Are you tired of seeing concrete jungle and maddening crowd? Take some relaxation that is much needed in today’s lifestyle in frequent intervals. I have a nice idea of not only to relax but to paper your senses. Visit the mini Kashmir of west. I am sure you will forget all your tiredness in seconds and will not believe your eyes that you are reached in haven. Yes, The Mini Kashmir of West is the second name of Tapola, the satellite village of hill station Mahabaleshwar.Tapola is situated at just 25 kilometres away from the very famous tourist destination Mahabaleshwar and 145 kilometres from the city of Pune in the state of Maharashtra. Actually it is not as famous as Mahabaleshwar because very few people know about it. Once you reach there the distance of 145 kilometres wouldn’t seem that long because of two reasons. The first is the entire route is green and picturesque not to make you tired a bit and the second is the end destination is amazing. What makes it a magnificent place? The tranquil range of Sahyadri Mountains, musical rivers with sparkling water and the lush green forest make it an exceptionally beautiful place to die for. Actually such a dense forest is a rare sight nowadays because of the rapid growth of concrete jungles that is ever expanding without any break. Thanks to all of us who are somewhere are responsible for destroying our actual wealth, our green patch and our environment. That is why when you find a dense forest at such a close distance you feel amazed that there are still some jungles left to show your kids.What to look forward while visiting Tapola?• Shivsagar Lake• Koyna and Solshi rivers• Sky mounting Sahyadri hills• Dense forest• Water fun, boating, speed boats, motor boats, scooter ride, Kayaking, Swimming, etc.• Vasota fort• Nageshwar temple (off Vasota trek path)• Jaygad Fort• Wild animals in the deep forest• Kas Pathar (Flower beds seasonal)The Shivsagar lake is the biggest ever in the entire state of Maharashtra. It is spread on a 90 kilometre stretch on the Koyna Dam. You can call it the biggest water reservoir in the state. The water activities are quite popular on this dam like boat rides, speed boats and motor boat rides, etc. Tapola is the meeting point of two rivers Koyana and Solshi. These rivers make the atmosphere more inviting as they both come from two different directions and meet at Tapola. The forts Vasota and Jaygad are visible from a distance but very difficult to reach them. The vasota fort which is situated in the Koyna wild life sanctuary is said to be in complete isolation and no touch with the current civilisation. The vasota fort can only be reached by boats. For trekking to Vasota fort one needs to take permit that can be obtained from Bamnoli which is one of the entry points for trekking. This region is famous for the difficult trekking path through the dark and deep woods that may have wild animals like tigers, bears, fox, etc. If you are a trekking enthusiast then accept the challenge to reach either forts and let us know about the other animals that can possibly be in this natural habitat. I personally feel it can the out of the world experience.It is the best place for those who love strawberries because there are many farms of strawberries to tickle your taste buds around Tapola.There is a plateau here known as Kas Pathar famous for its majestic flower plants. It is also known as the valley of flowers. Just after monsoon this plateau is covered from flower beds that are said to have at least one hundred and fifty varieties of beautiful flowers. Isn’t it amazing to see such a vast sprawling cover of differently coloured and fragrant flowers in a single place? It is a must visit place to experience the creativity of nature at its best. It has become a favourite picnic spot for those who know this place.Recommendation: For this ultimate experience you need to go during monsoon only. From august to November is the best time to visit this little Kashmir in Maharashtra.This is the perfect place or I should say more than perfect heaven on earth to rediscover the extreme joy of life. Here you can find the peaceful nature with its pristine beauty along with adventurous sports for the young enthusiast in the water or in the deep dark forest.AccommodationThere are arrangements of accommodations by the Koyna Agro Tourism Centre to enthral you in the form of tent rooms with basic facilities to enjoy the stay in this rustic hamlet of Maharashtra.Ruchi Mahajan