Remaining EXCURSIONS

Murud Janjira
• Murud-Janjira is located 60 km away from Alibaug, Maharashtra.
This small village is on the top of a hillock. It is believed that the
rulers of Ahmednagar constructed the fort in the 15th century.
Despite the ravages of wind and tide, the fort is almost entirely
intact. This 300-year old fort is famous for its fine architecture.
• Murud is popular for its appealing beach, murmuring casuarinas,
coconut and betel palms and an ancient fort. The shrine of Lord
Dattatreya is near the fort on a hillock. The palace of the Nawab
and the Janjira caves are also worth visiting. The beaches of
Kashid and Nandgaon are in a few kilometers away from the fort.
• Nearest airport is at Mumbai (165 km), while nearest railway
station is at Roha. Regular ferry services are available from Ferry
Wharf up to Rewas (23 km). One needs to take a bus via Alibag
and Chaul after Rewas. There are also regular catamarans from
the Gateway of India in Mumbai going up to Mandwa.
 Shriwardhan Harihareshwar
• Shriwardhan - Harihareshwar is unexplored beach on the Konkan coastline.
Shriwardhan is a bay which the beach lovers would fall for. The adventurers can
even take a small boat to the north side of the bay and explore a land where the
Peshwas or prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom, originally resided.
• Shriwardhan - Harihareshwar is very popular for its sea food. The township of
Harihareshwar is known for its tranquil and serene beach. This beach is ideal place
for sun bathing and relaxing It is a beautiful and clean beach along the Konkan
coast. The temple of Lord Harihareshwar is also quite famous.
• This beach is also landmark by Kalbhairav-the Shiva Temple. Peshwa smarak and
the Bankot fort are just 4 km away from the beach. It is a must see place. Bankot
fort is located in a place called Bagmandala.
• Later it was re-constructed in 1723 by first Bajirao Peshwa. Idols of Brahma-
Vishnu- Mahesh and Devi Parvathi can be seen inside the temple. It can be
reached by rails and road. The nearest railhead is Mangoan on Konkan railway.
From Mumbai , the total distance to Shriwardhan - Harihareshwar is around 200
km. There also good hotels that provide services with modern amenities. Tents are
also made available , seasonally. One can get down at Shriwardhan and catch a
private cab or rickshaw to reach Harihareshwar .
 Velneshwar Beach

• Velneshwar is an ideal beach for swimming and sunbathing.

The green coconut palm grooves and rock free seawater make
the beach so beautiful and attractive. Despite, Velneshwar is a
small village, which is in the north of Shastri River, this beach is
quite famous.

Water sports are the frequent activities, which are carried out
here. There is also an old Shiva Temple, which is frequently
visited by tourists and pilgrims. Nearest railway station is at
Chiplun, while tourists can travel by road from Mumbai via
Chiplun and Guhagar, which is 370 km. One can stay at the
government resort, located near the beach.
 Nandi hills
• Nandi hills is a popular hangout for Bangalooreans. It is a hill
1478m above sea level. The attractions here include a garden
maintained by Horticultural department, Tipu's drop from
where Tipu used to kill his prisoners and a temple with a
thousand year old nandi statue. On the way to the hills there
are sunflower gardens and wine yards.
• Nandi Hills is 60km from Bangalore.
• There are many small shops selling snacks and cool drinks at
the top of the hill. There is KSTDC hotel at the top which can
be opted for food. They provide lodging also.
 Mekedatu (Goats Leap) Bangalore

• Mekedatu (Goats Leap), Bangalore is located 98 km from Bangalore, via

Kanakpura where the Kaveri River and Kollidam separate after their
confluence at the Sangama. This celebrated picnic spot is situated within the
limits of the Muggur forest. A narrow gorge where a goat can leap across the
river Cauvery has created an ideal picnic spot and it has come to be known as
Mekedatu (Goats Leap).
• At the Sangama where the two tributaries meet, there is a temple dedicated
to Sangameshwara. The celebrated Sivasamudram Falls is situated on the
upstream on the Kaveri.
• It the second biggest waterfall in India and the sixteenth largest in the world.
The gushing and cascading waterfall is bound to astonish any visitor. The
climb down is steep and the rocks slippery, making it very dangerous to swim
in the river.
• Trekking is very popular here. Sangama to Mekedatu is a popular route for
trekking here.
 Devarayanadurga

