My TripAdvisor Review No.337: Sunrise Point, Saputara.

Good Point, But Still Being Beautified.

Sunrise Point is at the other end of Saputara hill town, away from the main attractions like Sunset Point, Lake, Ropeway, et al. There is a steep motorable ghat road leading up to the point. The road seemed to have been recently done up or repaired, as it was in quite a good condition. There is a huge parking lot at the base, from where we had to trek up to the top of the hill.

The point is quite well laid out like a step garden, but there was very little greenery to soothe the eyes. It could be because we were visiting at the end of summer, and the rains had still not arrived with its beautiful magical green carpet. Also there were very few trees to break the monotony of the brown landscape.

The only good thing about the Sunrise Point is its layout. It has been developed at different layers with a dedicated area for walkers and joggers. There are many benches along the way, where the senior citizens can relax for a while, and guard railings have been installed for safety at the periphery of each terrace. We got a 360 degree view of Saputara town from the top.

We visited the point at mid-day and it was quite warm. Of course, the best time to visit would be at sunrise, and that is around 6 am in summer.

Ask EkMusafir about Sunrise Point

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156008-d2633726-r594790906-Sunrise_Point-Saputara_Dangs_District_Gujarat.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.336: Table Point, Saputara.

Many Activities and Rides Available.

Table Point is also known as Adventure Park of Saputara hill town. It is close to the starting point of the Vaity Rope Way also. There is a narrow ghat road winding up to the Table Point and you have to drive carefully up. There are two parking lots, the lower one is reserved exclusively for the Vaity Rope Way customers, and the upper one is the pay-and-park for the Table Point. The charges are Rs.30 for one time parking.

A lot of activities and rides are available on the wide open plateau, which looks very much like the Table Land at Panchgani. We saw people enjoying mini scooter rides, tandem bike rides, camel rides, pony rides and battery operated cars. Paragliding can be done at the far eastern ridge of Table Point. If you get exhausted with all these activities then there are many refreshment stalls where we get hot snacks or cold drinks.

We enjoyed a quiet walk around the edge of Table Point. There were good views overlooking the plains and a stiff breeze blowing. At one end there was a steep cliff where people were taking ‘selfies’ in spite of a warning sign prohibiting selfies beyond that point. We had a plate of onion pakoras and a cup of coffee before leaving.

Ask EkMusafir about Table Point

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156008-d9975791-r594192765-Table_Point-Saputara_Dangs_District_Gujarat.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.335: Sunset Point, Saputara.

Good Place to View Sunset.

Sunset Point is also known as Table Point or Adventure Park of Saputara hill town. Best time to go here is around 6 pm in summer so that one can view the sun as it is setting. We went a bit too early so we did not actually witness the beauty of the sunset, but we did enjoy a cool walk around the huge plateau.

It is also near to the place where you can take the ropeway to another nearby peak. In addition there are many other activities like scooter and bicycle rides, pony and camel rides, or just relax with a snack or ice candy.

There is a pay-and-park for cars, which charges Rs.30 for the day. You can spend as much time as you like here. Kids would enjoy the rides.

Ask EkMusafir about Sunset Point

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156008-d2625824-r593987116-Sunset_Point-Saputara_Dangs_District_Gujarat.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.334: Saputara Lake.

Center of Attraction in Saputara.

Saputara Lake is the main attraction of this hill town in Gujarat. Even in the summer month of June when we visited there was sufficient water to enjoy a pleasant session of boating.

There is sufficient parking around the lake, though most of it is ‘Pay-and-Park’ for which the charges are Rs.30 for the day. Or you can leave your car in your hotel and walk down if you are staying nearby. There are many shops and eateries around the lake area, including small stalls which sell snacks and baked corn. We even had a quick breakfast of egg omelette with pao (local bread) on one of the days when we were walking around the lake.

The lake area is a good place to have a good time in Saputara. The Lake Garden, Nageshwar Mahadev temple, Tribal Museum and Rose Garden are other nearby attractions.

Show less

See all 6 reviews by EkMusafir for Saputara

Ask EkMusafir about Saputara Lake

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

My TripAdvisor Review No.333: Lake Garden, Saputara.

