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The second you step into Mumbai, thespirit of the bustling megapolisenvelops you. A mini-India of sorts, itis here you witness the most divergentscenarios – a blend of the old and new,traditional and contemporary, affluentand impoverished. This once sultrytropical archipelago of seven islands,and the brightest jewel in Raj's crown,Mumbai formed the dowry ofPortuguese Princess Infanta Catherinede Braganza when she marriedCharles II of England in 1661. Andwhat a long way it has come! Ateeming metropolis, its skyline dottedwith eclectic skyscrapers, its famerests as much on Bollywood as it doeson the historical perspective it holds inits majestic lap. Deriving its namefrom the local deity Mumba Devi,whose temple still exists, it was thePortuguese who chose to call it 'BomBain', meaning the good bay. Mumbairepresents the true saga of an oldcivilization seeking its place in theNew World Order.

City Lights

History peeps through the variouslandmarks and monuments that arescattered through the city. You couldca l l themagnificent structure in yellow basaltstone as brand Mumbai's logo. Built in1911 to commemorate the visit ofKing George V and Queen Mary toIndia, it is the starting point for most

Gateway of India ,

tourists out to explore the city. Fourturrets and intricate latticework are theoutstanding features of this Indo-sa racen ic a rch i t ec tu ra l f ea t .

home to acollection of shrines, courtyards, innercells, grand halls and porticos, housessome of India's most revered gods andgoddesses. The cave complex is a

Elephanta Caves,

Elephanta Caves

Gateway of India

Jalgaon

NagpurGondly

Bhandara

Chandrapur

Gadshireli

Yavatmal

Amravati

Akola

Washim

Hingoli

Nanded

Parbhani

Latur

Bid

Osmanabad

Jalna

SolapurSatara

Sangli

Aurangabad

Buldana

Kolhapur

Pune

Raigarh

Ratnagiri

Sindhudurg

Mumbai(Suburban)

Mumbai

Thane

Nashik

Dhule

Nandurbar

Wardha

Ahmadnagar

MAHARASHTRA

GUJARAT

MADHYA PRADESH

CH

HA

TT

ISG

AR

H

ANDHRA PRADESH

KARNATAKA

AR

AB

IAN

SE

A

Map not to Scale

shining example of India's ancientrock cut architecture. Situated onGharapuri Island in Mumbai'sharbour, it is about an hour's boatridefrom the Gateway of India.

is located in the heart ofMumbai, surrounded by statelyco lon ia l bu i ld ings .

, also known as Ferozeshah

FloraFountain

HangingGardens

Flora Fountain

Mehta Gardens, are known forspectacular sunset views over theArabian Sea. Don't miss the climbover the famed 'shoe' in concrete!

is a striking feature onMumbai's cityscape. Adjacent to theHigh Court, this 260-feet-tall structureis adorned with oriental figurines.Today it has limited its repertoire tomere chimes of the clock on thequarter hour from a veritable choice of16 symphonies. ,the railway station is now known asChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus but is

Rajabai Tower

Victoria Terminus

Mumbai's architectural masterpiece.shimmering like a

majestic strand of diamonds, hencecalled 'Queen's Necklace', covers theconcrete jungles of Mumbai'sManhattan, the Nariman Point.Marine Drive by the night is sure toleave an indelible mark on yourmemories of Mumbai.

are a must-see as theseBuddhist caves provide a perfectcont ras t to the archi tec tura lextravagance you might haveexperienced at Elephanta Caves. Thecaves consist of more than a hundredtiny cells, cut into the flank of a hilland the monasteries date back to thefirst century AD. Any visitor toMumbai must visit the beaches of thecity. is Mumbai'smost famous and popular 'family'beach. A carnival-like air grips thisstretch of sun and sand every evening,what with joyrides, merry-go-rounds,multi-coloured fast-food vendors,astrologers and magicians andperformers of all kinds dotting itslandscape. unlikeChowpatty, is more upscale. Abourgeois paradise, you will still findfrolicking kids, courting couples andsundry folks. But here you can alwaysretreat to the many five-star hotels inthe vicinity, and yet enjoy a panoramicview of the coast, along with a

Marine Drive,

KanheriCaves

Chowpatty Beach

Juhu Beach,

Victoria Terminus

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Juhu Beach

steaming cup of coffee!houses

interesting exhibits and specimenspreserved since 1883 when theBombay Natural History Society wasfounded.

Beaches, heritage districts, filmstudios and art galleries abound here.Mumbai is the tinsel town of Indiawhere most of India's glamorous starsstay. The film industry of India issynonymous with Mumbai.

There ison Marine

Drive housing exotic marine life,

BombayNatural History Museum

Taraporewala Aquarium

Prince ofWales Museum, built in a mix ofGothic and Moorish architecture andcrowned with a sparkling white dome,houses a fantastic collection ofartefacts of the Indus ValleyCivilization, dating back to 2000 BC.Definitely worth viewing here is thecollection of over 2,000 miniaturepaintings that are a legacy of India'svarious art schools.

City Culture

amusement parks for the family tospend time at together.

(26149546),(22833737),

(22048212)and (22325757) at theOberoi ShoppingArcade.

Apart from the only domedIMAX theatre in the country, there arecinema halls you can drop by to catch amovie if you have the time. Thesecould be atBandra (26552972), at Colaba(22021017), at Dhobi Talao(22030303), (26432254),INOX cinema (56595959) and

atAndheri (26991212).Nehru Planetarium

( 2 4 9 2 0 5 1 0 ) , N e h r u C e n t r e(24964676) and Chhatrapati ShivajiM a h a r a j Va s t u s a n g r a h a l a y a(22844519). All closed on Mondays.

