June 25, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.185: Lingmala Waterfall, Mahabaleshwar.

“Best Attraction of Mahabaleshwar in the Monsoons.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed yesterdayNEW
This waterfall is tucked away between two hills. It lies at the head of the Venna Valley. It can be accessed either from the Pune - Mahabaleshwar Road or the Satara Road. There is a small winding road through the forests leading to the falls. You can park your vehicle outside the Forest Office (Satara Van Vibhag) and buy your token to enter the ‘Lingmala Nature Trail’.

There is well paved track leading down to the falls. There are log benches to sit and rest for a while if you get tired climbing back. It takes about 10 minutes to walk down.

There are two parts of the falls. The left track leads to the minor falls, where the falling water forms a pool where one can take a dip. Be careful of the rocks, though. The right track leads to the point from where one can view the main falls, as it showers down into the valley below.

The Lingmala Falls are best visited after the start of the monsoons in July and August. Then one can see and feel the forces of nature in all its glory.

However, even at other times of the year it is a good place to visit, just to experience the walk through the forests on the Lingmala Nature Trail.
Visited June 2016

June 24, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.184: Mapro Factory and Food Park, Wai, Maharashtra.

“Best Pizzas, Sandwiches and Milkshakes near Wai.”
5 of 5 starsReviewed yesterdayNEW
Mapro’s Factory and Food Park is located between Surur on NH4, and Wai on the Pune to Mahabaleshwar route. It is about 90 kms from Pune, and about 5 kms from Wai. You will first see a huge Indian flag fluttering on the right hand side of the road as you are approaching Wai. You can enter the gates and park your vehicle inside the huge compound next to their restaurant.

The restaurant menu is the same as the ‘Mapro Garden’ menu located near Mahabaleshwar. However this place is not as crowded and popular as the Mahabaleshwar outlet.

You can enjoy some of the best vegetarian pizzas, grilled sandwiches, soups, fruit squashes and strawberry milkshakes at the restaurant. All the Mapro products like squashes and juices are available at the store. They also have an outlet for their organic vegetables which are grown on their farms, and the prices are very reasonable.

It is a good stopover if you are driving from Pune to Mahabaleshwar. They have clean washrooms as well.
  • Visited June 2016
    • 4 of 5 stars
      Value
    • 4 of 5 stars
      Service
    • 5 of 5 stars
      Food
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

June 21, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.183: Kalubai Mandhardevi Temple, Wai, Maharashtra.

“Hilltop Temple dedicated to a Goddess.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed 1 week ago
This temple is dedicated to a goddess Kaleshwari Devi. She is fondly called Kalubai by the mainly Maharashtrian devotees.

The temple is located 22 km north of Wai and about the same distance from the town of Bhor, in the district of Satara in Maharashtra state. There is a decent state highway connecting Wai to Bhor and one has to take a right turn up a hilly road, known as the Mandhardevi Ghat, and drive up about 3 km to reach the hilltop temple. The views of the surrounding areas of Wai, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are worth going for. One can also see the Purandar Fort and the Krishna River.

The temple is colorful and brightly painted. It is surrounded by shops where one can buy offerings for the deity. There is a big open space for parking behind the temple. One has to pay entry charges (per person) and separate charges for parking. Public washrooms are available though they are not very clean. There are some restaurants nearby but it is better to carry your own food and water.

There was not much of a crowd when we went and we got a good darshan of the Devi. There is an annual pilgrimage here in the month of January when it gets very crowded.

Photography is not permitted inside the temple.
Visited June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

June 8, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.182: Underground Temple, Hampi.

“Cool Temple Below Ground Level.”
3 of 5 starsReviewed 2 weeks ago
This temple is situated close to the Hampi Bus Stand and near the Nobleman’s Quarters. There is no admission fee and photography is allowed.

The ceiling of this temple is at ground level. There are steps at the eastern end to go down into the precincts. There is a Linga with a Nandi facing the steps. There is a canal system flowing through the temple and you have to move around carefully to avoid getting your feet wet.

There is a beautiful lawn built around the temple. You can relax for a while on the lawns or take a walk around if you do not want to get down into the dark and damp insides of the temple. This place is generally less crowded than the other monuments.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC