My TripAdvisor Review No.220: Pal Dhaba, Chandigarh.

“Below Average for Vegetarians.”

Reviewed yesterday

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We visited this restaurant on the recommendation of our cab driver for its Punjabi food. They have two outlets in one of the shopping malls of Chandigarh.

However, being vegetarian on that day we ordered their Rajmah Rice and a Cheese Paratha with gravy. The gravy was very heavy and tasted very average. The Rajma Rice was floating on a layer of oil and was very spicy. Quantity was good but the quality was poor. Even the lassi was very flat and without any froth. The prices were above average for such fare.

The seating was on plastic chairs and tables, and the service was very unprofessional. I would not like to visit again, even for their famous butter chicken.

• Visited June 2017
  • Value
  • Service
  • Food

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.219: Rock Garden of Chandigarh.

“Best Sightseeing Attraction of Chandigarh.”

Reviewed yesterday

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This Rock Garden and the Rose Garden of Chandigarh are the two best sightseeing attractions of Chandigarh. The Rock Garden is also known as Nek Chand’s Rock Garden to honor the founder Mr. Nek Chand who conceived the idea of this garden in 1957. He painstakingly and secretly built his Fantasy Land over the next 18 years by collecting waste materials like broken bangles, electrical parts and fittings, and broken plates and waste ceramics. It was discovered by the authorities in 1975 and would have been demolished for being illegal, but public opinion saved it. It is now a memorial celebrating man’s creativity and ingenuity.

There is a big parking lot outside and we had to buy an entry ticket (Rs.30). It is open from 9 am to 7 pm (April to September) and 9 am to 6 pm (October to March). There is a restaurant inside run by CITCO where we had some refreshments before proceeding to explore the main garden.

We had to trek through many artificially created open air chambers with different landscapes and model houses and figures created with the recycled materials. Each chamber would give us the impression of being in a different kind of landscape with its own unique surroundings. There were many chambers with artificial waterfalls cascading down the hillsides. There were other chambers with an array of similar figures of man and animals. It was indeed fascinating to watch the different creations in each chamber.

It requires between 2 to 3 hours for a walk through the maze of pathways and corridors, to admire the varied landscape and creations in each chamber. It is photographers delight. It is best to do it early morning or evening as it can become very hot and sunny in the summer afternoons.

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Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.218: Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh.

“Good for an Evening Outing.”

Reviewed 2 days ago

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Sukhna Lake is a good place for an evening outing for the locals as well as tourists of Chandigarh. There are many colorful pedal boats available for a ride around the lake. There is also a nice promenade for a walk along the lake shore, with a garden on one side. There are many food stalls where one can enjoy snacks and soft drinks.

We visited the lake one afternoon in June and found it too hot to be out in the open. We relaxed a bit under the shady trees before going to the Rock Garden nearby.

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Visited June 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.217: Hotel Shiwalik, Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh.

“Welcomes You to the Hills of Himachal.”

Reviewed yesterday

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Hotel Shivalik is the very first hotel to welcome you to the state of Himachal as you enter from Kalka, Haryana. It is located next to the Chandigarh-Shimla Highway and just 2 km from Kalka Railway Station. Our train from Mumbai arrived at Kalka at 5 pm and we had decided to halt for 2 nights at Parwanoo before proceeding to Shimla. We booked the room a few days ahead on the HPTDC website.

To get to the hotel we had to hire a taxi from Kalka since the auto-rickshaws are not allowed to cross the border to Himachal. Our room was kept ready for us and we checked in without much ado, and explored the nearby areas on foot. Parwanoo in an industrial township and there was much traffic and chaos as we went deeper in to the town. However the area around the hotel was relatively clean and green. There is a Shiva temple just outside the gate, and a Ma Kali temple about 1 km away towards Kalka.

We had an aircon room with a small balcony from where we could see and hear the toy train to Shimla passing by as it climbed up the hill. There was small dressing room and a geyser in the bathroom. Extra mattress was provided for the third person. The furniture in the room was in need of some refurbishing and the cupboards were warped and damp.

There is a good restaurant where a lot of highway travellers stop for a meal and refreshments. For breakfast we went to the Cafe Shiwalik just outside the gates where we had aloo parathas and sandwiches at more reasonable rates.

