Mumbai is my current place of residence. I shifted here few years ago from my hometown Kolkata for work reasons. Over the years, this city has made its way into my heart and totally captured it. It’s vibrancy, its melting-pot culture, its never-sleep nature – all these are something I love. There are bad points – the traffic, the pollution, the population – and boy, do they bug me at times but everything has pros and cons and for me even the cons make up part of what Mumbai is.
So here’s presenting a portrait of the Mumbai as I have seen it over the years.
Goa is a tourist destination which is known all around the world as the ultimate party destination in India. Located on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the state of Maharashtra (western India), Goa is one of the must-visit places for people outside and inside India.
Even though Goa is known for its party scene, its nightlife and its Portuguese-influenced culture, for me the idea of a perfect vacation to Goa was always to relax on the beach, hang out with friends and maybe visit a church. Few years ago, I took a weekend year-end trip to Goa and it turned out to be the ideal vacation for me.
Reaching Goa
Since I didn’t want to be part of the party scene, I chose a beach in the South of Goa – Palolem. Getting there was almost an adventure. It started with a 12-hour bus ride from Mumbai at 9pm, followed by another bus from Panjim and ending with a final rickshaw ride to the hotel. The 1st bus from Sion to Panjim was a semi-sleeper with the AC on full blast and a midnight stop at a dhaba for dinner. Exhausted and bleary-eyed, we got on to the next local bus to Palolem and was treated to a bumpy, jerky ride. We were bone-tired by the time we reached.
Tip: To book buses, the best app/website is Redbus. The other option is to drive – it is a 10 hour drive and is much more pleasant I’m told. Our choice was dictated by the lack of car and not enough budget to rent one.
Hitting the Beach
A quick shower and a mini nap later we were as good as new and ready to hit the beach. The hotel was a 2-minute walk from the beach. Entering the beach late afternoon, we were greeted with clear blue waters, a white sandy beach and a pleasantly cool weather, all bathed in the glow of the about-to-set sun. Palolem is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa and should be a must-visit on anyone’s Goa trip.
We walked about the beach, imbibing in the atmosphere of laid-back casualness, and letting the stresses of everyday life ebb away. And when it was time, we watched a gorgeous sunset with a drink in hand and a calm mind. Sunset at the beach is one of my favorite sights ever!
Ushering in the New Year
That night, on New Year’s Eve, we enjoyed dinner at one of the many beachside cafes, sitting alfresco at this cutely decorated table on the beach. I don’t even remember the exact meal but the whole buzzing vibe at the beach – candles, some fireworks, some performances – made it a delicious meal. We had a drink in hand, there was muted lighting from the lamp and the sound of rushing water against the inky darkness and my feet were buried in the soft sand – this was how we welcomed the new year. Could it be more perfect?!!
Our Table
Beach Decorations
Doing Nothing
The next 2 days were spent doing absolutely nothing! Days on the beach, with just a cooling drink and a book lying on shaded chaise loungers on the beach and the brilliant sun sparkling down on the turquoise waters. Sometimes we had a bite to eat, sometimes we took a stroll around to do some people watching and sometimes to just be near the ocean. This was paradise!
Palolem Beach
Beach shacks
Shopping & Sightseeing
Evenings were dedicated to roaming the streets of this quaint township, exploring shops, looking around the treasures on offer. I bought a few summer dresses, some pretty accessories and the obligatory magnet.
Tip: There are myriads of things on sale, so be sure to hunt around for your perfect gift and do haggle to get the right price.
We did do a little bit of sightseeing on the final day when we went into Panjim a little early – before our night-time bus – to do a little sightseeing. We wandered the lanes of mid-town and then went to visit a cathedral. There was a wedding going on and we took a peek inside since we weren’t allowed. But we did chance upon a nativity scene set out in the yard for Christmas. That was lovely.
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim, Goa
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim, Goa
Nativity Scene
A Rough End Does Not Take Away the Perfection
The journey back was as bad as the one coming in, probably worse. The bus played a movie at super loud volumes – did not lower even at our request. This added on to my claustrophobic feeling and motion sickness and I was feeling pretty lousy, not being able to settle in and catch a wink. Few hours into the bus ride, I threw up my dinner in a polybag. Thankfully, that seemed to cure my uneasiness and I could sleep for the last few hours of the ride.
Even though the trip seemed to end on a sour note, this did not detract anything from my dream trip to Goa and I returned home with a lighter, happier heart.
Wine is made from grapes. The processes that go into wine making include harvesting of the grapes, pressing, fermentation, aging and finally bottling. There are several additional steps for making of the different types of wines and imparting unique flavors to each.
Grapes require a specific type of soil and weather to grow successfully. Sandy soils which have a good water holding capacity are ideal. Weather should be hot and humid in growing phase and cold during dormant phase; ideal temperatures are 15-40°C. These and other factors make Nashik region in Maharashtra, India perfectly suited for growing grapes, thus earning it the title of “grape capital of India”.
