KNOW ABOUT SATARA
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For the moth genus, see Satara (moth).
Satara
Location of Satara
in Maharashtra and India
Country
Location of Satara
in Maharashtra and India
Country
India
State Maharashtra
District(s) Satara
Mayor Mr. Nishanth Patil
State Maharashtra
District(s) Satara
Mayor Mr. Nishanth Patil
Population
• Density 108,043 (2001)
• 266.77 /km2 (691 /sq mi)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation 10,484 km² (4,048 sq mi)
• 742 m (2,434 ft)
Codes[show]
Website: www.satara.nic.in
Coordinates: 17.69139°N 74.00092°E
Satara pronunciation (help·info) (Marathi:सातारा) is a town located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The name is derived from the seven (sat) hills (tara) surrounding the town. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna River (Marathi:क्रूष्णा) and its tributary the Venna(Marathi:वेण्णा), 67 mi (about 110 km)south of Pune.
Contents [hide]
DETAILS:
• Density 108,043 (2001)
• 266.77 /km2 (691 /sq mi)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation 10,484 km² (4,048 sq mi)
• 742 m (2,434 ft)
Codes[show]
Website: www.satara.nic.in
Coordinates: 17.69139°N 74.00092°E
Satara pronunciation (help·info) (Marathi:सातारा) is a town located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The name is derived from the seven (sat) hills (tara) surrounding the town. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna River (Marathi:क्रूष्णा) and its tributary the Venna(Marathi:वेण्णा), 67 mi (about 110 km)south of Pune.
Contents [hide]
DETAILS:
Historical inscriptions as old as 200 B.C reveal that probably the oldest known place in Satara district is Karad (mentioned as Karhakada). It is alsobelieved that the Pandavas stayed in Wai, then known as 'Viratnagari', in the 13th year of exile.
The empire of Chandragupta II, known as Mahendraditya Kumargupta I, extended as far as Satara district in Deccan when he ruled between 451 AD to 455 AD. The Mauryan empire in the Deccan was followed by the rules of "Satvahans" for about two centuries between 550 A.D. to 750 AD.
The first Muslim invasion of the Deccan took place in 1296.In 1636 the Nizam Shahi dynasty came to an end. In 1663 Shivaji conquered Parali and Satara fort. After the death of Shivaji, Aurangjeb conquered Satara fort later won by Parshuram Pratinidhi in 1706. In 1708 Shahumaharaj was crowned on the Satara fort. The direct descendents of The Great Maratha King Chh. Shivaji continue to live in Satara. The current king of Satara, Chh. Udayanraje Bhonsale is the 13th descendent of Shivaji Maharaj.
After their victory in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the British Empire annexed most of the Maratha territory to Bombay Presidency, but restored the titular Raja Pratap Singh, and assigned to him the principality of Satara, an area much larger than the present district. As a result of political intrigues, he was deposed in 1839, and his brother Shahji Raja was placed on the throne. This prince, dying without male heirs in 1848, Satara was annexed by the British government, and added to Bombay Presidency.
During the independence struggle Satara was known for Prati Sarkar (Parallel Government). During Quit India Movement this parallel government replaced British in rural areas for 4.5 years from August 1943 to May 1946. This type of parallel government was also seen in Midnapur, West Bengal and Balia in UP. Krantisinh Nana Patil was the leader to run this government.
The empire of Chandragupta II, known as Mahendraditya Kumargupta I, extended as far as Satara district in Deccan when he ruled between 451 AD to 455 AD. The Mauryan empire in the Deccan was followed by the rules of "Satvahans" for about two centuries between 550 A.D. to 750 AD.
The first Muslim invasion of the Deccan took place in 1296.In 1636 the Nizam Shahi dynasty came to an end. In 1663 Shivaji conquered Parali and Satara fort. After the death of Shivaji, Aurangjeb conquered Satara fort later won by Parshuram Pratinidhi in 1706. In 1708 Shahumaharaj was crowned on the Satara fort. The direct descendents of The Great Maratha King Chh. Shivaji continue to live in Satara. The current king of Satara, Chh. Udayanraje Bhonsale is the 13th descendent of Shivaji Maharaj.
After their victory in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the British Empire annexed most of the Maratha territory to Bombay Presidency, but restored the titular Raja Pratap Singh, and assigned to him the principality of Satara, an area much larger than the present district. As a result of political intrigues, he was deposed in 1839, and his brother Shahji Raja was placed on the throne. This prince, dying without male heirs in 1848, Satara was annexed by the British government, and added to Bombay Presidency.
During the independence struggle Satara was known for Prati Sarkar (Parallel Government). During Quit India Movement this parallel government replaced British in rural areas for 4.5 years from August 1943 to May 1946. This type of parallel government was also seen in Midnapur, West Bengal and Balia in UP. Krantisinh Nana Patil was the leader to run this government.
Geography
Satara is located at 17.68°N 73.98°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 742 metres (2434 feet).
Satara is located in the western part of Maharashtra.The whole of Satara district falls within the Deccan area. It is bounded by Pune district to the north, Solapur district to the east, Sangli district to the south and Ratnagiri district to the west. Raigad district lies to its north-west. Satara District has an area of 10,480 km², and a population of 2,796,906 (2001).
The Sahyadri range, separates the district from Ratnagiri on the western side The black rock
Satara is located in the western part of Maharashtra.The whole of Satara district falls within the Deccan area. It is bounded by Pune district to the north, Solapur district to the east, Sangli district to the south and Ratnagiri district to the west. Raigad district lies to its north-west. Satara District has an area of 10,480 km², and a population of 2,796,906 (2001).
The Sahyadri range, separates the district from Ratnagiri on the western side The black rock
Mahadeo range starts about 10 m north of Mahabaleshwar and stretches east and south-east across the whole of the district
The main rivers of Satara district are Koyna and Krishna. The Krishna is one of the three largest sacred rivers of southern India. Approximately 172 km of the river course falls inside the district. The Krishna river begins on the eastern brow of the Mahabaleshwar plateau and the source is about 4500 ft. above sea level. Kudali, Urmodi,
The main rivers of Satara district are Koyna and Krishna. The Krishna is one of the three largest sacred rivers of southern India. Approximately 172 km of the river course falls inside the district. The Krishna river begins on the eastern brow of the Mahabaleshwar plateau and the source is about 4500 ft. above sea level. Kudali, Urmodi,
Venna and Tarali are small feeder rivers (tributaries) of Krishna. Koyna is the largest tributary of the Krishna in the district. Neera and
Manganga rivers are the two representative of the Bhima drainage in the north and north-eastern parts of the district respectively.
West side of Satara
Mid West side of Satara
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Satara had a population of 108,043. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Satara has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. In Satara, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
West side of Satara
Mid West side of Satara
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Satara had a population of 108,043. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Satara has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. In Satara, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Tourist spots in and around Satara City
Shri Bhawani Museum And Library, Aundh
The Shri Bhavani Museum and Library located on the Yamai Hill in Satara district recently witnessed a metamorphosis with an extension to the existing gallery and renovation of the museum. With added articles on display that now number more than 5,000 and with lavish interiors, this museum has recently come to be known as one with the highest number of paintings in India. No wonder it is called the Indian Louvre
Aundh was a princely state in British India, as per the Deccan State Agency division of the Bombay Presidency. It was one of the Satara Jagirs, and was founded in the year 1699 by Trimbak Pant Pratinidhi who was a warrior during the period of Sambhaji Raje and Rajaram Maharaj. The Raja of Aundh, the late Bhawanrao Pantpratinidhi, in 1938, built a museum. The Shri Bhavani Museum and Library now plays host to fine art articles not less than 5,000 in number. It is located on the Yamai Hill near Aundh village of the Khatav tehsil of the Satara district. If the impressive collection was not enough in itself, there is also an hexagonal building adjacent to the main building that is a treasure house of more than 25,000 rare books of reference in the field of fine arts.
Says the assistant curator, Pravin Shinde, "The state wing of the Archaeological Survey of India has spent an amount of Rs 2.40 crore for the renovation and beautification of the museum...We have tried giving it the look of a palace through a new interior pattern."
The museum now has 1,200 paintings, 150 sculptures, 700 coins, 200 ivory article, 500 metal articles and 2,000 other artifacts in its possession.
The nine-acre campus has been given added facilities like a parking lot, restaurants, evergreen garden, rest rooms, guest house, drinking water and a better road to climb the hill. The state government has taken an initiative to make the hill green by planting more than 1.5 lakhs of saplings of almost 50 varieties as at present the hill is deserted. Special arrangements of water supply have been made to protect the saplings during the summer.
FACT FILE REACHING THERE Take the NH-4, the Mumbai Bangalore national highway, and reach Satara which is 110 km south from Pune. After passing a huge flyover near Bombay Restaurant take a left turn to take the road leading to Rahimatpur. Drive all the way in the direction of Pusesawali, and after climbing a small ghat after Rahimatpur (25 km), take a left turn going towards Aundh (40 km). Before reaching Aundh village, you will come across a sign board that will guide you to the museum. Climb just one kilometer from the base and you will be there.
ENTRY DETAILS The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm. The weekly holiday is Monday. The charges are Rs 5 per adult and Rs 3 per child.
RESTRICTIONS Use of cell phones, photography (still or video), footwear and eatables are not allowed inside.
PRECIOUS ITEMS
Three original paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.
Mother and Child' by Henry Moore.
Madonna of the Book' by Andrea Del Sarto.
A Rembrandt self-portrait.
In the Prison of Aurangzeb' by A H Muller.
Beggar Boy' by Bartona Morilla.
Franciso' by L Goya.
Boy Volunteer' by G G Hierice.
Game of Draughts' by F Morelli.
Pairs' by Cornil.
ADDITIONAL VIEWING The Yamai Devi temple atop the hill is of Hemadpanthi pattern and the campus has a few marble idols of Hindu gods. Though there are 440 well-constructed steps, a car can be driven right to the top. However, taking the steps provides a glimpse of the life-sized marble idols of avatars of Lord Vishnu. The Yamai temple in Aundh village has another art gallery with more than 60 paintings created by the Maharaja of Aundh with numerous chandeliers. This temple campus houses a 200 feet high deepmala which is believed to be the highest intact deepmala of the state.
'Aundh and Music Festival
Aundh Music Festival the countryside way
Shrinivas Varunjikar'
We all know the magic of Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in Pune. But a small hamlet located in the drought-prone area of the Khatav tehsil of Satara district witnesses classical music festival for last 68 years. Eminent performers attend the festival with full dedication and it has no commercial parameters. A report
Ashwin Vadya Panchami, or the fifth day from the Kojagiri Poornima, which normally falls in the month of October every year has been a prominent day for residents of village Aundh which falls in Khatav tehsil of Satara district. Dombiwali-based Swami Shivanand Sangeet Pratisthan (SSSP) organises Aundh Music Festival foe last 68 years. Aundh was a princely state owned by Bhawanrao Pant Pratinidhi and then it was well-developed. The King of Aundh himself was an artist and he had nurtured talent of aspiring artists in the filed of fine arts like painting, sculpture etc.
Same was the case of music. Swami Shivanand, one spiritual Guru hailing from Mahabaleshwar came to Aundh and established his Math at the foothills of Yamai Hill Aundh. His disciples Anatarao Joshi and his son Gajananbuva Joshi used to sing Bahjans to satisfy Swami Shivanand. On the Ashwin Vadya Panchami of the year 1940, Swami Shivanand left this eternal world. So as to pay musical tribute to the Guru, both the Joshis conceptualised Aundh Music Festival. Anatrao Joshi was the court singer of King of Aundh in the year 1935.
Classical music performers from all over the nation started thronging Aundh to pay the Musical tribute and now Aundh has been identified as the Maharashtra’s seat of Gwalior Gharana, a family tradition famous for its Khyal kind of classical music. Every year the festival is being conducted in three sessions and for more than 24 marathon hours, the performers keep on presenting their skills.
