Saturday, October 24, 2009

Travel Diary : Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is a popular hill station. It has pleasant walks and good lookouts valleys, and the area has interesting historical connections with Shivaji. This hill station was founded in 1828 by Sir John Malcolm.

Mahabaleshwar war closes for the monsoon season from Jun to September - an unbelievable six meters around 235 inches of rain falls during this monsoon time. The Veena Lake, about four km from Mahabaleshawr, has boating and fishing facilities. In the village of Old Mahabaleshwar there are three old temples, The Krishnabai or Panchganga Temple is said to contain the springs of the Krishna, Venna and Koyana rivers.

The Local specialists - strawberry and raspberry jam - are good to taste. Elphinstone, Babington, Bombay and Kate's point all offer fine view from this wooded plateau to the plains bellow. Arther's seat km from Mahabaleshwar, looks out a sheer drop of 600 meters to the Konkan coastal strip.

Getting there and Away

Mahabaleshwar is 117 km south-west of Pune via Panchgani. The closest railway station is Satara Road. about 5 km noth-east of the town of Satara. There are daily buses to Kolhapur (Rs. 75 five hours), Satara(Rs. 50, two hours), Pune (Rs. 60, 3 hours) from Mumbai (Rs. 500 seven hours).

Around Mahabaleshwar

Panchgani

Panchgani (Five Hills) is 19 km east of Mahabelshwar and at 1334 meters is just 38 meters lower. It's is also a pupular hill station. splendidly located, but overshadowed by its neighbour. On the way up to Panchgani from Pune you pass through Wai. a site feartured in the Mahabharata.

Pratapgarh and Raigad Forts

Built in 1656, Pratapgarh Fort is about 24 km west to Mahabaleshwar and is connected with one of the more notable feats in Shivaji Maharaj's dramatic life. Raigad Fort, 80 km north-west of Mahabaleshwar, was the Maratha capital for six years before Shivaji Maharaj's death.

Photos of Mahabaleshwar

Click here to view my Mahabaleshwar Photo Album

1 comment:

  1. We have a travel website which is a Maharashtra travel Guide in which we have a page for Mahabaleshwar with lot of information regarding the place including Mahabaleshwar Hotels. We also have a page for blogs on Mahabaleshwar. Please do let us know if you would like to feature your blog in the Mahabaleshwar Blogs page. please write to puneritraveller@gmail.com

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