Backpacker in Action : Velaas

DiveAagar
Friday
1400hrs.

Almost done with my work of the day .

Friday
1410hrs.

Blog completed yet to be updated , but no GPRS coverage for Idea Cellular Service , task pending . Lot of time in hand to spend .


Friday
1415hrs.

Difficult to stop mind & body . Strong wish to visit nearby village ' Velaas ' .

Friday
1420hrs.

Uncontrollably picked up my bag , put in two biscuit packs & chilled water bottle , fully charged Omnia along . Some cash , almost Rs . 100/- .

Friday
1425hrs.

Slopping SPF 30 . Shoes on . Rayban covering eyes . No cap .

Friday
1430hrs.

Out on road, towards auto stand - DiveAagar.

Friday
1435hrs.

Oops , no auto available . Waiting .

Friday
1440hrs.

Auto arrived but asking Rs. 200 return trip to Velaas . Seems to be costlier . Rejected .

Friday
1445hrs.

Six seater arrived . Place available to just seat in . Ok . Now almost 1 KM to travel towards Borli . Road , not good but it is what road is in rural India .

Friday
1455hrs.

Got down . Just Rs . 5 charged . Now have to ask for auto to Velaas .

Friday
1500hrs.

In auto . Road , again the same story .

Friday
1515hrs.

Auto stopped . Paid Rs . 15 . Opened up google map . Checking for roads . Analysing village structure .

Friday
1520hrs.

Selected a road . Started walking . Everything unknown . Small homes amidst countless coconut trees . Full dark greenery with cold .

Friday
1525hrs.

A school passing by left side . Let me have a snap . Two of the classes are without teachers .

Friday
1530hrs.

Feeling thirsty . Taking bottle out . Having some cold sips . Nice houses on both the sides of road .

Friday
1535hrs.

Road getting converted to a small sandy path . Indicator , beach ahead . Google maps confirming .

Friday
1540hrs.

Oh , what a view . DiveAagar beach at opposite end . Yesterday , I came to same spot riding boat .

Friday
1545hrs.

Trying to cross the backwater and reach DiveAagar , but seems to be impossible . Wet sand crossing , almost a deadly experience .

Friday
1550hrs.

Decided to take a round across Velaas beach .

Friday
1555hrs.

Taking snaps .

Friday
1600hrs.

Sun still not giving comfort to relax . Strong sunlight on beach . Extremely clean beach . Only one road from village to come on beach . Google maps helping .

Friday
1620hrs.

Decided to walk back towards auto stand . Very small road passing through coconut trees .

Friday
1625hrs.

Red chillies found out side a home . Put in sunlight , for drying purpose . Asked permission to take a snap . Ladies sitting along found astonished , when I photographed red chillies and not them .

Friday
1630hrs.

Nice walk . Thirsty . Got myself watered . Nice small houses , hidden behind coconut trees .

Friday
1640hrs.

Back to auto stand . Waiting for auto . Villagers strangely staring . Only small shop in front . Asking for aerated cold drink . Shop keeper honestly told , he has locally bottled drinks . Plan dropped .


Friday
1650hrs.

Auto . Back to Borli . Cost Rs . 7 . Spending some time at market place .

Friday
1705hrs.

Caught auto to DiveAagar .

Friday
1720hrs.

Auto ride cost Rs. 20 .

Friday
1725hrs.

Life found nourished and enriched . Nice time in life . Once again .

Around Pune :Raamdaraa .

Local people and google helped me to choose the destination for the evening .

Few kilometres away from farmhouse , this is the place , called Raamdaraa . I took a turn at Loni on Solapur Rd. & drove as per google maps .

Omnia is always a great help .

The not so good road , took various shapes and sizes . It was a rural India , purely agro based . Various grains and grown up vegetables along both the sides of road . Driving was fun .

Finally admist hills , along side of a small pond , surrounded by lush green tall trees , here comes the famous Raamdaraa Temple .

Extremely NO crowd . Full of silence . Stunning location . A place for perfect meditation . It was almost 1745hrs . I started exploring temple . Neat & clean place , certainly a surprising thing .

No tea stalls , no parking charges , much away from commercialisation and yes all this abundant nature , absolutely free of cost too.

Around Pune : Bhuleshwar .

Around 45 KMs from Pune , on Solapur highway , search for Bhuleshwar on right side after hotel Kanchan .

Read the board , turn right , travel almost 9KMs on bad road , climb a small ghat almost 200 mtrs in height . Take a final right turn on top . Yes right , what you are seeing is a Bhuleshwar temple .

Park your vehicle and start climbing steps , you have reached to 13th century constructed temple .

It shall take around two hours to explore the temple carefully .

Photograph is just to give you an idea , rest is left for you to explore , trust me it's worth .

Local people will tell you a story of " Goddess Parvati danced for Lord Shiva here , thereafter they went to Kailash Parvat and got married "

Very few Tawny Eagles , found migrated from Pakistan and Himalayas during my visit last week .

Carry water bottle , food , binocular , sun glasses , cap , sun screen lotion . Oh and remember , you will not get any eatables or hot / cold beverages here .

This place is far away from commercialization .