About Us
My name is Rajaram Sethuraman (Google+ Profile). I am married and my wife’s name is Vidhya Ganesh. We currently live in Pune. We have a daughter, Akshara. We moved from Cyprus in April 2009 after a stay of almost 8 yrs there. The 8 years in Cyprus were an eye-opener for me in terms of travelling and enjoying the bounties of nature.
Cyprus, though very small, had so much to offer to the interested explorer, that a casual Cyprus travel blog which i started on Cyprus, eventually grew big with me adding details on all the places i visited. I still keep updating it as there are dozens of places which i am yet to write about.
I hope to continue to travel even while in Pune and to keep me motivated, i have started this pune blog called Places near Pune, which will contains details and photographs of all places around Pune that i visit.
UPDATE: It’s been a little more than 2 yrs in Pune now (Aug 2011) and i have enjoyed every minute of it. This blog has grown into a good reference for places to visit around Pune, but if you count the number of places, it is not even (proverbially) the tip of the iceberg. I think i can spend every weekend of my life going to a different place here. My journey continues and so will this blog’s…
Enjoy.
August 8th, 2009 at 11:53 am
HI,
We are planning to come pune for Darshan of Ganpati temple (Dagdushet) , and Balaji temple.
so that can u suggest hotel details near by Ganpati temple..for stay 2 nights…..and how to go at Balaji temple……from Pune..
ple if u know then let me know the details…
from shobha
September 27th, 2009 at 7:01 am
this is gr8 informative site
cheers mate
September 27th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Please do visit Diveagar, you willl lov that place.
its around 4-5 hrs journey from Pune via Tamahni ghat
i have been there twice, lovely place to visit.
mail me if you need info on the same
navinwaghmare@gmail.com
also there is one Peacock garden on vagholi road, do visit. Loads of peacock moving around in the village……
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Hey Rajaram,
I am Subbu, working with Capgemini, Pune. I just accidentally visited your blog and its just fantabulous. Me too a guy would like to travel and move around places…
Basically I am a Tamilian (Guess U too… ) Now in Pune since 2+ yrs.
Good to catchup with you. If you like to be in touch, you may reach me on xxx.
Regardz,
Subbu.
January 24th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Hi Rajaram,
I came across your website while googling for the village where Swades was shot. My wife and I are currently backpacking through India and always wanted to go to this village (Wai). We plan to cover Maharastra in Feb. I shall definitely go through your blog posts.
Here is the link to our blog http://10yearitch.com
Cheers,
Madhu
January 29th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Rajaram sir, very interesting site, pl cover remaining places near Pune like Sarasbaug, Parvati, Padmavati, Jejuri, etc. those are too beautiful. Please also include Ashtavinayak yatra and photos.
Pl visit Diveagar, its a beautiful place and share the photographs of wonderful nature with us. Thanks.
March 29th, 2010 at 3:01 am
Hey Rajaram,
Very good Blog. I am from Pune and I appreciate the way you have captured Pune in all its beauty.
Cheers,
Sameer.
June 1st, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Nice blog., lovely pictures. kalakkal ponga.
with warm regards., vijay
June 28th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Hi,
Thanks…
Great to watch that pics….
August 6th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Hi Rajaram,
Very nice site…very very informative and very much helpful…..
Please visit Malshej Ghats….I have been last week and it is worth going….
U’r kid is so cute….
August 19th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Hi,
The information is very useful. I came across this website when I was searching information to goto ThoseGhar waterfall…
I liked your both the websites..The sites are amazing…photos are really very nice… I have a daughter which is of same age as that of Akshara. Now I also feel to create a website of my daughter…
Very nice initiative of sharing information !!
I am sharing these sites with our friends….
Regards,
Vivek
August 19th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
You do visit following places :
- Hadashi – saibaba temple surrounded by nature
http://www.dharmakshetra.org.in/hadshi/hover/index-2.html
- Lavasa
August 19th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
thanks for the nice words Vivek.
