Amanora Fern Resort and Club near Magarpatta Pune

It being our 7th Anniversary, although it feels like yesterday! I wanted to make it special for us, at the same-time to be comfortable for our 2 yr old brat. After all googling, I zeroed on 'Wintergreen Premium' room (post a detailed discussion with Dimple and Aadrika) at Amanora Fern Hotel and Resorts near Amanora Mall. It was a surprise for my better half and the team at Ferns didn't leave any room for me to complain. Right from a warm welcome to beautiful room decoration, an Anniversary cake to best wishes from their staff, they just pampered us... and our lil one loved it to the core, swimming pool and kids play area being his favorite. 

As we see in places like Dubai, and across Europe, the structures here are grand and are a treat to eyes. Wintergreen Premium room is big, lavish with comfortable sofa and terrace. Terrace view was spell-binding...be it evening or morning. it was just picturesque! The lake, lush green garden, fountain and Amanora sky-high towers - all in one frame. We also took some pictures as usual. The reception area is located in a lovely white dome shaped architecture with glass work all around and the Big Clock Tower right next to it adds to the beauty. Amanora The Fern is the most premium club & hotel committed to offer top notch facilities perfect for couple, corporate as well as leisure travelers. The hotel is very well connected to the important business (mainly Magarpatta) and entertainment hubs of Pune city. Free private parking is available on site. Anyone can easily reach the place, It is approx 8 km away from Pune International Airport. Make yourself at home in one of the 26 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LED televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment.

One can take an early morning walk alongside the man made lake and enjoy the greenery & view of water reflection of the hotel. With our little one's morning tantrums, we could do afford a late morning walk for about an hour. The lawn is huge enough to accommodate over 1000 guests, and good for any kind of party, team event, or even marriage function. The food was superb at every meal (evening snacks, dinner, and morning breakfast with lots of options). Staff at the restaurant arranged baby chair for my son and he even enjoyed the food. We had little uncooked pasta, which they right away changed. There is also a general store in the premises, from where one can buy required stuff. The gym is huge with every equipment one can imagine, but I couldn't explore. Also, I didn't get the time to experience the spa but the facility seems impressive. 

They had beautiful swimming pool, badminton court, squash court, children's play area, tennis courts, and much more to keep the adults & kids busy. Next morning, we enjoyed at the pool. One request and a suggestion to the team, pool water should be warm during winters, specially for kids, so they can spend more time. Water being super cold, I had to pull my son out of it within 10 mins. The best part was the fountain view from kids play area and green lush garden. Our kid enjoyed this place around an hour, and needless to say that he was not ready to come out of this place. So many playful stuff for kids were present. The best part was, everything was so neat and clean, and properly placed. 

Great holidaying and awesome experience, 5 stars in all departments, lovely property, courteous staff specially Dimple, Aadrika, Laxmi at kids area, Reception staff, Room service, Housekeeping all were tip top. The check-in was smooth and very fast. My compliments to the management for maintaining such a beautiful hotel & resort. All in all, a charming place to relax after a hectic schedule. I will suggest this hotel to all my friends, and recommend anyone visiting this part of Pune. 

This was a great hotel at decent price. Thank you once again, hope to visit the place again with bigger group, and other Fern group hotels. 

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Wonderful Seven Wonders Park at Pune

If you would like to visit wonders of the world from Rome, Paris, Agra, Egypt and Pisa at one place in Pune. You should visit 'Seven Wonders Parks at Pune'. The dream park is in the city area and so is fairly accessible. This park is also known as 'Yashwantrao Chavan Garden'. The place is beautiful and have replica of famous wonders of the world. Though you wouldn't find 'The Great Wall of China'. Miniatures are in good shape and constructed well, which are really made by hard work. You can traverse wonders of the world in the park in below order:

1. Taj Mahal, Agra, India. 

2. Statue of Liberty, New York, USA. 

3. The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France. 

4. Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. 

5. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy. 

6. Colosseum, Rome. 

7. The Great Pyramids of Cairo, Egypt. 

This place is a very good learning for young kids. Even small children love it. This is a nice place for photo-shoot, though little congested. There is no dedicated parking for the garden, so please come before time to park the car outside the park at the road parking lanes as per directions. There is no facility of drinking water inside, so bring along some water if you are coming with kids. 

There is a 4d hall inside park where you can watch 15 min movie by showing them ticket. This show has stories of Aladdin, Alice and the wonderland and Dracula's. Cost of the ticket is very economical and 20 INR only. Usually in malls, you pay 200-500 INR per person for similar shows. It is fun to watch with family and friends. There are many cartoon icon placed which are good entertainment for kids as well. Children can pose for photos with these characters. Though this place need regular maintenance. 

Address: 1, Shiv Darshan Road, Anurag Society, Sivadarshan Poorgrasta Vasahat, Parvati Paytha, Pune, Maharashtra 411009

Opening Hours: 6–9 AM, 4–9 PM (daily)

It is a good place to spend a lovely evening. As per my experience, The best and recommended timings to visit the park is 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Also plan to visit evening laser musical fountain at Bagul Udyan nearby. Usually 7 pm (post sunset). 

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Sunset and Moonrise at Vetal Hill, Pune

Do you know, where is the highest point within Pune?

Vetal hill is the highest point within the Pune city limits. This is one of the last virgin green areas left in Pune. It is sometimes also known as 'Vetal Tekdi'. As soon as someone hear 'Vetal', "Vikram Vetal" characters comes to the mind. Don't worry I will not narrate the story about them, but take away to 'Vetal Hill' to enjoy sunset.

There are different treks, one can reach to Vetal hill within Pune. People reach this point from the areas like Fergusson College (C), SNDT Women's University (E), ILS Law College (G), Symbiosis Society (I), Gokhale Nagar (K), ARAI (automotive research institute) (M) and Chatushringi (O). We choose Gokhale Nagar trek for the same. Below map will help reaching Vetal Hill (N) point.

Vetal Hill Map

Address: Vetal Tekdi, Panchawati, Pashan, Pune, MH

You can see many people walking over the hill in the mornings and evenings. This is a nice spot to walk over the weekend and enjoy sunset. Though don't expect too much from this place. You will be happy to enjoy a small trek in a quite and serene environment. We were lucky enough to enjoy sunset and moon-rise as well being a full-moon night. We also see different panoramic views of Pune city from different points. 

There is also a temple of Vetal (Vetal Maharaj Temple) at top of the hill, you may have to ask someone as you reach Multi-junction 'Hanuman Temple Point'. There is a watchtower nearby as well. Many health conscious people use a mini gym near to Hanuman Temple. The hill also has a huge stone quarry. Small water bodies in its midst attract some birds and a few love birds (couples) also. This is main point where people sit for long, and enjoy sunset having sweet talks. 

We got the chance to take some amazing photographs. We also enjoyed kite flying for sometime. There are many trees, which make surroundings breezing and cool specially during mornings and evenings. Many people also enjoy bicycle riding here. This place is also an area of research for flora lovers. During late eve, There were many butterflies flying all around. Sometimes, People can also enjoy watching peacocks here. Alas! we missed, may be need to visit during monsoon daytime. Next time, I will also try to visit this place during monsoon to see peacock and more flora colors. 

Some other points to enjoy sunset in Pune are: Parvati Hill, Chaturshringi temple. 

If you are tired of thinking where to go within Pune to enjoy sunset. Have a short drive, trek and enjoy sunset from different points of Vetal Hill. 

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ISKCON NVCC Temple at Katraj-Kondhwa - Pune

Quote of the Post: "ISKCON NVCC will truely serve as cultural, educational, religious, and spiritual home in Pune and could soon become Pune’s most prominent icon." - Quote about 'ISKCON NVCC Pune' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

I have been to the ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temples in Vrindavan, Delhi, and Pune many times. Pune is the cultural and spiritual capital of the state of Maharashtra. The old and small ISKCON temple known as "Sri Sri RadhaKunjbihari Temple" started first in camp area Pune.

Address: 4, Tarapore Road, Next to Dastoor Boys School, Camp, Pune, MH - 411001

Space was short to serve the large crowds on festivals, grand satsanga programs, and for holding cultural and educational outreach programs for newcomers. Because of necessity, a bigger temple was proposed that could serve expanding activities of ISKCON Pune.

ISKCON NVCC Temple

Address: New Vedic Cultural Center, Katraj-Kondhwa Bypass, Kondhwa Budrukh, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

ISKCON NVCC PUNE MAP

The temple was inaugurated during February 2013 by the President of India (Sri Pranab Mukherjee). NVCC is in three prominent blocks - 

1. Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanachandra Temple. 

