My TripAdvisor Review No.645: Swarooplaxmi Bhojanalaya, Kolhapur.

Excellent Maharashtrian Thali.

This traditional Maharashtrian restaurant is located in one of the narrow lanes near the Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur. If you are visiting for the first time you may have some difficulty locating it. We had to enquire from the local shops to find the exact location.

This ‘Bhojanalaya’ or ‘kitchen where you can buy yourself a meal’ serves one of the best Maharashtrian thali meals in Kolhapur. We asked for a ‘Jowar Bhakri Thali’ wherein we were served a platter with two millet breads, eggplant (baingan) masala and mashed eggplant (baingan bhartha), a dry cabbage bhaji, rasam (spicy vegetable soup), pithala (a thick gravy made from chickpea flour), chutney, koshimbir (finely chopped salad), rice and papad. The taste of each item was unique and wonderful.

They also serve some snacks like ‘Misal’ and some sweet dishes like Gulab Jamun, Basundi, Puran Poli and Shrikhand.

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Date of visit: December 2019

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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.396: Wilson's Cafe, Mahabaleshwar.

Good Dinner Buffet.

Wilson’s Cafe is the main restaurant in ‘Saj On The Mountain’ resort, which is located about 7 km before Mahabaleshwar, on the Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Road. It is an open air café and serves buffet as well as ala-carte meals for breakfast and dinner.

We were staying at the resort and decided to go for the all day dining option, which includes breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner at a discounted rate. It is a pure vegetarian restaurant.

They say that one should eat breakfast like a king. I started with a small glass of fresh pineapple juice and ended with 2 glasses of butterscotch milkshake. In between I had 2 parathas with dahi, 2 palak idlis, 1 wada, 1 masala dosa, some upma and poha and some fruit and sprouts to start with. All the items were very nutritious and tasty.

Lunch was in a separate restaurant called ‘Fasal’ where we were served a sumptuous Gujarathi thali.

Buffet dinner was served at Wilson’s Café again. We started with Vg Manchow Soup with fried noodles. Then we had Veg Fried Rice with garlic flavored gravy, honey chilly potato, sprouts, salad, a Florentine potato pasta, tikis, dahi wada and Burritos. I did not have the conventional subji-roti though it was there. We followed it up with some sweet dishes like chocolate ice-cream, goju sweet and a khajur rabdi. I got full till I was bursting at the seams. Not good for the diabetics, but one can’t resist the temptation of good food.

Service was very good and there were about three or four waiters ready to serve with a second helping. Price is on the higher side if you are only here for a single meal, or ala-carte, but more affordable for us since we had joined the all-day dining plan. They have a different menu every day.

We enjoyed the meal and ate till we could hardly walk after the meal.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.395: Babington Point, Mahabaleshwar. Jungle Point.

Babington Point used to be a beautiful view point, and I remember walking up to it and enjoying the beautiful view of Koyna Valley from here many years back, but not anymore. The view was obstructed by overgrown trees and bushes and we could see nothing of the valley below. Even the beautiful garden in the centre was overgrown and unkempt, and looked more like a jungle.

This place gets very few visitors. Located only about 2.5 km from the Mahabaleshwar market, it is at best a walking destination to visit on an early morning or evening walk. The green cover is very good and the area has got an aura of peace and serenity about it.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.393: Saayali Restaurant, Mahabaleshwar. Gujarathi Thali Buffet Meal.

We had dined at Saayali earlier and tried out their ala-carte dishes which we had enjoyed. This time we decided to have their vegetarian Gujarathi Thali which they serve in the main dining hall in Shreyas Hotel itself. The parking lot is common for both the restaurant and hotel.

The pricing of the thali was a bit confusing. They charge ₹350 for the thali, irrespective of whether it is a limited or unlimited thali. Then the manager clarified that the limited thali can be shared by two persons, whereas the unlimited thali is meant for only one person, but he can eat as much as he wants. In the limited thali, additional servings of any item would be charged extra. We decided to go for the limited edition and found it to be quite sufficient for the two of us, both senior citizens.

The home style vegetarian food was very tasty and healthy. For starters they served mix pakoras and a tumbler of chaas. For mains there was paneer masala, tendli dry and aloo rasswala, along with masoor kathol, dal fry and sweet Gujarathi dal. There were four chapattis, papad, salad, pickle and steamed rice, followed by a very sweet gulab jamun.

