The Great Maharashtra

Lonavala Khandala The Hill Station

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Khandala</b> and <b>Lonavala</b> are places familiar to <b>Mumbaites</b> a 5 km each other. Khandala has natural charms which have few rivals in the
Western Ghats. Most easily accessible by train or by road, Khandala is only
three hours from Mumbai. Khandala is at its best after the first monsoon
showers or during the break at the height of the rains or immediately after the
rains and in November and December. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7sA_sqk-b6JuU1sQ1pnQ35mzHSSydr9wueHhIhOkSKR6Q7Cxe3XNbqAfDvA-BwudDuGDGLyYAWk3BEGFxJhvEKg7lpx-_RJ8T8GSY3cM0yO25knToiKMc5NQba53hlKuwGkxTC386Ew_/s1600/Lonavala-khandala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lonavala-khandala-hill-station" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7sA_sqk-b6JuU1sQ1pnQ35mzHSSydr9wueHhIhOkSKR6Q7Cxe3XNbqAfDvA-BwudDuGDGLyYAWk3BEGFxJhvEKg7lpx-_RJ8T8GSY3cM0yO25knToiKMc5NQba53hlKuwGkxTC386Ew_/s1600/Lonavala-khandala.jpg" title="Lonavala Khandala The Hill Station" width="576" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">source:</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://livebharat.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">livebharat.com</a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to its pleasant climate there are convalescent homes,
dharmashalas and sanatoria. You will see a landggape of quite a different type,
bright and cheerful dotted with varities of natural and human life. Lonavala is
a charming hill station located at a height of 625   on the western slope of the Sahyadris. It
reaches the peak of its beauty in the monsoons, attracting a large number of
tourists. The route to the top offers breathtaking valley views along steep and
serpentine tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are eye-catching spots like Tiger s Leap a magnificent
hill the Horsehoe Valley and the lakes. There are several hotels and boarding
houses and there is much more to explore. Bhushi lake and dam another
attractions are hidden in the hills well removed from the’road. The spot is so
supremely romantic that it is difficult to be able to leave it even after hours
and hours. At the end of the dam the water of the lake jump over terraces to
join the river down below. This sight therefore becomes pleasing and cheerful.
In the monsoon a variety of waterfalls speedily rush from hills down to the
deep in the valleys.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>

Lonavala Khandala The Hill Station

Khandala and Lonavala are places familiar to Mumbaites a 5 km each other. Khandala has natural charms which have few rivals in the West...

Karnala: Fort As Well As Bird Sanctuary

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 55 km away from Mumbai, this old fort is situated on
Mumbai-Goa highway, between Panvel and Pen. The fort is surrounded by dense
forest. Various species of plants, birds and animals are seen here. There are
remains of the gates, godowns etc. A bird sanctuary is set up here. Karnala
forest is truly for the birds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu_6mwoHYL1ZbqN_1F2KhzywVeYMF5jhci90rtuHEWqZhyphenhyphen7HkL8kfXAcMqB2vu6RgqeoCH8bRei4laAD01WQO0eGoJKl3V87Xu6RmArwUghhFGa7_9AAbVueEPbaDpIT-oQ1uubQDG9Mc/s1600/bird-sanctuary-Karnala-fort-maharashtra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="karnala-fort-as-well-as-bird-sanctuary" border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu_6mwoHYL1ZbqN_1F2KhzywVeYMF5jhci90rtuHEWqZhyphenhyphen7HkL8kfXAcMqB2vu6RgqeoCH8bRei4laAD01WQO0eGoJKl3V87Xu6RmArwUghhFGa7_9AAbVueEPbaDpIT-oQ1uubQDG9Mc/s1600/bird-sanctuary-Karnala-fort-maharashtra.jpg" title="Karnala: Fort As Well As Bird Sanctuary" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #999999;">source:</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">en.wikipedia.org</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite its small area, about 5 km sq. size,
variety of bird sights and sounds here are unbelievable. During monsoon, a
winding trek 450 mt. up to the historic Karnala fort, takes one through
monsoon undergrowth and deciduous forest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a clear and sunny morning, from this vantage point, in
the vicinity of the famed pinnacle rock formation, one is afforded an eagle's
eye view of the surrounds. Barely 30 km at west, the Mumbai coast is visible
from here. In winter Karnala is visited by several migratory birds, mostly wood
land species which come in from their breeding grounds in the Himalayas. The
best bird watching time here is between November and February. Established as a
sanctuary in 1971, the checklist of birds recorded in the tiny forest totals up
to an impressive 150 plus species. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By far, one of the finest walks here is the Boremal Trail. A
majority of the people come here to picnic, especially during weekends and on
holidays, for a respite from the confines of the city.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>

