“BHANDARA HILL NEAR PUNE”

Bhandara .....

What this place is all about – Bhandara is the small hill blessed with natural beauty. This is spiritual place on Chakan – Talegaon road. The spiritual gems of Maharashtra soil, Sant Tukaram invented many Abhang at this place. Abhang or Abhanga is a form of devotional poetry to praise Hindu god Vitthal. Sant Tukaram used to come on this hill to get homogenized with GOD Vitthal.

How to reach at this place –

Since this place is on the way of Chakan Talegaon road, one can get the Auto either from Talegaon or from Chakan to reach at this place. Here are the driving directions.

View Larger Map

How and what to see at this places –

Being very near to my home, I used to visit this place atleast twice a year. I have visited this place in summer, rainy days and winter too. If you would like to spend some time relax and alone, then this is the perfect place. Now a day’s government had made very nice road to reach at the top of this place. Once you reach at the top, huge car parking land is available. Then people used to visit a Sant Tukaram Maharaj temple on the hill top and then enjoy the surrounding nature.

From the hill top you can get great view of Pimpri Chinchwad City, Talegaon. Spread of the city can be judged only after visiting this place. During night time, the view is spectacular. From hill top, at the backside of temple, a great view of Jadhvwadi Dam can be seen. Some of the bikers used to go to Jadhavwadi dam for off-road riding. Being very small dam you can enter in to dam water and enjoy safely.

Being this as important religious place, proper parking area, stay options, water and light facility is available here. People used to come here for trekking during weekends and get refreshed. Also those who are on pilgrimage tour used to visit Dehu and Bhandara hill as well. During Ashadhi Wari, many pilgrims from all over the Maharashtra used to stay on this hill before proceeding for the Pandharpur.

On the way to hill top people used to stop at various places to take some beautiful photos of surrounding nature. This is very good weekend getaways near Pune. During rainy season, flora, surrounding greenery and small waterfall’s here adds to the beauty of this place and make sure you return to this place again and again. Avoid visiting this place during heavy rain falls.

Nearby Places –

•    Bhamchandra Hills – This is also a one of the hill where Sant Tukaram invented many Abhang at this place. This is very near to Bhamdara.
•    Dehu Temple – Sant Tukaram Mahraj’s temple
•  Gatha Mandir (Temple)- Newly constructed Gatha Mandir get everybody’s attention visiting Dehu. 

k   - महेश  आवटे 

“QUICK TRIP TO PANCHGANI, WAI AND MAPRO GARDEN”

Phone ring and call from friend that are you free on 1^st ….. ammm.. Yep I am free and its holiday …. I said. How about one day trip to Mahabaleshwar Mapro garden… From that side voice. I said why not…

Plan fixed and on early morning with my family we started journey towards Panchgani. First stop was at my friends house.. 1 hour drive from mine. Had wonderful Gajar Halwa and High tea …. All other friends with their families gathered there and we started journey from there at about 10.30 am. Its on Pune banglore highway. We had to stop at toll plaza for 10 minutes to pay the toll at Khed Shivapur. From there we started and stopped for quick breakfast at nice hotel to eat delicious Wada Pav. Very good hotel on the road and nice food.

Road to Panchgani and Mahableshwar is awesome. Highways till Surur and then you have to take right turn towards Panchgani. Road signs are visible and clear. On the Banglore highway after crossing Khabataki ghat there is village named Surur where you have to leave the highway and take the turn. Then the road thereafter is two way so our vehicle speed went down.

Driving Directions -

View Larger Map

Since we were not in hurry, we enjoyed road side scenery and nice drive from the Panchgani ghat. There is small village named Wai. We decided to visit famous Wai Ganesh temple while returning. Since it was 1^st January lot of traffic on the way to Mapro garden. AT once place in Panchagani ghat we took the turn at one point from where the nice scenery of hills and dam can be seen. I had visited that place before, during those days paragliding was taking place at that spot. Now you can enjoy camel ferry or enjoy the ice-cream. I came to know from local person there that Paragliding shifted from Panchagani to Saputara due to safety reasons.

Having spent some time at that point we have moved towards Mapro Garden, since we were very hungry and wanted to attack on Famous Fresh Mapro Veg Sandwitches.  There is huge parking out there at Mapro garden. We parked our vehicle there and moved to the Restaurant.  Area of Mapro garden is very huge and you can easily spend 2-3 hours there.

We then took the coupon of sandwitches, browny, mocktails like (Khujali and fresh lime) and you have to wait there until restaurant people announces your coupon number. Finally our number announced and we reached there to collect our order. Believe me, you can hardly eat a sandwich and mocktail at Mapro garden because of its size. Its too heavy.  We did not know this and ordered one sandwich per person which all of us could not finish. So be aware while ordering.

Then remained sandwich pieces we decided to give to the fishes in nearby pond and just in 10 minutes two big pieces of remaining sandwich finished. So many fishes out there, hungry I guessJ.

Then after spending some time there and shopping some edibles (like strawberry, jellies, chocolates, juices etc) we took the car out from parking and came on the main road.  To all of us surprise, when we were stuck in the traffic, next to me car on opposite side “Aamir Khan” was driving a Bentley with his Dhoom 3 cap and smile on his face. All of us who were feeling sleepy suddenly woke up and charged. Because that was the news for them to discuss with friends next day J.

Then we moved to table land point in Panchagni where we played cricket and enjoyed horse riding too. Its very nice point to visit and spend some time. 

While returning to home, we stopped at Wai Ganapati temple and saw the spot where the Hindi movies’ were shooting some scenes.  

After visiting there places all were tired and wanted to have some refreshment, so we stopped at the highway junction to have tea and decided to return to home with sweet, short and memorable trip.

I am trying to collect some photo’s of the trip from individuals which I will be updating soon.

Website - Mapro

Here are the photo's - Updated on 14 Feb 2014.

- महेश  आवटे 

Mapro Garden

Fish Pond

Outlet at Mapro Garden

View from Panchgani Shooting Point

Table Land Point Near Mapro Garden

Wai Ganesh Temple