Top 3 Vineyards & Wineries in Nashik
Nashik sports numerous vineyards and wineries because of its grape growing capabilities. Some of them have commercialized or branched out into resorts and restaurants and make for fun tourist destinations. I have visited 3 of these wineries – handpicked after research – and have been impressed by all of them. They make for ideal day trips from Mumbai and Pune.
Some enroute images below.
Without further ado, here’s the list in no particular order.
Sula Vineyards – Sula is the most popular winery in India. It is the largest producer of wines in India and is the most awarded. It has a wide range of wines – red, white, rosé, sparkling etc.
Sula has a guided wine tour about the wine making process which includes a wine tasting at the end. They have a restaurant, shops, some cute displays for insta-worthy photo opportunities. They also have a resort. Ideal time to visit is January to March.
When we visited in the month of February, the vineyards were in full bloom. We took the wine tour which was informative as was the wine tasting. We asked a lot of questions about the different kinds of wines and were given knowledgeable answers. The restaurant serves good quality food which coupled with the superb view was just wonderful and ofcourse their delicious wine added to the whole experience.
The memento shop sells some cute paraphernalia, and I bought a commemorative T-shirt. Ofcourse, we did buy wine from the wine shop. Then we wandered around and took some lovely photos and had the time of the day.
Fermentation Tanks
Wine Casks
Basket Press
Sustainable Farming
Decor @ Sula
Decor @ Sula
Decor @ Sula
Vallone Vineyards – Vallone is India’s first boutique winery and they make French styled The vineyards are beautiful and make for a scenic view. The food in their restaurant is delicious – believe me, you’ve got to try it. The server suggested wine pairing with our food and it was good quality wine.
Vallone Vineyards
Food @Vallone Restaurant
Food @Vallone Restaurant
Soma Vine Village – Soma is known for its luxury resorts which makes for a relaxing weekend destination. The main building of the winery has a gallery of informative boards and is beautifully decorated. Soma too offer wine tour and tasting but we did not opt for the same.
We had a relaxing day with good food and wine and some fantastic views.
Soma Valley VIneyards
Next on my List
York Winery & Tasting Room – This is close to the Soma Vine Village and looked to be a very pretty winery. This is next up on our list to visit on another day trip from Mumbai.
Alibag, or Alibaug, is a small coastal town in the Konkan region of Maharashtra known for its pretty beaches and for its myriad range of water sports. While it is mostly popular as a weekend getaway from Mumbai, my husband and myself had taken a short half day trip last December.
Spontaneity is Best
While planning for a trip is a fun and a big part of the excitement of travel, sometimes decisions taken impulsively work out for the best. This is what happened to us one fine Saturday morning. Covid restrictions had lightened, and the situation was looking better so we thought of taking a short trip.
We discussed where to go, its pros and cons, if we should go at all yada yada but for two weeks nothing materialized. And then, while lazing post our Saturday breakfast one random weekend, we decided to drive to Alibag just to watch the sunset over the water. A quick lunch and we set off for Alibag!
Decision taken at the drop of a hat, spontaneous is sometimes the perfect answer!
The Drive
Alibag is located at a distance of 96 kms. from Mumbai. It can be reached via sea using ferry services from Gateway of India and it takes about an hour. But ours was a road trip!
We drove from Mumbai to Alibag in just under 2 and ½ hours. The road is mostly a good one except in a few places. It was a pleasant drive and added to our fun adventure trip. Music on, singing along and a pleasant December weather – a perfect drive.
Of Sunsets & Togetherness
We reached a few minutes before the sun was due to set – we had checked on Google. Alibag Beach was bathed in a pre-sunset gleam, the waters soaking up the last rays of the sun while gently lapping on the sandy shore. I love the ocean and just being on the beach excited me.
Our masks on, we roamed the beach and just enjoyed the laid back, lazy atmosphere. As the sun gradually descended towards the horizon, we stood and admired the glory of that fiery ball slowly sinking until all that was left was its mystic afterglow. It was magical. This was life – with your loved one, enjoying the charm of nature.
Tea at Dusk
After frolicking in the water for a while – after all, a trip to the beach isn’t complete without getting my feet wet, is it? – it was time for tea and biscuits. I had packed a thermos of piping hot tea from home (covid precautions) and brought along some Oreos. We sat on the beach and enjoyed the hot tea and biscuits in the dusky evening light. Ah, sheer bliss!
After one last stroll around the beach, it was time to head home. This short but fun trip was like a balm on our souls after having been cooped up for so long. It was a perfect quick road trip to satisfy our wanderlust.
Valour. Honour. Integrity. That’s what the Marathas stand for. Pratapgadh Fort situated in the Satara district of Maharashtra – land of the Marathas – is a statement of the Maratha courage and loyalty and one of the founding stones of the Maratha Empire.
