The first DC local train on the Western Railway was started from Mahalaxmi in 1928. This station adjacent to the city’s famous race course, was originally used as a transit point for horses.
(Source: Display Board at Mahalaxmi Railway Station)
Babu Vada Pav (Vile Parle) – The Best Outlet for Patti Samosa
Click to learn more about ‘Babu Vada Pav’.
About: Mahakaleshwar Temple – One of the Seven ‘Mukti-Sthal’
Mahakaleshwar Temple is located on the banks of the Kshipra River, in the dense Mahakal forest in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. This Jyotirlinga in Madhya Pradesh is an important pilgrimage site in Central India. There are number of legends related to how this Jyotirlinga came into existence. According to the Puranas, there was a five-year-old Shrikar who was enthralled by the devotion of King Chandrasena of Ujjain towards Lord Shiva. Shrikar took a stone and started worshipping as Shiva. Many people tried to dissuade him in different ways, but his devotion kept growing. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Shiva assumed the form of a Jyotirlinga and resided in the Mahakal forest. The Mahakaleshwar Temple is considered significant by the Hindus for another reason. It is among one of the seven ‘Mukti-Sthal‘ – the place that can liberate a human.
(Source: Display/Notice Board at Babulnath Temple in Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Click to learn more about Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.
About: Historical Sikh Shrines of Sri Anandpur Sahib
Click to learn more about ‘Sri Anandpur Sahib’.
How much is the Shared Taxi Fare from Nashik Road Railway Station to Trimbakeshwar?
The shared taxi fare from Nashik Road Railway Station to Trimbakeshwar (approx. 40 km) is Rs. 150 per person. This fare I was told by a taxi driver during late morning hours when my train reached Nashik Road Railway Station and I visited the taxi stand nearby.
But during my return journey in the evening hours to catch the train, I was again at the taxi stand near Nashik Road Railway Station, and upon query, I was told that the shared taxi fare from Nashik Road Railway Station to Trimbakeshwar is Rs. 100 per person.
So what I understood is that Morning is a busy hour and many train passengers arrive at the taxi stand and in evening hours the rush of passengers must be less compared to morning hours. Thus, the shared taxi fare differs depending upon day hours.
What Time does Sadhana Misal (Since 1959) Open & Close?
We visited Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.
While returning via Auto to catch our train from Nashik Road Railway Station we decided to halt in Nashik City at Sadhana Misal (recommended by a local friend) to have Maharashtra’s delicious Chulivarchi (clay stove) Misal but we were a little late.
Sadhana Misal was closed.
What impressive was the mud walls & village-style seating – A rural theme.
A little disappointed with myself but it is good to share the timings of Sadhana Misal.
Sadhana Misal Opening/Closing Hours: 8 a.m. till 3 p.m. (daily).
Next time will visit for sure to have Chulivarchi Misal. And you?
Review: Godawari AC Waiting Hall at Nashik Road Station
Godawari AC Waiting Hall at Nashik Road Station is situated on the first floor of Platform No. 1.
I reached Nashik Road Railway Station via 12165 LTT GKP SF Express train to visit Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple (approx. 40 km far).
Returning again to Nashik Road Railway Station to catch the 11062 JYG LTT Express train I thought to visit Godawari Air Conditioned Waiting Hall because my train was approx. 40 minutes late.
Below are the details of the Godawari Air Conditioned Waiting Hall.
For the first hour or part thereof charges per passenger are:
Adult – Rs. 20 and Child (5 to 10 years) – Rs 10.
For every Subsequent 1 hour or part thereof:
Adult – Rs. 15 and Child (5 to 10 years) – Rs. 8.
Note: You have to register your name and mobile number to avail the facilities of the Godawari Air Conditioned Waiting Hall.
The best rule I found about the Godawari Air Conditioned Waiting Hall is that the passengers have to open their shoes outside before entering the air-conditioned waiting hall.
After entering the Godawari Air Conditioned Waiting Hall I saw a massage machine and the charges to avail the services is Rs. 50 for a 20-minute massage.
Not only the massage machine there is tea/coffee available. Rs. 10 for a cup of hot tea/coffee.
I had a cup of hot coffee.
Packaged drinking water is also available for Rs. 15 per bottle.
Other than this there is a mini-cloak room and toilet and an electronic board that displays trains running status.
I also saw passengers playing carrom board.
There is a newspaper and mobile charging facility also available as complementary.
Not only above said facilities there is a Shoe shine machine available for Rs. 5 only.
In short, I found Godawari AC Waiting Hall sparkling clean and an excellent hall to wait before catching the train for individual destinations.
The toilet I did not use so can’t say about its cleanliness still one must visit Godawari Air Conditioned Waiting Hall at least once.
8 Unknown Things About Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat
1. Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat is over 140 years old, a famous open-air laundromat in Mumbai. The washers, known as dhobi, work in the open to clean clothes and linens from hotels and hospitals in Mumbai.
2. In the open air are rows of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own fogging stone. It is the largest outdoor laundry in the world. It is a very popular attraction among foreign tourists.
3. Dhobi Kalyan & Audhyogik Vikas Cooperative Society is the apex body representing the washermen community. They estimate that the annual turnover of Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat is around Rs. 100 crores.
4. It earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011 for ‘Most people hand washing clothes in one place’.
5. For 18 to 20 hours each day, more than 7,000 people wash, scrub, dye, and bleach clothes in concrete wash pens, dry them on lines, press them thoroughly, and take the clothes to various shops in the city.
6. More than one lakh clothes are washed every day. Some wealthy washermen have given up cleaning by hand and have now installed large mechanical washing and drying machines.
7. Dhobi collects clothes from all corners of the city, from Colaba to Virar. Their biggest customers are neighborhood laundries, apparel vendors, wedding decorators and caterers, medium-sized hotels and clubs.
8. Dhobi Ghat also attracts Bollywood producers for many years. There are many Hindi and Marathi movies that have featured Dhobi Ghat, like Munna Bhai MBBS, Shootout at Wadala being the most recognized.
(Source: Display Board at Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat)
What are the Timings of the Japanese Buddhist Temple in Mumbai?
The Japanese Buddhist Temple was built in 1952 at Worli in Mumbai by the charitable trusts created and run through the charity of Seth Raja Baldeo Das Birla‘s family and has been dedicated to the Japan Buddha Vihara Temple Trust.
The temple opens at 4:30 am in the morning and closes at 12 noon hours. Again re-opens from 3:30 pm till 8 pm.
The prayer hours are 6 am in the morning and 7 pm in the evening hours.
Buddha Purnima is the festival day at the temple.
Nearest Local Train Stations: Lower Parel/Mahalakshmi