Pune Unltd. - 9 by Pune Unltd.

PEOPLE | FOOD | EVENTS | NIGHTLIFE | TRAVEL

August 1, 2014

ZOOMED IN

THE CITY’S PHOTO MAESTROS Travel Guide

SIZZLERland! PUNE’S UNIQUE SIZZLER FEST

Villas, Resorts & More

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InstaPune | Scor’d | Interviews | Pune Express | Photo Feature

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Pune’s photo folks that matter

“What we have discovered in our conversations is that photography is also an art and a science that these guys have mastered.” @adityakuber

Contact: hello@puneunltd.com

Editor-in-Chief Aditya Kuber

Editors Veethi Telang Apeksha Bhagchandani

We love photography. And we’ve made it evident from the ample photos we publish in each issue. So this time, we figured, why not talk with some of Pune’s best photographers and get insights into what makes them click? So we spoke with Banti & Prashant - Pune’s most celebrated photographers who are venturing into other disciplines of visual communication. Sameer Belvalkar, one of the country’s most known photographers and a Punekar at heart is also one of our favourite photographers and Anshum Mandore, a pioneer in the wedding (candid) photography space also made time to accommodate our request to chat. What we have discovered in our conversations is that photography is also an art and a science that these guys have mastered. If you have any interest in photography, do read through for inspiration and insights! As Pune finally enjoys some much needed rains, we take off and discover some nearby drives that will let you soak in nature and rain in all its glory. Don¹t forget that there’s only a three-month window for this! And of course, we have the regulars for your pleasure!

Contributors Vedvrat Shikarpur Sneha Johari Sharan Garcha

Enjoy!

Design

Prasanta Kundu Maddy Kulkarni Sanjali Manekar

Aditya Kuber

Marketing Anish Sohoni Rekha Achtani

Publisher

Media Sphere Communications Pvt. Ltd. www.mediasphere.co.in Cover Photo: A. Kuzminski Used under Creative Commons License

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IN THIS ISSUE

August 1, 2014

LIVE

06 A liberating PUNE EXPRESS

Weekend

#ACTPUNE

Quest is a city-based science and mathamatics laboratory, an initiative by Mrs Malti Kelkar’s to make science and maths easy and fun for children.

SEE

COVER STORY

INSTAPUNE

Capturing the soul of Pune on Instagram

Lights, Camera, Passion! Considering that the Unltd. Team consists of some pretty enthusiastic photographers, we’re totally psyched about this story! We chatted up with some of the city’s most celebrated names in the photography industry and took a peek into their lives, getting to know them as people on the other side of the lens.

PHOTO FEATURE Showcasing awesome work of Puneri shutterbugs

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Quest Making Science and Maths Fun

24 “Resorting” TRAVEL

to Freedom

28 Somwar Peth SPECIAL FEATURE

Bikes, temples and so much more!

32 Uber Alles! PUNE INC.

Uber Cabs to the rescue!

Independence Day long weekend is round the corner. Are you scrambling to put together your travel plans? We present you four quick alternatives to replace your travel agents and expensive hotels! To make the most of your vacation, explore these different options according to your budget, time frame and other parameters.

EAT

08 Welcome to FOOD

SIZZLERland Pune’s unique Sizzler fest at 11 East Street Cafe.

22 WeChaat! FOOD

We went on a chaat binge and came up with these bunch.

32 24 PLAY

SCOR’D

Reviewing all you can watch, read and eat in Pune.

EVENTS

22 facebook.com/Puneunltd

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These are set to rock Pune for the next 2 weeks.

PUNE UNLTD.

I y t

PUNE EXPRESS

A liberating weekend!

Sneha Tayde Social Media Manager I can’t wait for the long weekend! Not only is it Independence Day, it’s also the perfect time to go out and experience the beauty of nature! So, this extended weekend has me and my friends all geared up to explore Matheran.

Tanvee Deshpande Asst. Manager (HR/Administration) We are planning a family trip to Bhandardara. Bhandardara is a peaceful hill station located in Ahmednagar district, a perfect place for weekend getaways with family. We have decided to travel by road in our car as it’s just 160 kms and 2.5 hours away! I’m pretty excited about seeing Lake Arthur Hill, Umbrella Falls, Agasti Rishi Ashram and most importantly, the Amruteshwar temple. So, we leave on Friday, and come back by Sunday noon.

Anupama Khadke

The bookings are done. The plans are made. The upcoming long weekend (Aug 15, Aug 16, Aug 17) has us all pumped and excited. And, why not? Weeks go by in our busy lives without taking a proper break from our jobs and businesses. While some may prefer resting and chilling, others may consider this as an opportunity to escape from the bustling city life. After all, monsoon is the best time to bask in the natural beauty with your family and friends! What are your plans? We asked a few Punekars and here’s what they said.