We hired a taxi for the day and explored Chandigarh, Panchkula and Pinjore the next day. Stopping at Parwanoo at this hotel gave us time to refresh ourselves before proceeding towards Shimla. It is also a convenient night halt if you are taking the Heritage Toy Train to Shimla which starts at Kalka.

I would give Hotel Shivalik a three and half star rating.

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• Stayed June 2017, travelled with family
  • Rooms
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.216: Nawab Asia Restaurant, Pune.

“Mughlai Fine Dining at Balewadi High Street.”

Reviewed 2 days ago

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This restaurant serving both veg and non-veg traditional Mughlai dishes is located in Cummins India Office Complex on Balewadi High Street, just off the Aundh-Baner Main Road. It is quite popular and crowded on weekends and it is better to book your table in advance.

The seating is on low tables and chairs like nawabi thrones and divans, with cushions provided to make our backs comfortable. The ambience is like a Nawab’s Dining Hall during the Mughal Times. The service was prompt and responsive.

We sampled some starters viz. Fish Peeli Mirch Tikka, Murg Pasanda Kababs and Sabz-E-Gilavat and quite relished them with the onion rings, lemon and green mint chutney.

For the main course we had Murg (Chicken) Makhani, Jheenga (Prawn) Lahori, Mix Veg Makhani with different types of Indian breads like Lasooni Kali Mirch Roti, Naan and Pudina Paratha. The gravies were thick and creamy and quite tasty.

For the desserts we had Malai Kulfi and Paan Kulfi.

All in all it was a fine dining experience.

• Visited July 2017
  • Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g297654-d5906455-r502686801-Nawab_Asia-Pune_Pune_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.215: Kargo Restaurant and Bar, Pune.

“Good for Asian and Fusion Food.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

We visited this restaurant during the weekend and had to reserve the table for our group of about 20. We got seating on three separate tables as the place is always full on weekends.

We enjoyed a drink or two. Their Peach Iced Tea was very quenching. They have a separate menu card for hard drinks and cocktails as well.

They had very good finger foods and their Galauti Kababs were awesome. They also have Oriental foods from Burma, Indonesia and Thailand besides the regular Chinese. I tried out their Pattaya Curry with Prawns and it was quite tasty without being too spicy.

The service was fast and friendly. They served us complimentary cakes at the end. We were lucky to visit them on their anniversary day.

• Visited July 2017
  • Value
  • Service
  • Food

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g297654-d11760120-r500262307-Kargo_Kitchen_Bar-Pune_Pune_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.214: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

“Excellent Sanctuary for Trekkers.”

Reviewed 2 days ago

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Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctaury gets its name from the Bhimashankar Shiva Temple around which this sanctuary is located. It is about 120 km from Pune and the best route to get there by vehicle is via Manchar on the Pune Nashik Highway. There are State Transport buses which go directly to Bhimashankar from Pune at regular intervals.

There is no infrastructure like the other wildlife sanctuaries of India. Guides, Safaris, Forest Rest Houses or even vehicle tracks are non-existent inside the sanctuary, and it is best explored on foot. Just outside the temple there are walking pathways (pugdundies) leading into the jungles of stunted trees and bushes of the Western Ghats (Sahyadris). Many trekking organisations from Pune and Mumbai arrange these treks to the Sahyadris especially during the monsoons (rainy season).

There are a few private resorts in the buffer zone as you enter the sanctuary. We stayed in one of these resorts during our visit and would take morning and evening walks into the sacred groves of the forest. The climate was very pleasant during the early mornings and late evenings even in the month of May, since it is a rocky plateau at an elevation of around 800 metres above MSL. Though we did not see any wild life besides rhesus monkeys and different species of birds, the sanctuary is famous for the Giant Indian squirrel. Leopards, hyenas, jackals and snakes have been seen in the deeper parts of the jungle.

The best time to visit Bhimashankar is from July to February after the rains, when the forests become lush and green, and many waterfalls can be seen in the surrounding hills.

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Visited May 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.213: Bhimashankar Temple.

“Holy Shiva Temple in the Sahyadri Hills.”

Reviewed 2 days ago

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Bhimashankar Temple is one of the 12 holy Jyotirlinga Shiva Temples of India. It is located at the western edge of the Sahyadri Hill range in Maharashtra, and is about 120 km from Pune by road. One has to travel up to Manchar on the Pune Nashik highway and then take a left turn to Bhimashankar. It is about 65 km from Manchar.

