Uttam Mithai Bhandar – 109-Year-Old Heritage Sweet Shop

• • Aurangabad, Maharashtra

I was traveling via JAN SHATABDI EX (12071) to tour Aurangabad (Maharashtra).

During the train journey, I had talks with a fellow passenger who was from Aurangabad and I asked:

What are the heritage places to eat in Aurangabad?

Uttam Mithai Bhandar near Supari Hanuman Mandir at Shahganj (Gulmandi) is one of the iconic heritage sweet shops in Aurangabad. It is one of the ancient/bestest/yummy sweet shops in Aurangabad having many varieties of sweets but Imarti is worth a try. Imarti is just delicious and mouth watering. Uttam Mithai Bhandar is very famous for imarti not only in Aurangabad but outside too. It is one of the city’s oldest/pre-independence/trusted sweet spots currently run by 4th generation. I have been visiting Uttam Mithai Bhandar since my childhood.

I question: How to reach Uttam Mithai Bhandar?

Sharing auto from Kranti Chowk will drop you at Paithan Gate for Rs. 10 or Rs. 20.

From Paithan Gate, Uttam Mithai Bhandar is within walking distance. As the sweet shop is quite old/famous, you can ask anyone if you can’t locate it.

Thank you Thank you Thank you – said I.

Finally, I reached Uttam Mithai Bhandar one day in morning hours.

Uttam Mithai Bhandar Timings: 6 am till 11 pm (365 days)

The current price of imarti is Rs. 360 per kg.

I requested for a plate of imarti.

Rs. 50 – The price – Pocket friendly.

I wasn’t disappointed. Imarti was yummylicious/super tasty. It was like melting nector in one’s mouth. As per the name of the shop, the imarti here was the best. If you love juicy sweets, do try. Imarti is their trademark and it still retains an old worldly charm. Don’t expect much with respect to ambience. Uttam Mithai Bhandar is a typical Indian sweet vendor.

Please Note: There is almost no parking space available in around Uttam Mithai Bhandar. Walking or visiting by a bike is the best option. Do take some pains to reach here through narrow lanes.

In short: Highly recommended. It’s a historic sweet shop especially for imarti – an Indian sweet.

Appa Halwai – 200-Year-Old Heritage Pedha Shop

• • Aurangabad, Maharashtra

I was traveling via JAN SHATABDI EX (12071) to tour Aurangabad (Maharashtra).

During the train journey, I had talks with a fellow passenger who was from Aurangabad and I asked:

What are the heritage places to eat in Aurangabad?

Appa Halwai near Supari Hanuman Mandir at Shahganj is one of the iconic heritage Pedha shops in Aurangabad. It is one of the ancient/bestest/yummy Pedha shops in Aurangabad having not have many varieties of Pedha but still worth a try.

I question: How to reach Appa Halwai?

Sharing auto from Kranti Chowk will drop you at Paithan Gate for Rs. 10 or Rs. 20.

From Paithan Gate, Appa Halwai is within walking distance.

Thank you Thank you Thank you – said I.

Finally, I reached Appa Halwai one day in morning hours.

Appa Halwai Timings: 8 am till 9 pm (365 days)

Appa Halwai was started by Late Babu Appa Lakde – Grandfather of current owner – Satish Lakde.

The current price of Pedha is Rs. 600 per kg.

I requested for 50 gm.

Rs. 30 – The price.

I was told by the train fellow passenger that the pedha is so high in calories that one cannot eat one.

Yep, I agree. It was high in calories though it was made only from khoya, sugar, and cardamom.

A nightmare for people on a diet but unique/classic in taste and is not tasted like any other flavoured Pedha.

A person’s taste buds will spend hours rejoicing for the Pedha tasted here.

This place has a somewhat antique feeling to it.

Note: Their is no other branch of Appa Halwai in Aurangabad.

In short: Highly recommended.

It’s a historic sweet shop especially for Pedha – an Indian Sweet.

About: Shri Kundeshwar Mahadev Temple (Sandipani Ashram)

• • Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain
About: Shri Kundeshwar Mahadev Temple (Sandipani Ashram)

Shri Kundeshwar Mahadev Temple

After killing Kansa in Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna and Balram came to Guru Sandipani‘s ashram to study. Lord Shri Krishna acquired 16 arts and 64 knowledge from his Guru in a short period of just 64 days. There is a legend that – Lord Shri Krishna used to do studies and self-study by fluently anointing Lord Kundeshwar Mahadev with the pure holy water of Gomti Kund along with Vidyagrahan, this rock is still situated at the Kundeshwar Mahadev temple. On which the statues of Vyas Gadi (Guru Gadi), Sudama, Krishna and Balram are situated. King Mahakal of Ujjaini reached Sandipani Ashram to see the school of Lord Shri Krishna, then Hari-Har met and all the gods and goddesses showered flowers from the sky and hailed the Guru. In honor of Guru Sandipani, Lord Mahakal and all the gods and goddesses were standing in the ashram. Seeing Devadhidev Mahakal standing, Nandigans also stood at their places. A rare sight of Nandigans standing in this way is seen in Sandipani in Avantika city.

