My TripAdvisor Review No.340: Khimji Bhagwandas Arogyabhavan, Nashik.

Pilgrim's Inn In The Heart of Holy City Nashik.

We were pleasantly surprised with the facilities available for the pilgrims at Khimji Bhagwandas Arogyabhavan. It is run by a Trust formed by the Gujarati Lohana community, but is open to all tourists who visit Nashik for a pilgrimage, or otherwise. It was more like a 4 star hotel, and not at all like a ‘bhakta bhavan’ which you see at most of the pilgrimage places.

Though it is located at the centre of Nashik, bang opposite the Ramkund ghat in the Panchavati area of Nashik, once you are inside the hotel you feel insulated from the crowds and noise below. They have a secure basement parking which can accommodate about 10 cars. The parking is chargeable at Rs.100 per night.

All the rooms are ac and have a large LCD TV with cable connection. The room is well furnished and can accommodate an extra adult or two kids. There is a large cupboard with an electronic safe, and a separate dressing room. The washroom was also good with an enclosed bathing area, and a wash basin with a granite platform. Clean towels, soap, shampoo sachets and toilet paper were provided.

The room tariff, which was quite reasonable for the facilities provided, included all meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening tea. The Gujarati thali was simple and tasty, quite like home food, and we enjoyed being served like royalty, in the small and clean dining hall.

Our room was on the third floor, and the balcony attached to our room provided an excellent view of the holy city and the Godavari River. We would definitely like to stay here if we visit Nashik again.

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• Stayed: June 2018, travelled as a couple
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My TripAdvisor Review No.339: Chitrakoot Hill Resort, Saputara.

Excellent Gujarati Thali.

As you travel towards Saputara you will see the sign boards of ‘Chitrakoot Hill Resort’ by the roadside, and the directions of how to reach there. It is on the main road very near to Sunset Point. We decided to try out their Gujarati Thali which they advertise for Rs.139.

We parked outside their gate. It is actually a decent sized hotel with a very well planned campus and layout at different levels. As we entered we noticed the gardens with lots of trees and green foliage, with life size replicas of animals like elephant, deer and chital. There was a nice playground for kids, and they have a swimming pool as well.

Their dining room was on the first floor next to the reception. It was well laid out, neat and clean though not air conditioned. We got a corner table next to the open windows overlooking the gardens and the hills beyond.

Their simple Gujarati thali had two vegetables, dal, chapatti, rice, papad and pickle. We decided to have their special thali with additional farsan and sweet dish, which costs slightly more. Punjabi Thali and ala carte dishes were also available. The food was good, without extra oil and spices, and tasted like home food. The service was also very prompt and friendly. We quite enjoyed our meal.

Although we did not spend the night here, we liked the ambience and surroundings of the hotel, and made a mental note to stay at Chitrakoot Hill Resort on our next visit to Saputara.

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• Stayed: June 2018, travelled as a couple
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My TripAdvisor Review No.338: Ropeway Cable Car, Saputara.

Enjoy A Sky Ride.

The Ropeway Cable Car is privately operated by the Vaity Resort, which is situated very near the Table Point in Saputara. It has a private parking lot, and is crowded with holiday makers and kids on a weekend or during the vacations.

We wanted to take the joy ride which starts from near Table Point and carries you to the second sunset point of Saputara on the adjoining hill, about half a kilometre across. It gives an enchanting view of the Saputara valley, the lake and the adjoining plains, and a beautiful sky view. But we saw an extremely long queue waiting to buy the tickets, which cost Rs.62 per head for a to & fro ride. So we decided to visit the Adventure Park, instead of wasting 2 hours waiting to buy a ticket for the 15 minute ride.

If you and your kids are keen to have the ropeway ride without much hassle, then it is better to visit on a weekday, early in the morning at 9 am, opening time. It is closed for lunch from 1 am to 2 pm, and closes again in the evening at 7 pm.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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• Stayed: June 2018, travelled as a couple
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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.

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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.

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• Stayed: June 2018, travelled as a couple
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