Nice Garden.

There is a nice small garden on the banks of the Saputara Lake. We stopped at the garden as soon as we entered the hill town from the Maharashtra side. There is a pay-and-park area in front of the garden, and a jogging track besides it. It is well maintained and ideal for a picnic or an evening walk. There is no entry fee. It is open from 10 am to 8 pm on all days.

There are nice grassy lawns, trees, flower beds and a play area for kids. I saw some families with their picnic baskets spread out on the lawns. We had a stroll around the garden, enjoying the breeze and saw some tourists enjoying a boat ride in the lake.

There are many snacks and refreshments stalls, and some restaurants outside the garden. Many visitors stop to relax here en route to the main attractions of Saputara, like the Adventure Park, Sunset Point, and Ropeway.

Show less

See all 5 reviews by EkMusafir for Saputara

Ask EkMusafir about Lake Garden

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

My TripAdvisor Review No.332: Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, Saputara.

Spiritual Vibes.

The Nageshwar Mahadev Temple is a calm, clean, green and spiritual place in Saputara. As soon as we entered Saputara from the Maharashtra side we took a left turn before the Lake Garden at the circle, and found the temple on the right side of the road just after the garden gate.

It was around noon time and there was no priest or devotees around so we had a quiet darshan and parikrama of the well maintained temple. There were some steps leading up to the platform with a small Nandi bull outside the sanctum which had the lingam, which was shielded by the hood of a snake. The temple had a very nice stone carved ceiling, and was surrounded by many plants and an old peepal tree.

Monday mornings could get a bit crowded, as devotees of Lord Shiva worship mostly on Mondays.

Lake Garden is adjacent to Nageshwar Mahadev Temple. An early morning visit would give one good vibes for the day.

Ask EkMusafir about Nageshwar Mahadev Temple

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156008-d2625819-r593165936-Nageshwar_Mahadev_Temple-Saputara_Dangs_District_Gujarat.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.331: Mazzale Restaurant, Saputara.

Enjoyed Their Sizzler.

Mazzale Restaurant is located in the basement of Shilpi Hill Resort, near Saputara Lake. The resort has a nice garden and sufficient parking space for walk-in diners too.

The ac restaurant was quite spacious, but still had a cosy ambience, with the blinds drawn to keep out the afternoon heat. We wanted to have their Gujarati Thali, but found it to be a bit expensive, so we decided to share a Chinese Sizzler. It was a good choice, as it was quite healthy with all the vegetables as well as some rice and noodles thrown in. Service was courteous but a bit slow. By the time they served us all the steam had sizzled away.

They serve buffet meals, as well as ala-carte. Prices are reasonable, maybe on the slightly higher side.

We quite enjoyed the sizzler and it was quite filling too.

Ask EkMusafir about Mazzale Restaurant

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156008-d14113432-r592897334-Mazzale_Restaurant-Saputara_Dangs_District_Gujarat.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.330: Sugar N Spice Restaurant, Saputara.

Decent but Expensive.

We happened to visit this restaurant in Hotel Lake View, located opposite the Saputara Lake, for breakfast, after having a walk around the lake. There is sufficient parking space in front of the restaurant. The ac restaurant was neat and clean with well laid out tables and chairs and quite spacious and with good natural lighting.

All the regular breakfast items were available, but the prices were on the higher side. They serve Punjabi, South Indian, Gujarati, Chinese and Fast Food, but only pure vegetarian. The service was courteous and efficient. We had a good cup of coffee, which they served with an extra sachet of coffee and sugar.

Ask EkMusafir about Sugar N Spice

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1156008-d8666403-r592748121-Sugar_N_Spice-Saputara_Dangs_District_Gujarat.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.329: Hatgad Fort, near Saputara.

Go for a Trek Up to the Fort.

Hatgadh Fort is located about 6 km south of the hill station of Saputara in Gujarat. It was built by the Maratha King Chatrapati Shivaji, and lies in the northern part of the Sahyadri hill range, in the state of Maharashtra, strategically overlooking the Gujarat border. It is on the top of a plateau which rises about 600 feet from the level ground, which itself is at about 3000 feet above mean sea level.