It is believed that a new restaurantopens in Mumbai every week. The citythrives on novelty, and can satisfy thegourmet in anyone. Mumbai'skitchens run 24x7 days, and apart fromglitzy five star coffee shops, there arestreet vendors selling , tea,coffee, eggs, chapattis and the

of course round the clock. Iflook ing for f ive-s ta r d in ingexperience, you can begin with thegood-old , with famedrestaurants like

while closer tothe airport, at the

and at

promise fabulous Far East cuisine andhearty Tandoori fare. atHyatt Regency is another landmark

Art Gallery: Prithvi GalleryNational Centre for the

Performing ArtsJehangir Art Gallery

Art Walk

Cinema:

Gaiety Galaxy ComplexRegal

MetroGlobus

FameAdlabsMuseums:

Taj PresidentTrattoria, Konkan

Café, Thai PavilionThe Great Wall

Leela, Pan Asian PeshawariITC Grand Maratha Sheraton

Glasshouse

kebabsvada

pao

Gourmet's Delights

Esselworld and Water KingdomFantasy LandS t r i k e 1 0A c re s C l u b

Game ZoneHakone

(phone 28699957),( 2 8 3 6 5 6 8 3 ) ,( 2 6 3 2 4 5 3 3 / 3 4 ) ,(25226052) , a tCrossroads (24945890) and(25797000) are some of the known

Taraporewala Aquarium

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24-hours eatery. attoo is making waves. At the

same time, standalone restaurants likeand pubs like ,

have acquiredgreat fame, andarecertainlywortha try.

GoaPortuguesa, Mahim: 24440202,F l a v o u r s , T h e A m b a s s a d o r :22041131, Bayview, Marine Plaza:22851212, The Palms, The OberoiTowers: 22324343, Shamiana, TajMahal, Sidewalk Café: 56934444,Ambrosia, Mercure Hotel Guestline:26705555.

ChinaGarden at Crossroads: 24955588,Golden Dragon, Taj Mahal Hotel:22023366, Just Chinese: 26429975,Sampan, Holiday Inn: 26934444.

Starters & More:22814124, Not Just Jazz by the Bay:22851876, Zodiac Grill, Hotel TajMahal: 22023366.

The Rotisserie & Sea Grill,The Oberoi: 22325757, Trattoria,Hotel President: 22150808, Fiorella,The Leela 56911234, Siciliana26368899.

Tian Resto-Bar: 26914425, Fusion,The Residence Hotel: 28578686, TheVindhyas, The Orchid: 26164040,Casa Mexicana, The Oberoi:22325757 , Unde r the Over :23861393.

The culture in Mumbai is, work hardand play hard and the pulsatingnightlife of Mumbai has choices

Mezzo Mezzo JWMarriott

Olive Athena Indigo,Lings Pavilion, Nosh, CopperChimney, Bellissima

Some recommendations:

Chinese:

Continental:

Italian:

Multicuisine:

Night Out

Pan Asian, ITC GrandMaratha Sheraton: 28303030,

Peshwa Pavilion, ITCGrand Maratha Sheraton: 28303030,

unlimited.Dublin at ITC Hotel Grand

Maratha Sheraton: 28303030,Champs: 22325757, Geoffreys:22851212, Sports Bar: 26499844,Library Bar: 22150808, Starboard:22023366, Smooth: 23631311,Churchill's Bar: 26551234, TheBonaparte Bar: 26911333.

Fire & Ice: 24980444,Cyclone: 26911234, J-49: 26184546,H Q : 2 2 8 8 3 9 8 2 , R a z z b e r r yRhinoceros: 26184014.

Not Just Jazz by the Bay:22851876, Copa Cabana: 23680274,The Western Café: 26415221, TheGhetto: 24921537, The Tavern &Beyond: 22042911.

From world class designer wear, street

chic, leather bags and goods, home

wares, antiques, curios – name

anything and Mumbai has a

mindboggling array. The best of mega

malls and pavement markets can be

found here, and you can safely shop till

you drop at Flora Fountain, Cross

Roads, Linking Road, Kemp's Corner

and several other spots.

Fashion Street,

Chor Bazaar, Kalbadevi, Crawford

Market and Linking Road.

Mughal Art Co.:

22023643 , Mahendra Dosh i :

23630526, Essajee & Son: 22021071,

The Raj: 24941971, Collector's

Paradise : 22824675, Almar i :

24973427.

We s t s i d e :

23841730, Tulips: 23695306,

Amarsons Collections: 23635551,

Premsons Bazaar : 23636600,

Shopper's Stop: 26240451, Bombay

Bars:

Discos:

Pubs:

Shopper's Paradise

Bargain Shopping:

Antique Shopping:

S h o p p i n g M a l l s :

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Stores: 22885048.E n s e m b l e :

22843227, Krishna Mehta: 23674531,

Ara iya : 23678293, Melange :

23854492, Ritu: 22846995.

Mumbai's social calendar is choc-a-bloc with events like fashion shows,charity shows, wine and cheesetasting, art exhibitions and culturaldos. They open windows to a newworld, a vibrant crowd of Bollywood,theatre and creativity and the kind ofdiversities you can only find inMumbai.

Mumbai enjoys excellent

aerial, rail and road connectivity with

nearly all the important cities of India.

