जुही चावला नी गायलेला मिया का मल्हार - ऐका

एक सफर सराफाची, इंदौर ची. बचेंगे तो और भी खायंगे.

ओ बॉगवाले भय्या, जन्माला यावे, मस्तपैकी मनसोक्त्त खावे, पण चवीचवीने, आस्वाद घेत, तबीयतनी, मग सराफात न जावुन कसे चालेल? इंदौरला यावे, रात्रीअपरात्री राजवाडयाजवळील सराफ्यात फेरफटका मारावा व तब्बेतीने एकसोएक बढीया पदार्थ खावे, वर मस्तपैकी रबडी, मालपुवे, खावुन शीकंजी रिचवावी, आयुष्य सार्थकी लागले म्हणायचे. वैशिष्ट म्हणजे खाण्याचा प्रत्येक पदार्थ सजधजके आपल्या पुढे नजाकतीने पेश केला जातो, त्यानेच मन कसे प्रसन्न होते.

इंदौरला छप्पन बझार तसा आमच्या घराजवळ. सर्वप्रथम विजय चाट हाउस मधे गरमागरम खोबरा कचौरी, पॅटिस, ते पण लाजबाब तिखटमिखट, गोड, चटण्यात डुंबलेले, हाणावे. वरती बटाट्याचे आवरण, आत मधे खुसखुशीत खोबऱ्याचे सारण, चोय. मग दोन पावले जरा चाललो की "मधुरम" हे सुप्रसिद्ध मिठाईचे दुकान लागते, तेथे मधे गुलकंद भरलेली काजुकतरी मिळते तीचा आस्वाद घ्यावा, जवळील ओम के नमकीन मधे जावे, नमकीन चे शेकडो प्रकार बघुन पागल व्हावे, नमकीन हाणत घरी परतावे हा एक दिनक्रम. मग कधीतरी उपवासाच्या दिवशी कोठारी मार्केट समोर फरीयाली साबुदाणा खिचडी खायला जावी. आपण खातो ती साबुदाणा खिचडी एकदम सपक. रसहीन. रंगहीन. खिचडीवर साध्या, तिखट बटाटा वेफर्सचा, सळी, जाळी वेफर्सचा चुरा पेरावा, लालचुटुक डाळीबाचे दाणे, तिखटमाखट शेंगदाणे पेरावेत, रंगांची उधळाण जराशी वाढावी म्हणुन बारीक चीरलेली कोथींबीर पेरावी, मग मसाला भुरभरावा, खावी पण वेफर्सच्या साहाय्याने. मग समोरील स्टॉलवर फ्रुटचाट खावा, ब्रम्हानंदी टाळी.

पण ही म्हणजे एक रंगीत तालीम. सराफ्याची चव घेण्याआधीची. सावधान. सराफात प्रवेश करताना काळजी घ्यावी. सकाळी आहार माफक असावा, पोट पुरते रिकामे असावे, मुखवास, पाचकचुर्ण, हिंगगोली, जीरागोळी, आल्याचा रस, वेळप्रसंगी जेलुसील वगैरे तयार असावे, अती खाण्याने त्रास होवु शकतो, पण तो वेळोप्रसंगी सहन करण्याची तयारी ठेवावी, सकाळी बायकोला घेवुन सराफा मधे गेलो कि दागदागिन्याच्या मोहापायी खुप खर्च होण्याची शक्यता असते.

रात्री सराफातील सोन्याची दुकाने बंद झाली की मग त्याचे रुप पालटू लागते. हलवाई आपले थाळे घेवुन रस्तावर प्रगट होवु लागतात. जातीच्या खव्वयांची वर्दळ वाढू लागते, रात्र उत्तरोत्तर रंगु लागते. थाळ्यांवर, कलथे आपटल्यावर त्यातुन निर्माण होणारा मधुर नाद कानी पडाता, भुक प्रज्वलीत होवु लागते.

सराफाची प्रवेशाची सुरवातच मोठी लज्जतदार असत, दोन्ही अंगाला खुप चांगली दुकाने आहेत. उजवीकडील विजय चाट हाउस मधे प्रथम गरमागरम खोबरा पॅटीस, कचौरी (चटणी मारके) खावेत, पॅटीसची चव चटणीमुळे वाढते की चटणीची चव कचौरी मुळे, या वादात जास्त लक्ष न घालता, बाजुलाच फळांचे रस व आईस्क्रीम चे दुकान आहे, त्यात तहान भागवण्यापुरते रस पियावा, डाव्या बाजुला मग गरमागरम भल्यामोठाल्या कढईतील गुलाबजामुन मोहवीत असतात. पण ते जास्त हादडुन चालण्यासारखे नसते, कोणा लेकाला पहिल्याच फेरीत गारद होण्याची इच्छा असते? वरती परत मालपुवे ने नॉक आऊट होवुन सुद्ध्या चालणार नसते. बचेंगे तो और भी खायंगे.

मग आत शिरले की डाव्या हाताला लागते ते दुकान ज्यात, जगप्रसिद्ध, सुविख्यात " जोशी के दहिबडे " मिळतात, काठोकाठ दह्याने भरलेला द्रोण त्यातले ते वडे, हा द्रोण भरताभरता दुकानदार हवेत उंच कसा उडवतो ते न्हाहाळत मटवावेत. होशीयार , खबरदार, अजुन तळलेले गराडु, वर लिंबु पिळुन, मसाला भीरभीरुन, सादर केलेले चाखायचे आहेत. जर "भुट्टे का कीस" नजर अंदाज झालाच तर या चुकीस क्षमा नाही. आपल्याला रताळाचा कीस, बटाट्याचा कीस खाल्यामुळे माहीती आहे, पण मक्याच्या दाण्याचा हा आपल्या पुढे नजाकतीने, आब राखुन, थाटात पेश केलेला हा भुट्टे का कीस , आपणच संस्थानीक असल्याचे जाणवुन देतो.

आता गोड जास्त झाल्यावर या वर उतारा म्हणुन मग तिखटाला छोलेपॅटिस, आलु तिक्कीया बरे शोभतात. मग गव्हर्नरची गाडी साठी रस्ता मोकळा करायलाच हवा, अरे जिलेबीवाले भय्या, एक किलो जिलेबी खिलाईये. मग आपल्या समोर हलवाईजी जिलेबी करायला घेणार. आपल्या कडॆ मिळतात तश्या लहान लहान आकाराच्या नव्हे तर एकच भली मोठी. जी खायला काळीज ही सिंहाचे लागते. आपल्या कडच्या चार-पाच जिलेबी जरी खाल्या ना तर त्या केवळ दातामधल्या कॅवेटीतच जातात, पोटात जाणे दुरच. वर एक ग्लास गरमागरम दुध, तबियत खुश झाली पाहिजे.

