My TripAdvisor Review No.372: Kamat Upchar Restaurant, NH66, Ankola. Roadies Can Relax, Refresh, Refuel and Resume.

This is an excellent pitstop for roadies on NH66 located between Kumta and Karwar, about 3 km after Ankola. We were travelling from Jog Falls to Goa and reached here at lunchtime. In is next to an Indian Oil Petrol bunk so we could refuel as well, before settling down for a relaxed lunch. There is a dedicated parking lot and a CCD as well.

Like all restaurants in the Kamat Upchar chain, this one also had clean washrooms, nutritious Udupi and Malnad cuisine, very good service standards, and a relaxing ambience at very reasonable prices. They serve pure vegetarian food.

We ordered some buns with chutney, and a plate of puri-bhaji followed by a cup of curds. Thalis or meals were also available but we chose the ala carte as we did not want to stuff ourselves and then feel sleepy for the onward journey.

Feeling refreshed we resumed our drive to Goa.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.371: Jog Falls, Shimoga. Spectacular Sight.

Jog Falls are located in the north west part of Karnataka, about 110 km from Shimoga, and about 30 km from the town of Sagara, on NH206 highway which goes to Honnavar on the west coast. We had to take a left turn off the highway, on to a bridge over the Sharavathi River and drive another 2 km to reach the viewpoint from where we could observe the falls in all its glory. There is a parking fee of ₹30 with sufficient parking for many cars and buses. If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station is at Talaguppa, 13 km away, from where you can take a bus. We were staying overnight at the KSTDC Mayura hotel, which is located inside the compound, so we did not have to pay the parking fee.

The falls make for a spectacular sight in the rainy season from July to September. Sometimes mist and clouds obscure the view for a bit, but add to the magic. The water falls from a height of about 250 meters into a plunge pool down below. There are many viewing points constructed by the state tourism department from where we get a wonderful view of the falls. The flow is divided into 4 distinct streams called the ‘Raja’, ‘Rani’, ‘Roarer’ and ‘Rocket’. There are 1400 steps leading down to the bottom of the falls, but the path was closed when we visited due to the heavy rains and the risks of slipping on the wet surfaces. We could see a rainbow at the bottom, but were not allowed to go for the pot of gold!

The best time to visit the falls is between July and September, as the flow gets reduced to a trickle in the dry season. KSTDC’s Mayura Hotel has got rooms facing the waterfalls and we spent an enchanted night here watching and listening to the falls from our room window. They also run a restaurant nearby which is open to the day trippers as well.

Jog Falls is a place worth visiting and one of the most popular tourist spots in South India.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.370: Hotel Mayura Gerusoppa Jogfalls. Armchair View of Jog Falls From Our Room.

KSTDC run Mayura Gerusoopa is located at a vantage point overlooking the Jog Falls in Shimoga District of Karnataka. All the rooms have a large sliding glass window facing the falls and we could sit in the armchairs provided and gaze at the waterfalls all day long. Sometimes the fog and passing clouds would cover the falls, but even that was worth watching.

We stayed overnight in one of the non ac rooms. Being the rainy season it was very pleasant and we did not need ac. Rates are a bit lower during the weekdays compared to the weekend. The room was quite spacious and the furnishing was adequate. There was a small dressing room with wardrobe and dressing table and chair. There was an lcd TV with satellite channels. WiFi was available but there was no signal most of the time. Of course, our favourite spot were the two armchairs provided with the coffee table.

The only drawback of the resort was the restaurant which was situated about 250 meters away from the rooms, and we had to walk in the rain to reach it. They close early and you have to order dinner by 8 pm. The menu is limited though the food was reasonably cheap and good.

The sound of the water falling is faint but audible if you keep the window open. I would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to visit the Jog Falls and spend a night enjoying one of the wondrous sights of nature.

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Room Tip: All rooms have view of the falls, but some rooms face a public washroom block. Avoid them if possibl...

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• Stayed: September 2018, travelled as a couple
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My TripAdvisor Review No.369: The Pavilion Restaurant, Benaulim, Popular Restaurant in Benaulim.

