Need a weekend getaway…..Mahabaleshwar it is!!!!!

Soaring peaks, breathtaking valleys.  Lush flora.  Cool, crisp mountain air....if this is what is on your mind, Mahabaleshwar is the place you would want to be in!!!

Mahabaleshwar (meaning 'God of Great Power’ in Sanskrit) is the largest hill station in the Sahyadri range and a municipal council in Satara district in state of Maharashtra.  It is situated at an altitude of 1372m above sea level, about 115km southwest of Pune. With one of the few evergreen forests of India, it served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj.

Indeed, the place is great and bountiful, rewarding the visitor with a mix of old-world charm, natural beauty and modernity. A tour of Mahabaleshwar town and the surrounding countryside would take at least a couple of days as there is a lot to see and experience.  The town bazaar is called Malcolm Peth after the then British Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm.  

Having proper, motorable roads to every point worth visiting, one can tour the place by car, jeep, or even horseback. There are many buildings and sites that take one back to the days of the Raj. There’s Mount Malcolm, the one-time residence of Governor Malcolm; Moraji Castle, where Mahatma Gandhi lived during 1945; and the Mahabaleshwar Club

As short drive from town is the beautiful Venna Lake, where one can go boating, fishing, and pony riding. Or indulge oneself at the entertainment center with its numerous food and game stalls. Near the lake, further down the road on the way to neighbouring Panchgani, are the great luscious strawberry fields. Mahabaleshwar is known for its numerous sightseeing points, each providing a unique perspective of the majestic hill range.  Mapro Garden, Wilson Point, Eliphintstone point, Bombay point, Kate's point, Arthur"s seat, lodwick point are just a few points to name, Or one could visit Old Mahabaleshwar and the famous Panchganga Mandir, which is said to contain the springs of five rivers: Koyna, Venna, Savitri, Gayatri and the sacred Krishna River. There’s also the Mahabaleshwar Mandir, revered for its Swayambhu Lingam. Throughout the year Mahabaleshwar receives a mild and pleasing climate that is ideal for a weekend hideout even during summers. The coniferous forests in its vicinity play a major role in determining its rainfall and climate. The ideal time to visit mahabaleshwar would be october to June. One can reach Mahabaleshwar by road, air or Train from Bombay and Pune Throughout t

Let's go places!!!

Surfing the internet 2 pictures in particular caught my attention...first one was of a woman standing on the beach and looking at the sea; the second one was of a woman standing in the fields with wind blowing in her hair and an expression of satisfaction! 

So I opened the link to these pictures which got me to this site...Self-drive.in, a car rental company based in mumbai and pune!! What luck!! I thought since I live in pune and needed a break myself!!

So I decided it was time to give myself the much needed holiday. I wanted to enjoy the journey to reach my destination, along with the destination as well; and Self-drive seemed the perfect solution to this little experience I wanted to have!!

 So I got busy...set my vacation dates, decided on a place...GOA it was, and logged into their site to fix a date and time to have a car on my doorstep! I was amazed at the simplicity and ease with which I could book a car and that too in 30 mins by the clock!!

       Anyways with the bags packed and the car at my doorstep I was all set to leave for my lil road trip! The people at self-drive helped me with a list of good hotels I could stay at. Being a fan of Safari, I had booked one for myself and I was impressed to see it had free wifi and a GPS in it already...well I was rest assured I wouldn't get lost now for sure!!! 

I guess God was also happy that I was finally doing something I should have done long back, that, the weather was also amazing...cloudy with a little drizzle! I set off for my lil' adventure trip filled with fun excitement and exploring!!!

With the music blaring loud, I started from pune to Goa via new routes thanks to the GPS I got to meet new people and see new places.... An experience I would never want to forget and all thanx to Self-drive

You can win-Shiv Khera

Success doesn’t mean the absence of failure,

It means the attainment of ultimate objectives,

It means winning the war, not every battle.

                        -Edwin C. Bliss

I am not a hardcore reader and mostly read books that catch my attention. Waiting for my movie to begin(since I reached the hall early), my friend and I decided to go to crosswords(on the same floor) to see if any new interesting book had come.

So, browsing through the bookshelves, a black cover book reading “You Can Win- Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently” caught my attention and I bought it. The same day after finishing my chores I sat down to read the book and unwind.

                In one sense, You Can Win is a step by steptool to Success, an easy to read, practical, common sense guide that takes us from ancient wisdom to modern day thinking. One thing I like the most about this book is that the author (Shiv Khera) never falls short of providing ways or methods to apply his theory. While reading this book you actually feel like he is talking to you directly trying to explain his theories with the help of stories. From time to time, the book forces the reader to think, introspect and device his/her own plan of action. 

The author has very rightly said that "It is not the polls or public opinions but the character of the leader that determines the course of history." I agree completely with this statement since success comes and goes and so does money,  but character is something which stays with you forever. You may have a lot of money but it is your character that defines the person you are!