Social Media Executive It’s Independence Day! A perfect celebration on 15 August can’t be without attending the flag hosting of our school and remembering all the awesome school memories. So, my friends and I have decided that we’ll roam around the city on bikes holding the national flag and feel proud of our country!

Shampa Kundu Asst. Manager – Production Since it’s a long weekend, I am planning to go on a short trip to Mulshi and Tamhini Ghat. I really hope there’s lesser crowd this time in comparison to Lonavala and Sinhagad. As the weather is stunning, it will be an amazing trip.

Shrikant Oza Disc Jockey, Collective Frequency My long weekend would typically start by celebrating Independence Day with under-privileged kids at Emanuel School. I love spreading smiles and what’s a better excuse? And then, I would escape to spend my weekend at Bhimashankar. It’ll be nice to keep the phone aside for a while and enjoy peace for a couple of days. Helps me make music just the way I like it.

We would love to know your views on the topic.

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Write to us at hello@puneunltd.com

@thepunekar We love everything about Pune and scout for Instagram images that showcase its spirit. If you have an interesting image of the city, tag @thepunekar on Instagram and it could get featured here!

@cuerohandcraftedluxury

@llewufdes

@vktpachunkar

@painting_the_rainbow

@ameyalokhande

@abhijeetmahajan

@prameyzode

@kjphotoclicks

@miracl3_drug

Photo: Michael Korcuska Used under Creative Commons License

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Photo: thatwelike under Creative Commons License

Welcome to SIZZLERland! Apeksha Bhagchandani

While writing this piece, I went about reading up on Sizzlers and their history and came up with zilch. Try it. No one seems to know the dish’s origin. Some say Japan and some Mumbai even! The common notion seems to be that the word originated from a famous American restaurant chain known as Sizzler. After spending some time on my ‘research’ (read doodling), I decided to scrap all of that and come right to the point. Most of us LOVE the dish and we do so without really knowing where it comes from. And and and, we have the most unusual Sizzler festival right in this city for a whole month! Why unusual you ask? Well, you can glutton out on 11 different Sizzlers inspired from cuisines of 11 different countries. Under. One. Roof. Take your pick (or more) from these scrumptious options and head to 11 East Street Café for an unforgettable, sizzling meal! And, did I mention, there’s a 12th Sizzler especially prepared for your sweet tooth! You’re going to love this.

“

Being a global cuisine restaurant, we wanted to do something different instead of going down the ‘regular sizzler route’. We’ve done a lot of research on these dishes and interacted with various chefs for some of the international recipes. The Sizzler festival has been a huge hit among our guests for the third year in a row! And, you know which one’s been a favourite? The one from India! I personally love the one from Indonesia.

”

Photo Credits: Apeksha Maker

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Priyanka Sachdev Director & Creative Chef

FOOD

From China

ing seafood Paella!

The Kung Pao Sizzler is served with chicken/fish/lamb/ paneer and fried rice/noodles, seasoned with black bean sauce, chilli pepper and Szechuan sauce. It is accompanied with

From India This delicious sizzler is served with succulent Haryali chicken kebab accompanied with Butter Chicken rice and a spicy Tandoori Salad. Vegetarians can Paneer Tikkas accompanied with Makhani gravy-flavoured rice and the salad.

From Thailand This one’s a fiery Peri Peri (Fish/Chicken/Prawns/Paneer) accompanies with Thai fried rice and a chilled papaya salad.

From England A traditional English ‘Bubble & Squeak’ (pan-fried combo of potatoes, cabbage, carrots and peas) sizzler that is accompanied with buttered rice, onion gravy and steamed veggies.

From Burma

From Japan

A traditional Burmese Khow Suey (noodle dish prepared with curried chicken and coconut milk) sizzler that’s accompanied with lemon wedges, burnt garlic, fried onion, chopped spring onion and chilli flakes.

This one calls for crispy Chicken Teriyaki served on a bed of steamed rice accompanied with traditional pickled vegetables.

From Mexico What else! A Fajita sizzler on the menu… This one’s prepared with tender, juicy grilled chicken/lamb/veggies served with Mexican salsa, guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese and lettuce along with flour tortillas.

From Ethiopia An exotic Doro Wat (chicken stewed in red pepper paste) sizzler served with authentic cous cous and crispy fried plantains.

For your Sweet Tooth (Dessert) A double-decker (DOUBLED) sizzler, it contains a fourtier chocolate cake layered with Chocolate Ganache, Oreo, Cookie Fudge and Peanut Butter Jelly topped with Chocolate Chips and accompanied by sizzling ice cream.

