Mumbradevi Temple in Mumbra

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Mumbra Devi Temple is built on the Parsik Hills. The temple can be accessed via the National Highway 4 (NH4) or via the Mumbra Railway station located on the Central railway line. 

Mumbra Devi Temple atop Prasik Hills

We had visited the Shiva Temple at Ambernath and Kondana Caves in Karjat and had planned to visit Mumbra Devi Temple and Lonad Caves today. 

As decided we boarded the 7:32 AM fast train for Asangaon from Dadar railway station on the central line. We alighted at Mumbra railway station at 8:09 AM. The Mumbra Devi temple can be seen from the railway station. 

View from atop Mumbra Devi Temple

We had tea and asked for directions and then started our climb to the top.  As the temple is visited by devotees throughout the year,  steps have been made right till the top.  

I didn't count  no. of steps but it should be around 300 plus. Though there are steps the climb is difficult and will put pressure on your knee's and calves. The climb is very similar to Gilbert Hill. Though Mumbra Devi temple is on a higher altitude in comparison to Gilbert hill.  

Steps leading to the top

NH4 is located very close to the foothill.  

As we kept climbing up the stairs the sound of the trains and vehicles plying on NH4 started reducing. We could hear the chirping of the birds.  The sun was shinning softly on us.  It was a bit hazy outside,  we were hoping that it gets better as we reach the top. 

It took us 35 minutes to reach the top with plenty of intervals. There are plenty of people who come here for their morning walks. They were so fast in the ascend and descend. 

Strings (people wishes) tied to the tree

The view from up here is amazing.  It offers a beautiful view of the sunrise if you come early in the morning,  the creek surrounded by mangroves,  the central railway line and offcourse winding NH4. Apart from the residential buildings around. This place should be a watchtower as it offers a great view of the surrounding. 

As the devotees offered prayers I took photos up here. Photography of the temples is not allowed.  

Breakfast at Mumbra

It took us 15 minutes to descend the hill.  

Had breakfast in the form of omelette and scrambled eggs and Lassi for drinks.  

Kondana Caves aka Kondivade Caves in Karjat

Monday, April 20, 2015

Kondana Caves aka Kondivade Caves is located at Thakurwadi and not at Kondana or Kondivade in Karjat. They were built by the Buddhist monks.  The caves are located in the same hill range as Rajmachi. They can be accessed both from Karjat and Lonavala.

Hillrange from Kondivade Village

After visiting the Shiva Temple at Ambernath we headed over to Karjat to visit the Kondana Caves.  

The Ambernath railway station was jam packed with people. Though the trains were on time,  the less number of trains led to the crowd ever increasing this time.  

Buffaloes bathing in Ulhas river

We boarded the 10:17 AM train to Karjat.  Note that trains are every 30 minutes from Ambernath to Karjat.  It took us around 40 minutes to reach Karjat railway station.  Also another thing which I noted is that the railway stations between Ambernath and Karjat are far away from each other.  Commuting will always be a problem, while travelling between these stations. 

Kondana Caves

Once we reached Karjat, we decided to have the famous Karjat Vada Pav,  packed vada's, mixed bhajiya for lunch while trekking the Kondana Caves.  We wanted to have some Lassi,  sadly none of the milk dairy stacked Lassi,  so we has to have Gola and lemon juice.  Which was a great refresher on a hot sunny day.  

Another view of Kondana Caves

We then followed the instructions provided by the locals and walked for about 15 minutes to reach Shriram Pool,  the place from where we were to get a Tum Tum to Kondivade Village.  

If you hiring a private tum tum,  it will cost you around 200 bucks,  else shared seat will cost you Rs. 30 only. As it was just the two of us,  we decided to take Rs. 30 option. The tum tum terminates at Kondivade Village.  The private tum tum terminates at Thakurwadi village. 

Main hall at Kondana Caves

 We alighted at Kondivade village and followed the instructions of the locals and started walking on the tar road. Kondivade village -  Kondana village - Thakurwadi village.  The caves are located near Thakurwadi village.    It took us around an hours time to reach Thakurwadi village.  The roads are not very good here.  So if you getting your car along,  see to it,  that it has a high ground clearance.

Carvings

The one hour walk in the hot sun was exhaustive. But it offered a beautiful view of the hill ranges around,  Rajmachi fort and Ulhas river which flows next to the road. Saw a couple of women washing clothes in the river.  The river was not very deep in certain portions and hence saw a couple of buffaloes bathing in it too. I guess it was the heat. This place would look wonderful in the rains, greenery all around.