Internationally too, it remains one of

the best-connected cities with airlines

running direct flights to their hubs.Mumbai is the first

metropolis in India to have a reliable

rail network that connects its various

suburbs with city centers. Termed

'locals', however, visitors to the city

are advised not to venture out on their

own, during peak office hours when

the crowd can become too much. At

the same time, Mumbai's taxi service

is highly recommended, and so is the

BEST bus service, but familiarity with

the routes network is essential before

embarking on a bus.

September to April. November and

February are ideal as the evenings

become rather pleasant. Summers

(March to May) can get fairly warm

and June to September is the monsoon

time when a rain-drenched Mumbai

D e s i g n e r We a r :

Entertainment

Facts at a Glance

Access:

Getting Around:

Best time to visit:

extends a wet welcome.022

D o m e s t i c A i r p o r t ,Santacruz, Terminal 1/A: 2615 6600;Terminal 1/B: 26156920

28325331General enquiry:

131, 23077575, 23075252, MumbaiCentral: 23085555, ChhatrapatiShivaji: 22659512, Kurla: 25224812.

Airconditioned Cool Cab taxisare mobile dispatched from 28246216,28227006, 28016622.

Breach Candy: 23685406/23633651/ 4872, Hinduja: 24449199,J J: 23735555/9031, Jaslok: 24933333Nanavati: 26182262/2255, Raheja:24467569, Tata Memorial: 24146750

Day & Night Medical andGeneral Stores: 28820353, BombayHospital: 22067676 Extn.: 252, 355Ganesh Medical Store: 24073467

123, M Karve Road, Opp. Churchgate:Tel.: 22033144, 22036854

Opposite LIC Building, MadameCama Road, Tel.: 22024627

A/41, Vinmar House, Road No. 2MIDC, Andheri (East)Mumbai 400 093Tel.: 28200862/64/65/68

2nd Floor, Royal Insurance Building14, Jamshedji Tata Road, Churchgate,Mumbai 400020Tel.: 22850159, 22830529

Thomas Cook, Fort:

City Code:A i r p o r t :

Sahara International Airport:

Railway Station:

Taxis:

Hospitals:

Chemists:

Government of India Tourist Office:

Maharashtra Tourism

Development Corporation:

International Travel House:

International Travel House:

Forex:

Banks: Federal Bank: 23453202/3/4,23453315, Global Trust Bank:22825033/5027, Vijaya Bank:22835623, 22044595

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speciality of Matheran. You couldsafely buy hats and footwear, not toforget the sweetmeat called 'Chikki',made of jaggery, peanuts and sesameseeds.

02148230277

Facts at a Glance

Access: By Air:

By Road:

By Rail:

Getting

Around:

Best time to visit:

Temperatures:

Annual rainfall:

Home Away From Home

Mumbai, 100 kms

away, is the nearest airport.

Mumbai is 108 kms away, and you go

via Karjat and Neral. Pune is 120 kms

away. State Transport buses regularly

ply from Mumbai and Pune, though

one can hire a taxi from Neral to reach

Matheran. There is a restriction on the

kind of vehicles that can enter this

serene town. The charm of

going to Matheran lies in the two-hour

ascent in a toy train, or a tough trek of

11 kms through shady forests.

Horses and hand-pulled

rickshaws are the only means of

transport available in Matheran.

Horses can be hired for around Rs.100

per hour for enjoying the splendorous

sights from many of its viewpoints.

However, wa lk ing i s h igh ly

recommended for nearer location.

November to

February while April to June and

Diwali and Christmas are the peak

holiday seasons for Mumbiites.

During the monsoon (mid-June to

early-October) the village is virtually

closed and the roads become very

muddy. 16 C in winter

to 32 C in summer.

524 cms.

Regal Hotel, Royal Hotel, Brightlands

o

o

City Code:MTDC:

260

Maharashtra

Matheran

22048556, 2 7American Express Travel Services,Colaba: 22048291, Bank of America,Nariman Point: 22852882

ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton &Towers: 28303030, J.W. Marriott:56933000, Renaissance MumbaiHotel & Convent ion Centre:56928888, Taj Mahal: 22023366, TheOberoi: 56325757, The Orchid:26164040, The Shalimar Hotel:54641000, Rodas: 56936969.

An undulating hilltop, covered withshady trees, Matheran languidlybeckons holidaymakers from analtitude of 800 m. The cliffs, with steepdrops, proffer stunning views. So headfor for a memorableview of Mumbai at night! ActuallyMatheran has many quixoticallynamed points that are popular forpicnics during the day and firesiderevelry in the nights! ,

andare other highpoints, though it is

the old world charm of British and

204855

Home Away From Home

MATHERAN

The Heart Point

Charlotte LakePanther's Caves PaymasterPark

Parsi homes that is an irresistible draw.Shopping

Cane and leather articles are a

Janjira Fort

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Maharashtra

Khandala

Resort, MTDC Holiday Camp.MURUD JANJIRA

Chaitya style. Their speciality is thatthe rays of the setting sun light up theinteriors and one can see carvedfigures of gods and goddesses. The

are close to the Mumbai-Pune Road, between the towns ofKadde and Bedsa. Huge pillars, lionsand humans forms and a large Chaityahall with resting rooms is a specialityof these caves. A vaulted roofsuppor ted by 2 ,000-year-o ldwoodwork and a big skylight provideslighting for the entire cave.

The main lakes are ,on

the Valvan Dam and . Theprettiest falls are thewhere the water descends dom 100 minto a pool below. The majesticcascade is visible from the

and is particularly magnificentduring the monsoons.resembles the sight of a tiger leaping

Bedsa Caves

Lakes: PavnaLonavala, Tungarli, Valvan Lake

Bushi LakeKune Falls

KhandalaGhat

Tiger's Leap

MAH

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rock face. The caves with viharas(monasteries) are among the bestpreserved and boast interiors with lionpillars, elephant forms, carvedrepresentations of Gautam Buddhaand dancing couples. The

are smaller and also built in theBhaja

Caves

into the valley.

