Morachi Chincholi

This year I have been driving from one place to another like there is no tomorrow. From hill station to the forest and hill stations again. So this weekend I thought of changing the pattern.  I decided to meet the hot, the sexy and the most beautiful male, all decked upto Salsa Romantica.  Hahahaha. I have not lost it guy's!  Nor have I turned amphibious,.,.,.,.! I visited Morachi Chincholi. The land of peacocks and tamarind!

Havent heard much about Morachi Chincholi? neither had I until my instinct to wander browse google maps. Morachi Chincholi is small village about 50 Km from pune towards Ahmadnagar. According to the villagers, a pair of peafowl had arrived in this village many years back. The villagers rather than shooing it away welcomed them and shared their land as well as grains with them.

Over the years they made the place their name and even gave the place a name on the tourism map of Maharashtra.  I left Pune on Saurday afternoon after lunch. From the information that I had gathered the birds camouflaged themselves in the woods during the day and do not come out in the open. "Dawn" and "Dusk" host the peacock "show".  

The ride on Ahmadnagar highway is one thing that I did not like.  Dirty roads and cluttered traffic characterizes the ride. Once I reached Shikrapur I took the off road to Morachi Chincholi. Its about 18 Kms from Shikrapur.

On getting of the highway road the ride was much better with open fields on either sides dotted with trees on the sides of the road. The roads weren't of the best possible condition and the last 8 Kms had no tarmac.

Once I started to see the tamarind trees around I knew I was in Morachi Chincholi. As I entered the village there was a temple on the left. Morachi chincholi has been developed as a agritourism destination. Agritourism or Agricultural Tourism is the concept of Visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural, or agribusiness operations for a holiday. In Morachi Chincholi there is the added attraction of the celebrated national bird. There are couple of organized farms who have taken agritourism very seriously.

Mayur baug and Mauli Krishi Paryatan Kendra. Mayur baug is a complete farm with horses and camels and swans. These agritourism centers feed the peacocks every day and they are conditioned to visit these farms every day for food. In turn the visitors get to see a close up show of the birds. A perfect symbiotic relationship. I roamed around the village a little more. Though there was nothing spectacular about the landscape of Morachi Chincholi I soaked in the rustic charm of the village of end less farms with farmers working in their land and the rural fresh air and by twilight I headed back to Pune after our tryst with our National bird!!

Nighoj.

About 90 kms. from Pune, off the Pune Ahmednagar highway, is a sleepy little town named Nighoj. 2 kms. further up are Asia’s largest potholes formed in river Kukdi. Trust me and check the photos, I could fit in many of these potholes.

Early Sunday morning, I began my exploration. After crossing Shirur (about 70 kms.), a left turn and 20 kms. took me to Nighoj. The road was quite motorable. Just the last couple of kms. was in bad shape. And that was pre monsoon. If the authorities don’t do something about it now, the road in itself will be a serious competition to the river.

The gorge which is just about 2 kms in length is hardly visible from a distance. But when I was at the edge, I was in a different world altogether. The river bed and the walls of the gorge had fascinating formations of rocks and potholes. Few of them had shapes like the blades of a mixer-grinder. I could only imagine water gushing through these blades when the water level goes up during the monsoon. Equally fascinating were other shapes that are hard to describe. Maybe pictures can help. While the location has enchanted geologists, the villagers remain enchanted for a different reason. Every year on Janmashtmi (day Lord Krishna was born), Nighoj village indulges in a little ritual. Over six hundred devotees pour into Nighoj to witness a miracle. At the stroke of midnight, villagers claim, an earthen pot filled with water emerges from the main well in the village, the pot is put on display for three days and after a grand procession, it’s immersed into the well so that it rises again the next year. Everyone here vouches for the miracle, saying nobody dares question goddess Malganga whose temple stands on the shores.

The river, which flows by the village, takes a semi-circular turn less than 50 metres behind the temple, throwing up swirls and water currents that beat relentlessly against the hard basalt rock bed. The river has done this for centuries, giving rise to one of the most fascinating vignettes of geology in the Deccan plateau. Potholes are formed by corrosion. Pebbles carried by the river are swirled around on the river bed. This action erodes the rock on the river bed forming potholes. Over time, they may widen and join with other potholes to form larger potholes, and the whole river bed is deepened. There are other theories doing the rounds about why and how the potholes are formed. But I will leave that for the experts.

The sun was up and hot. Time for me to turn back but not before exploring onion storehouses - there were many along the road.

Delhi at a Glance

Delhi, the capital city of India has a historic past and a vivacious present that make it a very pleasant place for tourists. Since its establishment by Pandavs (called it Indraprastha) ,Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many dynasties.That is why it is one of the most vibrant historical places in India.

You will find an enjoyment package for every kind of tourist.Whether you are a historian, or shopping junkey or love to party or fond of night life , Delhi has certainly got something to offer you. Delhi ,the fastest growing city in India has been described well by Incredible India.

Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi has been known to be continuously inhabited since at least the 6th century BC, though human habitation is believed to have existed since the second millennium BC. Delhi is also widely believed to have been the site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas during the times of the Mahabharata. Red Fort showcases the very high level of art form and ornamental work. The art work in the Fort is a synthesis of Persian, European and Indian art which is very rich in form, expression and colour. Red Fort, is one of the important building complexes of India which encapsulates a long period of Indian history and its arts. Its significance has transcended time and space. It is relevant as a symbol of architectural brilliance and power.

Popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its flowerlike shape, it is the Bahá'í House of Worship and also a prominent attraction in Delhi. Qutub Minar in red and buff sandstone is the highest tower in India . projected balcony encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design. Anyone fascinated by India's ancient scientific brilliance cannot afford to miss the Jantar Mantar. The 'Samrat Yantra' is unparalleled in its size, and is clearly the largest sundial in the world. Completed in the year 1628 AD, Jama Masjid is the largest and best-known mosque in India. Originally known as All India War Memorial, India Gate is a prominent landmark in Delhi and commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting for the British Indian Empire,  in World War I. Humayun's tomb was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.

Swaminarayan Akshardham epitomises 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind. Situated in the Raisina Hills, the Rashtrapati Bhawan is an eminent monument of British Empire which used to be the palace of the Viceroy of India. The total cost of constructing the Rashtrapati Bhawan crossed £12,53,000 in British India. There is a Durbar Hall inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi and the dome of the hall measures 22.8 meters in diameter. The hall is marked by the beautiful colored marbles. To the west of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, there is a wonderful Mughal garden which is open to the public every spring.