My TripAdvisor Review No.344: Kalaram Temple, Nashik.

Ancient Temple Dedicated to Lord Rama.

This is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama, who lived in Nashik during his 14 years of exile. It is called Kalaram because the idols of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Laxman, who accompanied him during his exile, are all made of black (kala in Hindi) stone. There is also a black stone idol of Lord Hanuman, with folded hands, near the entrance.

It is a very prominent temple in the Panchavati area of Nashik and thousands of pilgrims visit it every day. Finding parking around the temple can be a problem. Luckily for us, we had decided to hire a local auto-rickshaw whose driver showed us all the nearby temple and pilgrimage sites. We even left our footwear in the rickshaw before entering the temple.

It is a beautiful temple within a large compound, with some very old trees surrounding it, and well worth a visit. It was built in the 18th century by Sardar Rangarao Odhekar, after he found the black stone idol in the River Gadavari, near Ramkund.

The temple is open for worshippers from 5 am to 10 pm.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.343: Ramkund, Nashik.

Wash Away Your Sins.

Ramkund is a sacred tank located next to Ganga Ghat in the Panchvati area of Nashik. It is on the banks of the River Godavari which passes through the centre of the holy town of Nashik in Maharashtra.

It is supposed to be a very holy place for the Hindus, where Lord Rama used to come to bathe during his exile of 14 years. There is also a Laxman Kund where his brother Laxman would bathe. Both the places are very sacred. One can make a wish by floating a diya (holy lamp) in a cup made of dry leaves and filled with flowers, which is sold by the street vendors sitting nearby.

Many Hindus come here to immerse the mortal remains of their loved ones, or to take a holy dip to wash off their sins, even though the waters are not very clean or clear.

The Gandhi Memorial, made out of white marble, where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed, is also nearby.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.342: Tarsh Gastronomia, Hinjewadi, Pune.

Good Buffet, Better Starters.

Tarsh Gastronomia is located in Hinjewadi, Pune, just after the Wakad – Hinjewadi flyover, on the 8th floor of White Square building. There is sufficient parking in the basement, and in the compound. It is a fine dining restaurant, with a large seating area in the ac section as well as an outdoor section on the terrace. There is a mezzanine floor as well.

They serve ala carte dishes, as well as a buffet lunch. We were a group of 10 family members and decided to go for the Harvest Afternoon Buffet, which includes one complimentary drink. We were a bit disappointed when we learnt that beer was not available, that too on a Sunday. Anyway there were cocktails, mocktails and wine, so they were forgiven.

There was a huge variety in starters, both veg and non-veg. Some of the better non-veg starters were Prawns Schezwan, Fish Lasooni, Mutton Sheek and Jalandhari Murg Tikka. In the veg variety there was Paneer Tikka, Cheesy Potato Croquettes, and Dim Sums, amongst many more. There was Pepper Corn Pizza and Herb Chicken Pizza as well. In fact, most of us were full on the starters itself.

In the main buffet they served soups and salads to build up an appetite again. There were again three varieties of cuisines in the main dishes; European, Pan-Asian and Indian with two to four choices in each category.

To top it off, the desserts consisted of a variety of pastries, mousse, soufflé, ice-cream, gulab jamun, rossogolla, mung dal halwa, fruit, jalebi and some more.

The restaurant was full on a Sunday afternoon, but luckily we had reserved a table. The crowd seemed to be mostly young techies, who work in and around the Hinjewadi IT Park. With the loud music, and two TVs blaring sports channels in the background, we had a hard time making conversation. And though the service for the starters would get slow at times, we quite enjoyed the wide variety of tasty dishes at Tarsh.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.341: Ganga Ghat, Nashik.

Ganga Ghat is situated in the Panchvati area of Nashik. It is actually on the banks of the River Godavari which passes through the centre of the holy town of Nashik in Maharashtra, but the local people refer to it as their Ganga (Mother Goddess).

Holy River Bank.

It is supposed to be a very holy place for the Hindus, where many come to immerse the ashes of their loved ones for the onward journey to ‘Moksha’. Others take a dip or swim in the river to wash off their sins.

There are many temples on the banks and nearby, namely the Shree Ganga Godavari temple, the Kapaleshwar Mahadev temple, the Goraram temple, the Varad Vinayak Ganpati temple, the Vyankatesh Balaji temple, and many other smaller temples. The Ramkund and the Laxman kund, where Lord Ram and Laxman used to bathe, are also nearby.

There is a huge two sided statue of Lord Hanuman (Dutondya Maruti Mandir) on the banks of Ganga Ghat. As you walk a little further downstream you will come to the ‘Gangewarchya Bhaji Bazar’ which is the local vegetable market. There are many shops selling local products like agarbattis, kishmis (raisins) and fresh flowers, et al.

It was a good experience to walk along the paved pathway from the Ganga Godavari temple down to the local market, taking in the sights and sounds of the holy city.

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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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