Gujaratiare wholesome while

has anIndian and Chinese menu to choosefrom. (in Khandala) atthe new Taj can be tried for Chinese,Indian or Continental fare.

Gourmet's Delights

Hotel Rama Krishna'sThe

Mehfil Bar and Restaurant

The Pavilion

thalis

Must Buy

National Chikki Mart Rupam

'Chikki', the Indian equivalent ofpeanut brittle are highly popular here.

or aretwo good stores to buy from.

Temperatures:

City Code:Banks:

Hospitals/Chemists:

Usually rangebetween 21°C and 32°C in summer,and 16°C and 21°C in winter.

02114Syndicate Bank: 273762-

Lonavala, 273768.Adequate

facilities except for highly specialisedtreatments. Both towns are popular as

Besttime to visit: October to May.

Bhaja Caves

Pavna Lake

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Maharashtra

Karla Caves

Facts at a Glance

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

The nearest airport isPune (67 km) and Mumbai (80 km).

Every train or car goingtowards South India from Bombay via

health resorts and have manysanatoria.

Pune has to pass through Lonavala andKhandala. The Mumbai-Bangalore Nat ional Highwayconnecting southern and western Indiapasses through Khandala-Lonavala.They can also be reached via the newMumbai-Pune highway, some 104 kmfrom Mumbai.Taxis, autos and rickshaws are theb a s i c m o d e o f t r a n s p o r t .

By Road:

Getting Around:

Venna Lake:

Mahabaleshwar Temple

The 10 square km VennaLake is a must on every visitor'sitinerary. It offers boating and fishingfacilities. Mahabaleshwar's famousstrawberries can be sampled here.Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the

here housesone of the 12 important Shiva

.jyotirlingas

Gourmet's Delights

Sayali ( Aaram (Aman ( Elsie's Bakery

Sher-e-Punjab (Angarre/Pavilion/Olive Garden

Excursions

Panchgani:

Tapola:

This is berry country – strawberries,mulberries, gooseberries are availableeverywhere. The corn patties are aspeciality of Mahabaleshwar. Also trythe , honey and gouda cheese.Some of the popular restaurants are

260635), 261744),261087),

(260274), 260291)and(260700).

At an altitude of 1,334metres, Panchgani is another popularhill station of Maharashtra. It derivesits name from the five hillssurrounding it. Some 19 km fromMahabaleshwar, Panchgani is a dropof 38 metres in altitude. An interestingdeviation would be, visits to Parsi andBritish bungalows. Tableland, aplateau, is a popular tourist placeoccupying over 6 sq km of red earth. Itis famous for watching the sunrise andsunset. Taxis can be hired fromMahabaleshwar.

About 25 km fromMahabaleshwar, Tapola popularlyknown as 'mini Kashmir', has a biglake with small islands. The ideal wayto spend a day here is to hire a boat andtravel down to one of the many islands.

chikki

Pratapgarh Fort: Pratapgarh Fort,24 km away, is where Shivaji, the greatMaratha warrior and ruler, defeatedGeneralAfzal Khan. The fort stretchesalong the entire length of a high ridge.Tourists can see Afzal Khan's tomb

amid fabulous views of the place.

Some of the finest relics of theMaratha era can be seen in thishistorical town of Satara. The

Satara:

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Maharashtra

Lingamala Waterfalls

Venna Lake

magni f icen t Shiva j i Mahara jMuseum, the Wasota Fort, in the southof the town, are worth a visit.

Facts at a Glance

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

By Road:

The nearest airportfrom Mahabaleshwar is Pune (120 km).

Pune is the most convenientrailhead, but the nearest station isWathar, 62 km away, on the Pune-Miraj section of the South CentralRailway. It is well connectedwith all the important places in M

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Maharashtra. Mumbai is 247 km awaywhile Pune only 120 km.

Metered as well as unmeteredtaxis are available.

October to June.

021682026713

Bank of Maharashtra: 260290,SBI: 260297, Union Bank of India:260413

Mahabaleshwarhas a government hospital and severalprivate doctors and chemists, alllocated in the main bazaar.

Valley View Resort: 260066,Dreamland: 260228, Fountain:

GettingAround:

Besttime to visit:

City Code:MTDC:Banks:

Hospitals/Chemists:

Home Away From Home

Temperatures:Summer: Min 19°C, Max 25°C;Winter: Min 10°C, Max 18°C

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Pratapgarh Fort

Panchgani

260227, Regal Hotel: 260001,Brightland Holiday Village: 260700,Panorama: 260404, 604.260

Once a smal l vi l lage cal ledPunnyapattam, meaning city ofauspicious deeds, Pune is oftenreferred to as the 'Queen of theDeccan'. The buzz of big sister–city ofMumbai has obviously touched Pune,and this picturesque town in Sahyadari

PUNE

hills has emerged as an enviable huband industrial town. The constructionof the Bombay-Pune Expressway, thefirst eight-lane highway conforming toglobal standards, promises to reachyou to Pune in three hours flat,provided you start early enough toavoid the morning rush. Pune has agreat historical perspective too, sinceShivaji was brought up here. Poonawas the headquarters of the hereditaryfief of his forefathers.

