Yatri Yadien: Vacation

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March 1, 2018

My TripAdvisor Review No.286: Beijing Bites, Mantri Square, Bengaluru.

Tasty Chinese Food at the Mall.

We visited the Mantri Square Mall in Bengaluru for some shopping and to see a movie in Inox multiplex. After shopping and before the movie we decided to try out ‘Beijing Bites’ for a quick Chinese food meal for dinner.

We ordered their ‘Triple Schezwan Fried Rice’, ‘American Chop Suey’, and ‘Veg Hakka Noodles’. All three dishes were ready in about 10 minutes and were quite tasty. The rice was a bit dry and required some gravy from the Chop Suey dish, but otherwise the taste was quite good. We enjoyed our quick but satisfying meal.

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g297628-d7938563-r563140667-Beijing_Bites-Bengaluru_Bangalore_District_Karnataka.html#

My TripAdvisor Review No.285: Mantri Square Mall, Bengaluru.

Centrally located Mall with a Metro Station.

Mantri Square is one of the biggest malls in Bengaluru, centrally located in the Malleswaram area of the city. It has shops of some of the best known brands of clothes, footwear, jewellery, electronics, and more. There is also a multiplex and a food court. You can shop to your heart’s content, eat till your belly is full, and then go watch a movie to digest everything. In short you can enjoy a whole day in the mall.

We went there last evening for some shopping and then had some Chinese food at ‘Beijing Bites’ before seeing a movie at the Inox multiplex.

We took our car and found the area in front of the mall very congested. The traffic was crawling and we had some difficulty in maneuvering to the mall entrance. The parking charges were exorbitant at Rs.50 for the first 2 hours for a car, and increasing at the rate of Rs.20 per hour. They have a 2 tier parking system and can accommodate quite a number of vehicles.

In fact, it is better to go by the Metro rail as the mall has a metro station just next to it.

Ask EkMusafir about Mantri Square

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g297628-d5782158-r560651397-Mantri_Square-Bengaluru_Bangalore_District_Karnataka.html#

October 4, 2017

My TripAdvisor Review No.245: Club Mahindra Coaker's Villa, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.

Cozy Rooms with Amazing Views.

We spent a blissful week at Club Mahindra’s Coaker’s Villa Resort in Kodaikanal in September. It was like living in a dream country cottage on the hillside. Every day we would wake up to watch a beautiful sunrise from the balcony with our cup of tea. The resort is beautifully landscaped, with cottages having sloping roofs covered with Mangalore tiles. The view from each room is very beautiful as it overlooks the valley, with the clouds rising up to caress you. We could sit in the balcony for hours on end just watching the clouds ascend from the valley and soon cover the town with a grey blanket.

The resort is located less than a km from the Kodi Bus Stand and Bazaar, right next to ‘Coaker’s Walk’ and opposite the entrance to ‘Bryant Park’. It is 400 metres down a steep slope from the junction, which makes it easy to walk to, but very difficult when you want to go out from the resort. The Lake is about 1.5 km from the resort, and makes for a good long walk of about an hour to circle the lake and back.

This is a small boutique resort with only 11 rooms, of which two are log cabins. All the rooms have wooden flooring, columns and beams, giving the rooms a very heritage look. There is a closet for keeping the bags and clothes, as well as a digital safe. Bathrooms are quite large with an enclosed shower space. The flat screen TV is supported by Airtel dth, with all the SD channels. However there is no microwave oven, though there is an electric kettle for making your own tea/coffee. Free wi-fi is available in the lobby and restaurant.

The reception and staff are very helpful. Sasi would always help us with our transport requirements. Prakash would come around every evening to take orders for evening tea or snacks. Intimation for buffet dinner had to be given in advance, as not everyone opted for it. We preferred ala-carte, which would be served within half an hour. Chef Anbu would tweak the dishes to suit our palate. Rani was in-charge of Svaastha spa.

We had a very pleasant and relaxed stay at the resort, enjoying nature’s beauty and bounty. Would definitely visit again.

Room Tip: Try for the log cabins, if available.

