy and award us stars for any work done for him!

Now something about the resort: This resort (Pavankhind resort) has all the amenities you can dream of in such a place. They have everything right upto a swimming pool, library and a table tennis table (jungle mein mangal).To add to it, they give you such personalized attention and service that you really miss them when you leave the place. Plus, the food there is simply awesome and instructions at each step detailed and to the point with a touch of humour. Also, one very important point to note is, this resort is perennially under the curtain of a drizzle which makes cool pleasant weather and mind blowing greenery omnipresent. A full evening swimming made it for the travel.

On this picture perfect location we had a sumptuous breakfast with a pre-recorded announcement chalking out our iternary for the day. The first was a sightseeing trip on the roof top of a jeep. The ride on the roof was again an amazing experience. Through dense forest and fog our jeep went on. Stopping at amazing sites where the pre-recorded announcement gave some brief info on the location. Each turn was more beautiful than the last and each tree greener than the previous one. All the while, a slight drizzle and cool wind was a continuous companion.

We even trekked downhill for a good 30-45 mins to enjoy the beauty on foot. Finally, after some more adventurous trekking we reached the base of a water fall. Boy! We had the time of our lives there. It was like the world’s largest shower with no end to water. And to add to the sense of adventure, there were leeches around to give us company. One managed to drink a lot of blood off me. But it was fun, the waterfall I mean. (Sadly no pics of the place as we were too busy enjoying than risking our cams there). When we were done bathing and felt cleaner than we ever had, up we trekked back to a waiting cup of hot tea and coffee. Even the rain Gods blessed us and halted the near incessant rain for a few minutes.

The journey up was made more adventurous courtesy to some of my wild fantasy which wish I could post and for the down, rains had its share of wildness. It started raining hippos and rhinos and I being in front had it all. It was a good lesson how a silent stream turns ghastly in just a 20 min rains here uphills.  

With all the trekking and bathing we were hungry as hell despite our heavy breakfasts. Off we were shepherded on top of the jeep to a waiting hot lunch. It was a meal fit for a king. I’ll just jot down a few items if not all... Roasted chicken, boiled corn, roasted potatoes, brinjal, capsicum & onions (a local delicacy), gulabjamuns, raita, dal, roti, vegetables, etc. etc… And to cap it all there was a bonfire lit where we could sit and dry ourselves!!

Once we were all dried and rested the jeep was ready to take us back to our resort where we would spend the night. But well, all is well that ends well. We reached back safe and sound, had a hot bath and spent the evening chatting and relaxing. Ah... Life….

And with a content smile and tired but happy legs we dozed off. That was how Day 1 went at Pavankhind Resorts. Well actually not, all the pokers in my room didn’t let me sleep till 2 am.

Day 2

Day 2 dawned on a lazy note. Had a late breakfast which comprised of hot poha, curd and misal. An ideal meal for the cool morning on the mountain. I’ll keep this short as we didn’t do much this day but see some fabulous sites. Here pictures speak more than words... :)

Read my other travel experiences like Dandeli Jungle Safari, Kundilika River-rafting, Bhimashankar Treking, Benaras:Journey Back into Ages,Konkan Railways