A farmer tending to his field in rural Maharashtra

A farmer tending to his fields amongst the sugarcane fields with his goats for company.

Fratelli Vineyards

Fratelli Vineyards, a 3- hour drive from Pune have acres and acres of vineyards. Visiting during the harvest season means that you see vines laden with grapes. 

The accommodation is clean and spacious though not 5-star. 

Besides the normal wine tasting, you can wander around the beautiful vineyards, walk or bike and experience lovely sunset. Food served is simple but tasty. Very affordable at 6500/- for a day/night with all 3 meals included.

For more photos you can check here.

Akluj Fort

Akluj Fort is just over a hundred km from Solapur in Maharashtra. This fort is several hundred years old but has been well restored which is not that common in India. Another name of the fort is Shivshrushti, a new name. Several important historical figures have lived at this fort and prisoners too.  

The main gate has been re-built, thus created during the renovation project.

Inside the fort:-

The lawns are well maintained.

There is also a museum which has models of different forts of India as well as frescoes depicting scenes from the period.

If you are in the vicinity, this is worth a visit. You can improve on your historical knowledge and at Rs 20/- a ticket it's almost free.

High Street Phoenix Mall in Mumbai

The Phoenix mall is arguably the most popular and famous mall in Mumbai. One of the older ones too. It has maintained its charm.

The Palladium is a luxury market inside of the Phoenix mall. The inside area has much improved after the exit of Big Bazaar.

Related Images: Mumbai Mall Exteriors or Dubai Mall Photos or Pune Mall Photos or Interiors of Vashi Malls or Mumbai Malls in the Suburbs of Mulund and Malad or Inexpensive shopping in Bangkok

Strawberry fields in Mahabaleshwar

Strawberry fields of a small farm in Mahabaleshwar

Women workers plucking ripe strawberries

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Rice fields near Chennai or check out all photos filed under "Agriculture"

Venna Lake in Mahabaleshwar

Sunset at Venna Lake in Mahabaleshwar which is a popular hill station in Maharashtra. Tourists milling around the lake for boating, one of the activities available here.

People relaxing around Venna lake in Mahabaleshwar.

Related Images: Panchgani scene of lake and hills or if you are looking for a  really green nature scene, try this: Free Headers of Nature Scenes - Lake and Trees. Or Nature scenes of hills, valleys and trees or
Scenes from the Matheran Mountains or Ghat
You might also like to see more photos of Nature scenes or beautiful Scenery from India and different parts of the world.

Oil and Gas Rig Bombay High

Bombay High is India's largest offshore oil field. It has several oil and gas rigs in the sea.
This is a picture of one of the oil rigs.

A closer look at the oil and gas rig. As you can see it's much larger than one imagines.

You might also like Petrol Pump images or two-wheelers like scooters and motor bikes filling petrol in India: Two-wheeler rush at petrol pump or Petrol or gas being filled at the petrol pump

Typical Indian breakfast from Western India

Different parts of India have different cuisines. If paratha or dalia are some of the stable breakfast foods from North India, pohe or poha and dahi vada are often eaten in Maharashtra, in western India.

Pohe as it is called in Marathi and (Poha in Hindi)is made from flattened or beaten rice. It is soaked a little bit in water before stir frying in a tadka. It is a light, high carbohydrate breakfast. Finely cut veggies or nuts can add to its nutritional value. Dahi vada is more a speciality of the south of India, but eaten as part of the Maharashtrian diet. These are vadas made from urad dal (lentils) which are soaked in dahi or curds (home made yogurt).

Both these dishes are decorated with chopped coriander and freshly ground coconut, as well as spices.

A close up of the dahi vada. Red pepper powder and chaat masala are used for decoration as well as taste. The different colours make for a very pretty and delicious looking dish.

Fresh corander and fresh coconut not only add to the looks of the pohe, but also add to its nutritional value. Freshly cut raw tomato does the same.

Related Images: Bhel, an Indian Snack or Snacks from India or A snack from South India, which can also be a meal in itself - Masala Dosa and Sambar or Chaat or savory snacks in India or or check out all the photos filed under the label Food.

A blue Mumbai!

Any Mumbaikar would know the significance of the blue tarp in the life of Mumbai. Poverty and a heavy monsoon ensures that middle class people use this blue tarp to cover their homes and balconies, their vehicles and well, just about everything. This series of little drawings were seen at the SKIN art festival in Mumbai in December 2013 at the Godrej Company.

As this artist Sameer Kulavoor explains it: It is an illustrated documentation of the use of Taad Patri. The second skin of Mumbai

Cycles, scooters and other vehicles as well as small shops all use the blue tarp.

A row of hutments covered with blue tarp.

Even buildings are not immune to the blue tarp. They are used to protect water from seeping into the house from the balconies during the heavy rains.

Check out all the images filed under the label Mumbai.