Konkan Diaries 1: Planning the trip and the journey

Konkan… A strip of land along the coastal stretch of Maharashtra and strategically located between the hills of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. This unique geographical position has endowed this entire coastal belt with hills, beautiful golden sandy beaches, pristine backwaters, lush green fields, swaying coconut trees, coves and lagoons and so much more. I have lived in Mumbai all my life and heard many amazing reviews and stories from fellow bloggers and friends returning from a road / bike trip in this region. But somehow my trips never materialized.

My favorite beach, Bhogwe Beach, Konkan Maharashtra

Meet the Bonnet Macaques of Satara

During our visit to Kaas, we stayed at the Nivant Resort which is high up on a hill and amidst a small forest in Satara. The views of the city were amazing from this resort, but I loved this place for a chance to meet the Bonnet Macaques.

A bonnet macaque

Weekly Photo Challenge: Good Morning – with Parrots

This week’s weekly photo challenge requires us to post a photo that could be anything that says “Good Morning”. I am sharing a small part of my morning that starts with the beautiful rays of the run streaming through my windows and the sound of parrots and crows all around.

Rays of the sun

Myriad colors of Kaas

Kaas – Ever since I had heard about this smaller version valley of flowers closer to home, I had wanted to visit it. This is a stunning landscape, a macro photographers delight, a botanist’s mecca, a nature enthusiast’s paradise and much more. As I was day dreaming about this place yet again, an email landed in my mail box, saying that the Jungle Lore was taking a travel group there. Well, I certainly did not need to be told twice and quickly caught the Jungle Lore bus embarking towards Kaas.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Sea

This week’s weekly photo challenge is “Sea” and the emotions that the “Sea” invokes in each one of us. And, I couldn’t have asked for a better topic as amongst all the natural sights, this is my favorite. I was born and live in Mumbai, a city by the Arabian Sea and was lucky to live in a sea facing house (till very recently too). Hence some of my earliest memories are of the sights and sounds of the sea; and its various moods and colors have been an important part of my growing up years. Hence it’s no surprise that some of my best holidays and pictures have been by the sea and I am sharing some of the same with you today –

1. I love the gentleness of the sea but more than that I love its crazy angry look during the monsoons, when the tall waves literally come crashing down on the shores and rocks.

The wild monsoon sea in Mumbai