Hemant Vavale
Have you ever read “Mulshi Pattern” like this? When the word “Mulshi” is heard or read, the next thing that naturally comes to mind is “Mulshi Pattern.” Right?
Because of this movie, our taluka’s name has reached the whole world. If I tell someone that I am from Mulshi, people immediately raise their eyebrows and ask, “Is it the same Mulshi from Mulshi Pattern?” Even before this, Pune and Mumbai residents had their own perception of Mulshi, which still remains unchanged. When people hear that I am from Mulshi, those with ill intentions tend to keep their distance from me. Such is the fear associated with the name “Mulshi.” But are we going to live with this identity forever?
Our taluka, located just a short distance from Pune city, is a treasure trove of nature’s abundant blessings. During the monsoon season, Mulshi consistently ranks among the top places in the country with the highest rainfall. Last year, the Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary in Mulshi recorded more rainfall than even Cherrapunji. Additionally, since our taluka is situated atop the ancient Western Ghats, it is home to some of the world’s rarest and most endangered biodiversity.
Currently, Tamhini has been declared a wildlife sanctuary, which is a great achievement for us. Even in its current state, Tamhini and its surroundings attract a large number of tourists. Most people from Pune and Mumbai only know about the Palse Waterfall in Mulshi. Just by seeing and bathing in that one waterfall, they feel like they have arrived in paradise. And why wouldn’t they? The pollution, crowds, and cutthroat competition in cities are so overwhelming that even the crowds at Palse Waterfall seem tolerable. During the monsoon, Mulshi becomes the ultimate weekend destination for city dwellers.
Most of these tourists visit Mulshi for just a day—leaving the city in the morning and returning home by night. Even in this one-day tourism, local residents of Mulshi get opportunities for business and employment. Hundreds of vendors selling corn, tea, and vada pav on roadside stalls and kiosks are visible during the monsoon. In addition, there are proper hotels offering Punjabi, Maharashtrian, and Continental cuisine. Going even further, there are numerous resorts in the Mulshi area. However, only 5-10% of the business generated from tourism in Mulshi actually benefits the local people, and that too only during the three monsoon months. The tourism business continues throughout the year, but the local Mulshi residents remain deprived of its benefits. The purpose of this article is not to create a divide between local and external businessmen but to explore ways to create new employment opportunities for rural youth through tourism.
So, let’s first examine how the environment is conducive to year-round tourism.
Distance from the city – The nearest metropolitan city is Pune. The population of Pune has reached several million. The metropolitan nature of Pune means that people from different languages, countries, and cultures live here, working in jobs and running businesses. Additionally, Pune has a refined class of people who love to spend on experiences. Do all these people only want a break during the monsoon?
Well, do only people from Pune city need such a ‘break’? Not at all! People from all cities need it. Mumbai is also relatively close and convenient to reach. Not just Mumbai, but other cities in India are also not very far now. With air travel, India and the world have become much closer. The time required for travel has significantly reduced.
Let me give our own example. In our eco-tourism business, Nisargshala, we have had experiences where people travel from Hyderabad, Solapur, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and even farther just to experience what we offer. Once, a family drove all the way from Hyderabad in their car just to visit our tourism site. There are many such examples.
Therefore, considering the distance from the city and the travel time, our taluka is undoubtedly an ideal location for such tourism.
What needs to be done to bring tourism to villages?
We can look at tourism development in various ways, such as nature tourism, agricultural tourism, rural culture, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, medicinal plants, wildflowers, wild vegetables, authentic rural cuisine, astronomical tourism, adventure tourism, and village tourism.
The Village of Stars!
Let’s take an example. Suppose there is a village in Mulshi surrounded by hills on all sides. The population is low, and artificial lights at night are minimal. If the youth in such a village are given basic knowledge about constellations, then city dwellers could visit the village not just in the monsoon but throughout the year, just to see the star-filled sky. Urban residents and children rarely get to see stars with the naked eye these days. Not just cities, but even villages like Pirangut and Paud have so much artificial lighting that stars are no longer visible. This is not just about showing stars—opportunities for business can arise from accommodation, food, and other services.
Some villages can be deliberately developed in a way that maximizes star visibility. Streetlights should be installed so that their light falls only downward and is not white. Villagers must come together and collectively make such decisions. Often, farmhouse owners and resort developers install bright floodlights around their properties for security, contributing to light pollution. Once upon a time, Chandani Chowk near Pune was named so because of the stars that were visible from there. But now, even if you travel as far as Tamhini, you will see bright floodlights, but no stars.
If local youth, village leaders, gram panchayats, administrators, and district leadership work together, this vision can become a reality. And it is not difficult. The first step would be to request those who have installed excessive floodlights to modify them. If this happens, stars will be visible to everyone—farmhouse owners, resort tourists, and villagers alike. Observing the stars is the first step in understanding the vast mysteries of nature and the universe. It reminds us that humans are just a small part of nature, and our existence in this vast cosmos is like a tiny speck of dust. This realization makes one question the point of selfishness, corruption, cutthroat competition, and conflicts.
Creating a ‘Village of Stars’ will require collective effort, along with enthusiastic youth willing to learn new things, such as astronomy and stargazing. But who will teach them? We, at Nisargshala, are ready to take on this responsibility.
Just like a ‘Village of Stars’ is possible, many other dimensions of tourism can be explored. I have already mentioned several possibilities above, and we are prepared to train aspiring youth in each of them.
One crucial step we must take is to protect our tourism industry from hooligans who misuse tourism as an excuse for alcohol-fueled parties. In many places, locals have started tourism businesses, but the visitors they attract are often not true tourists, but rather people who just want to drink. Such visitors are obstacles to sustainable tourism development, and we must recognize this.
