TRAVEL GUIDE
Making tracks

Mahabaleshwar is 290 km from Mumbai via Pune, and 266 km via Mahad. It is 120 km from Pune, the nearest airport and most convenient railhead. The best way to get here is by road - bus, taxi and car - on a good, motorable road.

Best time to go

Mahabaleshwar is a year round destination. The summer is cool enough and the winter warm enough for a pleasant vacation. The monsoons are torrential and best avoided. Carry light woollens in winter and a wrap for summer evenings.

Room with a view

There is no dearth of accommodation options to suit all budgets. The MTDC runs a hotel, besides which there are tourist lodges, exclusively vegetarian guesthouses, luxury resorts, and private apartments for families.

 

Evergreen hits

Mahabaleshwar, within easy distance of Mumbai, is a peppy hill station that was once a colonial retreat during the British Raj. Mahabaleshwar is liberally perked up with a dash of interesting ingredients for that delicious holiday you've always been meaning to take. Perched in the Sahyadri Mountains at a height of 4500 ft, Mahabaleshwar has a magnificent view of the evergreen valleys of the Deccan and the Konkan coast. In the midst of thick forests is that beautiful plateau where many a box office hit film has been picturized; a woody haven that tempts you to break forth into a song and dance routine!

There is much to see and do in Mahabaleshwar. Start by drinking in the breath-taking vistas and varying perspectives of the valley from over 30 different vantage points. See spectacular sunrises and sunsets from Wilson Point; let your eyes sweep across the valleys of the Rivers Koyna and Savitri from Connaught Peak and Elphinstone Point; and admire panoramic views of the Sahyadri Ranges from Marjorie Point. Arthur's Seat overlooks awesome canyons and cliffs; from this vantage point you can see the geological differences between the rocks of the Deccan Plateaus and the Konkan coast.

A short climb down the steps near Arthur's Seat leads to the source of the River Savitri at Tiger's Spring. You must see the cascading waterfalls like the Chinaman, Lingmala and Dhobi Falls. The imposing fortress of Pratapgadh, an hour's drive outside Mahabaleshwar, and a number of old temples, are also part of the local attractions. The Panchganga Temple is considered the source of five important rivers of the region. 

While away the hours at wayside coffee shops in the marketplace; or sip coffee or fresh fruit juices at the roadside cafes. Admire the seasonal flowers in the park, amble off on gentle mountain ponies, and go for a boat ride on Venna Lake. Shop for locally made shoes, varieties of honey, fruits and an enormous range of soft fruit like strawberry, raspberry and mulberry from the surrounding Brahma Aranya forests. As you drive up to Mahabaleshwar, the road passes by farms that put up stalls selling fresh fruits, ice creams, jams, jellies and crushes… take some home with you so that the taste of Mahabaleshwar lingers on.