GANAPATIPHULE:

Maharashtra’s Ganpati Temple by the sea

Set along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra is the charming little town of Ganapatiphule. It is a perfect retreat for someone who wants a quiet beach holiday, on unbelievably beautiful beaches and just the sound of waves for music.

For pilgrims, Ganpatiphule has a special significance. In fact, the little village gets its name from the Ganapati (Ganesh) Temple that is located at the foot of a hillock. Most pilgrims who come feel their pilgrimage is not complete unless they take a “pradakshina” (circumambulation) around
the hill not just the temple. It is their way of showing obeisance to Lord Ganesha. So at any given time you can see a line of devotees walking in a circle around the hill. According to local lore, the deity is “swayambhu”, that is, it manifested of its own accord, instead of being carved out of
rock and then consecrated. The naturally formed monolithic Ganesha is estimated to be roughly 400 years old.

Ganapatiphule is 375 km (225 miles) south of Mumbai. Travelling by road from Mumbai to Ganapatiphule is a vacation in itself. You drive through what is known as the “konkan” region. It is very picturesque and rambles on for miles with narrow roads, red-soil roofed houses and clean
courtyards, numerous fruit bearing trees like mango, banana, the jackfruit and the slender betelnut palm.

Swaying casuarinas line the coast. Stop along the way and take it all in. The Konkanis are a friendly and hospitable people. Chatting with them is very informative, especially to discover little known delights about the countryside — especially about where to go and where to stop by for the best views.

Besides the pilgrims, there are visitors who come for Ganapatiphule’s serene, pristine beaches and calm blue waters which literally invite you to swim. Not crowded, and literally unspoilt, the white sands and blue waters are great to relax, read, look for sea shells, build sand castles
and then swim... Ganapatiphule is really a seaside resort for families.

You can make interesting day trips to Jaigad beach and the fort there. The fort is surrounded by the sea on three sides with its ramparts overlooking the sea.

Another interesting excursion will take you to Velneshwar Beach Temple and Pawas where Swami Swarupanand’s Ashram is located. You can also make a trip to where the last king of Burma, Thibaw, and his queen were interned by the British. They lived in the Thibaw Palace from 1886 till their death in 1916 and were buried there.

Ganapatiphule is where a lot of Maharashtrians go for New Year celebrations. There are a few resorts also with Maharashtra Tourism flaunting the best located one. It is also close to the Ganapati Temple. The hotels and resorts serve local cuisine and an extensive sea-food menu to the delight of the visitor.

The resorts here have delicious Malvani fish curry, with Malvani cuisine being especial to the area.

The nearest airport is Mumbai and the nearest railhead Ratnagiri (50 km/31 miles on the Konkan Railway).

Ratnagiri is also famous for the Alphonso, the king of mangoes.

MANALI:

WINTER HOTSPOT

In the lap of the permanently snowcapped higher Himalayas lies the majestic winter resort of Manali, just 219 kilometers away from Shimla, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. If you are a winter sports lover, and get a thrill from the chill, Manali is the destination you should head for this season.

Stay in the quaint town, nestled on either side of a gurgling Beas river, and drive north on the road that goes to Rohtang Pass (and beyond that, to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir) and branch off towards Solang Nallah –– a beautiful meadow in summer which transforms itself into one of India’s best snow slopes in winter.

Here you can do everything –– skiing, heli-skiing, tobogganing, paragliding. And if you are not into physical activity, go for a snow scooter drive, or a slower-paced yak ride. Or you can simply take in the scenery. Solang, described once as the “end of the habitable world,” is bestowed with a pristine natural beauty, dense forests, towering mountains, steep cliffs and rolling valleys.

The good thing about Manali is that while it offers amateurs and beginners a good time, it also has something for professional skiiers. Heli-skiing is strictly for the pros. They are taken up in helicopters to an altitude of close to 14,000 feet and let loose for a dramatic downhill slide. It’s exhilarating — and expensive –– and yet is fast becoming popular.

The Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Manali is one of the premier institutions for skiing in the Himalayas. The organisation offers ski courses throughout the winter, and can provide both assistance as well as advice on where and how to go skiing. The directorate also hires out equipment.

Located at an altitude of 2050 metres, the winter in Manali is quite cold, with temperatures dipping to sub-zero levels. Yet, if it is not snowing and the sun is out, the days can be very pleasant and rejuvenating. And if you are visiting in February- March, you can even witness the annual National Winter Sports Championship.

Manali, the veritable “valley of the Gods” and the “home of Manu”, can be reached by road from New Delhi (it’s a 13 to 14 hour drive by car), or one can fly into Bhuntar, in the Kullu valley, some 50 kms from Manali.

