‘Mini Kashmir’

Make your way to the ‘Mini Kashmir’ for a picnic! If there is a heaven on the Earth, it is not just in Kashmir, but at an exquisite place near Mahabaleshwar as well. We are talking about Tapola, a small village aka the Mini Kashmir of Western India, which is located at a distance of 28 km from Mahabaleshwar. The main attraction of Tapola is the Shivsagar Lake, a 90 km long water body, which is actually a reservoir of the Koyna Dam. You can go in for boating, water scooter rides, kayaking or swimming at the lake. Tapola also serves as a base for the tough jungle trek that people take to the Vasota Fort. Tourists also flock to Kas Pathar or Kas flowers of Maharashtra. It is best to visit this place in the rainy season from August to November, because it is at this time that the region turns into a bed of flowers with more than 150 varieties of flowers. The Kas lake is also an ideal picnic spot. It is wise, however, to visit either Tapola or Pratapgarh Fort in a day for it is not possible to do complete justice to both the places in one day.