Latest news with #Malvani
India.com
02-06-2025
- India.com
5 Serene Villages Near Mumbai For Your Next Relaxing Retreat
The financial hub of India known as Mumbai showcases rapid living through high-rise buildings and an exciting cultural atmosphere. The quiet residential areas surrounding Mumbai provide visitors an escape from urban commotion after they take a brief road journey into the countryside. Meditative villages located near the city offer visitors wholehearted peace and natural environments along with basic rural experiences. The following villages near Mumbai should be at the top of your exploration list because they offer peaceful holiday destinations. Village The coastal Konkan village Kashid exists at a distance of 125 kilometers south of Mumbai. Kashid village presents visitors with tranquil surroundings that encompass its perfect white sand shoreline and the gentle movement of coconut palms. The holy Kashid Temple serves as a religious destination for Lord Shiva worshipers within the village. The local adventure scene in Kashid Village includes recreational activities including paragliding flights and trips to nearby attractions including Revdanda along with Korlai forts. Relax in one of the environmentally sensitive cottage accommodations or homestays that provide panoramic views toward the Arabian Sea. Mumbai residents choose Alibaug village as their weekend getaway through ferry services. The well-known beaches Nagaon and Versoli are highlights of this village which retains traditional Marathi architecture and its pastoral paddy fields create a rustic atmosphere throughout the rural area. You should go to the Kanakeshwar Temple which stands on top of a hill for sweeping scenery of the region. The maritime history of the region becomes visible because Alibaug maintains historical sites such as the powerful Kolaba and Janjira Forts. Relaxation can be found through market browsing and tasting the true Konkani dishes. The small town of Murud maintains its position 160 kilometers south of Mumbai as a charming settlement noted for its scenic charm and historic importance. The main attraction in this village stands as the magnificent Murud-Janjira Fort which rests on a sea island facing the Arabian Sea. The fort can be reached by boat since it stands as a remarkable example of medieval engineering that displays fascinating details about the past. Land visitors to Murud have two informal enjoyment options between spending time at peaceful Murud Beach or walking the traditional village neighborhoods with their vibrant houses. Fresh seafood should not be missed because the traditional Malvani cooking methods make them impossible to resist. Village The Raigad district embraces Pali as a little cultural town reachable by driving 80 kilometers from Mumbai. You can find the ancient Ganesha Temple in this village which celebrates thousands of devotees yearly during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival with its 12th-century history. The scenic countryside environment with gentle mountains and natural vegetation provides residents with relaxation from busy metropolitan environments in Pali. The place allows visitors to launch waterfall exploration at Tamhini Ghat and conduct bird watching activities in the thick forest areas. The relaxed atmosphere of the village provides an excellent experience for visitors whether they travel alone or with family members. As a hill station by definition Matheran maintains an atmosphere that resembles a village space because of its limits on vehicles and compact dimensions. Prime Forest Reserve in Western Ghats region at 90 kilometers northeast of Mumbai provides stunning sights of landscape descent alongside waterfall views. Matheran gained its reputation from its 38 official lookout spots which showcase spectacular views at Panorama Point along with Echo Point. Travelers can take pleasure in riding the heritage toy train running between Neral and Matheran for a classic experience. The peaceful climate of Matheran together with its cool temperatures creates the perfect atmosphere for weekend relaxation. Why Choose These Villages? The residential towns around Mumbai function as both shelter from urban chaos and as places to rediscover natural elements and traditional way of life. This collection of villages presents distinct attractions because each one showcases either natural beaches or historic forts combined with traditional festivals together with encounters with wildlife. Sustainable touristic sites within these locations work to protect the environment while providing visitors memorable experiences that do not damage nature. Final Thoughts Every traveler will find their perfect match among these villages since they serve visitors from every background. Get ready for an adventure that will uncover the exceptional villages surrounding Mumbai since paradise lies just beyond the bustle of urban living.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- The Hindu
Drinking to death: on illicit liquor cases
Often described in media reports as 'hooch tragedies' or 'spurious liquor cases', the recurring incidents of illicit alcohol poisoning across India — most recently near Amritsar, Punjab, which claimed at least 23 lives — follow a grimly familiar pattern of poverty, greed, and regulatory failure. Each tragedy is eerily similar to the previous one, be it in terms of the socio-economic profile of the victims or the motivation of the perpetrators. The victims are typically poor, daily wage earners, seeking respite from the harsh realities of everyday drudgery. They are drawn by the lure of cheap alcohol, a vulnerability exploited by bootleggers, who are at the fag end of a long supply chain. These illicit brews often involve dangerous shortcuts, from incorporating toxic substances such as dead scorpions to diluting industrial methanol, a poisonous chemical that is deceptively similar to consumable ethanol. Methanol, easily pilfered and inexpensive, becomes a deadly profit source for bootleggers who may misjudge dilution ratios, leading to fatal consequences. The nexus among bootleggers, the police, and lower-level politicians is often apparent. While police negligence in Punjab has led to suspensions, these events are more about organised methanol theft in which the bootlegger is only the last mile operator. Methanol is not a drink; it is industrial alcohol, an intermediary in the petrochemical industry with extensive downstream use, and is, therefore, not illicit, except as an ingredient in hooch. It is categorised as a Class B poison in many States, but is cheaper than the liquor made biologically, mostly from molasses. After paying for the pilferage from authorised methanol dealers, bootleggers can still make a handsome profit. Legal proceedings in illicit liquor cases often involve murder and attempted murder charges, besides those under prohibition laws. Yet convictions, as seen in the 2015 Malvani case, can be elusive. A court acquitted 10 of the 14 accused after nine years. None was found guilty of violating the Poison Act. Since methanol production and delivery are inter-State affairs, there is a case for a central framework on methanol transport for preventing such pilferage as well as stringent State regulation. The Poison Act may add teeth to the prosecution's case. But what is more important is to ensure that the lawmaker-enforcer dyad is incorruptible so that illegal methanol distribution is impossible. Eventually though, it is the sorry economic, social and educational situation of victims that creates a market for unscrupulous agents to make money. This can only be eradicated by tackling poverty, social inequality, and the lack of access to education alongside systemic corruption within law enforcement.