The flight, by 18-seater Dornier aircraft, is an experience in itself. As the aircraft comes into land, one can see villages high up in the mountains at eye level. And the aircraft lines up to land on the runway at Bhuntar, laid almost parallel to the Beas river, after several intricate maneuvers around the mountains.

Manali, in summer, is a popular base for some of the more difficult treks into the Himalayas. The one to Chandra Tal, a pristine lake at about 4,000 metres, is particularly challenging. The four-day trek is not exactly for the faint-hearted, yet it is not tough enough to deter the determined. And the views when you reach Chandra Tal are well worth the effort.

OTHER MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Hadimba temple: The temple is dedicated to the goddess Hadimba, the consort of Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers of the epic Mahabharat. It has four-tiered Pagoda shaped roof and the doorway is carved with legendary figures and symbols.

Manu temple: It is believed that this is the only temple of Manu in India, who is said to be the creator of the human race on earth.

Club House: The Club House has indoor games facilities and is located on the left bank of Manalsu Nallah. There are some picnic spots near it.

Tibetan monasteries: There are three newly constructed and colorful monasteries
in Manali, where visitors can buy carpets and other Tibetan handicrafts. Two are located in the town and one at Aleo on the left bank of Beas river.

Tourist Information
How to reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Bhuntar airport, 50 km from Manali.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is Chandigarh.

By Road: There are regular bus services to Amritsar, New Delhi, Dharamsala, Kullu, Leh, Nagar, Shimla.

Best time to visit
The best season to visit Manali is from April to mid-September in the summer and mid-December to March if you are a winter sports enthusiast.

Accommodation
Manali offers a reasonably wide range of accommodation. Some nice old hotels are situated on the outskirts of the town, while inexpensive lodges and privately
owned guesthouses abound in the old town.

Tranquebar, place of singing waves

India is full of heritage structures of the British Raj with pockets of French (Puducherry) and Portuguese (Goa, Daman and Diu) heritage as well. However, few are aware of a piece of forgotten Danish heritage tucked away on the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu.

A piece of Danish history lives in the sleepy Tamil fishing costal village of Tarangambadi “the place of the singing waves”.

Its strategic location instantly made it attractive to the Danes as a trading post. In 1620 they signed a treaty with the local ruler, Ragunath Nayak, on behalf of the Danish King Christian IV. The town was colonised and renamed Tranquebar.

The treaty saw work start on the historic Dansborg Fort. Completed in 1622, it was the residence of the Danish governor for 150 years.

The massive Dansborg Fort is more reminiscent of Aalborg, Denmark, rather than a somnolent little town in Tamil Nadu.

The fort is a stunning piece of Viking  architecture, with enclosing stonewalls and cannons facing the sea.

The fort was eventually taken over by the British East India Company in the 19th century. So this massive fort along with its 13 brass cannons mounted on its ramparts, became British property.

The fort and surroundings have over the years retained their unique Danish character. It has now been converted into an archaeological museum, with many weapons and artefacts from the Danish past. Restoration work is going on inside the fort.

The Governor’s bungalow, opposite the fort, now sits forlorn as if dreaming of its long-disappeared Danish glory.

Interestingly, this is still the largest building in Tranquebar and comes under the purview of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department. Now the Neemrma group is converting a part of the fort into a heritage hotel, aptly named “Bungalow on the Beach”.

The first building in the city to welcome a visitor is an old gateway called the Land Gate, with wooden doors, at the entrance of the town, built by the Danish in 1792.

Now in a dilapidated condition, the gate has been recently restored. The arch leads to the main street of the town, is called King Street.

Walk down King’s Street and you will come upon a memorial at the spot where the Danes first landed. The houses and Lutheran Churches on King Street and Queen Street still look gorgeous.

Though in dire need of repair, their facades have remained unchanged.

In the churchyard of the pretty whitewashed and renovated New Jerusalem Church, also known as the Zion Church, and built in 1704, is the grave of the first Danish missionary to India, Bartholomaus Zeigenbalg.

He built the church in 1717-18. The Danish royal crown insignia on the façade of the church is conspicuous.
On the sea front, fighting a losing battle against the sea is the last monument in this village, Masilamani Nathar Temple, built in 1305 by Mahaverma Kulasekara Pandiyan. The temple has been partly eroded by the advancing sea.

Some parts of the temple are still intact and locals still use the temple.

Not far from it are the impressive temples of Chidambaram (30 miles) and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Good Health at Valankani (30 miles). The temples of Kumbakonam and Tanjore are located nearby.

So, besides exploring the sleepy little enclave of Tranquebar you have much to see and do in the area.


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