Panchgani has been on the travel list for some time now. A few days off from work and we’re off.
Route
Navi-Mumbai-Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani: Fuel up at Belapur. Stop at MacDonald’s for a quick breakfast. The burgers are stale. That’s the last time I am going to stop here. Idli-vada at Kamat, Panvel or at Open Umberalla, Mangaon on the NH17would have made better sense.
Been hearing and reading that the route via Poladpur on NH17, though adventurous, is rough and patchy. Adventure scores, so decide to take NH17. Star Date 03032011; 830 hrs, heavy traffic keeps progress slow. Tarmac and traffic improve after Nagothane. Snack Break at Kamat, Mahad. Turn on to SH72 at Poladpur. The road is narrow, steep and curvy (as compared to the section on the other side between Surul & Panchgani). Pretty patchy but improves significantly after the Pratap Gad intersection. Paid the Pollution Tax of Rs. 30/- and Passenger Tax of Rs. 20/- each at Mahabaleshwar. Il Palazzo Hotel, Panchgani 1311 hrs.
Distance Covered – 219 Kms
Toll paid – Rs. 15/-
Time taken – almost 5 hours
Panchgani-Wai-Surul-Pune-Navi-Mumbai: Star Date 05032011; With tummy still digesting the delicious keema-pao, it’s time to roll at 1100 hrs. The sun is bright and warm. Para gliders soar around Harison’s Folly. Swifty glides down the gentle SH72. Tarmac is smooth. Hit Surul and turn left towards Pune on the super smooth NH4. Fuel up at the HP station on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Home 1512 hrs.
Toll paid – Rs. 200/-
Time taken – about 4 hours
Zero down on Il palazzo Hotel for our stay. The Hotel is behind the Agiary (Fire Temple) just after the Panchgani Town while coming from Mahabaleshwar.
The Hotel is run by a Parsi family and you get that ‘Parsi feel’ when you enter the premises – colonial structure, well maintained, dated furniture. I am surprised to see the India Post letter box just outside the Reception.
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| Il Palazzo Hotel |
The property (about seven acres) is broken into two parts – the main building and the annexe. All of the property is overshadowed by tall Eucalyptus and Sliver Oak trees. The Tableland cliff, right behind the hotel, gives the set up a pretty imposing background.
Apart from a small swimming pool, gym, skating rink, basketball court, TT table and some indoor games the Hotel offers a chance to laze in a well manicured garden.
The carom board in the gallery, just outside our room, catches our attention.
The room’s large with a high ceiling and equipped with a dish TV, refrigerator, A/C and a safe. The rooms very well kept, the linen clean and crisp.
Food
With the kind of food that gets served here, there’s no way you’d even go try something outside. Rich parsi cuisine, each of the dishes’s the kitchen rolls out – right from the soups to the main course to the dessert, is just lip smacking superb. At the dining table you’re really spoilt for choice. Service is excellent, the attendants well mannered.
Some of the dishes that we really enjoyed:
Breakfast
- Aaletey Palety (mish mash of mutton & chicken)
- Mutton Keema
- Strawberry Jam – in-house stuff with the whole fruit!
Lunch
- Cream of Chicken Soup
- Palak Soup
- Mutton Dhansak
- Fish Fillet and Tartar Sauce
- Mutton Biryani
- Dal Khichri
- Caramel Custard
Dinner
- Carrot Soup
- Manchurian Soup
- Chilly Chicken
- Mutton Do Payaza
- Shami Kabab
- Chicken Sali Botti
- Bombil Fry
- Strawberry Mouse
- Mango Mouse
Sightseeing
Town: As you walk around Panchgani you’ll realize that there’s a school every 50 odd meters. 6 o’clock in the morning the kids, chaperoned by their PT instructors are out for their morning PT.
Nothing much catches my attention in the town except the Shivaji statue and the two bakeries – Lucky and Roach. The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread that wafts around the bakeries draws people in for a snack. Picked up a loaf of freshly baked bread and cup cakes from Lucky, on the way back.
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| Mobile Pan Shop! |
Tableland: A 10 minute walk from the Shivaji statue will bring you to the Tableland. Be prepared to be inundated by horse ride and horse-cart fellows as soon as you get close. The chaos just short of Tableland is just like any other popular tourist place.
But 630 in the morning the place is dead quite. The Sunrise wasn’t anything near spectacular, but the light cool breeze made for a nice walk.
Evening is a good time to be here to take in the view of the Krishna Valley, the sunset and the soaring para gliders.
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| Krishna Valley |
We, however, had our own flying to do - Kites!
Harisons Folly: This is the place if you’re looking for some para gliding action. Phone numbers on a board just outside Hotel Ravine on the SH72 just outside Panchgani (another good stay option) can get you to people who’ll take you out for a spin. If you’re an expert – you get your own glider. Met a German who had come down with his glider for a spin and was waiting for the right wind conditions. His advice – if you can’t handle it on your own, stay on the ground!
Dhom Dam: The drive past Wai to Dhom Dam and beyond is pretty decent. Both sides of the road is cultivated – could see cabbage, sugar cane, bajara and wheat.
Drove up to Mugaon, some 12 km from Wai. Some off-roading brought us to the Krishna River Bank.
Birding
The section along the western cliff of the Tableland is pretty green and rich in avian life.
Birds spotted around Tableland:
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| Brown Headed Barbet |
- Brown Headed Barbet: Numerous, you can hear them calling out throughout the day. Spotting takes some time as they perch up in the thicket. With two-three calling about the same time, spotting becomes that much trickier.
- Rufous Backed Shrike
- Black Drongo
- Brahminy Starling
- Jungle Myna
- Rose Ringed Parakeet
- Red-Vented Bulbul
- Red-Cheeked Bulbul
- Black-Lored Yellow Tit
- Heard Coppersmith Barbet’s and Coucal’s call
- Some I am yet to identify!
Birds spotted around Mugaon
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| Grey Francolin |
- Small Blue Kingfisher
- Grey Francolin – fellows run first and see later. This one though posed for a photo-op.
- Common Iora – amazing call – a low drawn out whistle!
- White-Browed Fantail-Flycatcher
