Travel With a Couple

In the past three years or so, we have visited a few places in Maharashtra. One thing that has been common in many of these visits was MTDC ( Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) resorts that offer reasonable boarding and lodging. We have now become a fan of MTDC resorts albeit it’s difficult to get accommodation without advance booking.

(Mahabaleshwar)

MTDC is present in most of the important tourist places in Maharashtra. Simple and basic accommodation. Clean toilets. No fancy stuff. Will fit any backpackers / travel lovers’ budget. Some of these resorts are leased out to private contractors, who have to pay a certain rent for the building and a share of revenue. In some cases, only the restaurants are contracted out.

(Mahabaleshwar)

But food certainly is not a gourmet’s delight. If you are a foodie and would like to give an equal weightage to the food experience, MTDC might not satisfy you always.

As a first mover, MTDC’s resorts occupy the prime locations in these places.

MTDC resort at Mahabaleswhar is in a sprawling estate with accommodations of various types.

(Lonar)

The resort at Lonar, (the only lodging place in Lonar) overlooks the crater. This resort is fairly new.

Ajanta has two resorts – one of the luxury type and the other, a basic one.

Raigad has many old-style cottages, but recently renovated.

(Harihareshwar)

Harihareshwar resort is set very close to the beach, flanked by beach almost on two sides and a hillock on the third side. Almost all the rooms are cottages and pretty cool.

The resort at Koyna Nagar offers beautiful view of the Koyna lake from top.

(Bordi)

Bordi resort opens to the beach itself.

Pench (Nagpur) is now privatized, but still offers the MTDC comforts and is the only accommodation available at Pench, Maharashtra.

(Pench-Sillari)

Amboli resort borders the forest

More after we visit the remaining ones.

With countless number of Gods & Goddesses (83 million by someone’s estimates or 830 million?), roadside stones and trees turning to temples is not new in India. There is no rural-urban divide in these phenomena. All that matters is faith.

This interesting tree apparently has a mild resemblance to Lord Ganesha’s trunk. It is clear that the clever and creative painting is what brings it live. Nevertheless, the Ganesha tree has already started attracting attention of travellers and is listed in the ‘must-see’ places in and around Bordi.

We saw this in the Bordi-Asavali road, about 2 km from the MTDC resort at Bordi.

Place: Bordi in Maharashtra. Bordi is on the North Konkan coast, at about 180 kms from Mumbai towards Gujarat.

If you can’t travel or drive too much and all you need is a quite weekend getaway from Mumbai, then you can try option no #85, Bordi. That’s what precisely we did.  When a family friend wanted a weekend break to introduce their one-year old son to outdoors, we scoured our maps, books and internet to pick a place.

Bordi has a 17-km long beach. Chikoo and vegetable farms dot the quiet village. Hills towards the east and a small dam. More importantly, we haven’t been there. And, MTDC has a resort in Bordi. A perfect combination. At about 180 km from Mumbai, it is convenient for a drive or a train journey.

Bordi retains the charm of the small village that it is (though we did not go into the ‘town’ part of this village) with a broad road running parallel to the beach flanked by old Parsi bungalows, farms and some old buildings that have turned hotels and resorts. While most resorts are on the eastern side of the road, MTDC as ever occupies a prime property on the beach side. On its boundary, the beach starts.

MTDC resorts have never disappointed us. They are about utility value and value for money. No fancy stuff. Simple rooms and clean toilets. Restaurants are often contracted out and one has to expect some extended waiting, especially on weekends when a staff of 3 trying to serve 16 or 18 roomful of guests. Yet, no complaints.

All you can do at Bordi is to just relax. Take a stroll along the long beach. And when you get tired, lie on your back, gazing at the stars.

Place: Bordi in Maharashtra. Bordi is on the North Konkan coast, at about 180 kms from Mumbai towards Gujarat.