Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Chennai -> Bhimashankar Lingam (6th) (Pune,Maharashtra) & Grishneshwar Lingam(12th) (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar,Maharashtra)

Three Days Trip to Maharashtra cover the Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar Jyothirlingam

Day 1:

Chennai -> Pune via Flight 

We have booked AirIndia Flight on 29th Mar 25 05:30 AM from Chennai reached Pune 07:10 AM . My friend from Pune made all arrangement for this trip. Since our journey require lot of travel so we took Taxi which my friend arranged based on our expectations. Had short meet outside Pune had pogah and tea. Taxi guy came by 9 am, We have started our trip from Pune Airport to Bhimashankar Jyothirlingam, roads really worst and we are not sure this is only road to connect Bhimashankar Temple. 

We have reached Bhimashankar around 1 pm and come to know on VIP darshan where you can go directly to nearest temple(paid around 500 per person we took our cab driver as well).Though its VIP darshan we have waited more then 3 hrs. due to pooja time but it was good experience.



Bhimashankar (6th Jyothirlingam)

Once completed our darshan, we started around 4:10 pm to Chhatrapati Sambhaji(Aurangbad) and took our dinner at 6:20 pm at Natraj Hotel ,Nigdale,  Food is really good. We are not sure why our Cab driver took wrong route or route itself like these he skipped NH road and took scary and bumpy road and village road really we don't want to experience this. If somebody planning Taxi make sure or talk to cab driver which route he is taking. We have reached 12:05 AM 30th Mar 2025 CIDCO Sambhaji nagar where we booked Avon Hotel based on ratings. My Pune friend keeping checking our cab driver and our journey and he very much worried about time took to reach Sambhaji nagar.


I will recommend Hotel Avon International, CIDCO which is close to Airport. Second day, we have started bit late to visit Ajanta Caves its almost 130km from our place and we have started at 10:15 AM,30th Mar 25, reached Ajanta Caves by 1 pm. Since we went on Summer time and place is too hot and dry.
                                                             




It took 2-3 hrs to cover Ajanta Caves and we returned to our Hotel by 7 pm, near our hotel there is Prozone mall spent small time there and 30th March is Gudi Padwa(New year) as well so lot of people in the mall. Took our dinner at Avon Hotel itself.

Our third day started earlier from our hotel at 6:45 pm and visited our first place is Grishneshwar Temple which is 34 km from our hotel. Some people told phone are not allowed we have given our phone to nearest shop but we noticed most of carrying phone with them while entering in temple. Since its holiday and Monday there is quiet big number people inside temple and long queue and waited almost 2.5 hours inside and got good blessings.We came out by 11 pm and nearest which is 1 km is Ellora Cave.


Ellora Caves



After Ellora Cab driver took to Annapurna hotel its seems cab driver default place food quiet expensive but place is quit big. After our lunch we went to Bibi ka Maqbara shrine(Mini Taj Mahal).


We got dropped to Airport at 4 pm and Indigo flight only option but you can choose connecting flight Bangalore or Hyderabad, we have chosen Hyderabad and flight got delay 10 minutes. Reached Chennai by 11 pm.

🚖 3-Day Taxi Itinerary – Sedan (A/C Swift Dzire)  


📅 Day 1: Pune ➝ Bhimashankar ➝ Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

- Pickup: Pune  

- Route: Pune → Bhimashankar → Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

- Drop: Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

- Fare: ₹6000  

📅 Day 2: Aurangabad ➝ Ajanta 

- *Route:* Aurangabad → Ajanta Caves (Round Trip) 

- Fare: ₹3000  

📅 Day 3: Aurangabad Local Sightseeing

Places Covered:  

  ⿡ Ellora Caves  

  ⿢ Grishneshwar Temple  

  ⿣ Daulatabad Fort  (if you have look)

  ⿤ Panchakki  (nothing)

  ⿥Bibi Ka Maqbara (Mini Taj Mahal)  

 - Fare: ₹1600  

Flight cost:

Air India - 7978 (divided by 2)

Indigo - 17568( divided by 2)

Hotel Avon international - Rs.4738(two nights)

Per person average cost 23k for this trip.... Thanks for reading my blog




Monday, September 30, 2024

Chennai to Coorg on Car

This is my Second trip to Coorg and most of places i have  already visited but for my Kids it will be cherishing memory to their life.

Lets get into, How we planned our trip, We have started on 22nd Sep 2024 at 2:30 Pm from our home(Chennai) to Bangalore via Hosur (NH48) most of road under maintenance and road expansion was on progress so traffic was very slow and heavy traffic on certain areas but Toll plaza department didn't stopped charging. 