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Ask EkMusafir about Club Mahindra Coaker's Villa

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g303890-d734902-r529332384-Club_Mahindra_Coaker_s_Villa-Kodaikanal_Dindigul_District_Tamil_Nadu.html#

August 22, 2017

My TripAdvisor Review No.228: Kalka Shimla Railway, Himachal.

“Heritage Toy Train - An Amazing Experience.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

This narrow gauge train connects the hill town of Shimla, capital of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, to Kalka in the plains in the state of Haryana. The line was built by the British in the year 1898 and it acquired UNESCO World Heritage status in the year 2008, among the Mountain Railways of India. There are 103 tunnels and 864 bridges along the 95 km route. It takes between 4.5 to 5.5 hours for the small diesel locomotive to haul the 4 or 5 carriages up the Himalayan foothills, hugging the forested slopes.

We were staying at Kandaghat during our Himachal holiday. Though we did not actually travel in the train we decided to receive the train at Kandaghat station, and take some snaps, as it rolled into the platform. We could hear the train approaching from a distance along the curved railway line. Kids, waiting for the train on the platform for the train, started getting excited and jumping for joy as the train entered the platform. We took our snaps as the loco thundered into the station. The snack vendors and railway staff sprang to life as some passengers alighted to refresh themselves. One can travel on this train from the mid-way stations to other stations on the line by buying a ticket for Rs.20. The luxury trains, like Himalayan Queen, Shivalik Queen and Rail Motor from Kalka to Shimla, and vice-versa, can be reserved in advance.

The train left for Shimla after a 10 minute halt at Kandaghat. We stayed on the platform observing the activities as some passengers alighted and some others boarded the train. Most of them enjoyed a snack or a cup of hot tea and clambered back into their seats.

The Toy Train ride is an amazing experience as it climbs from the plains to the snow-capped peaks, through tunnels and pine forests, and over and under waterfalls. We decided to do the trip in the train on our next visit to Himachal Pradesh.

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g304552-d498331-r515782288-Kalka_Shimla_Railway-Shimla_Shimla_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

August 20, 2017

My TripAdvisor Review No.227: Club Mahindra Kandaghat, Himachal.

“Best Resort Near Shimla for Club Mahindra Members.”

Reviewed yesterday

NEW

Kandaghat is a hill town between Chandigarh and Shimla on the highway connecting the two cities. It is about a 100 km from Chandigarh and just 25 km from Shimla. So it makes sense for Club Mahindra members to stay at this resort rather than in overcrowded Shimla.

As you enter the resort you are greeted with green manicured lawns and rose gardens spread out on the hillside. It is surrounded by forested hills on all sides and overlooking a deep valley.

We checked into our valley view studio room which was about a kilometer downhill. There is a free van service to take the members to their rooms which are a little distant from the main block and the restaurant. Many of the rooms are located in the Main Block, but we chose to stay away for some solitude. The service given by the staff was prompt and impeccable, both in the room and the restaurant. Being small eaters we mostly ordered ala carte or Gourmet Express which was delivered in our room. Food was reasonably good in taste though not exceptional.

Travel desk was ever ready to arrange a cab for a visit to Shimla or Chail, both being about an hour’s drive away. Of course, there were enough activities in the resort too, like zip lining, rock climbing, trekking, indoor games and aqua zorbing (in a portable pool). One day we just relaxed in the resort with morning and evening walks and watched the pretty sunset from the garden outside our room. Another morning we took a local bus down to Kandaghat town to watch the Heritage Toy Train rolling into the station. We had lunch at a local dhaba and returned to the resort. The town is about 5 km downhill.

Kandaghat resort is like a gateway to Himachal Pradesh. One can stop here for a day or two before carrying on to Kullu, Manali and Ladakh.

All in all, we had a very relaxed and fun filled holiday.

Room Tip: Take a room in the Main Block if you don't like walking or climbing steps. The far rooms are bet...

See more room tips

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g3225172-d1066318-r515192380-Club_Mahindra_Kandaghat-Kandaghat_Solan_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html#

December 17, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.148: MTDC Velneshwar Resort

“An Undiscovered Gem on the Konkan Coast.”