The studies had also been completed. Lord Shri Krishna requested Guru Sandipani for Gurudakshina. For this, God of wealth Kuber was also present there but Guru Sandipani rejected Gurudakshina. But on the strong insistence of Shri Krishna, Rishi Patni asked for her dead son in Gurudakshina. Shri Krishna fought against Shankhasura in Prabhas Teerth Kshetra located in Saurashtra (Gujarat) and saved him and by wearing Panyajay’s conch, he brought the Guru’s son from Yamlok and introduced him to Gurumata and gave him Gurudakshina.

As evidence of all these incidents, in the Kundeshwar Mahadev temple, the very ancient miraculous statues of Lord Shri Kundeshwar Mahadev, Sudama-Krishna-Guru Sandipani Gadi, Balram, unique standing Nandigan, miraculous wealth god Kuber, Lord Vishnu, and Vaman Dev can be seen. Statues of other gods and goddesses are also located. The architecture of the roof of the temple is also based on Shriyantra.

(Hindi to English Translation by Google Translate)

How much I Paid to Auto Wala for Ujjain City Sightseeing?

• • Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain

I enquired with the Hotel reception about the taxi fare for Ujjain City Sightseeing.

Rs. 2300 was the reply.

Later, I talked with an auto wala for Ujjain City Sightseeing.

Rs. 1300 (8 hours) for 4 people was the reply.

I said Yes to the auto wala.

What I found the best was that the auto dropped us almost the entrance of all the tourist places in Ujjain city. We had to walk a little.

Auto wala showed us Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga/Shree Bada Ganesh Mandir/Shree Kaal Bhairav Mandir/Shree Harsiddhi Mata Shaktipeeth Temple/Maharishi Sandipani Ashram/Bhartrihari Caves/Mangalnath Mandir/Ram Mandir Ghat and few more tourist places.

During the journey when we were hungry, we stop at Bhola Guru & Sons (since 1924 – 99 years old) for delicious Desi Ghee 5 Puri with Aaloo Sabzi/Palak Kadhi/Besan Mirch Chutney/Raita (Rs. 130 per plate).

Later we also stop at Yadav Doodh & Rabri Bhandar (11 a.m. till night – 150 years old) at Pandariba for mouth-watering Rabri (Rs. 40 per plate).

In short, I suggest if the weather is nice and one is comfortable with auto journey, one should hire an entire auto.

Auto wala started the journey from Hotel and showed us most of the tourist places and dropped us at Hotel again.

You can talk to any auto wala at Ujjain Junction Railway Station for Ujjain City Sightseeing or maybe you can request your Hotel reception to arrange an auto for you.

I also saw E-Rickshaw with tourists at Hotel.

So the choice is yours – Cab/Taxi or Auto or E-Rickshaw for Ujjain City Sightseeing.

Auto Fare: Ujjain Junction Railway Station to Rudraksh Club & Resort – How much I Paid?

• • Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain

Ujjain Junction Railway Station to Rudraksh Club & Resort the distance is approx. 7 km.

I hired an entire auto and the auto fare I paid after the bargain was Rs. 200 (including luggage charges).

But my aunt who arrived from Delhi paid Rs. 150 including luggage charges.

In short, there is no such fixed auto fare. It depends upon one’s bargaining skills.

I suggest: There should be pre-paid auto/taxi booths, especially at tourist places in India.

About: Harsiddhi Devi Mandir – A Siddha Shaktipeeth

• • Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain
About: Harsiddhi Devi Mandir – A Siddha Shaktipeeth

Harsiddhi Devi Mandir

This place holds special importance among the ancient temples of Ujjaini. Here the Mother Annapurna is seated between Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.

Sri Yantra is engraved on a rock in the sanctum sanctorum which is a symbol of Shakti. According to folklore, she was the goddess of worship of King Vikramaditya of Ujjaini. According to Shivpuran, there is a story of Shiva carrying away Sati from the Havan Kund of Daksh Prajapati and the parts of Sati falling at various places in India. This place has been considered as Siddha Shaktipeeth due to her elbow falling there.

According to Skanda Purana, the goddess was called Harsiddhi when she got the power from Shiva to kill the demons named Chand and Mund.

The credit for the reconstruction of the present temple goes to the Marathas. According to Maratha architecture, deep pillars were installed in front of the temple which are decorated with many lamps. There is a stepwell in the south which is a pilgrimage place according to the Puranas. An inscription of 1447 Samvat is also engraved on this stepwell.

(Hindi to English Translation by Google Translate)

Nothing Found?