… continued from “Maharashtra Trip – Part 1”
It took just half an hour to drive from Sanjay’s house to Shailesh’s house in Pune amidst the evening traffic. The plan was to leave early in the morning for our next destination. This time Shailesh’s parents were accompanying us to Prashant’s house. Shailesh & Kavita hosted us for a short & sweet period.
Day 5: Pune to Nashik
The 230 Kms journey started around 6:20 am. The early morning start helped us to get out of Pune City within half an hour. With a break in between for breakfast, we reached Prashant’s house by 10:15 am.
Reaching so early, we were waiting to welcome Prashant & Neeta to come back from their respective offices. Prashant turned up early & we immediately planned to visit a new vineyard nearby before lunch. We travelled some 12 Kms to reach Grape Berry Vineyards. The guy there explained the process of making wine & different types of it. Unfortunately, once again we were in the city of grapes at the wrong time. We decided that our next visit to the city would be in Jan-Mar to see grapes hanging in bunches.
The 230 Kms journey started around 6:20 am. The early morning start helped us to get out of Pune City within half an hour. With a break in between for breakfast, we reached Prashant’s house by 10:15 am.
Reaching so early, we were waiting to welcome Prashant & Neeta to come back from their respective offices. Prashant turned up early & we immediately planned to visit a new vineyard nearby before lunch. We travelled some 12 Kms to reach Grape Berry Vineyards. The guy there explained the process of making wine & different types of it. Unfortunately, once again we were in the city of grapes at the wrong time. We decided that our next visit to the city would be in Jan-Mar to see grapes hanging in bunches.
We returned home for lunch & rested for a couple of hours. Neeta joined us in the evening and then we left to Vijay’s house at Ojhar for dinner late in the evening. We enjoyed a traditional Satara Cuisine prepared by Nita. Vijay & Nita are Alpesh’s parents, whom we had transported to Satara in 9 Hrs. Aplesh managed to reach Nashik the previous night. We tried to leave early as Vijay & family were traveling the next morning to Vadodara.
Day 6: A drive through Pahine & later chill at the MTDC Boat Club
It was Dusshera morning and as the ladies were busy preparing for the festival, me & Prashant thought of going for an early morning drive. We started by 6:00 am & headed towards Trimbak. After the famous Amruttulya tea on the way, we drove along a place called Pahine. The surroundings were lush green after the recent rains. We drove around for 80+ Kms through the picturesque landscapes before reaching home in time for Pooja & of course, breakfast.
The Pooja was performed at home and ended with a Zoom Meeting among the family members across Nashik, Pune & Mumbai. We joined them as a part of extended family.
Meanwhile Hemant & family paid us a visit at Prashant’s house. Prashant, Hemant & me were part of the adventurous Bangalore-Leh Road trip back in 2017.
Relaxing after lunch, we decided to visit the Gangapur Dam & Boat house in the evening. We, a total of 18 members reached there just before sunset. We booked online for some boat rides as there was some discount. Luckily we had less crowd that day.
The elders enjoyed the lengthy Lake Safari that took them deep into the waters as they witnessed a beautiful sunset. The kids enjoyed the Banana ride and the Bumper ride.
Meanwhile Hemant & family paid us a visit at Prashant’s house. Prashant, Hemant & me were part of the adventurous Bangalore-Leh Road trip back in 2017.
Relaxing after lunch, we decided to visit the Gangapur Dam & Boat house in the evening. We, a total of 18 members reached there just before sunset. We booked online for some boat rides as there was some discount. Luckily we had less crowd that day.
The elders enjoyed the lengthy Lake Safari that took them deep into the waters as they witnessed a beautiful sunset. The kids enjoyed the Banana ride and the Bumper ride.
As my daughter (+ other 3) went on the Bumper ride, I mounted my action camera on her Life jacket. As the boatman saw the camera, he warned us that the Boat House will not take the responsibility of the camera. I ignored him but was really worried about the camera until she came back safely. The entire 3-minute ride & their screaming was beautifully captured. You can watch the full video here... MTDC Boat Club Bumper Ride. After watching the video, I felt that it was worth taking the risk.
We returned back for dinner after spending a lot of time there.
We returned back for dinner after spending a lot of time there.
Day 7: Visit to Saptashrungi
The previous day’s adventures made us relax a bit in the morning. However, we planned to visit a famous shrine, Shree Saptashrungi Niwasini Devi Temple that is 80 Kms away. We left home & Neeta after breakfast by 8:30 and managed to reach by 10:30. The landscape was awesome as we drove around & in the hills.
We took the Cable Car/Rope way to reach the temple. The vehicle was looking more like an extended bus, designed in stepped fashion. It took just a couple of minutes to reach the temple. We finished the darshan in no time & started shopping in the various colorful stalls there.
While returning back, we spent a lot of time capturing the beautiful landscapes, the best one being my BEAST resting in the backdrop of a grape plantation & a series of mountains.
Our photo-shoots made us reach home by 3 pm for lunch., that was followed by some rest. Later we showed the snaps & teased Neeta what she had missed because of her work.
The next place of visit is to our regular spot whenever we visit Nashik. It’s one of the India’s largest Vineyard, SULA, which is 25 Kms away. Quite a nice place to hang around. We reached there around 5:30 pm to see a lot of crowd as it was a weekend. We spent some time there clicking pictures and after watching the beautiful sunset we returned back home by 7 pm.
