We had been to Konkan for backwater tour and I had decided that I would write about the tour immediately upon my arrival in Mumbai.But now it's almost three weeks that I am back from the tour am yet to write on Konkan.
We carried a borrowed Sony camcorder.I had to tell my son to do photography umpteen number of times and therefore the tour was not covered on video the way I would have liked;nevertheless it was a wonderful and memorable tour.
The tour was organised by Konkan Paryan Vikas Sanstha , not to be confused for a look alike charitable or developmental agency but promoted as a company by Mr. Sanjay Yadavrao,(on left) a young enterpreneur having an engineering degree.A staunch Kokani, his ambition is to make his Kokan a tourist destination with a difference:ecotourism.
We started off from Dadar, at around 10 p.m. on 23rd December2005, in a 15 seater bus.We had this elderly couple,Mr. 7 Mrs.(Dr.) Kudalkar (on right), as our accompanied passengers at Dadar. One cople (Mr. & Mrs. Boraskar) boarded at Kharghar in New Mumbai.One Yogesh Tople was our guide.DAY # 1
24th December2005
We reached early morning at Dabhol and were put up at Pratik Resort, a beautiful serene place.We rested there till 8 a.m. before we started for our first day of konkan Backwater tour.There we were joined by Two more families : Raje(s) and Shinde(s).
First we travelled southward for 2 km and reached Chandika Temple.It's a cave temple formed by force of water of a monson flowing Konkan river.You have to bend a bit to move inside in darkness to reach the deity.The deity itself is a "Swaimbhoo" meaning naturally occured or formed deity.This photograph was taken just outside the temple within the temple premises.The temple is surrounded by beautiful small waterfall and a valley.Kids liked to play around the area.
From there we moved to North and landed at a place called Kolthare.We were told that we can see a traditional Konkani House (which hardly exists thesedays)and we were infact shown one such a house of Vaidya (Doctor) Mahajan (left,with folded hands).Dr. Mahajan,I believe is an Ayurvedic doctor, a Manufaturer of AGOM brand of Ayurvedic/Herbal products and his products are regularly being advertised on TV channels (that's what i was told...I don't see much of TV as I have many interests to spare my spare time!).Thereafter we were taken to a sea beach. The beach at Kolthare is untouched by many homeosapiens,unspoilt one and therefore a beautiful beach.We spent a quite a time there seeing our kids enjoying in knee-level water.
We had a sumptuous lunch at a Brahmin's house and we were literally forced to take a rest at the place as there was no scheduled program during the day.Why we were taken to Kolthare is a still a mystery to us.There was nothing to be seen at the Kolthare.The unkept promise of a visit to Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth and also of a visit to one more beach in the afternoon were the negative points as far as organisers are concerned.
The night "Mehfil" was too good an opportunity to showcase talents of individual members and Mr. Ashish Raje was a star performer in doing mimickery.Shinde family also put in their worth.Not to forget Mr. Boraskar also sung few Hindi old numbers.In all a beautiful experience and a feeling of having a gala time ahead!
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