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| Around Pune |
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| Khandala,
Lonavala and Karla
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Khandala and Lonavala are two charming hill stations
on the western slopes of the Sahyadris, 5 kms apart straddling the Mumbai-Pune
highway at an altitude of 625 m. Very popular with Mumbaites, they also
alternate as getaways and health resorts.
Karla about 12 kms from Lonavala, is the site of the largest chaitya Caves
(shrines) in India, built in 80 BC.
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| Mahabaleshwar |
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Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of the erstwhile Bombay presidency. A
popular town, with an air of unspoilt beauty, it meanders leisurely for 5 kms
at an altitude of 1372 m. You can while away the hours boating or fishing at
the placid Venna Lake or explore the walks or the thirty points that offer
panoramic views of the valley and the sea.
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| Panchgani |
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Panchgani derives its names from the five or 'panch' hills around it. At an
altitude of 1334 m it is just 38 m below Mahabaleshwar. These 38 m translate
themselves into a breathtaking 18 km approach offering heart-stopping views of
the Krishna River on the one side and the coastal plains on the other.
Panchgani is the quintessential residential hill station with an old world
charm.
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| Matheran |
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Matheran is an undulating hilltop cloaked in shady trees, that sprawls
languidly at an altitude of 800 m. The journey involves an adventurous two-hour
ascent in a toy train, with food and drink vendors and monkeys jumping on and
off as the valley glides by sedately. Alternately, a tough 11 km hike through
thick and shady forests or a winding car drive can get you there just as well.
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Dehu |
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Dehu is an age-old town on the river Indrayani. Famous poet-saint Tukaram was
born and brought up in Dehu. Abhang Gatha, his eternal creation has a
proud place in Marathi literature. According to legend, the adversaries of the
saint-poet mercilessly sank his entire collection of Abhangas in the
river, but low and behold, to their surprise, the Gatha surfaced and was
saved.You can visit the old temples of Shiva and Vishnu, Tukaram Vrindavan --
the birth place of Saint Tukaram, Gopalpura, Indrayani Doh, Bhandara Hill, and
Bham-Chandra Dongar. |
| Getting There |
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Pune-Dehu by road is 24 kms. Frequent PCM, PCMT and ST buses are available. |
| Jejuri |
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Jejuri is a well-known pilgrim center near Pune. Khandoba of Jejuri is the
family deity of many Maharashtrians and is housed in the Khandoba Temple.
Around 40,000 believers participate in the Jatra, the annual fair, held during
November.
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| Getting There |
| Pune-Jejuri is 38 kms. |
| Ashta Vinayak |
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Vinayak is another name for Ganesh, the god loved and worshiped by Hindus all
over. Lord Ganesh is the protector of his devotees. Eight (Astha)
naturally-formed sculpted stone statues have been housed in old temples at the
places where these statues were first found. The Ashta Vinayak temples are
within the range of 20 to 110 kms of each other. Special ST buses ply between
Pune and all the Ashta Vinayak temples. Tours are also organized by private
operators. |
| Bhimashankar |
Bhimashankar is the temple containing one of the five jyotirlingas
found in Maharashtra. Nana Fadnis, an eminent statesman of the Peshwa days,
constructed the beautiful Shiva Temple at Bhimashankar. The wooden entrance of
the temple is beautifully carved. On Mahashivratri day, over 20,000 devotees
attend a special religious fair. Bhimashankar is endowed with beautiful scenery
and an all-around vibrant atmosphere.
Besides the Shiva Temple and the dense forest surrounding it, you can also
visit Bombay Point, Gupta Bhimashankar: the origin of Bhima River, Hanuman Tank
and Nagphani Point.
Pune-Bhimashankar is 125 kms. ST buses play between Pune and Bhimashankar. |
|
Alandi |
An association with Saint Dnyaneshwar halos Alandi, a township on the banks of
Indrayani River, also called as Devachi Alandi. Dnyaneshwar, the author of Dnyaneshwari
lived and attained samadhi in Alandi at the tender age of twenty-one.
Two melas are held here annually: on Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi, the
eleventh days of Ashadh and Kartik (Hindu months). Places of interest and
worship are the sacred samadhi of Dnyaneshwar Siddhabet in Indrayani and
the temple of Vithoba-Rakhumai.
Pune-Alandi is 21 kms.ST buses leave from Swargate and Shivajinagar in Pune for
Alandi. |