: S e t u p b ycontroversial godman AcharyaRajneesh, this 'spiritual health club' iscocooned in lush greenery with state-of-the-art amenities. A five-hectareZen garden (open for general publictwice a day) and Bistro are the perfectplaces within the commune to be in.The institute has a slew of programmesin meditation.

Peshwaminiatures, carved doors andwindows, quaint musical instruments,ornate betelnut crackers this museumboasts over 17,000 artworks andcurios belonging to the Late Sri DinkarGangadhar.

City Lights

O s h o A s h r a m

City Culture

Raja Kelkar Museum:

Triba l Cul tura l

Museum:

The Film andTelevision Institute of India:

St Mary's Church,

David Synagogue:

Shaniwar Wada:

PataleshvaraCave Temple:

AgaKhan Palace Kasturba GandhiNational Memorial:

This museum has a detaileddocumentation of the life and cultureof the tribals of Maharashtra,particularly from the Sahayadri andGondawana regions.

Member of CILCET (InternationalLiaison Centre of Schools of Cinemaand Television), this premier instituteoffers various programmes coveringall aspects of film-making, TVproduction and film appreciation.

built in 1825 andinspired by the famous Martin-in-the-Field, situated in London's TrafalgarSquare, is the first of its kind in Pune.

Colloquiallyknown as 'Lal Deval', this red brickstructure built by David Sassoon, isfrequented by Armenian Jews. A 90-ftspiralled clocktower, the stained glasswindows are among its noteworthyfeatures. Theopulent fort-palace of the Peshwarulers was built in 1736 and destroyedin 1828. The burnt out remains, a smallgallery and a deserted two-hectaregarden surrounded by massive wallsare all that are left.

Similar to the famedEllora temples in style, this eighthcentury rock-cut temple has massivepillars. The Nandi Mandapan is acircular pavilion opposite the templewhich unfortunately was nevercompleted. A shrine dedicated toJunglee Maharaj a Hindu ascetic whodied in 1818 is located next door.

The grandpalace of Imamsultan MuhammadShah Aga Khan was built in 1892 in6.5 hectares of lush gardens. After thedemise of the Aga Khan IV, it wasdonated to India. This historical

l a n d m a r k a c h i e v e d f u r t h e rprominence after Mahatma Gandhiwas imprisoned here during the QuitIndia Movement of 1942. His wifeKasturba Gandhi and his secretaryMahadeobhai Desai died during term,and their ashes are kept in memorialsin the gardens. TheE x p r e s s - N a g a r i k Wa d g a o nVijaystambh Pratisthan built thismemorial at Morwada Gardens tocommemorate India's victory overEnglish invaders in 1779. It bearsinscriptions of 1,080 martyrs who laiddown their lives in the service of thenation after Independence.

Pune's fine restaurants closely followMumbai's trendy eateries. To beginwith, , at Bund GardenRoad, offers mouth-watering Italianand Mexican fare whileat Koregaon Park serves Mexican,Continental and Indian food to theaccompaniment of live bands. Puneoffers the widest variety of sizzlersyou have

and are certainlyworth a visit. onDasturmeher Road, has the best

and delectable Parsi cuisine.

War Memorial:

Gourmet's Delights

La Pizzeria

Jazz Garden

The Place: Touch the

Sizzler Zamu's

Dorabjee & Sons,

biryani

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Shaniwar Wada

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Blue Nile

Appa's Canteen,

is best for Iranian food.on Bhandarkar

Road, serves a potpourri of Indian andSouth Indian snacks and mini meals.

and onMG Road are best for snack meals,

in Koregaon Park,offers delicious sandwiches, fluffyomelettes, crunchy cookies and softcakes along with a selection of pastriesand ice creams.

(26114650)

(26128343), (26114277) andat the Le Meridien are some of

the pulsat ing nightclubs anddiscotheques that lend Pune the

Pasteur Dairy Marz-o-Rim

German Bakery,

Night Out

Crystal Ball , Club

Scooba Doo, 10 Downing Street

Pegasus

Scream

sobriquet of 'party city'.

Maharashtrian sarees with theirunique borders, glass bangles, silverjewellery, leather ware and red potteryare the interesting buys. The city isfamous for slippers and sandals inKolhapuri style. Another item youshould not return without, are thebutter-cookies from Kayani Bakery

Shopper's Paradise

Aga Khan Palace

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Maharashtra

and (puffed rice).

Pune's airport isabout 10 km from the railway stationand is connected with Delhi,Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai byall domestic carriers. Puneis linked with Mumbai (170 kms),N a s i k ( 2 0 8 k m s ) , C h e n n a i(1,090 kms) and other major cities ofIndia. Convenientmotorable distances from Mumbai,Nasik and Aurangabad (230 km).

Autorickshaws area convenient and affordable means oftransport. Private taxis, can be hiredfor exploring the city and nearbyattractions. A unique way would be tohire a bicycle and visit all thehotspots of the city. These can behired at major shopping areas andfrom the booth outside the NationalHotel. Summer: Min26°C, Max 40°C; Winter: Min 19°C,Max 29°C. Punee n j o y s a m o d e r a t e c l i m a t ethroughout the year.

020IndianAirlines: 141,

Airport 142, Jet Airways: 26127181,Air Sahara: 26059003.

