Coast to Coast Drive 2012

It was a regular weekend of November when i got to know i wont be able to join fellow HVkians for Wayund meet !!.
Its time to think of travelling differently on a less traveled road in the available time possible.




My partner garnered the idea of going to Goa but not from the usual way , so i started looking around the Maps on how different can we bring end to 2012 , so here comes the help from HVK and HVKians flooding with Ideas and then only i got to know places which i would love to visit again and again !!

it all started with the preparation of the Truck checked for alignment loose nuts bolts if any etc, got oil changed a week before the travel so that any leakage if any will be noticeable in a weeks drive.

The Plan was made we will be doing the Coast to Coast Drive along the arabian sea less traveled roads which got so many forts, beaches ,wild life century, ancient temples & konkan villages. This entire belt right from coastal Maharashtra to Coastal maharashtra is popularly known as Konkan and they are famous for their food, culture and spices SO now We are ready to witness something different !!
the drive plan
Mumbai-Alibaug-Kashid-murud-sankeshwar-Hariheshwar-Kelshi-Dapoli-Dabhol-Jaighad-Ganpatiphule-Ratnagiri-Devgad-Kurkeshwar-Malwan-Tirkoli-Devbag-Baga-Panjim-Amboli Ghat-kolhapur-Pune-Mumbai 

23/12/12 to 25/12/12
Total Kms Covered : 1256
Total Fuel spent in ltrs : 132
Night Stay : Kalshi Beach-Devbag (2)-Baga Beach

Pic: Janjeera Fort, Murud

DAY 1 :
We started 2 hr late of schedule, it happens when you have a 2 year young traveler along with you ! we took the palm beach road to Alibaug-Murud we were determined to have a pit stop @ janjeera fort and that's where we got to see the reality the NH17 until Pen was full off traffic, it took 4 hrs to reach murud which usually done in 2 hrs , we reached Janjeera around 12:30pm visited fort and had light lunch , Jr played all around and we moved ahead to the real road less traveled towards Hariheshwar via bankot ferry so that's here the time was eaten up  the entire road was a narrow single lane road was fine enough for the truck but would definitely can hammer low GC vehicles.

Pic: Short Pit stop at Janjira Fort 

Pic : Getting out of Ferry

The experience was awesome getting onto a ferry and moving on to the other end. it was almost 3pm now. We reached Hariheshwar Had Proper lunch and moved further , the road was getting worst and that's where  the point of reaching Ganpatipule on the same day was gone now and we didn't wanted to travel in the night and miss the stuff for what we had decided to take these roads "The Drive along the sea".
the sun was about to get down and we reached Kelshi and that's where we were right on time to witness the sunset from roadside of a cliff touching the sea !! oh gosh astonishing view with entire Kelshi village in sight on the right and unending sea touching the sun . We decided to call the day off and stay at a resort along side Kelshi beach.

The resort guy gave us menu and asked what we gonna order and i said " what people have when they are in Konkan cost" he understood and brought the best and fresh from the sea.

its better to stay on Kelshi beach rather then getting into the city.The service was good and to my surprise the entire location was full and we were Lucky to get a place as one of the booking got cancelled.

Pic: Kelshi Beach

Pic : Kelshi Beach 

Pic: restricted Place near Janjeera Fort

Pic : Somewhere near JaiGad

as the sea was right behind Jr enjoyed the late evening walk along the sea .  The day ended with somewhat difficult and bad roads but astonishing views alongside the roads less traveled.

DAY 2:
We started around 8am after having local breakfast (that's what we decided to have local food on the whole trip ) and a small stroll along the beach now the plan is to reach ganpatipule before 1pm spend time there and reach Tarkali by EoD that's around 280 kms of drive and with the experience of only able to do 180kms on Day 1 it was looking optimistic .

Pic : In Ferry towards Jaigad

We reached Dabhol ferry in no time and benefit of being early is we were the first one to get in the ferry. we visited temple of sankeshwar and srivardhan along the way. to my surprise the road is now a bit wider and also somewhat well tarred so "Be Optimistic and Be surprised" this is MSH4 along the coast line we went to Jaigad fort and reached ganpatipule , the traffic was very minimum but scenic we were astonished to see the vast long and empty white sand beached with blue water when we passed the temple beach which was indeed very crowded its indeed the coastal road was getting better on quality along with the scenic beauty.

Pic: Sankeshwar Temple

Pic: Temple near Sankeshwar

Pic: Jaigad Fort

we reached Malvan by 6pm just before the dawn strikes it, checked into the home stay which was another 6 kms from tarkali  in a location called devbag with access to both the beach and backwater within 50 mtrs the word was WoW .

So the local home made food did the trick and this was more special being home made .Would recommend Blue water resort Devbag its really good place to stay.