हे सारे खावुन झाले की अखेर भैरवी, शिकंजी किंवा रबडी शिवाय सुटका नाही.

हे सारे पचायला मदत हवीच. मुखवास, जीरागोळ्या चघळत तबीयतशीर घरी परतावे.

मग कधीतरी रात्री काचमंदीर समोरील उपहारगृहात जावे. किंवा सराफामधील राजहंसमधे, तेथे डालबाफले मिळतात ते भरपुर किलोकिलोनी तुप घालुन खावे.

दुसऱ्या दिवशी सकाळी उठावे ते केवळ राजवाडयाजवळ पोहे खाण्यासाठी व पलाशिया तील अगरवाल या मिठाईच्या दुकानात किंवा छावणी मधील मथुरावाला मधे मिठाई खाण्यासाठीच.

मन तॄप्त, चीत्ती समाधान.

कुर्ग, बांदीपुर, मधुमलाई, मसीनागुडी, कुन्नुर

कुर्ग हे लहानसेच हिल स्टेशन आहे, या परीसरात "होम स्टे" या पर्यटन खात्याच्या योजनेप्रमाणे रहायला उत्तम बंगले मिळतात.

खुद्द मडीकेरीत फारसे पहाण्यासारखे जास्त काही नाही, येथे गरम मसाल्याचे पदार्थ, कॉफी, मध मस्त मिळतात. वाटेत जातायेताना लागणारी अमाप निसर्गसंपदा पहाण्याजोगी, येथुन जवळच तलकावेरी येथे कावेरी नदीचा उगम आहे, पण वेळे अभावी तेथे जाण्याचे टाळाले. आडवाटकरुन नागरहोळे या अभयारण्यात ही जाणे जमले नाही. काबीनी नदी काठी असलेले हे अभयारण्य मस्त आहे. पण आमचे ते पहायचे राहुनच गेले. परत केव्हातरी.

आजचा पल्ला लांबचा होतो. मडीकेरी ते कुन्नुर - या साठी परत म्हैसुरला यावे लागले, आमचा प्रवासाचा मार्ग चांगलाच चुकला, आम्ही उलट्या मार्गे सुरु केला, मडीकेरीला शेवटी येवुन मंगळुर मार्गे परतायला हवे होते. पैश्याअभावी धडक नियोजन केलेले नव्हते. परत म्हैसुरला परतलो, चामुंडादेवीचे दर्शन घ्यायचे राहीले होते , ते गर्दी, रेटारेटीत, घेवुन झाले. आपल्या सर्वच देवस्थानात हीच परीस्थीती का असते ?

आता वेध लागले होते ते बांदीपुर अभयारण्यावे, कसले भरगच्च जंगल या परीसरात आहे, आम्ही या परीसरच्या प्रेमात पडलो आहोत. येथे पर्यटन खात्याचे निवास ही मस्तच आहे, भर जंगलात, अशी ठिकाणे आयुष्यात एकदा जावुन पुरत नाहीत, परत तेथे जावेसे वाटते. या भर जंगलात आम्ही रहायला हवे होते. पर्यटन निवासाजवळ गाडी थांबवली, आता अभयारण्यात पर्यटनखात्याच्या बसने, गाडीने, किंवा हत्तीवरुन फेरफटका मारायचा होतो. सहज आजुबाजुला पाहिले एका हरीणाने दर्शन दिले, हळुहळु नजर विस्तारत गेली तशी हरीणांचे कळपच्या कळप दॄष्टिस पडु लागले, रात्री हजारो हरणे या निवासात मुक्कामाला येतात म्हणे. मग बस मधुन अभयारण्यात प्रवेश केला, पहील्या गजराजाचे दर्शन झाले, मग दुसऱ्या, मग तिसऱ्या, मग चौथ्या, किती हत्ती पाहु नी किती नाही, सोबतीला वानरे होतीच, रानडुक्करे, हरणे, बहार आली. खर म्हणजे अभयारण्य बस मधुन भटकण्याची ही पद्धत खरी नव्हे, पण शेवटी ! येथे दोन-चार दिवस रहायला हवे, निसर्गाशी समसस होत, चवीचवीने त्याचा आस्वाद घेयला हवा. निघण्याचे मन करीत नव्हते, पण रात्र पडायच्या आत कुन्नुर गाठायचे होते. मधे मधुमलाईच्या अभयारण्यात ही फेरफटका मारायचा होता.

हा संपुर्ण रस्ता मस्तच आहे, कधीही संपु नये, वाटेत येवढे मोर पाहिले की बस्स. परत वाटेतल्या मधुमलाईच्या अभयारण्यात बस नी फेरफटका मारला, जवळच्या हत्तीशाळेत जावुन आलो. किती रम्य संध्याकाळ होती ती. अश्या वेळा खुप थोडयाच वेळा आपल्या नशिबी का येतात ?

आमची गाडी आता मुख्य रस्ता सोडुन उजवी कडे वळली, हा एक नवीन रस्ता झाला आहे. वाटते एक छानसे गाव लागले. "मसीनागुडी". अरे. हे नाव परीचीत वाटते ? कस काय बर ? हा ! आपल्या पुण्याचे श्री कॄष्णमेघ कुंटे हे या गावात रानकुत्रांच्या विष्टेतील पॅरासाईटस वर संशोधन करण्यासाठी राहीले होते. त्यांनी यावर "एका रानवेडयाची शोधयात्रा" हे अप्रतीम पुस्तक लिहीले आहे. त्यात त्यांनी केवळ पैश्यासाठी लालची हैवान टस्करच्या (मोठा सुळेवाला हत्ती) होणाऱ्या कत्तली बद्दल जे काही लिहीले आहे ते वाचुन मन सुन्न होते. श्री. कुंटेच्या प्राध्यापकांनीही (बहुधा प्रा. आपटे, नाव बरोबर आठवत नाही ) या परीसराविषयी चांगले पुस्तक लिहीले आहे. या गावात दाट जंगलात अनेक रिसॉट्स आहेत. संध्याकाळी हा रस्ता वाहनांना बंद होते,

रमतगमत केलेल्या या प्रवासामुळे फार उशीर झाला होता, रात्र जंगलातच सुरु झाली होती, मग ऊटीलाच रहायचे ठरवले. अती पर्यटकांमुळे अती लाडावलेले हे गाव आहे. आम्ही बेमौसमी गेल्या मुळे तसे रिकामेच होते. आम्हाला कुन्नुरला जायचे होते, जुन्या स्मॄती उजाळण्यासाठी.

माझे वडिल एका फॉरेन बॅंकेत कामाला होते तेव्हा त्यांना रहाण्यासाठी बंगले मिळत, कुन्नुरला चहाच्या मळातच फार अलिशान बंगल्यात आम्ही पुर्वी राहीलो होतो. मग आम्ही कुन्नुरला गेलो, सिम्स पार्क मधे भटकलो, संध्याकाळी परत उटी ला परतुन मुक्कामाला म्हैसुरला आलो. हे शहर चवीचवीने पहायचे राहीले होते, येथली बाजारपेठ पालती घालायची होती, गुरु मधे म्हैसुरपाक ही खायचा राहीला होता, ते सारे पुरे केले व धरली वाट रहाटगाडग्याची.

