Archive for 2017

wai

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Wai,pune

Located on the Krishna River, Wai was a town of some prominence in the days of the Peshwas. Two important Maratha Brahmin from ruling families had their origins here: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi (Tambe family) and Gopikabai, wife of Nanasaheb Peshwa (Raste family). Peshwas, a word derived from the Persian word for "foremost leader," were similar to a modern prime minister, and served Maharashatra state from 1713 to 1857.[2]
Wai has long been a cultural center. Locally prominent families built several architecturally significant temples in Wai. A few kilometers from Wai on a hill 4,650 feet above sea level is the temple of Mandhradevi Kalubai, which is more than 400 years old.[3] In more recent times, some 300 Bollywood and Marathi movies have been filmed in Wa

History

Wai has the epithetic name "Dakshin Kashi" (City of Temples) because of the city's more than 100 temples. Wai is known in Maharashtra for its ghats on the banks of the Krishna River and its temples, especially the Dholya Ganapati temple on Ganapati Ghat.
Pandavas established the site of the future city of Wai in the 1700s. The 17th century warlord Afzal Khan (general), representing Ali Adil Shah II of the Bijapur Sultanate, is said to have made his first halt here on his way to the fort of marahtha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A cache of 105 guns, swords and other weapons were found in Wai around 2005.

Geography[edit]

Wai is located at 17.94°N 73.88°E,[5] approximately 35 km north of the city of Satara (Devanagari: satara). It has an average elevation of 718 metres (2355 feet). It is surrounded by the mountainous region of the Sahyādris.
Dhom Dam, west of Wai, was completed in 1982. Waters held by Dhom and Balakwadi dams, west of Wai taluka, surround the region's remaining small villages. Most residents of small villages moved elsewhere when dams were built. Dhom, Tasgaon, Aasgaon, Wyahli, Dhawli, Dahyat, Jor, Golewadi, Golegaon and Ulumb are major villages which were moved or lost because of the construction of man-made lakes. Nearly 16 km from Wai is the village of Borgoan, in middle of Dhom dam and Balkawdi dam, with four waterfalls. Borgoan's residents drink water from the falls year round.
Boundaries of Wai taluka: East of Wai are talukas of Khandala and Koregaon. To the west lies the taluka of Mahabaleshwar. The northern border abuts the Pune district. The north-west border is shared with the Raigad district. South of Wai are talukas of Jawali and Satara. A taluka is an Indian sub-district—smaller than a district and larger than a village.
Headquarters of Wai taluka is the city of Wai, populated by about 25,000 people. Wai is 35 km. from Satara, 95 km. from Pune, 250 km. from Mumbai. Situated on the Mahad-Pandharpur State Highway, Wai is a major city on the way to the hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani.
Wai taluka has seven ghats on the Krishna's banks: Gangapuri, Madhi Aali, Ganpati Aali, Dharmapuri, Brahmanshahi, Ramdoh Aali and Bhimkund Aali.

chittaranjan vatica garden

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chittaranjan vatica garden

 The Chittaranjan Vatika is a sprawling garden in Pune which is run by the Pune Municipal Corporation. This place is an ideal place for all jaywalkers and joggers. It is a botanical garden that consists of a rich variety of flowers and trees and is completed with a jogging track and a wonderful playground which is designed specifically for kids. The kids’ playground here has traffic signals and various sign boards, which is meant to educate the kids about the traffic rules. This garden also has an art gallery which is quite popular. The natural environment of this botanical garden is clean and beautiful which makes it a perfect place to breathe in fresh air and enjoy some peace and quiet.