Total KMs Covered : 286

DAY3: i woke up early and got to the beach with cup of tea and an excited guy came up to me and said keep looking in a particular direction in the sea and wow one big creature jumped out of the sea oh "That's Dolphin" what a day to start enjoyed a cup of tea with Dolphin in sight. Thanked guy and he was happy too to share this moment with me i believe that's how we all traveler are like !

Pic: MSH4

Pic: Coastal road Ganpatiphule

 Pic : Ganpatipule Temple

we had a good time at the beach, enjoyed thoroughly as the beach was almost empty and you are free to enjoy the beach just like its your private beach.
Got a boat hired for the day to get us to some good locations along the coastline of Tarkali . Jr was most excited to have a boat ride after 3 ferry rides he had.
The day was waiting with Fun to have full day visited very less visited beaches, did Snorkeling a must to witness the sea life including colorful fishes and corals. Kayaking in the back waters along with Jr, it was a day ended with lots of activity and fun to relish forever.

Pic : Virgin Beachs of Ganpatipule

Pic: Somewhere at MSH4

Pic: Places less visited near Devbag

Pic: Devbag Beach

Pic: Amazing beaches at Tarkali

Pic: Kayaking in Backwaters of Arabian sea

Pic : Golden Rocks at Tarkali

Pic: Sunami island at Tarkali

Pic: Chicken run in Devbag

Pic : Snorkeling at Tarkali

Pic: Tarkali one of Amazing spots

Pic: Bird watching at Tarkali

Total KMs Covered : around 25 on road and Sea

 Day 4 : Again strolled around with cup of tea with hope of getting lucky once again with sight of Dolphins "Everyday is not a Sunday " :-P  we decided to get to Baga Beach to celebrate the coastal road trip which was another 3 hrs aways along the coastal road.
The roads were bad and reached by 2pm at baga beach to first look for a place to stay as we took a gamble to reach at peak season without booking.
We checked it and took a two wheeler on rent and decided to give truck some rest before the long way back home next day.

My Wife said it was better of at Devbg tarkali as at this time there was no difference in sight between baga beach and juhu beach they are so crowded and dirty . we relaxed at a shack on anjuna beach, enjoyed the evening sunset and made sand castles at anjuna beach in the evening which was very less crowded .

We ended the coastal road trip with a celebration and go kart racing and with ladies favourite "Shopping" !!

Total KMs Covered : 132

Day 5:  The day continued with shopping around before we started back from the Goa . Drive of 580 Kms with stops at Amboli ghat for lunch via Nipani-kolahpur-Pune-Mumbai. we cruised with an avg speed of 85kmph and reached home before the dawn .

The experience of a coastal drive was amazing witnessed new roads, culture, food and moreover discovered part of India i never knew.
Total KMs Covered : 586
This time the idea was all about enjoying Journey not destination and it worked !!

Me , My Partner and my Jr enjoyed the drive,

Thank you to my good friends and HVkians who came up with ideas and support for Must do and shared their expirence.
Special thanks to HVK for the tips and detailed route plan !!

DARE to Take Road Less Traveled to Witness the real India !!

BHAGAT SINGH -The Legend Lives ON....

 The Legend Lives On....

Bhagat Singh was just twenty three years and few months, when he was martyred by British colonialists on 23rd March 1931 after a sham trial. However by the time Bhagat Singh went to gallows, he had entered the hearts and minds of all Indians, some of whom later became Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Over the years despite best efforts by British rulers, the image of Bhagat Singh has kept on growing and growing. With the publication of his writings largely after 1947 and more in the last few decades of twentieth century (complete documents in Hindi of about 500 pages are now available in one volume) Bhagat Singh outgrew his image a brave patriot and became the symbol of revolutionary socialist thinker as well.

On 23rd March 2006, it would be seventy five years of Bhagat Singh's martyrdom in the liberation of the country from the hands of foreign colonialists as well as from native feudalism. In the same year on 28th September 2006, birth centenary year of Bhagat Singh would begin as he was born on 28th September 1907 at Lyallpur Banga, though his ancestral village is Khatkarkalan near Banga in district Nawanshehar. Bhagat Singh spent most of his childhood and had education in Pakistani Punjab, particularly in Lahore and he was martyred also in Lahore.

Bhagat Singh is revered not only in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh, while people in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, also have feeling of respect towards this great revolutionary from India. When he was hanged in 1931,number of poems and other writings appeared in almost all Indian languages-Hindi,Punjabi,Urdu,English,Bengali,Tamil, Telugu, Gujrati etc. Many of these writings were banned by British Colonial Govt. at that time, which are now honorable part of National Archives collection in Delhi.

Even in international arena, if Mahatma ****hi has become a symbol of Indian non-violent struggle for freedom, Bhagat Singh's name comes close to great revolutionary nationalists like Che Guvera ,Bolivar,Nelson Mandela and many others.