Photo: Hajime NAKANO Used under Creative Commons License

From South Africa One of the spiciest sizzlers on the menu, the Chicken Chakalaka (a spicy curry combination of onions, bell peppers, baked beans, chilli, garlic and curry powder) is accompanied with steamed rice, a dry fruit chutney along with a green bean salad.

From Indonesia A yummy Nasi Goreng (traditional Indonesian fried rice cooked with chicken/prawns, tamarind, chilli, garlic, soy sauce and topped with a fried egg) sizzler that’s accompanied with fried anchovies and crushed peanuts. Heaven!

From Spain You cannot go wrong with a sizzler that consists of a delicious Spanish omelette accompanied with mouthwater-

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#ACTPUNE

QUEST

Making Science and Maths Fun Quest is a city-based science and mathamatics laboratory, an initiative by Mrs Malti Kelkar’s to make science and maths easy and fun for children. I caught up with her to learn more about the centre and her journey of teaching children. Sharan Garcha

What was the motivation behind teaching children Science in an innovative and fun manner? I used to teach students from classes 9th to 12th in various schools in Delhi. After that, I moved to Nepal for two years to teach students from class 4, 5, and 6. It was a new experience for me. I went on to set up a Science lab for them. A funny experience motivated me to take up the initiative of teaching the subject in an innovative and interesting way. The children said that they did not want any classroom teaching in Science and wanted to see what was in the Science lab. To pacify them I promised

to take them to the lab some day. The very next day the classroom was empty and the children were nowhere to be seen. While I was looking around for them, I heard them screaming “Good Morning Teacher!” from under the tables in the science lab. Thus began my journey of an innovative and a new approach of teaching young students the subject of Science in an easy and fun way. I then decided that I wanted to do the same for underprivileged children in India. I moved to Pune and took up a teaching job at the Bal Kalyan Sanstha which is a centre for handicapped children. As a teacher, I realized that the children do not get any opportunity to get a hands-on experience for learning Science. In order to create a platform for children to get exposure to practical facets of science and maths at the right age I set up Quest; a Science and Maths Hobby Club about ten years ago.

What all can the children do at the club? My aim is to help students relate their surroundings with the knowledge in books and hence at Quest we inculcate scientific temper among children right from the age of six. Here, children not only learn how to handle various apparatus but also grow to love subjects like science and maths, which most of them initially find difficult. The lab bridges all socio-economic gaps by including children from both affluent as well as economically

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weaker sections of society. We work predominantly to popularise science. If students get exposed to practical facets of science and maths at the right age, they begin to enjoy it. This also helps them to think independently and develop problem-solving skills.

learning Maths and Science. Through her work she has touched the lives of many little ones and brought about a difference in their lives.

How has the journey been so far? This journey of setting up Quest though very satisfying came with some hurdles too. In the beginning I started a centre by collecting some underprivileged children from around the neighbourhood. When they first came to me they were eager to learn, but soon the bully of the area started making unreasonable demands. Though I tried getting the children back without paying any heed to their demands, the attendance of the children dropped and I realised that I would need some support for running a successful programme. With the help and encouragement of Mrs. Paranjpe, the founder of Doorstep School and a dear friend, I was able to take up her initiative of teaching underprivileged children. I train about 120 children of Doorstep school every year. Quest also trains teachers from this school. Recently, I also started a science club that meets every Monday, for the deaf and mute children of Bal Kalyan. These children who had read the word “PRAYOG” (experiment) had never seen one. It was so satisfying to see their smiles when they performed experiments! In the last decade Mrs. Kelkar has trained a number of children and also helped them to overcome their fear of

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Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Sameer Belvalkar AB: Did you always want to be a photographer? SB: I never wanted to be a photographer. It was abso-

lutely never on the radar. I am qualified in Chemistry and also have an MBA degree. We used to have a camera at home and one day, I started clicking away just to show my sister that I could click better pictures than her.

I have never let go of a camera since. It’s been about 11 years now.

AB: Oh! Did you study photography then? SB: I never attended a course, if that’s what you mean.

I taught myself. I used to work in an IT company as a graphic designer then. I subscribed to photography magazines, scanned YouTube for lessons and soaked in millions of photography-related pages on the Internet. It wasn’t common to have an Internet connection at home in those days, so I’d finish my daily office work as soon as I could and then make the most of their connection.

AB: What was your first paid photography assignment? SB:

Once I became a camera junkie, I’d carry it around with me everywhere. It became an addiction. I’d shoot everything in sight and accumulated plenty of decent shots. I started sending them to magazines and they were happy to publish them. This became a monthly project and it was good money.

AB: Who has been your most exciting subject till date? That is, which shoot made you feel that “Boy, I think I’ve arrived!” SB:

My shoot with Kareena Kapoor and Ajay Devgan/Devgn for Filmfare magazine. Undoubtedly!