We were staying at Club Mahindra Hatgad, and the Fort serves as a majestic backdrop vista to the resort. I decided to ‘conquer’ the fort by trekking to the top all by myself. It was a stiff uphill climb and I accomplished the 1.5 km climb in about 40 minutes, taking a few breaks to recover my breath. About 1 km climb is a motorable road, and the remaining climb is a steep flight of steps built along the rocky hillside.

On reaching the top one gets a feeling of accomplishment, like conquering a mountain peak. At 8 am in the morning I was the only person on the deserted and ruined fort. There was a stiff breeze which quickly dried my perspiration. The view of the surrounding plains was mind-blowing. The pre monsoon winds were blowing up wisps of clouds making the scenery look even more ethereal. There were a couple of broken down watch-towers, and some water tanks which were full of brackish water. The edges of the plateau were barricaded by huge boulders and an iron safety railing which had been more recently installed.

The climb down and walk to the resort took only 20 minutes. One can drive half-way up to the fort, and walk up the steps for the remaining distance, but vehicles can enter only between 8.30 am to 5 pm, via the forest department check-post.

It is an excellent hill trek which can be enjoyed by trekking enthusiasts of all ages.

Show less

Ask EkMusafir about Hatgadh Fort

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

My TripAdvisor Review No.328: Club Mahindra, Hatgad, near Saputara.

Excellent Getaway in the Middle of Nowhere.

This resort is located at the border of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The main attraction is the hill town of Saputara, which is 6 km away, and the only hill station of Gujarat. Nashik is the nearest city about 80 km south, and the road to Saputara from Nashik passes through Dindori, Vani and Borgaon. Shivaji’s fort of Hatgad is on top of a hill very close to the resort and one can trek up to the ruined fort from the resort.

We spent a leisurely 4 days at the resort enjoying the calm and serene atmosphere in the mornings. We would drive up to Saputara and explore the various points, the lake, the ropeway, and the temples; then have a Gujarati thali lunch at one of the hill resorts in Saputara, and come back to the Club and relax on the lawn or the terrace in the evening. The swimming pool at the resort was much too small for a proper swim, and would anyway be crowded with kids and their dads teaching them how to float. The lawn in the centre is a major attraction and they had laid out chairs, benches and charpoys for people to relax on. There was a Fun-Zone with all the indoor games like snooker, table-tennis, chess and carom, and bicycles were available for hire to ride around the campus. The main attraction for the small kids was the trampoline, and I saw some grown-up kids enjoying it too. For the ladies there is a nice Souvenir Shop, which had sarees, kurtas, salwar-kameez, onyx show pieces and chess sets, and other Rajasthani artefacts.

Our studio room was spacious and air conditioned, with a small sit-out. There was a large flat screen TV, electric kettle, a microwave oven, two sofas, coffee table, and a large cupboard. The bathroom was well stocked with hand and shower gel, hair dryer and an enclosed shower area.

House-keeping service was very prompt and efficient, and would replenish our tea, coffee, milk powder and sugar-free sachets at short notice. Kishore, Bhojprakash, and Ajaz were very helpful and friendly. We had an ala-carte meal at the restaurant and enjoyed the 'chicken methi' dish with naan. We did not do all day buffet dining as we would visit Saputara for lunch, and the buffet was way too expensive for our small appetites.

It is better to drive to this resort in your own vehicle as there is not much to do nearby, except climb up to the Hatgad Fort. Saputara is a 10 minute drive and we would drive up once a day, sight-see, have lunch and return for a snooze in the afternoon. There is parking space for about 30 cars near the gate, and during weekends the cars would spill out of the resort, but security was good, so no complaint on that score.

All in all we had a good time at Club Mahindra Hatgad.

Show less

• Stayed: June 2018, travelled as a couple
  • Value
  • Sleep Quality
  • Service

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Nashik

Ask EkMusafir about Club Mahindra Hatgad

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

My TripAdvisor Review No.327: Sula Vineyards, Nashik.

Intoxicating Place to Visit.

