My TripAdvisor Review No.18: Jageshwar Dham, Uttarakhand

“Abode of Lord Shiva.”

Reviewed 23 January 2014

Jageshwar Dham is located about 36 km from Almora. It is a holy place for the Hindus, and is believed to be one of the sites of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
There are a number of temples of various sizes surrounded by a forest of giant doedhar trees. There is a natural stream, Jata Ganga, flowing through the temple complex and the ambience of the surroundings gives one a sense of peace and serenity.
There is also an archeological museum run by the ASI nearby. You will find many shops selling 'prasad' items and sweetmeats, and a number of small restaurants serving local Kumaoni food.

Visited November 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.17: Zero Point, Binsar Wild Life Sanctary, Almora, Uttarakhand

“A Himalayan Spectacle!”

Reviewed 23 January 2014

Zero Point is located at the highest point in Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary, near Almora. There is a motorable road upto the KMVN Tourist Rest House from where you have to walk 1.5 km to reach the lookout platform.
On a clear day you get a mesmerizing view of the snow capped Himalayas. You can see the peaks of Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Shivling and Panchachuli among others.

Visited November 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.16: Golu Dev Chitai Temple, Almora

“Bells, bells and more bells!”

Reviewed 23 January 2014

We stopped at this temple on the way to Jageshwar.
It is temple dedicated to the local deity, Golu Devta. The devotees ask a favor from the deity, and when their wish is fulfilled they return to tie a bell in gratitude.
We saw bells in all sizes, there must have been more than a thousand, with sounds ranging from a 'Tinnnnkle' to a "DONNGGG"!!

Visited November 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.15: Club Mahindra Binsar Manipur Villas, Uttarakhand

“A LOG CABIN IN THE HILLS”

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

We arrived at the Binsar Resorts as the sun was setting, and were immediately offered a refreshing drink of rhododendron juice. Then we were taken up to the log huts, also known as Manipur Villas, by their Jeep. The road leading up to the log huts was a narrow cemented path precariously hugging the mountain side, and we had our hearts in our mouths during the short ride.

By the time we settled into our studio log cabin it was quite dark, and the sight of the twinkling village lights from the balcony was indeed mesmerising. The log cabin was also very cosy, with a dry kitchenette, a small dining area, a sitting area with satellite TV, and a bedroom. It was as if we were in a fairy-tale world, living in a dream home hugging the mountain-side.

When we awoke the next morning, the view from the balcony was even more breathtaking! The sun was just rising above the mountains. We could see the fluffy clouds in the valley, floating above the matchbox like houses in the fields below, and small dinky cars winding their way along the road. Birds were twittering in the pine trees. I thought that I was still asleep, having a beautiful dream!

Walking down the Jeep track to the main Valley Resort was an adventure in itself. We got a good view of the snow capped Himalayan range and took a lot of snaps on the way down. Besides the Jeep track there was an even smaller track, meant only for walkers and climbers, which involved a more challenging climb.

A must-see at Binsar is the Wild Life Sanctuary. The entrance gate to Binsar WLS is about 10 km from the valley. At about 7 km from the gate is the ancient Bineshwar Temple, and a further 5 km up is the KMVN Tourist Rest House. From the TRH you have to walk along a jungle path to reach the Zero Point, from where you get a magnificent 180 degree view of majestic Himalayan peaks. Guides can be hired at the TRH to show you the way and identify all the peaks for you. We were also lucky to spot a pair of pine martens before they quickly disappeared into the bushes.

Binsar valley is about 30 km from Almora. Other places to see around Binsar include Jageshwar, Baijnath, Bageshwar, Kausani, and Patal Bhuvaneshwar. These places are at quite a distance from Binsar, and you would need to hire a taxi. Taxis can be booked at Travel Desk of the main resort, or can be hired from the gate if available.

We had a-la-carte dinners at the 'Silver Oak' restaurant, and the food and service was excellent. The restaurant has a very good ambience, with seating for families in individual log cabins. Buffet dining was available only at the Valley Resort. The nearest restaurant outside the Resorts, about a km towards village Bhainsori, was the 'Shree Hayat Hotel' which was good for alu paratha and bhajjias and other local dishes.