AB: Were you nervous?

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COVER STORY the time. Without getting into technicalities, what was the last thing you learnt? SB: Oh that was just during my last shoot and it

happened 2-3 times when even I surprised myself. We were shooting for an ad campaign in the middle of the night. The client had given me a reference shot wherein a woman is in a swimming pool, her face illuminated with underwater lights and you can see twinkling lights from sky rises in the backdrop. I was really worried about the shots. The initial ones I took were hideous. I started to feel petrified. We even tried fairy lights! But then, after giving it a few tries with the props we had, the end result was stunning. I think I got better pictures than the reference shot from the client. So you see, learning something new raises the bar each time. It keeps things fresh!

AB: What are your other passions? SB: I’ve recently gotten into biking. I’ve also been

teaching myself the guitar since the past 6-7 months.

SB: Oh, I was terribly nervous. As a photographer, I’ve

always been in awe of Kareena Kapoor and wanted to work with her since forever. And, it isn’t like the nervousness subsided after some time into the shoot. It was there throughout. But I couldn’t show it, you know. A photographer has to keep up the façade of confidence at all times; no matter what’s going on inside. Otherwise, the subject, especially stars, will walk all over you.

AB: You’ve mentioned somewhere that you learn something new all

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all of that? SB: Well, in my profession, there’s a sowing and

a harvesting period, as I like to call it. The sowing period involves only meetings, fixing schedules etc. This gives me a lot of free time. It’s the harvesting period that’s a crazy time. It involves shoots that go into the wee hours of the morning; a couple of hours of sleep and then more shoots the following day.

AB: In the future, if there ever comes a time when you aren’t a photographer, what would you be doing? SB:

I’d be doing something related to it. Maybe teaching and guiding budding photographers or sourcing talent even. But I’d never leave this industry. The money in it is too addictive (huge grin).

I can even play a few songs now. I love playing tennis. And recently, I’ve been trying my hand at golf. Also. I gym like a beast and run like a horse!

AB: Wow! How do you make time for

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AB: Lastly, which camera do you use? SB: I have a Canon 5D Mark II as well as a Mamiya 645 Pro TL.

COVER STORY Apeksha Bhagchandani with

Anshum Mandore

to my parents and relatives. One particular turning point for me was when I bought my first DSLR; a Nikon D90. I then joined some local photography clubs and my work started getting recognition. It was extremely encouraging.

AB: What kind of photography interests you the most? AM: Candid wedding and portrait shoots are my forte

and I enjoy them the most. The candid wedding photography trend is no more than five years old in India. We picked it up from the West, where photographers always tried going beyond the usual documentary pictures. I think it’s great that we’re experimenting with various kinds of shots during weddings now. Instead of the usual stage pictures that say “Thank you for attending!”

AB: In a year, how many weddings do you shoot on an average? AM: Anywhere between 60-90. India has this phenom-

AB: Have you always wanted to be a professional photographer? AM: Oh no! I am a Management graduate from a mar-

keting background. For me, photography is a hobby turned passion turned profession. And, that’s only thanks

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enon of a ‘wedding season’. I usually shoot 6-10 weddings per month during the November-March period across the country.

AB: Can you tell me about a particularly unforgettable moment you’ve experienced during a wedding shoot?

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wedding photography? AM: The sheer number of interesting and fun people

I get to meet! It’s important to get to know a client and become their friend first. It’s crucial for me to become a part of the wedding before I become a service provider. Getting to know the people is what guides a wedding photographer towards capturing the most special moments of their biggest day.

AB: Which camera are your hands most comfortable with? AM: The Nikon D800.

AM: I was shooting a wedding in Goa. It was an inti-

mate, 50-60 people affair. The bride’s father had recently passed away. It was his dream and last wish for his daughter to get married. His picture was placed where the bride’s father sits during the ceremony. During the Kanyadaan, when the father ‘gives his daughter away’, everyone, including the groom broke down. At that moment, I wasn’t sure whether I should continue clicking pictures. It was one of the most touching moments of my career as a wedding photographer.

AB: Did you continue clicking pictures then? AM: I took 2-3 shots and stopped. I remember think-

ing that it was possible that my client wanted those moments captured.

AB: What do you like most about

AB: What else are you passionate about? AM: My pets! I have two Golden Retrievers. My wife, Sarita, has been an animal lover since she was a baby. I immensely love them too. They bring us so much joy!

COVER STORY Sharan Garcha with

Bunty Deshpande & Prashant Patil

way. When we were almost done with our final year of MBA, we didn’t take up a job because we thought we’d get used to a ‘secured lifestyle’. We did some research on fields we could work in, like advertising and fashion, and decided to give it a shot.

