FunderfulWorld

The Sahakar Nagar area in Pune is home to a string of hills. And these hills trace a path that eventually leads to the Parvati hill temple complex. The Taljai and Waghjai hills, known by the names of the deities that reside on their respective summits, have undergone a striking “urban” transformation over the years. On one hand, the approach routes have been modernized with tar and even cement, thus making them easily accessible (and hence, attracting large crowds!). On the other hand, the hills are much greener than before (the “visible” effects of afforestation drives). One thing that hasn’t changed for the past 25 years (and thank God for that!) – the hills are still alive with the calls of peacocks and the myriad sights and sounds of nature.

I took a break from my weekend planning routine, and handed over the baton to B this time.

Before I could blink, he proposed a visit to Katraj Zoo. Although I was initially reluctant to head there on a Sunday afternoon (conjuring up images of a crowded space), I decided to “let go” of my worries. Whew! That’s a toughie for me!

Junior had already visited the reptiles section of the zoo during a school field trip, and was excited at the prospect of seeing the slithering creatures a second time.

Hidden from view, off the busy Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune, lies an ancient cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva – the Pataleshwar (Lord of the Netherworld) temple.

If you miss the entrance (highly likely!), proceed through the well-marked entrance of the Jangli Maharaj temple. Visit this shrine dedicated to the saint Jangli Maharaj, and then, follow the signboard to the adjacent cave temple of Pataleshwar.

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Nandi Mandapa. Pataleshwar Temple, Pune.

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Roman Theater, Lyon, France

Lyon has numerous parks and open spaces where you can enjoy the outdoors. Besides our walks through various neighborhoods for “mural-spotting” and the visits to the Parc de la Tête d’Or and the riverside promenade, we strolled through other smaller parks and visited the lovely Roman Theater in the city.

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Riverside Promenade. River Rhône, Lyon, France

Our itinerary in Lyon included a great deal of time outdoors and we made the most of the splendid weather and bright sunshine.

The sprawling Parc de la Tête d’Or and the pretty riverside promenade were some of our favorite outdoor spaces in Lyon.

Riverside Promenade, Lyon:

The rivers Rhône and Saône wind their way through the gastronomic capital of France. Along the eastern bank of the Rhône, a long promenade offers visitors and locals a great place to enjoy the outdoors.

Two summers ago, we visited the city of Lyon, host to the famous Festival of Lights (Fête des Lumières), in France. During our week-long stay in the capital of the Rh_ô_ne-Alpes region, we explored several parks (including the lovely Parc de la Tête d’Or), relived history at the splendid Roman theater, and discovered the unique urban development project at La Confluence.

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Welcome to Pavia! Pavia, Italy

Home to an ancient university, the town of Pavia dates back to pre-Roman times when it was known as Ticinum.

Our train-happy family readily jumped onto a train at Milan Centrale to spend a day at Pavia. A day of discovering piazzas, a university, and beautiful churches.

Our walk began from the train station at Pavia. We ambled along the streets that led to Piazza della Vittoria and the quiet Piazza del Duomo. It was summer and a sense of emptiness prevailed. Residents and students had probably left for the seaside, as many Italians do during the hot season. A few cyclists rode through the town, pausing to gaze at the beautiful landmarks.

We followed the signs to a small ticket counter. Before we could say “Timbuktu”, we had paid for the tickets and were hurrying along to a “show” that had just started.

A miniature scene. With trains that chug along the tracks and a hot air balloon rising high. With a funicular and cable car that compete for attention. With tiny people enjoying a swim and others scaling a mountain.

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It’s a small world. Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railiways, Pune, India

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Monte Stella. Milan, Italy

If you are weary from sightseeing and shopping in Milan, and are looking for a tranquil setting, head to the lovely Monte Stella. Condition: You would need a little bit of energy to hike up the hill :).

If you are a fitness enthusiast, you could jog along the path here.

Monte Stella is a verdant location with various paths leading around and up the hill. This artificial hill was created from rubble resulting from WWII damage.

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Udaan Biodiversity Park, Pune, India

The Udaan Biodiversity Park takes you on an exciting journey of discovering the plant kingdom. Tucked away in the Viman Nagar area of Pune, this initiative of the Zensar foundation is a commendable one.

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Sweet Basil. Udaan Biodiversity Park, Pune, India