Mahabaleshwar

Basking in the beauty of Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar will capture your imagination with its natural beauty. Famed for its numerous rivers, beautiful landscape and grand peaks, Mahabaleshwar will take your breath away. The beautiful city houses some amazing ancient temples, boarding schools, manicured and lush green dense forest, waterfalls, hills, and valleys. One of the most sought after weekend getaways, Mahabaleshwar was once a summer capital of Mumbai, and the influence of British Structure can still be seen here.

Attractions

Mahabaleshwar boasts of numerous fascinating tourist places. Bordered by a few astonishing waterways, evergreen timberlands, and captivating slopes and mountains, Mahabaleshwar will get you close to nature. One of the most picturesque viewpoints of Mahabaleshwar is the Kate's Point and Elephant's Head Point. The overhanging cliffs of the Elephant's Head Point are similar to the head of an elephant and its trunk.

Another famous tourist attraction is the Lingmala Waterfall, formed by the Venna River. There are two waterfalls, one mini waterfall and the main waterfall which falls from a height of 500 feet. It is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The best time to visit is from July to October, when the waterfall is at its peak flow. The waterfall can be dangerous in rainy season, so it is not at all advisable to swim.

Krishnabai Temple is another major attraction of Mahableshwar. The temple houses a Shiva Lingam and a beautiful statue of Goddess Krishna. Stone carved columns and ceilings are the special characteristics of this temple. Offering enchanting views of the Krishna Valley and surrounding countryside, the exquisite view from here will take your breath away.

A famous hill station and municipal council in Satara district of Maharashtra, Panchgani is another major tourist attraction. Nestled at middle of five hills in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, Panchgani is one of the top hill resorts near Pune and among the best places to visit near Mumbai. Table Land, Parsi Point, Kamalgadh Fort, Devil's Kitchen, Rajpuri Caves, Sydney Point, Mapro Gardens, Dhom dam etc. are some of the major sightseeing options in Panchgani.

Best time to Visit
The best season to visit Panchgani is the winters and the onset of summers. The temperature remains comfortable and is apt for sightseeing. The best months to visit are September, October, November, January, February, March, April and May.

How to reach
By Air : The nearest airport of Mahabaleshwar is in Pune, which is about 120 kilometres away.
By Train : While Wathar (60 km) is the nearest railway station from Mahabaleshwar, the most accessible and convenient one would be at Pune.
By Road : There are several buses plying between Mumbai and Mahabaleshwar, which is a distance of about 247 kilometres. If you want to drive from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar it will take you about 4 to 5 hours depending on the traffic.