131/ 2612657526128169

for Air/Rail/CarBookings: 26113084

B J Medical College &Sassoon Hospital: 26128000,Poona Hospital: 24331706,Lokmanya Hospital: 27456496

K. M. Medical: 26133176,Kemps: 26137704

Le Meridien: 26050505, Sun-N-Sand:

chevdaFacts at a Glance

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

By Road:

Getting Around:

Temperatures:

Best time to visit:

City Code:Airlines:

Railways:MTDC:Travel House:

Hospitals:

Chemists:

Home Away From Home

26137777, Taj Blue Diamond:26125555, Sagar Park Plaza:26122622, Woodland: 26126161, The

TempleSunder

Narayan Temple

Naro Sankara Mandir

Kala Rama Mandir

Pandulena Caves

Sita Gufa

Tapovan

Ramkund

Muktidham Temple

Indian Institute

of Research in Numismatic Studies,

here has one of the12 of Lord Shiva.

, across theGodavari, houses Lakshmi and Vishnuidols. The temple was first built in1756. , builtby the Marathas in early 18th century,is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and housesand large church bell acquired duringthe battle of Vasai with Portuguese in1739. At jetblack deities of Lord Rama, Sita andLakshmana are placed in the holytemple that was built in 1782 and hasan 83-ft high imposing tower.

, some 8 kms drivefrom Nasik, are Hinayana Buddhistrock-cut caves built by the Jain kingsin the 1st century AD. Similar to theones at Ajanta, there are 24 of these.

is the site from whereRavana abducted Sita. One has tocrawl into the cave to view the deitiesof Sita, Rama and Lakshmana.

was where Rama is said tohave lived down during his exile.Also,it was here that Lakshman hadchopped off the nose of Ravana's sisterSurpnakha. Down the years, manysaints have meditated here.is the central attraction here – it isbelieved that Sita and Rama used tobathe here – bones dropped intoRamkund are said to dissolve. Theremains of eminent personalities likeIndira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi,Mahatma Gandhi and JawaharlalNehru have been immersed here. Thissite is also known as the

or the Bone Immersion Tank.depicts over 18

chapters from the mythological epicThe

jyotirlingaslocated

Asthi VilayaTirtha,

Bhagavad Gita.

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Maharashtrian Sarees

Central Park: 26054000, Best Western–The Pride: 25534567.

Nasik is where mythology's bestknown hero, Lord Rama, along withhis wife Sita and younger brotherLakshman, spent most of their 14-yearexile. And it was from here that Sitawas abducted by Ravana, before beingtaken to his kingdom in Lanka. Notedpoets like Valmiki, Kalidas andBhavabhooti have reverentiallymentioned ancient Nasik in theirliterary works. Besides, Nasik alsoenjoys being popularly called the fruitbasket of western India, withstrawberries, grapes and raisinsgrowing here like wild berries!

Tourists can trek up to the(30 km), or climb the 690 steps, to

catch a glimpse of the source of theGodavari river. The

NASIK

City Lights

TrimbakHill

Trimbakeswar

Kumbhmela

established in 1980, is a renownedresource centre on the variouscurrency systems that existed in India.It also has an exhaustive archive ofphotographs of Indian coins!

The one of the biggestreligious congregations, is celebratedonce every 12 years on the banks of theholy river Godavari.

is celebrated with greatfanfare all over Maharashtra. Crackersare burst and colourful processionscarrying huge images of Lord Ganesha

City Culture

Kumbhmela,

GaneshChaturthi

raisins or strawberries.

The nearest airport isin Mumbai, some 185 km away.

The nearest railhead, Nasik(10 km from Nasik city), is wellconnected to most metros and smallercities. Nasik has quickconnectivity with Mumbai, which isbarely 185 km away and Pune, whichis 112 km away. It takes four and threehours from both the cities respectively.

Unmetered taxis areavailable all over, but they are moresuitable for travelling long distances.Ayodhya Travels (2504394) or BawaTravels (2508627) offer such services.Autorickshaws are an alternative butthey too demand that you fix the faresbeforehand. Summer:Min 22°C, Max 43°C; Winter: Min6°C, Max 28°C. Evenings are pleasantthroughout the year.Between October and February.

02532570 059

DFC: 2318165/66, Central

Facts at a Glance

Access: By Air:

By Rail:

By Road:

Getting Around:

Temperatures:

Best time to visit:

City Code:MTDC:Banks:

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Kala Rama Mandir

Bank of India: 2506666, CenturionBank: 2319146/8

are the highlights.

Though somewhat limited in theirofferings, one can still check out someof our recommendations for clean andhygienic food. at PanchvatiHotel, has Indianat Nasik Club is known for decentSouth Indian fare while

on MG Road is a multicuisineeatery. For Gujarati , go to

at Hotel Samrat,on OldAgra Road.

Fruit lovers rejoice: this isthe place for great buys in grapes,

Gourmet's Delights

Dhaba,Woodlands

ShilpaGarden

Samrat Restaurant

Shopping:

thalis;

thalis

long beach is another high point ofGanapatiphule, which offers fantasticwa te r spo r t s and swimmingopportunities here. An MTDCbeachfront resort could be a delightfulbase to start your journey into theRatnagiri district and discover thelandscape, art, culture and history ofMaharashtra. The birthplace ofLokmanya Tilak, Ratnagiri has aplethora of palaces and museums:

is dedicated to the giantsof Marathi literature,housed the exiled King and Queen ofBurma in the earlier 20th century,

is the abode of spiritual leaderSwami Swaroopanand – all within aradius of 100 kms. Small detours fromthe coast can take you to the legendarysea-forts of

andthe soldiers of history who staunchly

defended the maritime might ofMaharashtra.

KeshavsootThebaw Palace

Pawas

Bassein, Murud-Janjira,Jaigadh, Vijaydurg Sindhudurg–

building where Sai Baba used to spendalternate nights. The isthe shrine where the spiritual leadergave up his body. The tree underwhich the Baba first sat when he cameto Shirdi is said to have miraculouspowers. The whereSai Baba went for a walk and sat inmeditation is a spot where devoteescome to pray. Theis the oldest temple of Shirdi.

