Friday, February 2, 2024

Dimbhe Dam ( Dimbhe Khurd ) Trip!

It's was short planned trip with scope of previous day evening 3pm onward and return to Pune by 11am next day.

There are other spots to visit and see for you more exploring:

You can park car on road and walk down the lane to find water reservoir. I enjoyed this sunset view from there. It was great pleasure and feeling although sun goes behind the mountains but reflection it creates on dam water is really nice. Also depends on which time of year you visit the place and what level of rainfall is received in region. Water level will allow us to explore area accordingly.

I would suggest to go https://www.google.com/maps/dir/19.0998043,73.7504954/19.0962889,73.7464815/@19.1002528,73.7494985,580m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!4m4!1m0!1m1!4e1!3e0?entry=ttu for night camping if you have the tent and setup.

Good for bachelor group of 4-5 guys. Mr Kiran Borade +91 95944 38990 takes care of the place and food. Stay location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UkZsjaKELFKxF7Nt8 . Mr Kiran arranged nice bonfire and food for us!

I would highly recommend his home made matka biryani and fresh water fish. Fresh fresh water fish are too fresh and freshly brought from dam within just 2-3 hours before they are prepared. Taste is really awesome for both of these items and I suggest to have it in lunch to fully enjoy with full appetite.

Word of caution of those who are more in salt water fish, number of small bones on fresh water fish are little more. Still go with Chilapi and you won't be upset.

Ask Mr Kiran to prepare food and bring your own table/setup for dinner. Keep locals informed to avoid any issues. Local villagers/farmers have Fish farm setup on other side of dam. Mr Totre has huge setup for fishing. You may find him at https://maps.app.goo.gl/iZ4sw6HJs6BmJuKU9 where you can get fresh fish if there are fishermens around the spot. Also note that fish prices are way way too cheap here so it's also nice idea of bring storage and get them eating later at home. Prices were around 150/- per kg, same is sold at 400-600/- per kg in Pune or other nearby town places.

There is fish point, competitor of folks whom we visited/met there. https://maps.app.goo.gl/DtcaL7etsi4cYfdV9 (check photos)

Fish Farms:

Ghod River bridge point:

Sunset lake view:

Bon fire:

Chickoo (Sapodella or Sapota) plant flowers: (Ref https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota ) aka sapote, chicozapote, chicoo, chicle, naseberry, or nispero, soapapple

Important Note:

Do NOT swim in dam without supervision and locals informed, its deep and backwater has lots of muddy clay which can make you drown if stuck in it. There had been such death instances.

Do NOT enter in water! There are no crocodiles but slippery and sharp rocks can harm you. Most fishes smell the blood in water to enjoy the fist! Never know who eats whom! Water is their territory!

Do NOT argue with locals, they recommend things for your safety! It's always ok to pay and get their services and enjoy your trip!

Last but not the least, whole trip expense was 2500/- for 4 of us. per head 650/- including:

Diesel in my car (Kia Carens),
Snacks: Pakoda, Tea and later on hot and fresh Fish fried (may be half to 1kg)
Dinner: Matka biryani, Fresh fish, roti, chicken curry and chuliwarchi bajri chi bhakar along with bonfire!
Night stay arrangement. (no camp but indoor bedding)
Next day breakfast misal on way back

If you are family and want to enjoy more peaceful place with luxury of good resort stay, visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/fSPQyMKCaiaqM4eU9 Squirrel Resort OR https://maps.app.goo.gl/AbEHa7pS871fA6tB8 La Moire Resort. Both are having good reputation/rating and good to family stay with more luxury (and cost!) and peace! You can still call Mr Kiran to get his Matka biryani and enjoy it!

Thursday, February 1, 2024

One day Trip to Bhigwan/Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary : Flammingos, Herons, Ducks and many more birds!

One fine morning my 6year old daughter got seriously curious to see Flammingos. I guess, main reason was pink being her favorite color. Another question that comes is which animal is pink in color? You already guessed which bird is pink: Flammingo!