Sula Vineyards is one of the best secular attractions around Nashik. Only people who worship good food, wine, and appreciate fabulous scenery should visit this place. The only temple to visit here is the Winery, and they periodically have a musical ‘mela’ called the ‘Sulafest’.

Sula is located about 15 km from Nashik on the Gangapur Road, and we could see the waters of the Gangapur Lake from the estate. There are huge farmlands where they grow their grapes. Entry to the estate is free, but we had to pay for their wine tour and tasting. There are also 3 fine dining restaurants, ‘Soma’, ‘Little Italy’ and ‘The Tasting Room’ on the premises, and we could taste their wines in ‘The Tasting Room’ along with snacks and lunch, without taking the tour. It is in an open balcony with a great view of the vineyards and the Gangapur Lake. Prices are on the high side and service was slow.

We also visited their resort ‘The Source at Sula’ which was like a Spanish hacienda, where one can stay. It has luxurious rooms and tree houses, set in a courtyard with extensive gardens, as well as a swimming pool and tennis court; a good place to relax and unwind.

The place gets very crowded on the weekends, and it is better to visit on a weekday. There is a large open ground for parking, just outside the gates.

As we were leaving we visited their ‘Gift & Bottle Shop’ where you can buy your favorite wine. We picked up some T-shirts and chocolates as souvenirs.

Ask EkMusafir about Sula Vineyards

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g303883-d497960-r591604615-Sula_Vineyards-Nashik_Nashik_District_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.326: Teerth Villa, Nashik.

Much Like A Home Stay.

We stopped here for a night on our way to Saputara from Pune. It is located near Pathardi Phata, and we had to take a left turn about 8 km before entering Nashik city from the Pune – Nashik highway (NH-60). We found it in a narrow lane of a residential colony, and parked our car just outside the villa.

We checked into our ground floor room, which was of modest size but well furnished and very neat, clean and well maintained. There was a small flat screen TV, a cupboard, bedside tables and a plastic chair provided. Towels, soaps, shower gel and shampoo, and hot water were available in the bathroom. They also provided free wi-fi, at least in the lobby. Their tariff was very reasonable.

We had dinner in their dining hall after placing the order 2 hours in advance. Since it is small place they only make the meal after getting a prior order, and the food is very tasty and homely. In the morning too, we had a large bowl of poha for breakfast.

Teerth Villa is located very close to the famous Pandavleni Caves which we visited the next morning. On the way from Pune we passed Devlali and got a chance to visit the Regiment of Artillery Museum.

The only downside of this place is that it is located in a narrow lane, so parking can be a problem if they have too many guests. They do not have much of a compound, though it is covered by a pretty garden, and a cage with some birds, mainly small budgerigars.

Show less

• Stayed: June 2018, travelled as a couple
  • Value
  • Rooms
  • Service

Ask EkMusafir about Teerth Villa

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

My TripAdvisor Review No.325: Club Mahindra Virajpet, Coorg.

Rain Forest Paradise.

This was our second Visit to Club Mahindra Virajpet in the Coorg district of Karnataka. As usual we drove down from Bangalore via Mysore, Hunsur, and Gonikoppal and Virajpet town. The last part of the road, about 4 km, was still in a bad condition even though it had been under repairs on our last trip.

We wanted to be woken up by bird song in the morning, so I asked our guide, Ishika, for a room next to the forest. She obliged and allotted us a room in the Albatross Wing (each wing is named after a species of butterfly) with a ‘plantation view’. It overlooked the coffee plantation and the dense forest of trees beyond. We could hear the barbets and bulbuls twittering in the branches from the nice sit-out. Appanna helped us with our luggage and drove us down to our room, after parking our car in the parking lot.

Our ac studio room was well furnished with a king size bed and another folding bed. There was an LCD TV, microwave oven, electric kettle, and crockery and cutlery in the dry kitchenette. There is a round dining table with three chairs, and we could rustle up a quick meal with some of the ready to eat food packets we had brought with us. Once we ordered a meal which was delivered to us by their ‘Gourmet Express’. Of course there was the option of two good restaurants as well, one serving buffet (Aromas) and the other ala carte (Coorgenburg). The house keeping service was excellent, and Nasir was ever obliging and took good care of us. One evening he gave us a pleasant surprise by decorating our room with balloons and buntings. There was a complimentary cake on our table with Anniversary wishes even though the event was in the next month.

