Mahabaleshwar – Maharashtra

posted by kunal

Sep 9, 2017 1607 0 0

Mahabaleshwar is a scenic hill station in Maharashtra whose municipal council is a part of the Satara district. It was earlier known as “Malcolm Peth” during the British Rule. This beautiful hill station is located in the Sahyadri range at an altitude of 1353 above sea level. This hill station is famous for its pleasant climate and for points that offer magnificent views of the surrounding valleys and hills. Due to its scenic beauty, It is commonly referred to as the “Queen of hill stations” in Maharashtra. The woods fencing this hill station adds a lot of charm to it. During the British Raj Mahabaleshwar also served as the “Summer Capital” of the Bombay province. So if complete relaxation via natural beauty is what you want then “Mahabaleshwar” is an ideal tourist destination for you.

How to get there

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By train:

The closest railway station to Mahabaleshwar is in Wathar located in Koregaon in Satara district. The alternate option is the Pune railway station.

By road:

Regular Maharashtra State Road Bus services to this scenic hill station are available from cities in the state like Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Kolhapur etc. Mumbai and Pune are starting points located at close proximity to Mahabaleshwar.

a. How to reach Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai : The shortest route to reach Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai is via NH 48 and Bengaluru – Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Hwy as depicted in the map above. Alternatively, click on the Google Maps link here to view on Google Maps.

b. How to reach Mahabaleshwar from Pune : There fastest route from Pune to Mahabaleshwar is via NH 48 and the route map is depicted above. Alternatively, click on the Google Maps link here to view on Google Maps.

By flight:

The closest airport to Mahabaleshwar is at Pune. Taxi service to this hill station is available at the Pune airport. The Mumbai airport is another option that can be used to travel.

Climate and the best time to visit Mahabaleshwar

The word “pleasant” is the best adjective that can be used to describe the climate of Mahabaleshwar. With the temperature during the summer months ranging from 15 degrees to 35 degrees. This beautiful hill station during monsoons (June to September) receives very heavy rainfall of about 663 cm and it is during this period that the greenery is enhanced. The winter months from December to February are pleasant and the temperatures range from 10 degrees to 24 degrees. The best time to visit is from October to June.

Things to do

Venna Lake: Venna Lake is encompassed by woods on all the sides. Tourists visiting Mahabaleshwar during winter would love to enjoy a boat ride on this lake. Besides, there is also provision for horse-riding near the lake. There are some of the best hotels and restaurants here that a budget traveler can look out for. The city market is just a short distance away from the lake and is an ideal place for a stroll.

Kate Point: Kate Point is another recommended site from where one can get one of the best views. It is ideal to visit this site during winters when the sky remains clear. The fantastic view of the Mandardeo, Pandavgadh and Kamalgadh peaks, the ravishing Dhom dam are some of the attractions for the visitors. The Echo Point is another great site near Kate Point.

Pratapgad Fort: The Pratapgad Fort is part of the folklore surrounding the Maratha Emperor Shivaji. It was at this fort that Afzal Khan was killed by the great Maratha Emperor.

Elephant’s Head Point: A must see is the Elephant’s Head Point, where the cliffs resemble the head and trunk of an elephant. The visitors need to take a walk or ride on a pony to reach this point from the parking area.

The tourist destinations in close proximity to Mahabaleshwar include Panchgani which is famous for Rajpuri Caves, which is surrounded by ponds. It is a religious site wherein devotees come to take a dip into the ponds, as it is said to have healing powers. It is also the site of the Lord Kartikeya temple. Some other places of interest in and around this hill station are the Babington Point, Lodwick Point, Wilson Point, Lingamala Falls, and Arthur’s Seat.