INFORMATION ABOUT PANVEL

Panvel is a city and a municipal council in the Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Panvel is a gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. It is located on the Mumbai Pune expressway a distance of 20 k.m from Mumbai and 15 k.m. from Karjat. The 2005 projected population for Panvel is 129,326. The development authority of Panvel is the Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) and that of New Panvel is CIDCO. The villages of Panvel come under the purview of Raigad Zilla Parishad. A new broad gauge line has connected Panvel with Karjat and Khopoli and has shortened the distance to Pune.

PANVEL TOURISM

The Places of Interest and Sight Seeing



• Karjat : At a great height, surrounded by an expanse of agricultural land and dotted by farmhouses, Karjat comes close to a fantasy hilly town. Karjat, well connected by road and rail from Mumbai, is one of the cleanest hill stations of Maharashtra. Well known for trekking, Karjat is surrounded by steep slopes. Karjat provides excellent roadways to the mesmerizing Western Ghats. Tourists frequent Karjat because of its accessibility and closeness to Ghats. Karjat’s scenic view makes it a flawless beauty. The entire area consists of mountains. These mountains are easily connected by rail from Mumbai. Karjat is centrally located with roads branching out to Murbad, Kalyan, Shahpur, Kasara Ghat on one side and Khapoli , Khalapur, Neral, Ambarnath, Badlapur, Panvel, Pen on the other.



• Karnala :Between Pen and Panvel lies the fort Karnala. At the bottom of the fort is the bird sanctuary. Karnala is 120 k.m. away from Pune and 13 k.m. away from Panvel. The sanctuary is around 25 meters high from the sea level , while the fort itself is 370 meters from the sea level. Maharashtra Government in 1968-69 declared this 4.5 Sq.Km. region as the bird sanctuary. Rich with natural habitats for various kinds of birds, in the sanctuary one can find around 150 species of birds. Specially, you can watch for Red Vented Bulbul, Horn Bill, Myna, Owl, Ashy Rain War Blur, Paradise Fly Catcher, RobinMcPie. On the east of the fort, on the bank of the river Patalganga, is village Apte, on the west is Ransai, while on the north is Vhichwan. The whole area is full of greenery. The fort of Karnala and its famous steep rock always has been challenge for trackers. Bird watchers are advised to bring powerful binoculars to avoid disappointment. Karnala is worth visiting all year round except between March and June.



• Elefanta Caves :The Elephanta Caves are a great tourist attraction in the vicinity of the large Mumbai meteropolis. The Elephanta island is located 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE. The Elephanta island was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the landing area of the island. These rock cut temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadeva are rich in sculptural content. Motorboats take passengers from Appollo Bunder near the Gateway of India. . How They were Constructed: This rock cut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk. The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock. The entire cave temple complex covers an area of about 60000 squrare feet and it consists a main chamber and two lateral ones , courtyards and several subsidary shrines. Above the temple is the mass of natural rock. There are three entrances to this temple. The ones on the east and the west marking the axis of the temple. A 20 pillared hall lines the axis, and on its western end is the cella in shich is enshrined a Shivalingam. The pillars consist of fluted columns standing on square bases, and are crowned with fluted cushion capitals. The enigmatic image of Trimurthi Sadasiva: The Sadasiva manifestation of Shiva is carved in relief at the end of the north south axis. This collossal 20 feet high image of the three headed Shiva, Trimurthy is a magnificient one, considered to be a masterpiece of Indian art. This colossal image represents Panchamukha Shiva, only three faces of whom are carved into the wall and it demands immediate attention upon entering the temple through the northern entrance.



• Haji Malang :Placed at the top of a hill in Durgadi, Haji Malang is a pilgrim center for Hindus and Muslims. The fort was constructed during the period of the Mauryan dynasty. Many Hindus visit Durgadi in flocks and pay homage at the samadhi belonging to a saint of the Nath cult. Transportation facilities are available from Kalyan bus station which go up to the foothill of Malanggad. Kalyan railway station is the nearest railway station and the closest airport is at Mumbai.



• Prabal Gad :To reach Prabalgad reach karjat bus stand and take a bus to Panvel. Get down at Poenje phata. Poenje phata can also be reached by boarding a Karjat bus from Panvel. Reach the Poenje village. From poenje village one can reach the Prabal fort after a 2 hours trek. There are barely any trees on the foothills of Prabalgad but there ia a thick cover of forest at the top. No accomodation is available at the top. There are few tanks of water at the top. It is advisable to take a guide from the base village as the route to this fort is not clearly visible. Matheran and Irshal gad can be seen from the pinacle of Prabal. At night the panvel and the surrounding cities appear marvellous. They look much more brighter than the view of khopoli while passing by train from Lonavala to Karjat. The bridge over the Navi Mumbai creek can be easily identified. Although carrying a binocular would aid good understanding of the view. If you want to experience this view it is recommended to carry along a tent. Toy Train famed Matheran, Murud-Janjira,



• Mahad (Raigadh fort) :Raigad was the capital of Marathas, famous for Shivaji's coronation and his monument. Shivaji passed away here in 1680. His statue and other monuments on the fort are very pretty. The fort is almost 2900 feet high but really very difficult to climb. The fort was named as capital because of its toughness and difficult nature. The first main place on the fort is the main door - 'Maha Darawaja'. After the main door, Ganga sagar and some remains of the palace can be seen. Hirkani Buruj can also be seen and one don't believe the heroic deeds of Hirkani (she came down the fort bare footed at night from this point). The famous 'Takmak Tok' or place for life punishment - is on the north side. Its thrilling to stand near Takmak Tok which is always with full of breeze. One can see the ammunition store here. The market place on the fort is worth to watch and history lovers spends time here recalling the great warrior. The statue of 'Shivaji Maharaj' is situated at the center of the fort. The Samadhi of Maharaj is also very beautiful and one can remember Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his contribution and full dedication to Swaraj. The other places to visit on the fort are Jagdishwar Temple, Koli Lake, Shirkai Temple etc. The view of 'Lingana' is also wonderful. Raigad is very famous fort for the trekkers as Raigad - Torana - Raigad trek is very popular and tough one. But for normal people, 'Rope way' is the source available. Truly, a wonderful place where the Maharaj and his Swaraj can be remembered.



• Ballaleshwar Pali and Mahad - Ganesha :Two of the Ashtavinayak ganapati: Ballaleshwar, Pali This Ballaleshwar temple is the only temple of Ganesh, famous by the name of his devotee and who is dressed up like a Brahmin. The temple is located in the toen of Pali, off the Mumbai-Pune highway, about 11 km before Nagothane on Mumbai-Goa highway.



• Swapna Nagari (well known Bollywood shooting place)