Mumbai to Lonavala Seaplane Service schedule and prices

Last month the first seaplane service on India's mainland was launched to take travellers from Mumbai to Lonavala. The air journey takes just about half an hour and provides a novel experience of landing on water instead of on land. What's more, travellers get a superb view from the air of a few of Mumbai's well known landmarks, such as Haji Ali, the sea link connecting Bandra and Worli, Mandwa beach, etc.

List of popular Waterfalls in Maharashtra

There are lots of beautiful scenic waterfalls in the Sahyadri hills area in Maharashtra. The largest number of visitors are, naturally, on the weekends. There is something about waterfalls which enthrall people. Some waterfalls are regular haunts of picnickers while others have few visitors due to their greater anonymity. Here are some of the popular waterfalls in Maharasthra (though by no means this can be regarded as a complete list ~ I am sure there are lots more!).

Mango Festival Tour May 2013

Wild Trotters is organizing a fun trip this summer to Ratnagiri, Maharashtra to celebrate the season of mangoes. During the Mango Festival Tour, you will be residing on a farm in Ratnagiri and learn how mangoes are cultivated and picked. Best of all, you get to eat an unlimited number of mangoes!

MTDC Kokan Alphonso Tourism Festival 2013

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has collaborated with Kokan Green Life to organize a unique alphonso tourism festival in the Kokan region. After all, it is the mango season & what better way than to travel to the heart of mango-land in Maharashtra & get first-hand knowledge about the king of fruits!

Travel Tips for visitors to Ajanta Ellora caves Aurangabad

At the outset it should be mentioned that you should not try to pack in a visit to the Ajanta caves at the same time as the Ellora caves. You should keep enough time to explore the grandeur of the two caves separately.

Visiting Janjira Fort Murud and nearby tourist attractions

One of the most famous forts in Maharashtra, the Janjira Fort (janjira comes from an Arabic work meaning island) at Murud is, incredibly, bang in the middle of a sea! Just imagine huge waves lashing repeatedly at the walls of the fort, day after day after day and, yet, standing indestructible over eons.

Another incredible fact about this fort is that, despite repeated raids by various kings & foreign invaders, it was never conquered. The 40 feet high walls had been put up as a defence against sea pirates and, over time, strong masonry was added to the original wooden structure. Even Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji were unsuccessful in their attempts to capture the fort, both by tunnelling and by trying to scale the granite walls. The fort was primarily in the hands of the Siddis’ dynasty of nawabs who were allies of the Mughal Emperors.

Crocodile Safari Maldoli Chiplun

The monsoon season is the best time to go on a crocodile safari in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It takes about 5 hours to drive down to the village of Maldoli, located on the banks of Vashisti river in Chiplun.

Purushwadi Maharashtra Fireflies Festival

Located appoximately 200 kms from Mumbai in the Western Ghats, Purushwadi village in Junnar, Maharashtra is the site of a fascinating phenomenon ~ the courtship of millions of fireflies. The night is lit up by their glow, making it a mesmerizing sight worth going for.

Maharashtra Nature Park Mumbai

Right in the center of the bustling city of Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is a lovely green oasis. Earlier known as the Mahim Nature Park, today it is officially called the Maharashtra Nature Park. Located in the Dharavi-Sion area, at one time it was just a dumping area for garbage, enclosed by vast areas of slums on one side and the polluted Mithi river on the other. You will be surprised to know that now it has plenty of trees and flora and fauna flourish here in abundance. What's more, it even has its own lake!


Maharashtra Nature Park Birds
Black kite
Laughing dove
Barn swallow
Purple sunbird
Bluethroat
Bee eater
Great egret

Maharashtra Nature Park Butterflies

Blue Tiger
Pioneer
Commander
Baronet
Blue Oakleaf
- and lots more!

Maharashtra Nature Park Animals
Squirrels
Mongoose
Bats

Other residents include insects, such as the garden lizard and the chameleon, and reptiles, such as snakes and cobras.

Maharashtra Nature Park Plants
Teak
Rosewood
Flame of the Forest
Golden apple tree
Kadamba
Oak
Lot of flowers!

