The Location at a glance
The Queen of the hills at 4710 ft in Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar has outstanding picturesque observation points. The persistently flowing waterfalls and comfortable weather attracts huge number of tourists from India and abroad. Mahabaleshwar is a huge plateau surrounded by valleys from all the sides lies in the Sahiyadri mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. During the British Raj, it was the summer capital of India. Travellers come throughout the year. The Mahabaleshwar tourist places are crowded by the travellers from the month of September up to May though the best time to visit the city is after the monsoon season in between the months of September and November.
Accessibility
Mahabaleshwar can be reached by well connected road, rail and air modes. The nearest airport is at Pune. The nearest railway station is Wathar. The outstanding networks of roads link the hill resort to all other parts of Maharashtra. Regular state run buses link Pune and Mumbai with Mahabaleshwar. Buses are available for visiting the tourists’ places near Mahabaleshwar. A daylong trip from Mahabaleshwar is arranged for tourists for an affordable price by the State Transport Department for visiting the places around Mahabaleshwar. For travelling locally rental taxis and auto-rickshaws are available. For adventurous tourists there is an option for choosing horses for travelling purposes.
Mahabaleshwar as a tourist destination
Mahabaleshwar tourism offers the tourists a panoramic sight of its surroundings decked up with gorgeous peaks and dense green forests, strawberry farms, lakes, waterfalls and Temples. There are a number of places to visit in Mahabaleshwar. The foremost tourist attractions are:
- The Pratapgarh Fort is a place of historical importance and evidences.
- Rajpuri Caves situated in Panchgani are antique caves enclosed by many lakes.
- Venna Lake is surrounded by lush green trees and tourists can enjoy a boat ride.
- Khandala , Panchgani and Tapola are nearby small cities with attractive locations and scenic beauty.
- The main viewpoints out of many in the city are the Wilson Point, the highest point of the city. It is also known as the sunrise point. It is located very near to the market place. Others are Arthur’s Seat, Needle Hole Point, Kate’s Point and Lodwick point present in Old Mahabaleshwar.
- Old Mahabaleshwar also known as Kshetra Mahabalershwar has the Pachganga Temple along with the view points as tourist spots.
- The Mahabaleshwar temple with the deity of Lord Shiva is a must visit for the tourists.
- There are many perennial waterfalls near Mahabaleshwar hills. Three major tourist attractions are Lingamala waterfall, Chinaman’s waterfall and Dhobi waterfall.
- Strawberry farms are exclusive attraction in Mahabaleshwar and justify rightly the alternative name given to it as Strawberry city. Other local produce includes oranges, mulberries and many other varieties of fruits.
Where to Stay
The prominent hotels and resorts in Mahabaleshwar are mostly located in the lake region. There are a number of good restaurants in Mahabaleshwar offering an array of Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, African and American cuisines. You will find economical hotels too but the location might not be that good compared to the other resorts.