Mumbai is the nearestairport (250 km). Shirdi is onthe Central Railway line; the neareststations are Manmad (65 km) orKopergaon (18 km). On theAhmednagar-Manmad Highway,Shirdi is 250 km from Mumbai and75 km from Nasik. MTDC runs busesfrom all major destinations for Shirdi.

40°C in May andlowest 7°C in January.

Shirdi has dry climate but June toAugust is pleasant, with scanty rains.

02453

Sun-N-Sand: 255728-30, Hotel SaiLeela: 255288-89, 255139.

Guru Sthan

Lendi Gardens

Khandoba Temple

Facts at a Glance

Access: ByAir:By Rail:

By Road:

Temperatures:Best time to

visit:

City Code:

Home Away From Home

neem

GANAPATIPHULE

The name derives its essence from thearmy of the Ganas of Lord Ganeshawho made its sands (pule) their home.A veritable treasure of Ganapatiphuleis the king of mangoesAlphonso that grows here inabundance! The entire belt is fertilewith popular fruits like kokum andphanas known to grow here in variousvarieties. Fruity fame apart, a 6-km-

Hapus,

Samadhi Mandir

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City Lights

Shramata Smarak: Ratnagiri is the

last of industrial outposts before

Ganapatiphule and it takes about an

hour to cover the 50-km drive from

Ratnagiri. But Ratnagiri's charms

begin right from the station where an

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elegant black granite tower welcomes

visitors. This was built in the memory

of those who lost their lives during the

construction of the Konkan Railway.

Facing the sea, this rather modern

temple structure with gardens and a

large fibreglass mouse (the lord's

vehicle) houses the idol bursting from

a rock. From 2-8 every February and

November, the setting sun casts its

rays directly on the idol within the

temple – a sight thousands of believers

come to witness! Bal

Gangadhar Tilak, who coined the

famous declaration, 'Freedom is my

birthright' was born here and his house

is one of the most famous landmarks.

His 'scholarly' possessions can still be

found as he had left them!

This is the first temple built

for non-Brahmins by Swatantra Veer

Savarkar, who lived here from 1924 to

1937 under house arrest. Savarkar had

the s ing le miss ion to e rase

untouchability from the country's

landscape, and the temple is a living

testimony to the great leader's

d e d i c a t i o n i n u p l i f t i n g t h e

Swayambhu Ganapati Temple:

Tilak Smarak:

Patit Pavan

Mandir:

dispossessed with knowledge of the

Vedas. The palace

was home to the exiled king and queen

of Burma in the earlier 20th century.

Once a grand building, the place is

now in ruins, which the state tourism

corporation plans to restore and run as

a heritage hotel.

Overlooking the

confluence of the Sangameshwar river

and the Arabian Sea are the bastions of

this 17th century fort. The beach is a

great spot for swimming. The

lighthouse, built in 1832 by John

Oswald, is known to have run on

kerosene oil till 1995 – the light is now

provided through special prisms.

About 85 km from

Ganapatiphule, the place hosts Shiv

Shristi, an exhibition on Chhatrapati

Shivaji. The famous

is located 112 km from

Ganapatiphule.

The grand bastions of

Maratha marit ime supremacy,

, or the Fort of Victory, was

strengthened in the 17th century by

Shivaji, who added a triple row of

walls and towers as well as inner

buildings. in Malvan

port is a historic monument housing

the only Shivaji shrine within its

bastions.

Check into the MTDC resort here.Bang on the beach, on 49 well-landscaped acres, it overlooks the6 km of the dune-covered beachbesides having the temple inproximity. A stay at a Konkani hut or aSagar Darshan deluxe room/suite is

Thebaw Palace:

Jaigad Fort & The

Lighthouse:

Derwan:

Parshuram

Temple

Vijaydurg and

Sindhudurg:

Vijaydurg

Sindhudurg

Must Do

Ganapatiphule

271

highly recommended. The watersportscenter here has kayaks, water scootersand boats, which can be hired fromOctober to May. Tel: 35248.

Named after the last of the GreatMughals Emperor Aurangzeb, who asviceroy of the Deccan, had made it hiscapital and later built a mausoleum forhis wife here. Aurangabad owes itsfame to the Caves; infact Aurangabad is thefor visitors to the state. Now WorldHeritage Sites, the hidden niches ofAjanta and Ellora are resplendent withcarvings and vivid frescoes ,representing the very essence of India.The world famous caves apart,Aurangabad holds out on its own too,thanks to an old-world charm touchedby contemporary activities. Helping itgain further stature are the spate ofimportant industries that havemushroomed here..

Ajanta & Elloraraison de etre

City Lights

Bibi ka Maqbara

Panchakki

HimrooFactory,

was built in 1679AD by Aurangzeb in memory of hiswife Rabia-ud-Daurani and though ittypifies the Mughal style ofarchitecture in all its elegance,comparisons with Taj Mahal, tend tosomewhat belit t le its beauty.

is a water wheel, whichused to pull water through earthenpipes to a mill located six km away.The mill is now abandoned, but in itstime it was used to grind flour to feedthousands of pilgrims. Aurangzeb'sspiritual advisor, Sufi saint Baba ShahMuzaffar is also buried within itswalls, while enormous fish fill thevarious tanks here. A

hidden in the bylanes of theold town, manufactures the renownedHimroo weave, in shawls and spreads.The shawls are masterpieces in goldand silk thread that along with cottonthreads replicate the wondrousfrescoes of the Ajanta and Caves,thereby providing a cheaper option to

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Swayambhu Ganapati Temple

The area is known for fresh fruits andshould be bought, space permitting.Facts at a Glance

Access: ByAir:

By Rail:Ratnagiri,

By Road:

Distances:

Temperatures:

Rainfall:May

Best time to visit:

City Code:

AURANGABAD

Pune and Mumbai arethe nearest airports. The Ratnagiriairport has only private charterservices. The closest railheadis some 50 kms fromGanapatiphule. Four trains along theKonkan Railway offer connectivity.