Shrikant Kashalkar, vice president, SSSP, says, “I am really grateful to all the music lovers of the area as this festival totally belongs to them. You may find here music-lovers wearing Gandhi Topis and turbans, but just don’t underestimate them. They have heard the performances of the Guru’s of today’s music exponents. They are the best listeners than that of who attend the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. We also get fabulous cooperation from the performing artistes and nobody complains for the lacunae in the basic amenities. They perform to pay the tribute to Swami Shivanand without any commercial benefit. They say it has been joyous for them to perform before such a well-versed audience.”
Dr Sameer Sohoni, a regular visitor for last 12 years says, “My knowledge about classical singing has been enriched by this festival and I owe a lot to this festival. Most of the time, I have seen the artistes behaving in a very lenient manner, thoughtful and true to their dedication. There is no ticket or entry fee and anyone can attend the festival without any restriction.”
This year, famous film actress and young Kathak dancer Sharvari Jamenis performed Kathak with Rujuta Phatak. Sharvari says, “when the organisers contaceted me to perform at Aundh, I was unaware about the village Aundh and the musical event. When I found that my Guru Pandit Shama Bhate had performed here on many occasions, I just came here to pay tribute to her. The appreciation that I received here has been inspiring for me and I had never expected such a crowd here even in the late hours of night.”
Sharvari is true to her word. No loudspeaker restrictions stop this festival. Nobody complains; rather people love to keep on giving rounds of applause to the performer even if it is 2 am in the wrist watch. Jagan Jadhav, a resident of Aundh says, “I have been attending this festival for last 50 years and I know how all the residents of the area love this event. I have attended performances of Ustad Hindaytullah Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, PAndit Kartik Kumar and many more. Pandit Suresh and Padma Talwalkar are almost integral parts of the festival while the Kashalkar family has been involved in organising body now.”
Sadashiv Neware, a resident of Sangli district says, ”Every year I do attend this festival and some of my friends from Pusesawali walk from their village to attend the festival. As they can’t spare for food and state transport bus, they pack up their food with them and head for the hall. Sitting in a corner, with their chappals wrapped in a plastic bag, they keenly listen to the performance. But they will never leave the hall till and until Bahiravi is performed.”
This year, music lovers from US, UK and Germany also marked their presence at the festival and all of them were impressed to see the informal way of organising the festival. For the classical music lovers who have now settled abroad, this year, the entire festival was telecasted live on internet via ModM and people enjoyed it live sitting in San Jose, Middelsex, UK or Bonn in Germany. The Grampanchyat helped the organisers by providing a newly constructed hall with sitting capacity of 600 occupants with a neatly built stage and green rooms attached. Only the load shedding factor (no power for 14 hours a day)
The golden jubilee of the festival celebrated in presence of famous Marathi author P L Deshpande and Pandit Gangubai Hangal.
Next year the date is Friday 9th October, 2009.
'Pachgani'
Pachgani, is a small hill-station in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located amidst five small hills, from which it derives its name (pach in marathi means five). All these 5 hills are topped by a volcanic plateau which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. These plateaus are known in the local term as "Table Land". These plateaus are part of the Deccan plateau and were raised by the pressure between the earth plates. Because of this it is also an area of high seismic activity with epicenter near Koynanagar which is famous of the Koynanagar dam and hydroelectric power plant. It is located about 265 km from Mumbai and has breathtaking valleys, winding rivers, scenic mountains and scattered hamlets. It attracts many tourists throughout the year, and many Mumbaites visit it as a weekend escape. Some go further, opening resorts which they themselves own, but rent out during certain seasons. There is a Ganesh Temple at Wai, which is located close by. The temperature in Pachgani is around 16 C during the winter and can soar up to 35 C during the summer. There are many elite boarding schools in Pachgani and it has been used as a location to film a number of Bollywood movies. The British set up numerous tuberculosis sanitoriums in Pachgani due to the presence of silver oak trees, which were considered therapeutic. The main attractions are: Table land, Parsi point, Sydney point. [1]Pachgani now faces immense environmental pressures due to commercial activities, opening of illegal hotels, vehicles and temperature inversion (due to humidity) from various new dams built to store water in the vicinity. Freddie Mercury attended St Peter's school in Pachgani where he formed his first band, The Hectics (1958-1962.)
Mahabaleshwar (Marathi:महाबळेश्वर) Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the Satara District in the Western Ghats range of Maharashtra, India. Located about 120 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km², bound by valleys on all sides. Many tourists also visit nearby Panchgani. After the construction of a new highway, it is only a five hour drive from Mumbai. It reaches a height of 1438 m (4710 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point. Mahabaleshwar, "The Queen of Hill Stations", served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj, and today is a popular holiday resort and honeymoon spot. The area is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and is the site of the Mahabaleshwar Temple. Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages, Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part of the Shindola village. The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. Present Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30 and from old records is mentioned as Malcolm Peth, but in practise today it is known as Mahabaleshwar.
Pateshwar (Marathi:पाटेश्वर)
Tourism has been a prominent industry nowadays and in the last decade it has seen a mammoth growth in turnover and tourists inlay. Though the horizons of this industry are left with no bounds, as it has been an inter-continental affair. Still there are certain places around us, which are hardly been explored. Pateshwar alias Patheshwar aka Surya Patheshwar is one such place near Satara where one can find copious archaic sculptures.
On Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway No. 4, after passing Satara city, take left on Satara-Solapur state highway. Just after one kilometre, take Satara-Addl MIDC road leading to Degaon. This is just nine-kilometer distance from Satara ST Bus terminus. Go south for four kilometres and after leaving village Degaon, you find a long, green stretch of the Western Gahts, adjacent to Janai Malai Hill. From roads, you won’t find any structure on the Pateshwar Hill as the entire hill is wrapped in a green thick blanket of trees. The jungle is of semi-deciduous type with teak, banyan, Jajmun, Karvee and other tree varieties. With lyrical notes of an Indian Robin or Whistling Barbet, one can find serene environ with cool feeling.
Then starts a muddy road followed by well-maintained tar road that takes you on the mid part of the hill. On the way, you need to park your vehicle near a precipice from where you can take a panoramic view of the same National Highway that takes you to Kolhapur. You can see Sajjangad, Urmodi Dam on one side and Satara MIDC on the other.
Wait! At the beginning of steps, you find a Lord Ganesha idol with Ridhi-Sidhi, his wives. The feminine sitting posture makes you think what it might be. History books say, it was the time when, Ganesha to kill a demon, had to appear in a woman form. And from here the mystery begins. More you go on the hill; you find two different Lord Shiva temples and an Ahsram, recently built by Swami Govindanand, one local saint.
In the closet vicinity of the first Hemadpanti Shiva Temple, you find many pieces of statuettes around it and the sidewalls of the temple consists of cave-like openings on the either sides of entrance. One of such never-seen-before engrave has a huge Shivalinga and the other consists of a Hanuman idol. The premises also comprise of two big Deepmalas.
Once you enter the main temple, you find superbly carved Nandi statue in front of the Shivlinga. Another stupendous thing you will find just in front of the Nandi. The miniature figurine gives a view of wedding scene of Lord Shiva and Parvati. On the either sides of main temple there are small temples where you find iconic idols of Kartikeya and another Nandi with a human face. The 18-armed Goddess Mahishasur Mardidni carving is in similar context with that of Kalikamata of Kolkata. In the temple itself, you will find sculpture of Lord Vishnu sitting on the snake and both in horizontal position.
After paying obeisance to the Lord Shiva you move to the eastern part of the hill and on the way again, you find stone-carved cave-like structures, filled with water. These all three cave-lets are again with Shivlingas of various sizes and some unknown kind of god statues. There is one stone-constructed water tank called Hatti Talab around these cave like temples. Normally it has been understood that all Shivlingas have their pointed opening towards North direction, but here one can find omni-directional opening.
From here you take left turn and move towards upper part and you find a temple as if it has been emerged out of soil. This three-sectioned temple begins with a Deepmala, followed by a Nandi. This whole temple is at sub-ground level hence lot of water logging has been seen. The either sides of this temple too consist of cave-like structures and numerous Shivlingas in different forms and the number of Salunki range from three to 100.
Now comes the haunting part of the Pateshwara. You enter the main temple and find a Maha Shiva Linga carved with minute necklace-like linings on it. These are nothing but 551 small Pindis carved on the main Pindi. All the walls are carved with such minute Pindis and the total number of such Pindis is not less than 1,008. The main Pindia deeped in water has exclusivity of the kind and there are number of carvings on the monolithic poles of the temple that you are left spell bound. One snake-like carving, sculptures of the eight Avatars of Lord Vishnu and even you will notice linguistic carvings in Modi script on one of the poles.
Wait, take breath, and see around with caution, you may find white skin on Cobra floating in water. Certainly, snakes do reside there. Take breath, have a sigh of relief and then pay your obeisance to this mesmerising lord Shiva. There were some geographical sculptures like Solar Clock earlier, but now almost all the sculptures are in dilapidated condition, as nobody knows the significance of it.
Historians, sculptresses, art-lovers and geography experts are required to carry out research at Pateshwar and they may come out with awesome findings. The place has not been even recognised by the tourism department, forests or any other government department. Only a religious trust looks after and on the last Monday of Shravan month, one can see a religious get together of the devotees of Lord Shiva. After completing the entire hill, you start climbing down the hill left spell bound with the mesmerising things.
A book written by a Satara-based historian R K Dhongade has written a book titled ‘39 Lakh-year-old Our Country-Our Religion’ in Marathi. The book is all about Pateshwar and it mentions that in the pre-historian era, there had been a geographical observatory of one mystic Saptarshi. This soothsayer carried out various experiments to calculate time, decide days of month and year and study the biological clock of nature on the basis of tracking of the sun. According to him Pateshwar has been the origin of Hindu religion and culture. One can find references of Pateshwar in Bhagvad Geeta and Matsya Purana, Dhongade says.
Ajinkyatara (Marathi:अजिंक्यतारा)
Shri Bhawani Museum And Library, Aundh
The Shri Bhavani Museum and Library located on the Yamai Hill in Satara district recently witnessed a metamorphosis with an extension to the existing gallery and renovation of the museum. With added articles on display that now number more than 5,000 and with lavish interiors, this museum has recently come to be known as one with the highest number of paintings in India. No wonder it is called the Indian Louvre
Aundh was a princely state in British India, as per the Deccan State Agency division of the Bombay Presidency. It was one of the Satara Jagirs, and was founded in the year 1699 by Trimbak Pant Pratinidhi who was a warrior during the period of Sambhaji Raje and Rajaram Maharaj. The Raja of Aundh, the late Bhawanrao Pantpratinidhi, in 1938, built a museum. The Shri Bhavani Museum and Library now plays host to fine art articles not less than 5,000 in number. It is located on the Yamai Hill near Aundh village of the Khatav tehsil of the Satara district. If the impressive collection was not enough in itself, there is also an hexagonal building adjacent to the main building that is a treasure house of more than 25,000 rare books of reference in the field of fine arts.
Says the assistant curator, Pravin Shinde, "The state wing of the Archaeological Survey of India has spent an amount of Rs 2.40 crore for the renovation and beautification of the museum...We have tried giving it the look of a palace through a new interior pattern."
The museum now has 1,200 paintings, 150 sculptures, 700 coins, 200 ivory article, 500 metal articles and 2,000 other artifacts in its possession.
The nine-acre campus has been given added facilities like a parking lot, restaurants, evergreen garden, rest rooms, guest house, drinking water and a better road to climb the hill. The state government has taken an initiative to make the hill green by planting more than 1.5 lakhs of saplings of almost 50 varieties as at present the hill is deserted. Special arrangements of water supply have been made to protect the saplings during the summer.