The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is all set to renovate the Model Colony-based Chittaranjan Vatika, one of the oldest and favourite gardens in the city. However, the civic body’s move has not gone down well with the residents, who are of the view that the PMC should keep the sanctity of the garden intact.
Speaking to DNA, executive engineer of the garden department, Yuvraj Deshmukh, said that the PMC also plans to develop a small water body in the garden. Besides, other additions will be a pagoda, renovated 1,500-metre jogging track and a new playground equipment for small children. “We have a plan to renovate the garden to provide maximum facilities to the visitors,” he said.
The department has prepared a master renovation plan with a project cost of Rs89 lakh. According to the plan, two types of jogging track will be developed with soft and hard surface. The new attraction of the garden will be a small water body. The PMC has floated a tender inviting contractors to develop the garden.
However, citizens are not too impressed with the new plan. Jayantrao Mohite, former president of Model Colony Parisar Sudharana Samiti, said, “Chittaranjan Vatika is a Devrai of Model Colony with big indigenous old trees. The garden already has a jogging track and two pagodas. Hence, we think we should not have more development.”
“Instead of pouring in more cement blocks in the garden, the civic body should keep the sanctity of the garden intact by leaving it as it is,” he added.
Neelima Mysore, secretary of the samiti, said, “The garden department of the PMC should take our views into consideration before making any changes in the garden."

Thosegar Falls

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Thosegar Falls:

Thoseghar Waterfalls in Satara are one of most preferred picnic spots near Mumbai and Pune for youngsters. Though mostly visited during rainy season, you can visit this destination even during summers, thanks to its topography. Perched atop hills, this area in Satara is famous for its roaring waterfalls and lush greenery during monsoons. Here is how you reach this place.
By Road:
Best way to get here for people staying in Mumbai and Pune is to take a bus/car. Here is the distance in terms of kilometres from each of these places.
Satara: 20 kilometres
Pune: 130 kilometres
Mumbai: 140 kilometres
Kolhapur: 150 kilometres
By Train: Nearest railhead is Satara, which is well-connected to all big cities and towns in the state.

Thoseghar Falls – Satara’s Monsoon Wonder

The best part of our trip to Satara and Kaas was the Thoseghar Falls. The roaring Thoseghar Waterfalls vie for the attention of both your eyes and ears as you stand on the viewing platform looking at the milky streams of water plunging down.

On our right were the twin waterfalls, falling into a U-shaped gorge. On our left, a single waterfall was plunging down in tiers reaching the bottom of the valley. And joining the river formed by the earlier waterfalls collectively called Thoseghar falls.

As we took our eyes off these thick waterfalls and looked at the surface of the hill in front of us, we could see many smaller waterfalls coming down. Bit silently clinging to the surface of the hill. There are pathways built to take the visitors from this viewing platform to the upper part of the twin falls where you can see their source.

Tapola

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Tapola - Mini Kashmir near Mahabaleshwar

 Long time back when i was still new to Pune i had asked a friend about places near Pune one could visit. He mentioned Tapola and called it the mini kashmir. I wondered why! I decided to go there to see for myself but for one reason or the other the place kept eluding me. Made me wonder whether the place is something like the Vaishno mata where in you could visit only if you have the "mata ka bulawa"!!
Either it was raining mad or i was running short of time or it was thanks to google maps. The google map story actually is interesting. According to google maps Tapola is ahead of Pratapgad fort on the way to Poladpur. I had taken that route to go to Tapola where in a reached a reservoir - Shivsgar dam with some options for water sports only to realize that it was not actually Tapola and to reach Tapola one had to travel about 25Km from Mahabaleshwar in the other direction towards babbington point and ahead, On that occassion i had returned to Mahabaleshwar and made the trip back to pune cursing the monopoly and inefficiency of google the giant corporate misleader!! on after thoughts however google maps is not that bad, the only thing that i dont trust about google maps is the distance quoted and approximate projection of time required. They just calulate the time with an assumption of 60 Km/hr without considering the road condition or terrain. So i have learnt to live with it and use it only for general research or lets say for starters i have google maps and for main course i go some where else !!

