Travelogue: Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Udyan (Garden), Jagtap Dairy, Pune

Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Udyan (Garden) at Jagtap Dairy, near Pimple Saudagar, Pune is a wonderful new park developed by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. It was inaugurated by MLA Mr. Laxman Jagtap. A few years ago, this area was not developed and it is wonderful to see this splendid park come up.

The park is named after Savitribai Phule (3 January 1831 – 10 March 1897) who was a social reformer, educationalist and poet from Maharashtra. Along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she played an important role in improving women's rights in India during British rule.

The park is very popular and is flocked by visitors (above)

Park has this hill like areas where children can climb as if climbing a small mountain. They can also be seen tumbling down or running down the slope and certainly small kids enjoy this slope too much (above)

Kids and elders alike can be seen playing all over the park (above)

There is a separate playing area with lots of wonderful rides for kids (above)

Planted saplings can be seen (above)

Nearby buildings make an impressive scene from the park (above)

Flowers! (above)

There is an open amphitheater, perhaps still under development (above)

Amazing hilltop (above)

Beautiful flowers in the park (above)

Outside the park gate "horse rides" and "camel rides" are available for kids (above)

In the evenings, the park opens at 4 pm till 8pm. There is nominal entry fee of Rs 10 for visitors above 12 years of age. 

The park is very well maintained and is used for morning/evening walkers as well as those visiting for fun or having relaxing time. 

If you are around, this is certainly a much recommended place to visit!

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019

Bing Wallpaper: 108 Shiva Temple at Kalna, Bardhaman dist, West Bengal

Know more about this place:

https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/travel/108-shiva-temple-at-ambika-kalna-west-bengal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalna,_India

https://isharethese.com/shiva-temples-in-ambika-kalna-west-bengal/

- Rahul

Rediff Blog Post by Ajit Balakrishnan

We all know that Ajit Balakrishnan is the founder of Rediff.com . Rediff, at one time was called “Yahoo of India”. The Rediff portal is still surviving and so many of its features like Rediff Money and Rediff Cricket are doing well. Rediff Blogs are mostly out of flavor. In this time, I just found that Ajit has written a new book review blog post. And guess where? On Rediff Blogs!

Here it is:

https://blogs.rediff.com/ajitb/2019/03/06/goa-beyond-the-sun-beaches-food-and-feni/

Travelogue: Moving Around Pune (Part 2)

Sant Tukaram Bridge, Ravet, Pune

DY Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune 

Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Nigdi Pradhikaran, Akurdi, Pune

Besides a road on route to Nigdi

ISKCON - Sri Givind Dham, Nigdi, Pune

Pavana River as seen from Ravet Bridge

A vintage car parked in Moshi, Pune

A road with scenic beauty near Pimpri, Pune

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019

Travelogue: Durga Tekdi in Nigdi, Pune

Durga Tekdi or Durga Devi Tekdi is a hill in Nidgi, Pune and Durga Tekdi Park is a public park over the hill. It derives its name from a Temple of Goddess Durga at the top of the hill. 

Durga Tekdi park is frequented by morning walkers, trekkers, travelers and wanderers alike. Visit to the park in the mornings are free of cost and the park is shut down between approx. 9 to 11 am and opens again at 11am. From 11 am to 5.30 pm, the park charges a nominal entry fee of Rs 10. 

It was amazing to visit the park. The park is huge; plus we have to climb the hill. Thereby, it can be understood that senior citizens won't be able to explore most of the park area. But the park is ideal for small kids and there are several rides and lawns where they play. At the time I was visiting, small kids of around 5 years of age had arrived in two big size school-buses and where playing ringa-ringa-roses and a lot of other games while their teachers watched over them. I could also see large families arriving for a picnic.

Important thing to note is that the park does not allow any plastic objects inside so if you need to take something inside, take steel or metal water bottle. Also, avoid taking eatables or carry small stuff.

Btw, Appu Ghar is an amusement park adjacent to Durga Tekdi. You can check out pictures of Appu Ghar on my next blog post here. 

So here are some of the pictures of Durga Tekdi from my visit:

Main entrance to the park (above)

Climbing up the hill

Children's play area at the top of the hill

From the top of the hill you can see far away but through dense greenery 

Beautiful flowers

Highest point is Ray-Band Point

Lake inside Durga Tekdi Park

White Ducks can be seen in the lake

Beautiful flowers (above)

Durga Mandir at Durga Tekdi Hill

Panoramic view of city from the Durga Tekdi hill

School kids returning to their buses after the visit (above)

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019

Photographs: Some Nature Pictures (Part 2)

(Above) Two Sparrows sit on the chairs in a waiting hall

A stray dog waits to get some food from his host house

A couple of pigeons feeding on the grains provided in a balcony

A lone squirrel 

- Rahul Tiwary | 2018 - 2019

Travelogue: Appu Ghar in Nigdi, Pune

Appu Ghar is an amusement park in Nigdi, Pune. It has lots of rides for children to enjoy. You can also checkout Appu Ghar, Pune website: https://www.appugharpune.com/

Appu Ghar is adjacent to Durga Tekdi. You can check out Durga Tekdi pictures on my blog post here. Appu Ghar opens at 12pm while Durga Tekdi opens at 11am. 

Here are some of the pictures taken by me:

(Above) The road in front of Appu Ghar - this whole area is full of greenery

Main entrance of Appu Ghar

A plaque describing rides and facilities inside Appu Ghar

Rides inside Appu Ghar

It is a wonderful place and a family with kids must plan to visit it.

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019