Hotels in Bhandardara

I have been to Bhandardara last week, before going i have already booked MTDC resort for one day. But suddenly I decided to extend my stay for one more day. As usually MTDC will be booked in advance. So I started my search for hotels in Bhandardara. Usually peoples say that you can go and directly book at the spot, but i can't afford this as if go along with my family, I can't take any risk if at all no place is available I will have to drive back to some other place and stay there. I saw different information on different site but no budy has summarised, then i decided to write my first review, following is the summary of Bhandardara hotels.

1. MTDChttp://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
Review:- I spent a day in MTDC, the MTDC is at very nice location, although I booked a "standard room" but the view from the room was excellent, I was able to see the full lake from my balcony
Bad:-
1. Food quality of the restaurant is not good.
2. No room service.
3. Lot of street dogs. Almost 20 dogs were present at my door. And all night they were barding and fighting.
Rates: - you can find the rates from the Website.Note: - They have given me standard room on the ground flour, but i guess it would be better if one can take the "standard room" on the first or second flour.

2. Anandvanhttp://www.anandvanresorts.com/
I don’t' know much about this, but this one is expensive (for me).

3. Hotel Amruteshwar (No website)
Near MTDC resort and Anandvan Resort.At post Shendy (Bhandardara), Tal. Akole, Dist. A.NagarTel: Rajusheth Rathod: 02424-2571122Sachin Rathod: 9420342877, 9421584380, 9423650077, 9423650008
Rent : - 1200double - 1200(back)/1500(front) Review:- As the rates didn't soot to me, I didn't book this, although I had been there (didn't see the rooms) they place was good.

4. YashresortAddress:Bhandardara(Shendi Village),Taluka – Akole,District – Ahmednagar,Bhandardara, Maharashtra 422601, IndiaPhone : - 09890081324 www.yashresort.co.in
Review:- I had been here twice for dinner, although I didn't stay there as the rates didn't soot to me, but i really like the dinner and food quality. service is very good staff is also very cooperative.

5. Amit lodge (No internet / Phone booking)
Vikas 942391077115 room (double bed) 800(no phone/internet booking)

6. Batliwala banglow (No internet / Phone booking)
Parte - 9421330496Rate :- 500/- Shanivari
Review:- I stayed at this place for one day, It was a worst night I have ever spent, some party of around 50 had have been there, and they were make lot of noise that we couldn’t sleep till 1 or 2 in the night. Room condition is not good, all room are very small.
Note:-
1. After reaching "Shendi" village, just ask any one the route to "MTDC" this place is exactly apposite to MTDC.
2. As there is no reservation, you need to call and request for blocking one room
3. Once you book any room, just enquire if any there is any party tonight, so that you can avoid staying at that place.

Guides in Bhandardara:-I didn't took any guide as I can speak marathi and i don't have any problem in finding the roads, if any one want any guide I have numberShridhar SonavneMob:- 9049231861

Madhe Ghat

Madhe Gat

Pune to Madhe ghat 63km (via Pabe khind)
Pune to Madhe ghat 78km (via Nasrapur)

There are two ways to go to Madhe ghat, via pabe khind and via nasrapur. Either of the way you need to reach Velhe village first. So following are the two ways to reach Velhe.

1. Via Pabe khind (68 km)
From pune go towards Sinhagad Road, Khadakwasla Dam, Donje Phata, and Khanapur, Paabe. Once you cross Khanapur you need to take a left turn after around 10 km. you will find a bords indicating the left turn towards Pabe.
After crossing the pabe village after 1 killometer, the road will joins Nasarapur-Velhe Road. From here take right turn, village velhe is around 5km.

2. Via Nasarapur (78 km)
From pune take Satara road (NH4 (Mumbai - Bangalore Highway)), reach shiwapur then keep following the road and you will find a “Nasarapur bipas” form here you have to take a left turn. (there is a sign boards on the left hand side). Once you take a left turn immediately the nasrapur village will come.