म्हैसुर, मडीकेरी, दुबारे कॅप

दरवर्षी एक लांबची सफर करणे हा आमचा शिरस्ता. आमचे आम्हीच. जेव्हा लोक विचारतात कोणाबरोबर जाणार तेव्हा मला त्यांची कीव येते. आपलेआपण प्रवास करु शकतो हे ते विसरुनच गेले आहेत. ट्रेनची टिकिटे कोण काढत बसणार ? परक्या शहरात रहायला हॉटेल कोठे शोधणार, आपल्यासारखे जेवण मिळणार नाही, एक ना अनेक अडचणी.
टॅव्हल कंपन्यांबरोबर जाणे आम्ही नेहमीच टाळले. एकतर त्याच्या प्रत्येक माणसी असलेल्या दरात आम्हा तीन जणांची भ्रमंती होते म्हणुन व स्वतंत्र गेलो की आपण आपले राजे असतो, कसेही कोठेही मनमुराद भटका, ठिकाण आवडले तर एखादा दिवस जास्त रहा, नाहीच आवडले तर चालु पडा. जे वहान मिळेल ते घेवुन आपल्या मार्गावर पुढे सरकत रहा, लांबची दिशा आधी पकडा मग मागे सरकत या, शक्यतो जेवणाचा जास्त बावु करु नये, स्थानीक खाद्यपदार्थ खाण्यावर आमचा भर असतो. वेळ प्रसंगी काहीच खायला मिळाले नाही तर फळे, केळी खावुन राहीलेलो आहोत.
जाण्याआधी मात्र त्या प्रदेशांची सर्व माहीती आम्ही करुन घेतो, म्हणजे त्याच्याशी मानसीकद्रुष्ट्या समरस व्हायला होते व प्रवासाची रंगत वाढते. आतातर अनेक उत्तम पुस्तके उपलब्ध आहेत, इंटरनेट च्या माध्यमातुन घरबसल्या संपुर्ण माहीती मिळते, पुर्वी फार तुटपुंजी माहीती मिळायची. आपल्या पर्यटक कचेरींवर अवलंबुन रहायला लागायचे, तेथेही काय मिळायचे तर छापील पाने आणि अज्ञान.
बंगळुर व म्हैसुरला मी लग्नाआधी तीनदा जावुन आलेलो, पण जोडीने जाणे जमत नव्हते , अनेक वेळा या शहरांनी आम्हाला हुलकवण्या दिल्या. दोनदा कुन्नुरला आम्ही गेलो असताना पण कोईम्बतुर मार्गे व एकदा चेन्नई मार्गे परतावे लागले होते. छोकरा एसीसी पास झाला तेव्हा त्याला घेवुन या परीसरात भ्रमंती करायचे ठरवले. खरतर खुप फिरायचे होते ,पण दामाजीपंतांनी घोडा अडविला होता. दोन दिवस बंगळुर व दोन दिवस म्हैसुर पाहुन परतायचे बस्स येवढाच बेत होता. पण नियतीच्या मनात ते नव्हते.
एकतर माझे चिरंजीव शहरात यायला व रहायला तयार नव्हते. कसाबसा त्याला तयार केला. माझ्या बंगळुरमधल्या सहकाऱ्यानी जे हॉटेल रहाण्यासाठी सुचवले होते त्यात न रहाता मी कामत यात्री निवास मधे राहीलो. माझी निवड चुकली होती. एकतर ते उगाचच महागडे होते व त्याला आता अवकळा येत चाललेली आहे. प्रथम घासे मक्षीःकाप्रात (?). प्रथमभेटीत त्या दोघांनाही हे शहर फारसे भावले नाही, मलाही पहील्या दिवशी दाक्षिण्यात्य पदार्थांची मनोजोगती चव चाखायला मिळाली नाही, नाराज मनाने पहाटेच आम्ही म्हैसुरला प्रस्थान केले. प्रवासाची सुरवात झकास झाली. काय तो त्यांचा बस अड्डा नाहीतर आपल्या कडची बस स्थानके. लाज वाटते, या दोन शहरा दरम्यान सर्वोत्तम वोल्वो बससेवा आहे. दर फक्त रु. १३५.००
पैसे वाचवायचे करुन आधी पर्यटन खात्याच्या हॉटेलात गेलो. वाडा चिरेबंदी, ढासळत चाललेला. तडक सामान उचलले व हॉटेल सिद्धार्थ वर धडकलो. पुर्वी या मधे मी राहीलो असल्या मुळे हे माझा माहीतीतले होते. मस्त हॉटेल आहे, परीसरही सुंदर आहे. व उपहारगॄह तर सर्वोत्तम आहे. मस्त बागा, उद्याने, हे शहर मला खुप आवडते.
सायंकाळी वॄंदावन गार्डन पहायला निघालो, म्हटले बाहेरुन टॅक्सी करु, हॉटेलच्या ट्रॅवलडेस्क वर महाग मिळेल. पण ते काही जमले नाही, मग हॉटेलच्या ट्रॅवलडेस्क वरुन गाडी केली. आमचा "कांता", गाडीचा सारथी खुप कुशल होता, गाडी चालवण्यात व बोलण्यातही, हळुहळु आम्ही वहावत गेलो, गुंगत गेले, मन चलबिचल होत गेले,
रम्य सायंकाळ, मी, बायको आणि कुलदिपक, वॄंदावन गार्डन, मदहोशी वातावरण, कारंजे, दुसऱ्या दिवशीचे बेत ठरु लागले. त्यांनी मला पटवलेच, उटीला जाण्यास राजी केलेच. अतीपरीचयाने मला परत तेथे जायचे नव्हते, पण शेवटी मान तुकवावी लागली. आता पुढे पैश्याचा विचार करायचा नाही, घरी परत गेलो की कुठुनतरी पैसे उभे करु असे मनाशी योजले. परतल्यावर दोन दिवसासाठी गाडी ठरवली, वाटेत मधुमलई, व बांदीपुर करत उटिला जाण्यासाठी.
खर म्हणजे गेले अनेक वर्षे मी कारवार, शिरशी, दांडेली अभयारण्य, मुरडेश्वर, मंगळुर, उडिपी, गोकर्ण, व मडीकेरी या प्रदेशात जाण्यासाठी तडफडतो आहे. पण जाणे होत नाही. दुसऱ्या दिवशी पहाटे अचानक चार वाजता जाग आली मनात विचार आला , अरे आपण मडीकेरीच्या येवढ्या जवळ आहोत तर जावु का नये ? दिवस व पैसे वाढतील खरे पण आता त्याची पर्वा कुणाला ? बायको माझीच, अश्या बेताला तीचा होकार एका पायावर असतो, निघालो, सोबत कांता व इंडिका गाडी. ठरवुन केलेल्या गाडीने फिरण्यासारखे सुख नाही. प्रथमच मला जाणवले, त्यात कांता सारखा सदैव तत्पर असलेला सारथी. त्याला सांगीतले बाबारे आता पुढचे चार दिवस तु आम्हाला नेशीले तेथे आम्ही येणार.
हॉटेल सिद्धार्थ मधे चवदार डोसे रिचवले व निघालो, आधी राजवाडा बघीतला मग लागलो मडिकेरीच्या रस्ताला. किती सुंदर असावे एखाद्या प्रदेशाने. या रस्तावरुन प्रवास करताना बहार आली. मस्तपैकी जंगलच जंगल या साऱ्या परीसरात आहे.
या रस्तावर एक खुप मोठी तिबेटी लोकांची वसाहत आहे, त्यात त्यांच्या मॉनेस्टीज पहायला आम्हाला कांता घेवुन गेला. यात एका प्रशस्त हॉल मधे देखण्या व भव्य मुर्त्या आहेत. सारा परीसरही खुप छान आहे. पुढे गेल्यानंतर वाटेतच मधे आमवी गाडी मधेच आडवळणावर वळली. एका जंगलात आम्ही शिरलो. ती जागा होती दुबारे येथील जंगली हत्तींना माणसाळावयचा कॅप. संध्याकाळची वेळ, वाटेतली नदी ओलांडुन पलीकडे छोट्याशाच लॉंचनी गेलो, हत्तींची जेवणाची वेळ होत होती, हळुहळु एकेक हत्तींना घेवुन त्यांचे माहुत नदीवर येत होते, जवळपास हत्ती फिरताहेत, नदीत हत्ती पोहत आहेत, जवळपास, अगदी नजदिक, जंगलात हत्तीच हत्ती, आमची उत्तेजकता फारच वाढली होती. हे सारे पहाण्याची संधी आम्हाला कांतामुळे मिळाली. हे खुप रम्य ठिकाण आहे, नदी किनारी रहाण्यासाठी खुप चांगले हॉटेलही आहे. जवळपासच्या गावात रहाण्यासाठी घरेही मिळतात, येथे आम्ही रहायला हवे होते. पाय निघवत नव्हता. पण मुक्कामाला जायचे होते ते कुर्ग ला.
लहानसेच हे हिल स्टेशन आहे, या बद्द्ल मी खुप वाचले होते, येथील लढवय्ये कुर्गी लोक, मेजरजनरल करीअप्पा, येथील कॉफीचे मळे, निसर्गसौन्दर्य. कांतानी आमच्या मुक्कामासाठी एक मस्त बंगला शोधुन काढला, राजाज सीट या पॉइंट जवळ, माफक भाडे,