FACT FILE REACHING THERE Take the NH-4, the Mumbai Bangalore national highway, and reach Satara which is 110 km south from Pune. After passing a huge flyover near Bombay Restaurant take a left turn to take the road leading to Rahimatpur. Drive all the way in the direction of Pusesawali, and after climbing a small ghat after Rahimatpur (25 km), take a left turn going towards Aundh (40 km). Before reaching Aundh village, you will come across a sign board that will guide you to the museum. Climb just one kilometer from the base and you will be there.
ENTRY DETAILS The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm. The weekly holiday is Monday. The charges are Rs 5 per adult and Rs 3 per child.
RESTRICTIONS Use of cell phones, photography (still or video), footwear and eatables are not allowed inside.
PRECIOUS ITEMS
Three original paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.
Mother and Child' by Henry Moore.
Madonna of the Book' by Andrea Del Sarto.
A Rembrandt self-portrait.
In the Prison of Aurangzeb' by A H Muller.
Beggar Boy' by Bartona Morilla.
Franciso' by L Goya.
Boy Volunteer' by G G Hierice.
Game of Draughts' by F Morelli.
Pairs' by Cornil.
ADDITIONAL VIEWING The Yamai Devi temple atop the hill is of Hemadpanthi pattern and the campus has a few marble idols of Hindu gods. Though there are 440 well-constructed steps, a car can be driven right to the top. However, taking the steps provides a glimpse of the life-sized marble idols of avatars of Lord Vishnu. The Yamai temple in Aundh village has another art gallery with more than 60 paintings created by the Maharaja of Aundh with numerous chandeliers. This temple campus houses a 200 feet high deepmala which is believed to be the highest intact deepmala of the state.
'Aundh and Music Festival
Aundh Music Festival the countryside way
Shrinivas Varunjikar'
We all know the magic of Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in Pune. But a small hamlet located in the drought-prone area of the Khatav tehsil of Satara district witnesses classical music festival for last 68 years. Eminent performers attend the festival with full dedication and it has no commercial parameters. A report
Ashwin Vadya Panchami, or the fifth day from the Kojagiri Poornima, which normally falls in the month of October every year has been a prominent day for residents of village Aundh which falls in Khatav tehsil of Satara district. Dombiwali-based Swami Shivanand Sangeet Pratisthan (SSSP) organises Aundh Music Festival foe last 68 years. Aundh was a princely state owned by Bhawanrao Pant Pratinidhi and then it was well-developed. The King of Aundh himself was an artist and he had nurtured talent of aspiring artists in the filed of fine arts like painting, sculpture etc.
Same was the case of music. Swami Shivanand, one spiritual Guru hailing from Mahabaleshwar came to Aundh and established his Math at the foothills of Yamai Hill Aundh. His disciples Anatarao Joshi and his son Gajananbuva Joshi used to sing Bahjans to satisfy Swami Shivanand. On the Ashwin Vadya Panchami of the year 1940, Swami Shivanand left this eternal world. So as to pay musical tribute to the Guru, both the Joshis conceptualised Aundh Music Festival. Anatrao Joshi was the court singer of King of Aundh in the year 1935.
Classical music performers from all over the nation started thronging Aundh to pay the Musical tribute and now Aundh has been identified as the Maharashtra’s seat of Gwalior Gharana, a family tradition famous for its Khyal kind of classical music. Every year the festival is being conducted in three sessions and for more than 24 marathon hours, the performers keep on presenting their skills.
Shrikant Kashalkar, vice president, SSSP, says, “I am really grateful to all the music lovers of the area as this festival totally belongs to them. You may find here music-lovers wearing Gandhi Topis and turbans, but just don’t underestimate them. They have heard the performances of the Guru’s of today’s music exponents. They are the best listeners than that of who attend the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. We also get fabulous cooperation from the performing artistes and nobody complains for the lacunae in the basic amenities. They perform to pay the tribute to Swami Shivanand without any commercial benefit. They say it has been joyous for them to perform before such a well-versed audience.”
Dr Sameer Sohoni, a regular visitor for last 12 years says, “My knowledge about classical singing has been enriched by this festival and I owe a lot to this festival. Most of the time, I have seen the artistes behaving in a very lenient manner, thoughtful and true to their dedication. There is no ticket or entry fee and anyone can attend the festival without any restriction.”
This year, famous film actress and young Kathak dancer Sharvari Jamenis performed Kathak with Rujuta Phatak. Sharvari says, “when the organisers contaceted me to perform at Aundh, I was unaware about the village Aundh and the musical event. When I found that my Guru Pandit Shama Bhate had performed here on many occasions, I just came here to pay tribute to her. The appreciation that I received here has been inspiring for me and I had never expected such a crowd here even in the late hours of night.”
Sharvari is true to her word. No loudspeaker restrictions stop this festival. Nobody complains; rather people love to keep on giving rounds of applause to the performer even if it is 2 am in the wrist watch. Jagan Jadhav, a resident of Aundh says, “I have been attending this festival for last 50 years and I know how all the residents of the area love this event. I have attended performances of Ustad Hindaytullah Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, PAndit Kartik Kumar and many more. Pandit Suresh and Padma Talwalkar are almost integral parts of the festival while the Kashalkar family has been involved in organising body now.”
Sadashiv Neware, a resident of Sangli district says, ”Every year I do attend this festival and some of my friends from Pusesawali walk from their village to attend the festival. As they can’t spare for food and state transport bus, they pack up their food with them and head for the hall. Sitting in a corner, with their chappals wrapped in a plastic bag, they keenly listen to the performance. But they will never leave the hall till and until Bahiravi is performed.”
This year, music lovers from US, UK and Germany also marked their presence at the festival and all of them were impressed to see the informal way of organising the festival. For the classical music lovers who have now settled abroad, this year, the entire festival was telecasted live on internet via ModM and people enjoyed it live sitting in San Jose, Middelsex, UK or Bonn in Germany. The Grampanchyat helped the organisers by providing a newly constructed hall with sitting capacity of 600 occupants with a neatly built stage and green rooms attached. Only the load shedding factor (no power for 14 hours a day)
The golden jubilee of the festival celebrated in presence of famous Marathi author P L Deshpande and Pandit Gangubai Hangal.
Next year the date is Friday 9th October, 2009.
'Pachgani'
Pachgani, is a small hill-station in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located amidst five small hills, from which it derives its name (pach in marathi means five). All these 5 hills are topped by a volcanic plateau which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. These plateaus are known in the local term as "Table Land". These plateaus are part of the Deccan plateau and were raised by the pressure between the earth plates. Because of this it is also an area of high seismic activity with epicenter near Koynanagar which is famous of the Koynanagar dam and hydroelectric power plant. It is located about 265 km from Mumbai and has breathtaking valleys, winding rivers, scenic mountains and scattered hamlets. It attracts many tourists throughout the year, and many Mumbaites visit it as a weekend escape. Some go further, opening resorts which they themselves own, but rent out during certain seasons. There is a Ganesh Temple at Wai, which is located close by. The temperature in Pachgani is around 16 C during the winter and can soar up to 35 C during the summer. There are many elite boarding schools in Pachgani and it has been used as a location to film a number of Bollywood movies. The British set up numerous tuberculosis sanitoriums in Pachgani due to the presence of silver oak trees, which were considered therapeutic. The main attractions are: Table land, Parsi point, Sydney point. [1]Pachgani now faces immense environmental pressures due to commercial activities, opening of illegal hotels, vehicles and temperature inversion (due to humidity) from various new dams built to store water in the vicinity. Freddie Mercury attended St Peter's school in Pachgani where he formed his first band, The Hectics (1958-1962.)
Mahabaleshwar (Marathi:महाबळेश्वर) Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the Satara District in the Western Ghats range of Maharashtra, India. Located about 120 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km², bound by valleys on all sides. Many tourists also visit nearby Panchgani. After the construction of a new highway, it is only a five hour drive from Mumbai. It reaches a height of 1438 m (4710 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point. Mahabaleshwar, "The Queen of Hill Stations", served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj, and today is a popular holiday resort and honeymoon spot. The area is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and is the site of the Mahabaleshwar Temple. Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages, Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part of the Shindola village. The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. Present Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30 and from old records is mentioned as Malcolm Peth, but in practise today it is known as Mahabaleshwar.
Pateshwar (Marathi:पाटेश्वर)
Tourism has been a prominent industry nowadays and in the last decade it has seen a mammoth growth in turnover and tourists inlay. Though the horizons of this industry are left with no bounds, as it has been an inter-continental affair. Still there are certain places around us, which are hardly been explored. Pateshwar alias Patheshwar aka Surya Patheshwar is one such place near Satara where one can find copious archaic sculptures.
On Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway No. 4, after passing Satara city, take left on Satara-Solapur state highway. Just after one kilometre, take Satara-Addl MIDC road leading to Degaon. This is just nine-kilometer distance from Satara ST Bus terminus. Go south for four kilometres and after leaving village Degaon, you find a long, green stretch of the Western Gahts, adjacent to Janai Malai Hill. From roads, you won’t find any structure on the Pateshwar Hill as the entire hill is wrapped in a green thick blanket of trees. The jungle is of semi-deciduous type with teak, banyan, Jajmun, Karvee and other tree varieties. With lyrical notes of an Indian Robin or Whistling Barbet, one can find serene environ with cool feeling.
Then starts a muddy road followed by well-maintained tar road that takes you on the mid part of the hill. On the way, you need to park your vehicle near a precipice from where you can take a panoramic view of the same National Highway that takes you to Kolhapur. You can see Sajjangad, Urmodi Dam on one side and Satara MIDC on the other.
Wait! At the beginning of steps, you find a Lord Ganesha idol with Ridhi-Sidhi, his wives. The feminine sitting posture makes you think what it might be. History books say, it was the time when, Ganesha to kill a demon, had to appear in a woman form. And from here the mystery begins. More you go on the hill; you find two different Lord Shiva temples and an Ahsram, recently built by Swami Govindanand, one local saint.
In the closet vicinity of the first Hemadpanti Shiva Temple, you find many pieces of statuettes around it and the sidewalls of the temple consists of cave-like openings on the either sides of entrance. One of such never-seen-before engrave has a huge Shivalinga and the other consists of a Hanuman idol. The premises also comprise of two big Deepmalas.
Once you enter the main temple, you find superbly carved Nandi statue in front of the Shivlinga. Another stupendous thing you will find just in front of the Nandi. The miniature figurine gives a view of wedding scene of Lord Shiva and Parvati. On the either sides of main temple there are small temples where you find iconic idols of Kartikeya and another Nandi with a human face. The 18-armed Goddess Mahishasur Mardidni carving is in similar context with that of Kalikamata of Kolkata. In the temple itself, you will find sculpture of Lord Vishnu sitting on the snake and both in horizontal position.
After paying obeisance to the Lord Shiva you move to the eastern part of the hill and on the way again, you find stone-carved cave-like structures, filled with water. These all three cave-lets are again with Shivlingas of various sizes and some unknown kind of god statues. There is one stone-constructed water tank called Hatti Talab around these cave like temples. Normally it has been understood that all Shivlingas have their pointed opening towards North direction, but here one can find omni-directional opening.
From here you take left turn and move towards upper part and you find a temple as if it has been emerged out of soil. This three-sectioned temple begins with a Deepmala, followed by a Nandi. This whole temple is at sub-ground level hence lot of water logging has been seen. The either sides of this temple too consist of cave-like structures and numerous Shivlingas in different forms and the number of Salunki range from three to 100.
Now comes the haunting part of the Pateshwara. You enter the main temple and find a Maha Shiva Linga carved with minute necklace-like linings on it. These are nothing but 551 small Pindis carved on the main Pindi. All the walls are carved with such minute Pindis and the total number of such Pindis is not less than 1,008. The main Pindia deeped in water has exclusivity of the kind and there are number of carvings on the monolithic poles of the temple that you are left spell bound. One snake-like carving, sculptures of the eight Avatars of Lord Vishnu and even you will notice linguistic carvings in Modi script on one of the poles.