Reviewed 2 days agoNEW

Velneshwar is a small coastal village in the Konkan, and we were surprised to learn that it boasts an MTDC Resort. Velneshwar lies in the Ratnagiri district about 20 km south of Guhagar and about 50 km north of Ganpatipule. It can be reached via Chiplun on the Mumbai – Panjim highway (NH17).

The MTDC Resort is beautifully located on a hilltop overlooking the beach and the Arabian Sea. We booked our room online about a week in advance on the MTDC website. Each of the cottage rooms has a small balcony where you can sit and enjoy the sea breeze and the listen to sound of the waves. The views are to die for!

The cottages are set on the hillside at different levels. The rooms and bathrooms are spacious and airy. There is a TV with all cable channels, but no cupboards for storage.There are 10 ac rooms at the lower levels and 5 non-ac rooms at a higher level. The non-ac rooms have better views but can be tedious to climb to because the restaurant and reception are at the lowest level. It can also get very hot in the summer months in spite of the sea breeze, so these rooms are habitable only during winter or monsoons. We did stay in the non ac room in the month of December, and it was OK, except when there was a power outage for 1 hour one afternoon.

The mornings and evenings are very pleasant to sit out on the benches in the garden and grounds outside. One can just sit and stare at the calm sea with its numerous fishing vessels. If you are lucky you may be able to spot dolphins in the water on some mornings. I did not see the dolphins but did see some hornbills flying overhead on one occasion. Of course, you can see a variety of other birds too, especially if you take a walk into the forests behind the resort, or near the beach.

The beach is a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute drive from the resort. It is a yellow-black sandy beach about 2 km long with hillocks at both ends. The waters are calm and inviting for a swim. There are very few people on the beach except during the evenings when the locals come for a walk. There are a couple of restaurants at the Shiva Temple end of the beach.

There is an attached restaurant which serves the complimentary breakfast of poha, upma, sabudana or egg omelette. You have to place your lunch and dinner order about an hour in advance, and the options are either fish, chicken or vegetarian thali meals, since the ala-carte menu is very limited. The food is prepared in the local Konkani style and is quite tasty. The restaurant is clean and airy but nothing fancy.

Sunsets at Velneshwar beach are spectacular. You can simply sit in the balcony of your cottage and observe the sunsets, and they will remain etched in your memory forever.

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

https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g2136865-d3266761-r332940305-MTDC_Velneshwar_Resort-Velneshwar_Maharashtra.html#

November 26, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.146: Sutarwadi Lake, Kolad, Raigad District.

“Beautiful Lake surrounded by Green Hills.”

Reviewed 3 days agoNEW

Sutarwadi Lake and Dam is a calm and serene water body ringed by emerald green hills of the Sahyadris all around it. It is located in the village of Kolad in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.

There are a number of farms and resorts surrounding the Sutarwadi Lake. One can stay at one of these resorts for a few days and enjoy a quiet getaway from the city life, observing the bird life and serenity around the lake.

The Kundalika River, famous for white water rafting expeditions and camps, is nearby. One can combine the adrenaline rush of white water rafting with a soothing stay next to the Sutarwadi Lake.

The best time to visit Kolad is during the monsoons, between July and September.

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

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g2531523-d3705440-r328513102-Sutarwadi_Lake-Raigad_Maharashtra.html#

November 22, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.144: Vigneshwara Temple, Ozar, Maharashtra.

“Dedicated to the Elephant Headed God, Lord Ganesha.”

Reviewed yesterdayNEW

The Vigneshwara Temple is one of the most beautiful temples dedicated to the elephant headed god, Lord Ganesha. It also forms part of the Ashtavinayak yatra of the eight naturally formed idols of Lord Ganesha in Maharashtra, around Pune. Ozar, where this temple is located is about 90 km from Pune.

Lord Ganesha defeated the demon of obstacles, Vignasura, hence the name Vigneshwara.

The temple is clean and serene, with high walls surrounding it. The river Kukadi flows nearby and one can enjoy an evening boat ride on the river. There are lodgings available near the temple, for an overnight stay. Ozar itself is a small rural town where one can enjoy a quiet getaway.

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October 19, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.134: Vithal Kamats, Panchgani - Mahabaleshwar Road.