सकाळी नाष्ट्याला समोर आली ति कोरी रोटी व चटणी.

अपुर्ण.

सहली एक दिवसाच्या आसपास मुंबईच्या

फिरस्त्याचे पाय फुलासारखे असतात. जो बसुन रहतो त्याचे दैवही बसकण मारते. जो उभा रहातो त्याचे दैवही खडे रहाते जो झोपुन रहातो त्याच दैवही झोपी जाते. जो चालु लागतो, त्याच दैव चालत राहते म्हणुन चालत रहा भटकत रहा. फिरत्याला मध, व औदुंबराच मधुर फळ मिळत. त्याला सुर्याचे सौन्दर्य पहायला मिळत. फिरण्याचा उबग येत नाही म्हणुन भटकत रहा, भटकत रहा.
रोज घरात आज मी जेवायला काय करु असा प्रश्न नेहमीच गृहीणींना पडत असतो, ह्याच प्रकारचे प्रश्न प्रवासप्रेमींस, भटकंतीची आवड असलेल्याना , निसर्गात जाण्याची ओढ लागलेल्याना, सुट्टी आल्यावर आज आपण सहलीस, भटकंतीस कोठे जावे असे पडत असतात. खंडाला लोणावळा, माथेरान, महाबळेश्वर यांची तर अती परिचये अवज्ञा झाली आहे. १-२ दिवसाच्या सहलीस, भटकंतीस तर जायचे आहे, दऱ्याखोऱ्यातुन डोगंररागातुन, पठारावर, मस्त अवखळ वारा खात,ऊन, पाऊस , झेलत, मनोसक्त, निसर्गाची समरस तर व्हायचे आहे. पण कोठे जायचे ?, कसे जायचे ? ह्या सारखे अनेक सवाल मनात ऊभे रहातात, अश्या वेळी मनाला जास्त संभ्रमावस्थेत न ठेवता श्री. सुरेश परांजपे लिखित " सहली एक दिवसाच्या आसपास मुंबईच्या " ह्या पुस्तकाचा आसरा घ्यावा. पुस्तक उघडावे आणि त्यात नमुद केलेल्या एकुण २५० स्थळांपैकी कोणतेही स्थळ अगदी डोळे झाकुन निवडावे आणि ऊबंर गडाच ओलांडावा. तुमची सुट्टी अगदी हमखास अगदी मजेत जाणार.
हे पुस्तक म्हणजे भटकंतीप्रेमीस मेजवानीच. आता पर्यत मुंबईच्या जवळपासच्या स्थळांची मोजकी आणि समर्पक माहिती देणारी पुस्तकांची वानवा होती, ती उणीव ह्या पुस्तकानी भरुन काढली आहे.
श्री सुरेश परांजपेनी २५० स्थळाची विभागणी पश्चिम रेल्वे, ठाणे -जव्हार, कल्याण, इगतपुरी, मुरबाड, माळशेज , कर्जत, पुणे कोकण किनारा, रायगड, व दुरची स्थळे अश्या एकुण आठ विभागात केली आहे. त्यात परत त्यानी रैल्वे, राज्य परिवाहन मंडळाच्या बस गाडयाच्या वेळा दिल्या आहेत, कोठेही खोळंबा व्हायला नको. स्वताचे वहान असल्यास ऊतम.
भटकंतीप्रेमीत काहींना किल्ले पहाण्यात रस असतो तर काहींना देवस्थाने, काहींना धबधबे साद घालत असतात तर काहींना धरणे, तलाव मोहवत असातात. समुद्राकिनारे तर सर्वांनाच लोभवतात. सर्वांची आवड निवड लक्षात घेता श्री सुरेश परांजपेनी विविध प्रकारच्या स्थळांचा समावेश ह्या पुस्तकात केला आहे. मुबंईच्या आजच्या धकाधकीच्या, धावपळीच्या जीवनात सहलींसाठी निवांत ३- ४ दिवसाची सवड काढणे तसे कठीण. ही अडचण लक्षात घेता ह्या पुस्तकात मुबंई जवळपासच्या १-२ दिवसात पाहुन होतील अश्याचा समावेश केला आहे.
पण मला असे वाटते की नावात जरी " सहली एक दिवसाच्या आसपास मुंबईच्या " म्हटले असले तरी त्या एका दिवसापुरत्या मर्यादित न ठेवता चांगल्या दोन दिवसाच्या आखाव्यात. रमतगमत सावकाशीने निसर्गाचा आस्वाद घेत, पाखरांचे संगीत ऐकत झऱ्याचे पाणी पीत , नदीत , तलावात डुबंत रानात रानमेवा खात, वनभोजन करत रात्री गावातील देवालयात, खळ्यात, लेण्यात पोर्णिमेच्या रात्री माळरानावर टिपुर चांदणे पीत, सुखदुःखाच्या गप्पागोष्टी करत,मुक्काम करावा व सोमवारी नव्या जोमाने नव्या उत्त्साहाने पुढच्या सफारीचे बेत आखत कामावर रुजु व्हावे.
लेखकाविषयी सांगायचे तर गिर्यारोहण व आकाशनिरीक्षण हे श्री सुरेश परांजपे ह्याच्या आवडीचे विषय व त्यासाठी त्यांनी आपले आयुष्य वाहुन घेतलेले. हे ह्या क्षेत्रातली एक अधिकारी वक्ती. ज्या काळात गिरिभ्रमण हा शब्द लोकांच्या पचनी पडला नव्हता तेव्हापासुन त्यांचे भ्रमण चालु आहे. सोबत मिळाली तर उत्तम नाही तर एकला चलोरे. ह्या पुस्तकातील प्रत्येक स्थळाला त्यांनी भेट दिली आहे. ह्या मधे कुंभकर्ण आहे बोंबल्या विठोबा आहे, कुणे आणि पुणे सुद्धा आहे.