There is a souvenir shop in the main resort, where you get the local produce such as pickles, spices, jams and cosmetics.

All in all this was a very unique and refreshing holiday in which we were in our own dream world for 5 days.

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Stayed November 2013, travelled with family

My TripAdvisor No.14: Barbeque Nation, Pune

“DIY Barbeque!”

Reviewed 12 January 2014

Here's a unique experience in barbeque food. You get to barbeque much of the food yourself! You can do it rare, or brown it to a crisp....have it the way you like it best.
The only downside is that the starters are so good that one is not left with enough space in the tummy for the main course.
So be careful, or you may be end up with a belly full!

Visited October 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.13: Golden Swan Beach Resort, Murud-Janjira.

“Seaside Getaway in North Konkan”

Reviewed 9 April 2013

The resort is located on Darbar Road in Murud. They have the option of Mediterranean style ac cottages and a Portuguese style beach villa which have direct access to the beach. You can see the Nawab's Palace and Shivaji's famous Kasa Fort from the resort itself.

We had a two bedroom ac cottage at the Resort. One bedroom was smaller than other with a smaller TV, whereas the bigger bedroom also had a sofa and a fridge. The cottage can accommodate 4 adults quite comfortably. There is also a verandah where you can sit out and enjoy your morning cuppa, and gaze at the casuarina and coconut trees or quack with the waddling geese.

The buffet meals were well prepared and tasty. We got Konkani Kingfish curry and Malwani fish curry for lunch, on the two days that we were there, besides chicken and vegetable preparations, and we quite enjoyed our meals.

The Rajpuri Jetty is just 3 km away from the resort. From here you can take a sailboat to explore the famous Janjira Fort which is situated in the middle of the sea. In the evening one can take a walk on the beach or climb up to the Datta mandir or Idgah mosque on top of a hill about 2 km from the resort. The views of Murud town and the sunset from the hill are mesmerizing. Bicycles can be rented at the resort to explore the the town and its surroundings.

We enjoyed our stay here. The resort is very conveniently located and one can drive down in 4 or 5 hours to this beautiful seaside town from Mumbai or Pune.

Room Tip: Portuguese style beach villa is located about 2 minute walk from the main resort.

See more room tips

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Stayed April 2013, travelled with friends

My TripAdvisor Review No.12: Venna Lake, Mahabaleshwar

“Good for a Boat ride.”

Reviewed 14 March 2013

As you enter the hill town of Mahabaleshwar you will pass the Venna Lake, which is the most popular attraction of Mahabaleshwar. One can hire row boats and paddle boats. Horses are also available for rides. Nearby there are food stalls, game stalls and fun rides for kids.

Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.11: Mahabaleshwar Temple

“Refreshes your spirit.”

Reviewed 14 March 2013

We always visit this holy temple complex whenever we go to Mahabaleshwar. Five rivers originate from the Pancganga temple; Koyna, Venna, Krishna, Savitri and Gayatri.
There is also a Shiv temple, a Ram temple, a Hanuman temple, and a Radha-Krishna temple here.

Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.10: Mahabaleshwar Hill Station

“Best Hill Station in Maharashtra.”

Reviewed 14 March 2013

Mahabaleshwar is the most visited hill station in Maharashtra. The hill top is covered by a canopy of trees and shady all year round. There are many look out points with excellent views stretching over the valleys and right up to the Arabian sea. One can munch on strawberries available in the market.

Visited March 2013

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My TripAdvisor Review No.9: Connaught Peak, Mahabaleshwar

“Best view of Mahabaleshwar”

Reviewed 14 March 2013

You get a bird's eye view of Mahabaleshwar from here. There is a motor-able road leading to the point but you have to climb about 50 steps to reach the top, but it's well worth the trouble.

Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.8: Hotel Shreyas Orchid, Mahabaleshwar

“Hotel Shreyas Orchid - A Retreat in the Forests”

Reviewed 14 March 2013

You will see the name board of 'Shreyas Orchid' about half a km after passing Metgutad village on the Panchgani Mahabaleshwar road, but you will not be able to see the resort because it is hidden behind a canopy of large trees. In fact, the resort is surrounded by a forest of trees on three sides and a wooded cliff behind. The resort is run by the same group that owns Hotel Shreyas in Mahabaleshwar town.