We visited The Pavilion one evening for dinner. It is located on the main road leading to Benaulim Beach, about few hundred metres before reaching the beach. From the number of cars parked outside the restaurant we reckoned that the place is very popular with the local people who love to dine out themselves.

At first we ordered a plate of Tuna Fish Salad but after a while we were told that it could not be prepared because they had run out of pineapple, so we had to settle for Greek Salad instead, in which they forgot to add mayonnaise. We then tried their Fish and Chips and Rawa Fish Fry with Kingfish. Both these dishes were good and well cooked and we enjoyed it. Prices were on the higher side. Service has to be improved as they took a while to inform us about the unavailability of an item.

We noticed quite a bit of crowd in the restaurant and a group of men were having a raucous time at the bar, which proves that it is quite popular with the locals. The restaurant serves buffet as well.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.368: Three Kisses Bar & Restaurant, Benaulim. Cozy Shack Opposite Taj Exotica.

Three Kisses is in a small lane leading to Calvaddo near Benaulim Beach. It is a cosy shack-like cottage with a thatched roof, just outside the Taj Exotica Resort. Parking can be a problem as the lane is very narrow, but about three or four small cars can squeeze in and park next to the bikes. Bigger cars may have to park down the lane to the beach. Since it is not on the beach the place is open all year round.

The restaurant is modestly furnished with plastic chairs and tables, and they have outdoor seating as well if it is not raining. There is a good selection of Goan and Tandoori food and the prices are reasonable. Service is friendly but a bit slow. Cleanliness can be improved.

We ordered our favourites Prawn Curry Rice and Tuna Fish Salad. We were surprised to find some ladyfingers vegetable along with the prawns in the curry, but it tasted nice. Tuna Fish salad was good too. Quantity of food was sufficient.

We enjoyed our drinks and meal at Three Kisses and would rate it as Four Stars; worth another visit.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.367: Betty's Place, Cavelossim. Excellent Goan Cuisine and Ambience.

Betty’s Place is one of the best Goan restaurants in South Goa. It is located in Cavelossim just opposite the Holiday Inn Resort, and a little off the main road with sufficient parking space besides the restaurant. We first walked past the restaurant and the quaint bungalow to enjoy the scenery on the banks of the River Sal where Betty’s Catamaran were moored. The boat can be hired for short cruises and dolphin spotting trips in the sea.

We returned from our short walk and settled down for drinks and lunch. The place has a very relaxed atmosphere with a lot of greenery around. The restaurant is nicely decorated with wooden tables and chairs and is covered by a cane and bamboo roof. Service was friendly and courteous. Prices were reasonable compared to some of the other fine dining restaurants nearby.

We had fish fingers as starters with drinks. I enjoyed their prawns balchao with rice. The gravy was a little sweet, a little spicy and a little tangy and blended excellently with the steamed rice. We tried their tuna salad which was also good.

All in all we had a very satisfying meal in the quiet and peaceful ambience of the Goan countryside, and would love to visit again.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.366: Traveler's Bar & Restaurant, Varca, Goa. Decent Beach Shack Opposite Emerald Palms.

Traveler Bar & Restaurant is located inland, just opposite Club Mahindra’s Emerald Palms in Varca. It is a decent shack offering drinks and all kinds of food from North Indian, Goan, Chinese and Continental. They open early around 8 am and even serve breakfast. Since it is not located on the beach they are open all year round, even in the rainy season.

We were staying at Emerald Palms so we just walked across for dinner and to have a Goan shack experience. The restaurant was dimly lit but nicely decorated. There were cane chairs and tables, even the roof was made of cane and bamboo, and the dining hall was enclosed by a wooden fence giving the place a magical countryside ambience.

We tried out their fish curry rice, which was pretty good, and their Al Tono Pizza, which had tuna fish in the topping. Service was friendly and helpful with the manager giving us his suggestions when we were ordering. Prices were a bit on the high side. They accepted card payment.