Wait, take breath, and see around with caution, you may find white skin on Cobra floating in water. Certainly, snakes do reside there. Take breath, have a sigh of relief and then pay your obeisance to this mesmerising lord Shiva. There were some geographical sculptures like Solar Clock earlier, but now almost all the sculptures are in dilapidated condition, as nobody knows the significance of it.
Historians, sculptresses, art-lovers and geography experts are required to carry out research at Pateshwar and they may come out with awesome findings. The place has not been even recognised by the tourism department, forests or any other government department. Only a religious trust looks after and on the last Monday of Shravan month, one can see a religious get together of the devotees of Lord Shiva. After completing the entire hill, you start climbing down the hill left spell bound with the mesmerising things.
A book written by a Satara-based historian R K Dhongade has written a book titled ‘39 Lakh-year-old Our Country-Our Religion’ in Marathi. The book is all about Pateshwar and it mentions that in the pre-historian era, there had been a geographical observatory of one mystic Saptarshi. This soothsayer carried out various experiments to calculate time, decide days of month and year and study the biological clock of nature on the basis of tracking of the sun. According to him Pateshwar has been the origin of Hindu religion and culture. One can find references of Pateshwar in Bhagvad Geeta and Matsya Purana, Dhongade says.
Ajinkyatara (Marathi:अजिंक्यतारा)
Satara city is situated on the slope of this hill fort. The fort is located at 17°40'21.87"N 73°59'44.46"E. The Temple of Mangalai Devi is on the fort. Other temples are of Hanuman & Shiv. Apart from temple you can find Television & Radio broadcasting towers on this fort. You can drive up to the main gate and can see a beautiful view of Satara city and Parali from here.
Yawateshwar (Marathi:यवतेश्वर)
A famous and old shiv temple on the east side of satara city. Many people do pilgrimage on Monday's of marathi month Shravan. It is about five km away from Satara. You can walk from Satara or get there by road. You can have Sai Baba temple on the road. You can take a bird's eye view of Satar city & Kanher Dam while on the road to temple.
Kaas Lake (Marathi:कास तलाव)
Further going eastward from Yawateswar, Kaas Lake is situated on Kaas Platau. It is about 26 km away from Satara city and accessible by road. Built in 1875 the lake provides most supply of drinking water to the old city. This is also a famous picnic spot for the rainy season.
Bamnoli (Marathi:बामणोळी)
Right
Yawateshwar (Marathi:यवतेश्वर)
A famous and old shiv temple on the east side of satara city. Many people do pilgrimage on Monday's of marathi month Shravan. It is about five km away from Satara. You can walk from Satara or get there by road. You can have Sai Baba temple on the road. You can take a bird's eye view of Satar city & Kanher Dam while on the road to temple.
Kaas Lake (Marathi:कास तलाव)
Further going eastward from Yawateswar, Kaas Lake is situated on Kaas Platau. It is about 26 km away from Satara city and accessible by road. Built in 1875 the lake provides most supply of drinking water to the old city. This is also a famous picnic spot for the rainy season.
Bamnoli (Marathi:बामणोळी)
Right
Bamnoli is about 36 km from Satara city and is situated on the bank of Koyana Dam backwater. It is basically a last road stop for people who want to go Koyana Sanctuary or Vasota Fort from satara city.The Place is known for the Shivsagar Reservior which spreads for hundreads of square kilometres and its backwaters creeping in the nearby villages offerring beautiful landscapes. From here you can take a motor boat to see Tapola which is famous for water sport...
Sajjangad (Marathi:सज्जनगड)
Sajjangad is place of great saint Samartha Ramdas Swami. Ramdas Swami is famous for his message of mental and physical exercise. He established temples of god Hanuman all across Maharashtra and India. These temples was meant for exercise known as 'Talim'. He was Chatrapathi Shivaji's spiritual guru. His writings 'Manache Shlok'-Thoughts of Mind, and Dasbodh teaches principles of life through simplest way. You can see Saint Ramdas Swami's tomb here. This is also a Hill fort visited by thousands of pilgrims and trekking entusiasts. You can reach by road almost up the fort followed by climb of 100 steps to reach on top. Accommodation is available from charity trust. Fort gives great views of scenic beauty, most watchfull is view of Urmodi Damn, windfarms of Chalkewadi. And apart from all gives sense of mental peace because of its unmatchable climate, beauty and spirituality.
Thoseghar Waterfall (Marathi:ठोसेघर धबधबा) To reach this waterfall you have to drive little further on same road of Sajjangadh from Satara. This fall is approximately 100 m high.
Thoseghar Main Waterfall
Sajjangad (Marathi:सज्जनगड)
Sajjangad is place of great saint Samartha Ramdas Swami. Ramdas Swami is famous for his message of mental and physical exercise. He established temples of god Hanuman all across Maharashtra and India. These temples was meant for exercise known as 'Talim'. He was Chatrapathi Shivaji's spiritual guru. His writings 'Manache Shlok'-Thoughts of Mind, and Dasbodh teaches principles of life through simplest way. You can see Saint Ramdas Swami's tomb here. This is also a Hill fort visited by thousands of pilgrims and trekking entusiasts. You can reach by road almost up the fort followed by climb of 100 steps to reach on top. Accommodation is available from charity trust. Fort gives great views of scenic beauty, most watchfull is view of Urmodi Damn, windfarms of Chalkewadi. And apart from all gives sense of mental peace because of its unmatchable climate, beauty and spirituality.
Thoseghar Waterfall (Marathi:ठोसेघर धबधबा) To reach this waterfall you have to drive little further on same road of Sajjangadh from Satara. This fall is approximately 100 m high.
Thoseghar Main Waterfall
Thoseghar - One of the Mini Waterfall
Chalkewadi (Marathi:चाळकेवाडी)
Satara is put on international map of renewable energy source due to over 100 windmills build on Chalkewadi plateau. Installed capacity of windmill project is around 350 MW second largest in India until 2006.
Chalkewadi - Windmills and Sunset
Kalyangad or Nandgiri
Satara is put on international map of renewable energy source due to over 100 windmills build on Chalkewadi plateau. Installed capacity of windmill project is around 350 MW second largest in India until 2006.
Chalkewadi - Windmills and Sunset
Kalyangad or Nandgiri
(Koreganv T; 18° N, 74° E; RS, Satara Road, 2 m. w;) 3,537 feet above sea level, stands at the end of a spur of the Mahadev range running south-west from the villages of Vikhale and Bhadle, eight miles north of Koreganv and about fourteen miles north-east of Satara. It is separated from the rest of the spur by a small gorge or Khind
and stands on a lower hill than the Candan Vandan range close to its north-west. It forms, therefore, a less conspicuous object from Satara than the Candan Vandan twins, though from the south it comes prominently in view as it forms the southern extremity of the spur dividing the Vangna and Vasna valleys. The hill sides are very steep and rugged and the scarp is very perfect. There is no regular approach and the ascent is made by very tortuous and precipitous footpaths from Dhumalvadi the village immediately at the foot of the hill to the east to the first gate directly above the village and facing north. Though easy at first, the ascent becomes very steep afterwards and much blocked by prickly pear. Halfway up in a ravine is a good spring and pond known as the Kham pond, the water of which is not potable. The pond is hollowed out of the rock in three divisions and the roof is supported by pillars. The water is abundant. [Mr. H. R. Cooke, C. S., found that perhaps the most remarkable feature on the hill was its water-supply. Immediately after entering the lower gate a steep footpath descends within the western was into a hollow at the bottom of the scarp. The hollow is about forty or fifty feet deep. When the bottom is reached the entrance to a huge cavern is seen which can only be reached by stooping. The cavern is full of water but very dark. Outside the gate and to the north there evidently were huge caverns but these have been built up with rough masonry.] The fort has two gateways the one below the other connected by steps. The first gate faces north, the path turning abruptly as it is reached. Within is a hollow used formerly for stores. From the inside facing east is another cave pond called the Gavi also full of good water. The entrance to it is protected by a wall. This cave pond is very difficult of access, the way being thickly blocked with prickly pear. The second gateway of mortared stone leads out into the plateau, which is about two hundred yards high by one hundred broad with many ruined buildings, and four chief ponds inside the second gate. The first pond is about ninety feet by forty in area and twenty feet deep, its sides made of large blocks of masonry. Another smaller one is near the eastern face; a third is in a hollow stopped with an earthen dam; and the fourth is a small one near the south wall. The fort walls are in a state of bad repair. There are no buildings inside the fort except the temple of God Maruti. There are also idols of Dattatraya and Parasnath. It is said that the water of the pond is good for health. Even though water is available abundantly there is no habitation on the fort. The temple of Maruti was renovated by Dahanebuva of Ninapadali. The tomb of Abdul Karim, a Musalman Saint which is inside the fort is still visited by a few people. An Urus is held in his honour for five days before Holi Paurnima. The fort was the head-quarters of an administrative sub-division with a treasury and had an establishment of a mamlatdar, phadnis, sabnis, havaldar and daffedar, two karkuns, three naiks, and one hundred and sixty sepoys. According to tradition the fort was built by the Silahara king Bhoj II, of Panhala [Grant Duff's Marathas, Vol. I, 27.]. In 1673 with other Satara forts it was surrendered to Shivaji [Grant Duffs Marathas, Vol. I, 202.]. The Pratinidhi, administered it till his struggle with Bajirav, the second Peshva (1720-1740). In 1791 Major Price describes it as looking like the hull of a ship of war with opposite it another hill with on its summit some places of devotion [Memoirs of a Field Officer, 261.]. In the last Maratha war it fell to the army of General Pritzler in April, 1818. In 1862, it is described as a dismantled and uninhabited fort with a steep approach and a strong gateway but no water and no supplies [Government List of Civil Forts, 1862.].
Gove
A small village on the bank of Krishna river, around 16 km north to the Satara city, attract many devotees due to famous Koteshware temple. The temple of Lord Shiva is too old and classic example of 16th century architecture. Most of the villagers are farmers and it is nice to see farming in Western state of Maharashtra here.
Kelwali Water Falls
Kelwali, the paradise unexplored
Shrinivas Varunjikar
Rich with waterfalls, the western part of the Satara district comprises with numerous natural miracles. Kelwali Waterfall that jumps in the valley showing five different stages is one of them. Sky-kissing mountains and totally isolated location gives a totally eternal feeling. A report
No wonder we keep on moving across the Mahadev Range of the Sahyadri Hill Range which has been an integral part of the Western Ghats, one of the eco-sensitive hotspots of the world. District of Satara has been blessed with the strong protection on its western part and many a geographical wonders are hidden here.
Whenever we get a holiday, wither we heed towards Thoseghar waterfalls or Kas lake to enjoy the nature’s bounty. Keeping the same roads, we can come out with new spots to freak out.
While going towards Bamnoli from Kas Lake, just take a left hand turn from 12 km of Kas lake and a rough red-soiled road will take you to Zungati, a small village or one of the smallest habiatas commonly called as a Pada. Inclined roofs with more than 70 degrees slope, tiny homes welcome you wearing a cover of tree leaves, branches and shrubs.
You park your bikes here. Small children immediately will throng and gather around you and surely will ask whether you have brought any sweets for them. The entire red-soiled stretch is covered with semi-deciduous forest and the green cover includes Jaamun, Mango, Karvi, Acasia trees in abundant quantity. Bird’s whistling, singing and calls of warblers keeps the jungle alive. Now you start moving towards the waterfall. It will be better you hire a guide from here. Any local person will accept your invitation and tip of Rs 50 will satisfy him.
On the way, if its rainy season, you will find farms filled with water and rice plantations on almost every piece of land. Move along sides of such farms and climbing small hillocks, you head towards the hidden Kelwali Waterfall. The rough road, at many places will be blocked by throwing tree branches or logs across the road. Ask why and right comes the answer- this provision is to prevent infiltration of wild bears, hyenas and wolves into the Padas or the tiny villages. Hmm! certainly this sends a cold wave across your vertebral column and more cautiously you start moving towards the fall.
