Sossegado : Kokan - October 2023

 

Theme for my October 2023 Kokan trip was "Sossegado" .. "Susegaad" (सुशेगाद) in Konkani meaning "निवांत" in Marathi or Relaxed, Calm, peaceful in English ..the culture of Goa is often called "Susegaad" ( Derived from Portugese "sossegado" meaning Calm, Quiet and peaceful)

This trip took me from Ratnagiri to Devgad to Talashil-Tondavli  via Mithbav-Tambaldeg, with 3 days stay at all places. Finally to Bhogawe beach resort for an extended stay, riding locally to Devbag, Tarkarli, Malvan, Mhapan,Vengurla, Kudal. Flying back to Pune via Mopa (Goa ).

Started my Oct 2023 Kokan trip from Ratnagiri.. Luckily I found a resort of the same name in Ratnagiri and decided to book my stay there. Like my every travel, I tend to visit Temples, Beaches and travel locally on two wheelers to meet locals and interact, feeling the vibes of place in full! 

I have a habit of taking short videos of 1-3 minutes at various places I visit. The total number of videos that I shot during this travel might be over 500. I have kept them in raw format spread over 19-20 albums on Facebook. I have also got addicted to taking selfie videos at places that I like. These selfies are not to show off, but for memories of that place and the joy I had there during the visit. 

Here is a list and link to these albums on Facebook :

Ratnagiri 2023 

My favorite places are Bhataye beach, Bhataye beach bridge, "Madhli aali", local restaurants : Mandar Misal, Samadhan Juice bar, Datta Cafe, Shivalkar Vadapaav. Temples of Bhairi, Jogeshwari, Kashi Vishweshwar, 18 haati Ganapati, Dev Satyanarayan

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2579582862201835&type=3

Kasheli 

Drive from Ratnagiri resort to Kasheli tabletop and breath-taking views of Devghali beach at Kasheli, Kanakaditya Mandir. Drive from Ratnagiri (Karla Sushegad resort) to Devgad (Vedaa Resort)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581236352036486&type=3

Devgad 2023 

Devgad has a special place in my heart. I truly love Devgad .. Had a rental Honda Nav two-wheeler to ride and I took wonderful rides to Vijaydurg, Jamsande,. Mithbav, Tambaldeg and Kunkeshwar along with Light house and Devgad fort. Had wonderful stay at Hotel Vedaa in a room with beautiful views of Windmills and sunsets, sunrises and Devgad beach. Had morning walks on beach and visited Devgad windmill garden nearby. Devgad offers great variety of wonderful food that vegetarians can enjoy (my favorite - Prapanch and Dilkhush) .. Janaki Dining hall at Mithbav is one of the famous Veg joints on the way from Devgad to Malvan. Jamsande is one of the best places to enjoy snacks (my favorite - Santosh Bhuvan) 

This album has some of the most beautiful videos I have shot, all 1-3 minutes long with natural sights and sounds .. no editing.  Enjoy ! Almost 100 short videos: 

- Devgad Garden

- Drive to Kunkeshwar ,  Tambaldeg, Mithbav 

- Devgad Fort and Lighthouse

- Vijaydurg and Riddhi Siddhi Mandir 

- Devgad Harbour and Hanuman Mandir 

- Views of Windmills , Sunsets and Sunrises from Vedaa Resort

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2579600668866721&type=3

Visit to Tambaldeg-Mithbav via Kunkeshwar on Two wheeler

Honda Navi ride from Devgad hotel to Tambaldeg. Beautiful views of Windmills from hotel room to start for a two wheeler ride to Tamballdeg

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581284038698384&type=3

Visit to Vijaydurga and Riddhi Siddhi Mandir 

Two wheeler ride to Vijaydurg and Riddhi Siddhi Ganpati mandir Morning and evening views of the Windmills and the sun ( rising and setting ) .. from the balcony of my hotel room in Devgad ( Vedaa Resort )

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581292475364207&type=3

Drive from Devgad (Vedaa Resort) to Talashil-Tondavali (Capsule Resort)

Drive Starting from Devgad Hotel Vedaa to Talashil - Tondivali via Mithmumbri , Kunkeshwar , Mithbav

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581260512034070&type=3

Janaki Dining Hall Mithbav 

A must visit place for the best vegetarian food at Mithbav .. or maybe even all Malvan. Run by Mr and Mrs Soman Janaki Dining hall at Mithbav is one of the best places to have Vegetarian food ... located on a road from Devgad to Malvan.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581237188703069&type=3

Talashil Tondavali

Stay at Talashil resort, sunsets, sunrise of Dasara, Gopal Krushna Temple, Numerous videos of sunsets .. some of my most favorites with captions ( some pholosophical too ) There is a separate album for : Visit to Juva island, Visit to Shimpla island, Kawada rock and Dolphins sightings

