Exploring Maharashtra: Pune, Lonavala and Kashid

Tripoto
13th Feb 2020
Photo of Exploring Maharashtra: Pune, Lonavala and Kashid by Aparajita

Pune... A Gateway to Maharashtra

Lip smacking Street food... Pleasant weather... Loads of shopping options... And proximity to some unforgettable getaways in Maharashtra.... This is the promise Pune holds for every traveller.

From Pune, winding ghat roads lead to hill stations(read : Lonavala) and then further to beautiful beaches(read: Kashid). The countryside is dotted with forts which are relics of the Maratha empire. And when you feel tired with all the travel around it, the city welcomes you with open arms to let your hair loose and enjoy!

Short Itinerary:

On our 3N/4D visit to our cousins, we covered Lonavala on Day 1, Kashid Beach and Murud Janjira Fort on Day 2 and Day 3 was spent in Pune exploring Shanivar vada of Bajirao Mastani fame, street shopping and sampling street food.

Reaching There:

Pune is well connected to the rest of the country by air, road and rail. We took flights from Bangalore, and our return tickets for 2 people cost Rs. 7k(approx.)

Day 1

We took a late night/early morning flight and landed in Pune at around 2am. From the airport, we went to an all night cafe called Chai Shai in Vimaan Nagar.

Once our midnight hunger pangs were satiated, we reached home around 5 in the morning and crashed to sleep.

LONAVALA

By the time we woke up in the morning, and got ready, it was already 11.30. We decided to have lunch on the way, and our lunch consisted of Misal Pav. This was my first time eating Misal Pav and I found it very different and tasty.

By evening we were back, and we had dinner in Khalsa Veg, Pune. Their malai chaap is amazing.

By the time lunch was over, it was 1 PM. So we decided against going to Mahabaleshwar(3.5 hrs) which was our original plan. Instead we went to Tiger point in Lonavala, where we reached in 1.5 hrs. The winding roads, the water in the dam to keep you company and the fantastic view on reaching there added to the charm of Lonavala. But the real beauty of the place is actually during monsoon. In Feb it was quite dry and no waterfalls, greenery or mist were visible.

The next day was a long one. We began our journey to Murud Janjira Fort at 9 in the morning. Breakfast on the way was Vada Pav and Sol kadhi and both were delicious.

Day 2

We reached Murud around 2.30 PM. We wanted to visit the fort which is built in the middle of the sea.

Murud Janjira Fort from a distance

Photo of Murud-Janjira Fort, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita

Murud Janjira

Photo of Murud-Janjira Fort, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita

Sailing ashore@ Murud

Photo of Murud-Janjira Fort, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita

On the way to Kashid from Murud

Photo of Murud-Janjira Fort, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita

The view from the windows

Photo of Murud-Janjira Fort, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita
Day 3

The next day, we all slept late and rested a bit. By afternoon we decided to visit Shanivar wada of Bajirao Mastani fame.

Photo of Shaniwar Wada, Shaniwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita

Our visit was followed by street shopping and lots of street food like dabeli, sandwich, kokum drink and chaat.

Dabeli

Photo of Laxmi Road, Pune. ( लक्ष्मी रोड, पुणे ), Shukrawar Peth - Mahatma Gandhi Road, Budhwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, India by Aparajita
Day 4

Finally the trip came to an end. The next day, we reached back to Bangalore and by 6.30 pm we were home. But the memories stayed, and we found that for exploring Maharashtra-whether Western ghats or the Konkan coast, Pune is an ideal starting point.

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On the way to Lonavala: Western Ghats

Photo of Bangalore International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport Road, Hunachur, Karnataka, India by Aparajita

On the edge

Photo of Bangalore International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport Road, Hunachur, Karnataka, India by Aparajita

Tiger Point Lonavala

Photo of Bangalore International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport Road, Hunachur, Karnataka, India by Aparajita
Day 2

However they take 20-25 people in 1 boat, for which they charge Rs. 80 per head. We went on a weekday and there weren't enough people. After haggling with the person at the ticket counter for around an hour and waiting around for others to come, we left for Kashid Beach around 3.30 pm. It takes an hour to reach Kashid from there and the way is along the coast. So we kept glimpsing the Arabian Sea along the way.

We reached Kashid Beach around 4.30 pm. There are small changing rooms. For Rs. 10 they give a bucket of water to clean yourself after bathing in the sea. But they are pitch dark and there's no facility to hang any clothes.

We did indulge in lot of sea bathing and some water sports. 2 couple jet ski rides and 3 spots on a banana boat cost us Rs. 1500. Water sports are available till 6PM

After the water sports, we relaxed by the beach, eating fish fry, Kanda poha and Maggi.

Itinerary

Sunset at Kashid Beach

Photo of Kashid Beach, Maharashtra by Aparajita

Fish Fry by the beach

Photo of Kashid Beach, Maharashtra by Aparajita

After enjoying the panoramic views, we sat down to eat. Here I tasted cheese pakoda(with cheese melting in my mouth), corn pakoda and the ever present and ever tasty veg Maggi.

On our way back, we shopped for chikki, and some pottery items.

The pink sky glowing with the hues of the setting sun is one of my most lasting memories of the day. We started from Kashid around 7PM and reached home just before 12. It was a really hectic trip, and I think if I had to cover both places together, it would be advisable to stay at some resort near Kashid.

The fort is in complete ruins and only the foundations of the structures are left. However, for a photo stop, it is a great place, where just over the wall you'll see all the trappings of the modern life, and inside it's like being in a time warp.

Finally at night, we were treated to homemade pizza which was the height of gluttony.

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