Matherana Hill Station in Karjat

Matherana : It is a hill station in Karjat Tahsil and is also the smallest hill station in India. It is located on the Western Ghats range at an elevation of around 800 m (2,625 feet) above sea level.

The closest hill settlement to Mumbai, Matheran was discovered in 1850 by the British during their occupation of India and subsequently developed into a popular summer retreat.

The most unique thing about it and what makes it so special, is that all vehicles are banned there -- even bicycles. It's a soothing place to relax away from any noise and pollution.There are lots of lookout points that provide spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Matheran has a reasonably dense forest cover.

Best Time To Visit:

Best season to visit this place is monsoon. Tourist can experience the scenic view of waterfalls.

Transport:

Kalyan to Neral by train, Neral to Matheran by vehicle/train/walk

History:

Matheran was discovered by Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Thane district in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay laid the foundations of the development as a future hill station. The British developed Matheran as a popular resort to beat the summer heat in the region.

Matheran is connected to the town of Neral which lies at the base of the hills. A tar road connects Neral to Dasturi Naka which is 9 km (5.8 miles) from Matheran. In order to maintain Matheran's uniqueness, no vehicles are allowed beyond this point. The other mode of transport is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway, which links the town to Neral. Neral also has a broad gauge station which is on the busy Mumbai-Pune route. Neral is well connected by railway line with Karjat being the nearest Junction. The Matheran Hill Railway was built in 1907 by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy and covers a distance of 20 km (12.4 miles), over large swathes of forest territory.

Main Points To Visit:

• Alexander Pt.
• Rambag Pt
• Little Chowk Pt
• Chowk Pt
• One Tree Hill Pt
• Belvedere Pt
• Olympia Race Course
• Lords Pt
• Charlotte Lake

• Cecil Pt (Actually a water fall mouth)
• Echo Pt.

• Porcupine Pt (Sun Set Pt)
• Panorama Point (Sun Rise Pt)

• Madhavji Garden & Point
• Matheran Railway Station
• Louisa Point
• Mayor Pt

Amboli hill station-Location,Connectivity,Introduction,History,Main Attraction,Best Time To visit,Pictures

Approaching Amboli is fairly easy, with excellent road connections and State Transport bus services.

Distance from

Mumbai - 550 kms

Pune - 390 kms

Kolhapur - 120kms

Ratnagiri - 215 kms

Belgaum - 64 kms.

The inception of the Konkan Railways has made the journey to Amboli even more exciting for children with lots of tunnels and tall bridges, creeks, rivers and verdant hills and valleys that the train passes before you alight at Sawantwadi (28 kms)

Introduction:

Amboli is a hill station in south Maharashtra, India. At an altitude of 690 meters it is the last hill station before the coastal highlands of Goa and a relatively unexplored one.

Located in the Sahyadri ranges in the Western Ghats, Amboli is a quaint hill station, surrounded by thick forests of the Anjani tree and plantations of cardamom; and crisscrossed by a number of tiny streams.

History:

Amboli village came into being as one of the staging posts along the road from Vengurla port to the city of Belgaum, which was extensively used by the British to supply their garrisons in south and central India. The hills of Amboli village provide one of the sources of the Krishna river (The "Ganges" of south India) and an ancient Shiva temple (called Hiranyakeshi) exists at the cave where the water emerges. The main attraction for tourists is the incredibly high rainfall (7 meters average per year!)and the numerous waterfalls and mist during the monsoons

Main attractions:

The main attractions are the many viewpoints that offer panoramic vistas of the valley such as Sea-view Point, Purvicha Vas, and Mahadevgad Point - all of which unfold a view of the Konkan coast merging with the Arabian Sea. Tourists can visit the ruins of Madhavgadh fort in the vicinity. One can also visit the historic botanical gardens and picnic there. Mahadevgad and Narayangad are other hill stations in the area.

Mumbai Pune Expressway-India's first six-lane concrete,Distance,History & Facts,Tenders,Construction & Cost,Names of Tunnel & Length,Future Plans

Mumbai Pune Expressway-India's first six-lane concrete,Distance,History & Facts,Tenders,Construction & Cost,Names of Tunnel & Length,Future Plans

The Mumbai Pune Expressway , officially the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway is India's first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway.The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is one of the prestigious projects to MSRDC by Public Works Department. This aims to provide a safe and fast access between Mumbai and Pune. This 6 lane expressway extends from Kon to Dehu, a distance of 92 km. and the first of its kind in India of its size with concrete pavement, It connects the financial capital of India, and the neighboring industrial hub city of Pune. It has introduced for India new levels of speed and safety in automobile transportation.

