Maharashtra - South India and Kerala - page 206

which sit atop the Hill of Rama and have their own population of resident monkeys.
Autorickshaws will cart you the 5km from the bus stand to the temple complex for ?80.
You can return to town via the 700 steps at the back of the complex. On the road to the
temples you'll pass the delightful Ambala Tank , lined with small shrines. Boat rides around
the lake are available.
Not far from the main temple cluster, Rajkamal Resort ( 07114202761; d without/with AC ?1050/
1410; ) has large, featureless rooms with TVs, and a basic restaurant-bar.
Buses run half-hourly between Ramtek and the MSRTC bus stand in Nagpur (?41, 1½
hours). The last bus to Nagpur is at 7pm.
Sevagram
07152
About 85km from Nagpur, Sevagram (Village of Service) was chosen by Mahatma
Gandhi as his base during the Indian Independence Movement. Throughout the freedom
struggle, the village played host to several nationalist leaders, who would regularly come
to visit the Mahatma at his Sevagram Ashram ( 284753; 6am-5.30pm) . The overseers of this
peaceful ashram, built on 40 hectares of farmland, have carefully restored the original huts
where Gandhi lived and worked, and which now house some of his personal effects.
Very basic lodging is available in the Yatri Nivas ( 284753; d ?100) , across the road from
the entry gate (booking recommended), and simple vegetarian meals can be served in the
ashram's dining hall with prior notice.
Just 3km from Sevagram, Paunar village is home to the Brahmavidya Mandir Ashram (
288388; Paunar; 4am-noon & 2-8pm) . Founded by Vinoba Bhave, a nationalist and disciple of
Gandhi, the ashram is run almost entirely by women. Modelled on swaraj (self-suffi-
ciency), it's operated on a social system of consensus, with no central management.
Sevagram can be reached by taking a Wardha-bound bus from Nagpur (?55, three
hours).