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2579641088862679&type=3

Boat ride at Talashil - Visit to Juva Island, Shimpla Island, Kawada Rock

Boat rides in sea and rivers , is one of the important reasons for me visiting Kokan so frequently .. This boat ride at Talashil-Tondivli was special .. leisurely and involved various activities from Visiting Juva Island for lunch , Visiting Sarjekot fishing harbour, Sangam point, Shimpla Island and the trademark Kawada Island shaped like a tortoise. Many Dolphins accompanied our boat and leisurely we enjoyed their company by turning off the engines of the boat. In this album: Juva Island, Shimpla island, Kawada rock, Sarjekot, Dolphin sightings

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581377342022387&type=3

Drive from Talashil - Tondivali to Bhogwe

A Drive starting Talashil - Tondavali resort towards Bhogawe Sunlight resort Dasara , Oct 24, 2023

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581271568699631&type=3

Bhogawe beach resort stay

Daily recordings on the morning walk and evening sunsets from the beach at Bhogawe beach resort .. some of the surreal sights and sounds .. Relaxing short videos with natural sounds

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581074195386035&type=3

Bhogwe Beach walks near Nivti fort and Golden rock

Morning walks along the beach... Bhogwe Beach walks near Nivti fort and Golden rock, Visit to Paat lake and quick ride to Kudal.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581629285330526&type=3

October 2023 Beach fest - Bhogawe beach

The evenings of partying and parting at Bhogawe beach resort.. beautiful sunsets and serene beaches This album is of my daily morning and evening walks at Bhogawe beach, Bhogawe beach resort , Nivti beach and Nivti fort beach near Golden rock .. Many selfies that I could not resist taking .. Some beautiful views of mornings and evenings on beach that are truly enjoyable. Includes the Full moon day of 28th and the Lunar eclipse as seen from Bhogawe beach resort.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2580910605402394&type=3

Two wheeler ride to Vengurla and visit to Nivti fort

On the day of Angling competition at Bhogawe beach .. a visit to Nivti fort and a two wheeler ride to Vengurla for Samosa and Fruit cocktail-milkshake ( October 28th )

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581542068672581&type=3

Riding Two wheeler from Bhogawe to Devbag, Tarkarli, Malvan

A ride on TVS 125 Racer from Bhogawe beach to Tarkarli, Devbag, Malvan, Nivti fort, Nivti village and small beach, Khavane beach, Bhogawe Angling and Fishing competition at main Bhogawe beach .. my favorite places for snack at main Bhogawe beach ( Mauli and Prasad Hotel ) .. A tea and vadapav in the evening on a bench at beach .. Two temples at Devbag : BalKrushna Temple and Vitthal Rakhumai Temple , The Devbag fishing village

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581469448679843&type=3

Rock Garden of Malvan

A visit to Rock Garden at Malvan on a hot afternoon in October... riding on a two wheeler all the way from Bhogawe, Tarkarli and Devbag.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581522502007871&type=3

Sindhudurg Chipi Airport

Chipi - Sindhudurga airport near Parule is the first operational commercial airport of Kokan .. Only one aircraft arrives and leaves the airport 4 times a week to Mumbai. In this album : - A video of Propeller jet from Mumbai landing at the Airport - View of Chipi Airport from outside - Selfies at the runway of Chipi airport road - Direction boards to Chipi airport

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2580974962062625&type=3

Drive from Bhogawe to Mopa airport

2 hr drive from Bhogawe resort.. Parule.. Paat.. Kudal.. NH66 highway .. Zarap.. Goa Border .. Short cut to Mopa airport on left side before Pernem

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2581449662015155&type=3

GOX Mopa Airport, North Goa

One of my favourite airports .. GOX Mopa Manohar international airport, North Goa This airport has been decorated and built with aesthetic sense, keeping in view the beauty , artistic liking and life of Goan people and tourism. The paintings at the airport are truly fun. The sitting and waiting areas are spacious with modern furniture designs. Restaurants and Bars at the lounge and gates are excellent. One of my favorites is the Irish House at gate 21,22,23 .. with antique decor and feel. I donot mind if my plane is delayed for couple of hours at this Airport !

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2580883978738390&type=3

Link to my Coastal Kokan trips from December 2022 to March 2023 - Get your Kicks on NH66 

Musings on Music: Get your kicks on NH-66 (pbhave.blogspot.com)

Rageshree siblings: Khambavati, Bhinna-Shadaj, Kaushi Dhwani, Hindoli, Hemant, Maanjh-Khamaj

 

This blogpost is about Raag Rageshree or Rageshwari as described in old literature. It has been a traditional raag performed since ages, very popular among veterans like Ut Bade Gulam Ali Khan to modern exponents like Kishori Amonkar. Theoreticians have described it as a Raag that has a mixture of 10 raags, namely; Sindhura, Dhanaashree, Bhairav, Durga, Kanada, Asawari, Kedar, Gauri, Devgiri and Devgandhaar ! (I tend to never believe in such theories)    

Rageshree has many variations, the primary being one that has both the nishads and the other that has only komal nishad. The siblings of Rageshree are essentially its variants with additions and deletions of a swar in aroha or avaroah. Two songs or tunes from Hindi movies, that have the feel of Rageshree are "Rahe na rahe hum" and "kaun aaya mere man ke dware"

Variations of Rageshree emerged with different gharanas calling it with different names. Agra gharana has a variation called Pancham Rageshree (or Hindoli) with predominance of Pancham instead of Madhyam. The variation that is a trademark of Jaipur-Atrouli gharana is Khambavati. This finds more resemblance towards Durga and Gauri is ascension and has that characteristic Jaipur "Vakra" descent.

Bhinna-Shadaj is a variant that has a single shuddha nishad and exclusion of Rishabh. The classic bandish "Ud ja re kagaa" is the hallmark of this raag. 

Hemant is a related raag that was conceptualized by Ut Allaudin Khan and later popularized by his disciples as well as "Vagyakars" like Ramashray Jha, and singers of Agra Gharana like Pt Jitendra Abhisheki. There is however a similar raag mentioned in old literature that is labelled as Mand / Manjh / Manjh-Khamaj  

Hemant and Bhinna Shadaj is also called by the name of Kaushi-Dhwani, by the exponents of Patiala gharana. The classic thumri "Yaad piya ki aaye" by Ut Bade Gulam ali Khan of Patiala gharana that has been a residential part of every concert of the darling of Patiala gharana, Kaushiki Chakravarty, is the flagship of Kaushi-Dhwani, Bhinna Shadaj or Hemant.. all siblings of Raag Rageshree of Khamaj thaat.  

Here is my playlist on YouTube for the Rageshree siblings. 

Get your kicks on NH-66

National Highway 66, commonly referred to as NH 66 (erstwhile NH-17 and a part of NH-47), is a mostly 4 lane 1,608 km (999 mi) long busy National Highway that runs roughly north–south along the western coast of India, parallel to the Western Ghats. It connects Panvel (a city south of Mumbai) to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari), passing through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

This a blogpost about my travels on NH66.

Post Covid, my bucket list of travel was full of places that I missed traveling during the pandemic lockdown. I completed checking out my travel list in four trips with a travel theme of "Beaches and Temples", four trips of 14-17 days each spanning over last 4 months. These recent pleasure trips with the theme "Beaches and Temples" were along the west coast of India from Kokan region of Maharashtra to Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Kanya Kumari (southern tip of India). Each trip was distinct in a way that I took almost all forms of transports, from SUV, Car, 2-wheeler, train and flights travelling to various places. 

Mar 6 - 16   

Pune-Mumbai-Chipi-Malvan-Vengurla-North Goa-Mopa-Pune 

Jan 30 - Feb 12 

KanyaKumari - Coastal Kerala ( Thiruvanantapuram, Kochi, Varkala )

Dec 20 -Jan 7 

Coastal Karnataka and Goa

Dec 7-14  

Coastal Kokan 

During these trips I could explore the nature in true sense, in the process of exploring myself. It was a great invigorating and rejuvenating experience for myself, that gave me a new perspective of life. I captured over 1000 short videos during these travels and have posted them in around 25 different albums on my Facebook page. 

The reason for blogging about these travels is, because I realized that these travels truly helped me discover myself and hence I should share the joy with all. I met many interesting people. I discovered the power of sea waves in calming the soul and the fact these travels and the roads were truly the source of energy than the destination per se. I just wanted to share this thought and hence the "show" of "travel blog." 

I am planning to write a series on these travels as a separate blog series, but that would take time. Have posted some videos on YouTube and would be posting more such high-definition videos in future (once I get into the mood of doing so!) Meanwhile, enjoy the videos in raw form as they are on my YouTube channel and in my FB albums.

Please feel free to checkout / download any of the videos that I have posted in albums on:

 My Facebook page. :  https://www.facebook.com/PVBhave/photos_albums

 My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pvbhave

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Individual albums on Facebook : 

Chipi Bhogwe Malvan : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2411628408997282&type=3

Aaryavarta Beach Resort: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2412335745593215&type=3

Sindhudurga Fort and Malvan Rameshwar Mandir: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2413088505517939&type=3

Boat ride in deep sea and Dolphins sightings : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2413051385521651&type=3

Vengurla : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2414492775377512&type=3 

Goa 2023 March : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2416596815167108&type=3

Drives on Two wheeler in Rural North Goa : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2419016064925183&type=3

Kanya Kumari - Vivekanandapuram : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2386479398178850&type=3

Coastal Kerala:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2387544921405631&type=3

Train Journeys : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2311161412377316&type=3

Selfie Album : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2396075647219225&type=3

Road Trip videos Coastal Karnataka to Goa : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2358865677606889&type=3

Udupi Beaches : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2358944747598982&type=3

Visit to St Mary's Island: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2358990954261028&type=3

Udupi Shree Krishna Temple: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2358814680945322&type=3

Murudeshwar : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2358790220947768&type=3

Gokarna Beach Stay : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2358985294261594&type=3

Goa Temples and Favorite places:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2362466857246771&type=3

Coastal Kokan Trip December 2022 : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2343623879131069&type=3

Complete Coastal Karnataka-Goa trip Videos and photos shot on FitSpark Pro camera : https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=PVBhave&set=a.2369038636589593