Showing posts with label drive. Show all posts

Saturday, August 3, 2013

GIRINAGAR - MONSOON PARADISE NEAR PUNE

GIRINAGAR - MONSOON PARADISE NEAR PUNE
By
VIKRAM KARVE

From My Travel Writing Archives:

It is a Clear Bright Feel-Good Day in Pune.

After a long spell of rain, it is a sunny day.

The air is pure and the weather is pleasant with a cool breeze blowing softly.

The Visibility is excellent.

From where I sit on my desk in my study in Rohan Tarang Wakad ahead of me in the distance as I look out of the large window I can clearly see Sinhagad Fort with its two mammoth towers (the TV Tower and the Microwave Communication Tower at either end of the towering mountain ridge) and the unique Potato Point at the southern tip.

Lovely View, Pleasant Weather, I am Feeling Good.

My mind harks back to the lovely days I spent in Girinagar in the foothills of Sinhagad overlooking the placid blue waters of Khadakwasla Lake - so, Dear Reader, be so good and permit me to post a piece I had written long ago when I lived in that Pristine Paradise in Pune called Girinagar.

GIRINAGAR

Pristine Paradise in Pune

VIKRAM KARVE

Tell me, which is the most beautiful, most pristine, most unpolluted and most verdant place in Pune?

I’ll tell you – it’s a lovely place called “Girinagar”.

Pune has changed – for the worse.

The pleasant, salubrious, tranquil, stress-free, easygoing, cozy, affable Pune I once lived in no longer exists.

Yes, the Pune I once lived in no longer exists...!!!

Every nook and corner of Pune has suffered the ravages of “modernization”.

Except one place – GIRINAGAR

Yes, there still exists a pristine paradise in Pune – a Pristine Paradise called Girinagar.

With the mighty SINHAGAD Fort towering as a Sentinel, Girinagar is a fascinating place located on the slopes of the hills adjoining the cool blue Khadakvasla Lake.

The view from the Girinagar ridge is amazing.

You can see backwaters of Panshet and Varasgaon dams in the distance, and close-by down below the serene expanse of the Khadakvasla Lake held back by the mighty dam.

The metamorphosis at sunset is enthralling.

The dance of colours, on the waters of the lake, from yellow to orange to crimson to blue to grey and then a still darkness – I have not seen a more magnificent sunset view anywhere else.

In the mornings as you climb up the hills cleansing, refreshing, revitalizing and invigorating your lungs with the clean unpolluted pure fresh air, you look in the distance and see the heavy layer of smog settling down over the city of Pune, and you know how lucky you are to live in this paradise called Girinagar...!

When the monsoon arrives, and it starts raining, the sensuous mist envelops all around, everything is a soothing green, and the atmosphere, the environment, the ambiance in Girinagar is simply magnificent!

Truly a “pristine paradise” in Pune...!

Pune may have changed but time stands still in Girinagar.

All the green hills in Pune may have disappeared but lush green verdant hills of Girinagar still stand strong.

Yes, Girinagar remains the same as it was in 1984 when I first visited it.

(Some old timers tell me it is the same since the early 1970s)

In the evenings, I often stand in my tall balcony high up on my 9^th Floor Flat in Rohan Tarang in Wakad and see in the distance the silhouette of Sinhagad Mountain outlined vaguely against the fading light of the setting sun and my mind harks back to nostalgic memories of my unforgettable days in Girinagar.

It is monsoon time. Sinhagad, Girinagar, Khadakvasla and Panshet and its surroundings are most beautiful during the rainy season.

As you go up the hills it is like a Hill Station.

Do drive down in the rains and take a weekend trip to this wonderful pristine paradise near Pune.

But do remember to take plenty of water and food with you.

Here is the link to the map of Girinagar Pune: http://g.co/maps/8d7n2

Link to the maps and photos of Girinagar in the foothills of Sinhagarh Fort on the backwaters of Khadakwasla Lake: http://g.co/maps/56ucn

Sinhagad Fort: http://g.co/maps/cgvhy

GIRINAGAR is towards the northern tip of the map.

Have a nice weekend

VIKRAM KARVE

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

Friday, May 18, 2012

EATING OUT IN MUMBAI - Kheema Pav, Bun Maska and Chai at Churchgate - MOUTHWATERING MEMORIES

MOUTHWATERING MUMBAI MEMORIES

Kheema Pav, Bun Maska and Chai at Churchgate

VIKRAM KARVE

From my Foodie Archives:

Mouthwatering Memories of Sunday Breakfast during my glorious days in Mumbai many years ago

Long back, when I used to live in Empress Court, opposite the Oval, near Churchgate in Mumbai, I would rise at early in the morning, as the Clock on the Mumbai University Rajabai Tower struck Six.

Then I would go for a long brisk walk all the way to the end of Marine Drive ahead of Chowpatty, and on my back home, I would turn off towards Churchgate and head for Stadium Restaurant for a refreshing and stimulating cup of tea to energize me and perk me up for the day ahead.

On Sundays and holidays, when we went for our super-long walks down Marine Drive, up Walkeshwar, Teen Batti, down Malabar Hill, Napean sea Road, a round of Priyadarshini Park, Kemps Corner, Hughes Road, Babulnath, and back, there were three places where we used to breakfast to satiate our ravenous appetites.

If my walking partner was a vegetarian we used to head to Vinay in Girgaum for a Misal or Usal Pav; and if she was non vegetarian, it was either Kyani at Dhobi Talao or Stadium at Churchgate for a Kheema Pav.

(Of course on those rare occasions when we were really hungry we walked all the way to Noor Mohamadi in Bhendi Bazar for Nalli Nihari).

Our favourite breakfast place at Churchgate, Stadium restaurant served wholesome tasty Kheema dishes throughout the day - an ideal “snack’ if you were feeling famished.

I liked their “pudding” and patties too; their Chicken Biryani was worth a try, and so were the “Chinese” dishes, and, if you are in a hurry, there was nothing to beat a quick spicy egg bhurji with fresh soft pav for fast satiation.

If you looked at the blackboard on the wall you could see the day’s special dishes and, let me tell you, these dishes were real good, whether it was fried fish, dal gosht, or, if it was your lucky day, chicken or mutton dhansak.

Stadium Restaurant was located next to Churchgate Railway Station. Maybe the restaurant got its name from the Brabourne Stadium across the road on the opposite side. Stadium was a clean, well-lighted place to pass time, waiting for someone, or browsing a book, or just doing nothing, staring out onto the busy street, while enjoying a cup of invigorating tea with a bun maska.

I liked Stadium Restaurant.

It was easy on your wallet, and served good wholesome food in relaxed clean ambiance.

I wonder if the delightful cafe still exists and whether the food is as good as it was then.

Happy Eating

8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve

Saturday, August 3, 2013

GIRINAGAR - MONSOON PARADISE NEAR PUNE

Friday, May 18, 2012

EATING OUT IN MUMBAI - Kheema Pav, Bun Maska and Chai at Churchgate - MOUTHWATERING MEMORIES

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