Vehicles with fewer than four wheels and agricultural tractors are not permitted, although tractor-trailers (semi-trailer rigs are permitted). The expressway handles about 30,000 PCUs and is designed to handle up to 1,000,000 PCUs.

History & Facts:

In 1990, the Government of Maharashtra appointed RITES and Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick of United Kingdom to carry out feasibility studies for the new expressway to be operated on toll basis. RITES submitted their report in 1994 with the estimated cost of project at Rs. 1146 crores (11.46 billion rupees). The Government of Maharashtra entrusted the work of the construction of Mumbai-Pune expressway to MSRDC in March 1997 on Build-Operate-Transfer basis with permission to collect toll for 30 years. The environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India was received on October 13, 1997. The Forest Clearance was received on November 11, 1997.

The tender notice was published in leading newspapers all over India and also on the Internet. Due to wide publicity, 133 tenders were sold and on December 18, 1997, 55 tenders were received. After technical and financial evaluation, tenders were accepted and work orders were given on January 1, 1998 to four contractors. Thereafter tenders for widening of Khandala and Lonavala-Khandala bypass works were invited. The tenders were received on August 24, 1998 and orders were issued on September 4, 1998.

Construction & Project Cost:

The project was completed under the stewardship of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

The expressway cost Rs. 16,30,00,00,000 (approx. US$ 362 million) to construct.

The first sections opened in 2000, and the entire route was completed, opened to traffic and made fully operational from April 2002.

Names of Tunnel & Length:

1) Bhatan: This tunnel opened in April 2000.The Mumbai-Pune (North) tube is 1,053 m and the Pune-Mumbai (South) tube is 1,088 m long

Bhatan Tunnel

2) Madap: This tunnel also opened in April 2000.The Mumbai-Pune (North) tube is 305.3 m and the Pune-Mumbai (South) tube is 359.3 m long.

3) Adoshi: This only has a Pune-Mumbai tube. The Mumbai-Pune carriageway skirts the eastern edge of the tunnel while the Pune-Mumbai carriageway traverses the 258 m long tunnel.

4) Khandala: This is a curved pair of tubes. The Mumbai-Pune (North) tube is 293.5 m

and the Pune-Mumbai (South) tube is 400 m long.

5) Kamshet-1:It has 2 tubes roughly 900 m each.

6) Kamshet-2:359 m

Future Expansion:

MSRDC has decided to extend the Mumbai Pune Expressway from the current endpoint of Kalamboli near Panvel and to extend it till Sion in Mumbai. The extended stretch will reduce commuting time between Mumbai and Pune by 30 minutes. Under the plan, the Sion Panvel Expressway corridor will be widened, with dedicated lanes for heavy and light vehicles. Service roads will be built for entry and exit at various points. It will also involve constructing a brand new bridge over the Thane creek parallelly to the current Vashi Mankhurd Bridge. MSRDC will undertake the expansion project. Work is expected to commence in March 2009 and complete by September 2011. The new 22-km link is expected to cost Rs 800 crore

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race-Venue,How to reach,Highlights.vallam kali (snake boat race) in Kerala on the river Pampa,Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race-Venue,How to reach,Highlights.vallam kali (snake boat race) in Kerala on the river Pampa,Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple,Pictures

Venue: Champakulam, about 26 km from Alappuzha

How to Reach:Nearest railway station-Alappuzha (26 km), Nearest airport- Cochin (85 km).

Highlights: Spectacular water floats, decorated boats, Vanchipattu (song of the oarsmen)

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race This boat race is the oldest and most popular vallam kali (snake boat race) in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on the river Pampa on Moolam day (according to the Malayalam Era M.E) of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.

Introduction:

Kerala is well-known for its water bodies that take the form of canals, backwaters and rivers. And there are regions in Kerala, where water dominates life of those living in its vicinity. The southern district of Alappuzha is one such region in Kerala that takes the credit of having a great amount of area under water. Some of the rivers rising in the highlands of the Western Ghats, flow down to join the vast stretches of backwaters and canals that crisscross the heart of Alappuzha and the nearby region of Kottayam.

Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple

In 1613 A.D., sixty-three years after the idol was given shelter at Mappilassery, the old house was being demolished and a new one being built. Raja Devanarayanan's successor heard the news and immediately sent word to Itty Thommen's son, Kunhi Thommen that the area where the idol was kept, which was considered a 'devasthanam ' or sacred place, was to be specially demarcated and used only as a place of worship. Also, in keeping with Hindu practices, no menstruating women were to enter the room. A special lamp, made of rare metals, was given to the family, to be kept in this holy place, and perpetually burning, as an eternal flame. Special privileges were also conferred on the family, including the grant of lands and coconut groves to supply the oil for the lamp.