From Mumbai, it takesabout 10 hours to reach Ganapatiphule.

Mumbai (375 km), Pune(325 km) and Kolhapur (160 km).Though medical facilities areavailable at Chintamani Hospital, it isRatnagiri where you have to head tofor money and other transactions.

Summer: Min 26°C,Max 35°C; Winter: Min 15°C, Max25°C. 900 mm duringmonsoon. is a good time forAlphonso-lovers!November to February.

02357

Ajanta Caves: It was a Britishhunting team that chanced upon whatis today considered the most importantsite of Buddhist art. Lying deep in the

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the more expensive(brocade and real gold/ silver shawls),patronized by royalty in the 14thcentury. is a smallyet compact museum, displaying thepersonal collection of a retired doctor.Don't be misled by its ambiguouslocation (behind an antique shop onSarafa Road), because here you willfind rare items like a 500-year-oldchain-mail suit, Aurangzeb's hand-written personal Koran and an 800-year-old Paithani saree!

There is a veritable treasure house ofthe soft and elegant Himroo shawlsand unique Paithani sarees, which userea l go ld th read in bordersembellished with bird and flowermotifs. These sarees have beenrevived almost from extinction to taketheir place among other sought-aftervarieties. Bidriware, created throughinlay of silver in a special alloy ofgunmetal is famous here. Semi-precious Agate is easily available andcan be set in jewellery or gifted assouvenirs. Shops in the Walled City orthe State Emporium are the best placesfor these.

You could try for South Indiancuisine; for North Indianand for Chinese foodwhile is known forTandoori food.serves Indian cuisine even as

isrenowned for, as the name suggests,fast food..

Kamkhabs

Purwar Museum

BhojFood Lovers

Master CookFoodwalla

Ranjit Restaurant

Ashoka's Fast Food Centre

Shopper's Paradise

Gourmet's Delights

Excursions

Bibi ka Maqbara

Sahyadri hills and cut into the curve ofthe mountainside, theare located about 100 kms far fromAurangabad. They depict the story ofBuddhism spanning from 200 BC to650 AD. The 30 rock-hewn caves,spread out like a horseshoe, were builtfor Buddhist monks who taught andperformed rituals in the 'chaityas' and'viharas', the nerve center of Buddhistcultural movement. The best exampleof a style of painting that moved on toother areas in the Far East, can beviewed in the frescoes within thecaves. Natural light affords the visitoran unparalled view of the brilliant cavepaintings each telling a story of itsown. The shadows of sunrays on theintricately carved pillars leave animprint on the mind that one neverforgets.

About 30 km fromAurangabad, in a different directionfrom Ajanta is Ellora, showcasing34 caves carved into the sides of abasaltic hill. The finest samples ofcave architecture, they house exquisitefaçades and adorned interiors. And thebest part is the confluence of threefaiths – Buddhism, Jainism and

Ajanta Caves

Ellora Caves:

Hinduism. These three coexistharmoniously to provide a stunningdisplay of art and culture. The 12 cavesto the south are to the Buddhist, the17 in the center are dedicated to theHindus and 5 in the north are for Jains.The Kailasa Cave in the 16th houses anarchitectural wonder with the centraltemple and figures, carved from anenormous rock. The inner sanctum hasa of the temple-deity, Shiva. Itis believed that the rock temples wereconstructed under the aegis of theRashtrakutan King Krishna I.

lingam

Facts at a Glance

Access: By Air:

By Train:

By Road:

Getting Around:

Temperatures:

Besttime to visit:

City Code:Airport:Railway Station:

Aurangabad hashopping flights from Delhi viaMumbai by Indian Airlines and JetAirways too offers daily connectivityfrom Mumbai. OnManmad-Kachiguda section of theSouth Central Railways, it is wellconnected with Mumbai as well asneighbouring states.Aurangabad can be reached fromMumbai (388 km), Pune (299 km),Nasik (221 km) and Manmad by roadconveniently.Autor ickshaws are ava i l ab leeverywhere and are willing tonegotiate prices. It is advisable to fix arate for a longer tour as it works outmore economica l . I f fee l ingadventurous, hop into a Tempo,though taxis from outside the hotelsare a safer bet. Private cars can be hiredfrom the hotel travel desks and fromlocal travel agents with or without theservices of a driver.Summer: Min 26°C, Max 36°C;Winter: Min 20°C, Max 28°C.

October to March.

02402484269

131, 132, 233 4376

Car Rentals:Banks:

India TourismMTDC:Hospitals:

Classic: 2337788SBI, Central Bank of India,

State Bank of Hyderabad, Bank ofMaharashtra.

: 23312172331513

Dhanwantari: 2334760,Kalyani: 337380

Taj Residency'Aurangabad: 238 1106Welcom Hotel Rama International:2485441-4, Ajanta Ambassador:2485211-4, President Park: 2486201

Home Away From Home

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Ajanta Caves

Entrance of Kailash Temple at Ellora

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The small Kailash Temple at Ellora