अनेक राज्ये श्री सुरेश परांजपेनी भ्रमंती कारणे पादांक्रात केली आणि त्यांच्या ह्या अनुभवाच्या मंथानातुन निघालेले सार " सहली एक दिवसाच्या आसपास मुंबईच्या ". हे पुस्तक आपल्या संग्रही नसले तर मात्र येत्य शनिवार-रविवार कोठे फिरायला जायचे हा प्रश्न निष्कारण आपल्याला छ्ळत रहाणार, छ्ळतच रहाणार.

HOTEL KRISHNA - PANCHGANI

Our next visit, we will be staying in Hotel Krishna at Panchgani, very reasonable rates, Two bedrooms, Hall, Kitchen, Dinning Room. all just within a range of Rs.900 to 1400 (off season) to accomodate from 6 person onwards, Extremely clean, newly painted (oil Paint), beautiful garden. We have fallen in love at first sight.

Phone no.02168-240227 and 9520-2612 5953, 2612 0368(office) ,9520 2612 6994(res) Shri Kantibhai Patel.

SILK SAREES,HOTEL AKBARI, & K.C.RESIDENCY

I am just crazy about silk sarees and when my wallet was fully loaded with Credit Cards, I was used to purchase Silk saree for my wife (who else?) in the cities we visited during our holidays. Last time I bought Saree (exceptional unusual color) for her was at Jayalakshmi Saree Centre at M.G.Road. Cochin. (You will find M.G.Road in almost all towns in India). Before that it was at Mriganayani and at Jamnalal Bhaiyya (Maheshwari Saree) at Indore, earlier at Shobhana Saree Centre at Coimbatore and so on. Well this blog is not on Silk Sarees. It’s on the Hotels and Restaurants we visited and which we still remembers.

Few years back we had gone to Jagganath Puri and stayed in Nilachal Ashok for a week. Excellent hotel, next to Rajbhavan. That was the first taste of luxury of staying in star hotels. Courtesy, my father’s employer. We thoroughly enjoyed the delicacy of the foods served in their restaurants. We still remember the hefty European Style, Indian style breakfast (on the house, that’s most important). We were so pampered by them; we never dared to eat outside except Bangali mithai’s “Dada ki Khabe. Sondesh, Roshogulla, chomchom”.

I wanted to buy cuttaki and shambalpuri sarees for my wife (certainly not for neighbor’s wife) and thought visit to Cuttack is worth, so we hired a tourist car and went all the way to Cuttack only to find out the meaning of quote “Penny wise and Pound foolish” in reality. The sarees were so costly rather beyond my reach, we returned Puri empty handed. The only console was tasty, delicious lunch at Hotel Akbari. We were so sure of not finding good restaurants in the town, with a background of literally starving during our visit to Chilka Lake. We were culinary shocked to find such a excellent restaurant. It was a shock very hard to digest. (finally I settled the account at cotton sarees that also in Puri itself)

The second in a row is at K.C Residency, Jammu. We still remember it not only because of good food but also for its Revolving Restaurant and luxurious room. Another reason is it was the perfect selection in need when mercury was soaring at 47/48 degree temperate and my son was sick. We were supposed to be in Jammu for overnight stay and then proceeds to Dalhousie. I decided to save some money as usual and we stayed in J&KTDC’s hotel in an only available room without A/C. The climate was extremely hot even during night and in addition to that there was no power. That night my son fell sick with food poisoning. Whatever he ate at Vishonodevi or at Katara or at Patnitop did not suit him. He was having high fever and continually vomiting, we were deep scared and first thing in the morning wanted to shift him to comfortable hotel with Air conditioners and Power Generators or catch a first flight back to home. K.C Residency was just next door and we decided to shift. After shifting, we found that unfortunately Doctor on call facility was not available in the hotel. We searched almost half of the town early in the morning for Child Specialist. We even went of the Children’s General Hospital, the sight of which was most disgusting. I just lifted my son and we ran away from the hospital. Finally we found a good doctor, Dr. Baljit Singh, who really took very good care of my son and us also. Thanks Doc.

We stayed four days in K.C. Residency, as my son was advised to take rest. “Let mother Nature takes her time for curing. Just give his stomach a rest, be easy on food” are the doctor’s word. First two days we ordered food in the room only. Then it was a time to enjoy the grand magnificent view of charming town of Jammu from a Rooftop Revolving Restaurant serving finest cuisines, which we thoroughly enjoyed till the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility, comes into the role. We liked Jammu city and It’s my strong advice to all, not to use Jammu as only transit point but to stay for a day or two.