After crossing a distance of some 12 km by sheer walk, you find a plateau with lush-green cover, blue backwater of Urmodi Dam on left side valley and one hill just in front of you. Yes. This hill gives rise to the five-staged Kelwali waterfall. The third stage is a set of six seven small falls and it looks pretty awesome.
From here you are just lost in the mist, droplets of water moving with blowing wind and clouds touching your body. Yes. This is no less than heaven. The thundering and roaring sound of the water makes you deaf for a moment and you can’t hear what your colleague wants to say. Still, when you are left speechless, no words are required to convey the beauty of the spot. Even words are not uttered and the message is communicated.
Go ahead, keep your sacks or luggage at a relatively safer place and start moving downwards a bit. Beware of slippery surface and leeches or blood-suckers on the way or near the water body. Just throw yourself in the lap of the pouring water and just forget everything. Nobody is going to watch you… leave behind your status and like an innocent kid, go ahead playing with the water. But don’t try swimming in the small water body because the large and small boulders with slippery and sharp edges will prove to be obstacles. Have food here only and fill your water bottles with natural and cold mineral water available in cusecs. The sweet taste of water will rejuvenate your thirst and a feeling of joy and satisfaction will help you refresh your mind. Move ahead; come out from the water body. Change or dry your clothes. Fill your tummy again and start moving towards Dattawadi by climbing a stiff slope. Beware of snakes peeping out from grassland; just don’t disturb them. You reach on a huge plateau of Basalt rock. Shivering winds from western side make you feel as if you in the Himalyan Range. This table land has very tiny shrubs with colourful flowerings and the rainbow of varied colours on the lush green background that soothes your eyes.
From here, on the way, you will find caves where normally wild animals like hyena, wolf or wild bear live. This is house for such animals and the local guide will tell you the stories of bear attack or event spotting of leopard or tiger.
On way back from Dattawadi, you reach Zungati again and pick up your vehicles. Now, it’s your digicam which will tell the story of Kelwali Waterfall to your near and dear ones.
How to reach there
Take Satara-Bamnoli road and reach Kas Lake
Take left hand turn 6 km from Kas Lake while movig towards Bamnoli
You reach Zungati where you can park your vehicles
Precautions to be taken
As this spot is very much isolated, take enough water and food stuff with you
Do not wear white, red or yellow clothes. Otherwise if any wild animal comes across, he may get wild with these colours
Do take a local guide from route mapping. Most of the jungle roads look alike and you may get lost as hardly any means for orientation is available
Do not disturb the natural habitat.
Do not smell or taste unknown flowers, fruits as they may have adverse effect on you
Insectivorous plants are abundant here so only click picture of beautiful flowering. Do not pluck those flowers
Beware of leeches near water body. Even if any leech catches your leg, remove it patiently and apply at least Haldi to stop blood flow.
Do not carry sound making devices like tape recorders or even keep the cellphones on silent mode. Though your cellphone has radio facility, use headphones instead of switching on the speaker.
Do not throw plastic waster anywhere. This land is very virgin and protected
Don’t feel scared if you come across any wild variety like snake or wild bear. Your guide will take care of it. Just don’t disturb the animals and cooperate with the guide
Charbhinti or Hutatma Smarak
Gove
A small village on the bank of Krishna river, around 16 km north to the Satara city, attract many devotees due to famous Koteshware temple. The temple of Lord Shiva is too old and classic example of 16th century architecture. Most of the villagers are farmers and it is nice to see farming in Western state of Maharashtra here.
Kelwali Water Falls
Kelwali, the paradise unexplored
Shrinivas Varunjikar
Rich with waterfalls, the western part of the Satara district comprises with numerous natural miracles. Kelwali Waterfall that jumps in the valley showing five different stages is one of them. Sky-kissing mountains and totally isolated location gives a totally eternal feeling. A report
No wonder we keep on moving across the Mahadev Range of the Sahyadri Hill Range which has been an integral part of the Western Ghats, one of the eco-sensitive hotspots of the world. District of Satara has been blessed with the strong protection on its western part and many a geographical wonders are hidden here.
Whenever we get a holiday, wither we heed towards Thoseghar waterfalls or Kas lake to enjoy the nature’s bounty. Keeping the same roads, we can come out with new spots to freak out.
While going towards Bamnoli from Kas Lake, just take a left hand turn from 12 km of Kas lake and a rough red-soiled road will take you to Zungati, a small village or one of the smallest habiatas commonly called as a Pada. Inclined roofs with more than 70 degrees slope, tiny homes welcome you wearing a cover of tree leaves, branches and shrubs.
You park your bikes here. Small children immediately will throng and gather around you and surely will ask whether you have brought any sweets for them. The entire red-soiled stretch is covered with semi-deciduous forest and the green cover includes Jaamun, Mango, Karvi, Acasia trees in abundant quantity. Bird’s whistling, singing and calls of warblers keeps the jungle alive. Now you start moving towards the waterfall. It will be better you hire a guide from here. Any local person will accept your invitation and tip of Rs 50 will satisfy him.
On the way, if its rainy season, you will find farms filled with water and rice plantations on almost every piece of land. Move along sides of such farms and climbing small hillocks, you head towards the hidden Kelwali Waterfall. The rough road, at many places will be blocked by throwing tree branches or logs across the road. Ask why and right comes the answer- this provision is to prevent infiltration of wild bears, hyenas and wolves into the Padas or the tiny villages. Hmm! certainly this sends a cold wave across your vertebral column and more cautiously you start moving towards the fall.
After crossing a distance of some 12 km by sheer walk, you find a plateau with lush-green cover, blue backwater of Urmodi Dam on left side valley and one hill just in front of you. Yes. This hill gives rise to the five-staged Kelwali waterfall. The third stage is a set of six seven small falls and it looks pretty awesome.
From here you are just lost in the mist, droplets of water moving with blowing wind and clouds touching your body. Yes. This is no less than heaven. The thundering and roaring sound of the water makes you deaf for a moment and you can’t hear what your colleague wants to say. Still, when you are left speechless, no words are required to convey the beauty of the spot. Even words are not uttered and the message is communicated.
Go ahead, keep your sacks or luggage at a relatively safer place and start moving downwards a bit. Beware of slippery surface and leeches or blood-suckers on the way or near the water body. Just throw yourself in the lap of the pouring water and just forget everything. Nobody is going to watch you… leave behind your status and like an innocent kid, go ahead playing with the water. But don’t try swimming in the small water body because the large and small boulders with slippery and sharp edges will prove to be obstacles. Have food here only and fill your water bottles with natural and cold mineral water available in cusecs. The sweet taste of water will rejuvenate your thirst and a feeling of joy and satisfaction will help you refresh your mind. Move ahead; come out from the water body. Change or dry your clothes. Fill your tummy again and start moving towards Dattawadi by climbing a stiff slope. Beware of snakes peeping out from grassland; just don’t disturb them. You reach on a huge plateau of Basalt rock. Shivering winds from western side make you feel as if you in the Himalyan Range. This table land has very tiny shrubs with colourful flowerings and the rainbow of varied colours on the lush green background that soothes your eyes.
From here, on the way, you will find caves where normally wild animals like hyena, wolf or wild bear live. This is house for such animals and the local guide will tell you the stories of bear attack or event spotting of leopard or tiger.
On way back from Dattawadi, you reach Zungati again and pick up your vehicles. Now, it’s your digicam which will tell the story of Kelwali Waterfall to your near and dear ones.
How to reach there
Take Satara-Bamnoli road and reach Kas Lake
Take left hand turn 6 km from Kas Lake while movig towards Bamnoli
You reach Zungati where you can park your vehicles
Precautions to be taken
As this spot is very much isolated, take enough water and food stuff with you
Do not wear white, red or yellow clothes. Otherwise if any wild animal comes across, he may get wild with these colours
Do take a local guide from route mapping. Most of the jungle roads look alike and you may get lost as hardly any means for orientation is available
Do not disturb the natural habitat.
Do not smell or taste unknown flowers, fruits as they may have adverse effect on you
Insectivorous plants are abundant here so only click picture of beautiful flowering. Do not pluck those flowers
Beware of leeches near water body. Even if any leech catches your leg, remove it patiently and apply at least Haldi to stop blood flow.
Do not carry sound making devices like tape recorders or even keep the cellphones on silent mode. Though your cellphone has radio facility, use headphones instead of switching on the speaker.
Do not throw plastic waster anywhere. This land is very virgin and protected
Don’t feel scared if you come across any wild variety like snake or wild bear. Your guide will take care of it. Just don’t disturb the animals and cooperate with the guide
Charbhinti or Hutatma Smarak
Char Bhinti is another important historical place in Satara. Situated on the way to Ajinkyatara Fort, this hill offers a good view of Satara city. While on one side one can see Satara city, on the other side there is Ajinkyatara fort. There are two historical links to this place. Char Bhinti i.e. four walls were constructed by Chhatrapati Pratapsinh Maharaj in 1830. This place is also called as Najar Bangala. This place was constructed to offer a good view of arriaval of Chhatrapati to the family members (ladies) during VijayDashami (Dasara) celebrations. This place also contains a monument constructed to remember the warriers of great freedom fight of 1857. It remembers Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope, Rango Bapuji Gupte and others. It was constructed on completion of hundred years to the first freedom fight against British (rulers then). This place was renovated during year 2001.
Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Museum
Natraj Temple
Shri Kshetra Mahuli
Pedhyancha Bhairoba
Kuraneshwar or Khinditla Ganapati
Dholya Ganapati
Phutaka Talav or Talyatla Ganapati
Jawaharlal Neharu Udyan and Koyana Dam
Priti Sangam Karad
Mayani
Mayani Bird Sanctuary is located in the Satara district of Maharashtra state near Vaduj, in India.
Lots of migratory birds come here during winter. Flamingoes from Siberia come here in large numbers[citation needed]. Around 400 of them were reported in 2005.
Other birds like the Northern Shoveller, Stork and Kingfisher are also found here. Other resident and migratory Bird species also noted during the winter season November -end of February. They are- Koot, Brahminy Ducks, Black Ibis, Painted storks, Common Spoon bills etc. The nestings of storks are also observed near lake. The greater and lesser flamingoes are the regular winter visitors to this place. The Flamingo species are observed feeding in shallow water. They mainly feed on insects, small fishes, crabs and the important one is there is growth of aquatic plant species Otolisa species in shallow water. The flamingoes are observed to feed these as a food. Mayani Bird Sanctuary is studied as a typical wetland ecosystem which is rich in flora and fauna. Some efforts have been taken for conservation of natural forest near lake. This region is mainly under draught condition. Some plots have been alloted to local farmers; in dam during summer when all of water dries off. Some medicinal plants, cactus are also planted nearby the lake.
School and colleges in Satara
Abasaheb Chirmule School
Anant English School
Annasaheb Kalyani Vidyalaya
Annasaheb Raje Bhosale Prathamik Vidyalaya
Bhimabai Ambedkar Kanya Vidyamandir
Bapusaheb Chiplunkar marathi shala
Dr. J. W. Airan Academy ( formerly known as Narmada Education Academy)
Kanyashala
KSD Shanbhag Vidhyalaya
Maharaja Sayajirao Vidyalaya
Mona School
Navin Marathi Shala
New English School
Nirmala Convent High School
Sainik School, Satara
Shri Bhavani Vidya Mandir
Saint Paul's School
Satara English Medium School
Vishal Sahyadri Shikshan Santha
Satara is also home to the first Sainik School of India. It was inaugurated on 23 June 1961 and today serves as a famous landmark in the town. It has sent hundreds of students to the National Defence Academy. Interestingly quite a few of its ex-students have landed up in Bollywood. Prominent among them are producer-director Rakesh Roshan, music director Anu Malik, late Mukul Anand, Sunil Sharma (who was also associated with the children's serial Tele Tubbies) and Pramod Khanna, brother of actor Vinod Khanna.