Way to reach Madhe Ghat from Pasli

Once you reach Velhe village you need to take first right turn then left. This road goes towards “Pasli” village ( 13 km) . Please ask for direction here, as the turns are little confusing and there are no sign boards.

After reaching Pasli village keep going straight and from here the madhe ghat is 5km. After starting Pasli, go until the “Kelad” village comes, from here you need to take a right turn and this road will directly go to “Madhe Ghat”

The way to madhe ghat goes directly up to the spot from where we can see the waterfall. But I usually park my vehicle near one bridge (see my pictures for more information) as the road after that is not so good. So I prefer to walk for 1 km form this bridge

My Picasa Web album (Madhe Ghat)

Gental Warrning:-

Please do not throw any plastic or any waste. Please take all the waste back with you. This will retain the beauty of the place.

Morachi Chincholi

I have been there along with my wife and my father-in-law, it was a fantastic birding place. We started early in the morning at around 5am from pune. And at around 7 we reached to Mr Thopte's place.

How to reach –
Take Pune-Ahemadnagar highway and travel to Shikrapur, for a distance of 30 kms.
Ask for Malthan phata.
Take left turn at Malthan phata and travel straight to Ganegaon for a distance of 8 kms.
You need to take another left turn from Ganegaon and travel straight to Morachi Chincholi - MAYUR BAUG. Distance is 9 kms.

I got this from the below web site http://www.chincholimorachi.com

He has also arranged one person to collect us, so that we won't go in to the wrong direction. After reaching we took hot tea and moved in to the near by fields. In one field my wife saw 2 peacocks with peahens both were dancing to attract precooks. At this place we settled down so that they will not feel that some buddy is watching them. We almost enjoyed the birding for one hour, during this time both the peacocks were dancing in front of peahens, and for some duration the distance was too close that we can even here the rattle sound of the feathers. We took lot of photographs and videos of dancing peacocks. After this we just roomed in the field and saw lot of peacocks everywhere. Then we went back to Mr Thopte’s place and had a wonderful breakfast. He was very happy to see our snaps and videos. He didn’t even ask for money to us, he just want us to keep the money near to God’s place.
I really like the way these villages are taking care of peacocks, they don’t even visiter to use flash in this case the peacocks got scared. They also feeds the peacocks on daily basis. Infast one person told me that they put more seeds as they know that some of their crop will be eaten by peacocks.

Please visit this link for my snaps

Suggestions:-
I also suggest everybody where you see the peacocks are present, just settle down and wait for them to come, patience is must. But the only object we should have is we are not going to disturb the bird. If you try to go closer, then will go further. Make some distance and while going take some good binocular with you, so that you can get more close view.

Kamalini kutir

There are two resort on the bank of river kanindi one is balaji resort and another is Kamalini kutir. Both are almost apposite to each other.

Kamilini Kutir

Direction:-
From Pune, the total distance 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, and Khanapur, Ranjne, Paabe and once you cross the pabe ghat the road will joins Nasarapur-Velhe Road. From here if if you take right turn village velhe is around 10km. 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, lands you straight into Kamalini Kutir.
Location description –
The place is situvated on the bank of the river so the location ofcouse is very good. Total area covered by kamilini kutir is less as compare to other big resorts. I must say it’s not a resort kind of thing, its just a place to stay and eat. There is no activity as such they provide.
But the most beautiful thing is the cleanliness, I like the way they have maintained the cleanliness
They just have three cottages and one eating area, so the good thing is less croud.
Food quality is very nice, its pure maharastrian food.
Charges – As we just went for the lunch there they charged us 110Rs per head.
As I enquired the total stay charges for 24hur (including tea, breakfast, lunch, dinner) is 600Rs
If you are planning to go for stay, you must book well in advance.

Kamilini kutir phonen no-
Phone no- 942130221464, 9422057389

Birds Around Pune

This blog is dedicated to birds around pune. The main objective of creating this blog :
1. To share the birding knowledge gained around pune.
2. To share the birds photograph among more everyone.
3. Increase the common awareness about birding.
4. Preserving the birds as well as there habitat.
I would like you all to contribute at full strength.
--Dilip P Sant