Other two good restaurants we still remember are Hotel T. Bud in Palampur and Crystal in Amritsar in the same trip. We were in Surya Resorts, Mcleodgegunj in Dharamshala and fed up with the summer heat and decided to move on to Palampur, famous for Tea Estates and pleasant climate and panoramic view of Dhauladhar Range. We stayed in H.P. Tourism’s Hotel T. Bud. (MTDC please take few tips from them on how to run business) where we really enjoyed delicious food, spacious room facing the lawn and the weather and the walk among tea plantations to Nahar. However the trip ended on a sour note. On the last day, one tourist group from Mumbai invited us to join them. The dinner was cooked by own cooks from hometown, Mumbai. I am sorry to say, that the dinner was simply not fit for human consumption, even Varan-Bhat was at worst and it spoiled our mood. We missed badly the utterly butterly delicious food at Hotel T. Bud, that also on the last day.

Next day morning we proceeded all the way to Amritsar to fulfill my life long wish to visit Golden Temple, the holiest Shrine of the Sikh religion. Amrit Sarovar me dubki lagana aur Guru ke samne mattha tekna. Wahe Guru ki fathe, Jo Bole so Nihal, Sat Si Akal. We had just one day in our hand before returning home. On the way we had quick bite on roadside Dhaba Opp. Engineering College at Gurudaspur. Most unhygienic Dhaba with full of flies but still with tasty authenticate Punjabi food. We reached Amritsar in the evening as we were getting late, we choose a hotel near Railway Station, dumped our luggage to rushed to Wagha Boder for witnessing the Closing Ceremony by Border Security Force. Bharatmata Ki jai. Vande Mataram. The patriotic spirit is at high during these precious moments. A visit to Wagha Border is an experience not to be missed. It’s so emotional.

We then visited Golden Temple and offered our prayers. By that time we were very hungry and tired. I wanted to eat in Guru ka Langar, but my son did not like the idea so we decided to go to the best restaurants in the town, Crystal. We went to Crystal straight from Golden Temple without refreshing. When we entered the restaurant we realized that it was the biggest blunder by entering in the most impropriate dress code for the occasion. Everybody around us were so well dressed, most handsome Men from Punjab in suits, most beautiful women in designers wear, fully loaded with jewellery, we were odd man out. It was like Mr.F.M. Hussian entering Wellington Club, at least we were allowed inside. My wife felt so embarrassed; we could not even enjoy the delicious food. May be some other time we will make it. I have also missed those big full glasses of lassi during the short trip to Punjab.

Hotel Nand Residency & Shreemaya

Nand Residencey

We have traveled extensively in India, but some hotels have a special place in our heart. It’s extremely rare that during our traveling life, we get emotionally attached to the Hotels where we stayed. There are only two exceptions. First one is Shreemaya at R.N.T Road, Indore and second one is Hotel Nand Residency, Mussoorie.

My sister’s father-in-law used to visit Indore very often and always stayed in Hotel Shreemaya. We had gone to Jabalpur / Panchmari / Bhobal and during that period he was supposed to attend seminar in Indore. We planned out trip accordingly. We reached Indore very late in the night somewhere around 1.30 AM. We were very hungry and sure of going to bed on empty stomach. I just casually enquired about the food. When we reached our room, we were pleasantly surprised to find cheese / veg. sandwiches and three glasses of hot milk waiting for us. Where can you find such a personal touch? That was the first impression that lasted long.

We stayed in a suite with private balcony overlooking illuminated garden where every night marriage receptions were used to take place. We found the food served in the restaurant was simply out of class. We stayed in Shreemaya once again after a few years. We had gone to Nainital and while returning, we went all the way to Indore just to stay in Hotel Shreemaya. It is so emotional. Later on my brother was transferred to Indore and then there was no reason to stay in the hotels. However we kept on going to Hotel Shreemaya for lovely dinner, but at their newly opened branch at A.B.Road, and to their Pastry cum Snacks shops at both the places.

Three years back, we planned family trip to Mussoorie, along with my parents, brother and his family including my little princess, my niece, during Diwali vacation. I saw Hotel Nand Residency’s ad in Outlook Traveller, India’s Best Travel Magazine. I checked the details over their Internet site http://www.nandresidency.com/ , and then I said to myself, this is the hotel where we must have family reunion rather reunite and should celebrate dipavali together after an unexplainable gap of many years. I send an email to hotel for reservation and requested for discount and received positive response. This was the first time in my life, when I made advance reservation in a hotel and am glad for that. I have always avoided advance reservations. We reached one day late to Mussoorie as my son was down with a fever at Rishikesh. Before that I called up hotel and expressed my inability to reach on the date of booking. They understood it and assured me. It was a rare gesture on their part.

Because of the economic constraint (as I was about to but home in Pune), I had requested them to book three rooms in economy class. However when we looked at their Deluxe Rooms opening to a large sunny terrace, overlooking Lal Tibba- the highest peak of Mussoorie , we fell in with. The décor of each deluxe room is in different indigenous style. I selected room with Rajasthani style for myself.

So what we did in the terrace ? Believe me, we just lazed in a cosy chair and watched hills and enjoyed breakfast and meals in the most pleasant atmosphere. One corner of the terraceis covered with glasses and converted into restaurant. “There’s something in the air of the place, especially in October and November, that is conducive to romance and passion” (that’s our Mr.Bond).

The much awaited Deepavali night was the most marvelous experience for us. We were sitting in a balcony. Whole town was lit up with decorative lamplight. The sky was full of multicolored sparkling stars from firecrackers. I might say I am sitting on the top of the world having a rainbow around my shoulder. That’s it. That was a moment of self realization. My words are incapable of expressing the feelings. We then attended Pooja ceremony by Hotel staff and joined them in igniting firecrackers.

During our three days stay, we also equally enjoyed the delicious food (Dam Aloo in particular) served by their understaffed restaurant. Majority of the staff had gone to back to homes to celebrate Diwali festival with their family, but we never felt even a small pinch though the waiting period was sometimes used to be longer. The remaining staff took very good care of us.

The trip to Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie is unforgettable. Firstly we fell in love with neat and clean city, Haridwar, secondly picturesque Rishikesh at the footsteps of mighty Himalaya and then Hotel Nand Residency, Mussoorie.

At Rishikesh, we stayed in Parmarth Niketan, wonderful Ashram on the banks of Holy River Ganga, and attended Gangamaiya's Aarti which was a unique experience itself. During Aarti, all of us were faced with an emotional outburst. Person cries at happiest moments also. That’s was the moment one can die happily. We parted Rishikesh heavy-hearted for onwards journey to Mussoorie and returned Indore with happy memories.

We will never forget the hospitality, the personal touch offered by Shri Shaillendra Karanwal and the member of his staff in our lifetime.

Thanks a million, Hotel Nand Residency and Shri Shaillendra Karanwal for the wonderful experience, and the grand success of our family reunite.

Karnataka

Spending a long vacation at least once in a year is our family tradition which we follow rigorously. We always travel on our own and never with any Tour Operators, & without engaging services of any travel agency.