  
So this monsoons i decided to bell the cat anywhich way. I left for Tapola from Pune at 6:30 am to reach Panchgani at about 8-8:30. I had planned to have my breakfast at mapro garden. Normally they are open by the time i reach but this time i found them closed. Was the Tapola jinx still working; for those who dont know i have a superstitiously skeptic tinge to my personality. Once i settled for a less than special breakfast elsewhere i carried on to Tapola. From Mahabaleshwar the roads are quite confusing and i ended up at some view point. Apparently i had taken a right instead of a left and had deviated from the main road. How am i to blame when both the roads where of the same width and equally muddy because of the continual drizzle, more over the visibility was on the lower side on account of the fog. However i was quick to recover and resumed my trip to Tapola. The roads like the tail of a snake was taking me deeper and deeper into the land of nowhere.

sinhgad fort

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sinhgad fort:

Sinhagad (also known as Sinhgarh or Sinhgad) is a hill fortress located at around 25 km southwest to the city of Pune, India. Some of the information available at this fort suggests that the fort could have been built 2000 years ago. The caves and the carvings in the Kaundinyeshwar temple stand as proofs for the same.
Previously known as Kondhana, the fort had been the site of many battles, most notably the Battle of Sinhagad in 1670. Perched on an isolated cliff of the Bhuleswar range in the Sahyadri Mountains, the fort is situated on a hill about 760 metres above ground and 1,312 metres above mean sea level.[citation needed]
The Sinhagad (Lion's Fort) was strategically built to provide natural protection due to its very steep slopes. The walls and bastions were constructed only at key places. There are two gates to enter the fort, the Kalyan Darwaza and Pune Darwaza which are positioned at the south east and north-east ends respectively.[1] The fort was also strategically located at the centre of a string of other Maratha occupied forts such as Rajgad Fort, Purandar Fort and Torna Fort.


History:

The Sinhgad Fort was initially known as "Kondana" after the sage Kaundinya. The Kaundinyeshwar temple coupled with the caves and carvings indicate that the fort had probably been built around two thousand years ago. It was seized by Muhammad bin Tughlaq from the Koli in 1328 AD

Shahaji Bhosale, as the commander of Ibrahim Adil Shah I, was entrusted with the control of the Pune region. His son Shivaji, refused to accept the Adilshahi and initiated the task of setting up Swarajya. Shivaji gained control of Kondana in 1647 by convincing Siddi Amber, the Adilshahi Sardar who controlled the fort, that he, the son of Shahaji Bhosale, could manage the fort's defences optimally. Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande played a key role in this activity. Adil Shah jailed Siddi Amber for this treasonous act and schemed to get it back. He imprisoned Shahaji Bhosale for a concocted crime and informed Shivaji. In 1649, Adil Shah traded the fort for Shahaji's release. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured it in 1656 again with the help of Bapuji Mudgal Deshpande who convinced the Fort commander by giving land in the newly created Shivapur village and peacefully gained control of the fort.
This fort saw attacks by Mughals in 1662, 1663 and 1665. In 1664, "Shahistekhan", a Mughal general, tried to bribe the people of the fort to hand it over to him, but was unsuccessful.
Through the Treaty of Purandar, the fort passed into the hands of the Mughal army chief "Mirzaraje Jaysingh" in the year 1665.
In 1670, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj reconquered the fort for the third time and the fort came and stayed under the Maratha rule till 1689 A.D.
After the death of Sambhaji, the Mughals regained control of the fort. The Marathas headed by "Sardar Balkawade", recaptured it in 1693. Chatrapati Rajaram took asylum in this fort during a Mogul raid on Satara but died in the Sinhagad Fort on 3 March, 1700 A.D.
In 1703, Aurangzeb conquered the fort. In 1706, it once again went into the hands of the Maratha's. Pantaji Shivdev of Sangola, Visaji Chafar and the Pant Pratinidhis played a key role in this battle. The fort remained under the Maratha rule till the year 1818, after which the British conquered it. The British however took 3 months to capture this fort, which was longest it took them to win any fort in Maharashtra.

Culture and Tourism:

 The Sinhagad Fort is a popular weekend destination for many residents of Pune, including trekking enthusiasts with access to the top of the fort from the base of the Sinhgad village.
Parts of the once extensive fortification are in ruins. The fort houses a memorial to Tanaji as well as the tomb of Rajaram Chhatrapati. Visitors can see the military stables, a brewery and a temple of goddess Kali (goddess) along with a Hanuman statue to the right side of the temple, as well as the historic gates.
Training exercises are carried out at the fort by cadets from the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla. Cadets from the academy are regularly sent on hikes and runs from NDA to Sinhagad in full battle gear.
The fort also houses a television tower for broadcasting local TV signals. Currently, Non-Vegetarian food, Partying including alcoholic beverages and smoking is banned on the fort.[5][6]
The local municipal transport service runs buses every hour from "Shaniwarwada" and "Swargate" to the Sinhagad foothills at Donje village. The climbing route from either side of the fort can be covered in an hour. Shared taxi services to the base as well as the top of the mountain are also available.