We were shown the rooms on the second floor and immediately decided to take one of the bigger rooms, which had an exquisite view of the Venna valley from behind the tree tops. The room was well furnished and there was even a digital safe in the cupboard.

There was a beautiful little swimming pool with two trees growing in the middle. The water was pretty clear, though the attendant had to remove the falling leaves quite often. There were about half a dozen deck chairs and a hammock to relax in. A water slide came down from the top of the cliff and kids would surely enjoy using this to plunge into the pool.

They have an open verandah type of restaurant. They have a limited menu of home cooked Indian recipes, and we had to order our food at least two hours in advance because it was the off-season. However there are quite a number of restaurants nearby in the village and within walking distance. They even had the menu of 'Hirkani Garden Restaurant' from where the meal could be outsourced. We did order our breakfast and dinner at the hotel and the food was quite tasty and much to our liking. For breakfast we ordered poha and omelet bread.

Shreyas Orchid is about 6 km from Mahabaleshwar so it is more suited for people who would prefer to stay away from the noise and bustle of the main town. One can go for early morning and evening walks nearby, and enjoy the swimming pool, which is shaded by a canopy of trees, during the day. Makharia Point, from where one can view the Lingmala waterfalls, is within walking distance.

Needless to say, this hotel is easily accessible only if you have your own vehicle.

Room Tip: Rooms on the second floor have better views of the Venna valley.

See more room tips

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Stayed March 2013, travelled as a couple

My TripAdvisor Review No.7: Dwarka Homestay, Sawantwadi

“Paradise for Nature Lovers.”

Reviewed 28 February 2013

We were en route to South Goa, and checked into Dwarka home stay on the evening of 6th February 2013. We liked it so much that we decided to stay on for one more day.

We were welcomed with a glass of kokum juice, then checked into our room on the first floor. It was a very neat and clean room with a double bed, and a sofa which could be converted to a bed for two kids. There was a huge balcony overlooking a compound with a lot of alphonso mango trees. Mr. Dilip Aklekar made us feel as if we were part of his own family, come to visit from the big bad noisy city.

The food was delicious, and Mr. Dilip would also join us at breakfast and dinner and chat with us, telling us about the home grown ingredients that went into preparing the meal. Most of them were grown on his farm, or came from his ancestral home in Vengurla.

He was also our friend, philosopher and guide and helped us plan our sight-seeing trip to Malvan, where we were introduced to scuba-diving, and the next day to Vengurla, from where we drove down the coastal road to Goa.

We have made up our minds to revisit Dwarka home stay in the near future.

Stayed February 2013, travelled with family

My TripAdvisor Review No.6: Club Mahindra Tusker Trails, Thekkady, Kerala

“A Paradise in the forest.”

Reviewed 22 November 2010

This hotel is being run by Club Mahindra Holidays, and is now known as "Club Mahindra Tusker Trails". It is located in the town of Kumily on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. We stayed here in a rustic machan style cottage for 5 nights in May 2010 and had a very unique and refreshing experience.

The cottages are all situated in a spice plantation having coffee, cardamom, pepper, teak and fruit trees. We had a studio room which was quite spacious. The cottages are built on stilts and have thacthed roofs. However, the cottages are built a bit too close to each other, and the still of the night is often broken by human voices rather than the sounds of nature.

The climate in Thekkady is very pleasant all year round, being a hill station, hence there was no AC in the room, but an exhaust system had been provided. Each room had a balcony overlooking the lush greenery, and the bathrooms even had a tub for which they had provided us with bubble bath soap, to soak ourselves in luxury.

There was a small swimming pool, surrounded by huge jackfruit trees, but the water in the pool was a bit murky. They also have an Ayurveda centre and Activity centre with all the indoor games, and a badminton court.

The restaurant, called "The Periyar Room" served tasty local Kerala dishes. One can either have a-la-carte or buffet, and sometimes they have a live music performance. The prices are on the high side.