We enjoyed the traditional style Gujarathi thali. People with large appetites should go for the unlimited version of the thali. Non vegetarian food can be had at the stand alone Saayali next door, in the same compound.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.390: Garden Ice Cream Restaurant, Mahabaleshwar. Not Only Ice Creams.

Garden Ice Cream Restaurant is located near Lingmala, about 2 km before Mahabaleshwar on the Panchgani Road. It has very picturesque surroundings with strawberry gardens and the Venna River on the other side.

This was the second time we stopped here, once before for their corn patties and this time for their strawberry ice cream, with preserved strawberries picked from their own farms. We enjoyed both the items, and were surprised to learn that they serve regular meals and snacks as well, both veg and non veg. The owner Mr. Kasam even offered to prepare Chicken Dum Biryani for us for dinner, made to order, if we could muster up a group of about 5 or 6 biryani lovers.

It is a good place to stop for a quick snack, ice-cream, milk shake or even a regular meal.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.388: Atibaleshwar Temple, Mahabaleshwar. Small Shiva Temple at Old Mahabaleshwar.

This is a small Shiva temple which is often overlooked by most tourists who visit the temple complex at Old Mahabaleshwar. As we walked up to the Panchganga Temple, where the five rivers originate, the Atibaleshwar temple was on the left hand side, about 200 metres before reaching the Panchgaga mandir. We saw that there was a narrow passageway between the wayside shops and then there was a large Nandi bull at the entrance to this temple. The main Mahabaleshwar temple is on the right hand side. Both these temples were supposed to have been originally built 2500 years ago, but the Atibaleshwar temple still has the original structure.

According to the ancient legend there were two demons, Mahabal and Atibal, who were killed by Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu respectively. Both the demons requested that they be immortalised by building temples commemorating them and hence these two temples came into being.

However, most of the devotees who visit the temple complex skip the Atibaleshwar temple with the beautiful Nandi bull. Hence one gets a feel of peace and calm on visiting this temple and can worship the deity at their own pace without any hurry.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.387: Lingmala Falls, Panchgani. Beautiful Waterfalls Between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar.

The beautiful Lingmala waterfalls, which is hidden away between two hills, is about 16 km from Panchgani, and about 7 km before you reach Mahabaleshwar. There is a sharp left U-turn about 1 km from Saj Mountain Resort leading to the falls, through Lingmala village. It can also be accessed from the Satara Mahabaleshwar Road, but the road is one-way, being very narrow and winding through dense forest. Entry is from Panchgani side and exit from Satara side. You can park your vehicle outside the Forest Office (Satara Van Vibhag) and buy your ticket (₹20) to enter the ‘Lingmala Nature Trail’. Gates are open from 8 am to 5.30 pm, parking is free.

The falls start at the head of the Venna Valley, with water overflowing from the Venna Lake. There is paved track, which is very well maintained by the Satara Van Vibhag (Forest Department), leading down to the falls. There are benches to sit and rest for a while, if you get tired climbing back.

There are two parts of the falls. The left track leads to the minor falls nearby, where the falling water forms a pool where one can take a dip. Be careful of the underwater rocks, though. The right track leads to the view point, about a 10 minutes uphill walk, from where one can view the main falls as it plunges about 500 feet down into the Venna valley below, forming the Venna River.

The Lingmala Falls are best visited after the start of the monsoons and between July to October. Then one can see and feel the force of nature in all its glory. During the summer months the flow reduces to a trickle, but one can still enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool formed near the minor falls.

The falls can also be seen from a distance if you do not have the time to spare (about an hour and a half) to walk down, and back up, the Lingmala Nature Trail. About 8 km from Mahabaleshwar, get down at Metgutad village and walk down to the edge of the ridge about 500 metres. You will get a long shot view of the main waterfall showering down into the valley below.

However, even at other times of the year it is a good place to visit, just to experience the walk through the forests on the Lingmala Nature Trail. We saw monkeys, squirrels, bulbuls, sunbirds, butterflies and other small creatures while walking down the trail. If you are lucky you may see the Giant Malabar squirrel which is quite common in Mahabaleshwar.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.386: Babbington Point, Mahabaleshwar. More of a Picnic Spot Than a View Point.

We went for the view but were sorely disappointed. The view was obstructed by overgrown trees and bushes and we could see nothing of the valley below. Even the beautiful garden in the centre was overgrown and unkempt.