Day 1 - 22-09-24 - Destination Bangalore (electronic city)

Tolls Plaza                                                   Cost

SriPerumbadur                                         50

CHENNASAMADURAM TOLL PLAZA 45

Pallikonda Toll Plaza                               110

Vaniyambadi Toll Plaza                               105

Krishnagiri Plaza                                         90

ATTIBELLE                                                 35

We had stopped at Krishnagiri for our dinner and it was good with right price. Though Toll Plaza charge heavily but wont maintain any Toilets properly. So plan your trip, I have been forced stop at Petrol Bunk to use the Toilets for our kids.

We have reached Electronic City by 9:30 pm and we have already booked Treebo Celebrity Hotels and Suites via Agoda App for our Night Stay with good deal.

Day 2(23-09-24) - Coorg -> Channapatna->Coorg-Madikeri Raja Seat View

We have started by 7:30 AM to avoid Bangalore traffic, Since we stayed close to NICE Road it help us avoid travelling in City Traffic but my bad, i have missed Mysore Express deviation, If you missed this deviation you forced to go till NICE road end and you will be charged unnecessary so cautious on this NICE Road. I have been charged Rs.300/- 

Tolls Plaza                                             Cost

Magadi Road (P6) Plaza                        235

Mysore Road (P5) Plaza                          65

KANIMINIKE TOLL PLAZA              170

GANANGURU TOLL PLAZA            160

We have stopped at Navaneetha Krishnan Temple(Sri Aprameya Temple) in Channapatna,We use to go regularly while we are in Bangalore Stays. Still its maintained by Tamil Iyengar's and still performing all pooja's in Tamil as well. 

After Temple visit we have stopped nearby Hotel to have our breakfast. Due to Mysore Express road most of Shops are gone. If you are taking Mysore Express road plan your Stopping accordingly.


Don't forget to renew your Emission Certificate, you will notice lot of Emission Certificate Center like Tea Shop while you reach at Mysore area, We have Filled our Tank Full at Chennai and its almost going to be reserve so we filled our Tank and took Emission Certificate to avoid unnecessary stuffs. 

Mysore Express road really awesome but it will be difficult to maintain 100 KM speed but you will be monitored with multiple Camera's and Multiple Speed Display boards. So you have to Maintain your Speed and be responsible Driver on this roads. Our next stop at Kushalnagar for Lunch its not great but it ok to have our Veg Lunch here.  After Mysore Express Road, Road are Crossing the Village so you  have to slow down. 

We have reached around 3:30 PM at Green Nest Plantation(Kingmaker's Plantation) Coorg. We booked Three nights here. 
Superb Location and Climate also awesome almost 19* and cloudy. We just got refreshed and ready for our Sightseeing. 

Raja Seat view : It was raining and to much fog, you cannot see anything because of the Fog but my kids enjoyed. 

We had our Dinner Nearby Raja Seat Hotel. We got back to Hotel Room due to Rain and to much fog. Climate really awesome.

Day 3 (24-09-24) - Coorg->Sri Bhagaandeswar Temple->Tala Cauvery->Abbey Falls

We had our breakfast at Hotel and Started our Travel to Tala Cauvery but it was raining . Roads are very much damaged, So drive very cautiously. We have stopped Sri Bhagandeswara Temple.
Temple Entrance
Triveni Sangamam

After temple visit we have started to Tala Cauvery you will be charged Rs.50/- parking and road toll fee. Zero visibility on Hills very scary for our kids but they loved . You need to slowdown because of fog. Really Zero Visibility very difficult to drive.
Tala Cauvery Entrance

 

After Tala Cauvery, We have reached Abbi Falls while coming from Tala Cauvery to Madkeri there is Glass Bridge walk but due to Raining, we skipped and went to Abbi Falls. 
Greenish .....from Thala Cauvery to Madkeri
Abbey Falls...
Wow ...what view on Abbey Falls...there is lot of crowd in Abbi Falls but we manage to take our pic for memories ...don't mis this place.

Due to bad weather and raining, we have moved to Hotel and had our Dinner at Hotel itself.

Day 4 - Coorg (25-09-24)-Madikeri(Omkareshwara Temple)->Nisargadhama Reserve -> Namdroling Monastery Golden Temple ->Dubbera Elephant Camp

After having our BreakFast we have moved to Madikeri to visit OmKareshware temple which  it's a unique temple with Hindu islamic architecure ,After darshan slightly raining in  Madikeri.

We have stopped at Nisargadhama Reserve where you can chill out on Bamboo forest and you can  Exotic Bird park you can feed food to birds. 
Nisargadhama reserve entrance








Nisargadham will be good to take pics. We had our Lunch close to Nisargadham Reserve Park. We next went to Golden temple.



After Golden Temple, we started to Dubbera Elephant camp which will open at 4PM. 



Dubbera Elephant Camp they charge Rs.180 per person during week days. They will take you into boat short ride and Elephant camp you feed as well but they charge Rs.50/-

Our kids are Happy on End of day and started back to Madikeri City to have our dinner though we didn't have much rain but more fog. Really adventure one,  CAR AC suddenly make noise, so we don't know where the noise come from to be safer side, we switched of the AC but fog make our trip more adventure and unforgettable one.

