Tag: Maharasthra

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Corporate Outings Western Ghats Western India

Corporate Outing spots in and around Mumbai

Being the financial capital of the country, Mumbai works day and night. The people sitting in those tall buildings are some of the hardest working people and they work day and night in order to make their company grow. But there are times when the going gets tough and everyone needs a break. So here are some places that we are about to mention which are perfect spots for the office groups to spend some quality times at. So, it’s our try to let everyone know where the corporate sector of Mumbai can go in order to spend a day outdoors.

Adlabs Imagica- If the team is looking for a place full of excitement and nerdy action, this theme park is a must visit. Also known as the Disneyland of Mumbai, it consists of a snow park, a water park and a theme park. One of the very few places for corporate outings near Mumbai is always full of life with all the college groups, school children and families. Enjoy the watersports, the heart stopping roller coaster rides among many other things and have great day out at a corporate outing.

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Lonavala- This beautiful hill station can be seen all covered with camps set up by the business corporate employees and the families almost all the time. For the history lovers, there are very ancient caves that they can see, for the more adventurous ones; there are more than enough places to do some trekking. The adventure lovers can visit the Della Adventure in Kunegaonndia’s largest adventure park and indulge in exciting sessions of paintball and dirt biking. The thrill is right there at this place and it is a great spot for the team outings.

Panchgani- A few kilometers away from all the hustle bustle of the city, the place is having an odd old worldly charm about it and is known to be one of the very few all natural places around. The place seems untouched by the forces of industrialization and makes for a perfect spot for spending some quality time alone or in a group, whatever you are looking for. Visiting Tableland, paragliding, group games, team building activities, sightseeing and trekking around the place is a must do along with a host of other activities and fun games.

Matheran– The best thing about this beautiful and soulful hill station is that, in order to maintain its all natural beauty and essence and to keep it pollution free, it has been termed as a non-vehicle zone. There are several places where trekking can take place and also the camping sites located in here also serve as great attractions to enjoy in the groups along with the adventure camps set up and some other good team building activities. The place is as calm and peaceful as it can get and all natural down through to its core.

Karjat- Also known as one of the very prime locations for the shoots of most Hindi films, Karjat also serves as a great hangout spot for the lovers of nature. There are many resorts at the place along with the sightseeing tourist attractions. Bike riding track is also there where one can ride their bikes down the valley while witnessing some beautiful sites. Bicycle ride, camping among other team building activities can be performed here in the arms of nature.

These above-mentioned places are most visited not only by the corporate sector teams and groups but individual families and friend groups as well. Hard work seems lovely if such lovely refreshments keep coming from time to time.

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North-West India Relax

Wine Lover’s heaven- Sula vineyards

If you are one of those people who are hopelessly in love with wines, there is very less chance that you haven’t heard of Sula wine yards. Well, it’s okay for those who didn’t! Sula wine yard is located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra near the financial capital of the country, Mumbai. The land is magnetic with the grape wines spread across the massive fields, the churning sound coming straight out of the wine factory, and it’s calming to the senses. A 4-hour drive from Chembur would bring you here as you gear up to explore the most famous wine yard in the country.

The day would easily be spent tasting different wines, getting to know about how to make it and there is a restaurant that serves some delicious cuisines. Nearby the main building there is a restaurant that goes by the name Little Italy which serves some great Italian food to the visitors which goes perfectly well with the freshly brewed wine. However, in case you aren’t interested in the wines at all, there are ample of things for you to do here as well. For one, you can visit the sights around the place, its Nasik at its beautiful best. The wine yard also happens to have an amphitheater and an open garden which offers a great opportunity to spend some quality time at a picnic with your loved ones.

Sula wine yards are a large establishment that covers a total area of 30 acres. The grape fields are here in abundance and greet you as you first enter the place. In between the fields is the road to walk upon which leads you directly to the factory where the wine gets manufactured. The beautiful aroma in the climate gives you a soothing feeling and you feel all relaxed after the tiring journey on your way here.

You have to buy the tickets in order to be able to see the actual working space of the wine makers. There is also a rooftop restaurant right there where you can eat something and relax before starting the trip. The cheese sandwich along with their very famous barrelled red wine was a great experience and you should have one before you go further. The wooden flavor coming from the wine makes you wonder if you could ever get the freshness and taste in the bottled wines that we all have become accustomed to.

