My TripAdvisor Review No.453: Aamby Valley City, Lonavla.

Weekend Getaway

Aamby Valley City is a great weekend getaway for the city dwellers of Mumbai and Pune. It is about 120 km from Mumbai and about 100 km from Pune via the Mumbai Pune Expressway. At Lonavla we had to turn off and drive past the Bushy Dam and Lion’s Point to enter the gated city of Aamby Valley.

At the gates, there is a strict security check and all the baggage goes through an X-ray. Professional and commercial photography is banned in the city so you will have to leave your DSLR cameras at the gate.

You are escorted or dropped to your hotel or lodge by the security staff. We were staying in a private residence so we carried on inside with our group to the bungalow. The campus is well laid out with broad tree-lined avenues and water bodies and fountains. There are a number of restaurants and hotels where one can stay. The campus looks festive during the night when some of the buildings are lit up in a dazzling display.

The restaurants and hotels are luxurious and expensive. There are many water sports activities like jet skiing and banana boat rides, and a swimming pool as well.

The best time to visit Aamby Valley is during the monsoons when the climate is superb with a light drizzle and low lying clouds floating into the residences.

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Date of stay: April 2019

Trip type: Travelled with family

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My TripAdvisor Review No.452: Kerala Cafe, Kalyani Nagar, Pune.

Authentic Kerala Food.

Kerala Café at Kalyani Nagar is located where ‘Tvum’ used to be earlier. There is new management and they specialize in Kerala food only, whereas Tvum had signature dishes from all regions of India. So it is a specialty restaurant and opened on 2nd November 2018. It is a very good concept in specialized dining.

They have various types of seating arrangements. There is open-air seating, a/c hall, and semi-open covered terrace on the mezzanine floor, where they have a bar as well. Service is courteous and professional and the food is served within 20 minutes of ordering.

We had fried papadams as starters and ordered Bangda (mackerel) Fry, Surmai (kingfish) Kerala Curry, appams, and Lemon Rice for the main course. We wanted to try Meen Curry but the steward warned us that it could be too spicy, so we opted for Kerala Curry instead, which was mildly spicy. We enjoyed the authentic Kerala taste. Food was served in traditional earthenware pots.

The seating was a bit uncomfortable without any cushioning on the wooden chairs, but the ambiance more than made up for it.

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Date of visit: November 2018

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My TripAdvisor Review No.451: Alpha Restaurant, Secunderabad.

Located Near Railway Junction.

We decided to have lunch at this restaurant as it was located bang opposite the Secunderabad Junction Railway Station, and we had to catch the afternoon train to Pune.

The air-conditioned family section, named ‘Alps’, is ironically located underground. We had to go down a narrow flight of steps with our luggage. We found a table next to the standing air-conditioner, as the rest of the tables were not getting the cooling effect. The lighting was quite dim, though they do not serve alcohol.

We ordered a Vegetarian Dum Biryani, a Dal Fry, and a Roti. Food was quite tasty and the quantity was good. However the service was a bit slow and the waiter somewhat reluctant to serve us, maybe because we had not ordered the more popular non-vegetarian biryanis.

The prices were very reasonable, considering the sizeable portions served. We had our fill, satisfied with the food, but not with the ambiance and the service.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.450: Botanical Gardens, Hyderabad.

Open Space For Recreation.

The Botanical Gardens of Hyderabad, officially known as Sri Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy Botanical Gardens, is located on the Miyapur-Gachibowli Highway in the Kondapur area. There is a huge free parking lot for cars and two-wheelers.

Upon entering you have to buy a ticket for ₹25 per person, and there is a stiff fee for photography and videography. It seems that these fees are meant for commercial shootings, but everyone was entering without paying for their cell-phone cameras, and many were taking selfies. If you are a regular morning walker you can buy a pass for ₹400 per month or ₹1500 for an annual pass.

As you enter there are some life-like statues of animals and birds laid out in neat gardens. There are some demarcated areas for yoga, a wellness center, a party zone, skating rink, mini golf course, fitness center, an adventure arena, a video hall, conference hall, and an amphitheater. There are some cottages for rent and a Food Court which opens later in the day.

The main walking track leads into a dry forest which is more brown rather than green. The track is made of a mixture of sand and gravel. The full round of the track is about 3.5 km. You can hear peacocks early in the morning, and if you are lucky you may even see some. Other smaller birds like bulbuls, babblers, sparrows, and bee-eaters can also be seen and heard.

It is best to go early in the morning if you want to exercise your limbs. Compared to parks in other parts of the country, like Bangalore or Pune, the entry rates are very high, and the park is not so green and soothing to the eyes. The Telangana Forest Department should work on these aspects to make it a better experience for the nature lovers.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.449: Pala Pitta Cycling Park, Hyderabad.

Cycle To Your Heart's Content.

“You don’t stop Bike Riding when you get old, you get old when you stop Bike Riding”. This is a quotation on one of the boards displayed as you go cycling around the well laid out cycling tracks in the Pala Pitta Cycling Park in the Kothaguda Reserve Forest in Hyderabad. It is located just opposite the Botanical Gardens in Kondapur.