This place gets very few visitors, but we saw some senior citizens enjoying a picnic with their beer and picnic baskets. It is also a good place for a long walk if you are putting up nearby on the Tapola Road and up to the market, since it is only about 2.5 km from the Mahabaleshwar market. The green cover is very good and the area has got an aura of peace and serenity about it.

Babbington Point used to be a very good point, and I remember walking up to it and enjoying the beautiful view of Koyna Valley from here many years back, but not anymore. The Mahabaleshwar Hill Council needs to clean up their act and at least maintain the little garden at the centre so that it becomes more attractive to the tourists.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.385: Parsi Point, Panchgani. Good View of Krishna Valley.

Parsi Point is en route from Panchgani to Mahabaleshwar, just 2 km after Panchgani town ST Stand. We stopped here for some time to admire the lovely scenery of the Krishna River and Dhom Dam below in the Krishna Valley. There was a carpet of greenery and some light purple flowers all the way down the hillside amidst the eucalyptus and silver oak trees.

We parked at the side of the road itself and paid a nominal parking fee. One has to be careful as there is a lot of high speed traffic to and from Mahabaleshwar. There are many stalls serving snacks like wada-pao and pakoras, as well as tea, coffee and cold drinks. One can simply enjoy the beautiful scenery of the valley, or gaze through a telescope for a small fee. The keeper of the telescope will give you a virtual guided tour of temples and houses in the villages below or on the hills on the other side. One can easily see the Kamalgad Fort on the opposite hillside.

It is worthwhile to stop here for a while, relax on one of the benches, and enjoy the scenery and the strong breeze which tries to blow you away.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.384: Saj On the Mountain, Mahabaleshwar. Good Self Contained Resort For Vegetarian Foodies.

Saj On The Mountain has recently become affiliated with Club Mahindra Holidays. It is located about 1 km after Metgutad village on the Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Road, and about 7 km before entering Mahabaleshwar hill station market.

We stayed here recently for 4 days and found it to be a decent place to have a relaxed vacation. The check in was quick and we were given a choice between two rooms. I must say that there is a wide disparity between the type of rooms, though all of them are reasonably well furnished and have all the basic amenities for a luxurious stay. The main difference is in the kind of sit-outs they offer. The first room we saw had a stone bench between two rows of rooms, while the second one had a small enclosure with a swinging sofa under the trees. Needless to say we chose the latter. Some other rooms did not have any sit-out, while the first floor rooms had a small private balcony.

The main attraction was the good variety of vegetarian food available, though the fare was priced on the high side. There was buffet as well as ala-carte. Breakfast was the best with a variety of fresh fruit, sprouts, idli, dosa, wada, puri bhaji, paratha, croissants, buns, toast, tea, coffee, milk shake and fruit juice available. At lunch we were served a sumptuous Gujarati Thali which was very delicious and filling. Dinner buffet again had a lot of variety, starting with a choice of soups, salads, pickles, North Indian vegetables, curries, dals, breads and a selection of Continental and Oriental dishes as well. Breakfast and dinner was served in the open ‘Wilson’s Café’ at the poolside, and for lunch we had to dine at the restaurant ‘Fasal’ for the thali meal. There was a separate bar for drinks and mocktails named ‘Darwin’.

For recreation there was the ‘Fun Zone’ for kids, a badminton court, a swimming pool, a play pen for toddlers, and watch towers in the gardens below the parking lot. Swimming pool was closed on one of the days for cleaning. The parking lot could accommodate about 12 cars with additional space near the main road.

The service was very good with House Keeping inquiring to find out the most convenient times to clean our room every day. Restaurant service was excellent as well. Though it is best to go by your own car from Pune or Mumbai, taxis for sight-seeing the points in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani can be easily arranged by the travel desk.

All in all we had a very relaxed holiday and would not mind visiting again.

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Room Tip: Ask for a room with a good sit-out if you enjoy the open fresh air of the hill station.

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• Stayed: September 2018, travelled as a couple
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My TripAdvisor Review No.365: All India Special Bhel (Rambhau Bhel). Kolhapur. Spicy Evening Snack.

This Bhel restaurant is also known as ‘Rambhau Bhel’, after the name of the owner, who himself prepares and mixes all the ingredients in front of you as soon as you order. It is a small restaurant where you can either have your bhel, served in a paper cone, sitting on a plastic stool there itself, or carry it packed in a paper bag to share with your family at home. It is located about 5 minutes walking distance from the iconic Mahalaxmi Temple.

