Distance: 263 Kms
Mahabaleshwar is a renowned hill station, located in the Western Ghat Ranges in Maharashtra. This misty place boasts of one of the few evergreen forests in the country. It had once served as the summer capital of the Bombay province during the British era. Situated at an elevation of 1,353 metres, the verdant land is a wide plateau surrounded by valleys on all sides.
The city is the source of the River Krishna that flows across the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.The highest peak in the ranges has an elevation of 4,721 feet and is known as the Wilson or Sunrise Point.
Mahabaleshwar is a popular hill station near Mumbai. Besides being an important tourist destination, it is also a favourite honeymoon destination and pilgrimage site. The Mahabaleshwar Temple is one of the most popular places in the city. Several visitors visit Mahabaleshwar on their way to Panchgani. The city is also known for its market of strawberries and mulberries. Another major attraction in the city is the Venna Lake. Visitors can enjoy boat rides on the lake or a horse ride next to the lake.
Mahabaleshwar-1
The most notable feature about Mahabaleshwar is the presence of a number of spots in the city which mark the vantage points from where the beauty of the city can be enjoyed the most. There are as many as 14 points in the city and include the Arthur’s Seat, Kate’s Point, Needle Hole Point, Wilson Point, the Three Monkey Point etc.
The Arthur’s Seat point has an elevation of 1340 metres and is named after Sir Arthur Mallet. Sir Mallet used to sit at this point and gaze into the River Savitri to which he lost his wife and children in a ferry mishap. The Kate’s Point is situated to the east of Mahabaleshwar and is popular among tourists for its view of the two reservoirs of the region – Balakwadi and Dhom.
The Needle Hole Point is a very interesting rock formation and is situated near the Kate’s Point. A small hole is formed in the middle of a rock and hence is named so. The Wilson Point is the only point in the city from where both the sun rise and sun set can be viewed. The Three Monkey Point is named so because of three natural stones that resemble Gandhiji’s three monkeys.
Longer weekend getaways from Mumbai (More than 300 kms):