Here you can hire bicycles for ₹50 an hour. The track goes around a fenced in forest and is about 2.5 km in circumference. The track is a mixture of sand, gravel, and mud and is quite suitable for the sports bikes of which they have plenty available in their shed. They have ladies bikes, as well as smaller bikes for kids too.

The park opens at 6 am and it is best to go early in the morning when it is cooler. It is only for cycling, and walking is not allowed on the cycle track. There are benches for sitting and there is a washroom.

The terrain is flat but there are some small hillocks to challenge your pedal power, and the track curves around treacherously in some places, making your ride a bit challenging. If you are lucky you will get to see peacocks wandering around in the forest.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.448: L&T Metro Rail, Hyderabad.

Faster, Cleaner, Cooler, Cheaper.

Traveling by the L&T Metro Rail of Hyderabad is a much better option of getting around the congested city. It is faster because it avoids the long waits at the traffic signals. It is cleaner by far than the dusty streets, cooler because all the bogies are air conditioned and much cheaper than road transport if you are traveling alone.

Recently the Blue Line got an extension from Ameerpet to Hitech City. We used the metro to travel from Hitech City to Secunderabad East to catch our Shatabdi Express from Secunderabad Junction Main Station. It took us 40 minutes in the metro and 10 minutes to walk from Secunderabad metro station to the main station. If we had taken a rickshaw or cab it would have taken us an hour and a half.

At the metro stations, elevators are available to take you up from the road level to the platform level. The staff are very helpful and guide you to the concourse. There are some seats reserved for senior citizens and ladies. Small luggage can be kept under the seats.

For the local commuters of Hyderabad, the Metro is a blessing, as it serves as a Rapid Transport System, avoiding the massive traffic jams and bottlenecked roads which the city is fast becoming. It serves the main areas of Hyderabad, but one still has to make use of the buses and autos to connect to the outlying areas.

Work on expansion and new routes are still underway, and hopefully should be operative in the near future.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.447: Gold Adlabs (Carnival Cinemas), Kalyani Nagar, Pune.

Multiplex Theater In Small Mall.

Gold Adlabs is now known as Carnival Cinemas. It is located in the Mariplex Mall at the junction where the bridge from Koregaon Park meets the Central Avenue Road of Kalyani Nagar.

It is a good multiplex where all the latest movies are screened. The halls are very comfortable with efficient air conditioning. On Wednesdays, the ticket prices are available at a discounted price.

There are some restaurants also located in the mall. McDonald’s and Onesta Pizza are some of the popular restaurants here.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.446: The Saturday Night Market, Arpora, Goa.

Sharpen Your Bargaining Skills.

This is an open-air market held every Saturday night at Arpora. There is a live band playing but you have to wait till after nightfall for it to get swinging. There are a lot of stalls where you can buy knick-knacks, art items, electronic stuff, curios, artifacts, cigarettes, masalas, spices, perfumes, footwear, imitation jewelry, bags, and clothing.

Prices of most of the items are atrocious. Be sure to bargain. You may be lucky to get some merchandise at one-fourth of the original price quoted. If not, then pretend to walk away. You can always come back if you have set your heart on buying the item.

At the end of it all, you will be hungry. Head to the food stalls where there is a variety of fast food available. Sit down with your plate of Tibetan momos or wada pao and enjoy the live music.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.445: Calamari Bathe and Binge, Candolim, Goa.

Great Beachfront Restaurant With Live Music.

Calamari Bathe and Binge is a good beachfront restaurant located on Candolim Beach in North Goa. They have loungers on the beach where you can relax after a swim and then head for lunch or dinner and binge on their delicious seafood and drinks.

We visited the place on a Saturday night for dinner and got a nice table on the sands with the refreshing sea breeze ruffling our hair. There was a live band playing popular English and Hindi pop music which enlivened the atmosphere.

They have a variety of alcoholic drinks. My choice was the Caju Feni with soda, while my friends had their own cocktails. We had Fish Fingers and Calamari (squid) Butter Garlic as starters. After the drinks, we ordered their Paneer and Mushroom Chilly Fry and Rechiado Masala Pomfret and both tasted very good.

Prices were a bit on the higher side. The service was courteous and friendly but a bit slow.

The place is worth visiting for its nice open air ambiance and live music and lively atmosphere. There is a huge parking lot outside and cabs are easily available.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.444: Souza Lobo, Calangute Beach, Goa.

Authentic Goan Beach Restaurant.

Souza Lobo is a classy beach restaurant, too classy to be called a shack. It is located right in the middle of Calangute Beach with a very good view of the seaside. It is well decorated and has an authentic Goan ambiance with nice paintings of ancient and contemporary Goa, as well as some family photographs. It is a family run enterprise which was started in the year 1932. It has a rustic charm of its own. They specialize in seafood mainly Goan, Continental and Indian.

