Kavdi bird watching point

It is that time of the year when the sky is painted red with Flamingo's. I was not interested to travel till Bhigwan, hence I was searching for any nearby places which I can visit. Then I found a bird watching point near Manjri. I couldn't find much details on searching except that

Parks of Pune -III(Butterfly Garden)

I never thought that Pune has a butterfly park. So i was surprised when i found a butterfly park while searching for some other place on Google. On a weekend we thought of checking out the butterfly park. My kid was super excited, he kept chanting 'butterfly park'

picnic @ hadashi Temple

It is that time of the year when I was yearning for a picnic. I was looking for a place where kids have open place to play and outside food is allowed. I want to pick a place which I was planning to visit from long back. Hadashi temple looked like an ideal choice. 

Kid friendly : Yes

Outside food Allowed: Yes

Washrooms Available: Yes

Route : Medium

Hadashi temple is maintained by Sri Satya Sai trust, one can find Rukhmini and vittal mandir on the first floor. There is a bhajan room for Satya Sai baba and Shirdi Sai baba. We went to have a look, the thought that silence has to be maintained took back seat. As soon as kids entered with us they were shouting and running and we were anxious to keep them quiet. It was a tiresome task so we exited the room fast..:) There was store just beside the meditation room where organic sugar, organic peanuts were sold. We were told that they were harvested from the fields belonging to the trust. There was also garlands for decoration purpose.

There was provision for canteen too, but it is closed. I read in other blog that the canteen serves good snacks, lets hope we can have a taste later.

There is a small pond behind the temple where boating is allowed. We strolled along the pathways for sometime and settled near a nice shady spot to have our lunch. Their is also a small pond filled with lotus flowers. We spent some time in the lawn till evening and tried boating. The boating experience was good. 
If you have visited in a large group then you can opt for a large motor boat. We chose peddling boat. They also provided life jackets and the cost was nominal.

There is also a museum in the same premises. You can find it first after coming from parking area. We opted not to visit the museum.
If you are interested you can visit nearby places(Pavana Dam, Tung Fort) too on the same day.

Nice place to visit for a one day picnic.

Someshwarwadi Shiva Temple and Gram Sanskruti Udyan

An evening at Someshwar wadi near Pashan is well spent with a visit to the temple and village park. The village park aka Gram Sanskruti Udyan in Someshwarwadi is a best way to reminiscence your childhood days.

Main Attractions:

1. Shiva Temple

2. Dwadasa Jyotirlinga temple replicas

3. Gram Sanskruti Udyan

Shiva Temple

The temple is small but peaceful, the sanctum sanatorium is a few feet below the ground level. The Shiv linga here is Swayambhu. There is another Shivalinga placed in the temple where devotees can perform rituals. The temple has around 700 years of history behind it. This temple was famous since Shivaji Maharaj period. It is said the Shivaji's mother Jijabai used to visit this temple. Inside the temple on the dome are the pictures of gods presiding each direction. The entry wall into main temple is painted with war scene. The temple is very clean. The premises also boast of a havan mandap and bhairavnath temple. 

When visiting during monsoon season raincoats and umbrellas are a must. We completed the visit and were strolling around when a light drizzle has started.The temple has a small lawn adjacent to it. Good place for kids to enjoy in summer. The temple premises has huge peepal and other trees. From the temple premises you can see the miniature replicas of various jyotirlinga temples.

Dwadasa Jyotirlinga temple replicas

The work is in progress. The replicas are beautiful but there where no indications about the temples, we googled to know about the temples. When we enquired we were told that the work is still going on. The concept will be a instant hit once its completed. We could get to know the temple details and architecture right here. It would be great if they include the temple location and its prominence.

Gram Sanskruti Udyan

The park contains everything that one expects from a village. If you have experienced village life before you can correlate. Nice place for kids to enjoy and learn. The craftsmanship is good. the features are life like.

The statues are sculpted to depict all the professions, you can find a goldsmith, a tailor, a weaver, a merchant and many more. Even minute details were taken care while developing these..like the gate used for cow shed is the similar one that we find in real life scenarios. The way water is drawn from the well, the pressure exercised while drawing water from well. The torans on the door or the photos displayed on the wall, they are of same type and are displayed in the same way which we see at a village house.

All the festivals we celebrate, all the professions we follow are covered. I couldn't remember anything that was missed. 

Overall an evening well spent.

Marigold Balaji Temple

This weekend after a nice snack of pakodas and sweets, we wanted to go out. With kids and time constraints we want to go to a nearby place. Many options were thrown in, among them I was surprised to hear that there is a gold Balaji Temple in Pune.

Parks of Pune - I

                                                           

                                                                        Sambhaji park

searching for kid friendly places, I zeroed down to Sambhaji park. The park is located on JM road. The entry to the park is free. It has ample greenery and various varieties of outdoor play equipment for kids. It also has a small aquarium.

We visited the park on Sunday and OMG!!!

An evening @Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park

We recently visited Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park.
But there weren't any good collection. it was more of a park with huge canopy of trees. They have routine collection of snakes, tortoise and crocodiles. We didn't have the opportunity to see bear, i think it might be sleeping :). Monkeys were there, but they were ordinary. The deer's collection was good. They are in good number and i think they have got habituated to the onlookers. We had a good view on deer's. Then there was wolf according to the display, but i don't think it's a wolf, it must be fox. Reading picture books along with Praneeth has taught something..
Only tiger and elephant were balance. We thought of visiting the elephant first so that kids will enjoy seeing the jumbo..but

Parvati Darshan

Parvati Darshan is a good option for short trip within Pune. You can spend a evening at nearby Sarasbaug and then visit the temple. The sunset from  the temple terrace will be great. We have already visited Sarasbaug so we directly when to Parvati temple.

Parvati temple is near to Swargate. The temple is on top of a short hill, there is a path of steps to reach the temple. The steps are large and made slant inline will the slope of the hill, not a place for high heels. The temple area is maintained very well with good greenery. One can find trees with there scientific names and local name. 

Devdeveshwar & Parvati temple

Main temple of Devdeveshwar and Parvati

I was sweating by the time i reached the temple, I shall vouch