Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the Sahyadri range. It is a mixture of spiritual aura, enchanting atmosphere, sky-embracing mountains, breathtaking valleys and picturesque views. At an elevation of 1,372 meters above sea level, Mahabaleshwar offers a panoramic view of the surrounding land with magnificent peaks and deep green forests.
Mahabaleshwar is the perfect base to explore the rich destinations in the surrounding area. Monuments and forts abound in Mahabaleshwar and each one has a story to tell. Forts like Rajgarh, Pratapgarh, Purander, Kamalgarh and Korna are some of the major tourist spots near Mahabaleshwar. Almost all of these forts were built in the 15th century by Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
You can anchor in Mahabaleshwar and find the chilling "venna lake". The lake stretches across 28 acres of land and is known for boating and other fun activities. A series of small restaurants line the shores of the lake. Also, riding at a gentle pace along the beautiful outdoors of Lake Venna makes it more beautiful.
Apart from Lake Venna, the Wilson/Bombay Points are another tourist attraction. These points are located on top of the mountains and provide a panoramic view of the beautiful flora and fauna of Mahabaleshwar. It is also called "sunset point". It is a place to witness different shades of the setting sun. There are some other points such as Echo Point, Karnach Point, Karnayak Point and Sasoon Point.
Being a spiritual hill station, Mahabaleshwar is known for the Mahabaleshwar Temple. This shrine is said to be the residence of Lord Shiva, who takes the form of a dark black stone lingam. The appearance of this temple will certainly lift his spirits for the rest of his day. Panchganga Mandir is another sacred temple in this city. Built at the confluence of five rivers, Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri, it is a site of great religious importance and is full of devotees throughout the year. The temple has a beautifully carved Gaumukhi, from which the waters of the five rivers flow. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and has a beautiful idol of him.
travel tip:
A trip to Mahabaleshwar is incomplete without treating yourself to delicious strawberries
in Jardines Mapro and Rincones Crema.
Mahabaleshwar is best accessible by road from Maharashtra to explore and enjoy the scenic beauty, winding roads and cool climate. It is also well connected with buses and trains. If you want to travel by train, just rent a car to Dadar railway station, take a train to Lonand and then take a taxi from Lonand railway station to Mahabaleshwar. For people who prefer bus to train, the best route from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar is to board a bus from Mumbai bus stand to Panchgani and then hire a taxi to Mahabaleshwar.
Mahabaleshwar has a wide variety of hotels and beautiful resorts. For example Evershine Keys Prima Resort, Bella Vista Resort, Forest County Resort. There are also heritage hotels (Pratap Heritage, Citrus Chambers and the like) and also very quiet and clean Ashram guest houses for spiritual seekers.