2. ISKCON Balaji Temple

3. Brahmachari Ashram, Gita Bhavan and Community building.

Timings: The temple opens most of the day starting early morning till late eve. [Approx: 4:30 am – 9:00 pm]

I visited this holy place with Tanuj and Meenal while it was drizzling. At the entrance, an eye-soothing green meadow welcomes you with a marvelous white and pink, marble structure. The temple archives a number of carvings and portraits narrating mythological stories of Krishna, Radha and other gods in Hindu religion. The idol of Sri Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON movement, is at the entrance of the main temple hall. First level has three main graceful deities within the hall – Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanachandra, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai & Sri Sri Jagannatha Baldev Subhadra.

The eyes dart from one carving to another, anxious to see every tiny detail. As ISKCON culture, you can take part and dance in the central hall on the beats of bhajans and evergreen chantings 'Hare Rama Hare Rama, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna'. Many devotees play different instruments and sing bhajans with amazing energy. 

Lord Balajji temple is just adjacent to this temple which is on top of a hill. It is constructed in the traditional South Indian style, using unpolished grey granite. As prasad, khichdi is served throughout the day free of cost. There is a restaurant named 'Govindas' and gift and souvneirs shop 'Matchless' within the campus.

The soothing spiritual ambience and glimpse of state-of-the-art interiors will bring great inner peace, happiness to all visitors in such a way that everybody would like to experience. Lets enjoy & chant at NVCC Pune:

"Hare Rama Hare Rama, Ram Ram Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare."

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Aga Khan Palace & Gandhi National Memorial in Pune

Quote of the Post: "A historically important and beautiful place having wonderful Italian arches and spacious lawns to relax, have peace and to pay tribute to India's great freedom fighters (heroes)." - Quote about 'Aga Khan Palace' - Sachin Kumar Gupta

The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in Pune. This place does not look like it would have been used as a prison, But it served as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi (Bapu), his wife Kasturba Gandhi (Ba), his secretary Mahadev Desai , Sarojini Naidu, Meera Ben and others during Quit India movement. Prince Karim Aga Khan donated this palace to Gandhi Smarak Samittee (committee) in 1972 and since then organisation is maintaining its parks and gardens. Mahatama Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi have their memorials located in the same campus.

Location: It is located at about 2 km away from Bund Garden in Yerwada, on Pune-Nagar Road. Aghakhan Palace, Nagar road, beyond Fitzgerald Bridge.

Timings: 9 am to 6 pm (Lunch break: 12.30 pm to 1:30 pm)

Museum Entry fee: INR 5

Aga Khan Palace Map

The exquisite Aga Khan Palace is surrounded by the lavish green gardens, captivates the eye of a spectator with its magnificence and picturesque architecture. Most of the ground floor area is accessible to all visitors, but not the first and second floor.

Tourist Attractions to visit in Aga Khan Palace:

-Picture gallery and museum:The palace archives a number of photos and portraits depicting glimpses from the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation of India, and other prominent personalities of the Indian freedom struggle.

-Things like utensils, clothes and his personal stuffs (towel, mala, chappals) used by Mahatma Gandhi, are kept in the palace during his stay.

-A room in which Kasturba Gandhi took her last breath, the dinning table where they used to have their meals.

-A room in which Gandhiji used to give science lessons to his grand daughter, letter written by Gandhiji on the death of his dear secretary.

-Kasturba Gandhi (22nd February 1944) and Mahadev Desai (15th August 1942) passed away during their captivity period in the palace and have their memorials here. 

-Different views of Aga Khan Palace.

-Mahatma Gandhi's memorial and his ashes in a quiet garden to the rear.

-Mahurika nursery school.

-Kasturba Mahila Khadi Gramodyog Vidyala.

-A shop that deals in khaadi and other hand loomed textiles.

-The palace is surrounded by a sprawling garden. 

-Very few people know that, The famous movie 'Gandhi' was shot here.

This palace is also the headquarters of the Gandhi National Memorial Society. Gandhi Memorial society celebrates the following events during the year at the palace:

Martyr's Day – 30th Jan.

Mahashivratri – Kasturbha Gandhi's Death Day Celebrated As Mother's Day.

Independence Day – 15th Aug.

Republic Day – 26th Jan.

Mahatma Gandhi's Birth Anniversary – 2nd Oct.

Other than yearly events, morning prayer sessions are held daily at the samadhi since decades. The prayer draws some crowd everyday, and the number goes up threefold on 2 October as people visit the place to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

On a quick visit, Two to three hours can be devoted to this place. It is good to relax, have peace and to pay tribute to India's great freedom fighters (heroes).

Raghupati Raghav Rajaram, Patit Pavan Sitaram!

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