MAHABALESHWAR HILLS

Mahabaleshwar

City in India

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station in India's forested Western Ghats range, south of Mumbai. It features several elevated viewing points, such as Arthur’s Seat. West of here is centuries-old Pratapgad Fort, perched atop a mountain spur. East, Lingmala Waterfall tumbles off a sheer cliff. Colorful boats dot Venna Lake, while 5 rivers meet at Panch Ganga Temple to the north.

BEST TIME TO VISIT : ANY TIME (PLEASANT THROUGH OUT THE YEAR)

Elevation: 1,353 m
Area: 137.2 km²
Weather: 21°C, Wind W at 14 km/h, 81% Humidity
Population: 12,737 (2011)
Local time: Monday 2:31 PM


PLACES TO VISIT

• Venna Lake 

The Venna Lake is situated around 2 km from the ST bus stand and is among the most popular tourist places in Mahabaleshwar. The lake is 2.5 km long and is encircled by trees on all sides. Tourists can enjoy activities like fishing and boating at the lake, they can even do a little horse riding. There are a few small eateries and strawberry stalls lined up at the banks of the lake. 

• Arthur's Seat 

Arthur's Seat is the most popular point in Mahabaleshwar. Although, popularly it is called as Queen of the Points, original name of the point is Madhi Mahaal. Located at around 13 KM from Mahabaleshwar Market, Arthur's Seat point is at height of 1470m.

• Kate's Point 

Kate's Point is named after the then british governer Sir John Malcolm's daughter. It is another wonder of nature. The photo above looks like elephant head or needle hole. Hence, this place is also known as elephant head or needle hole.

It is at a height of 1,290 metres. The distance of the point is 6.8 km from main market. Dhom dam as well as peaks of Kamalgadh, Pandavgadh and Mandardeo can be seen from Kate's Point.

• Mapro Garden

Mapro Garden is a very very popular tourist spot in Mahabaleshwar. Mapro premises hasChocolate factory, a small nursery, a restaurant serving delectable food, children's play area and retail outlet selling mapro products.

The name Mapro is short form of Mahabaleshwar Products. Mapro Garden is situated at Gureghar on Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani road around 8 km from Panchgani and 11 km from Mahabaleshwar.

• Sunset Point 

SUNset Point is one of the most popular points of Mahabaleshwar. Sunset Point is also popularly known as Mumbai Point or Bombay Point.

The Mumbai Point is the oldest point of Mahabaleshwar. The point got it’s name as the point is on the old road to Mumbai.

The place has a large open space with a bandstand. It is an ideal place for late afternoon picnic. The Mumbai Point is the place from where people can view the sunset over the valleys below at Mahabaleshwar.
Strawberry Farm

• Table Land Old Mahabaleshwar

Table Land, at 4,550 ft above sea level, is the highest point in Panchgani. This volcanic platue is Asia’s second longest mountain plateau after tibetan platue. It is a vast expanse (around 6 km) of flat laterite rock surrounded by hills. This place offers an aerial view of the entire Panchgani and the valleys located nearby.

Famous for horse and camel riding 

• Wilson Point Pratapgad

Wilson Point is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar at 1439 m. Wilson Point is also popularly known as Sunrise Point. However, Wilson point is the only point in Mahabaleshwar where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. Original name of the point is Sindola Hill.

This point is named after Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Bombay province. As Wilson point is highest in Mahabaleshwar, it offers a spectacular view of Mahabaleshwar in all directions.

3 towers are built on the Wilson Point platue. These towers provide mesmerizing vista of Mahabaleshwar and surrounding area.

1st Tower: Sunrise and Polo ground can be seen from 1st tower.
2nd Tower: Panchgani platue and route to lingamala waterfall can be seen from 2nd tower.
3rd Tower: Old Mahabaleshwar, Elphinstone point, Cannought peak point can be seen from 3rd tower.

From Wilson point, one can see evergreen forest of Mahabaleshwar which remains green throughout the whole year.

• PRATAPGAD

Built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja in 1656, the Pratapgarh Fort is located about 24 km west of Mahabaleshwar. The fort encompasses two ancient forts; the Upper Fort - built on the top of the hill and the Lower Fort. Within the fort walls, tourists can see the Bhavani Temple, the tomb of Afzal Khan and Mahadev temple. The fort also has a maze chambers and long dark walkways, some of them lead to trap doors with a 100 meter fall. The fort is the witness of historic Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan. The Pratapgad fort offers exhilarating and excellent views of the Konkan valley. 

• WATERFALLS

There are three waterfalls in Mahabaleshwar; the first one is the Lingmala Falls which is located about 6 km from Mahabaleshwar. Formed by the River Venna, the waterfall plunges down from a height of 500 ft and can be seen in its glory during the rainy season. The second one is the Dhobi Falls which is located around 3 km from Mahabaleshwar, on the trail which connects Petit road with Old Mahabaleshwar road. The water plunges down into a deep valley and finally merges with Koyna River. The waterfall is a popular picnic spot. The last one is the Chinamons Falls. It is located at around 2.5 km from Mahabaleshwar in an exotic place with Chinese cultivated gardens at close proximity. 

• Krishna Temple

The Krishna temple is another place of religious importance in Mahabaleshwar. The place where the temple is located is locally known as "Panchganga" which means "Five Rivers" i.e. Krishna, Koyna, Yenna, Gayatri and Savitri. The temple was built by Raja Singhandeo and later in 1635, the Great Maratha Shivaji, renovated and improved the temple. 

• Lord Mahabaleshwar Temple

The Mahabaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. It is situated in the Old Kshetra Mahabaleshwar, about 6 km north from the main city. The temple was built by the Chanda Rao More dynasty in the 16th century and is a model of the Hemadant architectural style of South India.

• Tapola

Tapola is located at a distance of about 27 km south of Mahabaleshwar and very less people know about this place. The small town is situated down the Tapola Ghat in the Koyna valley on the extreme backwaters of the Triveni Sangam of the Koyna, Solshi and the Kandhati River. The place is locally called as Mini Kashmir due to the tranquility and the splendor of the Shivsagar Lake. The Shivsagar dam located here is popular for motor boats. One can enjoy riding motorboats, speed boats and scooter riders on the waters. There are many unidentified forts in the deep forests around the lake too.

• Panchgani

Panchgani is a picturesque hill station near Mahabaleshwar and is perfect place for adventure lovers. With a year round pleasant climate, Panchgani provide good opportunities for those who love trekking and hiking on several tracks leading through thinning forests. The hill station got its name from the five hills which surround it. There are also a few more attractions in Panchgani for tourists to enjoy.

Mahabaleshwar Sightseeing Popular Sights

• Monkey Point 
• Tallest Cactus 
• Bee Keeping 
• Centre Lingmala 
• Waterfall (july - sept)
• Lodwick Point 
• Plato Point 
• Connaught Peak

Mahabaleshwar Sightseeing Off-Beat Places

• Tallest Cactus 
• Bee Keeping Centre

Mahabaleshwar Sightseeing Theme Parks

• Velocity Entertainmentz 
• On Wheelz Park

WHEN I VISITED MAHABALESHWAR THAT TIME I CREATED TOUR MAP 

WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT ME 

FOR TOUR MAP PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAIL ME ON FOLLOWING LINK

pragatikambli@gmail.com

IT'S FREE