  I tried using the 8 step action plan he has mentioned in the book, I wrote them on an index card also but couldn’t keep it up for 21 days, I could follow it only 20% since to follow it completely I would need a constant reminder or a push for the initial 21 days till it becomes habitual, though I did fill in the action plan questionnaire that is available on Pg. 63. It makes us think about our work and answer honestly questions related to the areas we are lacking in or are not paying attention to. The best way to read it is slowly and one chapter at a time, so that the concepts of that chapter are absorbed completely, in plain simple language, do not read the next chapter till you completely understand the previous one and what it tries to impart. The only part I did not like about this book is that it is too long to read and at times it feels like we are being preached!!

 Unlike the many inspiring books available in the market, You Can Win brings meaning to our lives and making work easier for us by simply following and applying his theories in our routine lives.

           In short, You Can Win is a “how-to” book that will take you from dreaming about success to unlocking your potential for success!

It's my BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I was born on February 29th, which I’ve often been told explains a lot about me, which I can only assume is a compliment. All birthdays have their plusses and minuses, but the Leap Year birthday, not unlike the Christmas birthday, or the 9/11 birthday, has a unique subset of them. These include:

1. Close friends and relatives say I'm an overgrown child or maybe even worse than a child where birthdays are considered!!! I know I'm going to turn 31 but actually I'm still a 7 year old...what else can u expect from a 7year old!!!! Yes I'm born in a leap year....29th feb!!!!

Trust me only people born in a leap year know how it feels like when u have to wait for 4 years for your original birthday to come!! 

2. Everyone gets so confused about the date in non-leap years that they end up wishing us for 3 days and so it's a 3 day celebration for 3 years. Forget people, even Facebook gets confused for 3 years about notifying your birthday!!

3. After you turn 21, who cares? All birthdays are are an annual reminder of your impending death and all the friends you no longer keep in contact with. But if your birthday only comes every four years? Suddenly it’s an event. People feel sorry for you. People think you’re entitled to something extra special.  29th February is a date nobody can forget....it's unique!! So no matter whether you are in touch with your friends or no, 29th feb is the day your friends would surely remember you! Your phone gets extra busy receiving calls from long lost friends and relatives on that day!

4. You actually will be a kid all your life and even if u are 40 years old, you can still say you are 10years old and you wouldn't be lying about it!!!! It is the best excuse if u don't have a driving licence(if u know what I mean!!!)

5. You get to have an extra special grand party on your original birthday and nobody can say NO since it comes once in 4 years!!

6.  All kinds of interesting things happen in February. Valentine’s Day. President’s Day. Black History Month. None of these involve me in the slightest, but February in a leap year has ME written all over it....it's MY month and MY birthday.

Yes yes! I know 2015 is NOT a leap year, but hey!! 2016 is not far enough!!!! ;)

LIFE...go slow!!!

Dear Life,

I try to live you to the fullest but why are you so funny!!?? At times you make me feel like I'm the luckiest girl alive and sometimes you suck so hard that I feel I was better off without you! 

    Can you turn back time so that I can become a small baby again? Also maybe live life differently, all I'm saying is it's not fun to grow up! Where is the love?? Where is the humanity??? 

Dear Life go slow, take your own sweet time Plz, I don't want to grow up so quick! Let me just sit back and enjoy you a little...I want to enjoy being a child again, I don't know why but, All I know is that as babies we were safer, we did not have to worry about many things, but times have changed and I worry about the safety of my children everyday. As kids we never had to face the dirty politics in families that have prevailed, family was FAMILY whether ur own or far off relatives or ur friends parents....they were all FAMILY!

Life you are my best friend and sometimes I just want to talk to you with nothing else to do...off late you have made me feel like I'm almost 60yrs old and I have forgotten how to relax and have fun! Please slow down!!! I cannot keep up with your fast pace, I get tired and everything just goes blurred. 

I look at myself in the mirror and it's like I've lost myself on the way, so please I request you again please slow down don't run please!!!

VIENTO- the new way of living!!

VIENTO the first modern lifestyle project coming up in Satara, in the lap of the beautiful mountains of Sahyadris.

True to it's name VIENTO will be a luxurious experience, with all state of the art facilities at your doorstep, emanating the grandeur which is hard to get in the busy cities in today's time.

      With 2BHK apartments of 1260 square feet and 3BHK apartments of 1500 square feet; it is more like living in a HOUSE which looks like an APARTMENT.

             Visually stunning and always situated on a gorgeous backdrop, Infinity pools are surely the most beautiful man-made pools in existence. So think of all those leisurely moments where you can just sit back and soak yourself in one of these pools just outside your home.