Day 5 - Coorg - Chennai(26-09-24)

Our earlier plan to stay at Mysore and spend some time at Sri Chamundeswari temple, Palace and Zoo but due to some Political rumors spreading, we don't want to risk, so we thought of reaching Bangalore and take rest and start to Chennai next day. 

We have checked out Green Nest Plantation(Kingmaker's Plantation) Hotel by 9:30 am started and we are in Bangalore almost 3.00PM and made us to think to drive at stretch to Chennai. 

This time we taken route from Mysore express to KR Market and reach Chennai via old madras road because this route know route and more driven route but its surprise, i got stuck in Bangalore Traffic very badly and some road works are going on until Hoskote. 

Mysore express -> Old Madras road-> Hoskote->Chittor->Vellore->Home(chennai) and reached our home by 12:10 am on 27-09-24. More then 2-3 hours we spent in Bangalore traffic.

One of memorable and cherish able trip for my daughters.

Toll Plaza                                               Cost 

GANANGURU TOLL PLAZA         160
SHESHAGIRIHALLI TOLL PLAZA 170
Hoskote Toll Plaza                                   25
Mulbagal Toll Plaza                           90
Nangli Toll Plaza                                   35
Mahasamudram                                 100
Chennasamaduram Toll                          45
SriPerumbadur Toll                                  50

For this Trip for Four people we spent around 28K

Budget Details:

Hotel - Bangalore -Rs.2356 (1 nights)

Hotel - Coorg - Rs.8750 ( 3 nights)

Petrol : Rs.8500 ( it vary depends on drive and car make)

Toll :Rs.1740

Food : (it depends on you)

Parking & Entrance Ticket : Rs.2400/-

Thanks for your time for reading our trip experience.



Monday, July 29, 2024

Chennai -> Baba Baidyanath Temple (Deoghar,Jharkhand) -5th Jyotirlingam

Baba Baidyanath Temple ( Vaidyanath Temple 5th Jyotirlingam) Deoghar(Jharkand) on 27th and 28th July 2024.

Day 1:

Chennai -> Deoghar(Jharkhand) via Flight 

We have booked IndiGo Flight on 27th July 2024 05:25 hrs from Chennai through Kolkata 07:45 hr and our connecting flight Kolkata to DeoGhar at10:00 hrs  and reached 10:55 hrs


                                                 Above Flight details reference to plan your trip

Once you reach DeoGhar Airport (Small terminal) outside you can get Cab's,we got it for Rs.350/- really it was good deal. 

Inside view of DeoGhar Airport

Since we traveled during July end and we didn't know, it was Shravani Mela time, Lakhs of pilgrims converge at the temple, creating a vibrant and spiritual atmosphere. The Kanwar Yatra, the pilgrimage with the kanwar, reaches its peak during this time, transforming the town into a sea of devotion.

We already booked Hotel near to temple. It was decent hotel (Girija Sunrise Hotels).

Cab driver told about Basukinath temple which is 43km from Deogarh while coming from airport to Hotel, It was around Rs.2500/- he quoted, we have agreed because we didn't have any plan after Baba Baidyanath. We got refreshed went to Baba Baidyanath on VIP ticket which Panda only get for your per head Rs.600/- Panda or Gurukal will join with you on existing from Baba Baidyanath, we did Ganga water pooja but too much crowd.

Baba Baidyanath Temple.

We are not sure due to crowd or Management really very poor administration on handling the crowd.



After Baidynatha Dharsan we called up our Cab driver for Basukinath Temple . Every where we can see people presence due to yatra.

Baba Basukinath Temple management managed crowd very well and we took special ticket which is cost of Rs.300/- (Three ticket,one ticket for panda).We really had wonderful darshan. while coming out of temple rain started heavily. But our Cab driver try to cover most of place on this route.


We had dinner at Balaji Bhavan at Deogarh it was good one and reached hotel around 9:00 pm. 

Day 2:
On 28th July early morning we went to Baba Baidyanath Temple to do pooja for Paravatha madha, we got good dharshan, After dharshan outside we did some purchase for our kids, Try peda which is special here. We checkout our hotel at 12:00 PM, Called Same Cab guy to drop us in Airport.

Cab driver charged Rs.500/- for Drop.

Above Pic his reference on return flight details.


Cost per person for this trip:

Flight up and Down :15585
Hotel : 1470(2940)
Cab package : 1300(2600)
Airport cab pick and drop :425(850)
Baba Baidyanath ticket : 600
Baba Basukinath ticket : 300
Other : 400

Thanks .......

Chennai -> Bhimashankar Lingam (6th) (Pune,Maharashtra) & Grishneshwar Lingam(12th) (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar,Maharashtra)

Three Days Trip to Maharashtra cover the Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar Jyothirlingam Day 1: Chennai -> Pune via Flight  We have booked Ai...