As my summer vacation drew to a close, my family and I planned a weekend getaway to Panchgani, a serene hill station located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. We had visited Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani a few years back and toured the commercial tourist hot-spots. However, this time, we wanted to connect with nature by exploring eco-tourism - a concept I strongly support as an eco-warrior. Panchgani is widely popular for its breathtaking views and tranquility. Panchgani's name has much more to it, too. "Panch" means "five" and "Gani" refers to hills or plateaus - which together mean a land of "Five Plateaus." These tablelands were created during the formation of the Deccan plateau, the oldest plateau in the world. About 68 million years ago, active volcanoes spewed lava which eventually cascaded down the Indian subcontinent to form these flat-topped hills. Now dormant, the once-volcanic Table Land is home to a variety of flora, fauna, ...