| - Pragya Jhavar
The sleepy, picturesque village of Narayangaon is located
in the shadow of the majestic Sahayadri mountains. It is a
pleasant drive away from Mumbai, and is the centre of the
wine industry in India. The vineyards of two of India's leading
champagne and wine manufacturers, Indage and Grover, are located
here.
Travelling from Mumbai to Narayangaon is a welcome relief
for most people who are tired of the polluted atmosphere and
the utter chaos of the metropolitan. The town is a burst of
fresh air and tranquility.
Narayangaon is itself famous for its vineyards, but there
are a few places nearby this township that visitors may find
fascinating.
Girijatmaka:
This Ganesha temple is situated 12 kms. from Narayangaon
in Lenyadri. It is believed that Parvati performed penance
to beget Ganesha at this point. The temple is in a deserted
location and there is no human habitation close by. It stands
on a hill and has 283 steps to reach it. The temple stands
amidst a cave complex of Buddhist origin. Little is known
about its antiquity. It appears that the Ganesha idol came
much later than the period in which the caves were built.
The idol faces north and this particular idol has to be worshipped
from the rear of the temple.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope: This is a surprise for
science enthusiasts who do not expect Narayangaon to boast
of any hi-tech gadgets or paraphernalia. Around the middle
of the eighties, the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics
(NCRA) proposed an ambitious plan- the Giant Metrewave Radio
Telescope, to be set up in Narayangaon. The GMRT consists
of thirty antennas, each of forty five metres in diameter,
spread over a circle of about 20 kilometres in radius. The
instrument came into use in late 1998.
Wine Bar:
Chateau Indage runs a one of its kind Wine Bar in Narayangaon.
It is conveniently situated on the highway facing the vineyard.
This unique bar provides Indage wines as well as food that
compliments the wine one chooses.
Apart from these attractions, visiting the vineyards is an
enchanting experience. The area where the vineyards are located
is a pollution (that includes, both noise and air) free zone
authorized by the government. Rolling acres of green are studded
with emerald and amethyst coloured fruit. It is sometimes
the vineyard rather than the wine that inspires poetry.
Seasons to visit:
The best season to visit Narayangaon is in the winter months
till February, when the grapes are harvested.
Getting There:
By Air: The nearest airports are Mumbai and Pune.
By Rail:
By Road: Narayangaon is connected via road to Pune, Nasik
and Mumbai.
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