As our trip was coming to an end, we gave our sample for the RT-PCR test as negative report (even for fully vaccinated) was mandatory to enter Karnataka from Maharashtra.
Later in the evening, Hemant & Nilima hosted a dinner at their residence. All three families spent some quality time post a delicious meal and retired back to Prashant’s home later.
Day 8: Visit to Gondeshwar temple, Sinnar
The day started with the receipt of our negative RT-PCR report early in the morning itself.
It was Neeta’s turn today to keep us engaged as Prashant had some official commitment. Neeta took us for breakfast to the Grape Embassy. The place was nice with arrangement for seating under the grape plants but as it was off-season we couldn’t enjoy that. However, we enjoyed the Misal Pav & some jalebi. The place was not only for breakfast as we enjoyed the various activities present there. One highlight was the simple toy train made up of huge fibre cans pulled/powered by a small tractor.
Later in the evening, Hemant & Nilima hosted a dinner at their residence. All three families spent some quality time post a delicious meal and retired back to Prashant’s home later.
Day 8: Visit to Gondeshwar temple, Sinnar
The day started with the receipt of our negative RT-PCR report early in the morning itself.
It was Neeta’s turn today to keep us engaged as Prashant had some official commitment. Neeta took us for breakfast to the Grape Embassy. The place was nice with arrangement for seating under the grape plants but as it was off-season we couldn’t enjoy that. However, we enjoyed the Misal Pav & some jalebi. The place was not only for breakfast as we enjoyed the various activities present there. One highlight was the simple toy train made up of huge fibre cans pulled/powered by a small tractor.
We then traveled some 35 Kms to the 12th Century Gondeshwar temple. On reaching the temple, we could see the deserted surrounding that was not at all maintained. The approach road was also not proper. On entering the temple premises, there was an old beautiful temple whose architecture resembles that of temples in Odisha. Well, not going deep into the history, I enjoyed clicking some great shots of the temple, that’s when I came to know that pre-wedding shoots happen in that temple.
I would like to share an incident that happened in the temple. A family entered the temple & the holy shrine with their footwear ON and when my wife reminded them to remove their footwear, they said that they are LOCALs & know what to do in their place. No words to describe these type of people and can’t understand their logic. A kind request to fellow travellers (Locals or non-locals) is to follow & not hurt any of the state/language/religious/cultural sentiments.
After spending some time, we returned back home for lunch. Late in the evening, Vijay & Nita visited us to wish us a Happy Journey for the next day.
Day 9: Nashik to Bangalore
The 1075 Km journey started with a hot cup of tea by Neeta. We managed to leave home by 4:20 am. The target was to cross Pune before peak hour traffic. We crossed Pune by 7 am, well before our planned time. After driving some 300-odd Kms, we halted for breakfast by 8:30 am. Later we crossed the border where they were asking (not checking) for Negative RT-PCR report. We told them that we had & they just noted down our vehicle & mobile number. Inside Namma Karnataka, we managed to reach Hubli by 13:30 Hrs for lunch. Another 420 Kms to go and at the current rate we were supposed to reach home around 7 pm.
After spending some time, we returned back home for lunch. Late in the evening, Vijay & Nita visited us to wish us a Happy Journey for the next day.
Day 9: Nashik to Bangalore
The 1075 Km journey started with a hot cup of tea by Neeta. We managed to leave home by 4:20 am. The target was to cross Pune before peak hour traffic. We crossed Pune by 7 am, well before our planned time. After driving some 300-odd Kms, we halted for breakfast by 8:30 am. Later we crossed the border where they were asking (not checking) for Negative RT-PCR report. We told them that we had & they just noted down our vehicle & mobile number. Inside Namma Karnataka, we managed to reach Hubli by 13:30 Hrs for lunch. Another 420 Kms to go and at the current rate we were supposed to reach home around 7 pm.
Everything went on well as scripted as we completed 1005 Kms under 13.5 Hrs. After a tea break near Nijagal, we started by 6 pm not knowing that it was going to be the slowest part of our trip. The next 70 Kms took 3 Hrs due to the rains & traffic at the city’s entry. We reached home safely just before 9 pm after a break for dinner on the way. However, the first 1075 Kms in 16.5 Hrs was not a bad drive either.
To sum up, this Maharashtra trip went on well as planned to visit some new places, with some good old friends. The main highlight of the trip was the pleasure of driving on NH48, due to less traffic & good roads. I myself didn’t believe to cover the first 415 Kms in 4 Hrs & go on to reach 750 Kms in 9 Hrs with 3-4 breaks. The only thing I did was to maintain a consistent speed for hours together.
With the above driving scenario, we don’t have think twice to drive to Pune/ Nashik any time of the year, after all Pune & Nashik are home away from home.
Total Distance covered: 2480 Kms
Major Route: Bangalore – Satara – Mahabaleshwar – Pune – Nashik (& around) – Bangalore.
With the above driving scenario, we don’t have think twice to drive to Pune/ Nashik any time of the year, after all Pune & Nashik are home away from home.
Total Distance covered: 2480 Kms
Major Route: Bangalore – Satara – Mahabaleshwar – Pune – Nashik (& around) – Bangalore.
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