Maharashtra Nature Park Facilities

• Audio-Visual hall
• Exhibition hall.
• Activity spaces for conducting various activities like nature games, drawing or painting competitions
• Open air Amphitheatre
• Library of more than 500 books on nature and Environment related topics.
• Nursery for growing and sale of plants.

Maharashtra Nature Park Sections

• Education Centre
• Nursery
• Wooded Area
• Medicinal Plants cultivation Section,
• Palms Section,
• Fruit Trees Section,
• Vegetables Section,
• Aquarium
• Bird Observation Point
• Vermicomposting demonstration Project

Maharashtra Nature Park Activities
(i) Nature Trail
(ii) Nature Games
(iii) Study of Medicinal Plants
(iv) Bird Watching
(v) Seminars/Workshops/Lectures
(vi) Drawing and Essay competitions.

The Park visitors are provided a guide cum interpretation facility on request (for which an advance intimation is necessary).

Maharasthra Nature Park Timings
Monday to Saturday between 0930 hrs. and 1800 hrs. (On Sundays and National Public Holidays too visits are possible, but with prior intimation.)

Maharashtra Nature Park Contact Information 
Dy. Director, MNPS, Maharashtra Nature Park Society,
Maharashtra Nature Park,
Near Dharavi Bus Depot,
Opp. P.M.G.P. Colony,
Dharavi,
Mumbai - 400 017.
Maharashtra
Ph: 407 7641/407 9939.
E-mail : mnps@bom7.vsnl.net.in

Navegaon National Park Maharashtra

Vidarbha, Maharashtra is home to the picturesque lake of Navegaon. The waters of this lake have created lush greenery all around, thereby giving a haven to flora and fauna. These form the expanse of the Navegaon National Park, Maharashtra. The section of the Park that is thronged by birds has been named after legendary ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali.


Overlooking the lake is a range of hills which comprise of seven peaks named saat bahini (meaning 7 sisters). If you ask the locals about the lake’s formation, you will be told about the legend of how the goddesses of the hills (the saat bahini) assisted a resident of the area named Kolu Patel Kohli in creating this lake. Kohli came to be worshipped as a God and a small shrine in his memory is perched atop one of the peaks. At the center of the lake there is a small island. At one time the local tribes took refuge from invaders on this island.


Attractions of Navegaon National Park
Stand quietly by the lakeside and watch as a fish-eating bird suddenly dives down to snatch an unwary fish. In fact, you should make sure you take your binoculars with you! Walk the trails beneath the majestic trees of the forested area. Besides teak trees, you will see jamun, mahua and other varieties of deciduous trees. You may just be lucky to sight a panther or wolf! For photographic enthusiasts, the best picturesque images can be captured from strategic points on one of the many watch towers.


Within the Navegaon National Park, there is a separate Deer Park and a couple of well-maintained landscaped gardens, besides an aviary. In addition, there is a small museum and library.


You can also visit the Nawegaon Bandh, a dam site, where a variety of fish are caught and sold by the locals. You can even enjoy a nice seafood meal at the nearby rest house.

Location & Address of Navegaon National Park:

Morgaon Arjuni Tehsil

Gondia – 441 601

Maharashtra

Accommodation at Navegaon National Park:

1. Tents

2. Youth Hostel

3. Log Hut Rest House

4. Holiday Homes Rest House

5. Sanjay Kuti Rest House

Best Time to Visit: April to June

Tip: Contact before trip to confirm timings, as during the wildlife’s siesta time, the Park may be closed.

How to Reach

1. You can fly down to Nagpur Airport and then drive from there to the Park. It is a long drive though from Nagpur – about 150-160kms.

2. You can travel by train to Deulgaon railway station. It is one of the halts of trains plying on the Chandrapur-Gondia Railway line. From there, the Navegaon National Park is just 2kms. Away.

3. You can board a State Transport Bus from Gondia (65kms)

Contact Information for other details & Accomodation:

Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife),

Bhandara, at Gondia, Mulchul Road,

Ashirwad Nagar, Ashirwad Bhavan,

Gondia - 441601,

Maharashtra,

India

Phone Number of Navegaon National Park: 91-7182-226399