India Travel

Nasik Accommodation in Maharashtra

Related Properties from Gurgaon

Pandav Lena in Maharashtra

Halfway up one of the precipitous conical hills that overlook the Mumbai—Agra road, 8km southwest of Nasik, is a small group of 24 rock-cut caves, some dating from the first century BC. The Pandav Lena site is famous for its well-preserved inscriptions in the ancient Pali language, and fine ancient stone sculpture. Access to Pandav Lena is via a steep and uneven path. The caves themselves are numbered from right to left in chronological order - start with Cave 18, left of the entrance. This small chaitya hall has a striking facade, with two leaf-shaped arches encasing auspicious Buddhist symbols. The

Nasik Practicalities in Maharashtra

Buses from Mumbai pull in at the Mahamarga bus stand, a ten-minute rickshaw ride from the city centre. Aurangabad buses terminate at the chaotic central City bus stand, an easy walk from several cheap hotels and restaurants. Arrival by train is more problematic, as the railway station, on Nasik Road, lies 8km southeast. Buses meet incoming trains, but they tend to be sporadic or packed. Luckily, there is no shortage of shared taxis and auto-rickshaws. If you plan to leave Nasik by train, particularly at a weekend when the city booking counter, off MG Road (Mon-Fri 10am—5pm) is closed, reserve

Nasik and around in Maharashtra

Lying at the head of the main pass through the dark eroded hills of the Western Chats, NASIK makes an interesting stopover on the lengthy journey to or from Mumbai, 187km southwest. From the grim barrage of industrial estates, hoardings, dhabas and general conurbation creeping along its ring road, you'd be forgiven for thinking the city holds no interest for anyone other than truckers and travelling salesmen. However, this is one of the tour sites of the world's largest religious gatherings, the Kumbh Mela, held at different locations in India every three years: Nasik holds the next one in late

Pandav caves, Fairy Pool and Big Falls in Madhya Pradesh

A two-to-three-hour walk around the eastern fringes of the plateau strings together a small cluster of interesting sights. First head up to the Pauch Patidav, or Pandav caves (40min). which occupy a knobbly sandstone hillock just east of the road between the ATC cantonment and the petrol pump. Hindu mythology tells that these five (panrft) simple cells (marlti), from which the name Pachmarhi derives, sheltered the famous Pandava brothers of Mahahbarata tame during their thirteen-year exile. Archeologists however maintain that the bare stone chambers and pillared verandas were excavated by a group of Buddhist monks around the

Caves 17 to 29 of Ellora in Maharashtra

Only three of the Hindu caves strung along the hillside north of the Kaiiash temple are worth making the effort to visit. Cave 21 - the Ramesvara - was excavated late in the sixth century. Thought to be the oldest Hindu cave at Ellora, it harbours some well-executed sculpture, including a fine pair of river goddesses on either side of the veranda, two wonderful door guardians and some sensuous loving couples, or mithunas, dotted around the walls of the balcony. Look out, too, for the superb panels featuring Shiva and Parvati. Cave 25, further along, contains a striking image of

Lonar Practicalities in Maharashtra

The easiest way to get to Lonar is by taxi from Aurangabad or jalgaon which from either costs around Rsl500 return for a day-trip or Rs2000 overnight. Otherwise, take the state bus either from Aurangabad to Jalna, then on to Sindkund Raja, and lastly change onto a bus for Lonar - though this takes five to eight hours. You can also go direct from Fardapur to Lonar on an early-morning bus. The only accommodation at Lonar itself is at the PWD Bungalow (O), where die MTDC rents out three rooms, though it may close down when their new resort opens -

Practicalities Khauldabad in Maharashtra

MSRTC buses pull in every half-hour or so at Rauza's small bus stand, a short walk west of the walls, en route between Aurangabad and the Ellora caves just down the hill. There is no accommodation in Khauldabad, so you should press on to Ellora or Aurangabad. If the prospect of eating in one of the sweet shops and chai stalls in Rauza's main bazaar doesn't appeal, you'll have to wait until you get to Ellora.

Southern Maharashtra

Most tourists heading south from Mumbai skip southern Maharashtra, but if you have a little time you can break up the journey and ease the burden of covering vast distances. Pune retains its Maratha character, in the old quarter at least, and also boasts a unique museum; some may also be attracted by its much-dended Osho Commune. Hill stations such as Matheran provide coolness, wooded walks and fine views, while the Konkan coast has little-visited beaches and forts that make a pleasant journey down to Goa. From Lonavala, you can get to see the earliest Buddhist rock-cut art in the

Practicalities for Daulatabad (Deogiri) in Maharashtra

If you're not on a guided tour, it's recommended that you hire a guide (Rs80) as the passages of the fort are pitch-black and hopelessly confusing otherwise. Although Daulatabad features on the MTDC guided tour of Ellora from Aurangabad (see p.796), you'll have more time to enjoy it by travelling there on one of the hourly shuttle buses between Aurangabad and the caves. From Daulatabad, it is easy to catch another bus onto Khuldabad and Ellora. The stop is directly opposite the main entrance to the fort, beside the string of chai and souvenir stalls and the good, small MTDC-run

Panchalesvara cave in Southern Maharashtra

The Panchalesvara cave, to the west of town, just across the River Mula, lies in a rather surprising urban setting at the northern end of busy Jungli Maharaj Road (buses #4, #16 or #98). Hewn from rock in the same manner as the more elaborate examples elsewhere in Maharashtra, the cave dates from the Rashtrakuta period (eighth-ninth centuries). Steps lead from the pavement to a path which ends in a square courtyard and a circular roofed Nandi enclosure. Beyond it, the roughly excavated cave, with broad, square, plain pillars, is unfinished, bearing numerous chisel marks, and yet appears to have