So with some research and word of mouth publicity, idea of visiting Bhigwan came! We did unplanned trip with family to Bhigwan! There were two major motivations:

1. Seeing birds and Flammingos

2. Eating fresh water fish

Map:

Kranti Flamingo Point

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kranti+Flamingo+Point/@18.2649046,74.80022,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3bc379954f8e05ff:0x8f0437de213fc684!8m2!3d18.2648995!4d74.8027949!16s%2Fg%2F11c20qdbky?entry=ttu

Best time to go: Jan mid to Feb end.

Preferred time in day: morning 6-9am

Evening activities at 5-6.30pm

Place offers:

Stay
Food
Snacks
Wonderful Labrador dog to play with!

Distance from this point to lake is not far. One can take their own car/SUV or go on bike with boat navik. Person is knowledgeable with bird migration, place bird visit, breed and travel.

Although boats are available anytime of the day but go on preferred time. Do call on the google map number so you know the schedule and boat is arranged for you.

Charges: 1000/- per boat per hour per capacity of 4-5 people.

Things to Carry:

Cap
Water
Camera(s)
Binocular

There are plenty of photos on Google maps. Do not forget to have lunch there with tasty fresh water fishes: Chilapi and Rau.

Fun facts:

Flamingos come from Siberia (see in GMap to find where it is)
Some birds also come from Egypt
Flamingos go to Gujrat coastal area for nesting. There nest is a little peak of sand and they put their egg on top of that sand peak. Not sure on logical reasoning.
Flammigos get their pink color from algae they eat
Painting stork is bird with feature wings of black paint design
Herons are commonly seen seating patiently for their pray.
Flamingos can fly at speed of 300 km/h
Flamingo can be as talk as 4feet
All birds come at Bhigwan for food. They go their breeding nests in evening for sleep
Flamingo sleep on one leg (always!) and keep their folded long neck on their back
Raptors and Falcons are seen in morning. Mostly doing hunting of other birds.
Keep exploring!

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Ratnagiri-Purnagad-Devthadi-Jaigad-Velneshwar from Pune during covid times!

It was Feb of 2021. Almost an year when Covid-19 pandemic has begun and almost stopped tourism, travel, fun! People were still getting use to new normal. Living with only necessities. Not worrying about hobbies and fun activities. Even thinking twice before going to bar!

In such times, we as family decided to do a small konkan trip. Konkan was easy choice as we love the people and food there. Kids love being on beach. Sandy and clean beach is all they need to have fun! There was no advanced booking of hotels and was going with 8 and 4 year old kids! It was adventure in uncertain times of covid!

We started from Pune and here was the plan outlined. However, it was on paper. It changed as we moved.

21st Sunday: Start from pune 7am. Reach Ratnagiri at 2pm. Lunch Wai/Satara. Dinner at friends's place. Stay at Sea Fans Mandoli beach, Ratnagiri.
22nd Stay at Ratnagiri at dafoldis. Visit Thiba, Marine museum, Ratnadurg fort, etc
23rd at Ratnagiri. Trip to pawas/purnagad?
24th To Ganapati pule Temple/beach/water sports. stay at Malgund beach resorts/Ganapati Pule?
25th Jaigad fort, Karhateshwar temple, From ferry towards Velneshwar and stay at MTDC.
25th Stay at Velneshwar MTDC
26th stay at Velneshwar. or back to Pune via Koyannagar OR Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar route.

Google map

On 20th Feb'2021, there was fake news that Pune district will have full lockdown due to increasing number of covid patients. This made us upset as we were planning but luckily had done no bookings. It was the time when I had thoughts to cancelling the plan but wife and kids have done all packing. They were ready and I made my mind. Worst case scenario would be to stay at random hotel/resort in konkan for 10-15days till lockdown ends. Luckily, no such lockdown was announced by state govt and we started out on 21st Sunday morning from Pune.

