Visit Kerala - Virtually with no cost

Visit Kerala - Bid Wars

Hurry up!!! The Kerala Tourism department bring opportunity to visit Kerala at virtually no cost. A offerings aimed at domestic travelers. If you are fan of Kerala Tourism at Facebook then you can turn this opportunity to win trip to Kerala with almost no cost.

To enable this opportunity, you have to participate at an online bidding game via dedicated Facebook app. 

The details of the game are as follows:

• Tour packages provided by accredited service providers of Kerala Tourism will be uploaded on a dedicated Facebook app. 
• Facebook fans of Kerala Tourism can bid for the package.
• The bid is open only for a certain amount of time
• The person with the lowest unique bid will be awarded the package

 For example:

A person 'X' bids for a package worth Rs. 20,000 with Rs. 10. The package will be awarded to him if no other bid is made which is less than or equal to Rs. 10.

• The person who won the package will be directly paying the bid amount to the service provider who gave that package.

An Android based application has also being developed which will allow the Kerala Tourism Facebook fans to bid for packages right from their mobile devices. 

Kerala Bid Wars: Android App

Also visit: Short vacation to Kerala vai Kanyakumari

Free Internet: Need of Bharat vs India

Free Internet

Before jump on the difference between Bharat and India, let me explain why this post. This post was written after I drove on highway late night to my home which typically represent village on the wake of Mark Zuckerberg's visit to India to host Town Hall which definitely campaign for Free Internet.

So, after finishing office-work in Pune late evening, I drove to my home for the weekend, which is around 320km away from Pune. I felt hungry and started searching for a hotel on the road side I was driving. As hunger grows, my eyes started searching at both the side of highway now. Meanwhile, I unlock my mobile screen, just to see all the food chain apps who are at finger tip away to serve are no longer at reach. Whole journey I did with empty stomach, which was shouting load inside saying, I need food.

Here, one can realize that if basic needs of human being i.e. food, clothing and shelter never fulfilled then there is no use of internet. 

As history witnessed, earlier Microsoft dominated the world and now Facebook doing the same, so question raises when India get benefited which has huge pool of service industry which is failing to turn into giants like Microsoft or Facebook. Apart from that, newly formed government playing role of agent to sell product of these foreign brands instead of asking them to contribute towards accessibility of the basic needs of Bharat instead of India. Here these two worlds used specifically to differentiate between the larger portion of population which daily struggle for basic needs and another smaller portion only seeing internet is only opportunity to sustain basic needs.

I will say there is no need of free internet as I scared, we will again remain hungry even it's free. So let us keep it in this way, even if someone trying to provide free internet, government should turn that opportunity to bring equal access to Food, Clothing and Shelter using so called "Free Internet". Because, famous idiom states that there is no free food in this world. A citizen of Bharat definitely appraise government if they negotiate on it's own term to benefit from Free-Internet instead of getting trapped in the net of foreign brands.

Also visit: One Year of Modi Government: Did you know?

Reason to be part of Ganesh Festival in Pune

Via Google+ Photos of MaddyJoshilkar

• Origin of Ganesh Utsav

When it comes to celebrating Ganesh Festival, first names comes forward is 'Pune'. Lokmanya Tilak, an originator of festival started celebrating Ganesh Festival at Pune during freedom fight against British which ultimately become weapon to gather people and educate on importance of having freedom. It become landmark to city like Pune to get identity on global map while celebrating Ganesh festival at any corner of this world now.

• Traditional Celebration of Ganesh Festival

Unlike any other city, average size of Ganesh idol is small in Pune. Even Ganesh idols at pandal are comparatively small in size. Most of the pandals are part of Ganesh temple at nearby. Hence they prefer to use idol at temple during this festival season and host that same statue in the temple instead of immersion in the water. Collectively this unique tradition followed in Pune only.

• Dhol Taashe Pathak*

There is no comparison with Pune when it comes to  'Dhol Taahe Pathak'. Most of the pandal prefer 'Dhol Taashe Pathak' over Dolby, these 'Pathak' practice over months prior to Ganesh festival. It is shivering moment to watch hundreds of 'Dhol Taashe Pathak' bang the drum in one rhythm.