It is a different variation from the bhel-puri which we get in Mumbai. Most of the ingredients are the same and include puffed rice, sev, papdi, crushed puri, bhadang, coriander, chaat masala and topped with a whole slit green chilly. The wet (oli) bhel has a tangy tamarind chutney and a green spicy chutney, while the sukhi (dry) bhel does not have any chutney. The main difference we found was that Rambhau’s bhel did not have any chopped boiled potatoes or tomatoes, and very little coriander and onion. Still it was quite tasty and we enjoyed the crunchiness of the sukhi bhel and the tanginess of the oli bhel. We could customise the spiciness of the taste by simply telling Mr. Rambhau to add less spicy chutney.

The prices were very reasonable varying between ₹25 to ₹60 per serving. It is worth trying out this snack in the evening if you are near the temple.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.364: Rankala Lake, Kolhapur. Promenade by the Lake.

Rankala Lake is one of the prominent landmarks of Kolhapur city. It is a 5 minute walk from the Mahalaxmi Temple towards the west, next to the highway going to Gaganbawda.

We stayed overnight at Kolhapur and got a chance to go for an early morning walk to the lakeside. Many of the local residents of Kolhapur use the promenade by the lake for their regular morning walks. The walkway towards the Shalini Palace and the Boat Club has been beautified with plants and green shrubs, but the track near the temple side were not so clean, though still useable. There is a nice garden with benches, near the Boat Club.

There were many food stalls near the boat club selling snacks like missal, bhel, tea and coffee for the tourists who visit later in the day and in the evenings. Different types of boats are available for a joy ride in the lake.

The calm atmosphere and cool breeze early in the morning makes the lake worth a visit.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.363: Kolhapur. Abode of Goddess Mahalaxmi.

Kolhapur is an ancient city in Southern Maharashtra with a lot of historical, cultural and religious significance. It lies on the national highway no. 48 (NH48) connecting Pune to Bangalore. It is about 230 km south of Pune and about 620 km north of Bangalore. Many a time we have stopped at Kolhapur on our road trips to Bangalore or Goa.

The most significant place to visit in Kolhapur is the Mahalaxmi (also known locally as Ambabai) Temple. It is one of the Shakti Peethas and the most ancient temple dedicated to the goddess. Many devotees first visit this temple before proceeding to the Balaji Temple in Tirupati. Another famous temple is the Jyotiba Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, about 20 km away, near Shivaji’s Panhala Fort.

There are many other places to visit which include the Maharaja’s Palace, Shahuji Chhatrapati Museum, Siddhagiri Museum and Rankala Lake. A walk around the lake in the early morning or late evening is a must do. Boating facilities are also available at the lake.

There is no dearth of hotels for lodging and boarding in Kolhapur. In fact Kolhapur is a foodie’s delight. Their mutton gravies are prepared in two flavours, known as pandhara rassa (white gravy which is mild and creamy) and tambada rassa (brown and spicy). Some other famous snacks are the misals and bhels of which there are many eateries around the city. The region is also famous for the production of Gur (Jaggery).

There are some other nice places to visit around Kolhapur city. Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary, Panhala Fort, Amba Ghat, and Kopeshwar Temple are some of them. This makes Kolhapur a destination where one can spend a pleasant few days in sight-seeing and relaxation.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.362: OYO-12748, Govindpuram Apartment, Kolhapur. Penthouse Rooms.

We selected this hotel primarily on the basis of its proximity to the Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur. It is located on Mahadwar Road just about half a kilometre from the temple and we could walk the distance in 5 minutes. Even though it is located in a narrow road with a lot of traffic, they have a secure dedicated basement parking where we could leave our car without any worry.

All the rooms are on the top floor of the building, the lower ones being used as a ceremonial hall for functions. There is an elevator from the basement to the 4th floor, and the staff helped to carry up our luggage. The rooms, though small, are very neat and clean and all have ac. The small washrooms are also spic and span, with basic toiletries provided. Our room had an open air sit-out with a sweeping view of the city. There was a small lcd tv, a dressing table, two bedside tables, a cupboard with a shoe-rack, and a plastic chair provided.

Though they do not have an in house restaurant, food can be delivered to your room from some nearby restaurant. The receptionist, Manini, was very helpful and suggested the names of a few good eateries nearby.

Rankala Lake is a 10 minute walk from the hotel, and it was a pleasurable morning walk. All in all, we had a nice stay and darshan of the Mahalaxmi temple thanks to Govindpuram Apartment.

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• Stayed: September 2018, travelled as a couple
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