Cycling to Vandri Lake
Vandri Lake is a natural lake with a dam that raises its capacity. An idyllic spot for a long weekend ride or just a picnic with the family Read more →
Posts in Category ‘Photography’
Photography is a new discovery for me, and largely due to the excellent camera of the iPhone. I like to enjoy the places I visit, and there are some things I see that I just have to capture so that I can revisit them again and again. However, I like to admire good photographs, and I have an excellent photographer – now two – in my family.
Cycling to Pelhar Lake and Dam – an idyllic weekend ride!
Pelhar Lake is located just off the National Highway 8 towards the east at Vasai. Surrounded by gentle hills of the Tungareshwar National Park. A perfect destination for a weekend cycling ride from Mumbai! Read more →
Cycling to Banganga Tank and Walkeshwar Temple
Banganga Tank and the various temples around it called Walkeshwar Temples are some of the oldest historical sites in the city of Mumbai, built when the Shilaras ruled northern Konkan. It is a great destination for a weekend cycle ride Read more →
Cycling to Kondhane (Kondane) Caves
Kondhane caves are just 15 kms from Karjat, and a great place to visit. But if you cycle from Mumbai, there is a great route with off-road sections and beautiful views of two lakes. The caves themselves are exquisite, and have the same architecture as the Bhaja caves near Lonavala. Read more →
Revisiting Madh Fort (Versova Fort)
Madh fort is located on Madh island, just across from Versova over the creek. Also called Versova fort, it is normally closed to visitors but we were lucky to be able to enter it thanks to a film crew that had opened it for shooting a television serial. Read more →
Riwa Fort or Kala Killa – hidden in the slums of Dharavi
Dharavi is known as one of the largest slums in the world, but hidden at one end in it is Riwa Fort (Kala Killa) with a mysterious secret tunnel inside it – a perfect cycling destination! Read more →
Kamandurg – an ancient fort near Vasai
Tungareshwar is a well known temple and a weekend getaway near Vasai that is also a nice and easy trek. But there is another little known trekking destination – an ancient fort called Kamandurg. An ideal destination for a cycling cum trekking expedition that provides some nice off-road patches and a trek that passes through some dense forests to provide a wonderful view of the Vasai plains with the Ulhas river meandering towards Vasai creek. Read more →
Cycling to Jawhar Fort and Jai Vilas Palace
Jawhar is a small hill station near Mumbai (166km) and Nashik (80 km). The special attraction of Jawhar is the historical fort and palace of Yashwant Rao Mukne that still stands proud amidst a plantation of cashew-nut trees. Ideal for a cycling expedition from Mumbai or Nashik. Read more →
Goecha La Trek – experiencing Sikkim at its best
To really experience Sikkim, do one of the high altitude treks in it’s mountains – the Kanchenjunga Trekking Trail that leads from Yuksom to the Goecha La pass Read more →
One Day Visit to Sedona and Grand Canyon
A one day visit from Phoenix, Arizona to the Grand Canyon, while passing through Sedona was a great way to spend a Sunday while I was there on a business visit last month Read more →
Cycling to Barvi Dam and Lake – Bird Watching Paradise
Barvi Lake located 90 km from Mumbai between Badlapur and Murbad is an excellent destination for a cycling expedition combined with some amazing bird watching! Read more →
Trek to Takmak Fort – a story of the boy and his dog
Takmak fort is a medium grade trek on a 2000 ft hill near Virar, 50 km from Mumbai. Fabulous views of the plains with Vaitarna-Tansa confluence and Vandri lake Read more →
Cycling to Uran – Dronagiri Hill Fort – Migratory Birds
Uran is a fishing village 90 km south of Mumbai and has a lesser known Dronagiri fort – also enroute see migratory water birds at Airoli and Ranjanpada Read more →
Cycling to Nalasopara – Buddhist Stupa and Chakreshwar Mahadev Temple
Nala Sopara or Shurparaka was a major cultural center since 1500 BC. The Chakreshwar Mahadev Temple and the Buddhist Stupa are scanty evidence of its past glory Read more →
Cycling from Mandwa to Murud – Janjira Fort and Khokari Tombs
One of the most scenic cycling routes along the Konkan coast from Mandwa jetty to Murud culminating in Janjira Fort and the Khokari Tombs – and beaches all along Read more →
Dealing with a teenage kid is learning to be an adult
I learned that the most difficult part of bringing up a teenage son is to accept the transformation from a boy to a man – not only in the kid but in yourself Read more →
Cycling to Sewri Docks and Sewri Fort
Sewri on the east coast of Mumbai island is a great place to catch the sunrise, and flamingoes on the mud flats. And not to miss a visit to Sewri Fort! Read more →
Cycling to Korlai Fort – Morro de Chaul
Korlai Fort is a picturesque Portuguese fort at the mouth of the Kundalika river near Revdanda on a hill jutting out in the sea called Morro de Chaul Read more →
OxFam Trailwalker 2013 – an experience of a lifetime!
OxFam Trailwalker 100 km completed in 30:58 hours! Saw beautiful countryside around Mulshi lake, trekked through Tamhini hills, open meadows and dense forests! Read more →
Cycling to Ambernath Shiva Temple (Ambreshwar)
Located within 50 km of Mumbai, nestled in the fast growing town of Ambernath near Kalyan, is magnificent Shiva Temple that has some exquisite stone carvings preserved through the ages Read more →
Cycling from Bangalore to Manchanbele Reservoir via Big Banyan Tree
During my visit to Bangalore in September to speak at a big data conference, I took the opportunity to do some cycling on the following day, as it happened to be a Saturday. I did a bit of research to … Read more →
Cycling to Bhaucha Dhakka or Ferry Wharf, Mazgaon
After a day spent in the hills checking out the route for our OxFam trail, while driving back to Mumbai I got a call from good friend Rakesh Bakshi asking if I was interested in cycling to the docks early … Read more →
OxFam Trail Recce – walking through Tamhini hills and around Mulshi lake
This weekend three of the “Walking Souls” team – myself, Gautam and Swati – went to recce the trail that we are to follow during the 100km OxFam walkathon in November. We drove down to the starting point via Kolad, … Read more →
Walking in Mumbai – a new perspective
While walking through Mumbai during my practice for OxFam Trailwalker 100 km walkathon next month, I saw Mumbai in a different light – at the pace of walking, you get to see many things that are normally not visible when … Read more →
Trek to Harishchandragad and Kokankada – spectacular route and views
4,691 feet above sea-level, with ruined fortifications and ancient caves tracing back to the Microlithic age, Harishchandragad fort is a perfect trekking destination in the Sahyadris. There are several different paths up to the fort. There two routes to reach … Read more →