Konkan Calling

Konkan Calling

If we feel that life getting unrealistically fast and furious, here is a good place away. A place so far away that it even makes one forget the meaning of fast life, targets, deadlines, appraisals and so many more words and phrases which take away the blissful happiness from mankind. A place which is so laid back that people yawn before giving you directions.

 Konkan is “Gods own country” in all senses. In terms of geography it has two natural boundaries, the Western Ghats on the east side and the Arabian Sea on the west side.  In terms of natural bounty the region has some of the most precious natural offerings like Beatle nuts, Coconuts, Kokum, Cashews, Sea food, the famous Alphonso or locally called “ hafuz” mangoes. In the early summers some trees are laden more with mangoes than the leaves. 

Konkan has Lavish, Pristine beauty. The beauty comes from It’s a thick green stretch, with number of untouched clean beaches coupled along with White sand, blue seas, green mountains, paddy fields, rivulets and Back waters. Apart from natures Marvels the Konkan region is also home to some of amazing forts built on sea shores and in the Sea. 

 The Anjanvel Light House

  Vijaydurg Fort

Vijaydurg Fort

I just love driving around in narrow yet conditioned roads in Konkan. There are countless sleepy little Konkani villages with thatch houses and lush green fields all the way till the horizon and every village having a Famous Ganpati Temple inside it. 

Most of the houses have typical Konkani ‘vaadi’, full of coconut trees in there back yards.  

If one is connoisseur of good food then Konkani food is not to be missed. The food is made with coconut grating forming the base of gravy with a good does of coriander powder. The Konkani food is Spicy, when I use word spicy I do not mean that food is hot and filled with Chilies. The word “Spicy” here means that one can actually gauge flavours of all the spices used in the gravy disticnly, yet making the gravy as smooth as Singing by Pandit Kumar Gandharv. 

Amba and Vishalgad

Location Guide:

60 KMs from Kolhapur on Ratnagiri road. From Amba city take Left  turn towards Vishalgad.

Going in to any of the fort, mountain tops, view points of western ghats just gives one message that its not the destination but the journey is more important.

 

Every time I have explored so much on en-route to my every trip to Ghats that my expectation level has increased so much and has developed an insatiable desire for exploring the ghats more and more.

 

 

 

This trip was meant to be trip to Vishalgad, but due to rains the culmination could not happen at the Vishalgad fort.

Sitting on the banks of Kasari Lake is an experience which will definitely test the writing skills of any of the travelogue writer.

Watching the Sunsets at the Kasari lake as been one of the most fulfilling and soulful moments of my life.

 

The Bhudargad Fort

Location Guide:

60 Kms from Kolhapur. Kolhapur to Gargoti, from Gargoti take the Gadhinglaj road and take a right turn as soon as the ghat finishes. 

On the way to Bhudargad fort there comes two small Hamlets and viewing landscapes of these hamlets from the top of the hill is a spell binding experience.

 

 

The History:

In 12th century King Bhoj built this fort. The most distinct  feature of this fort is the vision range in all the four direction.

In 1667 the fort was repaired and put in excellent order by Shivaji. Shortly after, it was captured by the Moghals. About five years later the fort was retaken, and the standard colours of the Moghal general who was killed in the conflict were presented to the temple of Bhairav where they are still kept. About the close of the eighteenth century Parsuram Bhau Patvardhan took the fort by bribing the garrison and held it for about ten years when it was retaken by the Kolhapur State.

 

 

 

In 1844, were dismantled under the advice of the Bombay Government, stands on a bluff rock thirty-six miles,south of Kolhapur. It is 2,600 feet from north to south and 2,100 feet from east to west, and is enclosed by a broken stone and mortar wall with two gateways.

In 1844 the garrisons of Bhudargad and Samangad revolted and closed their gates. On the 13th of October, 1844, Bhudargad was taken by British forces and dismantled.

The chief object of interest is the temple of Bhairav which is about 3,000 feet square and consists of a stone and cement shrine, a hall, and a northern verandah.This temple remains cool in all the seasons.

 

 

Dudhi Lake is a place to spend at least an hour.  We just sat there water touching our feet and along with it bringing calmness and peace to the mind.

Sight of Lake at Chikotra dam from the fort is a distinct view and even in haze the lake view strikes through.

This "Lemon Pancy " butterfly was a in full mood to cooperate for shooting.