Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra’s most popular hill station, and it wasonce the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj.
Mahabaleshwar means ‘God of Great Power’ in Sanskrit. A tour of Mahabaleshwar town and the surrounding countryside would take at least a couple of days as there is much to see and experience. The town bazaar is called Malcolm Peth after the then British Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm. It lies at the heart of Mahableshwar with its hotels, shops, restaurants, outlying bungalows, government offices, and jostling crowds.
Mahabaleshwar has proper, motorable roads to every point worth visiting. So one could tour the place by car, jeep, or even horseback. There are many buildings and sites that take one back to the days of the Raj. There’s Mount Malcolm, the one-time residence of Governor Malcolm; Moraji Castle, where Mahatma Gandhi lived during 1945; and the Mahabaleshwar Club.
As short drive from town is the beautiful Venna Lake, where one can go boating, fishing, and pony riding. Or indulge oneself at the entertainment center with its numerous food and game stalls. Near the lake, further down the road on the way to neighbouringPanchgani, are the great strawberry fields.
Getting There
Air The nearest airport is Pune, 120 km.
Nearest railhead is Wathar, but Pune is considered to be more convenient.
Mumbai-Mahabaleshwar via Mahad, 247 km. State Transport buses ply regularly between Pune-Mahabaleshwar and Mumbai-Mahabaleshwar
Some important questions arise when we choose a destination.
Most important places to Visit in Mahabaleswar. / Sightseeing places in Mahabaleswar
Which all places I can visit along with Mahabaleswar ?
Tour Itineries along with Mahabaleswar
Best time to visit Mahabaleswar
How to reach Mahabaleswar?
Most important places to Visit in Mahabaleswar. / Sightseeing places in Mahabaleswar
Mount Malcolm
Built in 1829, this was one of the famous buildings of its time.
Holy Cross Church
The stained glass windows of this old Roman Catholic Church still retain their beauty.
Mahabaleshwar Club
Built in 1881, the Mahabaleshwar Club offers a peaceful retreat for those wanting to get away from it all. The Club offers many recreational facilities, including a badminton court and a mini golf course. Facilities are available to everyone at a very low fee. For those who prefer the quiet outdoors, there is a jogging track encircling the premises, edged with beautiful rose bushes. The Club also offers a clear view of Venna Lake below. Every year, Christmas is celebrated here with much fervour and pomp by the club members.
Pratapgad Fort
About 24 km. away from MahabaleshwarliesPratapgad, the pride of the Maratha Empire. Built in 1656, it is a maze of ponds, chambers and long dark walkways, some of which lead to trap doors that open to a 100 meter fall! It was here that Afzal Khan, the mighty general of Bijapur, met his untimely death at the hands of Shivaji. Since Pratapgad lies slightly off the road to Mahabaleshwar, a visit to this historic monument is recommended in all travel itineraries
Mahabaleshwar has many points offering great views of flat-topped ghats, dense forests and lush green valleys. Lodwick Point, towering almost 1,240 meters above sea level, is one of the most visited Points and holds a monument in memory of General Lodwick Arthur’s Seat is well liked too for its great view of the Jor Valley. About a kilometer away lies Tiger’s Spring, and if you venture further down you’ll come to a ledge named The window – a point that’s famous for its mesmerizing view.
There are many locations offering pleasant views of the plains below: Wilson Point, Carnac Point, Helen’s Point, Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Bombay Point, Falkland Point, and Kate Point are all well known
There are pleasant waterfalls also worth visiting, such as Chinaman’s Falls, Dhobi Falls and Lingmala Falls, the latter being the most impressive, cascading amost 600 ft from a cliff!
Another tourist attraction is the Sangam, or the confluence of the five rivers that flow over the Deccan Plateau. There are many old temples too, which become the focus of attention during the festive season
Which all places I can visit along with Mahabaleswar ?/ TourItineries along with Mahabaleswar
Mumbai - Khandala - Lonavala- Mahabaleshwar - Alibagh - Mumbai
Mumbai - Khandala - Lonavala - Panchgani - Mahabaleshwar - Alibagh - Mumbai
Mahabaleshwar - Panchgani - Pratapgadh - Mumbai
Mumbai – Lonavala - Matheran - Nashik - Shirdi - Aurangabad - Pune - Mahabaleshwar–Mumbai
Best time to visit Mahabaleswar
Mahabaleshwar is a year-round destination, there are certain perks and snags for every season.
Summer Season
March through mid-June, you will find the weather agreeable and perfect for roaming round the hill station. However, one of the major cons of visiting Mahabaleshwar in April-May is the horde of tourists flocking to this place to escape the heat which envelops most of the Indian cities.
Monsoon Season
Mid-June to September are the months when Mahabaleshwar is faced with heavy rains. A popular belief is that honeymooning couples will particularly enjoy themselves during the monsoon months of June-September. Another advantage of visiting the hill station during rainy season is that there is absolutely no tourist traffic there, save the locals.
Winter Season
Winters are from November to mid-March and are pleasantly cold. Due to Mahabaleshwar’s proximity to Arabian Sea, the weather is lovely even during winters. Obviously, you’ll need to take some extra layers along, but that just comes with the territory when visiting a hill station.
How to reach Mahabaleswar?
How to Reach Mahabaleshwar by Air
The nearest airport is Lohegaon Airport in Pune and is located at a distance of 80 kms from Mahabaleshwar. You can also get to Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai’s International Airport, ChatrapatiShivaji (160 kms away). You can hire a taxi or avail the bus service to get to Mahabaleshwar.
How to Reach Mahabaleshwar by Rail
You can reach Mahabaleshwar via rail too. The nearest railhead is Satara, at a distance of 47km. There is another railhead located at Wathar (60 kms). One can reach Mahabaleshwar via Pune (120 kms) as it boasts of an efficient rail network. Get off at the railway station and catch a taxi for Mahabaleshwar.
How to Reach Mahabaleshwar by Bus
Mahabaleshwar is well connected by road from Mumbai as well as Pune. Maharashtra State Road Transport provides bus services to all the nearby cities of Pune, Mumbai, Nasik, Satara, Panchgani and Kolhapur.
Driving to Mahabaleshwar from the neighbouring cities of Alibagh, Adavali, Pune, Nasik, Panchgani is a good option. Private and shared cabs/taxis can also be hired from Mumbai and Pune.