During last seven-eight years, thrice we planned trip to Bangalore / Mysore circuit and every time we were forced to change our plan. Once we cancelled railway Reservation as my mother was hospitalized. Second time also something went wrong and we cancelled the trip. Third time, on the last moment we changed our plan and instead went to Vaisho Devi / Patani Top / Dalhousie/ Dharamshala / Palampur / Amrutsar /Wagha Border. This year, after my son’s Board exams were over, I was determined to take my wife and son to Karnataka under any circumstances, no matter what so ever obstacles comes in the way. My son, poor chap needed the break badly. He was completely exhausted under the stress and tension. I also wanted to meet my colleague in Bangalore.

After railway reservations, I called Maharashtra Mandal, Gandhi Nagar and requested for accommodation booking. Coldly my request was turned down. The person on the other side of the phone was very unfriendly and uncooperative. Not ready to listen to anything. He just said “we do not make any advance reservation. When you reach Bangalore give us a ring, if rooms are available it will be provided or else you will have to stay in a big common hall and he cut down the conversations. At least while answering long distance phone call from Maharashtra he should have shown some courtesy. Can you imagine that I had to make three, four phone calls just to find out if there was a commode in the toilet? This behavior defects the reason for the existence of Maharashtra Mandal that is, to help travelers from Maharashtra. What a bitter experience. My son and wife were against my idea of staying at Mah.Mandal still I insisted as we had excellent experience of staying at Mah.Mandal, Hazra Road, Calcutta.

Well, we then decided to stay at Kamat Yatri Niwas against advice from my colleague who was insisting on booking accommodation at Ajanta Guest House, M.G Road. Kamat Yatri Niwas turned out to be glory of the past. It good days are seems to be over. We were supposed to spend two, three days in Bangalore, but my wife and son were disappointed with Hotel and Bangalore in general and then we decided to move on the very next day. Very rarely we do that. Unfortunately I could not meet my friend during the short stay. I know he must be furious and annoyed. Sorry sir, I could not help it.

In Bangalore, we spend whole day in Malls, At M.G. Road, Brigade Road, Iscon Temple (It’s a more of commercial place than temple), India Coffee House, and Café Day. I waited over the years to eat traditionally Karnataka food at M.T.R Lalbaug, or Kamat Yatri Niwas, and ended up having lunch in Copper Chimney and dinner in Garuda mall. One more disappointment.

Next day early in the morning, we headed for Mysore by Airavat Bus. Ticket is just Rs.135.00. (Representatives from Maharashtra State Transport Corpn. should visit Karnataka and study the Bus Depot, Satellite Bus Depot, Bus services, and Airavat (Volvo Bus Service) and implement the same over here. Just compare the Mumbai-Pune Asiad Bus Stand at Dadar. We are fed up of your lal khatara dabba S.T.bus).

The drive in to Mysore is a good one. Excellent straight, well maintained road across the plain from Bangalore. We reached Mysore within no time and choose to stay in Siddhartha Hotel. Few years back, before marriage I had stayed in Siddhartha Hotel, and it was stored in my memory. It’s a lovely hotel, comfortable rooms, friendly staff, the service is warm and most importantly it’s having excellent restaurant and very helpful Travel Desk with Mr. Potdar over the counter. Mysore is historic city fames for its magnificent palaces, and majestic buildings, sprawling gardens and tree-lined boulevards, broad avenues. We liked the city and specially the main shopping area at Sayaji Road and Devaraja Urs Market and Jhashi Laxmi Bai Road. I must say that if one doesn’t visit to Guru Sweets for Mysore Pak, he has wasted his whole trip.

This was supposed to be our economical tour. I was broke as usual and I was trying to restrict it to Bangalore / Mysore only. We had stayed in coonnoor for 2 weeks earlier when my son was small, and another two weeks before my marriage, and therefore were not much interest in going to Ooty again. But my plan failed. My son and Shri Kanta, driver of tourist car were the main culprits. It’s a long story. Evening we hired a car at Travel desk at Siddhartha Hotel for Brindavan Garden. While waiting for sundown, when Brindavan Garden transforms into a magical fairyland when musical fountains bathed in colored lights, my son kept on insisting and brainwashing me that he wants to see wildlife of Karnataka. On the way back, I found Kanta was very cooperative and enthusiastic person and he was very eager to share his knowledge with us. He entices me about Bandipur and Mudumalai wildlife and we fell for a trap which we never repent. He also stimulated my desire to visit Kodagu. We hired Indica, brand new car from Travel Desk for three days and next day morning started our adventurous trip.

First destination was Madikeri, Coorg or Kodagu. Coorg is a romantic Hill Station, birthplace of the river Cauvery, noted for its natural scenic beauty. The extremely scenic drive takes you to through some of the most beautiful countryside in Karnataka. Lush pepper vines climb the tall trees, and cardamom, vanilla and other spices grow well here. Coorg reveals its manicured beauty in the hundreds of estates that grow vast acres of coffee, oranges and silver oaks rising tall to provide shade. For nature lover, this is paradise. (I have borrowed this para. from article titled “West Country Magic” by Shri Prasad Bidapa). On the way to Coorg we satisfied our soul with traditional authentic karnataki meals on plantain leaves somewhere near Hunsur.

En route, Shri Kanta on his own took us to the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe, followed by a glimpse of the huge 40ft statue of Buddha and his disciples in high ceilinged halls of the Namdroling Monastery. We received another pleasant surprise when he took us to Dubare Reserve forest which is famed for its amazing variety of avian fauna, and an elephant training camp. After crossing Cauvery, we found ourselves surrounded by elephants in the middle of jungle. What a lovely evening it was. We will never forget the experience in our life time. Thanks. Kanta. We owe it to you. We reached Madikeri, late in the evening and stayed in a bungalow under Homestay program near Raja’s seat. My wife was as usual keen on empting my wallet with shopping. She bought lots of spices, coorgi Honey etc. Unfortunately we could not spend much time in Coorg.

Next day’s attraction was Safaris at Bandipur and Mudumalai. The Mysore-Ooty road passes through those two national parks. On the way, we visited Chamunda Hill for darshan of Chamundeshwari and headed for much awaited Bandipur / Mudumalai / Masinagudi wild life sanctuaries.

I wish I could stay my whole life in this region. Deep jungle which covers three states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka is full of herds of bison, spotted deer, sambar, leopards, monkey, peacocks, mongoose and elephants. I wished, we had more time and made advance reservation for accommodation at KSTDC’ Holiday Homes in the middle of the jungle. At both the places we opt for bus safari’s and opt out for costly elephant rides. I had read so much about Masinagudi in the book by Shri Krishnamegh Kunte and was really trilled when we passed thru Masinagudi. Night we reached Ooty, fully commercialized hill station and stayed at Hotel Nahar. Good hotel with excellent restaurant having fire place. We had tasty dinner by fire place. Breakfast with Idlis and Rava Dosa was splendid. After that we moved on to Coonoor, and spend some time in Sims Park in particular remembering the good old days. On the way back we visited Botanical Garden at Ooty. My son was keen on going to the best restaurant around for lunch and Kanta took us to Hotel Savoy of Taj Groups, The ultimate. Restaurant is in grand old mansion. We ordered for Chinese cuisine and all I can say is delicacy thy name of the meals served. It was really unique experience and worth it.