Apart from Kondivade Village, Kondana village, has a small shop that offers refreshments,  no refreshments at Thakurwadi village.  Each of these villages are small consisting of around houses ranging from 10 to 20.

Another view of Kondana Caves

A muddy path, the first left after you cross Thakurwadi village leads to the Kondana Caves.  again there are no sign boards placed here.  So my advise is to follow the most traveled path,  you will also see wafer and chocolate wrappers along the way.  Means that you are not the right path.  The path is like a rollercoaster ride,  on the edge of the cliff and on flat plateau. It is made of loose soil. So be careful while trekking uphill and downhill. 

Mike and Me

As the sun was right over our head,  we were feeling the heat,  our water resource was also depleting. After a couple of breaks and having kandha bhajiya as food we started to explore the caves.  

In a matter of 30 minutes we could locate the caves.  Sign of relief.  We finally made it. 

Resting rooms in the Caves

Just 4 to 5 caves here. out of which the second cave was beautifully carved. It had a Stupa in it, which is currently broken down along with pillars around. There are two wooden arches too. 

Next to it is another cave, which can be reached by climbing the steps, it had many rooms in it. Each of the rooms had a flat bed like structure made of stone. I believe this was the resting place for the Buddhist monks who carved these caves. There is water seepage in the caves, as the floor of the caves was still moist. 

Water cistern in the Caves

There are two other caves, but nothing much to see in them. The last cave was a water cistern. Water was currently filled in it. not sure if it was fit for consumption.

Its fun to come here in the rains, reason being , you can enjoy the waterfall that happens over the caves. But due to this waterfall the carvings are getting eroded. The Govt should work on the up keeping of these caves.  

Scenic view of Rajmachi

After having our lunch in the form of vada's and kandha bhajiya we rested in the cool shade of trees. The birds chirping and the sound of the leaves swaying in the winds was music to my ears. 

We then decided to head back to Mumbai. From Kondana Caves, there is a trail that leads to Rajmachi Fort. Now it would take around 3 to 4 hours to reach the top from here. 

Waterbodies

We reached Thakurwadi village in 20 minutes, walked for an hour's time to reach Kondivade Village to board the shared tum tum to Karjat.

Tum Tum

Though we were tired, trekking in the hot sun, this journey was fun.

Looking forward to Mumbra Devi Temple tomorrow.

Shiv Mandir at Ambernath

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Prachin Shiv Mandir or Ambreshwar Shiv Temple, I located a a distance of 2 KM away from the Ambernath railway station (east) on the central railway line. History states that the Shilahara king Chhittaraja had constructed it in 1060 AD,  which was later rebuilt by Mummini (son of Chhittaraja) 

Shiv Mandir or Ambreshwar Shiv Temple at Ambernath

Mike and I had planned to do Shiv Mandir in Ambernath and Kondana Caves in Karjat today and Mumbra Devi Temple in Mumbra and Lonad Caves in Kalyan tomorrow. Remember him, he had accompanied me to Elephanta Caves. :)

As decided Mike and I met at Dadar railway station on the central railway line to board the 7:38 AM,  fast train to Badlapur to alight at Ambernath.  The train was late and we alighted at Ambernath at 8:44 AM.  There was a mad rush on the platforms here. So I understood that the trains were late and hence the crowd is ever increasing on the platforms.  

We exited the Ambernath railway station on the eastern side, followed the instructions provided on the roads to walk to the Shiva Temple. In around 20 minutes we were at the entrance of the temple.  

Shiv Mandir or Ambreshwar Shiv Temple at Ambernath

The stone carved temple looked amazing.  The detailing of the carvings was just too good. It might have taken them years to built this temple.  There are two entrances and a exit to the temple.  There are steps in the temple which lead you down,  where the main shivling is located.  Due to low light and large crowd,  got blurry photos here.  When taking photos in  temple premises be ready to be greeted with raised eyebrows. lol. 

One of the devotee informed me that during Mahashivratri,  the temple is over crowded with people.  There is also a fair which is held then.  It continues for 3 to 4 days.  

Sculpture on the walls

It was a Monday.  There was crowd within the temple premises.  

We then headed off to see,  Kondana Caves in Karjat.