The National
27-03-2025
- The National
Four hidden gems to visit in Mumbai, from Sheev Killa to Pancham Puriwala
Mumbai is a city of many contradictions, perhaps reflected by its many names over the centuries – from Maiambu, a reference to locally worshipped deity Mumba Devi, to the colonial-era Boon Bay and Bombay. Officially renamed Mumbai in 1995, India's finance capital and home to the thriving Bollywood film industry also has plenty to see and do for history buffs, foodies and culture vultures. Some landmarks – from the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre to the award-winning Masque restaurant – make headlines regularly, while others thrive quietly in the background, visited only by a knowing few. It is these hidden gems that discerning travellers are seeking out, and here are some to visit. Sheev or Sion, derived from the Marathi word for 'boundary', is a district that houses one of the oldest forts from colonial-era Bombay. Sion Hillock Fort, or Sheev Killa, was built in the 1670s by Gerald Aungier, who was the Governor of Bombay. It separated land owned by the British East India Company from the Portuguese-controlled Salsette Island (now the Thane and Mira-Bhayander areas). The fort is about 500 metres from Sion train station, and its watchtower and a remaining cannon can be accessed via a flight of stone steps. The view from the top is a study in contrasts, with one side offering a glimpse of Mumbai's oil refineries and salt pans, and the other looking out on to the contemporary glass facades and high-rises of Bandra-Kurla Complex, punctuated by the Bandra-Worli Sealink bridge. While the fort's role as a bastion of defence appears clear, the site also has a concrete maze. The purpose of the maze, however, remains a mystery, especially since its walls are barely 120cm tall so only pose a challenge for children to find their way out. The fort can be accessed via a stroll through the lush Jawaharlal Nehru garden, and it is free to enter. Roll-on, roll-off (or ro-ro) cargo ships that ferry passengers and their vehicles are the best way to get to Alibaug, a coastal town across the Arabian Sea from the Mumbai mainland. The car ferry can be caught from the air-conditioned port of Bhaucha Dhakka on the eastern seafront of Mumbai. It docks at Mandwa, the town made famous by Amitabh Bachchan's blockbuster movie Agneepath. While the 60-minute ride (priced from 420 rupees) affords photo opportunities featuring the city skyline and a rising or setting sun, it's worth spending a night or a weekend in the main town of Alibaug. Dubbed the Miami of Mumbai, it offers some of the area's cleanest beaches and boasts several celebrities' homes, including those of actor Shah Rukh Khan and cricketer Virat Kohli. In recent years, both Mandwa and Alibaug have become gourmet destinations, too, serving fresh seafood in the coastal Malvani and Goan styles. Must-try restaurants include Boardwalk by Flamboyante on Mandwa jetty and The Backyard Cafe in Varsoli village, close to the main town, plus Mayoor Bakery, which has been serving artisanal breads since the 1970s. Chef Moshe Shek also runs culinary classes at A World Away, an organic farm in the hamlet of Awas, which is particularly popular with Mumbai's 'ladies who lunch'. Larger groups can book out a minimum of 10 rooms at Mansion House, a 25-room boutique resort by Sasawane beach, renowned for its quaint decor and exceptional service. One of Mumbai's oldest restaurants, built in the colonial era, Pancham Puriwala is in the Fort area of South Bombay. It began as a grab-and-go stall, which expanded to a two-storey, bricks-and-mortar restaurant once the Victoria railway terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) was built in the 1880s, bringing millions of migrants to Mumbai. For more than 175 years, the humble joint run by six generations of its founder Pancham Sharma's family has dished out piping hot plates of puri bhaji, a North Indian delicacy made of deep-fried wheat flour served with spiced and curried potatoes – and now priced at 35 rupees a plate. The quick-service restaurant has big sharing tables, so it's not uncommon to eat your meal alongside university students and taxi drivers. Puri bhaji aside, the restaurant also serves a mean thali (from 135 rupees) – a platter filled with vegetables, pulses, lentils and sweetmeats, which can be refilled on demand. Seasonal mango juice, aam ras, is also on the menu, while the chole bhature, pumpkin bhaji and shahi paneer are other dishes worth sampling. The haunt of Mumbai's Kolis or fishing community, Worli is one of the seven islands that originally made up Mumbai, much of which has now been connected and expanded by land reclamation. Despite its financial and industrial prowess, the city still provides a livelihood for the Kolis, who set off in their trawlers in the wee hours each morning to bring in the catch of the day. A tour of Worli Village allows you to watch the fishermen return home, to clean and dry their haul before the women take it to market. You can also stroll around the vibrant fishing dock, sample freshly cooked fried snacks and Mumbai's famous 'cutting chai' (so named because of the half-sized glasses it's served in), and learn about the city's maritime heritage. In the afternoon, when the market shuts for siesta time, head to the nearby Worli Fort, Golfa Devi temple or Japanese-Buddhist Nipponzan Myohoji temple. Should you prefer to visit with a tour guide, prices start from 750 rupees for a group of five, although – as with most purchases in mercantile Mumbai – haggling is highly recommended.