• Well organised immersion procession

Pune's Ganesh immersion procession is recognized for well organized despite of help of Police force, NGO and volunteers. Watching systematic procession of Ganesh immersion at Laxmi Road at full day light is truly magnificent experience. 

Photos and videos of Ganesh immersion procession at Laxmi Road, Pune

Hope, these reasons enable you to be part of Ganesh Festival this year at Pune

Thanks for reading!

* Dhol-Tashe Pathak - It is a group of people playing Dhol with equal rhythm

Anger: A vicious cycle

Since my childhood I heard the term 'Kutte ne kaata hai kya?' (meaning 'Have dog bitten you?') everywhere when people started with heated arguments or listen to disappointing comments from someone. I always thought how do dog bite make someone to behave weird or step down to arguments. The story here I am going to write make perfect sense to get real meaning of the phrase. Ultimately it explains how anger is part of vicious cycle.

One fine day, a person who hold key position, for say, a company owner, going to office early in the morning. A stray dog running side way attacked and bite the person without any reason. This incident in the morning itself made the person so angry. After reaching office, just to get away with anger, he called fellow reporting executive and explained him how yesterday's client meeting went wrong with extra anger (given by dog) which was so unexpected for the executive in the morning itself.

To take immediate action (on anger), an angry executive called project director in line to dumped all the anger he received from company boss. Now it's Project Director's turn to dump all the anger he received to his fellow team mates. In this way, till the end of the day, all the anger leverage from company's boss to team working at the bottom.

Now an employee, at bottom in the company hierarchy was so angry. While walking out of the office he found a peon cleaning the floor which made floor slippery. Taking this opportunity, a team member dumped his anger on the peon by arguing that he should clean office after office hours (he totally forgot that it's 24*7 working office). Now peon was in anger state, as he is last in the organization hierarchy, he only found his wife at home to dump all his anger. Till this anger passing from one person to another, a day was ended.

Another day, a wife of peon was in furious over clashes with husband last night. A wife who everyday prepare her kid for school was so angry that she slapped the kid and ask his to prepare on his own onward. A kid is not aware about weird behavior of mother but of course, it got angry as kid is human being too. While going to school, kid saw a stray dog, just take revenge of anger it has, kid took the stone and throw it towards dog, that same dog bite the boss in the morning.

Thanks you for reading this post. I hope my posts on lifestyle bring little change in your life to make this world beautiful place. Your comment are my appreciation. Do comment!

Read my other posts:

Temper Management & Our Lifestyle

Jai Ho

Last night bed story

The Sinhgad - Nearby get away to Pune

Fort - Sinhgad entry gate

Route: Pune - Sinhgad Road - > Waraje -> Khadakwasala -> Sinhgad Fort -> Khadakwasala -> Waraje -> Sinhgad Road - Pune

Travel Distance: Approximate 30km

Travel Time: Sunday, 6am – 11am

Best Period to Visit: Monsoon season

This is well known fact that people have no importance the things they have nearby. It applied to me as well. Wen I was in Mumbai, I travel to Pune and visited this marvelous fort in 2011. However, now I am in Pune for almost last four years but miss the visit to famous fort in close vicinity of my residence in Pune.

Journey:

Always keep in mind that, this place has crowded weekend, hence I planned my journey early in the morning. A sport shoes with no backpack is more than enough to have round trip to the fort. 

Khadakwasala Backwater

I kick off the bike and traveled through Sinhgad road via Khadkwasala water dam to reach Sinhgad fort around 7am. Before entering to ghat to Sinhgad, you have to pay Rs. 10/- as entry fee for bike. This fee contributed towards forest conservation initiative by government. I found few cars and bikes in parking area indicating that people started arriving at the fort. 

Reaching Sinhgad Fort:

When I parked my bike, I see valley of green forest all around the fort with small mountains surrounding complete fort. All the way showing geographical importance of fort in the history and why every empire tried to conquer this fort. Read more about Battles at Sinhgad. 

Snake Centers at Sinhgad Fort

Starting from parking place till the first gate (Pune Darawaja) of fort, you can witness mouth-watering kairy (mango slice), boiled groundnuts, onion pakoda etc. If you reach early in the morning, you will find less crowd to enjoy the fort.