The hotel's Travel Desk provides assistance in booking for the ecotourism programmes in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, but it may be better to walk down to Ambadi junction nearby and book your trekking or rafting trip directly at the Eco-tourism office. The entrance to the Periyar Tiger Reserve is 2 km from the hotel.

We did some shopping in the Kumily spice market, which was 2 km in the other direction, and came back with our haul of cardamom, pepper and cloves.

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Stayed May 2010, travelled with family

My TripAdvisor Review No.5: Jasminn Hotel, Betalbatim, Goa

“Secluded Goan Getaway”

Reviewed 17 November 2010

Jasminn Resort is located near the village of Betalbatim in South Goa. We stayed here for 3 nights in the month of October 2010, and had a very pleasant and rejuvenating break from the routine.
It was quite easy to get a rickshaw from Madgaon station to the resort, a distance of about 9 km, and we were there after a short 20 minute ride. We had reserved in advance and were welcomed at the reception with a cool refreshing drink.
In the evening we were invited to the Club House for an informal get-tobether. The Activity Centre was equipped with all the indoor games like table tennis, chess, and carom. There was even a small library and an internet facility. Bicycles were available on hire, and we did use them the next evening, to make a trip to Betalbatim beach which is about 2 km away. We got to see a beautiful sunset.
There is a small but well maintained swimming pool on the premises, and we did not miss not having the beach nearby to go for a swim.
The in-house restaurant, Branco, which served a-la-carte as well as buffet, was however quite expensive, with very few Goan dishes on the menu. On enquiring we were told that a Goan buffet is served only on Tuesdays. The nearest Goan restaurant, Kingslee, was near the Betalbatim church, less than a km away. The other retaurant, Martin's Corner, was 2 km away. The latter has become quite famous for it's delicious Goan cuisine, and is visited by quite a few celebrities.
Colva beach is about 4 km from Jasminn, and there are more choices for dining here, as well as on the Colva-Majorda road. It is best to have your own transport if you are in Goa. Taxi fares can be quite prohibitive, and the cab drivers have their union and even prevent other taxis or auto rickshaws from approaching your hotel. This we found out to our dismay when we tried to arrange for a rickshaw to take us back to Madgaon station.
Overall we had a pleasant holiday, with morning and evening walks in the Goan countryside, a daily swim in the hotel pool, a bicycle ride to sunset beach, and sumptuous Goan food at Martin's Corner and Kingslee restaurants nearby.

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Stayed October 2010, travelled as a couple

My TripAdvisor Review No.4: Old Goa Residency

“A good base to explore Heritage Goa”

Reviewed 10 November 2010

Located at Old Goa this Hotel is a good stay option if you are interested in the historical and religious places of Goa. It is in the interiors of Goa and away from the more crowded beach resorts. The hotel is operated by the state run Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). The room tariff is reasonable and available on the website of GTDC.

We checked into an ordinary room without ac and it was quite clean and comfortable. Since it was the rainy season it was humid but not hot. There was a nice balcony to sit out and have our morning cuppa tea. The surroundings were green and peaceful.

We had dinner at the in house restaurant which offered local Goan cuisine. It was run by a private contractor and the prices were a bit high for a restaurant of average standards. The service at the hotel was average.

For breakfast next morning we walked down to a small cafe in the market nearby and had idli dosa and sweet pao with coffee. There are numerous stalls which sell wada pao also.

However this hotel is a good base to explore the magnificent churches of Old Goa. The Hindu temples at Ponda are also nearby, but would require a half day tour by car or taxi. Another fascinating excursion is to take a ferry and explore the Divar and Chorao islands, just across the Mandovi River. The St. Catherine ferry point is a 5 minute walk from the hotel.

If one wants to take a break from the beach circuit and explore the heritage sites of Goa at reasonable rates, then this is the place to stay.

Stayed September 2010, travelled as a couple

My TripAdvisor Review No.3: Hotel Landmark, Ratnagiri

“Great location for a Bird's Eye View of Ratnagiri.”

Reviewed 14 July 2010

We decided to halt for the night at Hotel Landmark, Ratnagiri, on the way back from Goa. It was quite reasonably priced and had a good location, perched atop a hill near the Thibaw Palace. A short walk away was the Thibaw Point, which is a picnic spot for the people of Ratnagiri. The view of the Ratnagiri coastline from here is amazing.

