Maharashtra Tourism

As most of you are aware, i am working out of Pune for the past 7 months. I managed to visit many places over this period and wanted to share my experience with Maharashtra tourism. what to expect, what not to expect...


1. Maharashtra is filled with mountains and hence lot of Ghat roads. Pls do not ever think that you can cross one KM in one minute at 110km speed in your car. 150 KM trip will take 5 hours... so pls be prepared for that. Dont even take the word of your tour operator.

2. Roads are mostly bad due to heavy rain effect, ghat related water stagnation etc. So, do keep your backup tyre intact.

3. Food availability is very stable. One will get Pav misal (bread with gravy), vada pav, rice, dal anywhere inside the state. Same with Non-Veggies.

4. Climate is mostly dry. Rainy season is July, Aug and September. Winter in December & January.

5. Accomodation booking to be done in advance... Payment (50%) has to be transferred while booking. Lot of people travel on three day week ends. So., planning has to be done atleast one month before.

6. Coastal towns are very sleepish but homely. Not knowing Hindi / Marathi will be an issue to interact. Dont expect too much of facilities and blindly trust the web page pictures. They are often misleading.

7. People are relatively nice and not at all arrogant. They are willing to guide and help while you are on the road.

8. MTDC runs resorts at decent rates everywhere.

9. Price of a "Guide" services is very very affordable in historical places. Pls pls use them.

Aurangabad, Ajanta, Ellora

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/AjantaCaves#
http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/ElloraCaves#
http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/DauladabadFort#

Ajanta is one of the finely maintained places. MTDC's facilities, food is very good here.

Ahmednagar

Dont miss the hot Jilebi and Pan / beeda.

Lavasa

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/LavassaUnderCloud#
http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/LavassaUnderLights#

City being built as of now. Decent for a day's trip. Can go in bike too

Bhimasankar

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/Bhimasankar#

Nashik

Trimbakeshwar is a very good shiva temple.

Malshej Ghat

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/MalshejGhats#

Decent for a day's trip. Food is not great.

Dapoli

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/DapoliKonkanCoast#

The best food town on the coastal.

Sinhagad

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/Sinhagad#

Good for nature glimpse.

Raigad Fort

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/RaigadFort#

Murud Janjira

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/JanjiraFortMurud#

Cochin like town with lot of guest house stay options.

Diveagar

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/DiveagarBeach#

Got lot of guest house stay options.

Pune

http://picasaweb.google.com/svijayganesh/GaneshVisarjanPune#

Ganesh Visarjan

Ganesh visarjan is celebrated in a very nice way across Pune. There is procession, band, DJ, Music, dance, Dhol / Band music and what not. Do catch a glimpse of frenzy below.

Jhootha Hi Sahi - Music Review

Movie Name - Jhootha Hi Sahi
Music By A R Rahman
Lyrics by Abbas Tyrewala
Over all Rating - Must Listen for melody lovers

1. Cry Cry By Rashid Ali, Shreya Ghoshal - 5/5 - immensely likable track in the lines of Dil Chahta Hai... Nice, simple, rhyming lyrics adds huge weight to this simple tune.

2. Mayya Yashoda (Jamuna Mix) By Javed Ali, Chinmayi - 4 / 5 - Lovely singing by Javed and especially by

Chinmayi in this track. Chinmayi is improving album after album on diction, accent etc. the ending portion of song... robust...

3. Hello Hello By Karthik & Hentry Kuruvilla - 3.5 /5 - Simple melody explaning the waiting mode for a call... nice phone sounds added here and there adds flavour like oh maria style

4. Do Nishaniyan By Sonu Nigam - 5 / 5 - Haunting melody with lovely flute and piano work.

5. Pam Pa Ra By Shreya Ghoshal & Suzanne D'Mello - 5 / 5 - Fine techno track and energetic beats. You automatically end up shaking your legs for sure... Listen to the beat change from second interlude...

6. I've Been Waiting By Vijay Yesudas - 4 / 5 - Surprise factor of vijay yesudas singing a hindi song...does not disappoint at all. Lovely melody, jazzy feel.

7. Mayya Yashoda (Thames Mix) By Javed Ali, Chinmayi - 4 / 5 - Little more stylish singing, techno beat comes up in this version. Subtle changes in the music arrangement when compared to Jamuna version.

8. Do Nishaniyan (Heartbreak Reprise) By Sonu Nigam - 5 / 5 - Haunting melody with lovely flute and piano work with lot of humming....

9. Call Me Dil By Rashid Ali - 3.5/5 - Lovely melody and nicely sung. Nicely supported by Drums and guitar.

I loved this album, melody is back with vengeance...

Lyrics and most used words

Check this post by madhan karky... Interesting analysis.

http://madhankarky.blogspot.com/2010/09/research-top-100-words-used-in-tamil.html

Chulbul Pandey Rocks

Movie Opinion of Dabangg

Plus Points

1. Electrifying screen presence of Salman Khan
2. Lovely Music
3. Superb Humour with some great one-liners
4. Not seen such an excitement in the recent past in theatres - whistle, dance for Munni Badnaam track - entire duration....

My best pick of scenes - Salman's proposal scene and wedding scene...

Minus Points

1. So called story :)
2. Telugu cinema type screen play - sentiment, love, villain, song or fight - story moves in that order

Amit Trivedi wins national award

Amit Trivedi wins national award for Dev D.... Wow... He deserves it completely as he had done a great job for that movie.

New addition to the blog

Folks and my regular visitors.,

You can see a picture on the top hereafter which will be changed regularly.

Those pictures are taken by me and shared with you.

Do have a look at it and enjoy :) :) :)