B: We finally made up our minds to explore the avenue

and even consulted our parents. After we completed our MBA, we took up photography as our careers. The idea of fashion photography was new and it was hard to convince everyone.

SG: Did you always want to be photographers? P: Speaking for both Bunty and me, we were very passionate about photography during our MBA days. We would head out on weekends to capture pictures, just for fun. We never thought about taking up photography as a career, since it was not something that was encouraged during our college days way back in 1991.

SG: What got you into photography? P: While clicking pictures, people would often

tell us to take up photography as a profession but we were still unsure if we should head that

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COVER STORY P: We went to Citadel, the only Pune-based magazine

then and asked if we could work with them. Though we didn’t have any professional training or experience we still got the job. We learnt a lot on the job. We’ve been associated with them for a long time now.

SG: Which camera are you currently using? P: Bunty is currently using the Canon 5D Mark III. He is

B: We were fashion-conscious even during those days

and we would wear what we want without any hesitation. And the magazines that we read made us more people-oriented photographers.

SG: What else have you been up to? P: I have been singing. I have given my voice for a song in the Marathi movie, ‘Ishq Wala Love’. The song is a Hindi number titled “Ishq Ho Gaya”.

the photographer whereas I am the shoot director.

SG: What kind of photography is your favourite? P: Whenever we had the camera in our hands we have

always loved working with people as well as aspects that are related to fashion and glamour.

B: Yeah, we didn’t have any inclination towards nature or still-life particularly. People are our favourite subjects. P: Shooting people and always being able to connect

Pune people have mad go. Roaming around with big pipe stuck in front of camera. Kaitari DSLR BeeSLR. You toh know na ki I am world famous in Mandai, but my bhendi and kanda also famous. People come, lie downing, stand upping, moving left right and only photoing. I had to hit 2 people on head with doodhi to make them stop, it is such a noonsuns baap re!

with them has come to us easily. We used to look at international magazines like Vogue, GQ and the likes as our inspiration. We even used to experiment with our clothes in college. We loved dressing differently even though we looked like jokers to others (laughs) with our coloured pants and pullovers.

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PHOTO FEATURE Monsoons are a time to enjoy nature and there’s no dearth of places to visit for your green fix. A quick drive to Pawana dam and a the foothills of Tikona fort yielded these awesome views. So while it’s still raining, go on and soak in the beauty of nature... it’s just a drive!

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Photographer: Aditya Kuber

PHOTO FEATURE

Photographer: Aditya Kuber

WeChaat! Sharan Garcha

Who doesn’t love street food? It’s really worth trying some just to taste the different flavors and spices of India. We tell you where you should go to enjoy hygienic and delicious street food in the city. When it’s raining, all I can think of having is some spicy chaat with a bunch of friends! Tell me that there’s Aloo Tikki, Ragda Patties and Pani Puri at a stall and I’m sold. We Punekars love chaat, and those of us who eat on the streets here will ferociously proclaim the virtues of our favourite chaatwala. Often, the chutneys are the magic ingredient, but occasionally, it’s the quality of the sev, the way the veggies are sliced, the chaat masala used, or simply, the server’s “haath” that elevates a snack into something you can’t get anywhere else but at that one stall. So, why not do a round-up of the best chaatwalas in the city? Here goes.

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Kadhai Aundh

You will definitely get addicted to the chaat served here! You have a lot to choose from among Papdi Chaat, Basket Chaat, Aloo Tikki, Kachauri Chaat, Samosas, Bhel, Pani Puri — the sheer variety will simply confuse you! The quality of the food is typically North Indian and the cooks

churning the tasty bits out are from Rajasthan. Their Papdi Chaat, Aloo Tikki and Basket Chaat are easily my favourite picks. It is way hygienic than what you get on the street and still manages to hold on to the taste.

Kalyan Bhel Various outlets Being one of the oldest chaat houses in Pune, Kalyan Bhel’s legacy to prepare the most mouth-watering Bhel is unmatched. A spoonful of this tangy and spicy chaat specialty can give even Juhu bhel a run for its money. An incessant need to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in each of its outlets sets Kalyan Bhel apart. The eatery has seen people flock in huge numbers eager to give their taste buds a treat. Teekha, meetha, garam or thanda - they believe that your wish is their command and make the chaat exactly to your liking.