“Good for a Quick Bite.”

Reviewed 18 October 2015NEW

This Vithal Kamat, part of a chain of restaurants in Maharashtra and Karnataka, is located on the Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar Road. It is about 4 km from Panchgani, on the left side of the road, going towards Mahabaleshwar.

It is good for the regular South Indian fast food items which Vithal Kamat is well known for, like idlis, dosas, wadas and uthappas. The place is reasonably clean and has good washrooms. You need to buy a token and then place your order at the self service kitchen counter.

Service was quick and efficient, and we refuelled and refreshed ourselves before proceeding to Mahabaleshwar.

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

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g1162199-d7268332-r319814315-Vithal_Kamats-Satara_Maharashtra.html#

October 15, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.132: HoneyWood Holiday Homes Hotel, Mahabaleshwar.

“Laid Back Forest Retreat.”

Reviewed yesterdayNEW

HoneyWood is beautifully located on one of the back roads of Mahabaleshwar, the Duchess Road, which snakes its way from Old Mahabaleshwar to Kate’s Point. It is a thickly wooded road in the jungles, with hardly any traffic, and it would indeed be very scary to walk alone on this road at night. But that is exactly why we chose to stay here for 4 days at this secluded Forest Retreat.

The Chinoys (owners) were very welcoming and offered us the best rates for off-season weekdays. They sent us an email with details and maps of how to get to their resort immediately after our enquiry.

We decided to visit during the last week of September, during mid-week. So we got to choose our room, at the best off-season rate. The rooms were spacious, comfortable, and well furnished with some antique wooden furniture. In fact, we had the whole resort to ourselves, since we were the only ‘honoured’ guests. We could laze on the lawns with our morning cups of tea and breakfast, as well as evening cups of coffee.

However, their ala carte menu for lunch and dinner was a bit limited and priced on the higher side. Since we went out during the day we did not bother to order lunch, but on a couple of occasions we had to place our dinner order 2 hours in advance. We quite liked their preparations of ‘alu-gobi’ and ‘parathas’ and the quantity of their servings were sufficient for the two of us. They serve non-veg dishes too. During the weekends and season time they offer the buffet option of dining too.

HoneyWood is about 6 or 7 km away from the Mahabaleshwar market, in a remote location. So you do need your own transport to best enjoy this resort. But this is exactly what we liked about it. As soon as you step out of the resort you are in the deep woods. We enjoyed the best solitary morning walks on Duchess Road listening to gurgling streams and the birds twittering in the dense forest.

We would certainly visit this wonderful ‘Forest Retreat’ again, the next time we want to get away from it all!

Room Tip: There are Villa and Suite rooms available for larger families.

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October 14, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.131: Mapro (Restaurant), Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.

“Best Garden Restaurant Serving Vegetarian Fast Food.”

Reviewed 13 October 2015NEW

Mapro serves probably the best vegetarian pizzas and grilled sandwiches in all of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. And you can actually see your order being prepared in front of your eyes. They have a wood fired oven for baking their pizzas and taste wise these pizzas easily match up to the ones you get from the Dominoes and Pizza Huts in the big Metros. They serve delicious juices, punches, shakes and ice-creams too. Do not forget to have something with strawberry as an ingredient. Mapro specialises in growing and processing strawberry in Mahabaleshwar.

They have a huge alfresco seating area next to their beautifully landscaped gardens on the Mahabaleshwar - Panchgani Road. They have recently developed a huge free parking area which is thankfully off the main road. It is a self service restaurant and you have to select your requirements from their menu boards, make the payment and submit your token to the chef. Then you can either watch your food being prepared right there in front of you, or take a seat at one of the many glass topped tables and chairs and wait for your token number to be announced.

You may find the prices of some items to be on the higher side, but there is no compromise on the quality of the ingredients. Payments can be made by credit cards too.

You can also take a tour of their strawberry farm and processing unit, and buy some of their products from the factory outlet located in the same premises. There is a small chocolate factory too. Mapro is not just a restaurant but a cool hangout place with friends and family. Your children will enjoy this outing too, as there are many brightly painted gadgets and vehicles lying around in the gardens to run around and play with.