September 1st, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Rajaram, do visit my blog to check out ajanja, ellora tour pictures of mine.
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Dear Rajaram,
Your blogs are very very impressive and informative. The photoes are worth a million words. You are presenting Pune and its surroundings in a very beautiful way. I stay in Kuwait, but have a flat in Magarpatta City.
Do visit Kelkar Museum, Lal Mahal (where Shivaji was born).
Keep up the good work.
January 13th, 2011 at 3:32 am
Hi,
Impressive blog.. great work !!!
Please send me your email address….
I liked your writing and Classy photos..
I am native from pune, currently working in MphasiS, Magarpatta City.
I have explored a lot around Pune, still much remaining..
Getting impressed by your log, I have decided to upload most of my snaps atleast on Picasa
welcome to Pune… Happy exploring !!!
February 23rd, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Hi Rajaram,
It’s nice to read your blogs. Your every post is informative and helpful. I am the regular vistor of your blog site.
Welcome to Pune.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
This is too good !!!. I havent visited any forum or website which is so illustrative and informative than this. The admin (Mr. Rajaram Sethuraman) has taken such pains to create such a beautiful forum !!
You deserve ultimate respect , as this is just the perfect guide to go through , before undertaking on any journey.
Thanks a lot for this. I will also surely contribute through my experiences.
Harikrishnan
March 1st, 2011 at 5:25 pm
hi Rajaram,
I just came across your blog and ended up reading about 5-6 posts in a stretch. It is so captivating. I too stay in Magarpatta City and work for Accenture. My wife and I were planning to visit quite a few places near Pune and here comes your blog. It is just awesome and we will start visiting the places such as Karla, Bedsa caves, Narayanpur mandir etc.
Thanks a million for the awesome blog. Please keep updating as and when you visit new places. It is a great reference for many travelers like me.
Happy travelling,
Regards,
Puneet
March 13th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Hi Sethuraman. i am shiva i am from pune, I like your blog, i also started a blog visit my blog too.
thanks
April 10th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Hi , I am Balkrishna from Pune.. Story and inspiration to travel is same here.. Superb blog.. Keep going….www.pratapgad.blogspot.com.
May 13th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Rajaram, its really a great thing you are doing for the people who love to visit new places all the time.
Great Job done….
July 1st, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Hi Rajaram,
Nice informative blog..! Keep up the good work..!
Thanks a bunch..
Manasi
July 13th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Grea Work
July 21st, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Greate work!!
July 26th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
hai nice website,…now it is easy for me to plan weekends.
thanks dude……..and i want to now which camara you are using…
August 16th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Hi buddy,
It is really nice to see you travelling around Pune and other places. Hope you make more beautiful trips.
Besides this, I need to know that can we actually reach the water fall at Kundalika River (Which you have photographed).
We want to plan a trip to that spot.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:53 am
Hello Dr.Ghare. The waterfall at Kundalika river is behind Hans Adventure resorts. It is safer to to take a guide from the resort and go to the fall as this involves crossing the river and they would know the exact place to do the crossing. I have marked the location of hans on that particular post.
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:58 am
Very Informative and nice blog… Just loved it…
I just shifted to Pune and would love to explore places..
Trekked Lohgadh Fort last month…
Thanks a ton for sharing these valuable information, experiences and photographs…
Regards,
Priyesh
September 7th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
I am Excited about to go to the Hadshi Temple. Please Suggest me How Can I go there & I also want to know any other Places near the temple to visit in one Day. Please Reply
October 24th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
hiiiiiiii,
nitin,
you go to pune Mumbai highway. please follows the below rout for details.
Nigdi – Pune mumbia old highway – first toll naka near shirgaon – pavananagar – shee kshetra hadshi
December 30th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Nice work here Rajaram.. Just out of curiosity , are you the same guy who used to have an interesting quizzing website some time back? I remember going through that site a long time back…
December 30th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
yup, the site iqgarage, is still very much active.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:06 am
Hi Rajaram..
Thanks to you for providing great destinations around Pune.. I wrote about and your blog in my Blog http://www.prahalads.com/p/travel.html..
Keep up the great work..!
January 28th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Dear Rajaram…….
Many many thanks for this great website and you have a very nice name also.
March 14th, 2012 at 7:54 am
Hi Rajaram,
Kudos to your passion of seeing places. Its courtesy of your blog that, we travelled to Tamhini Ghat, Mahabaleshwar, Kaas, and even Alibaug. I was also enthusiastic with my New activa which ensured a superb ride from Pune. I request you to suggest some places for this weekend which I plan with my cousins and Yes with my Activa. I cant decide on the place especially with onset of Summer.
Good Wishes to You and Your Family.
Regards
~Syed
April 13th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Great Blog Rajaram. We moved to Pune from USA last year and stumbled upon your blog while searching for Kaas Plateau. We like to explore and visit new places on weekends along with our kids. And your blog is perfect for exploring new and exciting places since it contains so many details and breathtaking photos too.
Great Job. Keep up the good service.
-prashant
June 22nd, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Hi Rajaram,
Excellent work. Keep going. In my opinoin, it would be better if you give some details about the transportation facilities for these places in your writings. This would be helping many of the people who depend on public transport.
Warm regards,
Preethi.
June 29th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Hello!
I just came across your website today as I am going on a trip to Mahabaleshwar tomorrow with my friends. I came to Mumbai last year and have been visiting places in and around Mumbai. My friends and I are now keen on exploring all the little known places around Bombay now.
And you have one beautiful and super enthusiastic kid there…she looks a perfect baby for a travel-loving couple like you 
I really love your blog and have spent practically the entire day reading all your posts here in office!
I love the way you have recorded your journeys and embellished them with absolutely beautiful photographs! And what’s more admirable is that you have managed to travel so much with such a young child!! Most Indian couples are not so adventurous enough to travel with a young child, but hats off to you guys
Looking forward to more posts from you!
July 1st, 2012 at 10:58 am
Hi Rajaram,
Its been wonderful reading your blog, as well as that of your wife’s. I am a resident of Magarpatta City. Have you ever considered started a trekking club in MPC? Atleast for a start, the local treks .. especially during the monsoons. I am sure there would be a great response. You would be rendering a great service, as many of us are pretty clueless about how to go about it.
All the best!
Prabha
September 21st, 2012 at 10:56 am
hi rajam,
really very great journy….. n its most comendable that yr lovely wife n sweet littel daughter r with u to exlpore n enjoy nature….keep sending such information….keep it up.. all the best to yr family
November 12th, 2012 at 7:15 am
They are just superb !!!! Thanks a lot for sharing those beautiful wallpapers with us……
December 3rd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
sir,
i m really thankfully to you for sharing such great information on your block ,your work is really appraisal able .thanks a lots
may u keep discovering new place .
god bless
Regards
vishal Hunalli
(your admirer)
December 10th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Many many thanks for this great website and you have a very nice name also.
February 10th, 2013 at 5:27 pm
hi,Mr.dRajaram nd sweet family .jst started de travel business nd was needed information….ur blog really helped me…nd hoping d best…THANX to u nd ur blog …keep it up .thnx
April 10th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Much appreciated.Keep going:)
May 10th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
We plan to visit Bimnoli. In that connection I rung up the boat club at Bimnoli and to my disappointment learnt that they do not have and so do not provide such basic and essential item as the life jacket to people who take boat ride.
I hope and request people through this post not to accept such sub standard service which endangers our lives but to insist on having life jackets while taking a boat ride.
May 10th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Yes Pradeep. Life jacket is a luxury in probably 90% of the boats in India.
There is no rule regd this and hence no one follows this.
The villagers have been crossing these waters for ages and hence dont believe in this.
May 11th, 2013 at 9:05 am
What is of archiological interest that you can visit in Satara city itself. could any one please guide and advice me.