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Winding roads, a cool breeze at all times, vantage points offering breathtaking views of hills and valleys, plenty of strawberries to gorge on and a main street full of shops offering all kinds of curios and snacks. Doesn’t it sound exciting Well, that’s Mahabaleshwar for you which along with Panchgani makes for a wonderful holiday or even just a weekend getaway.
The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. He built a small temple and water tank at the source of the river Krishna. Around 1350, a Brahmin dynasty ruled this area. In the middle of the 16th century the Maratha family of Chandarao More defeated the Brahmin dynasty and became rulers of Javli and Mahabaleshwar, during which period the temple of Old Mahabaleshwar was rebuilt.The first Briton to set foot here was Sir Charles Malet in 1791.In the 17th century Shivaji Maharaj took over Javli and Mahabaleshwar and constructed the Pratapgad fort in 1656.In 1819, the British included the hills in the territory of the Raja of Satara. Col. Lodwick (Late General Sir ) stationed at Satara, in April 1824 with a contingent of soldiers and Indian guides climbed up the mountain face reaching what is now known as the Lodwick Point.Starting with Sir John Malcolm in 1828, a succession of them from Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone, Arthur Malet (for whom the seat at "Point Arthur" is named), Carnac, Frere and many others became regular visitors.Under General Peter Lodwick and Sir John Malcolm, the Governor of Bombay, sanatorium was built in 1828.
The calm and peaceful hill station, Mahabaleshwar is located in Maharashtra with a scenic view that is undoubtedly breathtaking. The climate is usually cool and pleasant but it does get cold sometimes, so one should remember to carry their woollens. The hill station located in the Satara district has an altitude of 1438 meters, therefore it is a place perfect for adventure and exploration. Mahabaleshwar experiences rainfall almost every month of the year but it also has its own fair share of sunlight and warmth. The temperatures can fall as low as 10 degree and high as 35 degrees Celsius. The place is deemed fit for couples on their honeymoon. The monsoon season witnesses average showers throughout without gaps. Overall the place has a beautiful climate and is mostly recommended to visit between the months of December to February.
Mahabaleshwar is easily accessible from major cities of Maharashtra like Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, etc and different parts of India. Mahabaleshwar is one of the preferred hill stations of Maharashtra Tourism and a favorite spot for a honeymoon. It is easily reachable from Road, Rail, and Air.
hopping in Mahabaleshwar is all about buying leather goods, tribal pieces of art, Slippers, beautiful chhadi (walking stick), strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, Mouth-watering jams, marmalades and jellies. You can shop at Town Bazaar and Mapro Garden. In Town Bazaar, you will find lots of small shops and stalls that sell everything. Mapro Garden offers delicious food items and one can also buy Mapro products.
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.