We visited the place on a Sunday afternoon and were lucky to get a table for six in the veranda with a beach view. We were served by friendly waiters dressed in colorful Hawaiian shirts. We started with drinks and wines. For starters, we tried the Butter Garlic Fried Potato Skins, Fish Fingers, and Tandoori Mushrooms. For mains, we had the Kingfish with Curry Rice, Pork Vindaloo with Veg Biryani. We also tried the Malai Kofta and Gobi Manchurian in the vegetarian selection. The food was well cooked and very delicious. Later we shared Bebinca and Tiramisu to sweeten our palettes.

We enjoyed our lunch and decided to visit next time for dinner since they have a live band and barbeques with outdoor seating as well in the evenings.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.443: Britto's Baga Beach, Goa.

Britto's: The Best On Baga Beach.

Britto’s is by far the best beach restaurant on Baga Beach. It is one of the oldest beach restaurants in Goa and has been in existence since 1965. If you have not dined at Britto’s you have not experienced Baga Beach. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks.

We entered the place on a Saturday afternoon at 1 pm and the restaurant was empty. We got a table next to the beach with an excellent view of the sea and a nice sea breeze blowing our way. The tables are set close to each other and seem a bit congested, but by the time we finished our lunch at 3 pm, there was not a single vacant table, and there was a waiting list.

We ordered a bottle of white wine for the six of us and enjoyed it with yummy starters. The grilled Kingfish and Mushroom and Gobi Manchurian were finger licking tasty. Later we enjoyed the biryanis and Egg Xacuti with rice. The crab gravy was very good too.

The service is quick and courteous, and the ambiance is open and airy with some nice Goan village decorations and artifacts. Prices are on the higher side but it is well worth it.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.442: Baga Beach, Goa.

Popular Beach Of North Goa.

Baga Beach seems to be an extension of Calangute Beach. As you walk north of Calangute Beach you will see a huge signboard on the hillside indicating the northern end of Baga Beach. There is no clear demarcating line between Baga and Calangute.

There are a lot of water sports activities taking place here. If you come during the daylight hours you will observe people enjoying parasailing, water skiing, banana boat riding and swimming in the sea. The beach is always crowded in the holiday season.

We were sitting at one of the beach restaurants, ‘Britto’s’ and observing the frenzied activities taking place on the lovely sands. It is a crowded beach and not one where one can relax with a book to read, though there are many sundecks which the Europeans hire from the local vendors, to give themselves a deep tan.

The Anjuna Flea Market and the Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar are quite close to Baga Beach.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.441: Calangute Beach, Goa.

Most Popular Beach Of North Goa.

Calangute Beach located about 20 km north of Goa’s capital, Panjim, is probably the most popular beach of North Goa. Calangute is a happening place with plenty of restaurants, resorts, beach shacks, markets, and casinos.

The beach itself is always buzzing with activities like para-sailing, water-skiing, banana boat rides, and swimming. There is always a crowd of tourists on the beach, with the local populace joining in on the weekends. People like to enjoy a meal in one of the many beach shacks lining the beach.

We would take a long morning walk on the clean sandy beach, which stretches for about 3 kilometers with Candolim Beach at the south end and Baga Beach at the north end. There are lifeguards always patrolling the beach in their red jeeps alerting people whether it is safe to swim or not. It gets very crowded in the evenings particularly at the time of sunset.

It’s a good beach to watch the beautiful tropical sunsets.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.440: Udupi Ujwala Refreshment, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa.

Simple Food, Good Service.

After arriving early in the morning by the Goa Express I decided to wait at the Railway retiring room at Vasco-da-Gama, as the check-in time at my Calangute resort was in the afternoon. Walking around the Railway Station I found this simple looking Udupi Restaurant and had a breakfast of Idli Sambar, and a Plain Dosa. The basic stuff tasted very good and I followed it up with a cup of coffee.

Later I visited the restaurant again and ordered a Thali Lunch. The thali had a dry vegetable, a lentil dish, dal, rasam, curd, pickle, papad, two chapattis, and some rice, as well as a sweet dish, all this in only ₹90. I quite enjoyed this value for money meal and walked out satisfied.

The restaurant is in a parallel lane just about five-minute walk from Vasco Station.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.439: Japanese Garden, Vasco da Gama, Goa.

Panoramic View Of The Arabian Sea.

The Japanese Garden is one of the best lookout points along the Goa coastline. It juts out from a headland about 3 km from Vasco da Gama Railway Station. It is quite an uphill climb to reach from Vasco, but it is accessible by local buses which go to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) colony, or you can hire a rickshaw or a two-wheeler pilot to take you.

There is a nice garden located here from where you get an excellent 180-degree view of the Arabian Sea and the rocky beach below. There are some ornamental plant and palm trees which make it a nice garden for an evening stroll, but the sea views from the walkway at the edge of the cliff make the visit more worthwhile.

There was not much else to do as the garden was quite deserted in the daytime, but it is a place worth visiting in the evening to view the sunset. There are a few snack stalls nearby which are open only in the evenings.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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