Everyday is a journey, and the journey itself is home!
A clever saying to start the blog.
With leaves and time at our disposal we decided to do an early winter drive across length of Maharashtra, just for the heck of it. Also there was a hidden agenda: to bring sacks of rice from our fields in Niharwani (maternal village near Nagpur).
This travelogue is categorized across days to make it easy on the brain and eyes.
Day 1.. Onset:
We left from home all packed and loaded, all in all 4 of us , Mom-Dad, Wife and Me, started on Dushera. I had already washed our car in the morning and then we decked it up with a huge marigold haar.
Picked up Sasu ma from airport, and off we went to our Sanskaari trip
We drove pretty slow, stopping at multiple points and wasting too much time. Google Maps (read google devta) drove us through really scenic fields and some sparsely populated villages.
Reached Shirdi in scorching heat.
Since it was day one of Sai Baba centenary year, the temple was crawling with devotees. Done with the Mukh-darshan within few hours and we gulped down cups of Naturals ice-cream to cool down.
Off we were to Aurangabad, stopped at a nice looking restaurant in mid of fields, with lot of free space, with nice romantic songs. My wife went into her imagination world and started asking me for a dance on the "Dance in the rain" from "Kuch kuch hota hai" movie.
Surprisingly it was the first day of this restaurant and we were the very first customers.
After a great lunch we sit back again to leave for Aurangabad. I managed to drop my spectacles some how and keep driving the whole leg without glasses.
Stopping & eating we arrive in Aurangabad after Sunset and go straight for the historic monuments.
Then we drive straight to see the Mini Tajmahal or Biwi ka Maqbara. There is an interesting story behind its origin.
Found hotel and crashed after dinner ...
Day 2 :
Checked out from hotel and carefully stacked luggage in the car. Managed to free up the sixth seat for my sister Manasi. Surprisingly all luggage along with the 6 occupants were amazingly comfortable in the car.
Off we drove to Ellora Caves in scorching heat.
Ellora is a cave admirers paradise, it is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple caves complexes in the world. The site presents monuments and artwork of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, a perfect example of ancient Indian secularism.
The temple complex is the largest rock cut structure in the world and is quite an amazing site. Best visit during a cold day.
Tired after the whole excursion we found refuge in MTDC and had most sumptuous lunch
Dropped lil sis back to her place in aurangabad and off we drove away to Nagpur. But since heat had already drained half of our energy and it was already quite dark we decided to take a halt midway and managed to find a super decent lodging
Lights out
Day 3
So last night we halted at Sindkhed the birth place of Jijabai ( Shivajis Mother). In morning we realized that there were few monuments in memory of Jijabai, we drove quickly to check them out. Could not enter these monuments as they were locked and so we drove straight out again.
Next stop food
Managed to find another decent highway restaurant for breakfast
The latter journey took us through jungles and plains, we made multiple stops for sitafal (Custardapple) shopping festival. Total combines we must have shopped at-least 8-9 kg of Sitafal!
Managed to reach Nagpur in day light . Dinner at Mamas house.
Day 4
Home food and off to Deekhsa bhoomi.
PIt stop 2: Dragon Palace
PIt stop 3: Chai break under the tree
PIt stop 4: Desi thali
Land in village in daylight and breath in the fresh air
Day 5
Off to fields .. all 7 seats occupied
Next to jhiri .. natural water spring atop a small mountain
Day 6
Car loaded with 110 kg of rice sacks, 30 kg of Jowar, a tea table and luggage of 5 full adults we start from village early morning ..
Rushing to Ajanta in order to make it before 4 PM
Reach the spot just to realise that it was a view point rather than the actual caves. WE smile for pics anyways.
And start again for another half an hour journey through ghats to reach the caves and rush in to board the last shuttle bus to the caves.
Ajanta to our utter dissappointment was filthy, unmanaged and unorganized. Appeared to be just opposite of Ellora in arrangements. Anyways we push forward to the main caves as the guards remind us of time remaining before cave closure.
Done with the caves we had some ice-cream and plan our next steps along the journey. We were been driving for the last 12 hours non stop and were desperately tired and hungry.
Checked 2-3 hotels on the way and finally setteled in one lodge.
It had amazing food. Still remember the tandoori bhakari and matki masala.
Crash for the day and let the car cool down.
Day 7
Remaining 340 KM to be covered at ease we wake up after 9 and go easy on the day.
start from hotel around 10 but soon come back driving almost 10 -12 Km because we forgot to pay the chai wala we took chai from ...
On the road again we start again on our voyage.
Weather on our side on this day.
Reach home around 7 pm after shopping and braving the tough pune suburban traffic. We are thankful for a fulfilling road trip and plan for the next one. Love for my TUV deepens through the journey. :)
A clever saying to start the blog.
With leaves and time at our disposal we decided to do an early winter drive across length of Maharashtra, just for the heck of it. Also there was a hidden agenda: to bring sacks of rice from our fields in Niharwani (maternal village near Nagpur).
This travelogue is categorized across days to make it easy on the brain and eyes.
