In the era of Kindle, would you visit a village dedicated to books? On the way to Mahabaleshwar over a weekend, we spotted a huge signage that read Pustakanche Gaon – Bhilar. Predictably, the next morning we showed up in the village to find out more. Bhilar is a quiet town, sandwiched between the twin hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani in Western Maharashtra. Much like its neighbours, its population of barely 3000 earn their…
Famously known as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’, Kodaikanal is the perfect destination for those who seek a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Wondering about things to do while you’re there? Apart from its breathtaking natural beauty, the hill station has lots to offer to a shopaholic or, for that matter, anyone looking for a travel takeaway memorabilia. Shopping in Kodaikanal is all about colourful trinkets, woolen clothes, spices, handicrafts,…
In 2009, when I visited Panchgani for the first time, I was certain that this is a perfect weekend getaway in Maharashtra, away from the chaos of work-life monotony. Panchgani throws a nice colonial vibe and offers breathtaking views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges. Back then, I stayed in a ‘No frills’ B&B near the main market area in Panchgani. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Panchgani again. This time to check out a villa…
I was always skeptical of planning a day trip to Matheran. At the back of my mind ran questions like….. Is it doable? Will it be hectic? How long would it take to reach? What about toy train timings? Do toy trains run during monsoons? How much would I have to trek if I chose to not take the toy train? How much time do I give myself to sight-see if I return on the…
Karla Caves and Celebrity Wax Museum have ranked high on my list of must see places in Lonavla. The latter had more of my attention since it was our very own Indian Madame Tussauds. A wax museum in India and so close to Mumbai had me eyeing this location for a really long time. We started at 7:30 am from Mumbai and reached Lonavala by 9:30 am. Before we visited the wax museum, we chose to…