   With skating becoming a favourite hobby among the kids nowadays, it becomes a problem having enough space to let them skate, enjoy and at the same time be safe. VIENTO promises not only the best, but also the sturdiest skating rink to keep the young ones busy.

        It doesn't stop here, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls welcome to your very own personal lawn tennis court. With manicured lawn courts and an amazing backdrop, teach your young ones tennis with the help of experts to become champions of tomorrow.

     Life in VIENTO promises to be in sync with the modern and fast-paced life for the young, and a relaxed, peaceful and healthy lifestyle for the elderly.

       Right from waking up to the sounds of birds chirping, to the breathtaking view of the waterfalls, with the elderly growing younger with loads of activities taking them back to college days, to simply relaxing in your own spa! Having a family time at your very own classy restaurant to sneaking out for coffee near the poolside.....VIENTO has it all!!

         With fully automised homes, state of the art marbonite as well as wooden flooring; VIENTO  is a perfect blend of exclusivity, panache and glamour.

10 Reasons Why you should visit Udaipur

Article Written By : Guest Author @UdaipurBlog

Udaipur was founded in 1553 by Maharana Udai Singh II as the final capital of the erstwhile Mewar kingdom, located in the fertile circular valley – “Girwa” to the southwest of Nagda, on the Banas River, the first capital of the Mewar kingdom. Being a mountainous region and unsuitable for heavily armoured Mughal horses, Udaipur remained safefrom Mughal influence in spite of much pressure. The rajvansh of Udaipur was one of the oldest dynasties of the world. In the recent years Udaipur has become very popular destination for people from all over the world! Being born and brought up in Udaipur, it will always be a HOME to me, I have often met people who either start swooning after only hearing the name or they ask me what’s so great about Udaipur apart from the Royalty and the lakes!!! Well this blog is my answer to them…

Udaipur is known as the city of lakes which one can read all about on the net, Here are My top 10 reasons! 

 

1. The Lakes:

Photo Via: worldtouristplace.com

Lakes make a perfect backdrop to the romantic setting of Udaipur. Udaipur is truly famous for its beautiful lakes and watercourses. The city is popular by the phrase of ‘The City of Lakes’.  The Picturesque lakes offering fabulous view of the mountains make Udaipur, a dream destination of every tourist. Since ages, these lakes have been providing water to the city dwellers.

Lake Pichola:

Located in the heart of the city, Pichola Lake is the oldest and one of the largest lakes of Udaipur. In 1362, the beautiful lake was built by Pichhu Banjara during the ruling period of Maharana Lakha.

Lake FatehSagar:

Fateh Sagar Lake is the second artificial lake of Udaipur, the first being Jaisamand lake. Built in 1678by Maharana Jai Singh, Fateh Sagar Lake got its name from Maharana Fateh Singh, who later made additions to it.

Lake Jaisamand:

Jaisamand Lake is renowned for being the second largest artificial lake in Asia. Located at a distance of 48 kms from the city of Udaipur, Jaisamand Lake is also known as Dhebar. In 1685, Maharana Jai Singh built this lake while making a dam on the Gomti River.

On a 40 Acre Island in the midst of Jaisamand Lake is another resort worth going to stay called Jaisamand Island Resorts, it is the only resort in North West Region of the country to be built on a Private Island of 40 acres. Jaisamand Lake and the Sanctuary are rich in fauna with counts of over 300 bird species. So it is a must stay for all those Bird lovers!

 

2. MONSOONS!!

Udaipur is at it’s best during monsoons, surrounded by the Aravali ranges on all sides, the rains during monsoons are what make the entire city look lush green. The Temperature drops, the sky stays overcast and the  roasted corn on Fatehsagar , long drives on Rani road  slow drives on Badi lake are just a few things that make you fall in love with this city!!

 

3. EklingNathji Mandir:

Photo via : rajasthantourismbuzz.wordpress.com

Eklingji Temple is one of the most famous temples of Rajasthan. Located in the town of Eklingji (Kailashpuri), the place got its popular name from the temple. The temple boasts of a striking four-faced idol of Eklingji (Lord Shiva) that is made out of black marble. Its height ranges around 50 feet and its four faces depict four forms of Lord Shiva. The east-facing part is recognized as Surya, the west-facing part is Lord Brahma, the north-facing part is Lord Vishnu and the south-facing part is Rudra i.e. Lord Shiva himself. The zenith of the multifaceted idol is known as ‘Yantra that stands for the ultimate reality. The Shivlinga garlanded by a silver snake, acquires the major attraction of people. For one seeking solace, the cool, beautiful and calm surroundings of Ek Ling Nath Ji Temple are a must visit.

 

4. Shilpgram Utsav:

Photo by: Mujtaba R.G.