You can also visit the wine tasting hall where you could meet the fellow wine enthusiasts and share your experiences with all the different wines that you have tasted over the years. The charge for wine tasting is 150 rupees per person. The souvenir shop nearby will let you buy all the different wines that are manufactured there. There will be a guide who will accompany you and tell you how the company got started and all.

For the wine lovers and nondrinkers alike, the place is wonderful to spend 24 hours at. Don’t forget to make a stop here for your next trip to Maharashtra.

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Architectural Corporate Outings North-West India

The story behind the deep, dark and fascinating Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Artistically carved inside a hillside huge rock, stands this amazing reminiscent of how amazing the hard work and talent can turn out to be. There are about 34 caves in Ajanta and about 29 of them in Ellora and together they constitute one of the world’s greatest wonders. The caves at Ajanta are mainly Buddhist when it comes to religious significance, while the caves at Ellora are a decent mixture of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain beliefs. They have made a secure place in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

How to reach

The railway is the best way to reach Ajanta and Ellora caves. Aurangabad is the nearest station to the Ellora caves at about 45 minutes away while Jalgaon station makes it to the Ajanta caves as the nearest and it takes about half an hour to reach there. It’s best to hire a taxi or a cab to reach the caves from the railway stations.

Those who prefer to reach here by flight should note that Aurangabad can be reached directly from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur airports. The place is about 99 km from Ajanta and 30 km from Ellora.

What to expect

The most brilliant and surprising thing about the caves is that they are totally manmade. No equipment was used in their formation, the manpower and a hammer and a chisel were the only things that were involved in the making. The Ajanta caves are slightly more artistic in nature than Ellora caves as they feature some rich paintings and sculpture while the Ellora caves are known best for their architectural significance.

Let’s begin with the sightseeing.

The Ajanta Caves

The Ajanta caves are series of 29 Buddhist cave temples, some of which date from the 2nd century BC.  The walls inside the Ajanta caves give a great glimpse of the different phases of the life of Buddha and other Buddhist divinities through sculpture and paintings. Out of the most interesting tales that the walls inside tells are the Jatak tales.

The Ellora Caves

The Ellora caves are known for their amalgam of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism emotions. The wall carvings depict the stories of Hindu mythology and feature some great artistic talents of the creators. The site features over 100 caves, of which 34, are allowed to be visited by the public.  These caves consist of 12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu caves, and 5 Jain caves, all of which present the respective deities and mythologies prevalent in the ancient times.

Kailasa Temple

It is one of the largest rock cut ancient Hindu temples located in Ellora. What makes the temple at Ellora so special is that is carved out of a single rock. Do not miss the incredible view of this temple, from the top of the rock; A little climb could get you to see massive scale of it all. However, bringing a torch to explore the caves is advisable as the lighting is quite poor inside.

Jain Caves, Ellora

There are in total 5 Jain caves at Ellora and that date back to the ninth and tenth century AD. The important ones are the Indra Sabha (cave 32), Chhota Kailash (cave 30) and the Jagannath Sabha (cave 33).

Where to stay

Hotel Kailas happens to be located right on the opposite side of Ellora caves. Ajanta T Junction guest house and Ajanta tourist resort are two places that cater the most of the tourists.

Time to visit

Although, a trip can be made any time a year but the time between November to March is considered to be the best for having a trip as the season is cool and dry.

Restaurants and Local Food

The cuisine of Aurangabad emanates the flavor of North India and Hyderabadi cuisine. Kailash Restaurant, Tandoor Restaurant, and Bar Bhoj Restaurant can be explored here.

Ajanta Ellora festival

Tourists planning to visit the Ajanta Ellora caves should not miss the three-day international festival, the Ajanta Ellora festival celebrated in the city of Aurangabad. The festival organized every year between the months of November and March is truly a treat to the senses. Various artists will be seen performing in this prestigious festival. A mixture of cultural competitions for children, youth women, and senior citizens are also planned on this occasion.

For those who love to travel the past and get an insight into the ancient India, Ajanta and Ellora caves by the river Waghora, are the best sites which bring the ancient India into the limelight

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