Karnala: Fort As Well As Bird Sanctuary

About 55 km away from Mumbai, this old fort is situated on Mumbai-Goa highway, between Panvel and Pen. The fort is surrounded by dense for...

Elephanta caves : The Three Headed Shiva (Trimurti)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 10 nautical miles across the sea from the <b>Gateway of
India</b> (Mumbai) lies <b>Elephanta</b> also known as <b>Gharapuri</b>. This green island is
famous for the world’s wonder rock-cut cave temple dedicated to Shiva. It is an
ideal holiday place with plenty of pretty nooks and comers and pleasant picnic
spots. But it is more than all that. The Elephanta Caves provide a fascinating
study in the rock architecture and sculpture of India. Elephanta was originally
known as Gharapuri meaning a rock town. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyyX30h4l-LflFs-5sFPnZM4fRvlreTDAt-mWGoh7DFE-NtUiY5c2cec6vnzrey57HlLfl1jUzzWpU92j42tor_4M7EHmLyhB6DqHHIQ5dwzybKhe6oBgoC-pIY3eXWQc0SPI1378iQBK/s1600/elephanta-cavees-maharashtra-trimurti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="elephanta-caves-three-headed-shiva" border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyyX30h4l-LflFs-5sFPnZM4fRvlreTDAt-mWGoh7DFE-NtUiY5c2cec6vnzrey57HlLfl1jUzzWpU92j42tor_4M7EHmLyhB6DqHHIQ5dwzybKhe6oBgoC-pIY3eXWQc0SPI1378iQBK/s1600/elephanta-cavees-maharashtra-trimurti.jpg" title="Elephanta caves : The Three Headed Shiva (Trimurti)" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #999999;">source:</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">en.wikipedia.org</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had a sacred influence on the
original Indians who considered it to be the island of purification. First we
come across a large pavilion or hall originally supported and adorned by 26
pillars or columns each one averaging about 16 ft. in height. Today some of
these columns have fallen but the majority are still standing. In the hall
there is a shrine with the Shivlinga installed in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most remarkable feature of the Elephanta caves is the
mammoth representation in stone of the various heads of Shiva, depicting his
several moods. This extraoridinary three headed ‘Trimurti’ as it is known, is
nearly 20 ft. in height and each of the heads is nearly six feet in length. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
front face shows Shiva as Brahma, the Lord of creation, at its right is Shiva
as Rudra, the god of destruction and at left is Shiva as Vishnu, the
preserve-r. Other images include Shiva’s Tandav dance, Shiv-Parvati marriage
etc. The shrines at Elephnata caves belong to the Pashupati faith. Mauryas and
Chalukyas patronised these shrines. The caves probably belong to era between
8th and 10th centuries A.D. Motor launches are available from Gateway of India
to go to Elephata Island.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>

Elephanta caves : The Three Headed Shiva (Trimurti)

About 10 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India (Mumbai) lies Elephanta also known as Gharapuri . This green island is ...

Lonavala Khandala The Hill Station

Karnala: Fort As Well As Bird Sanctuary

Elephanta caves : The Three Headed Shiva (Trimurti)

Places To Visit

Major Cities