Colleges in Satara
Lal Bahaddur Shastri College, Satara
Azad College Of Education
Chhatrapati Shivaji Arts College
Dhananjay Gadgil Vanijya Mahavidyalay
Ismailsaheb Mulla Law College
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College of Engineering, Satara
Yashawantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara
Satara College Of Pharmacy, Degoan, Satara
Satara Polytechnic, Satara
Samarth Educational Trusts Sawkar College of Pharmacy (D. Pharmacy), Satara.
Samarth Educational Trusts Arvind Gavali College of Pharmacy (B. Pharmacy), Satara.
Samarth Educational Trusts Arvind Gavali College of Engineering. Satara.
Samarth Educational Trusts Sawkar Homeopathic College (B.H.M.S), Satara. Navodaya Vidyalaya, Khawali(Satara)
[edit]Famous Personalities
Braveheart Constable Ambadas pawar Kavathe Tal:wai District:satara
The saviour who lost his life at CST firing Ex-Army man and constable Ramchandra Pawar was awarded Kirti Chakra
Originally posted by Lyla Bavadam
ACTED IN CRISIS: Constable Ambadas Pawar takes aim at terrorists at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on November 26. [1] MUMBAI: At first, constable Ambadas Ramchandra Pawar was thought to have died in the random firing by the two terrorists at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus here on November 26. Wearing ordinary workday clothes, he was one among the 56 killed there.
But a photograph which the Mumbai police received much after the attacks, told a different story. It showed a plainclothes Pawar holding a gun. Suddenly, from being just one more victim Pawar became a hero. He was killed in the line of action and for this, he was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the country’s second highest gallantry award in peacetime.
The medal is awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from a battlefield. Kirti Chakras were awarded to 13 persons in this Republic Day.
Crucial photo
Assistant Police Inspector Sandeep Bhagwat, who is the Liaison Officer at the Protection Branch of the Mumbai police, said that to the best of his knowledge Pawar was the first Kirti Chakra awardee among the city police force. He says the crucial photo was brought to his attention by reporters. “They wanted to know who the man in civilian clothes firing a rifle was. We identified him immediately as Pawar,” he recalls.
Pawar was a constable attached to the Protection Unit of the police at Ballard Pier. On the night of November 26 he was due to report for duty at his unit’s office. When he got off the train on platform 1 he must have heard the firing from platform 7. It is believed he rushed there, alerting commuters en route about available exits. He found an injured Railway Police havaldar, took his rifle after informing him that he was also from the police and fired two shots at one of the gunmen. The other terrorist, who was covering his partner, fired back and bullets hit Pawar’s head and stomach. The killing shots were fired by Ajmal “Kasab,” the terrorist who was later captured.
Perhaps it was this small show of strength by Pawar that made the gunmen flee the station and make their way towards the Cama hospital. Whatever is the reason for their departure, there can be no denying Pawar’s valour. Facing two gunmen wielding automatic weapons with nothing more than a .303 rifle which had three remaining bullets can only be ascribed to bravery and an innate sense of duty. His intervention saved many lives, but cost him his own.
Sudam Pandharkar, the havaldar from whom Pawar took the gun, survived his wounds and went home to his native Ahmednagar to recuperate. He told his superiors of what Pawar had done and of how he himself was struggling to unlock his rifle after firing two rounds unsuccessfully at the terrorists. Struggling to remain conscious, Pandharkar says he recalls Pawar smoothly unlocking the weapon and firing. He lost consciousness briefly and says when he came around again he saw Pawar lying in blood. Firing the rifle was the last thing Pawar did before he was shot dead by Ajmal.
Pawar was said to be someone who had a sense of social commitment. This perhaps explains why when his career in the Army was cut short due to an injury, he joined the police force in 2005.
He enjoyed his work as a policeman and wanted his son to join the force after he graduated. Pawar was from Kavthe in Wai taluka of Satara district. He was 29 when he died.
Ombale’s village Kedambe on national map
Shrinivas Varunjikar
On the backdrop of recent Taj bloodbath, everybody is speaking about Ajmal Kasab, his roots in Pakistan, his village and family members, how he became terrorist and all. Tukaram Ombale, assistant police inspector of Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Road Police Station, was instrumental in catching Ajmal Kasab living, and this has been the only incident in India’s history to catch the culprit of terror attack. This national hero Tukaram Ombale hailed from a micro-interior named Kedambe, near Kelghar, in the Jawali tehsil of Satara district. Intelligent Pune visited Ombale’s native and birth place and spoke to his relatives and villagers
The entire nation nowadays is the state of shock and most of the Mumbaites have not recovered from the trauma that took place Hotel Taj Mahal, Nariman House, Leopold Café and Cama Hospital, and yes, the world-heritage building Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. More than 183 Indian and foreign citizens were killed including police personnel, commandos and National Security Guards. News channels are busy giving some more inputs about the culprits and media, especially electronic media has been involved in finding details about Kasab, his colleagues. The aftermath resulted in resignations of many eminent political leaders, both at Union and the State Cabinet, one fellow has been ignored by one and all. Tukaram Gopal Ombale is the cop who was instrumental in catching Kasab. This Marathi Manoos, attacked the Skoda, through which the terrorists were planning to flee from the scene, and led the team of eight, sacrificing his life for the nation but leaving a living evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack.
How Ombale caught Kasab? Message Received at the Dadasheb Bhadkamkar Marg police station at 10 PM on November 26- Two heavily armed terrorists were at large after gunning down commuters at the Chhatrapti Shivaji Terminus.
Action taken on war footing-15 policemen from D B Marg sent to Girgaum Chowpatty to set up a barricade on Marine Drive. They started stopping and checking of all vehicles.
A brown-coloured Skoda halted some 50 feet distance from the police barricade on Netaji Subhaschandra Bose Marg at Chowpatty, at the midnight hours on November 26. Yes, it was the same car that the cops were waiting for. Nine policemen at the barricade with only lathis, charged while shouting in unison. The car comprised two terrorists with AK-47 rifles and hand grenades. The duo had gunned down number of commuters and polic cops on their way from CST to Girgaum Chowpaty.
The driver terrorists tried a U-turn to escape from the scene, but they didn't open fire. The police charge scared them enough to crash the car into the divider. A short combat after that led by the assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale, paid the ultimate price. The policemen looked at the Skoda driver and waited for him to get down. Instead, the driver Abu Ismail put its headlights on high beam and switched on the wipers to make the windshield indistinct.
The heroic efforts of the nine policemen who confronted the terrorists at the Girgaum Chowpatty, that resulted in killing of one terrorist on the spot and capturing the other has been un-noticed. These policemen had weapons like two self-loading rifles (SLRs), two revolvers and lathis which were, for sure incompatible to face the power of the deadly weapon AK-47. Still that didn't discourage Ombale from leading from the front with nothing but a lathi.
The driver then fired two rounds from his pistol at Bondhankar and Kadam. The two cops returned three rounds each, hitting Ismail in the head, chest and arm, killing him. Awhad and head constable Vikram Nikam rushed and opened the car door.
The policemen at the barricade ran to the passenger side. Ajmal Kasab, was by now lying on his back with an AK-47 on his belly. As soon as Ombale opened the door, Kasab let loose a burst of fire. Ombale, riddled with bullets, caught the barrel of the gun and fell on Kasab, preventing him from doing further damage. The other policemen beat Kasab unconscious. Kasab apparently couldn’t use his rifle as he was bleeding from his hand.
Ombale breathed his last at the GT Hospital.
Vandana Rajendra Patane, daughter of Tukaram Ombale, resident of Kandivali remembers her father as she says, “I really feel proud about my father and thank all those who helped our family in the traumatic state. My mother, Tarabai, has not yet overcame out of the shock; hence she cannot express her feelings before any media, we all feel that, death of my father has been a great loss to the state police. He always loved all the family members and was a cool and quiet man. The man of principles, my father, never compromised on our education level and we all four sisters miss him like anything. I think, he has set an example of bravery before the new generation cops.”
Sakharam Ombale, brother, Mathadi at RCF, Alibag states, “I remember my brother by his courage to face any danger. He always used to tell us that he was an employee of the nation, and had realised his role of being a cop very early. He used to say,”I am of the family only when I am with my family. Otherwise, I owe a lot to the department.” He hardly used to take leave from his duty and used to give maximum time for the department. The cool, calm and the man with golden heart always used to help any of the family members whole heartedly. Two months back, he had been at Kedambe, his native place, for the funeral of one of our relatives. Only four years were left for his retirement for the forces, and he had planned the expansion of the farms. The financial crunch though forced him to say goodbye to schooling, he always insisted on better education facilities for his off-springs. He knew the importance of education. The State Government should do something in the memory of my brother at the very spot where he caught Kasab.”
Suman Sakharam Ombale, housewife, wife of Sakharam Ombale, narrates, “I remember, he had called me on that particular day and had promised to visit Kedambe soon. Suddenly he got a call from his office and he hanged the receiver stating he was ordered to go on a round in South Mumbai. And then the news flashed on television that some of the cops were killed while confronting with the terrorists; and unfortunately he was one of them.”
Bandu Mukadam, Sarpanch, Kedambe Grampanchayat, recollects the memories of the supercop. Says he, “Being very cooperative, Tukarm Ombale was one of the pillars of Kedambe Gram Panchayat. He always worked for the development of the village and was associated with many social organisations. All the villagers are proud of hum and tehsil and district should erect a memorial in his name to let everybody understand that the cop who caught Pakistani terrorist hailed from Kedambe. We have proposed of naming the crematorium road after Tukaram Ombale.”
Prof. Tukaram Ombale, retired head master, Zilla Parishad School, founder, Shramik Janata Vikas Sanstha, Kelghar, an NGO says, “The brave cop Tukaram had been very friendly with me and we both used to work out various plans for the development of village. He was also instrumental in starting of cooperative society here. He always knew the significance of education and was very keen in providing facilities at the local school. He used to take cognizance of any crime happening around, even though he was not on duty. He believed that a cop must be alert at every time. We have decided to propose the government to felicitate him with the President’s Award. He deserves the same.
Ashok Mukund Phatak, colleague, Worli Police Station, Mumbai, has been busy taking care of the Ombale family now. Did the government keep promise of offering compensations to the warriors of the blasts? He describes, “Being a family friend of late Tukaram Ombale, I feel very depressing to handle all the formalities associated with his sad demise. We have worked hand in hand for last 22 years and I never can forget his dedication towards his duty. Yes. The government has issued fixed deposit receipts worth Rs 25 lakh as compensation and it will received via monthly interest. The state government has also assured of continuing of salary till his date of retirement and the formalities in this regard are in process. The widow Tarabai has also received a cheque of his insurance of Rs 2 lakh. The government has assured of job to his successors, and one unmarried daughter, Vaishali or Bharati, are entitled for the same. Now it will all depend on the technicalities associated with same. The Mumbai based Saraswat Bank has also offered job to one of the successors and we are all in the same process. Still, I think, one cannot compensate loss of such a brave warrior. Many of the social and political institutions have been collecting funds for all the martyrs, but nothing out of such funds has reached with the family of Tukaram Ombale.”
Son of soil, Tukaram Ombale hails from Kedambe, in the Jawali tehsil of Satara district Take the national highway number4, the famous Mumbai-Bangalore highway from Pune via Katraj new tunnel, move towards Satara in the south direction up to village Pachwad. Take right turn here and catch the road leading to Kudal in the Jawali tehsil. Via Kudal, take a small ghat road and reach Medha, the tehsil place of Jawali. From Medha, take the road leading to Mahabaleshwar, the famous hill station of India. Drive for some 10 kilometers and you reach Kelghar, from where the ghat leading to the hill station begins. Move some three kilometers and immediately take a right turn going downwards. A narrow road with lush green trees takes you to the village Kedambe via Punawadi. (Punawadi has been old name of Pune, remember?)