After reaching the temple entrance we had to walk down about 250 steps to reach the shrine. Luckily the steps are covered by an awning all the way down so it was not very hot. Be careful of the monkeys though, on the way. There are small shops to buy the offerings like coconut, sweets and flowers lining both sides of the stairway. There are some snacks and tea stalls as well.

The temple itself is well organised with railings to keep the rush of devotees in an organised queue. It was a Monday when there is maximum rush of devotees but we were able to get a darshan within the hour. The priest was kind enough to let us give an offering of milk on the Shiva lingam at the centre of the sanctum. There are some priests sitting outside the sanctum who take offerings in cash to perform specific pujas like abhishek. One can also sit outside the sanctum on the floor for a while to pray and meditate on the Lord, ‘Om Namah Shivaay’.

Legend has it that the Lord Shiva had fought with the demon Bheema, the son of Kumbakarna, and reduced him to ashes in a flash of lightning. Hence the name of the site became Bhimashankar. The river Bhima (formed by the sweat which flowed from Shiva’s body) also originates here and flows southwards to join the River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh.

Visited May 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.212: Ratwa Resort, Bhimashankar.

“Far Away From the Hustle and Bustle.”

Reviewed 3 days ago

NEW

This is a very calm and peaceful resort located just 6 km before Bhimashankar temple. It is located on the main road and you cannot miss it while going to the temple. The rooms are situated in individual cottages which are quite well spaced out and you can park your car right next to your cottage.

The rooms are quite large and clean with a cupboard and dining table and chairs. The bathroom is also quite spacious and has a geyser for running hot water. However there is no TV or air conditioning and no mobile connectivity except for BSNL. They do have a generator in case of power outage.

They have a restaurant where they serve simple vegetarian meals freshly made in their kitchen. You can place the order about an hour in advance if you want it as per your likes with less oil and spices. We enjoyed the taste of their simple recipes.

This is a place to go to if you want to visit the Bhimashankar Temple or to just get away from the hustle and bustle of big city life. Even though we visited in the month of May it was not too hot, and the mornings and late evenings were very pleasant for a walk out in the cool climate, amidst the forests and greenery.

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• Stayed May 2017, travelled as a couple
  • Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.211: Hotel Aryaa Regency, Ozar.

“Clean and Well Maintained Hotel in Small Town Ozar.”

Reviewed yesterdayNEW

Ozar is a small town in the interior of Maharashtra, about 100 km from Pune. It is famous for its Ganpati Temple as it is one of the AshtaVinayak Ganpatis. The Lenyadri Caves and Ganpati Cave Temple is also nearby. The famous Shivneri Fort is also nearby at Junnar. We also visited Malshej Ghat from here.

We stayed for 3 days at the Hotel Aryaa Regency as it happened to be one of the cleanest and better maintained hotels in Ozar, Junnar and Lenyadri. The rooms were nice and cosy and well within our budget. We had a small balcony which overlooked the Ganpati Temple and we could sit there and listen to the morning and evening aartis. There was an LCD TV and a small cupboard in the room and the bathroom had running hot water.

The restaurant was also very neat and clean and served the local vegetarian dishes which were quite tasty. The service was courteous.

We had a very relaxing and peaceful stay at Hotel Aryaa Regency.

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• Stayed December 2016, travelled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.210: Pavana Lake, Lonavala.

“Remote but Beautiful.”

Reviewed 2 days agoNEW

This lake is about 20 km away from Lonavala town, but can be approached also from Pune via Paud and Mulshi. The latter approach is not very good due to rough roads so it is better to go via Lonavala, INS Shivaji and the Amby Valley Road.

The surroundings of the lake are very beautiful and peaceful. There are many exotic birds to be seen and heard early morning and late evening. It is best to go during winter and monsoon seasons when the climate is cooler. The Pavana Dam is constructed on one side of the lake.

We stayed in a resort overlooking the lake and got to witness a beautiful sunrise early one morning. The Tung Fort is very near the lake on the western side.

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Visited March 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.209: Cafe Goa, Pune.

“Delights of Goan Food in Pune.”

Reviewed 2 days agoNEW

One of the best things about Goa is to have a lazy afternoon sitting in a beach shack and enjoying a spicy local Goan meal, and this was what we were craving for one afternoon last week. We found ‘Cafe Goa’ quite by chance while searching on the internet for the best seafood restaurants in Pune.