Day 1.. Onset:
We left from home all packed and loaded, all in all 4 of us , Mom-Dad, Wife and Me, started on Dushera. I had already washed our car in the morning and then we decked it up with a huge marigold haar.
 |
| Our beloved & the Driver |
Picked up Sasu ma from airport, and off we went to our Sanskaari trip
We drove pretty slow, stopping at multiple points and wasting too much time. Google Maps (read google devta) drove us through really scenic fields and some sparsely populated villages.
 |
| Pomegranate fields on the way to Shirdi |
Reached Shirdi in scorching heat.
Since it was day one of Sai Baba centenary year, the temple was crawling with devotees. Done with the Mukh-darshan within few hours and we gulped down cups of Naturals ice-cream to cool down.
Off we were to Aurangabad, stopped at a nice looking restaurant in mid of fields, with lot of free space, with nice romantic songs. My wife went into her imagination world and started asking me for a dance on the "Dance in the rain" from "Kuch kuch hota hai" movie.
Surprisingly it was the first day of this restaurant and we were the very first customers.
 |
| Nice airy restaurant for Lunch... we were the very first customers on its opening day !! |
Stopping & eating we arrive in Aurangabad after Sunset and go straight for the historic monuments.
 |
| Panchakki- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchakki |
 |
| Mosque at Panchakki |
 |
| Aurangabad is known the "City of Gates". One out of the 52 such across city |
Found hotel and crashed after dinner ...
Day 2 :
Checked out from hotel and carefully stacked luggage in the car. Managed to free up the sixth seat for my sister Manasi. Surprisingly all luggage along with the 6 occupants were amazingly comfortable in the car.
Off we drove to Ellora Caves in scorching heat.
Ellora is a cave admirers paradise, it is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple caves complexes in the world. The site presents monuments and artwork of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, a perfect example of ancient Indian secularism.
The temple complex is the largest rock cut structure in the world and is quite an amazing site. Best visit during a cold day.
 |
| God himseilf |
 |
| Kailashnath- the largest rock cut complex |
 |
| Some unfinished caves |
 |
| Unfinished but spectacular part of Jain caves |
 |
| Godess herself |
 |
| The enthusiastic tourists among us |
Tired after the whole excursion we found refuge in MTDC and had most sumptuous lunch
 |
| One of the many beautiful Sunset Shots |
Dropped lil sis back to her place in aurangabad and off we drove away to Nagpur. But since heat had already drained half of our energy and it was already quite dark we decided to take a halt midway and managed to find a super decent lodging
Lights out
Day 3
So last night we halted at Sindkhed the birth place of Jijabai ( Shivajis Mother). In morning we realized that there were few monuments in memory of Jijabai, we drove quickly to check them out. Could not enter these monuments as they were locked and so we drove straight out again.
Next stop food
Managed to find another decent highway restaurant for breakfast
The latter journey took us through jungles and plains, we made multiple stops for sitafal (Custardapple) shopping festival. Total combines we must have shopped at-least 8-9 kg of Sitafal!
Managed to reach Nagpur in day light . Dinner at Mamas house.
Day 4
Home food and off to Deekhsa bhoomi.
PIt stop 2: Dragon Palace
PIt stop 3: Chai break under the tree
PIt stop 4: Desi thali
Land in village in daylight and breath in the fresh air
 |
| Calm evening at Village, Dad with Mama & Mami |
Day 5
Off to fields .. all 7 seats occupied
 |
| Our Rice fields |
 |
| My mothers school- Samrat Ashok Vidyalaya |
Next to jhiri .. natural water spring atop a small mountain
 |
| Natural water spring |
Day 6
Car loaded with 110 kg of rice sacks, 30 kg of Jowar, a tea table and luggage of 5 full adults we start from village early morning ..
Rushing to Ajanta in order to make it before 4 PM
Reach the spot just to realise that it was a view point rather than the actual caves. WE smile for pics anyways.
And start again for another half an hour journey through ghats to reach the caves and rush in to board the last shuttle bus to the caves.
Ajanta to our utter dissappointment was filthy, unmanaged and unorganized. Appeared to be just opposite of Ellora in arrangements. Anyways we push forward to the main caves as the guards remind us of time remaining before cave closure.
 |
| Ajanta Caves across the curve |
 |
| One of the many paintings inside Ajanta Cave |
 |
| Trace of the River Waghur |
 |
| The amazing Buddhist Stupa |
Done with the caves we had some ice-cream and plan our next steps along the journey. We were been driving for the last 12 hours non stop and were desperately tired and hungry.
Checked 2-3 hotels on the way and finally setteled in one lodge.
It had amazing food. Still remember the tandoori bhakari and matki masala.
Crash for the day and let the car cool down.
Day 7
Remaining 340 KM to be covered at ease we wake up after 9 and go easy on the day.
start from hotel around 10 but soon come back driving almost 10 -12 Km because we forgot to pay the chai wala we took chai from ...
On the road again we start again on our voyage.
Weather on our side on this day.
Reach home around 7 pm after shopping and braving the tough pune suburban traffic. We are thankful for a fulfilling road trip and plan for the next one. Love for my TUV deepens through the journey. :)
Nicely written! Crisp and precise. Loved it.
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