Soaring peaks, breathtaking valleys. Lush flora. Cool, crisp mountain air.

This is Mahabaleshwar,
Maharashtras most popular hill station, and once the summer capital of the ombay !residency during
the ritish "a#.
Mahabaleshwar means $%od of %reat !ower in Sanskrit. &ndeed, the place is great and bountiful,
rewarding the visitor with a mi' of old(world charm, natural beauty and modernity.
) tour of Mahabaleshwar town and the surrounding countryside would take at least a couple of days as
there is much to see and e'perience. The town ba*aar is called Malcolm !eth after the then ritish
%overnor of ombay, Sir +ohn Malcolm. &t lies at the heart of Mahableshwar with its hotels, shops,
restaurants, outlying bungalows, government offices, and #ostling crowds.
Mahabaleshwar has proper, motorable roads to every point worth visiting. So one could tour the place by
car, #eep, or even horseback. There are many buildings and sites that take one back to the days of the "a#.
Theres Mount Malcolm, the one(time residence of %overnor Malcolm, Mora#i Castle, where Mahatma
%andhi lived during -./0, and the Mahabaleshwar Club.
)s short drive from town is the beautiful 1enna Lake, where one can go boating, fishing, and pony riding.
2r indulge oneself at the entertainment center with its numerous food and game stalls. 3ear the lake,
further down the road on the way to neighbouring !anchgani, are the great strawberry fields.
Mahabaleshwar is known for its numerous sightseeing points, each providing a uni4ue perspective of the
ma#estic hill range. 5n route to abington !oint is 6hom dam, which is a good place to take a break. 2r
one could visit 2ld Mahabaleshwar and the famous !anchganga Mandir, which is said to contain the
springs of five rivers7 8oyna, 1enna, Savitri, %ayatri and the sacred 8rishna "iver. Theres also the
Mahabaleshwar Mandir, revered for its Swayambhu Lingam
Mahableshwar is a great holiday destination throughout the year, e'cept for the monsoon months. 6uring
the late(+une to mid(September period, torrential rains virtually shutdown this hill station, so travel is not
advised at this time.
Sights
Mount Malcolm
uilt in -9:., this was one of the famous buildings of its time.
;oly Cross Church
The stained glass windows of this old "oman Catholic Church still retain their beauty.
Mahabaleshwar Club
uilt in -99-, 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.
<acilities are available to everyone at a very low fee. <or those who prefer the 4uiet outdoors, there is a
#ogging track encircling the premises, edged with beautiful rose bushes. The Club also offers a clear view
of 1enna Lake below. 5very year, Christmas is celebrated here with much fervour and pomp by the club
members.
Pratapgad Fort
)bout :/ km. away from Mahabaleshwar lies !ratapgad, the pride of the Maratha 5mpire. uilt in -=0=,
it is a ma*e of ponds, chambers and long dark walkways, some of which lead to trap doors that open to a
->> meter fall? &t was here that )f*al 8han, the mighty general of i#apur, met his untimely death at the
hands of Shiva#i. Since !ratapgad lies slightly off the road to Mahabaleshwar, a visit to this historic
monument is recommended in all travel itineraries
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Mahabaleshwar has many points offering great views of flat(topped ghats, dense forests and lush green
valleys. Lodwick !oint, towering almost -,:/> meters above sea level, is one of the most visited !oints
and holds a monument in memory of %eneral Lodwick )rthurs Seat is well liked too for its great view of
the +or 1alley. )bout a kilometer away lies Tigers Spring, and if you venture further down youll come to
a ledge named The window @ a point thats famous for its mesmeri*ing view.
There are many locations offering pleasant views of the plains below7 Ailson !oint, Carnac !oint, ;elens
!oint, 5lphinstone !oint, abington !oint, ombay !oint, <alkland !oint, and 8ate !oint are all well
known
There are pleasant waterfalls also worth visiting, such as Chinamans <alls, 6hobi <alls and Lingmala
<alls, the latter being the most impressive, cascading amost =>> ft from a cliff?
)nother tourist attraction is the Sangam, or the confluence of the five rivers that flow over the 6eccan
!lateau. There are many old temples too, which become the focus of attention during the festive season,
More...
Location
Mahabaleshwar is situated -,BC: meters above sea level in the Aestern %hats, in Satara 6istrict of
Maharashtra State, in &ndia.
Languages spoken
Marathi, ;indi and 5nglish.
Climate and clothing
The climate is pleasant throughout the year, but the best time to visit is between 2ctober and +une.
Temperatures range from -=DC to :>DC in summer and can fall as low as 0DC in winter. Cottons and light
woolens are recommended attire.
Shopping and food
Mahabaleshwar is famous for its fruit products, Strawberries, honey, +ams, crushes and chikki Ea sweet
made from #aggery and an assortment of nutsF are a favourite buy(and so is handcrafted leather footwear.
Also Visit ...
Panchgani
)bout -. km, from Mahableshwar lies the hill station of !anchgani. &t is surrounded on all sides by hills
EG!anchH I 0, G%aniH I hillsF and is very popular with tourist owing to its close pro'imity to
Mahabaleshwar. !anchgani is known for its resident boarding schools and its strawberry and raspberry
farms. 1isitors to Mahabaleshwar almost always come to !anchgani to make the most of their holiday in
the hills..
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