This is a good alternative for tourists staying in the 5 stars around the restaurant, to try out Goan shack dining in the lush green countryside.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.365: All India Special Bhel (Rambhau Bhel). Kolhapur. Spicy Evening Snack.

This Bhel restaurant is also known as ‘Rambhau Bhel’, after the name of the owner, who himself prepares and mixes all the ingredients in front of you as soon as you order. It is a small restaurant where you can either have your bhel, served in a paper cone, sitting on a plastic stool there itself, or carry it packed in a paper bag to share with your family at home. It is located about 5 minutes walking distance from the iconic Mahalaxmi Temple.

It is a different variation from the bhel-puri which we get in Mumbai. Most of the ingredients are the same and include puffed rice, sev, papdi, crushed puri, bhadang, coriander, chaat masala and topped with a whole slit green chilly. The wet (oli) bhel has a tangy tamarind chutney and a green spicy chutney, while the sukhi (dry) bhel does not have any chutney. The main difference we found was that Rambhau’s bhel did not have any chopped boiled potatoes or tomatoes, and very little coriander and onion. Still it was quite tasty and we enjoyed the crunchiness of the sukhi bhel and the tanginess of the oli bhel. We could customise the spiciness of the taste by simply telling Mr. Rambhau to add less spicy chutney.

The prices were very reasonable varying between ₹25 to ₹60 per serving. It is worth trying out this snack in the evening if you are near the temple.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.364: Rankala Lake, Kolhapur. Promenade by the Lake.

Rankala Lake is one of the prominent landmarks of Kolhapur city. It is a 5 minute walk from the Mahalaxmi Temple towards the west, next to the highway going to Gaganbawda.

We stayed overnight at Kolhapur and got a chance to go for an early morning walk to the lakeside. Many of the local residents of Kolhapur use the promenade by the lake for their regular morning walks. The walkway towards the Shalini Palace and the Boat Club has been beautified with plants and green shrubs, but the track near the temple side were not so clean, though still useable. There is a nice garden with benches, near the Boat Club.

There were many food stalls near the boat club selling snacks like missal, bhel, tea and coffee for the tourists who visit later in the day and in the evenings. Different types of boats are available for a joy ride in the lake.

The calm atmosphere and cool breeze early in the morning makes the lake worth a visit.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.363: Kolhapur. Abode of Goddess Mahalaxmi.

Kolhapur is an ancient city in Southern Maharashtra with a lot of historical, cultural and religious significance. It lies on the national highway no. 48 (NH48) connecting Pune to Bangalore. It is about 230 km south of Pune and about 620 km north of Bangalore. Many a time we have stopped at Kolhapur on our road trips to Bangalore or Goa.

The most significant place to visit in Kolhapur is the Mahalaxmi (also known locally as Ambabai) Temple. It is one of the Shakti Peethas and the most ancient temple dedicated to the goddess. Many devotees first visit this temple before proceeding to the Balaji Temple in Tirupati. Another famous temple is the Jyotiba Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, about 20 km away, near Shivaji’s Panhala Fort.

There are many other places to visit which include the Maharaja’s Palace, Shahuji Chhatrapati Museum, Siddhagiri Museum and Rankala Lake. A walk around the lake in the early morning or late evening is a must do. Boating facilities are also available at the lake.

There is no dearth of hotels for lodging and boarding in Kolhapur. In fact Kolhapur is a foodie’s delight. Their mutton gravies are prepared in two flavours, known as pandhara rassa (white gravy which is mild and creamy) and tambada rassa (brown and spicy). Some other famous snacks are the misals and bhels of which there are many eateries around the city. The region is also famous for the production of Gur (Jaggery).

There are some other nice places to visit around Kolhapur city. Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary, Panhala Fort, Amba Ghat, and Kopeshwar Temple are some of them. This makes Kolhapur a destination where one can spend a pleasant few days in sight-seeing and relaxation.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.362: OYO-12748, Govindpuram Apartment, Kolhapur. Penthouse Rooms.