FOOD Ramkrishna Moledina Road, Camp Ramkrishna placed in a Victorian building gives a natural rustic ambience. Located in the lush confines

pearls. For those who are hygiene conscious and relish chaat, Kailash Parbat has some really delicious street food in store for you. The Dahi Puri is a perfect mix of tangy, sweet and spicy chutneys. One must also

resisting the temptation of the tangy Pani Puris and the spicy Bhel. At this snack joint, you will be served it all, along with the best of Bombay Chaat including Sev Puri and Bhel Puri. They make new additions to their list of mouth-watering dishes every two months so that the customers can enjoy the variety. All the ingredients used are made at the shop itself, including the farsan and puris that are included in the Chaat items. Apart from Chaat, they also offer Mirchi Pakoda, Dahi Bhalle and Bombay Chaat, a preparation made from Kabuli Chole, Boondi and Papdi.

of Camp, this place is a constant hub of activity. Take your pick from Basket Chaat, Chole Bhature, Jalebi, Aloo Tikki, Dahi Vaada, Pani Puri and Papadi Chaat – they serve it all! The two classics in the pantheon of Pune street food greats, Sev and Bhel Puri, can be found here at its best. For the uninitiated, Sev Puri consists of little fried disks of flour topped with diced and cooked potatoes, onions, crispy Sev and three chutneys: tamarind, chili and garlic. Savoury, spicy, sweet, sour -- four flavors in one bite, each with its own impact. Slurrp!

try the Chole Bhature and Samosa Chaat here!

Jai Shankar Babajaan Chowk What started as a humble Chaat thela opposite the Pune Railway Station by a Sindhi gentleman by the name of Mr. Motiram Devnani is today Om Jai Shankar Pani Puri at Babajaan Chowk, MG Road. Try

Kailash Parbat Inorbit Mall, Nagar Road Kailash Parbat serves the most amazing Mithai, Paani Puri, Ragda Patties, and others. Today, the brand has crossed shores and has a lot more than just chaat and mithai. The Pani Puri is delicious, crunchy, cool and with the mandatory boondi

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â&#x20AC;&#x153; Resortingâ&#x20AC;? to Freedom

Sneha Johari

Photo: Sheldon Wood under Creative Commons License

TRAVEL

1. WEEKEND PLAN www.weekendplan.in Employed individuals and families are always looking for quick getaways, especially during long weekends. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re one of them, cash in on the Independence Day weekend to get together with close friends or take your family out for a short vacation. Weekend Plan allows you to rent a castle, a villa, furnished apartments (some with a pool) for a day, a week or ever a month! Check out their FAQ section to know more about policies with respect to check in and out times, pets, deposit and cancellation policies among others. Founded by Satish Dodani in May 2010, Weekend Plan was conceptualised as a way to generate extra income off properties his friends and family owned. This included second vacation homes and properties they were not really utilising but would be viable to monetise and showcase. Renting them out sounded good! Weekend Plan is funded by private individual shareholders and the managing team also owns several properties across India.

USP: Rent a castle + No smoking on any properties

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TRAVEL 2. LIFE IS OUTSIDE http://www.lifeisoutside.com/

Are you living the good life? Get this itch to travel every holiday that you get? Bored of all the options that are already available? Life IS outside as the website suggests! Connecting travellers to offbeat destinations, bridging the gap between a regular web search and passionate explorers, Lifeisoutside presents you options ranging from a short drive-away to maximising long vacations. You can search by distance, budget, interest and set your major city as a location to search around by. Lifeisoutside boasts of many top corporate companies as their clients since they also offer the â&#x20AC;&#x153;team outingâ&#x20AC;? option. You can also gift a holiday to someone which can be redeemed in a year and is emailed immediately with a personalised touch.

USP: Team outing planning and options

3. CLEARTRIP WEEKEND GETAWAYS http://www.cleartrip.com/getaways/ Cleartrip needs no introduction: launched in July 2006, Cleartrip has been making travel, planning and booking easy for Indian travellers. A beautiful, clutter free interface lets you navigate between air, train and bus booking utilities complete with hotels and deals. This month, Cleartrip launched a Weekend Getaways feature under their Hotels offering. Weekend Getaways lets you pick a major city and choose between multiple hotels around your destination. You will find offbeat destinations reducing the chaos of already available popular spots to indulge in to. The best part is that you can search based on drive time from your origin city and hotels that cater to specific needs. Also, many hotels are Tripadvisor integrated so you can look for reviews right from the search result box.

USP: Tripadvisor integrated reviews along with all relevant info

TRAVEL 4. ROOM N HOUSE http://roomnhouse.com/ “Everyone’s alternate home” is a tagline that one cannot possibly ignore! Room n House claims to be the common man’s travel help guide! With stay options as low as Rs. 250 a night depending on the destination, Room n House is a local marketplace for you to check out economical stay options. You can rent your extra space out or find a spot to have that perfect get together without spending too much, retreat into a quiet home or plan a business trip. Spread across India, Room n House will offer to narrow the chasm between your impulsive outing moods and the availability of stay options as an alternative to expensive resorts or hotels. They also have a detailed description of how you can host your property.

