Saturday 26 June 2010

Magical Monsoons in Karjat

colorful spots on leafKarjat during the monsoons is as colorful as these leaves. Covered with variety of flora and fauna, Karjat transforms into a lively, energizing zone.

The plants come to life, flowers bloom in all its glory, birds build their nest and give life to new ones, frogs rejoice in the rains and the waterfalls begin to flow in full swing.
wild purple flower
white frog jumping Since monsoon is the best season to visit Karjat, its a favorite weekend getaway for many city dwellers. Here's a glimpse of magical monsoons in Karjat and what you might be missing on. brown bird in karjat Drops of rain settle on the branches of the casuarina tree.
raindrops in karjat There are fruit trees in Karjat, guava, chickoo, papaya, and many more. The one below is the pretty flower of the guava tree.
psidium guajava L or white guava There is so much water flowing, even the plants growing in the wild have lovely flowers.
pink wild flowers Trumpet creepers blossom only during the monsoons, the orange flowers add colour to the green landscape.
trumpet creeper or trumpet vine or campsis radicans Summer dries up the teak trees, and the rain gives new life to them.
new teak leaves
giant size teak leaves
A common sight in this season are the mushrooms, growing under the trees, on grass, and in all shapes and sizes.
mushrooms growing in the rains karjat The morning dew that collects on the plants makes a pretty picture.
karjat in the rains The open fields are covered in carpet of green surrounded by dense forest and cloud-covered peaks, its a beautiful view. scenic view of the hills in karjat Even the herd of buffaloes enjoy grazing in these fields. grazing cattle Even rafting is possible in Karjat during the monsoons, on the Ulhas river. Below photo shows a group of school children waiting to go rafting. rafting in  karjat Its the mating season for birds, amphibians, animals, reptiles, insects etc. A huge frog found his mate after several calls. frogs mating If you are a nature lover then its the ideal time to visit Karjat. There is no end to the amount of diversity you will witness here, all you need to do is observe. bird watching in karjat

Saturday 5 June 2010

Dada's Grill: Pizzas, Pastas and Curries

Dadas grill karjat
Although there are a variety of places to eat in and around Karjat, sometimes the need arises to have a cuisine that is not spicy, unlike most of the food served in this region. Dada's Grill, which is located beyond Takve village on the Karjat-Murbad road while going to Kashele, offers a welcoming treat for taste buds.
dadas grill pathway The à la Carte is something that can be really tantalizing, Dada's Grill in Karjat churns out some of the best pastas that can be compared to few restaurants in Mumbai. The food is a tad bit overpriced (since its main clientèle includes weekend hoppers from Mumbai, Pune, etc.)
dadas grill restaurant, places to eat in karjat
They also serve Indian food, we would recommend Chicken Masala a delightful starter, as compared to Garlic Cheese bread which is made out of sliced bread. The Biryanis and Butter Chicken too are sumptuous, good quantity but don't be surprised if you dig into a neck.
karjat restaurant chicken masala For the vegetarians, Veg Kadai and Paneer Mutter is a good bet, around Rs 90 onwards. A Veg Pasta costs around 240, while a Chicken Biryani will set you back by around Rs 170. They do serve Pizzas as per the menu but that's only if its a big group and you would have to place the order in advance.
chicken biryani and butter chicken at dadas grill in karjat
Dada's Grill overlooks a well-maintained lawn that's surrounded by trees and vegetable patches, you can go for a stroll on the sprawling property :) The only downside to it is the low roofing, making the place extremely hot during summers. veg pastas dadas grill karjat The aesthetics and ambiance of this place is soothing which makes Dada's Grill a fun place to dine at.
ethnic pot holder They also offer accommodation which is patronized by weekend goers. For the prices of rooms you can contact Pandey Ji on 9823429987. The per day inclusive of all meals, which is served via a buffet system. Although it may sound steep the cost is competitive to other hotels and resorts in Karjat.
dadas grill swimming pool Whats even better is that it has only a couple of rooms, a swimming pool and acres of land for you to get lost in.
dadas grill lawn

Dada's Grill Contact:
Murbad road, Chowk-Karjat, Raigad - 410201 Tel - 9823429987

Dada's Grill Location: