trailstainedfingers

Living next to acres of verdant vineyards has been a long-cherished dream and it comes true for a few days at Fratelli Vineyards. In the morning, I wake up to see the workers at the winery setting up the processes and the birds chirping excitedly in the garden surrounding the main building. That’s where our guesthouse is located, accessed by a spiraling staircase that is a work of art in itself. We arrive after a longish drive from Mumbai, have a late lunch in the dining room on the same storey and enjoy a little siesta, post which we are taken on a round of the Motewadi vineyards.

Little Vinsura Winery tucked away in the onion village of Lasalgaon was my first proper visit to a winery in Nashik, India’s Wine Capital. I didn’t have time to go to their vineyard but I did enjoy a sumptuous lunch, a visit to the rock garden and an enjoyable wine tasting session

We arrive at the 20 acre ground after a sumptuous breakfast of poha, jalebi and kachori. The sheer number of horses is mind-boggling, as are some of the price tags. Padma, being the tallest horse at the festival, is pegged at a whopping one crore rupees. The 2300-2500 horses at the festival will participate in a number of contests based on both beauty and skills.

It has always been my dream to drive down to Malshej Ghat in the thick of monsoons and lose myself in its blankets of misty greenery and waterfall-streaked mountains. I got my chance during one July weekend when the rains had subsided to a gentle, occasional shower. We embarked in a little grey Wagon R LXI, powered by a neat set of CEAT Tyres post breakfast.

What are the top things to do in Chail, Himachal Pradesh? Offbeat tourist places in the hill station in India include a palace, temple, river, and heritage park. Nearby Solan is a must visit for mushroom lovers! Read on to know more.