A weekend trip to Mahabaleshwar turned out to be a mix of relaxation, fun, food and history. This was the only trip we were able to take in 2020 before our world got confined to our homes. 25 kms. away from the popular hill station of Mahabaleshwar lies the historical Pratapgadh Fort. We made a day trip to the Fort from Mahabaleswar and spent most of the afternoon learning about its fascinating history.
Pratapgadh Fort from the foothills
History
Located at 3500ft, Pratapgadh Fort is a veritable bastion of Maratha bravery and craftsmanship. It was built in 1656 by the talented architect Hiroji Indulkar and Prime Minister Moropant Pingle on the directions of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It marks the site of Shivaji’s famous win over Afzal Khan in the Battle of Pratapgadh. Afzal Khan’s tomb is located nearby (can be seen from the Fort) as an act of respect by Shivaji.
Battle of Pratapgadh
This battle was fought between the Shivaji’s Maratha forces and Afzal Khan – a 7.5ft tall giant weighing 285Kgs. It is said that Shivaji invited Afzal Khan to his Fort as a sign of truce. However, Afzal Khan betrayed the truce and brought along his army hidden at the entrance to the Fort, displaying use of guerilla warfare tactics. He then tried to kill Shivaji with a concealed dagger after Shivaji had welcomed him into this chambers. Shivaji retaliated and instead fought and killed Afzal Khan with his bare hands (so it is said). The Maratha army defended the fort and defeated the enemy. The cleverly constructed Fort was especially helpful in guarding the King and his armies.
Pravesh Dwar
The Fort
Ramparts
Fort Architecture
The Fort was constructed as a place of ruling for Shivaji but more importantly as a defense line against enemies. This is clearly visible in the architecture and layout of the Fort. It is perched atop a hill which makes approach difficult anyhow. Then the entrance is built in such a way that soldiers can observe all entries to the fort but are themselves invisible to the newcomers. The higher ramparts contain concealing places for the soldiers who could attack would-be invaders long before facing an attack themselves. The Fort drops away to sheer rock face on all sides which makes it impossible to access it from any angle.
Entrance gate
Angled entrance
Some of the 475 steps
Vijay Cannon
Temple with golden top
The Fort includes a 350 year old Hanuman Mandir where Hanumanji’s statue has a full face blessing hand and the Sadariya Khalbat Khana or the Diwani-i-khas. It also houses the Vijay cannon which has a 2.5 km range, now moved from its original position atop the hill to the entrance passage. The gomukh gate is located atop the Balli (meaning, small) killa. On display near the temple is a sword owned by a soldier which has stars on it to indicate killing of a 1000 men!
There are a total of 475 steps to reach the very top!!
Present Day
View from the Fort
Today the Fort is home to 40 families descending from the soldiers or the staff of the royal house. It is a tourist attraction due to its rich history and its scenic location. The view from the top of the fort is beautiful. The fort offers 360 degree views of the impressive Western Ghats. There are shops selling food, souvenirs etc. run by the aforementioned families. They are the caretakers of this Maratha jewel.
In 1957, a 16 ft. statue of Shivaji riding a horse was built in his honor. A beautiful garden has been constructed surrounding the statue.
16 ft. statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji
Indian Haat: When we had visited in February, there was an indigenous “haat” being held there. Local handicraft goods like bags, toys, hats, jewelry etc. were on sale. The colorful merchandise was very tempting and I bought a few knick-knacks.
Tip: Make sure to hire a guide to tell you about the enthralling history of the fort and the Maratha Empire. All the above information was gleaned from our guide who was a descendant of a Maratha soldier.
To Reach: We drove from Mahabaleswar which took around 45 minutes. You can also reach via train, nearest station is Satara.
Tip: Make sure to reach early to get parking near the entrance, otherwise it will be a bit of a hike to reach the fort if you park further down the hill.
Other activities in Mahabaleswar
Trek to Elephant’s Head viewpoint – this is the most famous viewpoint here, you can see the mountain shaped like the head of an elephant. To be honest though, after several attempts we could not figure out where that elephant was! The view in general though was picturesque.
Ride a boat on Venna Lake – Surrounded by mountains, this lake is a lovely spot for a serene boat ride.
Visit MaproGarden – Mapro offers a wide range of squashes, jams, ketups etc. They have a processing unit in Mahabaleswar (outskirts) and it is now a tourist attraction with restaurants, shops, picnic spots. A must try is their strawberries with cream.
Eat strawberries – Mahabaleswar is famous for strawberries and produces 80% of the country’s output! So be sure to try out some.
Buy leather shoes – This area is also known for its leather goods, especially shoes. There are shops galore so choose well.
While we did do the first and last activities, we chose to skip out the rest and relax at our hotel,Jameson Villa. It was a colonial era cottage with big grounds, large leafy trees, 2 cute dogs and good food. We enjoyed a game of badminton in the cool evening air before unwinding with a hot cup of tea on the verandah. Ah, pure bliss. It was a weekend well spent.
View from “Elephant’s Head”
Tip: It gets quite cool after sunset so remember to pack your jackets.
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