Day1: 21st Feb Sunday

We got ready for travel around 7am. Packed every piece of luggage in car boot area and back seats. Kids still forgot one of their toy bag which had beach toys to play in sand. We had purchase another set at beach. We did took home made food since we were not sure about hotels and food availability due to corona related mixed news about lockdown. Actually, all hotels/restaurants were wide open and welcoming guests on the way in Pune, Satara area so there wasn't any problem.

We reached around Satara area by 10.30 and took break for brunch. We had home food and ordered couple of Masala Dosas from hotel. It was tasty. Actually, going with Misal Pav or South Indian food is easy option around Maharastra. There is very less chance of getting bad taste. Kids enjoyed the Masala Dosa. We also tried Masala Milk at that joint and it was worth what we paid for 35/-.

We were traveling slow due to multiple bathroom breaks and naughty dramas of kids. One has to take right after Karhad at small village Narayanwadi towards Undale and Kukrud to reach Kolhapur-Ratnagiri road. Small patch of road was under constructions and took us few wrong directions to waste around an hour. Reached around 3pm at Hotel Sea Fans in Ratnagiri. I had called in hotel to confirm booking for sea facing room. It was one of the great view hotel in Ratnagiri city. right in city and beach front view. Mandavi beach is city beach and has nice chawpati view in evening. Our 4 year old just loved the view from gallery and was glued to window watching the view. We saw a white horse and his owner came on beach for horse bath. For kids, it was fun to see their favorite Maximus horse (from Tangled movie and famous Rampenzil of kingdom of Corona!) swimming in sea. Kids had snacks as they were growing hungry and would have not waited for dinner at friends place.

We walked on beach around 6pm and found chaupati was more crowded. There were Ganesha statue coming for visharjan. I didn't knew Konkan has two Ganesha festivals. February or Maas month is month of this celebration. We joined in Ganesha aarti and left the spot around 7.30pm for dinner. My friend Deshpande was living in Ratnagiri. His place was hardly 20min from hotel. He had specially invited for dinner. Dinner was full konkan menu including Tisara gravy, Prawns biryani, Surmai fry. It was great dinner. Food was awesome!

Day2: 22nd Feb

We went to Bhatye beach in morning. It was pleasant beach. No tourists, 3-4 guys swimming. Some morning walkers. Water was really clean and enjoyed the swimming. Kids played in beach with wife. It was fun time there. We also saw Zari beach temple. It was just before Kohinoor hotel.

We planned to visit Purnagad and Devghadi . We loved Devghadi as place is so different than usual beach. Most important play was by weather. It was started raining and sun was hiding behind the clouds. It was beautiful weather. One must plan for this place. It's like small island formed within rocky sides.

View is awesome and loved the timing of shower.

Day3: Towards Ganapti Pule

We started around 11am for breakfast at Mithali hotel. It's one of the best place to hae breakfast. We had stomach full of Dosa, Sandwitch, fries and started towards Ganapati Pule. View on Aare-Ware beach was awesome! We reached Ganapti temple at 1pm. Temple was on break to do cleanup and sanitation. It was too hot to go out on beach so we decided to check Prachin Konkan and Magic garden which is not far from temple. Kids enjoyed magic show and other activities. Had nice snacks at Prachin Konkan food stall. It's worth every penny.

Day 4:

Visited Thiba palace in morning and left for Jaigad fort. We reached fot base at noon 2pm. Since it was cloudy, we didn't had trouble exploring the fort. View from fort is wonderful. We also visited small Karhateshwar temple behind the JSW Energy plant. Place has natural source sweet water at the base near sea shore.

We reached the ferry port around 4pm and took feery ticket of 160/- to cross the sea. This ferry route helps reduce road journey for 100+ km. This was great time saver. We were able to reach Velneshwar MTDC resoirt at 5.30pm and booked room on the spot. Place had great view of sea!

Day 5:

We started from Velneshwar and travalled back to home via Mahabaleshwar road. Road was nice and we spent some time for shopping at Mapro garden. Broguht 2-3 kg of strawberry. Kids ate those strawberries for next 2-3 days and had great time!

It was indeed great trip and without much of planning and booking! Konkan always surprize on any visit!

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