Some trips are about the sights. Some, about the people. And then there are those rare ones, quiet, unscheduled journeys that leave you full, without trying too hard….That was Miraj for me.
My recent two-day trip to Miraj was my third, but this time felt different. Maybe because I had my wife with me. Or maybe because my trusted XUV 500 took the lead once again, humming along a route that was part scenic, part single-lane challenge, and yet somehow, all fun.
We kicked off our arrival in Miraj with a Rajasthani thali at Shri Ganesh Veg Thali Hotel, a proper feast. The kind where you start wondering if the serving staff has a secret competition going on: “Let’s see how many more bowls we can fit on this table.”
Needless to say, we lost, but happily so.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jjvNqY1CQ21WqKni8 Shri Ganesh Veg Thali, Miraj
The Host Who Teaches Without Preaching
The real highlight of the trip began when we met Mr. Charan, a senior from our industry, someone I deeply admire not just for his experience, but for his grace and groundedness.
Conversations with him aren’t laced with jargon or big declarations. He speaks like the countryside he comes from measured, rooted, and full of quiet wisdom. He doesn’t guide with advice. He guides with presence.
We went to his home later that evening, where we were welcomed with snacks and coffee, served with the same warmth we remembered from our previous visit. Mrs. Sulekha, his wife, was as warm as ever, though she couldn’t join us later due to other commitments.
After that, we headed to a rooftop spot “De Evara” for a simple dinner under the stars. The food was good, but what lingered again were the conversations. Mr. Charan has this rare ability: to make you think without making you feel small. It’s a kind of leadership that’s rare. The kind that stays with you long after the plate is cleared.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/p2kY1Kz6HcQk5c9y7 De Evara, Miraj
And of course, no Miraj evening is complete without the local paan as colourful and celebratory as the town itself.
A Temple, A River, and a Detour That Wasn’t Planned
The next day had no agenda. We were about to relax at the hotel when Mr. Charan casually mentioned a place Narsobachiwadi, a temple town by the Krishna River.
We decided to go. And that small decision became the soul of the trip.
The drive was short but scenic, villages passing by like postcards. The temple stood by the river, calm and full of life at the same time. It wasn’t just a spiritual visit, it was a reminder of the balance India somehow carries between tradition and flow.
We didn’t plan for it. But maybe the best parts of a trip don’t ask for plans.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zif21SuX18uZkcDg9 Narsobachi Wadi
We returned, rested, and then headed for wedding reception hosted by another industry colleague, a lovely evening filled with industry friends, laughter, and yes, more learning (this trip somehow didn’t allow any moment without some form of wisdom slipping in).
What This Trip Taught Me
You don’t always need a packed schedule or “important meetings” to feel like a journey was worth it.
Sometimes, all you need is a good host, an open mind, and a bit of curiosity to follow unexpected turns.
Miraj, for me, was less about destinations and more about moments:
A cup of coffee in a friend’s home, a detour to a temple, an unplanned conversation that teaches more than a seminar.
And most importantly, it was a reminder that wisdom doesn’t always arrive in headlines.
Sometimes, it comes gently. In the form of a kind host, a seasoned guide, and a road that knows when to slow you down.
