Malshej Ghat, the Prince of Sahyadris! - a perfect weekend getaway from Mumbai!

Malshej Ghat, view from the plateau

Not many would believe it, but Mumbai is still a blessed place! As Mumbaikars we are indeed privileged to have places like Malshej Ghat at a driving distance of only 3 hours.

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Picture of the day

Captured from my home..., originally uploaded by thelegendreturns.

Captured this today from my home...

Have posted several pictures in the past of dusk / sunset captured from my home on this blog. I really consider myself lucky to have enjoyed these views for close to 23 years of my life now. However, soon these views would be gone as the panorama is fast filling up with new construction, sigh!

Lets enjoy the sights while we still have them!

Kaas Plateau - Maharashtra's Valley of Flowers - a heaven on earth!

Let a million flowers bloom! - Kaas Plateau

Picture yourself at a place where there are rows and rows of blooming flowers on a flat land, as far as your eyes can see - different colours, different varieties - surrounded by verdant mountains, lakes and valleys. If you think I am asking you to recollect a scene from some Yash Chopra film then you are mistaken. I am alluding to a place which is only 6-7 hours drive South of Mumbai and about 2-3 hours from Pune.

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Window shooting (Part 1) and photography tips for shooting sunsets & moons

"I enjoy travelling and recording far-away places and people with my camera. But I also find it wonderfully rewarding to see what I can discover outside my own window. You only need to study the scene with the eyes of a photographer."

- Alfred Eisenstaed

A Bat flies across the setting sun in Mulund

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Moods of the sky

The above picture was taken at ISO 800.

God, the greatest painter of all, uses the Sky as His canvas to create some truly mesmerising effects.

First sunset of 2010

Another shot from my house. Picture of 2010's first sunset. Near the base of the tall building, nature appears to have made brush strokes in the sky with yellow colour. What a beautiful beginning to the new year!

Violence & Peace

Even as the fiery sky threatens, the domes of this building stand serenely in mock defiance.

Took this shot from my home some months back.

Naked

This tree surely believes in shedding and giving (great visuals). Sights such as these are worth walking a thousand miles for...

Maximum City, Mumbai - Flora Fountain

Flora Fountain is a spectacular heritage structure located at the Hutatma Chowk in South Mumbai. It is about 5 minutes walk from the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station along the Dadabhai Naoroji Road (which is lined with heritage buildings). It may have lost its magnificence over the years, due to inadequate maintenance, but is beautiful nonetheless.

One can read about its history at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Fountain

Postcards for my dear - omnibus

Probably the last in the current series. Lots more to share...may be sometime later!

Postcards for my dear

An assortment of pictures on which I decided to employ some creativity.

Evening dunes

Some folks have asked me 'what!, no desert pics?'. Fact of the matter is, in a hurricane tour there is hardly any time to indulge in luxuries. Though, we did manage to visit the Sam Desert (near Jaisalmer) even as night was about to set in.

Based on my personal experience I would suggest not to visit the Sam Desert but to check out some of the other more pristine deserts where the number of tourists are fewer and one can truly enjoy a desert safari without irritation.

Silhouettes of time

The small house below (uninhabited) presents a picture of loneliness and adds mystery to the picture. The lifeless tree conveys a feeling of been mauled by time and yet standing there trying to provide a semblance of shade to the house. Picture was taken next to the Sutarwadi lake near Kolad (covered in an earlier post).

Nawab's palace / Purani Haweli

Residence of the Siddi Nawab, Ahmedganj Palace, is located in Murud on a small hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea. Entry to the palace is unfortunately not permitted. The descendants of the royal family currently reside in Mumbai. Though the palace is clearly visible from the outside, I took a picture from the arch on the side entrance to give it an out-of-bounds, mystical & haunted appearance - considering that quite a few Ramsay's horror films like Purani Haweli were shot over here.

Kashid beach

Rang De Basanti

An Aquaman?

An aqua Superman!, this man appears to have propelled himself to hit the moon.

Bathed in gold

Love is in the air

Beach in the evening

Kashid beach is about 30 minutes drive from Murud - Janjira. This beach is a must visit for those travelling to Murud-Janjira. It has clean white sands, blue waters, shacks that serve you hot snacks & cool beverages and a few revellers. As I have been noting throughout this blog, a beach lends itself for a variety of activities, some of which are again pictured here. Beaches are great places to be since one seldom comes across an unhappy face.

Beautiful Kolad - Sutarwadi lake

Pictures have been arranged (top to down) as per time of day, reflected in the changing colours of the lake.

Known for its tranquil, azure blue waters, Sutarwadi lake is located about 12 kms from Kolad. Its a place to spend a leisurely evening. Catch the  flocking birds, indulge in some angling, pebble throwing or just laze around on a hammock. Its truly a Wodehousian experience.

On the waterfront

This one's a view straight out of Nicholas Sparks' romantic novel! This photo has been taken from the deck of Estuary Island Resort near Kovalam in Kerala. The resort derives its name from the fact that it is located on a private island close to the confluence point of Arabian sea, a lake and a river. The resort, which has excellent amenities, is a must visit for the romantically inclined.

Fire

Fires against a dark backdrop make for interesting pictures. Here along with dried Ashoka leaves, the picture appears almost perfect.

Back home, but no one seems happy :(

People disembarking from a ferry, a rag picker, and camel along with his master all head back home after a day's work. Their walk appears dejected, providing a melancholic tinge to the photos.

Come on, my boy!

Captured on the Dive Agar beach in Konkan (Dist. Raigad, Maharashtra) in the evening.