 

sambhaji park

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sambhaji park:
Sambhaji Park is a beautiful garden which offers a plethora of fauna of varied variety. The park is constructed in a wonderful way with gazebo, a magnificent water fountain, a globe model, a statue of Lord Shiva, clay animal statues, a aquarium, besides a old battle tank on display. A clay fort model is placed inside the park to keep your little ones busy.
 In a large number of languages, the etymology of the word ‘garden’ and its cognates refer to enclosure, protection, and reclusion. The Indian suffix ‘-garh’, meaning a fort in Hindi, Sanskrit, and other Indo-Iranian languages, appears in many Indian place names, while the Persian word ‘pairidaeza’ means ‘garden’ and translates as a form of protected community, a climatic optimum, a paradise.
If etymologically ‘garden’ stands for a place of enclosure, reclusion and isolation, on the other hand a public garden is a meeting place, an area where new, temporary communities are constantly made and unmade. The artists invited to conceive interventions in Sambhaji Park work around this dialectic between inclusion and exclusion, sociality and isolation, while using a variety of already existing elements and materials of the park. Their works invite each visitor to find their own peculiar ‘idiorrhythmy’, their own pace within the communal context of the park and, more generally, to consider their own role in a community.

Chittaranjan Vatika Garden

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Chittaranjan Vatika Garden:

kamla neharu park

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kamla neharu park

 Kamla Nehru Park is situated on Dr. Ketkar road, Erandwana, Pune. This park has a jogging track, Playground for kids,a fountain and two lawns. A military jet (HAL HF-24 Marut) is also kept in one of the lawns. There are stalls of food item outside this park's main gate. The a temple of Lord Dutta next to this park. This park is couple of kilometers from Deccan Gymkhana

Bund Garden

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Bund Garden

Bund Garden, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi Udyan, aside from being a serene green landmark in Pune, also hosts magic shows and hosts horse riding. And if you happen to visit during the winter, do check out the migratory birds that also visit around the time.
Entry fee: Nil
Timings: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM ( Every day of the week)
Location: Phule Nagar Yerwada, Mula Mutha River, Pune


Just 2 km from the Pune Railway Station lies this popular retreat for people of all ages. The gardens are situated next to Fitzgerald Bridge and take their name from the bund, or dam, on the Mula river.[1] These mini dams built by Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, the Parsi businessman and philanthropist,[2] served as a source of irrigation water for the under-privileged. The garden was opened in 1869 when the bridge was completed. It was planned by Colonel Sellon who was able to transform the waste space into a pleasing garden,[3] known today as the "Mahatma Gandhi Udyan" a reference to the existing bridge that leads to the Gandhi National Memorial.
Offering something for everyone, Bund Garden is a favorite haunt for those looking for a quiet, scenic place close to Mother Nature that helps one relax, rejuvenate and get re-energized. Avid joggers throng the area during the early mornings, for whom an exclusive jogging track has been added in the vicinity. Take a boat ride, while enjoying the splendid view of the garden. Sit down under the shades of a tree with a book in your hand. Laze around during the evenings while taking a stroll. Arrange a picnic with family and friends. Watch the migratory birds take flight during winters, or pay a visit to the nearby food joints serving scrumptious paani puri, bhel puri, ragda patty and sandwiches. For the kids, the Park has a separate section replete with see-saws and swings. Frequently, magic shows and horse rides are arranged within the premises to keep both the kids and their parents entertained.

