ROOTS - Cafe InThe Park.

ROOTS - Cafe InThe Park.

Highly recommended by D - I - L.

We had gone on a weekend. Forewarned to go early or there would be a queue and waiting time which would increase geometrically. So, reached there sharply at 8:00 AM. Already a fair crowd. Only a few tables were vacant indoors. Although open-air seating is available, we preferred to sit inside because of the prevailing heatwave conditions.

Two huge "Antartica" water coolers and one sidewall made fully of cooler grass (khas) kept the place cool and pleasant.

As a group we ordered, Sabudana Fingers, Egg Mushroom Cheese Paratha, Stuffed Ragi Paratha, Special Poori Platter, Oats uttapam and to round off a glass of sugarcane juice., Sabudana fingers were quite crispy and tasty. I think there were 5 or 6 in a plate. Recommended to try it out. Egg Mushroom Cheese Paratha. A mixture of Egg, Mushroom and cheese with spaces rolled in a paratha and sliced in 4 to 5 pieces. This was also good. Stuffed Ragi Paratha cut in 4 quarters. The stuffing was on the thinner side. Special Poori Platter, a green, an orange a normal coloured poori were served with aloo subjee, curd and, spiced diced onions. The taste was quite satisfactory I love uttapam with plenty of onions, tomato, green chillies and coriander and the normal accompaniment of sambar and chutneys. I had read the menu but the absence of onions, tomatoes, green chillies etc in the menu failed to register at the time of ordering. I did not like the looks or the taste of Oats Uttpam. Sugarcane juice was good. Service: Even after considering different cooking and preparation timings needed for different dishes, There was a considerable gap between the serving of dishes. So it was either everyone shares from 4-5 pieces served of Egg Mushroom Cheese Paratha or look at the person who had ordered it. We shared all the dishes as they were served in their own time. Being a family , even if the order was served at the same time, we would have still shared each others dishes Taht sharing would have been by our choice and not have been forced upon us. For us it was a family outing, determined to have a good time, so this gap between the serving of various dishes was not very irksome. It can be quite annoying if one goes in a group of acquaintances or as a group of not so close friends. It is high time that the chefs and the administration work out a system where the maximum possible order is served on the table simultaneously. Considering everything it was a good family outing for breakfast.

Nand Ganpati Sangrahalay, Motha. (Chikhaldara)

 Nand Ganpati Sangrahalay, Motha. (Chikhaldara)

This museum has more than 6000 idols of Lord Ganesha. Amazingly no two idols are similar or repeated. The collection has idols varying in size from an inch to five feet. There are also microminiature Ganesh idols, engraved on a grain of rice, wheat, or other suitable grains, the smallest being Ganesha engraved on a sesame seed. These are so small that one needs a magnifying glass to view them. Idols have been made in every possible medium from metals to wood, to fibre, to stone, to marble, to granite, to clay, to the outer shell of a coconut, to the root of a bamboo. Every idol is an artefact of beauty and grace. Most idols are the finest specimens of Indian craftsmanship in stone, granite, marble and brass. Some are so beautiful that they take your breath away! The collection is artistically displayed in glass cases, shelves and pedestals specially made for chosen idols. The Ganesh/ Ganapati Museum ( Sngrahalaya) is housed in six interconnected halls with bright natural light and are well-ventilated. It is hard to imagine that this huge and awesome collection has been the result of the passion, dedication, devotion and love of a single person, Shri Pradip Mudusudan Nand. The staff is very helpful and is willing to go around with you explaining various aspects or any special noteworthy aspect of a particular idol. The entry fee is ₹ 50/- per head. By the time one is through seeing the museum one feels one has got full value for his money. In addition, it also has some paintings of Lord Ganesha. and also a collection of religious book, But the main item is Ganapati idols.

Devi Point, Chikhaldara.

 Devi Point, Chikhaldara.