Yes. After driving some 5-6 kilometers, now you have reached the Kedambe village. The population of the village as per 2001 census has been recorded as 2,500. All that we found that there were numerous flex boards hanged to pay homage to their beloved hero ASI Tukaram Ombale, the martyr of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.
On my last visit to my hometown Satara, I heard that the martyr hailed from village Kedambe and he added feathers in cap of Satara as well as Maharashtra. I worked on the details and got the contact number of (another) Tukaram Ombale, retired head master of Zilla Parishad School, now residing in Satara city, and neighbour of the martyr supercop at Kedambe, from my friend Sagar Gaikwad. Immediately I contacted this school teacher and organised visit to Kedambe with our photographer Dilipkumar Dongare.
Then we reached the home of Tukaram Ombale. On road, on either side we again found flex boards paying homage to the supercop. The traditional Maharashtrian house owned by Ombale, is a single floored house made up of soil bricks, tin roofed and a courtyard in the front side.
Ombale’s brief life sketch Tukaram Gopal Ombale, born on June 1, 1955 at Kedambe, some 8 km from Kelghar, a market place at the starting point of Kelghar Ghat, on Medha-Mahabaleshwar road, to a poor farmer Gopal and Shevatabai Ombale. The village Kedambe, located in the valley of the Kelghar Ghat, has a hilly topography and rice farming has been one of the major businesses apart from dairy. Gopal Ombale also used work at Mumbai to meet the family expenses. He had two sons, Dnyandeo and Tukaram. Tukaram took his primary education at the Zilla Parishad Primary School at Kedambe up to the seventh standard and further he enrolled his name in Bhairavnath Vidya Mandir at Kelghar, where he was educated till 10th standard. Crossing water cahnnels in rainy season Tukaram used to walk Kelghar for schooling and never bunked any lessons. A very small piece of land couldn’t procure enough food to survive; Tukaram was forced to leave his native place to join the police force as an armed constable in Mumbai, in the year August 1978. Same year, he got married to Tarabai. Presently Tukaram Ombale’s widow lives at Police Camp, Worli, Mumbai. Pavitra Shankar Chikane and Vandana Rajendra Patane are the two married daughters of Ombale while Vaishali and Vandana are living with Tarabai at Worli. Both Vaishali and Bharati are compelting their education in Mumbai. Till then, he had lost his parents survived by Gopal, Dnyandeo, Sakharam (brothers) and one sister. Then after going through various trainings and holding posts at various police stations in Mumbai, he was promoted as assistant police inspector at D B Road police station. All the time, throughout his tenure in the service, Tukaram was the Grade A+ staffer.
Yashwantrao Chavan
Ch.UdayanRaje Bhosale
Ch.Shivendraraje Bhosale
Prin.Arvind Salunkhe
Dr Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil
Freedom fighter Kisan Veer
[edit]Education
Founder Dr Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil's birth anniversary will be celebrating on 22 September, 2007.
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha Satara
Hutatma Parshuram Vidyalaya, Vaduj, Shivaji Highschool, Vaduj
Lawyers
Adv Bhaskarrao Kadam.
[edit]Hydroelectricity
Among other things that Satara is well known for are the 3 dams located her. They are Koyna dam, Kanher dam and Dhom dam. Satara is well known for hydroelectricity.
[edit]External links
Welcome to Satara
Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences
[edit]Newspapers
Dainik Aikya
Dainik Sakal
Lokvrutta News Channel (24 HOURS)
[2]
[edit]Maps
Map of Maharashtra.
Satara District Main Roads and Railways
Physical Map of Satara District
[edit]Pictures
Beautiful Satara Pictures
[edit]Further reading
Selections from the Historical Records of the Hereditary Minister of Baroda. Consisting of letters from Bombay, Baroda, Poona and Satara Governments. Collected by B.A. Gupte. Calcutta 1922.
Malik, S.C. Stone Age Industries of the Bombay & Satara Districts, M. Sayajirao University Baroda 1959.
Irawati Karve, Jayant Sadashiv Randadive, The Social Dynamics of a Growing Town and Its Surrounding Area. Deccan College ,1965, Poona. ISBN B0000CQW3J
Valunjkar, T. N. Social Organization, Migration & Change in a Village Community, Deccan College Poona 1966.
[edit]References
^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Satara
^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
[edit]External links
Paul H. von Tucher: Nationalism: Case and crisis in Missions - German Missions in British India 1939 - 1946. Diss. Erlangen 1980. Author's edition Erlangen/Germany 1980. [3], [4], [5] and [6] in Satara 1940-1946.
Wilhelm Filchner: Life of a Researcher (chapter XXIII). Wilhelm Filchner was interned from September 1941 until November 1946 in the Parole Camp in Satara. Later on he lived in Poona in the Maharashtra state of India.
Satara
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Museum
Natraj Temple
Shri Kshetra Mahuli
Pedhyancha Bhairoba
Kuraneshwar or Khinditla Ganapati
Dholya Ganapati
Phutaka Talav or Talyatla Ganapati
Jawaharlal Neharu Udyan and Koyana Dam
Priti Sangam Karad
Mayani
Mayani Bird Sanctuary is located in the Satara district of Maharashtra state near Vaduj, in India.
Lots of migratory birds come here during winter. Flamingoes from Siberia come here in large numbers[citation needed]. Around 400 of them were reported in 2005.
Other birds like the Northern Shoveller, Stork and Kingfisher are also found here. Other resident and migratory Bird species also noted during the winter season November -end of February. They are- Koot, Brahminy Ducks, Black Ibis, Painted storks, Common Spoon bills etc. The nestings of storks are also observed near lake. The greater and lesser flamingoes are the regular winter visitors to this place. The Flamingo species are observed feeding in shallow water. They mainly feed on insects, small fishes, crabs and the important one is there is growth of aquatic plant species Otolisa species in shallow water. The flamingoes are observed to feed these as a food. Mayani Bird Sanctuary is studied as a typical wetland ecosystem which is rich in flora and fauna. Some efforts have been taken for conservation of natural forest near lake. This region is mainly under draught condition. Some plots have been alloted to local farmers; in dam during summer when all of water dries off. Some medicinal plants, cactus are also planted nearby the lake.
School and colleges in Satara
Abasaheb Chirmule School
Anant English School
Annasaheb Kalyani Vidyalaya
Annasaheb Raje Bhosale Prathamik Vidyalaya
Bhimabai Ambedkar Kanya Vidyamandir
Bapusaheb Chiplunkar marathi shala
Dr. J. W. Airan Academy ( formerly known as Narmada Education Academy)
Kanyashala
KSD Shanbhag Vidhyalaya
Maharaja Sayajirao Vidyalaya
Mona School
Navin Marathi Shala
New English School
Nirmala Convent High School
Sainik School, Satara
Shri Bhavani Vidya Mandir
Saint Paul's School
Satara English Medium School
Vishal Sahyadri Shikshan Santha
Satara is also home to the first Sainik School of India. It was inaugurated on 23 June 1961 and today serves as a famous landmark in the town. It has sent hundreds of students to the National Defence Academy. Interestingly quite a few of its ex-students have landed up in Bollywood. Prominent among them are producer-director Rakesh Roshan, music director Anu Malik, late Mukul Anand, Sunil Sharma (who was also associated with the children's serial Tele Tubbies) and Pramod Khanna, brother of actor Vinod Khanna.
Colleges in Satara
Lal Bahaddur Shastri College, Satara
Azad College Of Education
Chhatrapati Shivaji Arts College
Dhananjay Gadgil Vanijya Mahavidyalay
Ismailsaheb Mulla Law College
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College of Engineering, Satara
Yashawantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara
Satara College Of Pharmacy, Degoan, Satara
Satara Polytechnic, Satara
Samarth Educational Trusts Sawkar College of Pharmacy (D. Pharmacy), Satara.
Samarth Educational Trusts Arvind Gavali College of Pharmacy (B. Pharmacy), Satara.
Samarth Educational Trusts Arvind Gavali College of Engineering. Satara.
Samarth Educational Trusts Sawkar Homeopathic College (B.H.M.S), Satara. Navodaya Vidyalaya, Khawali(Satara)
[edit]Famous Personalities
Braveheart Constable Ambadas pawar Kavathe Tal:wai District:satara
The saviour who lost his life at CST firing Ex-Army man and constable Ramchandra Pawar was awarded Kirti Chakra
Originally posted by Lyla Bavadam
ACTED IN CRISIS: Constable Ambadas Pawar takes aim at terrorists at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on November 26. [1] MUMBAI: At first, constable Ambadas Ramchandra Pawar was thought to have died in the random firing by the two terrorists at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus here on November 26. Wearing ordinary workday clothes, he was one among the 56 killed there.
But a photograph which the Mumbai police received much after the attacks, told a different story. It showed a plainclothes Pawar holding a gun. Suddenly, from being just one more victim Pawar became a hero. He was killed in the line of action and for this, he was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the country’s second highest gallantry award in peacetime.
The medal is awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from a battlefield. Kirti Chakras were awarded to 13 persons in this Republic Day.
Crucial photo
Assistant Police Inspector Sandeep Bhagwat, who is the Liaison Officer at the Protection Branch of the Mumbai police, said that to the best of his knowledge Pawar was the first Kirti Chakra awardee among the city police force. He says the crucial photo was brought to his attention by reporters. “They wanted to know who the man in civilian clothes firing a rifle was. We identified him immediately as Pawar,” he recalls.
Pawar was a constable attached to the Protection Unit of the police at Ballard Pier. On the night of November 26 he was due to report for duty at his unit’s office. When he got off the train on platform 1 he must have heard the firing from platform 7. It is believed he rushed there, alerting commuters en route about available exits. He found an injured Railway Police havaldar, took his rifle after informing him that he was also from the police and fired two shots at one of the gunmen. The other terrorist, who was covering his partner, fired back and bullets hit Pawar’s head and stomach. The killing shots were fired by Ajmal “Kasab,” the terrorist who was later captured.
Perhaps it was this small show of strength by Pawar that made the gunmen flee the station and make their way towards the Cama hospital. Whatever is the reason for their departure, there can be no denying Pawar’s valour. Facing two gunmen wielding automatic weapons with nothing more than a .303 rifle which had three remaining bullets can only be ascribed to bravery and an innate sense of duty. His intervention saved many lives, but cost him his own.
Sudam Pandharkar, the havaldar from whom Pawar took the gun, survived his wounds and went home to his native Ahmednagar to recuperate. He told his superiors of what Pawar had done and of how he himself was struggling to unlock his rifle after firing two rounds unsuccessfully at the terrorists. Struggling to remain conscious, Pandharkar says he recalls Pawar smoothly unlocking the weapon and firing. He lost consciousness briefly and says when he came around again he saw Pawar lying in blood. Firing the rifle was the last thing Pawar did before he was shot dead by Ajmal.
Pawar was said to be someone who had a sense of social commitment. This perhaps explains why when his career in the Army was cut short due to an injury, he joined the police force in 2005.
He enjoyed his work as a policeman and wanted his son to join the force after he graduated. Pawar was from Kavthe in Wai taluka of Satara district. He was 29 when he died.
Ombale’s village Kedambe on national map
Shrinivas Varunjikar
On the backdrop of recent Taj bloodbath, everybody is speaking about Ajmal Kasab, his roots in Pakistan, his village and family members, how he became terrorist and all. Tukaram Ombale, assistant police inspector of Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Road Police Station, was instrumental in catching Ajmal Kasab living, and this has been the only incident in India’s history to catch the culprit of terror attack. This national hero Tukaram Ombale hailed from a micro-interior named Kedambe, near Kelghar, in the Jawali tehsil of Satara district. Intelligent Pune visited Ombale’s native and birth place and spoke to his relatives and villagers
The entire nation nowadays is the state of shock and most of the Mumbaites have not recovered from the trauma that took place Hotel Taj Mahal, Nariman House, Leopold Café and Cama Hospital, and yes, the world-heritage building Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. More than 183 Indian and foreign citizens were killed including police personnel, commandos and National Security Guards. News channels are busy giving some more inputs about the culprits and media, especially electronic media has been involved in finding details about Kasab, his colleagues. The aftermath resulted in resignations of many eminent political leaders, both at Union and the State Cabinet, one fellow has been ignored by one and all. Tukaram Gopal Ombale is the cop who was instrumental in catching Kasab. This Marathi Manoos, attacked the Skoda, through which the terrorists were planning to flee from the scene, and led the team of eight, sacrificing his life for the nation but leaving a living evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack.