USP: Economical stay options

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PETHS

SOMWAR PETH Bikes, temples and so much more!

Vedvrat Shikarpur

Puneri peths are known for being abuzz with activity; street hawkers and buyers trying to find a good bargain, beggars appearing out of nowhere asking for money and the honking of cars and buses while two-wheelers are zipping past you. The commuters shouting out loud hoping a kind-hearted rickshawalla agrees to drop them to their destination and a lot more that might have missed my eye (here ear). Somwar Peth, however, is relatively quieter, and you will easily be able to walk to and fro without bumping into anyone (a rarity in the peths of Pune).

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Formerly known as Shahpura, Somwar Peth was always a hub for moneylenders and still is (it has a huge branch of SBI bank with innumerable ATMs in close proximity to each other). The people staying in the area were known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gosaviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The area was developed by Rango Bapuji Dhadphale in 1625 and later by Dadoji Konddeo in 1636, under the rule of Maharaj Shahajiraje Bhosale. It is bordered by Kasba Peth, Shaniwar Peth and Raviwar Peth.

How to get there The best way to know you surely are in Somwar Peth is

SPECIAL FEATURE by heading towards KEM Hospital. King Edward Memorial Hospital, established in 1912, is one of the biggest non-Govt. organisation hospital in Pune. However, precisely finding Somwar Peth is not so easy. You can find a car park within the KEM premises, but the minute you step out, the connecting road comes under Kasba Peth. Join the main intersection and you’re in Somwar Peth again. The main KEM chowk is where the heart of this peth lies. Once on the main road you’ll see various shops selling used two-wheelers. This is where you will get the best deals, and the area is known for having the biggest second-hand vehicles shops in the city (might just be the reason for all our traffic problems).

Places to visit Other than the long lines of two-wheelers seen on display, you’ll also see various temples (some as small as the ones seen in the picture) in close proximity to residential or commercial spaces in Somwar Peth. I even stumbled upon a beautiful temple that lay deserted and was surrounded by buildings. Little is known about the temple and there is no approach path to the structure, but the beauty of the domes made us stand and stare,

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leading to a few passer-by’s hurling abuses and some vehicles honking at me like I was a madman! From the second-hand two wheeler market, I headed towards Nageshwar Mandir. On the way, near Krantivir Nanasaheb Patil Chowk, you’ll find two temples adjacent to each other. The relatively bigger one with the various domes is the Jain Mandar, which is quite famous in the area.

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SPECIAL FEATURE Right opposite to the temples, we found a small eatery called Goli Wada pav. The creative wall designs and the tag ‘Mumbai’s famous Wada Pav’ (translation of the catchphrase) roused my curiosity. I decided to give it a try and was delighted by the find! The wada is crisp and delicious and tastes wonderful with the pav. I had the cheese wada pav, since I did not want to go overboard with experimentation. The variety and the taste does need a mention. If you’re a wada pav fan, take a trip to Somwar Peth just for this. Having refuelled the body, I now headed towards my intended destination, Nageshwar Mandir. It is amazing how I have lived in the city all my life, and never visited this 700-year old temple. On visiting the place, I found comfort noticing that the temple was well maintained, and some repair works are still in progress. Despite the sounds of construction work being done near the entrance, the temple is still quite peaceful and relaxed.

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The inner sanctum houses the Shivling, the temple being dedicated to Lord Shiva. Somwar Peth is undoubtedly the peth were you can find some respite and enjoy some peace (only in specific locations). The area also houses the Shahu Udyan and the garden is home to the Shahu Talav or lake, which is equally peaceful and relaxing. The rest of Somwar Peth is pretty much a residential and commercial area, dominated by the Zilla Parishad and Employment Offices, which is one of the reasons why the lane has innumerable notary and printing/Xerox shops. Apollo Theatre, one of the oldest cinema houses in the city is situated here. The area also has quite a few schools and out of the few restaurants and eateries in the area, Hotel Olive is the better known of the lot. With a small stop at Crown Bakery (opposite KEM hospital) I finished my small outing, and headed home…

SCOR’D

Film

Lai Bhaari Film

Riteish Deshmukh rocks as today’s Angry Young Man!

Kick

OMG! We really sat through it!

Sizzler Fest @ 11 East Street Café Food

Book The

Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Sizzling tastes of 11 countries!

Nothing faulty about this one!

Brain in a Jar by Nancy Stearns Bercaw Book

A heart-warming tale about grief and courage

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Food

Trois Kitchen & Wine Bar

Indistinctive and heavy on the pocket!

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PUNE INC.