Saras Baug

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Saras Baug

Saras Baug is a major landmark in the city of Pune in India.[1] The place where the park now stands was once occupied by a small lake. However, the lake dried up and was later developed into Saras Baug. The whole 25-acre (10 ha) complex is known as Saras Baug. The Ganesh temple in Saras Baug is also known as Talyatla Ganpati (in Marathi:तळ्यातला गणपती )


History[edit]

The Construction of the Temple started in 1750 under the direction of Peshwa and Mahadji Shinde of the Maratha confederacy. The construction of the temple was completed in 1784 with the idol of Hindu Lord Ganesh in the temple.[2] The temple was built in the lake near the Parvati Temple, which was also the primary residence of the Head of the Maratha confederacy. The inscription in the temple reads
|| देवदेवेश्वर सुतं देवं | सारासोद्यान भूषणं ||
|| कल्पद्रुमां त्वां भक्तानां | वन्दे सिद्धीविनायकं ||
The temple and the area surrounding it were renovated several times in the last 2 centuries. One of the renovations was carried out in 1842 with the help of the East India Company of the British empire.
The last major renovation took place in 1969 under the direction of Mahadev Kumthekar and Anandrao Mane. As part of the last renovation a zoo called Peshwe Park was added to this 25-acre (10 ha) area. Then, starting in 1999 and ending in 2005, the animals at the zoo were all moved to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park situated in the south of the city.[3] This garden and temple are one of the primary landmarks of Pune.
In 1995, a small museum, displaying over a few hundred idols of Lord Ganesha, was added to the temple premises

E-Square Xion Cinemas

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E-Square Xion Cinemas

 location:

 Xion Mall, 1st Floor, Next To Gateway Hotel, Hinjawadi, Pune, ... you at the best theatresin your city, including E-SQUARE Xion: Hinjawadi.

Kasba Ganapati Mandir

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Kasba Ganapati Mandir

The temple was raised by Jijabai – mother of Maratha king Shivaji in 1636. The temple has two gabharas. The exterior bricks as well as the inside floral designs bear a stamp of Peshwa era. The Mandir remains the center of attraction during the 10 days of Ganapati Festival. (Manache Ganapati-the Ganapati of honour- is a Pune-specific concept. According to it, five Ganapati Mandal namely Kasaba, Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Mandai and Kesari Wada are considered as the five Ganapatis of honour).

Temples in the city of Pune have always been the major attractions for people coming to Pune from all over the world. The temples in and around Pune have been the powerhouses for the theists. These temples have served as the centres of inspiration for many great warriors, kings, leaders and freedom fighters. A sense of sanctity and solemnity can be breathed in the surroundings of these temples.

Nana Wada

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Nana Wada


It was built in 1780 by Nana Phadnavis, Peshwa’s chief executive and accounting officer. Currently, the wada is under restoration process but one can find the wooden ceiling, arches, cypress-shaped pillars, motifs of banana-flower here. Nana Phadnavis built this Wada for himself and it is located to the south of Shaniwar Wada. One of the most remarkable forms of governance at that point of time included the ‘Diwankhana’ or the ‘hall of audience’. It is still intact in this wada and was built in the then- popular kalamdan style.

Bhau Rangari Ganapati

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 Bhau Rangari Ganapati


Bhau Rangari started the first celebration of Ganeshotsav (community/public Ganapati Festival) in Pune in 1892. Bhau Rangari, who was an Ayurvedic medical practitioner, kept his Ganesh idol open to the public because religious gatherings allowed for public exchange of ideas and information.
He was so acclaimed that Ayurvedic doctors from various states used to come and visit him. 

“The Wada is specially known for the origin of the Ganesh festival. It is claimed that various saints used to visit the Wada in past to have a spiritual conversation,” says historian Mohan Shete. Since Javale’s traditional family business was to dye sarees, he would pursue his traditional calling along with his medical profession. It led to him being called by the name of Bhau Rangari.

The venue hosted the first Ganpati festival
The Ganesh festival was also started publicly by Javale, hence the Ganpati festival celebrations here are called as Bhau Rangari Ganpati. The Wada was also used by freedom fighters to hide while they were underground.
The structure was made accordingly and various paths and rooms were built underground. Over the passage of time, the paths and the rooms vanished. The Wada was also the site where plans for the freedom movement were conceptualised by leaders such as Lokmanya Tilak, Balwant Ramchandra Natu and Narsinha Chintamani Kelkar.

