Kamalini Kutir 11/7/2009

Places visited: Kamalini Kutir

Date: 11/7/2009

Purpose: Picnic

Persons: Harshal, Dilip Sant, Kartik

Juilee and Dilip's wife were not at home and Kartik is a single, so he has nothing to enjoy at his home. So we decided on friday that we will go somewhere near to Pune, Close To Nature. That was our motive: "Close To Nature". Dilip said that we will go to Pabe Ghat and Velhe. It is very good. I added that we should have some destination where we can relax and eat. I suddenly remembered that I have read about Kamalini Kutir in "Anubhav" masik. I also showed dilip in Google, the photos of this place. So we decided to go there. Kartik was also ready. Sujendra got ready, too.

On Saturday, I woke up at 6:30 AM and called Kartik for confirmation. My plan was, if he is going to be late, then I will take more sleep. But he was already on the way. He went to Dilip's Sasar and they came to my home at 8:00 AM. Sujendra ni chapi dili hoti. We had tea, kadboli and then we left home at 8:30 AM.

From Pune, the total distance to Kamalini Kutir is either 60 kms or 50 kms, depending on the route that you take.1. Via Nasrapur - The first route takes you along the Pune Satara road upto Cheladi Naka (about 10 kms from Khed Shivapur), from where you take a right turn towards Nasrapur / Ambavne and drive for 26 kms more. A left turn (here you will see the bord of Balaji resort ) and a further drive of 1 km, lands you straight into Kamalini Kutir.

2 Via Pabe ghat -This one finds its way along the Sinhagad Road, Khadakwasla Dam, Donje Phata ( take right side panshet road ), and Khanapur, ( after khanapur, left side phata for Ranjane ) Ranjne, Paabe and once you cross the pabe ghat the road will join Nasarapur-Velhe Road. Take a left trun from this place and at around 3 or 4 km you will come at Khariv phata. From here you have to take a right turn (here you will see the bord of Balaji resort ) and a further drive of 1 km ( goes over the bridge on Kanindi river ), lands you straight into Kamalini Kutir.

We took the sinhagad road route and enjoyed a lot in Pabe Ghat. We saw some good birds and paddy fields and rural life. At some point, the rain was so heavy that Dilip could not drive. So we stopped for 5 minutes. The nature was of green color. Lots of rains, fogs and winds. We had gone mad.

Then we crossed pabe khinda and arrived at nijampur-velhe road. Then we took Khariv phata and we saw Balaji Resort ( Rs. 1200 per head per day ), after that a bridge on Kanindi river and then we arrived at Kamalini Kutir. The place was surrounded by trees. The parking is outside the resort. We should not call it Resort. Its just Kamalini Kutir ( Kamalini = Lotus like, Kutir = Small Home ). It has only 3 rooms. 1 is facing road and 2 are facing the river. So when you go take the other 2 rooms facing the river. There is one kitchen and 1 open space for dinning. And 2 more private rooms are there where the owners live, I guess.

They served us with nice tea and garam garam Kande-Pohe. Our stomachs got cooled off. Then we went out by car upto Rajgad paytha ( Pali Darvaja ). On the way we saw a empty space with a single stone. I do not know what is it, ( I guess it is some burrial place ).

From Rajgad Paytha, we returned back and while returning, we stooped at a small canal. Pani khoop chan vahat hota. Pani gadhul hota pan force hota panyala.

We were too much hundry. So when he served us the lunch, we ate like anything. The lunch was pure Maharashtrian food. ( You can get non-veg, too ): Poli, Usal, Bhoplyacha Bharit, Ghevdyachi Bhaji, Palka Pakoda, Totmato saar, koshimbir, loncha, chatni, varan bhat. wooooooowwwwwwwww.

The we took some rest and took some photos near the river and the started back.

On the way, we saw very rare bird "BahiriSasana". Dilip captured a very good shot of it. Also we snapped few more birds, khekda, kutra, etc.

We stooped at one beautiful spot in pabe ghat, from where you can go down the valley for some distance. You can find this spot easily. This spot is on a very sharp turn, but after the turn the road is wide little bit.

We went to Panshet boating club and enjyoed some time in rain. Then we went to a very nice plance between Panshet and Khadakvasla.... A resort construnction is going on here, so the place has few benches just on the shore of the backwaters of the Khadakwasla. Many couples seat here and enjoy like anything.

Then we returned back to Pune. Dilip dropped me at Vadgav Phata and they went to drop Kartik.

I reached home at 6:00 PM.

The trip was really close to nature.

Contacts:

Viraj Takalkar

1187, Shukravar Peth,

Subhashnagar lane 3,

Dr. Pabalkar nursing home samor,

Pune 411002.

Phone:

9822011131
(02130)221465
viraj@pn2.vsnl.net.in

Mrs. Archana Takalkar,

19, Sona Gargen, Sahakarnagar no. 1,

Shinde Highschool samor,

Pune 411009.

Phone:

(020) 24220813

9423011731

Kamalini Kutir,

Mukkam Post Khariv,

Taluka Velha,

Jilha Pune: 412212.

Expenses:

Rs. 400 per head ( Tea, Kandepohe, Lunch )