There is a nice big swimming pool and a fun-zone with plenty of activities for the kids. There is a gym and spa, and a shop named ‘Wolf-Pack’ where we bought some souvenirs. There are many activities organised for the mornings, and entertainment in the evenings, and one can never get bored even if you don’t go out for sight-seeing.

There are no decent restaurants outside within a radius of 5 km of the resort. One can buy basic necessities like eggs, bread, biscuits and junk snacks, from a small shop near the parking lot.

For sight-seeing we visited a Ganesh temple and St. Anne’s church in Virajpet (13 km), the Igguthappa temple, Nalknad Palace and Thadiandamol peak (22 km), Iruppu Falls (60 km), and Nagarhole (65 km). Other popular places of Coorg are closer to Madikeri (40 km).

We enjoyed our stay in Club Mahindra Virajpet. It is more a like place where you can come, switch off your digital devices and just chill out, enjoy the beauties of nature, and go for long walks into the plantations.

Show less

Room Tip: Ask for a 'plantation view' room if you like to be woken up by bird song.

See more room tips

• Stayed: February 2018, travelled as a couple
  • Sleep Quality
  • Cleanliness
  • Service

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Virajpet

Ask EkMusafir about Club Mahindra Virajpet, Coorg

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

My TripAdvisor Review No.324: Marine Drive, Mumbai.

The Queen's Necklace.

We last visited Marine Drive recently on a short trip to Mumbai. It had not changed much from our childhood days when we used to live in this big city, only the traffic has multiplied multi fold since then. It is a beautiful road curving along the Arabian Sea Back Bay in South Mumbai.

I remember walking up to the Hanging Gardens (Kamala Nehru Park) on Malabar Hill in the evenings, and waiting till dusk just to look down at the ‘Queen’s Necklace’ from the lookout point. We could see the entire sweep of Marine Drive from the sandy ‘Chowpatty Beach’ to the tall sky-scrapers of Nariman Point, and beyond. The bright street lights lining the 3 km stretch of Marine Drive would make it look like a necklace with shining jewels, hence the name ‘Queen’s Necklace’.

We took a local train from Bandra to Marine Lines Station, to get to our destination on Marine Drive. One can also get off at Charni Road Station to go to the ‘Chowpatty Beach’ end, or at Churchgate Station to get to the Nariman Point end of Marine Drive. The Taraporewala Aquarium, where one can see rare fish is also located on Marine Drive.

Early mornings one can see the entire stretch of footpath along Marine Drive being used as a jogging or walking track, while in the evenings people come for a leisurely stroll or just to sit on the parapet wall and witness a beautiful sunset. During the monsoons when the sea becomes very rough and the waves threaten to engulf the protective tripods lining the shoreline, many visitors come just to witness the fury of nature.

Marine Drive is one of the iconic attractions of Mumbai. At least a drive or a walk along the promenade is a must to witness the beauty of this ‘Maximum City’.

Ask EkMusafir about Marine Drive

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304554-d321437-r578010695-Marine_Drive-Mumbai_Maharashtra.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.323: Bora Bora Restuarant, Bandra, Mumbai.

Good Food, Great Ambience.

This place was located just opposite to where we were staying in Bandra, on a short visit to Mumbai. We went for a Sunday lunch and got a table in the a/c section. They do have outdoor seating as well. The ambience and decor was quite good, and the dining hall was very spacious. They serve mainly pan Asian and Indian Mughlai food.

We asked the waiter for his recommendations and he was quite friendly and chatty. We ordered Chicken Tequila for starters with our drinks. It was good. For mains we ordered Chicken Tikka Masala with Lachha Paratha, and Mexican Grilled Fish Platter. Food was quite tasty and we enjoyed our meal. Service was courteous and friendly. Prices were quite reasonable for a fine dining experience.

Ask EkMusafir about Bora Bora

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304554-d7978366-r577873400-Bora_Bora-Mumbai_Maharashtra.html#