Lal mahal

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Lal Mahal


Lal Mahal or the Red Palace was established in the year 1630 by Shivaji’s father Shahaji Bhosale. It was built for Shahaji’s wife Jijabai and son Shivaji, where Shivaji spent almost ten years of his childhood. The Palace was prone to attacks by various enemies of Shivaji and as a result the original palace doesn’t exist anymore. The palace which exists is a reconstructed version of the original palace in the same place and it was done by PMC. The reconstructed palace depicts the life of Shivaji Maharaj during the days when he had to face tremendous attacks from many rulers.

Shaniwarwada

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Shaniwarwada


Peshwa Bajirao I laid the foundation of this palace on Saturday in the year 1730. Shaniwarwada was the seat of Peshwa rulers until 1818. Its remnants are now maintained as a heritage site.

Shaniwarwada is a palace fort in the Pune city of Maharashtra. It was built in the 18th century by the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. It is one of the most visited historical places in Maharashtra.


As much as it is known for its historical importance it is also known for its spookiness. The royal history of this fort is blemished with a gruesome murder following political hunger and greed. The walls of this fort have witnessed a heart wrenching tale of treachery, and its marks still remain in the form of a ghost, still lingering in this place. Shaniwarwada is known to be one of the most haunted places in India!
King Shivaji was the first to appoint a Peshwa or a Prime Minister for the Maratha Empire. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. He was succeeded by Peshwa Baji Rao I and it was during his tenure that the Shaniwarwada fort was built. The bloodline of the Peshwas thrived and blossomed for four generations until it was marked by a gruesome murder of the fifth heir to the throne.
Peshwa Madhavrao was the fourth to ascend the throne of the Peshwas, he held the helm of things for eleven long years, fighting the Nizam as well as his own uncle Raghunathrao with whom he had many differences. He died at the age of 27 due to tuberculosis and his younger brother Narayanrao succeeded him as the new Peshwa while his uncle Raghunathrao was the acting regent. Differences rose between the two not in much time and things started getting worse. Narayanrao was an immature teenager while Raghunathrao was greedy and rebellious.
Sumer Singh Gardi, the captain of the Gardi guards had several disputes with Narayanrao. On the last day of the Ganesh Festival i.e. on Anant Chaturdashi, Sumer Singh accompanied by his guards stormed into Shaniwarwada and asked Narayanrao to step down. Raghunathrao and Anandibai promised Sumer Singh that they would mediate and solve all their disputes with Narayanrao. The Gardis requested Narayanrao to accompany them to meet Raghunathrao and sort out the disputes. But he did not budge. This angered the Gardis and a heated argument resulted into the murder of Narayanrao.
It is widely believed that Raghunathrao had sent a message to the Gardi guards to get hold of Narayanrao (‘Dhara’ in Marathi that means to get hold) but his wife Anandibai intercepted the message and changed ‘Dhara’ into ‘Maara’ meaning kill. This miscommunication led the Gardis to kill Narayanrao in the presence of Raghunathrao. Narayanrao is known to have run around the fort of Shaniwarwada, pleading his uncle to save him, crying and saying “Kaka mala vachva” meaning “Uncle save me!” Narayanrao was cut into so small pieces by the guards that his body parts were transported out of the fort in a vessel and then cremated. This gruesome crime shed poor light on the honor of the Peshwas and was the most horrific act performed in the presence of a Peshwa.
The place where he was killed is haunted by his spirit even today, moving around the fort palace, urging his uncle to save him. Locals who stay close to the fort have heard his cries on some specific nights and think that his distressed soul is still seeking help. Tourists visit Shaniwarwada in order to experience something paranormal but nothing weird has been reported so far. Guides at Shaniwarwada always tell this tale to the tourists and show them the place where Narayanrao was murdered. The majestic charm of the fort still seems to work, but the history of the events that once happened inside its walls doesn’t seem to fade. Indian history and its saga of the colonial era seem have many interesting facets.


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