If the wise citizens, leaders, youth, and administrators of the taluka think differently, we can soon see the term ‘Mulshi Tourism’ becoming a well-known concept.
Topli Karvy
Location – Kailasgad, Mulshi
This Carvi literally looks like a basket. Seeing it in person is a beautiful sight. Especially when the seasonal monsoon clouds brush against you, the dense white mist makes the patches of Basket Carvi look extremely mesmerizing. It is truly a wonderful sight.
From an environmental perspective, this plant is significant. Its roots spread deep into the soil like tubers, and since they grow densely together, they help prevent soil erosion on slopes. Because of this, Carvi holds exceptional importance in the ecosystem.
How to Reach Here?
From Pune, travel via Paud-Mulshi road to Nive village. A little ahead of Nive village, a road turns towards Lonavala. Take this road and head towards Bandre-Waduste village. The western hill of Waduste village is Kailasgad. It is also known as Ghoda Manjari Hill.
Public transport is unreliable. Therefore, taking your own vehicle is advisable. Currently, the Pune-Kolad road is in poor condition, so only visit if you are prepared to endure some driving difficulties.
Common name: Karvy
Botanical name: Pleocaulus ritchei
Family: Acanthaceae (Acanthus family)
Synonyms: Strobilanthes sessilis
A small perennial shrub, usually half a meter tall, but after the flowering year, grows to 2 m tall.
Numerouis quadrangular stems form a hemispherical tuft on the ground. Oppositely arranged stalkless leaves are ovate, rounded at the base, 2-3 cm long.Purple flowers occur in spikes 3-8 cm long, either in leaf axils or at the end of branches. Bristly bracts are 2 cm long, with long hairs, and tinged with purple.
Do the flowers of Sahyadri convey a message? Can we hear it?
During Dhanvantari Poojan, it is customary to recite the following mantra. This verse can be found in Shrimad Bhagavatam (3/15/19).
Sevantika Bakul Champak Patalabjai
Punnaga Jati Karveer Rasal Pushpai:
Bilvapraval Tulsi Dal Malatibhistwam
Poojayami Jagadishwara Me Prasid
This verse mentions various flowers, plants, and trees. Offering such flowers pleases Jagadishwara (the Lord). The essence of this verse is that offering flowers awakens devotion.
We often compare the innocence and selfless nature of children to flowers. Across cultures, flowers hold immense significance. Be it religious or any other occasion, flowers are an integral part of human life. In Indian culture, almost all of the sixteen sacraments include flowers. From conception to the final rites, flowers play a crucial role. Whether it is Bhoomi Poojan, Vastu Shanti, or Griha Pravesh, flowers are omnipresent. Even in the absence of physical flowers, prayers to the Lord are called ‘Mantra Pushpanjali’ rather than just ‘mantras.’ Whether theist or atheist, everyone seems enchanted by flowers.
Science has yet to discover a more effective medium than flowers to express romantic love.
Even when conveying good wishes, we present a bouquet along with gifts. If a gift is not possible, we at least offer a petal. Flowers are for everyone, rich or poor. Their importance in human life is unparalleled.
Over the past few months, through Nisargashala, we have organized several treks and nature tours in the Sahyadris. We do this regularly, but the last few months have been special because I personally experienced the flowers I had been praising. Seeing them in their natural habitat was a mesmerizing experience. I have mentioned these encounters in my previous articles, but in my latest nature trips, it felt as if the flowers were at their peak bloom.
When we talk about Sahyadri flowers, the Kas Plateau inevitably comes to mind. And why wouldn’t it? The flower festival of Kas Plateau is mesmerizing. On my last trip, I saw the Torna Fort bathed in purple. The western ridge of Torna and Budhla Machi were covered in purple Terda flowers. I witnessed many such breathtaking scenes. I haven’t yet visited Kas Plateau, but I surely will next year. However, my nature trips gave me a glimpse of the Sahyadri’s floral beauty, which in itself was a blessing.
Check out the link at the end of this article to witness the vibrant colors of Sahyadri.
Why do we offer flowers to God? Why does a lover gift flowers to their beloved? Why do we use flowers to convey greetings? Why have flowers earned such significance in human life?
Are these colorful flowers trying to convey a message? What message do they hold for humankind?
With my limited understanding and analytical ability, I feel that flowers convey two contrasting messages to humanity: impermanence and eternity.
Impermanence – Flowers wither away quickly. Their beauty, fragrance, and colors all fade away. The existence of a flower is fleeting. Similarly, when we offer flowers to the divine, it signifies surrendering all transient things to the eternal Lord. This should invoke a realization within us that all material pleasures and sufferings are temporary. What exists today will not last forever. By letting go of the ephemeral, we must embrace the eternal divine principle.
Eternity – Flowers possess immense power. This power leads to the creation of new life. Even in their short lifespan, they ensure their continuity by preserving their existence in the form of seeds and blooming again when the time is right. This reminds me of the English movie ‘Lucy,’ which explored the concept of transmitting knowledge through generations. Just as human life passes down wisdom, all living beings exhibit the same flow of continuity.
Flowers strive to maintain their existence, employing various means to survive and adapt. Consider the banyan tree—it can live for hundreds of years, producing new generations of flowers and seeds, ensuring its survival. The flowering plants I observed in the Sahyadris mostly had a one-year lifespan, from seed to plant, then blooming and seeding again. Though they are called annuals, their journey is much longer, extending into infinity. Since we cannot perceive the beginning or end of this journey, it feels eternal. Is human life any different?
As we celebrate Diwali and use various flowers in our rituals, let us reflect on the messages these flowers offer. Are we ready to receive them? Each flower conveys the principles of permanence and impermanence. Can we truly listen to them?
