Leg 146, Sholapur, Maharashtra to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
DAY01_15.PLN (9.7 KB)
Another full leg of India, wonderful country. More varied landscape this time with some great sights.
01-14 Sholapur VASL 7:28 PM
01-14 Osmanabad OMN 7:42 PM Virtual vision landing
01-14 Aurangabad VAAU 8:22 PM
01-14 Shirdi VASD 8:39 PM Bad stutter time, maybe it’s early morning related, gone after take off
01-14 Ozar VAOZ 8:56 PM
01-14 Vijay Nagar VADE 9:05 PM
01-14 Juhu VAJJ 9:33 PM
01-14 Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl VABB 9:36 PM Mumbai, formerly Bombay, Bollywood
01-14 Aamby Valley VALO 9:51 PM Bugged terrain, random spikes
01-14 Pune AB VAPO 10:05 PM
01-14 Pune VAPN 10:10 PM
01-14 Karad VA1M 10:38 PM
01-14 Ratnagiri VARG 11:03 PM
01-14 Kolhapur VAKP 11:25 PM
01-15 Dabolim VOGO Vasco da Gama 12:01 AM
01-15 Hubli VOHB 12:37 AM
01-15 Baldota Koppal Aerodrame VAKA 1:02 AM
01-15 Vijayanagar Aerodrome VASA 1:13 AM
01-15 Bellary VO17 1:23 AM
01-15 Sri Sathya Sai VOPN 1:56 AM
01-15 Kempegowda Intl VOBL 2:21 AM
01-15 Yelahanka AB VOYK 2:28 AM
01-15 Bangalore VOBG 2:41 AM
01-15 Hosur VO95 2:51 AM
01-15 Salem VOSM 3:17 AM
01-15 Sulur VOSX 3:43 AM
01-15 Coimbatore VOCB 3:50 AM
Flight time 8:22 26 stops
Arriving at Aurangabad at dawn, located in Maharashtra state
The hills at the North side of the city house some amazing caves
A complex of 12 6th to 8th century caves with Buddhist shrines, stupas & statues carved into basalt rock
Shirdi, small town in the state of Maharashtra, in western India
Known as the former home of revered spiritual leader Sai Baba and has become a major pilgrimage site
Sai temple, Sai Baba mandir (mandir meaning spiritual place)
Ozar, aka Ojhar
Here you can find the HAL museum (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)
Flying over the Dama river
Ghoti Budruk where there is a fort on top of the hill
and the Stargazing Mumbai Observation Site is located at the foot of the hills
Mumbai on the Arabian sea, known as Bombay until 1995
The name was changed since Bombay was seen as a legacy of British colonialism. The regional political party wanted the city’s name to reflect its Maratha heritage, hence renaming it to pay tribute to the goddess Mumbadevi.
More ancient cave temples can be found here on Elephanta island up ahead
Many other great sights, yet Mumbai is most famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry
Not just great movies, Bollywood also inspired many flash mobs around the world
I need to watch more Bollywood, always a great spectacle
Flying back inland, quick stop over in Aamby Valley
Mulshi Lake
Created by Mulshi dam
Pune on the Mula Mutha river
Once the base of the Peshwas (prime ministers) of the Maratha Empire (1674-1818)
Aga Khan Palace built in 1892 and now a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
Also the site of Gandhi’s 2-year imprisonment in the 1940s
Pataleshwar caves, Hindu temple from the 8th century carved from basalt rock, still in use
Fort Vajragad on the hill, find a hill, find a fort on top
Near Karad
Koyna river
Lots of windmills around Matrewadi
Chandoli dam backing up the Warana river
Gadgadi river
Ratnagiri, port town on the Arabia sea
Home to Thiba Palace which was the residence of the exiled king of Burma (Myanmar nowadays)
Kolhapur on the banks of the Panchaganga River
Known for Shree Mhalaxmi Ambabai Temple, 12th century Hindu temple and pilgrimage site
And for my collection of video games inspired by India, Myst/Riven added to the list
Lake Kalamba with half sunken Sandhya Math on the left
Lake Phatakwadi hidden in the forests
Near Udeli
Stand off at Vasco da Gama
First time I’ve seen these ship models, it looks like they are surprised to see each other as well
Vasco da Gama on the Mormugao peninsula in Goa, western India
Vazara waterfalls
Feeding the Supa Dam reservoir
Supa Dam and the Kali river
More windmills at Atmakur
Sri Sathya Sai Airport
Near Harobande
Yelehanka Air Base at Bangalore, aka Bengaluru
Bengaluru is the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state. The center of India’s high-tech industry.
Bengaluru has many lakes, including lake Rachenahali
And Ulsoor lake park / Halasuru Lake in the center
Bengalore Airport
Bengalore is known for its vibrant night life
And stand up comedy
The weather is getting worse, near Salem
One more shot before disappearing in the clouds, near Dadapuram
Tomorrow I’ll set sail for the Maldives, then back to India via Sri Lanka.