The rooms were reasonably clean, but had a damp and musty smell when we entered. We kept the windows open for some time and then it was OK. It was a in a quiet neighbourhood. They had a decent restaurant called 'Hang-Out' and the food was fairly good. We had tasty 'kanda poha', a Maharashtrian snack for breakfast.

The room service was good and they also had a swimming pool.

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Stayed August 2009, travelled as a couple

My TripAdvisor Review No.2: Backwater Heritage Homestay, Kottayam/Kumarakom, Kerala.

“At Home in God's Own Country.”

Reviewed 14 July 2010

This is a wonderful homestay run by Mr. Xavier Joseph and his family. It is pretty bungalow located on the banks of a tributary of the Meenachil river, situated between Kottayam and Kumarakom.

We arrived at Kottayam Rail station early in the morning and had to take a rickshaw to the homestay. Mr. Xavier explained to the driver how to get to his place which is about 8 km away. The Joseph family had to attend a function that day but they had been very gracious and kept a perfect Kerala lunch ready for us, including fried 'Karimeen' fish.

The room was very cosy and we decided to use the a.c. as the climate was quite hot and humid. The food served up by Mrs. Joseph was quite tasty and not very spicy. For breakfast we would be served idlis, puttu, with yummy sambar and chutney, followed by juice of mangoes from their garden. Of course, bananas could be had from the garden at any time of the day. We got a taste of many home cooked Kerala recipes in the three days we spent here.

Mr. Xavier was always available to guide us about the best places to visit. He showed us snakeboat parked across the river. Next day we took a backwater cruise to Kumarakom Lake in a covered motorboat arranged by him. Another day he had a canoe at our disposal at just Rs.100 for the full day! On the last day he drove us to Ayamenem and showed us Arundhati Roy's house.

Backwater Heritage Homestay is the best place if you want to get away from it all and spend a quiet vacation and still feel as if you had not left home!

Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Joseph and their family for making us feel at home in God's Own Country.

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Stayed May 2010, travelled with family

TripAdvisor Reviews: Review No.1 : The Metropolitan, Ernakulam.

“A very strategically located hotel, just a stone's throw from Ernakulam junction.”

Reviewed 13 July 2010

We were on our way back home from our Thekkady holiday in Kerala and had to catch our train, the Poorna Express from Ernakulam junction on 31st May after 11pm in the night. Hence we decided to stay at 'The Metropolitan', which is located just a hop, skip and a jump from the railway station. I had pre-selected this hotel before departing from Pune on 20th May, and had requested them to block a room for us for one night (30th May). Another deciding factor was that they had 24 hour check-out.

We arrived at 5pm by the Kumily-Kochi bus which terminates just outside the hotel gate. So all we had to do was walk into the hotel from the bus terminus. It had been raining and the road outside was slushy which made that small walk with our baggage a bit slippery, but the staff at the hotel were very helpful and we checked in without much ado. There was construction work in the adjoining plot and we were informed by the manager that this was due a new block of rooms being made for the upgradation of the hotel.

The room was centrally air conditioned and very comfortable. An extra mattress was provided for our teenage daughter at nominal extra charge. Only the view from the room was not that great due to the construction work of the new block.

They had a good restaurant 'Palms' serving Chinese, Mughlai, and Kerala recipes. That night they were having a kebab festival and we got to enjoy Reshmi kebabs and Prawns biryani. Next day, the breakfast was complimentary and we got all the regular South Indian stuff like idli, dosas, as well as the regular toast, butter, jam and eggs.

The Hotel is also near to the shopping and sight-seeing areas of Cochin and Ernakulam. One can walk down to MG Road which is the main shopping area, and the main boat jetty is 2.5 km away from where one can take a ferry to Kochi Fort, Vypeen Island or Bolghatty.

After a tasty Chinese dinner we checked out and ambled over to the Rail Junction to await our train to Pune. All-in-all, a very pleasant way to pass time in Cochin with some sight-seeing thrown in.

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• Stayed May 2010, travelled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC