Maharashtra State - A road to Ellora

Travelling date: 10 December 2011
Route: Daund–Kashti-Belvandi-Ahmadnagar-Rahuri-Belapur-Shirdi-Vaijapur-Ellora

My colleague and I had booked an accommodation in the boutique hotel close to Ellora Caves to spend a weekend in the second week of December with our family who visited us in Daund, Pune District, Maharashtra State. We both were assigned to 58km Pune Solapur Highway Project at the time the trip was made. I was seconded for a short assignment in the highway project from 5 August 2011 till 5th January 2012. Though our site office was in Kurkumbh, most of us, Malaysian stayed in a small town, Daund, about 20 minutes drive from the office. We thought of taking them to see 1 of the famous archaeological site of India, Ellora Caves by road at  Daund as starting point. We travelled along state road following the route mentioned above through numerous district in the Maharashtra state and arrived in the late evening at Ellora town.

Morning Market, "Goats market I believe"

The road is winding and narrow, but with less traffic and peaceful scenery, we have no complaints. We made a quick stop in below photo as our driver need a short toilet break. The small business can be done by the road side, which is a common view in India. I've seen a lot more worst.

It was beginning of winter season in India, thus the valleys turn yellowish color as it was cold and dry for the bushes, grass and trees to stay greener. The whole thing will turn green during monsoon season. In Maharashtra, you just need to use sweater and light winter clothing unlike in the upper Northern state of India. As it the scenery was too memorable, I cant help but to ask the driver to stop at this place. A nice view for the picture, indeed. 

This is a meeting point with our friends who left a little bit earlier as they had planned to offer prayer at Shirdi, a pilgrim centre, the shrine of Shri Sai Baba. A lot of people gathered at the shrine. I decided not to go inside as no camera is allowed.

We stopped for fresh coconut and sugarcane juice by the roadside. Spectacular scenery, something that cant be seen in Malaysia. What we enjoyed most was to see a conventional way of squeezing the sugarcane using the white healthy cows. The juice was then mixed with ice and lemon. Very tasty and refreshing. 

Nomad camp, famously used for general labour who came a long way to work in the nearby farm. The workers come and go. The camp is a removable type. It follows where the owner's jobs are. It is equipped with basic facilities, avoiding them from a harsh weather (the rains, the winds, etc.)

Families picnic spot, seated along the State Road. People just stopped and enjoyed the water, simply!

Below photos are a common view in Maharashtra State, being the main producer of sugarcane. Traditional transportation using the cows are still in use. The worker normally travels very early in the morning on empty cart. They will loaded the sugarcane onto the carts and heading back, later in the afternoon. I enjoy watching them. Sometimes, the whole family came along and work together. To see an overloaded cart, saddened me most (thinking of painfull would it be for the cows to bear).  



  

These are the next spot where our friends made a quick stop to another Sri Baba shrine for a second prayer. We waited at the nearby markets and had an opportunity to shoot numerous interesting photos at the parking and markets area. The old photo inside my photo, below, is the late Sri Baba. 

Markets below normally sells things that Sai Baba devotees used and requires during their ritual prayer. Somes of them are worshipping idols main for house decoration.

Pictures tells a thousand word. These are the message that I wish to bring forward.

to be continued...