It is time that all-patriotic Indians get together to celebrate these occasions in a befitting manner to remember Bhagat Singh and his fellow revolutionaries, who martyred themselves for the cause of motherland and its people's liberation from foreign yoke and international exploitation.

There is a need to propagate Bhagat Singh's ideas by way of translating his documents in all Indian languages at various levels. There is also need to put the picture of Bhgat Singh in Parliament. There is need to introduce writings of Bhagat Singh against communalism and untouchability etc. in school curricula's. There can be many ways of celebrating these occasions for two full years, at least year 2006 and 2007, in order to bring into centre focus the role of revolutionary ideas of Bhagat Singh in changing the destiny of our great nation. Bhagat Singh was not a terrorist as British colonialists and some of its cohorts in India would try and make us believe, he was revolutionary in the most true and correct meaning of the term. His ideas are beacon light for the people of nation and the nation needs to enlighten its path most urgently with ideas of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh is the most powerful nationalist icon of resistance to this onslaught of imperialist arrogance over lording the whole world. Bhagat Singh is symbol of unity of people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and is as strong a symbol of national resistance as are Bolivar and Che-Guvera in Latin America.

Bhagat Singh's Martyrdom day-23rd March should be observed as "Anti Colonialism/Anti Imperialism" day throughout India, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Nepal etc, particularly in the wake of onslaught of neo-imperialist powers of the world, trying to dominate militarily, politically, economically, culturally the other independent countries.

The martyrdom of Bhagat Singh in March 2006, should be observed in very big way at Lahore by the citizens of India and Pakistan jointly. The main function should be held at Lahore Jail on 23rd March at 7.00 p.m., at the time, when these three patriots were surreptiousely hanged by British colonialists. The cultural activists, writers of both the countries should hold at least week-long festival, holding seminars, organizing street and stage plays, film shows, militant song-singing etc. to mark the 75 years of their martyrdom as a memorable event. This should also help revive their memories and spread of their ideas among people of both the countries, particularly among youth

In fact Pakistan should enter into a healthy competition with India in claiming the legacy of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh was born, brought up and educated in present day Pakistan. He had his revolutionary training in National College at Lahore. His only activities in present day India was to hold a meeting of revolutionaries at Delhi in September 1928 and throwing a bomb in Central Assembly Delhi, apart from spending sometime in Kanpur or some other places, whereas he gave his life for the nation in Lahore jail. In a way, Pakistan should have taken lead in owning and spreading Bhagat Singh legacy, but that could have been possible only in a democratic and secular Pakistan. Yet in the trust-building exercise in both the countries today, the joint legacy of Bhagat Singh can help them come closer, at least culturally.

The birthday of Bhagat Singh-28th September should be declared as "National Youth Day'. This day should be given equal importance to 2nd October. For the simple reason that Bhagat Singh's name was as popular among Indian masses as was of Mahatma ****hi during freedom struggle, as has been acknowledged by none other than the historians of Congress Party. It would also mean to acknowledge the role of different revolutionary movements in fighting for the freedom of the country from colonial yoke Also the youth of the country need to be filled with patriotic fervor, which is possible only by making them feel as the builders of free nation. This feeling in youth can only be instilled through the ideas of supreme symbol of Indian revolutionary freedom struggle-Bhagat Singh.

Bhagat Singh does not remain an individual now, as Mahatma ****hi remains no individual. These historical personalities of the country have become symbols of ideas and movements. Bhagat Singh has emerged as symbol of most radical nationalist movement against imperialism and colonialism. He represents the highest ideals of Indian revolutionary movement and he is iconic symbol all other revolutionary movements. .

Bhagat Singh is one among many national heroes, whom Dalits and minorities, who form a large chunk of Indian society are ready to accept as their Hero, because of his radical views on untouchability and communalism etc.. Alongwith Dr. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh also has an appeal for Dalits of this nation.

In context of misuse or overexposure of religion by some fascist fundamentalist groups in our society, Bhagat Singh's ideas on religion or atheism can work as an antidote to counter such pernicious views



Let all democratic and nationalist Indians and other nationalities in Indian subcontinent unite on this occasion and by focusing on Bhagat Singh's ideas, build a most powerful resistance movement against a much dangerous neo-colonial onslaught, more powerful than the old colonialist British empire.

Ironically few people like us give such a big respect to Bhagat singh , Rajguru and Sukhdev but the place from where Rajguru and Sukhdev hail from are dont even aware of the great deeds of these Legends... wat they all know is Shivaji the great...


Jatinder jeet Bawa

Samjh Rab nu

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.mein ki kehnaa bulaan naal.. mere dil di awaz ne gaah payaa..
andar mein khotee.. ishq ne meinu inj hi nachayaa...
bus mahi nu hun allah samajh naal gal de layaa.. alaah hu allah hu gayaa...