How Ombale caught Kasab? Message Received at the Dadasheb Bhadkamkar Marg police station at 10 PM on November 26- Two heavily armed terrorists were at large after gunning down commuters at the Chhatrapti Shivaji Terminus.
Action taken on war footing-15 policemen from D B Marg sent to Girgaum Chowpatty to set up a barricade on Marine Drive. They started stopping and checking of all vehicles.
A brown-coloured Skoda halted some 50 feet distance from the police barricade on Netaji Subhaschandra Bose Marg at Chowpatty, at the midnight hours on November 26. Yes, it was the same car that the cops were waiting for. Nine policemen at the barricade with only lathis, charged while shouting in unison. The car comprised two terrorists with AK-47 rifles and hand grenades. The duo had gunned down number of commuters and polic cops on their way from CST to Girgaum Chowpaty.
The driver terrorists tried a U-turn to escape from the scene, but they didn't open fire. The police charge scared them enough to crash the car into the divider. A short combat after that led by the assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale, paid the ultimate price. The policemen looked at the Skoda driver and waited for him to get down. Instead, the driver Abu Ismail put its headlights on high beam and switched on the wipers to make the windshield indistinct.
The heroic efforts of the nine policemen who confronted the terrorists at the Girgaum Chowpatty, that resulted in killing of one terrorist on the spot and capturing the other has been un-noticed. These policemen had weapons like two self-loading rifles (SLRs), two revolvers and lathis which were, for sure incompatible to face the power of the deadly weapon AK-47. Still that didn't discourage Ombale from leading from the front with nothing but a lathi.
The driver then fired two rounds from his pistol at Bondhankar and Kadam. The two cops returned three rounds each, hitting Ismail in the head, chest and arm, killing him. Awhad and head constable Vikram Nikam rushed and opened the car door.
The policemen at the barricade ran to the passenger side. Ajmal Kasab, was by now lying on his back with an AK-47 on his belly. As soon as Ombale opened the door, Kasab let loose a burst of fire. Ombale, riddled with bullets, caught the barrel of the gun and fell on Kasab, preventing him from doing further damage. The other policemen beat Kasab unconscious. Kasab apparently couldn’t use his rifle as he was bleeding from his hand.
Ombale breathed his last at the GT Hospital.
Vandana Rajendra Patane, daughter of Tukaram Ombale, resident of Kandivali remembers her father as she says, “I really feel proud about my father and thank all those who helped our family in the traumatic state. My mother, Tarabai, has not yet overcame out of the shock; hence she cannot express her feelings before any media, we all feel that, death of my father has been a great loss to the state police. He always loved all the family members and was a cool and quiet man. The man of principles, my father, never compromised on our education level and we all four sisters miss him like anything. I think, he has set an example of bravery before the new generation cops.”
Sakharam Ombale, brother, Mathadi at RCF, Alibag states, “I remember my brother by his courage to face any danger. He always used to tell us that he was an employee of the nation, and had realised his role of being a cop very early. He used to say,”I am of the family only when I am with my family. Otherwise, I owe a lot to the department.” He hardly used to take leave from his duty and used to give maximum time for the department. The cool, calm and the man with golden heart always used to help any of the family members whole heartedly. Two months back, he had been at Kedambe, his native place, for the funeral of one of our relatives. Only four years were left for his retirement for the forces, and he had planned the expansion of the farms. The financial crunch though forced him to say goodbye to schooling, he always insisted on better education facilities for his off-springs. He knew the importance of education. The State Government should do something in the memory of my brother at the very spot where he caught Kasab.”
Suman Sakharam Ombale, housewife, wife of Sakharam Ombale, narrates, “I remember, he had called me on that particular day and had promised to visit Kedambe soon. Suddenly he got a call from his office and he hanged the receiver stating he was ordered to go on a round in South Mumbai. And then the news flashed on television that some of the cops were killed while confronting with the terrorists; and unfortunately he was one of them.”
Bandu Mukadam, Sarpanch, Kedambe Grampanchayat, recollects the memories of the supercop. Says he, “Being very cooperative, Tukarm Ombale was one of the pillars of Kedambe Gram Panchayat. He always worked for the development of the village and was associated with many social organisations. All the villagers are proud of hum and tehsil and district should erect a memorial in his name to let everybody understand that the cop who caught Pakistani terrorist hailed from Kedambe. We have proposed of naming the crematorium road after Tukaram Ombale.”
Prof. Tukaram Ombale, retired head master, Zilla Parishad School, founder, Shramik Janata Vikas Sanstha, Kelghar, an NGO says, “The brave cop Tukaram had been very friendly with me and we both used to work out various plans for the development of village. He was also instrumental in starting of cooperative society here. He always knew the significance of education and was very keen in providing facilities at the local school. He used to take cognizance of any crime happening around, even though he was not on duty. He believed that a cop must be alert at every time. We have decided to propose the government to felicitate him with the President’s Award. He deserves the same.
Ashok Mukund Phatak, colleague, Worli Police Station, Mumbai, has been busy taking care of the Ombale family now. Did the government keep promise of offering compensations to the warriors of the blasts? He describes, “Being a family friend of late Tukaram Ombale, I feel very depressing to handle all the formalities associated with his sad demise. We have worked hand in hand for last 22 years and I never can forget his dedication towards his duty. Yes. The government has issued fixed deposit receipts worth Rs 25 lakh as compensation and it will received via monthly interest. The state government has also assured of continuing of salary till his date of retirement and the formalities in this regard are in process. The widow Tarabai has also received a cheque of his insurance of Rs 2 lakh. The government has assured of job to his successors, and one unmarried daughter, Vaishali or Bharati, are entitled for the same. Now it will all depend on the technicalities associated with same. The Mumbai based Saraswat Bank has also offered job to one of the successors and we are all in the same process. Still, I think, one cannot compensate loss of such a brave warrior. Many of the social and political institutions have been collecting funds for all the martyrs, but nothing out of such funds has reached with the family of Tukaram Ombale.”
Son of soil, Tukaram Ombale hails from Kedambe, in the Jawali tehsil of Satara district Take the national highway number4, the famous Mumbai-Bangalore highway from Pune via Katraj new tunnel, move towards Satara in the south direction up to village Pachwad. Take right turn here and catch the road leading to Kudal in the Jawali tehsil. Via Kudal, take a small ghat road and reach Medha, the tehsil place of Jawali. From Medha, take the road leading to Mahabaleshwar, the famous hill station of India. Drive for some 10 kilometers and you reach Kelghar, from where the ghat leading to the hill station begins. Move some three kilometers and immediately take a right turn going downwards. A narrow road with lush green trees takes you to the village Kedambe via Punawadi. (Punawadi has been old name of Pune, remember?)
Yes. After driving some 5-6 kilometers, now you have reached the Kedambe village. The population of the village as per 2001 census has been recorded as 2,500. All that we found that there were numerous flex boards hanged to pay homage to their beloved hero ASI Tukaram Ombale, the martyr of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.
On my last visit to my hometown Satara, I heard that the martyr hailed from village Kedambe and he added feathers in cap of Satara as well as Maharashtra. I worked on the details and got the contact number of (another) Tukaram Ombale, retired head master of Zilla Parishad School, now residing in Satara city, and neighbour of the martyr supercop at Kedambe, from my friend Sagar Gaikwad. Immediately I contacted this school teacher and organised visit to Kedambe with our photographer Dilipkumar Dongare.
Then we reached the home of Tukaram Ombale. On road, on either side we again found flex boards paying homage to the supercop. The traditional Maharashtrian house owned by Ombale, is a single floored house made up of soil bricks, tin roofed and a courtyard in the front side.
Ombale’s brief life sketch Tukaram Gopal Ombale, born on June 1, 1955 at Kedambe, some 8 km from Kelghar, a market place at the starting point of Kelghar Ghat, on Medha-Mahabaleshwar road, to a poor farmer Gopal and Shevatabai Ombale. The village Kedambe, located in the valley of the Kelghar Ghat, has a hilly topography and rice farming has been one of the major businesses apart from dairy. Gopal Ombale also used work at Mumbai to meet the family expenses. He had two sons, Dnyandeo and Tukaram. Tukaram took his primary education at the Zilla Parishad Primary School at Kedambe up to the seventh standard and further he enrolled his name in Bhairavnath Vidya Mandir at Kelghar, where he was educated till 10th standard. Crossing water cahnnels in rainy season Tukaram used to walk Kelghar for schooling and never bunked any lessons. A very small piece of land couldn’t procure enough food to survive; Tukaram was forced to leave his native place to join the police force as an armed constable in Mumbai, in the year August 1978. Same year, he got married to Tarabai. Presently Tukaram Ombale’s widow lives at Police Camp, Worli, Mumbai. Pavitra Shankar Chikane and Vandana Rajendra Patane are the two married daughters of Ombale while Vaishali and Vandana are living with Tarabai at Worli. Both Vaishali and Bharati are compelting their education in Mumbai. Till then, he had lost his parents survived by Gopal, Dnyandeo, Sakharam (brothers) and one sister. Then after going through various trainings and holding posts at various police stations in Mumbai, he was promoted as assistant police inspector at D B Road police station. All the time, throughout his tenure in the service, Tukaram was the Grade A+ staffer.
Yashwantrao Chavan
Ch.UdayanRaje Bhosale
Ch.Shivendraraje Bhosale
Prin.Arvind Salunkhe
Dr Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil
Freedom fighter Kisan Veer
[edit]Education
Founder Dr Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil's birth anniversary will be celebrating on 22 September, 2007.
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha Satara
Hutatma Parshuram Vidyalaya, Vaduj, Shivaji Highschool, Vaduj
Lawyers
Adv Bhaskarrao Kadam.
[edit]Hydroelectricity
Among other things that Satara is well known for are the 3 dams located her. They are Koyna dam, Kanher dam and Dhom dam. Satara is well known for hydroelectricity.
[edit]External links
Welcome to Satara
Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences
[edit]Newspapers
Dainik Aikya
Dainik Sakal
Lokvrutta News Channel (24 HOURS)
[2]
[edit]Maps
Map of Maharashtra.
Satara District Main Roads and Railways
Physical Map of Satara District
[edit]Pictures
Beautiful Satara Pictures
[edit]Further reading
Selections from the Historical Records of the Hereditary Minister of Baroda. Consisting of letters from Bombay, Baroda, Poona and Satara Governments. Collected by B.A. Gupte. Calcutta 1922.
Malik, S.C. Stone Age Industries of the Bombay & Satara Districts, M. Sayajirao University Baroda 1959.
Irawati Karve, Jayant Sadashiv Randadive, The Social Dynamics of a Growing Town and Its Surrounding Area. Deccan College ,1965, Poona. ISBN B0000CQW3J
Valunjkar, T. N. Social Organization, Migration & Change in a Village Community, Deccan College Poona 1966.
[edit]References
^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Satara
^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
[edit]External links
Paul H. von Tucher: Nationalism: Case and crisis in Missions - German Missions in British India 1939 - 1946. Diss. Erlangen 1980. Author's edition Erlangen/Germany 1980. [3], [4], [5] and [6] in Satara 1940-1946.
Wilhelm Filchner: Life of a Researcher (chapter XXIII). Wilhelm Filchner was interned from September 1941 until November 1946 in the Parole Camp in Satara. Later on he lived in Poona in the Maharashtra state of India.
Satara
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
posted by rohitssatra | 3:47 AM
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