We selected this hotel primarily on the basis of its proximity to the Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur. It is located on Mahadwar Road just about half a kilometre from the temple and we could walk the distance in 5 minutes. Even though it is located in a narrow road with a lot of traffic, they have a secure dedicated basement parking where we could leave our car without any worry.

All the rooms are on the top floor of the building, the lower ones being used as a ceremonial hall for functions. There is an elevator from the basement to the 4th floor, and the staff helped to carry up our luggage. The rooms, though small, are very neat and clean and all have ac. The small washrooms are also spic and span, with basic toiletries provided. Our room had an open air sit-out with a sweeping view of the city. There was a small lcd tv, a dressing table, two bedside tables, a cupboard with a shoe-rack, and a plastic chair provided.

Though they do not have an in house restaurant, food can be delivered to your room from some nearby restaurant. The receptionist, Manini, was very helpful and suggested the names of a few good eateries nearby.

Rankala Lake is a 10 minute walk from the hotel, and it was a pleasurable morning walk. All in all, we had a nice stay and darshan of the Mahalaxmi temple thanks to Govindpuram Apartment.

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• Stayed: September 2018, travelled as a couple
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My TripAdvisor Review No.361: Hotel The Open Kitchen, Kolhapur. Nice Restaurant for Kolhapuri & Vegetarian Food.

Located about half a kilometre from the Mahalaxmi Temple, this restaurant serves tasty local vegetarian snacks and food. We stepped in for lunch on our recent visit to Kolhapur.

The premises were neat and clean, and as the name of the restaurant implied, the kitchen was an open one where we could see our food being prepared. We ordered a Maharashtrian thali and pav bhaji, and both were tasty. The thali had one vegetable, one pulse with gravy and one dal with chapatti, rice, papad, pickle, a little salad and a sweet dish (optional). One can order a Punjabi thali as well, and there were some Punjabi and Chinese dishes in the ala-carte menu. Service is good and the prices are very affordable.

We would definitely visit again for a tasty and nourishing meal.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.360: Sai Food Court, Yelur, NH48. Highway Pit Stop Between Karad and Kolhapur.

Located on NH48 (Pune-Bengaluru Highway) at Yelur, which is about 38 km from Karad and 32 km before Kolhapur, you will see the sign board of ‘Sai International Hotel’ on the left. It is located just after a BPCL petrol pump and it is the fast food outlet of the hotel known as ‘Sai Food Court’. There is ample parking space in the open space outside the restaurant. Even if you are approaching from the Kolhapur side there is a break in the median just opposite the restaurant to cross over.

It is a self-service restaurant, and you have to purchase tokens for your refreshments, and present it at the appropriate counter and grab a table until they call you. They serve good Indian fast foods like idli, wada, pav bhaji, wada pav, chapatti, bhaji, as well as sandwiches, tea and coffee. The snacks are tasty and hot though the prices are slightly on the higher side.

The best thing about Sai Food Court is their extremely clean and large washrooms. And even though the restaurant is self-service, the washroom has a special attendant to squirt some liquid soap and give you a hand tissue after the wash!

The ‘Sai International Hotel’ has good rooms where you can spend the night if you want to break journey. Outside the restaurant there is a general store, paan shop, a scientific toys shop, and a Kolhapuri chappal shop as well, so you need not enter Kolhapur city for your shopping.

We always stop at the Sai Food Court on our Pune Bangalore trips.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.359: Vithal Kamats, Kikvi, NH48, Pune. Highway Pit Stop.

Located on NH48 about 50 km from Pune, as you are driving down from Bangalore, you will see the sign board of Vithal Kamats on the left. It is located next to a HPCL petrol station and it is a good pit stop to refuel your car as well as yourself.

It is a self-service restaurant, but if there are not many customers then the waiter will take the order at your table. They serve good Indian fast foods like idli, wada, pav bhaji, wada pav as well as sandwiches, tea and coffee. The snacks are tasty and hot though the prices are slightly on the higher side.

The good thing about the Vithal Kamats chain along the highways in Maharashtra, is that they are generally attached to good petrol stations, and they always have very clean washrooms. We always stop at the Kikvi outlet before entering Pune.

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