...Temples In Konkan : God Lives Here...

During my Aug 2016 visit in Konkan Belt, here are some fascinating photos of different style of Temples in Konkan.

1) Shree Gangeshwar Temple : Kurchumb, Lanja Ratnagiri

This is newly renovated temple with simple and beautiful architecture.

2) Shree Shankareshwar Temple & Mahakali Temple : Kodavali, Rajapur.

Old Temple

3) Param Pujya Bhalchandra Maharaj Samadhi and surrounding Temples : Kanakavali Sindhudurg.

4) Shree Lingeshwar Temple : Shravan Kanakavali

This Temple was under renovation, I got change to attend 'Gondhal" which is spiritual pooja which will celebrate every three years at this Temple.

This special moments tells me every time that : Konkan : God Lives Here.
Thank You 

Coral reef in Malvan Sindhudurg

According to recent survey, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has found three record of coral reef on our own malvan near Sindhudurg Maharashtra.

Along with this the commonly found species of Turbinaria mesenterina, Goniatsrea pectinata, Porites lichen, Porites lutea, Siderastrea savignvana, Coscinarea monile, Cyphastera serialia, Pleasiastrea versipora, Leptastrea sp, Cyphastrea sp and Goniopora sp, new records of Goniatsrea sp, Porites sp and Turbinaria sp have been found in the survey covering 180 km of the Sindhudurg coast – according to DNA and THE HINDU

Now, It required most efforts to protect the reef with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which has sanctioned Rs. 80 lakh towards capacity building of the local people.

 A team from the Marine Biology Regional Centre of the ZSI in Chennai and another team from Kolkata conducted a study last week on the status of the coral reef and monitored its health.

According to ZSI official - “Fishing is going on there and tourists are also coming to the area for corals. We have to find a way to balance fishing and tourism with the protection of corals in Malvan, ”Unlike the reefs found in other parts of the country — Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — those in Malvan are “pristine and still unbleached,” he said.

The ZSI had earlier transplanted coral reef from the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu to the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat over one square km with assistance from the World Bank. There is good tourist flow and corals are in the main attraction for tourists. Now it has to do fine balancing to protect corals since fishing too goes on unabated in malvan. It is one of the finest discoveries in Malvan this is a value added attraction and it would boost tourism, It will also boost adventure tourism such as Scuba diving.

We will spread this message across the globe and will make it grow and famous as The Great Coral Reef in Australia “The Great Barrier Reef”.

-Source DNA, The Hindu and Internet.

Special Trains for Holi 2015 in Konkan by Central Railway.

Central Railway brings special trains for Holi festival 2015,

1                     Mumbai(CSTM) – Karmali(Goa)

Train No	From	To
01021	CSTM – 05/03/2015 to 07/03/2015 at 5:15	Karmali(Goa) – (Same Day) at 16:30
01022	Karmali(Goa) – 06/03/2015 to 08/03/2015 at 7:00	CSTM – (same Day) 17:50
Stops : Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Roha, Khed, Chiplun, Sangmeshwar, Ratnagiri, Rajapur Road, Kankvli, Kudal, Sawantwadi Road, Thiwim
Reservation : Starts from 15 – Feb - 2015

2                     Lokmanya Tilak Terminal (LTT)– Madgaon

Train No	From	To
01005	LTT-19/02/2015 at 00:45	Madgaon – 13:30 (Same Day)
01006	Madgaon – 19/02/2015 at 15:30	LTT – 03:30 (Next Day)
Stops : Thane, Panvel, Roha, Khed, Chiplun, Sangmeshwar, Ratnagiri, Rajapur Road, Kankvli, Kudal, Sawantwadi Road, Thiwim
Reservation : Starts from 14 – Feb - 2015

For Any Enquiry Dial 139

AC Double Decker and Shatabdi Exp. Indian Railway New Trains time table for Konkan 2014

Konkan Railway, Central Railway and Western Railway announced on Wednesday the double decker holiday special train & Shatabdi  Exp.

Please find below time table for 2014 Ganeshostav Festival.

Konkan Railway complaints can be registered under 9004470700 via SMS.

Courtesy :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Konkan-Railways-double-decker-train-to-run-between-August-22-and-September-9/articleshow/40249226.cms

Maharastra Times dated 16th Aug 2014

Sudhagad Fort Trek

Sudhagad Fort, Pali

First, I would like to introduce about trekking spot Sudhagad Fort(also called Bhorapgad from goddess Bhoraidevi ). It’s one of very old fort in Maharashtra near Mumbai.Let's explore this new attraction. Sudhagad, which is a popular trekking destination as it is one of the better preserved forts in Maharashtra. On the slopes of the fort there are lots of trees in and around fort.

The fort has temple of Bhoraidevi, which is well maintained by Govt. On fort there are two lakes, a house of Poojari who maintained temple and serve trekkers. All of this scattered around the fort area. There are three main gates the largest of which is called the Maha Darwaja.

We started on Sunday morning towards Pali @ 7.30 AM in the morning, during journey we took halt at Shree Ballaleshwar Pali temple and visit temple took blessings from Ganpati Bappa and had breakfast in Pali city. 

Remember there are two parking near temple area one is free from temple authorities and other is private which charge 50ru for a Bus, most of roads near temple are one way please mind sign boards while driving.

We recharge ourselves with cup of tea, Misal pav and continued our journey to Sudhagad. The fort is about 14 Km from temple it took almost 15 to 20 min. There are two routes to reach at fort via pacchapur (shortest) and other is from dhondse. Those who are traveling via public transport please make a note of ST bus timings.