Experience at Fort:

When I reach fort, it has numerous places to visit like wind-point, Lokamanya Tilak residence. I really like wind point where I enjoyed a lot. Wind blow is so I high that you barely manage to open your eyes. Still I captured the video to show wind flow at the wind-point. Then I enjoyed little time to capture some moments on phone camera. Take look of the photos at The Sinhgad.

Snack-center at Sinhgad

Till I finish the visit to Sinhgad fort, I reached an snack-center to have onion pakoda and curd followed by tea. It was almost 10.30am and fog at the place still giving feeling of early morning.

Returning to Pune:

I stepped down toward parking area, and started return journey. Meanwhile I found crowd started gathering at fort as parking lot was full with vehicles. A youth shouting slogans about Great Maratha Warrior Shivaji Maharaj bringing live spirit at the place. I return home with another break on my way to home at Khadakwasal water dam which was again another most visited place by Punekar during this season.

Till this post goes live, you may have come across video The Sinhgad showing glimpse of the fort.

Thanks for reading this post. Hope your comments will keep encouraging me.

Subscribe at my YouTube channel: Maddy Joshilkar 

Read my travel experience:

Visit Bandra-Worli Sea Link - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/06/mesmerizing-sea-link.html

Visit Lohgad - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/05/bike-ride-lonavala-via-lohgad.html

Visit Keral & Kanyakumari - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2014/11/short-vacation-to-keral-via-kanyakumari.html

Palasdhari Waterfall: Expect unexpected

Route: Pune - Chandani Chowk - > Lonavala -> Khopoli -> Palasdhari -> Khopoli -> Lonavala -> Chandani Chowk - Pune

Travel Distance: Approximate 164km

Travel Time: Sunday, 7am – 4pm

Best Period to Visit: Prefer heavy rain day in Monsoon season

I heard about waterfall - Palasdhari, a lot of time, but did not get any footprint of this landmark on internet. However, as a travel opportunist, I decided to visit this waterfall and experience on my own.

Journey:

I kick off my bike from Chandani Chowk, Pune and drove straight to Lonavala at 6.00 am IST via Old Pune-Mumbai Highway. As a frequent travel, early morning in the Lonavala never disappoint in any season. I visited Lonavala almost in every season, although I visit Mumbai on my bike through this route almost every month. It was Sunday and of course as expected people start hitting this place in this season without miss.

I was very luck to land early (at 6.45 am IST) in the morning to witness movements of clouds and easy breath making me relishing. Spending almost an hour, I started my next journey to most curious place to me i.e. Palasdhari.

Reaching Palasdhari:

As a traveler, I experienced technology always at help when you going to a place that less traveled. I searched for Palasdhari on Google Map and started moving to the destination via Khopoli. At 2-3 km after crossing Khopoli on highway, you can find road to Karjat. Famously called 'Karjat-Khopoli Road', where you can skip the highway and prefer this road as shortcut to Karjat.

Experience at Palasdhari:

Palasdhari is one of the train station as well. As I reached the spot, I saw huge gathering of people moving in and out the waterfall location which is just at walkable distance of 15-20 min from Palasdari Station or Karjat-Khopoli road. I drove my bike till in reaches I found no road towards waterfall. I parked my bike and started walking.

Till I reach the spot, I realized that most of the crowd is belongs to Mumabi, citing Sunday, the road was overflowing with crowd as well. When I reach at the waterfall, I got completely disappointed as it was very small waterfall where water is falling from merely 15-20 ft.

I never dare to step down under this waterfall as there was very little space and crowd was crazy to get under the water. When I was there for some time, one of the guy approached me asked, "Why you are so dry?". I said "Are you Mumbaikar?". He nodded then I replied "You can enjoy (everywhere), I am going back.". I believe, I visited wrong time as there was no rain since last couple of days. So I advice to visit this place during heavy rain days to avoid displeasure like me.

I spent another 30-45 min and come back to the place where I parked my bike. I sat for few minutes to experience the green field around which was more mesmerizing than the waterfall. It was 1.00 pm when I reached Khopoli for lunch.

Returning Pune:

After having lunch, I started my journey back to the Pune via Lonavala. It was sunny day still Khandala-Lonavala section was so crowded showing effects of weekend. I reached Chandani chowk by 4.00 pm IST.