UBER ALLES! Aditya Kuber

5:15 am. It’s a wet monsoon morning. I have a flight to catch at 7:25am. And the local taxi I have booked is expected any moment. 5:18 am. I’m rushing to get ready as the phone rings... my taxi has been cancelled. Oh joy! Living in Baner, hailing an auto isn’t quite as easy either. Seemingly out of options, I decided to try out Uber, an app I downloaded for the heck of it. Its simple interface allows you to just tap a button and a taxi will be sent you in minutes! And so I did! 5:19 am. I press a button on the Uber app that simply says “Request Pickup here” and wait... barely a minute later, I get a call from the driver who is en route and will arrive in approximately 10 minutes... just in time for me to make my flight. This isn’t a scene from a science fiction story. This is reality. Uber launched in India barely 3 months ago and is present in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. I have used it in all four cities and can assure you that the quality of service is just as consistent everywhere. The business model is simple. Uber uses local taxis and shows them on your screen in their app. You’ll see how far a taxi is from you in real time and you can track it as it approaches your house. The drivers are well-spoken and unobtrusive. Almost intuitive to know when you don’t want to chit-chat! And that helps especially when you’re in a taxi for a long drive. On the cost front, they are a quite aggressively priced. Minimum fare is Rs 150. The base fare is Rs 80 and added to that is a cost of Rs 2 per minute of your journey and Rs 15 per km. So a 10km journey over 30 minutes will cost Rs 80 + Rs 150 (Rs 15 x 10km) + Rs 60 (Rs 2 x 30 minutes). That’s a total of Rs 290. Which is competitive with most other taxi services. When you complete your ride, just alight and go on your way (do thank the driver!) and your credit card will be billed. Within minutes, an invoice will be emailed to you as well that shows the route and the fare calculation. You can also calculate the fare in advance, although this would be an estimate since the time factor is variable. There is another aspect of Uber that makes it exciting. Because they are tied up with premium taxi services,

you could get lucky and have a BMW pull up to drop you off! It’s happened with me (twice!) and then there have been occasions when I’ve been ferried in a Toyota Fortuner. Not bad for a local ride, no? When you register, you get a promo code that you can share with friends and family. When they ride for the first time using your promo code, you are both given a credit of Rs 300. So the more friends you share your code with, the more credit you have in your account for free rides! Registration to the service is very simple. Name, email address, phone number and credit card number and you’re set. Is it safe to enter and leave your credit card number? So far, yes! On the downside, if there isn’t a taxi around you, you would not be able to call and ask for one to be sent. The entire service depends on the app alone. The good news is that there is an iOS and Android version of the app, so most likely you are covered! As far as taxi services go, this is by far the best we’ve seen in a long, long time. They are accurate, easy to use and very safe. Definitely a notch above... uber alles!

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EVENTS

The Last Wave A slide show of images by Mr. Pankaj Sekhsaria’s showcasing the islands from his travels over the last 20 years. The event will also feature a Book Reading and Author InterAugust action with Pankaj Sekhsaria over ‘The Last Wave: An Island Novel’. The Last Wave: An Island Novel is a poignant tale of a threatened tribe in the Andaman Islands, an entire ecology, culture and community and a budding romance.

The Story Tour

When: 2nd August, Saturday

Where: Pagdandi - Book Chai Cafe, Shop No. 6, Regent Plaza, Baner Pashan Link Road, Behind Symantec, Baner, Pune.

Where: Prelocate Plot No. 20, Survey no 90/2/B and 90/3/B, Behind Bharat Gas, Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa, Pune.

Time: 4:30pm

August

Gyaan Adab is all set to present a shared experience of our past, beyond boundaries, beyond differences. Ancient tales from around the world will be brought alive and retold in a solo performance for the people of Pune.

Time 7pm

Pune Farmers’ Market

Come Join an innovative, unique and quality food experience with over 70 exhibitors! Fresh produce, cheese and cold cuts, patisserie and gourmet products and lifestyle wares; wineries featuring local and imported wines; A pop-up restaurant featuring a variety of regional cuisines; a Demo theatre, workshops and a live Band. There is also a patisserie pavilion and a kids cookery workshop. When: 3rd August 2014, Sunday] Where: Westin, Koregaon Park, Pune Time 11am

August

Recycle Crafts for Kids

Create a beautiful wall decor piece with old CDs lying around at home. Using beautiful papers, die cuts, flowers, leafs, butterflies, ribbons, pearls, beads, sentiments, glitter and so many other embellishments. All the material would be provided in the workshop. When: 9th August, Saturday Where: Plot No. 20, Survey no 90/2/B and 90/3/B, Behind Bharat Gas, Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa, Pune. Time 11am Age Group: 5 - 10 years

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Fee: Rs 400