Nagpur Practicalities in Maharashtra

Nagpur's busy central mainline railway station, Nagpur junction, is a short auto-rickshaw ride from the main hotel and market districts along Central Ave. MSRTC buses pull in at the State bus stand, a further 1500m southeast of the railway station. Buses to and from Madhya Pradesh use the smaller MPSRTC bus stand, five minutes' walk south down the main road outside the station. The MTDC tourist o6fice (10am-6pm;3)0712/529325) opposite the Hardeo Hotel on Dr Munje Margi Road, can book other MTDC accommodation but will disappoint if you're seeking specific information relating to Nagpur. At the helpful MPTDC tourist office, on the

Shaniwarwada Palace in Southern Maharashtra

In the centre of the oldest part of town, only the imposing high walls of the Shaniwarwada Palace (daily 8am—noon & 2—6pm; Rs2) survived three fires 111 the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.The palace, founded by the Peshwa ruler Bajrao I in 1730 and the chief residence of the Peshwas until the British arrived in 1817, has little to excite interest today. Entrance is through the Delhi gate on the northside, one of five set into the perimeter wall, whose huge teak doors come complete with nasty elephant-proof spikes. Just inside, faded murals show Ganapati, Vishnu and scenes from the Ramayana.

Ganapatipuli in Southern Maharashtra

Two hundred and fifteen kilometres south of Marud-janjira brings you to the tiny village of GANAPATIPULI, which has a long, golden sandy beach and a very fine Ganapati temple. Although attracting thousands of Indian pilgrims each year, this sleepy place sees relatively few foreign visitors with most of the tourists being honeymooners from Mumbai. The temple is built around a Ganapati omnar, a naturally formed — though not strictly accurate — image of the god. Built in 1923, the temple has some very fine carvings including 47 sculptures of Ganapati variants around the outside. If you're interested, the friendly brahmin

Lonavala Accommodation in Southern Maharashtra

Lonavala has a wide range of accommodation, from very cheap to five-star; many of its hotels lower their rates out of season (Oct—March) or for longer stays or weekdays. Budget and mid-range places are concentrated in the centre, by the bus and railway stations. Adarsh, behind the bus stand on Shivaji Road 02114/72353. Spotless a/c and non-a/c rooms some overlooking a central courtyard. Dependable mid-range option, but the management aren't very welcoming and early mornings are noisy. Chandra lok, Shivaji Road 02114/72294. Clean, comfortable rooms witli shower-toilets, 24hr hot water, friendly staff and excellent Gujarati restaurant. The economy room is

Nagpur Eating in Maharashtra

While Nagpur's swish hotels, such as the Hardeo and jagson's Regency, boast the majority of its top gourmet restaurants, a number of smaller, less pretentious places to eat around Central Avenue and Sitabuldi offer excellent food at a fraction of the cost.

Sevagram Practicalities in Maharashtra

Half-hourly, jam-packed local buses run from Wardha - on the Central Railway and accessible from Mumbai (759km) - to the crossroads outside the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital, from where it's a two-kilometre walk to the ashram. Do yourself a favour and catch a shared taxi (RslO) from outside the chaotic bus stand. There are frequent "express" buses from Nagpurs MSRTC bus stand, 77km northeast, to Wardha (2hr). Accommodation is limited to the ashram's own Yatri Niwas (07125/2172; donations) a basic but spotless hostel for those staying at the ashram - it is not really a hotel, but phone to see what they

Bodhgaya Accommodation: hotels

Buddha International 3 0631/400506- In the south of town near the Indosan Japanese temple, With an impressive lobby and nice lawn it's pleas-art but pricey. Buddha Vihar, Bihar Tourist Complex t 0631/400445. Cheap three- four- and six-bed dorm accommodation Embassy, opposite the Nepalese temple S 0631/400711. Reasonable rooms and rooftop views, but a little expensive for what you get. ITDC Bodhgaya Ashok, near the museum -i~ 0631/400700. Comfortable bungalow-type accommodation with a pleasant lawn, an upmarket restaurant and several in-house facilities including a travel desk.

Mahabaleshwar in Southern Maharashtra

MAHABALESHWAR. 250km southeast of Mumbai and the most visited hill resort in Maharashtra, is most easily reached from Pune (120km northeast).The highest point in the Western Ghats (1372m), it is subject to extraordinarily extreme weather conditions. The start of June brings heavy mists and a dramatic drop in temperature, followed by a deluge of biblical proportions: up to seven metres of rain can fall in the hundred days up to the end of September. As a result, tourists only come here between November and May; during April and May, at the height of summer, the place is packed. The main attraction

Accommodation price codes of Ladakh

All accommodation prices in this book have been categorized using the price codes below. Prices given are for a double room, and all taxes are included, for more details. OuptoRs100 Rs30CMOO Rs900-1500 R3100-200 Rs400-600 Rs1500-2500 Rs200-300 Rs600-900

Cave 12 of Ellora in Maharashtra

Next door - the Tin Tal. or ''three floors" - is another triple-storeyed vihara approached via a large open courtyard. Again, the main highlights are on the uppermost level, once used for teaching and meditation.The shrine room at the end of the hall, whose walls are lined with five large bod-hisatwas, is flanked on both sides by seven Buddhas - one for each of the Master's previous incarnations. Those on the left are shown in deep meditation, while those to the right are once more depicted m the mudra that signifies the "Miracle of a Thousand Buddhas".