Panhala

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Mist floating by

the land merges with the sky

acres of green –

spread in a valley of dreams

on a spur of Sahayadri hills

At an hour’s drive from Kohlapur, Panhala is a scenic hill station in Maharashtra. Densely wooded hillsides, mossy rock cut caverns, ruins of the forts, step wells and gates, and public parks are found in Panhala, which is home for several variety of birds and the perfect weekend destination for nature and history enthusiasts.

It is the smallest city in Maharashtra which hosts the strategically located Panhalgad fort, one of the largest forts of the Deccan. Closely linked with the history of Maratha Empire, Panhala ‘was once the state capital of the Maratha Empire. The Maratha sovereign Chhatrapati Shivaji is said to have spent a lot of time in the fort.

You can catch some panoramic views of the hills and the valley from the vantage points while sipping a hot cup of tea and seeing the mist floating by.

A Tanka is a Japanese poem consisting of 5 lines, written in the short – long-short- long -long format

Lei: A wreath for your soul is a string of short poems reflecting on nature, life, illusion and inspiration.