Mahabaleshwar
Located near the cosmopolitan hubs Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar is a picturesque hilly resort in the lap of majestic mountain range of Western Ghats.
Named after Lord ‘Mahabali’, Mahabaleshwar in Sanskrit means ‘God of Great Power’.
Founded in 1828 AD by Sir John Malcomm, Mahabaleshwar was established as a health resort in 1829 AD by Maharaja Pratap Singh of Satara and later served as a jail for Chinese and Malaysian convicts from 1834-1864.
Once the summer capital of the old Bombay Province, Mahabaleshwar still bears the traces of British Raj in the form of the British buildings, cemeteries etc.
Mahabaleshwar is blessed with pleasant climate and offers delightful views and invigorating ambience. Besides picturesque hills, rivers and lakes, Mahabaleshwar is endowed with rare evergreen forests and various medicinal trees and plants. Its fertile soil and suitable climate make Mahabaleshwar rich in strawberries and mulberries and ideal for cultivation of myriad vegetables.
Mahabaleshwar is almost shut during monsoons as it receives heavy rainfalls and to ward off the damage from the torrential rains the buildings here are cladded with ‘kulum’ grass. However the reward after the rains is simply breathtaking lush green landscape.
Places to Visit
Mahabaleshwar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Mahabaleshwar temple is a major landmark of this little hill-station.
Venna Lake
One of the major tourist attractions here, Venna lake is surrounded by trees and is perfect for an evening out, boating or even hanging out on the periphery of the lake lined by small eateries.
Pratapgarh Fort (24km)
Built in 1656, Pratapgarh Fort witnessed a major twist in the turn-out of historical events with the killing of Afzal Khan by Maratha leader Shivaji failing former’s conceiting plot.
The fort has a maze of chambers, dark long paths, ponds and a fleeting 450 steps leading to the top which sounds daunting but is an easy climb since the fort has three levels. A few paths inside the fort lead to the trap doors leading to steep falls.
View points
With sundry designated view points, Mahabaleshwar offers amazingly spectacular views from all around. However, a few not-to-be-missed view points are –
Wilson Point
Highest point in Mahabaleshwar, it offers spectacular view of the rising sun.
Hunter Point
Offers a clear and fascinating view of Pratapgarh fort and surroundings.
Sunset Point/Mumbai point
Ideal for a relaxing evening, here you can revel in the glory of a spell-binding sunset view.
Also check out Lodwick’s Point, Arthur’s seat, Kate’s Point, Babington Point, Elephant’s Head point.
Also check out
Morarjee Castle
Beekeeping Centre
Panchganga Mandir
Things to Do
Boating
Golfing
Angling
Trekking
Photography
Must Try
Strawberries with cream
Squashes and shakes
Cinnamon tea at MAPRO
What to Buy and Where
Cane handicrafts and Mahabaleshwari chappals for ladies can be picked up from the Main Market.
Honey, fruit products like squashes, jams, pickles, jellies and gulkand from MAPRO.
Fast Facts
Best Time to Visit : Sep-May
Distance : 245 km from Mumbai
Altitude : 4500 ft above sea level
Around
Panchgani (23km)
Tapola (50km)