It takes place in December around Christmas and so I always wait for this Utsav to begin! As the name suggests it actually is an UTSAV, not only the local craftsmen but craftsmen from all over the country participate in it. Shilpgram is a miniature man-made village, so every year during winters there are not only stalls of clothes but also of craft, jewellery and eatables! The entire day just flies once you are here. As the sun sets in the backdrop..the evenings are the best time of the entire day, cold breezes and the typical Rajasthani good of Dal, Bati, Choorma and the Raab!! The hot food served with warmth and lots of love by the people here, accompanied by the Rajasthani folk dancers and folk singers just add to a whole new level of amazement; hearing them just takes you to a whole new world. There are many activities for kids too, but Ladies be sure you wear Flats or Shoes and not Heels!! We wouldn’t want swollen feet now do we!!?? 

 

5. Hariyali Amawas Mela/Fair:

It is one fun-fair which takes place only in Udaipur during monsoons, to be precise in the month of  August! As the name suggests, it is to welcome the rains and the greenery it brings along.

Being a 2 day fun-fair celebrations, it has one day exclusively for men and the 2nd day for women! The entire road right from Fatehsagar till the road ofSaheliyon ki Badi, everything stays jampacked and closed for vehicles! The only fair where you still get the village version of a yo-yo called ‘Ullu ka pattha’ No! I’m not abusing!! It’s what they’re called…they are basically water-balloons suspended by a rubber string!

 

6. Gangaur Festival:

Celebrated till date in the same way as it used to be during Udai Singhji’s reign!! His highness Arvind Singhji Mewar has ensured that this festival has the same essence to it as it did when he was a child! Attending the Gangaur festivities brings back memories of childhood and makes one proud of belonging to Udaipur, to Mewar!! Hats off to him for keeping it alive till now and celebrating it with the same zeal and enthusiasm.

 

7. SILVER:

Photo by: Aman Bhandari

Yes u read it right!! Shopping in Udaipur is one of its kind. Silver is the best thing to pick up, you get excellent jewellery and show pieces made of silver in Lal-Ghat area and the entire Palace Road! There are silver pieces which one would not find anywhere else in the world. Then there are Stoles which are famous, you get all kinds of work, whether you want plain, shaded, printed work, Jamawar work etc are just a few to name! For women who love buying borders or old sarees(like me), Palace Road is the place to go! There are awesome tailors in the city area who stitch kurtis, jackets, sherwani’s etc very nicely and very quickly! You get very unique and cute suits and ghagras for little kids and grown ups too, here in the city and jootis too!

 

8. The Erstwhile Royalty:

Photo By: Yash Sharma

To get the feel of how the erstwhile Royals lived during the golden years one MUST visit The City Palace! It is one of the architectural marvels of Rajasthan, located peacefully on the banks of Lake Pichola. This majestic  Palace is the most-visited tourist attraction of Udaipur. It is often distinguished as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. It was Maharana Udai Singh who initially built this superb wonder, but the present form of the Palace is the result of subsequent additions made by his successors. City Palace has several gates that are known as “Pols”. ‘Bara Pol’ (Great Gate) is the main gate to the City Palace complex that leads to the first courtyard. On passing ‘Bara Pol’, one comes across a triple arched gate, which is known as ‘Tripolia’. Between these two gates, are visible eight marble arches or Toranas, where Kings used to weigh themselves with gold and silver. Besides Tripolia, there is an arena where elephant fights were staged. After ‘Tripolia’, one enters the ‘Elephant Gate’ or the ‘Hathi Pol’.

The highest point of this Palace is Amar Vilas which has wonderful hanging gardens with fountains, towers and terraces. City Palace is structured in a way that it offers a splendid view of the lake from all its Balconies, cupolas and towers. It has amazing interiors with delicate mirror-work, marble work, murals, wall paintings, silver work, inlay work and colored glass. The exquisitly carved work of City Palace cannot be confined in words. To experience the beauty and to capture the real picture of this grand palace it is a must to visit this palace.

 

9. ROMANCE:

In a country less known for its romantic getaways, Udaipur offers tranquil nights, splendid strolls, and an exotic seduction that’s hard to resist, making it an ideally romantic honeymoon destination for newlyweds.

Right from long drives at Rani road and Badi Lake to dining out in places like Jagat Niwas, Sunset Terrace and Ambrai(to name a few) with the perfect view overlooking the Lake Pichola, cool breeze blowing and mouth watering food, one can’t help falling in love with this picturesquely beautiful city

 

10. Jagdish Temple:

Photo by: Dimpy Chundawat

This imposing white Hindu temple, with intricate architecture and carvings, is an unmissable landmark in the Lal Ghat area near the entrance to the City Palace. It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1961 and houses a black stone idol of Lord Jagannath (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). The highlight there is the evocative Aarti every sunrise and sunset.

Udaipur should not be visited for all the reasons given above…. NO!! Udaipur should be visited for an experience of a lifetime and to make your own reasons to come back!!