Travelogue - Trip to Nashik - Day 3

The plan for the day was to visit 3 places - Trimbakeshwar, Anjaneri and HAL museum and then return back to Pune.

Drive to Trimbaskeshwar🚗🚦🚩

The checkout time at the hotel was 10.30am and we called in the reception that we would be late by 30 mins. After the morning breakfast at the hotel we checked out of the hotel. We first drove to Trimbakeshwar. The distance between the hotel we stayed and Trimbakeshwar is 30 kms which can travel within 45 mins. While on the way we saw the Harihar fort on the way which has been famous with trekkers as well as instagramers :) 

The fort Harihar seen at a distance

A Little better view of Harihar

Further on the way to Trimbakeshwar you also see a famous place of Anjaneri. It holds a lot of historical & religious significance. As per the Hindu mythology, Anjaneri is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. We reached Trimbakeshwar at around 12.30pm. There is a entry fee for vehicles and opportunist people approached us saying, the current road is one-way, in case you want to go till the temple then you can pay some amount and go wrong side. We were not interested. We then reached the parking spot and it was shabby and unclean. The premises outside the temple was very unclean & shabby and that was the state of 1 of the 12 Jotirlingas. We decided to take mukh darshan and leave soon as the heat was unbearable and the crowd and the shabbiness of the place outside made us not wait for a long time there, kid too was a little cranky as well. There was rush to visit the temple and couple of days ago it was Mahashivratri.

At Trimbakeshwar

Drive to Anjaneri🚗🚦🚩

Anjaneri foothills is 10 kms from Trimbakeshwar. Its a climb and the vehicle can reach the foothills of the temple. The road though is for offroad vehicles as it is not yet complete and is dusty road.

Anjaneri Mountain

The drive to the foothill is challenging but for someone who loves driving, you will enjoy and in sometime I believe the road would be completed with tar. Anjaneri is a forest area and protected site. We reached the foothills at 1.30pm. As soon as we parked the car we were surrounded by a group of curious Macaque monkeys. How apt that you are at the foothills of Anjaneri the birth place of Lord Hanuman and you are greeted by monkeys. The monkeys were curious to know if we had any food and were also interested in the toy that the kid had in the hand.

We checked with the Forest Guard as to what would be the time taken to trek and reach the top, the guard mentioned around 2-3 hrs if we keep walking non-stop. He also mentioned that there are no water places on the way and with kid, it would take a little longer. Listening to the experienced words of the forest guard we decided not to trek to the temple atop and visit the next time we come to Nashik. We had lemon water at near by store run by young kids and then we were on our way, driving down the Anjaneri hill. 

Anjaneri Temple beyond this mountain

Trek around the hill to reach the temple

Wife mentioned to me that at the start of the road there is a Praati Hanuman temple which we can visit. So we decided to wait and visit the temple.

So it was a wrap and we then headed to the HAL museum which was on the Agra highway, but after reaching the place we realized the place was closed after 2pm. So after spending 3 days and 2 nights in Nashik, it was a wrap of the small yet fulfilling trip. Thanks for you time.

Travel - Trip to Japalouppe Equestrian Centre - Kids Day Out

Visit Japalouppe🐎🐴👪👀

Lets take the kids out for a day's picnic, but where? that was the question that I was trying to answer or you can find an answer to. So I started searching on the net a day long picnic which would be interesting and would be fun for the kids and dang Japalouppe Equestrian Center showed up on the search. So I called up the center and enquired about the petting farm.I called-up my sister and checked with her if she would be interested to join us and she was. Japalouppe is located on NH48, Near Somatne Toll Plaza, Talegaon Dabhade.

Japalouppe Logo

One can visit the site for further details on https://japalouppe.com/petting-farm/

They offer guided petting tour and within the entry fee a paid up but complimentary buffet lunch. You can also have further joy rides on horses at the end of your stipulated time and for that you have to pay extra. You can check the site for further info. 

Post the check-in process, we were given the necessary bands and post that there was a briefing as to how the tour would go for the stipulated time. First-up after the intro to the place there were Do's and Don't explained like not to poke and squeeze smaller size animals. Then each family were given the feed bucket. Its a combination of fresh green veggies and bread crumps which would be used to feed the various petting farm animals we meet and touch along the tour.

Feed Bucket

Family

Farm covered by tall trees

We met Radhika Srinivasan who is in charge of the Japalouppe Equestrian Centre as the lead who takes care of the petting and equestrian centre. She was out ex-school student. We chatted and she recalled some bits of it as we used to travel by the same school bus.

Post the introduction we were assigned in a group of 4 families a tour guide who would take us to the various enclosures of the animals.

The Quaky Ducks🦆🦆🦆

First-up were the quaky ducks and they were a hungry bunch. We had bread crumps in our feed bucket and the tour guide mentioned to us that we can feed the ducks the same.

The Tortoise🐢🐢🐢
It was now the time of petting and handling the soft shell Turtle. I asked my wife to feel and handle the turtle and it was a scene to see my wife handle the turtle.

The Four Pigs - Eenie Meenie Miney & Moe🐖🐖🐖🐷🐽

Next-up were the 4 pigs. They had a very catchy name Eeenie, Meenie Miney & Moe. Here we were to feed them the green leafy leaves that were in the feed bucket. Kid was very excited to see the pigs up close and also feed them.

The Guinea Pigs🐭🐭🐭

The cutest animals of the lot and one that can sit on your lap and enjoy the bits of carrots that you feed them. Here the tour guide gave us the instructions to take the Guinea pigs on the lap and feed them. They are territorial as well hence we were asked not to throw any food in a bunch of the Guinea Pigs.

The Horse🏇🐎🐴

After the Guinea Pig shed we were introduced the Horse, I cant recall the name but he was very playful and cheerful and happy to be touched and responded to the touch positively. He made every effort to reach out to the tasty carrots that were fed by the kids.

Baabaa & Baabra - The Black Sheep🐐🐐🐐

Like the song Baba Black sheep, there were actually goats and sheep which were the next ones. Though we may feel thats a simple goat, but we usually do not get to touch them, here the kids get the opportunity to touch and feed them and they respond to the kids better.

The Rabbit Barn🐰🐰🐇

Next up were the Rabbits and the Hares, here you could take them on the lap and feed them cabbage and carrots. They also the cutest animal of the barn.

The Birds 🦜🐦🐦

Up next were the birds, the small love birds, Emu, Cockatoos. Here there was nothing as such to feed from the bucket, but we were given some seeds to feed the birds. They would fly and come rest on your arm and eat the seeds.

and with this the animal petting farm tour ended. We then headed for the buffet snacks and the food was delicious. The main attraction of the Equestrian are the Horses and in the evening before the farm closes, the kids can ride on the horses. Its a 20 min ride and they wear the full gear for safety. We too wanted the kids to ride the horse. Paid extra INR 500 for the horse ride.

Which Horse Shall I ride

Eureka - I know the horse

With the end of the ride, it was end of another adventure for the kids. Japalouppe Equestrian Center lived up to its expectation and we enjoyed the day we spent there. You too can take your kids and family there and know more about horses in general. Until next time. See you and keep reading.