Read my travel experience:

Visit Bandra-Worli Sea Link - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/06/mesmerizing-sea-link.html

Visit Lohgad - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/05/bike-ride-lonavala-via-lohgad.html

Visit Keral & Kanyakumari - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2014/11/short-vacation-to-keral-via-kanyakumari.html

Aga Khan Palace: Revisiting Gandhi

Agakhan Palace - Pune

Mahatma Gandhi, a father of Nation, who influencing the world with message of peace and non-violence. Aga Khan Palace is the place where he spend time when he held captive during 'Quit India Movement' between 10-Aug, 1942 and 06-May, 1944. He was accompanied by Miraben, Shri. Pyarelal Nayar, Smt. Sarojani Naidu, Dr. Sushila Nayar and his Personal Secretory Mahadevbhai Desai.

Some Milestones in Mahatmaji's Life at Aga Khan Palace

About Aga Khan Palace:

The Aga Khan Palace also known as Gandhi National Memorial was build in year 1892, by the 3rd Agakhan, Sultan Mohammod Shah Agakhan who was the 48th spiritual head of the Khoja Ismaili religion. He constructed this place intended to be as source of employment for the feminine-struct villagers in the surrounding area. It took five years to complete the work of this palace and one thousand people were employed and they were given full heartened wages for their livelihood and 12 lakhs was the cost. 

In the year 1969, Prince Karim EI Husseinim Agakhan IV, came to India and donated this palace with surrounding land to the Government of India Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, New Delhi in memory of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy.

Mahadevbhai Desai - Death of Gandhiji's son:

Mahadevbhai Desai was personal secretory of Gandhiji who served him nearly 35 years without any rest. Within a week of detention at Aga Khan palace, on the morning of 15-Aug, 1942, he died of heart attach. One of the information slate at the memorial states that, Gandhi stood by the bedside calling out, 'Mahadev, Mahadev'. Inanguish, Gandhi Said, "If he only opens his eyes and looks at me once he won't go". Mahadev never opened eyes.

With trembling hands, Gandhiji washed the body and annointed it with sandal and decorated it with flowers whispering, 'Mahadev, I thought you would do this for me. Now I have to do it for you". The authorities had brought lorry with police and Brahmins. They wanted to take away the body and cremate it. But Gandhi would not have it. "No father can hand over the body of his son to Strangers", he said, "Mahadev was more than a son to me. I would like to perform his last rites myself. But if the Government can not take me outside, I am prepared to hand it over to friends, but I won't hand it over to the jail officials".

Gandhiji sat thinking for a moment then he said, "I do not want to make the death of my son into political issue. If government will not allow me to go out and cremate the body nor hand it over to friends, I will have the cremation here." Ultimately, the government yielded. In the afternoon a mournful little procession followed Mahadev's bier the the improvised burning ground in a corner of the palace grounds. Gandhi followed the body with a staff in one hand and a pot of fire in the other. After a short religious ceremony, Gandhi lighted the pyre. And soon there was a blaze. "Mahadev was lived up to the 'Do or Die' mantra" he asserted. "The sacrifice can not but hasten the day of India's deliverance".

Samadhi of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadevbhai Desai

About Kasturba Gandhi:

Kasturba Gandhi breathed her last after a prolonged illness on 'Mahashivratri', 22-Feb, 1944. Kasturba cremated near the place where Mahadevbhai Desai cremated. Palace hold samadhi of both of these in the surrounding area. Beside these Samadhi, you can find statue where ashes of Mahatma Gandhi rest.

Statue of Kasturba and Mahatma Gandhi

The palace preserve the thing Gandhiji used during his stay in the palace. It has dining table, Charakha (domestic spinning wheel used chiefly for cotton), cloths etc. My photo album does not have photos of these things as I want you to visit and experience on your own.

Read post on my travel experience:

Visit Bandra-Worli Sea Link - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/06/mesmerizing-sea-link.html

Visit Lohgad - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2015/05/bike-ride-lonavala-via-lohgad.html

Visit Keral & Kanyakumari - http://maddyconnect.blogspot.in/2014/11/short-vacation-to-keral-via-kanyakumari.html