 We reach at base village at around 12 AM and started trek. Traking path is simple but upright straight at some points it seems difficult but we enjoyed the whole trek. Make sure you carry atleast 3lt of water per person and some snaks because you won’t find any kind of shop during teak.

At top of fort you can find lots of cows eating grass in mansoon. At temple one poojari who can arrange a food and tea for you so if you are planning to take lunch at fort tell them in advance.

Some of trekkers created a ladder to clime on of hurdle in between which is great experience.

From fort you can see a whole Pali at panoramic view. Then we had enjoyed scenic view from top and left toward base village. We took less than half of time than we had taken to climb.

This has been amazing experience to feel fog at fort and waterfall during journey.

Wish you also enjoy this fascinating fort.

Regards,

 

EXTRA TRIP, NEW TRAINS & ST BUSES FOR GANPATI FESTIVAL IN KONKAN RAILWAY

EXTRA TRIP FOR GANPATI SPECIAL TRAIN  ON KONKAN RAILWAY

Good news for passengers !! It has been decided to run one additional trip of train No. 01041 / 01042 Mumbai CST-Karmali-Mumbai CST on Konkan Railway route to clear extra rush of passengers during Ganpati Festival in co-ordination with Central Railway.  

Train No. 01041 CSTM - Karmali Special train will now have an additional trip on 13.09.2014 and train No. 01042 Karmali - CSTM special train will have an additional trip on 14.09.2014.

Other details remains the same.

10 MORE “GANPATI FESTIVAL” SPECIAL TRAINS ON KONKAN RAILWAY

In addition to 118 Ganpati Special Trains already announced on Konkan Railway Route recently, Konkan Railway has now introduced the following 10 additional Special Trains between Madgaon and Diva for the convenience of its most valuable and esteemed passengers. The details of these train services are as under:

 00114/00113 Madgaon – Diva - Reserved Special:

Train No.	From	To	Departure / Arrival	Date
00114	Madgaon	Diva	01.00 / 15.30 Hrs.	23/09/2012, 25/09/2012, 27/09/2012, 29/09/2012 & 01/10/2012
00113	Diva	Madgaon	16.10 / 05.00 Hrs.  Next Day	23/09/2012, 25/09/2012, 27/09/2012, 29/09/2012 & 01/10/2012

Halts at:The trains will halt at Karmali, Thivim, Pernem, Madure, Sawantwadi, Kudal, Sindhudurg, Kankavali, Vaibhavwadi, Rajapur, Vilavade,Adavali, Ratnagiri, Sangameshwar, Chiplun, Khed, Mangaon, Roha & Panvel stations.  The train will have 18 coaches withcomposition of Five Sleeper Coaches, Two AC 3-Tiers, One AC 2 -Tier, Eight Seating, and Two SLR Coaches.

With these additional train services, the total number of Ganpati Special Trains being run on Konkan Railway Route during this Ganesh Festival rises to 128. It is requested that wide publicity may kindly be given for the same for the information and convenience of the esteemed travelling passengers and public on Konkan Railway Route.                                      

                                

Source : http://www.konkanrailway.com/

Special ST buses to Konkan for Ganpati

The MSRTC will run 1,500 special buses to cater to the rush of passengers travelling from Mumbai to Konkan during the Ganesh festival next month. A control room is being set up at the MSRTC headquarters in Mumbai to monitor movement of buses and to provide assistance to passengers. Bookings can be done at the ST depots and at the offices of registered MSRTC agents

Rainy Trek - Lohgad Fort

Its 2014 June.. Monsoon drizzled in most of cities and our planning for monsoon trips, treks are going on… most of whats up group names are changing to picnic points, rainy photos…

I am here to introduce you one of fascinating and relaxing trekking point “Lohgad Fort”

Lohagad fort is near Pune. Lohagad makes an ideal trekking destination for trekkers from Pune and Mumbai because of its accesibility, ease of the trek and lush green surroundings. Lohagad at 3400 ft is a wide spread fort. There are 4 doors to Lohagad from the nearby village Lohagadwadi. Malawli is the nearest railway station from Lohagad.

There are two ways we can plan Lohgad fort trek one is shorter way, if you have your own vehicle then you can directly go at the bottom of the fort and start from there and explore fort. 

There is one more fort just 1km apart is Visapur fort, this seems to be tough for trekking than Lohgad, Visapur is more in heigh than lohgad. we heard story  from local villegers that mughals used Visapur fort to attacked lohgad fort with cannons and forced Marathas to leave fort.

And second is longer way which starts at BHAJE caves and then you have to cross a whole mountain to reach at Lohgad fort, in this journey you can enjoy waterfalls and narrow way trekking with greenery & scenery at its best..!

Bhaje caves, which is near to Lohgad/Visapur Fort is buddist caves there is nominal fees you have to pay to enter in caves because Bhaje caves ae protected as a National Monument by archeological survey of india.

If you are planning your trek by public transport then you can board train towards pune and leave at Malavali station next to Lonavala. Then walk towards pune side and ask local villagers or at shops to bhaje gaon.

Bhaje/Carla Caves

Lohgad for is wide and each place on fort has its significance. During rainy season fog at top of fort is dense so you have to careful and walk along with group.

There is one KABAR at fort too.. 

You can get drinking water at fort near temple, this fort user by Shivaji Maharaj to keep treasury. This is wide spread fort so you can have beautiful view from top at bottom of fort many shops who can offer you a lunch so plan accordingly and tell them in advance so that they will prepare for you while you are roaming on fort.

Fort in and around

KABAR

This is must visit destination near Mumbai and pune..!

For being Relax, Energized and Enjoy..!!

Have a great Trek..!

Thank You

Sulekh Yashwantrao