The restaurant is quite close to our house and still relatively undiscovered. It is just off the new road leading to airport and close to the Maruti Nexa showroom in Viman Nagar, tucked away in a building called ‘Faith Centre’.

It is a small Cafe which can accommodate about 6 tables including the outdoor seating, and it is not air conditioned, so it may become a bit uncomfortable in the hot season. But the taste of the Goan dishes were genuine, and the music and the pictures on the walls brought back sweet memories of our holidays in Goa.

We ordered some simple dishes like Prawn Curry Rice, Surmai Curry Rice and Fried Pomfret in Rechadeo masala with pao. It tasted exactly like what we have had at the beach-side shacks in Goa. The prices too were quite affordable.

We would definitely be visiting ‘Cafe Goa’ more often in future.

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• Visited March 2017
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.208: Tung Fort, near Lonavala.

“Small Fort but with a Steep Ascent.”

Reviewed 2 days agoNEW

Tung Fort is about 25 km from Lonavala. The base of the ascent starts just about 2 km before reaching Club Mahindra Resort at Lake Pavana. The climb is not recommended for the faint hearted.

There is a parking area near the base of the hill on which the fort is situated. There is a small Hanuman Temple nearby at the base. The road leading up to it is very narrow.

After parking your vehicle at the base there is no other option but to climb it on foot. The initial ascent is very steep and slippery because of loose rubble and rocks. After the initial ascent the climb becomes easier and one can accomplish the trek in an hour. Be sure to wear your hiking shoes and carry a water bottle.

The view from the top is indeed mesmerising with the Lake Pavana in the foreground and the Lohagad, Visapur, Tikona and Koraigad forts visible in the surrounding hills. It is well worth the climb.

There are very few eating joints nearby, but we managed to find a small dhaba by the name of ‘Holiday Garden Dhaba’ where we got some delicious ‘kande pohe’.

Visited March 2017

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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My TripAdvisor Review No.207: Club Mahindra - Tungi Lake Pavana.

“Best Club Mahindra Resort in Maharashtra.”

Reviewed 2 days agoNEW

Club Mahindra’s resort at Tungi Lake Pavana is arguably one of their best resorts in Maharashtra. It is located about 26 km from Lonavala town off the Mumbai Pune Expressway.

Coming from Pune you have to take a left turn at Kumar Resort and carry on ahead of INS Shivaji till you reach Cloud 9 Resort. Just after Cloud 9 you will find a turn on the left pointing you towards the Club Mahindra Resort. The resort is 9.9 km from this turning, and it is a narrow country road going uphill through the ghats and forests. Much of the road has been repaired and only a small patch of about half a kilometre was still being repaired when we went in early March.

As soon as you enter the gates it is like arriving in paradise. You have to abandon your car which will be driven to a huge parking lot by the valet, and you will be taken in the resort vehicle to your room. Our check-in was fast and we were in our 1BR apartment within half an hour.

Our room was very well furnished, and there was a small kitchenette with a microwave and a fridge, a covered sit-out where we could have our morning cuppa and watch the sunrise, a bedroom, and a living room with TV, and a walk in closet with an e-safe.

There are 3 swimming pools with one of them being an infinity pool overlooking the Sahyadri hills and valley. There is a basketball and badminton court, a spa, gym and activity room with plenty of indoor games. Bicycles are available on hire and they also arrange Lake and Forest treks. We wanted to go on a trek to the Tung Fort which is just a few kilometres from the resort, but this could not be arranged as the climb is quite difficult and not for the faint hearted.

The restaurant, ‘Ripples’, is well laid out, with a separate section for the buffet and ala-carte. The buffet meals are quite expensive, but the ala-carte section had good options and quite tasty as well. They also have the ‘Gourmet Express’ where meals in a box are delivered to your room.

This resort is a place where you can go for a spell of rest and relaxation, but not too amenable to sight-seeing and monument hopping. You can go for long walks within and just outside the resort and even spot some exotic birds. In fact, the resort units are all named after the birds, and we stayed in the one named ‘Golden Plover’.

We had a very relaxed four day vacation and would love to come again at least once every year.

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• Stayed March 2017, travelled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g608474-d2709543-r466201010-Tungi_Lake_Pavna-Lonavala_Maharashtra.html#