• Devarayanadurga
• Location of Devarayanadurga
in Karnataka and India
• Devarayanadurga (Kannada: ದೇವರಾಯನ ದುರ್ಗ) is a hill
station near Tumkur in the state of Karnataka in India. The
rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are
dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha
and the Bhoganarasimha temples and an altitude of 3940
feet. It is also famous for Namada Chilume, a natural spring
considered sacred and is also considered the origin of the
Jayamangali river. Another famous temple in the area is the
Mahalakshmi Temple at Goravanahalli.
 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
• Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is a bird watcher's paradise. It
is situated just 65 km southwest of Ahmedabad.
• The delightful bird sanctuary of Nalsarovar is located
around the Nal Lake. It was established in 1969 AD and
is spread over an area of 11,500 hectares.
• Nal Sarovar houses over 250 species of wetland birds.
There are also a number of species that migrate here
from north, mainly Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White
Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons. You can also enjoy
the serene sunsets or sunrises, while ferrying in the lake.
 The Adalaj Stepwell
• The Adalaj Stepwell Set in the quiet village of Adalaj, this vav has served as
a resting place for hundreds of years for many pilgrims and caravans along
their trade routes.
• Built in 1499 by Queen Rudabai, wife of the Vaghela chief, Veersinh, this
five-storey step well was not just a cultural and utilitarian space, but also a
spiritual refuge. It is believed that villagers would come everyday in the
morning to fill water, offer prayers to the deities carved into the walls and
interact with each other in the cool shade of the vav. However, direct
sunlight does not touch the flight of steps or landings except for a brief
period at noon. Another remarkable feature of this step well is that out of
the many stepwells in Gujarat, it is the only one with three entrance stairs.
• Fascinating to many visitors is the Ami Khumbor (a pot that contains the
water of life) and the Kalp Vriksha (a tree of life) carved out of a single slab
of stone. There is a belief that the small frieze of navagraha (nine-planets)
towards the edge of the well protects the monument from evil spirits.
 Indroda Nature park
• Indroda Dinosaur and Fossil Park is a precious treasure spread
over an area of about 400 hectares on either bank of Sabarmati
river in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat.
• It is considered to be the second largest hatchery of dinosaur eggs
in the world. Regarded as India's Jurrasic Park, it is run by the
Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation (GEER), and
is the only dinosaur museum in the country.
• The park consists of a zoo, massive skeletons of sea mammals like
the blue whale, as well as a vast botanical garden, amphitheatre,
interpretation center and camping facilities. It also has a
Wilderness Park which is home to innumerable species of birds,
reptiles, hundreds of nilgais, langurs and peafowls in its vast forest
 THOL LAKE BIRD SANCTUARY
• Thol lake bird sanctuary is a shallow freshwater body surrounded by marshes on
the edge and scrubby forest embarking the sides. The lake sanctuary covering an
area of 7 square kilometers was declared officially in 1988 and is also known by
the name of Thol Bird Sanctuary.
 
The shallow water reservoir speckled with reed beds gives it a distinct ambience
while being an ideal dwelling for varied species of birds and insects. One gets
overwhelmed with flocks of bird flying together and crating graphical patterns on
the sky while long-legged elongated necked cranes keep stalking for fishes and
small insects.
• Cranes, geese, flamingoes, pelicans, egrets, herons, spoonbills, ducks, whistling
teals and many other migratory birds nest and breed in the lap of this natures
exuberance. The most commonly noticed Indian Saras Crane with its long bare
legs, elongated head and red head gracefully pecks insects while walking around
the lake with dance like movements. This bird which flaunts the status of being
the tallest flying bird on earth is often see in pairs and has over centuries
inspired poets and artists with its elegance and beauty.
 Modhera
• 99 kms from Ahmedabad, the 11th century Sun temple of Modhera is easily
one of the finest examples of devotional in western India. Built by the Solanki
Rajput kings, the aid of donations from the people, the temple features carved
torana arches mounted on kirti stambhas (pillars of victory) as the entrances, a
large rectangular stepped with 108 smaller shrines, an exquisite 52 pillared
portico, beautiful domed central portion and a sanctum sanctoruim designed
so that the sun light fell on the bejewelled statue of the God, specially at
sunrise during the equinox.
• The exterior of temple is carved with traditional erotic scenes, rivalling at
Konark and Khajurao, and depictions of various Gods and, while inside are
friezes of the Mahabharata and portrayed on the pillars. The temple is framed
by a well garden, and sits on the banks of river Pushpawati. There is a cafeteria
here run by the Tourism corporation of India tea, and a PWD Guest House.
 Patan
• A fine example of the Solanki period architecture can be seen at Anahilwada
Patan, the capital of Gujarat from the 8th century till Ahmed Shah moved his seat
of power to the larger and more impressive citadel of Ahmedabad in the 15th
century.The greatest reminder of the golden period of Gujarat under the Solanki
kings can be seen at the Rani-ki-Vav step well some distance from the town
centre.
• Built in the 1050s and named for Rani Udamati, wife of Maharajah Bhim Deva
and daughter-in-law of Mulraja, founder of Solanki rule in Gujarat, the step well is
the oldest and perhaps the grandest among the 120 plus step wells in Gujarat. It's
massive size can best be measured by comparism with the tourists who descend
the steps and seen from above look little more than ants swarming an anthill.
• The step well was silted up for centuries, and only a major excavation and
restoration work in the 1980s, which has helped resuscitate something of its
former glory.7 storeys down to the water level. Steps are string-coursed by
sculpture of the Avatars of lord Vishnu, Hindu Goddesses, Jain idols and beautiful
apsaras. Behind the water are sculpture of lord Vishnu.