Even today, these practices continue. The lamp is kept perpetually burning. Every year priests and other delegates from the temple call at the house on Moolam day, with gifts and prasadam for the karanavar or head of the house. This ceremony is known as the Moolakazcha.It is believed that on Moolam Day, Lord Krishna resides not at the Temple, but at Mappilassery House! Reverentially,on unshod feet,the Temple delegates enter the prayer room, where along with Christian icons like the cross, and statues of Jesus and Mary, the lamp, known as the Vazhakoombu Vilakku is given a place of prominence. The temple representatives then venerate the lamp, and are treated by the family to a sumptuous feast. It is only after all these ceremonies, that the famous Champakulam Snake Boat Race commences.

Shri Hanuman Mandir, Salangpur (Gujarat)-Location,How to reach,History,Temple timings,Video Darshan,Pictures,Aarti Video

Shri Hanuman Mandir, Salangpur (Gujarat)-Location,How to reach,History,Temple timings,Video Darshan,Pictures,Aarti Video

Location & Accessibility:

Address: Sarangpur, District - Ahmedabad (gUJARAT)

Accesibility:160 Km from Ahmedabad on Bhavanagar Road by Road and NEAREST RLY STATION BOTAD on Ahmedabad-Bhavanagar Train

Year of Construction:Temple was constructed about 350 years back.

Festival:Hanuman Jayanti

Best Time:It is advisable to visit the temple during winter as summer months are extremely hot.

Opening Schedule:7 AM and 4 PM

Visit Timings:7 AM to 12 Noon & 4 PM to 8 PM

Hanuman is the perfect avatar of protection. The avatar namely hanuman is being inherited from Indian epic, the Ramayana. He is the rudra avatar of Lord Shiva and is well known as the most powerful and intellectual among all gods.

Hanuman is also referred as pavan putra as well as Vāyu-Putra because Pavan had played a significant role in getting hanuman to Anjana as her child.

Shri Hanuman Mandir, Salangpur is a Hindu temple located in Salangpur, Gujarat and comes under the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.It is dedicated to Hanuman in the form of Kastbhanjan (Crusher of sorrows). It is the only Swaminarayan temple to have Hanuman as a central deity

History:

This temple is among the more prominent ones in the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The image of Hanuman was installed by Gopalanand Swami. According to author Raymond Williams, it is reported that when Gopalanand Swami installed the image of Hanuman, he touched it with a rod and the image came alive and moved. This story has become a charter for the healing ritual performed at this temple.The image of Hanuman here is a stout figure with a handlebar moustache, crushing a female demon under his foot and baring his teeth, standing among sculpted foliage full of fruit bearing monkey attendants

Since hanuman is believed to be a god of power so people often devote their prayers by the enchanting tune of aarti. Aarti is a respect of love and a devotional way of offerings prayers to god. Aarti is being performed with the use of five small diyas, or wicks made of cotton wool are being served with a metal tray by putting ghee and oil in it. It is also provided with lovely flowers with an enchanting tune.

It is believed that the idol of hanuman has come real and starts moving when it is being placed at the Shri Hanuman Mandir, Sarangpur‎. This temple is famous as it free from evil powers due to the presence of the essence of hanuman

Video Darshan of Hanuman ji At Sarangpur

Hanuman Aarti Video:

Hanuman Aarti:

Aarti kejeye hanuman lalaa ki

Dusht dalan raghunath kala ki

Jake bal se ghirdhar kape

Rog dhosh jake nikat na jhape

Aarti kejeye hanuman ..........

Anjani putra maha baldhai

Santan ke prabhu sada sahai

Aarti kejeye hanuman .........

De bhira raghunath pathai

Lanka jare siya sudhi laye

Aarti kejeye hanuman .......

Lanka so kot samudar se khai

Jat pavansut bar na layi

Aarti kejeye hanuman .......

Lanka jare asur saghare

Siyaramji ke kaaj shavare

Aarti kejeye hanuman ......

. Laxman murchit pade sakare

Aani sanjeevan pran ubhare

Aarti kejeye hanuman .........

Pethi patal tori jam-kare

Aahiravan ki bhuja ukhare

Aarti kejeye hanuman .......

Baye bhuja asurdal mare

Dahiye bhuja santjan tare

Aarti kejeye hanuman ......

Sur nar muni aarti utare

Jai jai jai hanuman uchare

Aarti kejeye hanuman .......

Kanchan thal kapor loo chayi

Aarti karat anjani mai

Aarti kejeye hanuman .........

Jo hanuman ji ke aarti gavey

Basi baykunt param pad pavey

Aarti kejeye hanuman ..........