This was a offseason visit so all the merry go rounds, adventure sports, Ferris Wheels and the general fair- feisty atmosphere was totally missing. The mela ground was deserted. Went down the stairs to the Devi temple. There was fair sized crowd of local Adivasis who had not only come to pray but had also brought a young goat as sacrificial offering to the Goddess. There were drums playing and there was a woman going round and round in wild and frenzied gyrations. We were told that she was possessed by the Goddess and what ever she foretells about an individual comes true. Priti was a bit scared by all this and did not want to go further. Little persuasion did work. The Goddess is enshrined in an open ended deep cave. The cave roof was dripping with streams of water. There is an idol of Goddess deeper in the cave and is enclosed in a barred enclosure. It was done up very nicely and looked beautiful. There was another idol outside this enclosure. All the pujas and offerings were done on this second idol. There is an attached cave where there is a Shiv ling and other minor Gods. Lot of construction work was in progress on pavements, staircase and generally to beautify the place.

Once all the beautification work gets completed, It should become still better and beautiful place.

Government PWD Rest House

Government PWD Rest House

We had stayed here long time back.

This visit was planned at the spur of the moment so there was no time for reservation. After reaching here realised that we had arrived just a day prior to the voting day.

No rooms were available but that did not stop  us from having a good cup of tea and spending couple of hours at this beautiful and scenic place.

Chikhaldara Ghat.

 Chikhaldara Ghat.

In the third week of April when the due to fierce Sun and heat , the ground and the hills bear a scorched look,unseasonal rains had added plenty of greenery on the grassy hillslopes and the trees. Temperatures quite pleasent. It was a great ride.

Chikhaldara Ghat

Chikhaldara Ghat

Chikhaldara Ghat

Chikhaldara Ghat.

Village Anandi in the background.

Chikhaldara Ghat.

Chandrabhaga Reservoir in the background.

Chikhaldara Ghat.

Chandrabhaga Reservoir in the background.

Hotel Shivakrupa Family Restaurant.

 

Hotel Shivakrupa Family Restaurant

We were on the way to Chikhaldara from Nagpur.

Come breakfast time and we started looking around for a place to eat. 

At times like these, all the better looking eating places appear on the other side of the divider of a four lane national highway and no break in the divider 😞

Finally we decided to stop at the next most likely place. That happened to be Hotel shivkrupa family restaurant.

Got down from the car and looked at the place with some apprehension as what we were getting into.

 As the weather was nice and cloudy with gentle breeze blowing I decided to give 4 star for atmosphere.

We asked for Poha. The helping, in compartmentalised plate, was generous with 'tari' and liquidi curd  in separate compartments.

Tari, though looking dangerously fiery was quite mild and tasty, so were the poha,

Service was fast and the staff good.

Value for money and good breakfast.

There are times when you get a good deal in most unlikely places.

 Hotel Shivakrupa Family Restaurant.

Poha with "tari" and curd.

Selfie at  Hotel Shivakrupa Family Restaurant.

Rachana Ring Road Junction to Automotive Square Metro Station.Metro Ride

 Travelled by Metro from Rachana Ring Road Junction to Automotive Square Metro Station.

Rachana Ring Road Junction is on the Aqua Line of Nagpur Maha Metro which runs East to West.

Automotive Square Metro Station is on the Orange line which runs North to South.

Orange and Aqua Line cross at Sitabardi Metro Junction. This is the place where one has to disembark from Aqua Line and change over to Orange line to change the direction from East-West to North-South.

The stations and Sitabardi Metro Junction are as good as any in the world.

The signage is excellently thought out and executed. It is so good that you just have to look around and you can go from the Aqua to the Orange line by following the 'orange' footmarks painted on the platform. Once you approach the orange concourse signage on the walls directs you to the southern or the Northern platforms.

Enjoyed the ride thoroughly.

A Bit disappointed at the low usage of such an excellent public transportation system.

Few photos were taken during the ride.

Photos have been captioned.

Hyacinth weed-infested Ambazari Lake view from Aqua Line.

Vivekanand Statue and hyacinth weed-infested Ambazari Lake view from Aqua Line.

Details of four Bardi Junction Platforms.
Platforms 1&2 orange line. 1 for northward and 2 for southward travel.
Platforms 3&4 Aqua Line. 3 for westward and 4 for eastward travel.
From Platform 3 I had to go to Platform 1.

View from Bardi Junction.

Bardi Junction, as good as any in the world.

Sinage by coaching Class.

Badrdi Square.