I have realized that best way to travel is after reaching the main destination, hire a car and just travel, travel and travel.

We are glad that we found extraordinary Travel Desk at Hotel Siddhartha, and very efficient driver Kanta, who knows his job very Well. Without him we would not have enjoyed so much. Thanks, Kanta once again.

And in the end, we returned Pune happily with golden memories.

How we reached Diveagar.

Diveagar is a typical village in Kokan region with ancient Temple of Roopnarayan, devoted to Lord Vishnu, roads with red sand, full of coconut and betel-nut trees, now coastal tourist hotspot, famous for Temple of Suvarna Ganesh. While digging field, one lady found chest buried for more than last 800-900 years, inside was Lord Ganesha’s Gold Mask with gold ornaments.

One Sunday we decided to go for one day picnic to Awas and Sasavane near Rewas, bifurcations on Rewas-Alibaug Road. We reached Rewas early in the morning by ferry from Bhaucha Dhakka. We enjoy travel by ferry with the company of sea birds. I wanted to go to Sasavane mainly because of Sculptor Late Shri Karmarkar Studio. I had read about it many times. One of the famous statues made by Karmarkar is of Raja Shivaji’s now is at Shivaji Institute, Shivaji Nagar, Pune. It’s a bronze statue made in a single mould, technique used for the first time in India. (Hope I am correct) After visit to the studio, we had lunch at the residence cum restaurant of Shri Jogalekar at Awas where they served tasty meals in the backyard plantations. They also have accommodation facilities. Recently I read in newspaper about a small homely resort newly opened at Sasavane by Shri Abhay Abhyankar. His Phone no. is 2437 6452. May be next time we will stay there.

After lunch we got bored and decided to move on and we proceeded to Askhi-Nagaon on Alibaug-Revdanda Road. We had a choice between Kanekeshwar (Lord Siva’s Temple on the hills) or Kihim Beach or Alibaug but decided to go to Nagaon. It’s our hot favorite place. On weekends we have stayed at Nagoan plenty of times before. We were always used to stay at Dr.Athavale’s bungalow near Shivaji Statue and order our meals from the residence of Shri Mahajan. When we reached Nagaon we found that half of the portion was let out to Post office. Totally disappointed we thought we will keep on moving further. I told my wife and son that “come on let’s go to Diveagar”. They liked the idea and jumped at it and we moved on. At Nagaon there are plenty of home stay options are available. Shri Chandrakant Yeragi’s bungalow is the best around. Shri Patwardhan's Hotel Sandesh provides very good food. Accommodation is also available with them. En route we pass beautiful villages named Chaul, Revdanda (famous of the scenic beauty with historical background), Birla temple at Salav, Korlai Fort Fhansad wild life sanctuary, Kashid Beach. We were tempted to stop over. On the both sides of the roads you will find Coconut and betel-nut tree plantations. The extremely scenic drive from Alibaug to Murud Janjira takes you through some of the most beautiful countryside. Once I remembered having lunch in Revdanda at Shri Tambe's hotel (I am not sure about name) in the market place. We then took short break at Nandgaon on Revdanda-Murud Janjira road, famous for Siddivinayak Ganesha Temple and for a short while wished to stay there. However after Ganesha’s darshan we decided to stick to the original plan and then we went to Murud Janjira hurriedly and rushed to Rajapuri to catch last ferry around 5.00 p.m to Dighe. Fortunately we managed to catch it on the very last minute and however we were most unfortunate as there was no time to even look at invincible sea fort (Janjira) and another beautiful beach. It was a time for low tide and the ferry boat could not reach near the pier; it was standing inside the sea. We walked in knee deep water and climbed into a small boat and then finally in the ferryboat. At Murud there are plenty of hotels available near seashore. I believe Shri Tavsalkar's residence one can get good food. Once I remembered eating at Shri Patil’s (I am not sure about name) near main chowk just after entering Murud. Finally when we reached Diveagar it was completely dark and we were tired. The complete journey was carried on by whatever vehicles available. It was a hitchhiker’s journey. There are plenty of 6 seater rickshaws available in the whole region.

Diveagar I had discovered accidentally before when I was traveling alone. I had heard of it, but didn’t know the whereabouts. I was on the way to Shrivardhan from Dighe. One Muslim woman all of sudden asked to get down from Auto rickshaw. I couldn’t understand the motive behind it. Had I done anything wrong? I asked myself and “why?” to her. Relief came only when she told me in the typical Konkani accent “tumchya Sonyacha Ganapaticha deul aala, utra laukar. Darshanalya jayache nahi kaa ? (Your temple of Suvarna (Gold) Ganesh is nearby, why you doesn’t want to go and visit?). May be Lord Gajanan had send mystical women to show me the way around.

At Diveager we stayed with Shri Umesh Limaye (Phone nos.02147 24490 (Could be 952147 24490), 0214724377(or 95147 24377) in a cottage in middle of the spice plantations surrounded by coconut and betel-nut trees. We awake to a clear morning, but it’s rained the night before. What a lovely morning seating in the middle of plantation having breakfast consists of Panage. Diveagar’s beach is the most wonderful for unwinding. Much too soon its time to leave. As Shrivardhan and Harihreshwar are nearby we then decided to carry on the adventure and returned to Mumbai late in the night. Traveling en route to Shrivardhan can be considered as unique experience. It abruptly climbs onto the cliffs and goes on with misty mountains on one side and superb view of the sweeping bay other side. We promised to ourselves that we must return for a longer stay and we kept our promise.

Next visit we again stayed with Limaye’s. That time they served us Fhansachi Bhaji (Jackfruit Vegetable my wife’s favorite) and Ukadiche Modak in lunch. For next two days we just hogged and every time requested Umesh to prepare and serve us their local varieties dishes. Even though he served smilingly whatever we asked for, but I am sure he must got fed up of our hoggish behavior. There are plenty of cottages available in Diveagar. I have also heard very good reputation of Shri Suhas Bapat (Phone no.02147 24377) for delicious meals. But after all as our loyalty is towards Shri Umesh Limaye, we never ate elsewhere.

Time is always short in kokan region and first of all you’ll have to decide where to visit and stay. Let me tell you that the Nature has never been miser in the entire coastal region starting from Rewas. It’s a green and pleasant holidays.

True travelers never plan their journey in advance and they travel with minimum luggage. Since we were supposed to come back to Mumbai in the same evening, we did not carry extra pairs of clothes. The trip was such a wonderful experience, We never realized it.