Mahabaleshwar Hill Station
Introduction and history: Mahabaleshwar, in Sanskrit means God of Great Power, is situated at 1372 meters around Lake Venna. It was summer capital of Governor of the old Bombay Presidency. This is another area that has strong historical connections with Shivaji, the heroic Maratha warrior king. The British had built various mansions, cottages and bungalows around the town, lending it a charming, sophistication. The hill-station is very crowded during vacations like Christmas & Diwali and in summers
What to see and when to go: There are 30 valley viewpoints with panoramic vistas scattered around the hill station and their access roads make for shady, pleasant walks and treks. Mount Malcolm, Catholic Church, Mahabaleshwar Club, Morarji Castle are the places to see in Mahabaleshwar. The ideal time to visit this beautiful hill station is from October and June.
Things to do: Hiking and boating forms the basis for all the tourists at Mahabaleshwar. Panchganga Mandir is situated at the confluence of five rivers the Krishna, Gayatri, Savitri, Koyna and Venna. The water from these rivers pours from the spout of a sculpted cow suckling its young one, and collects in a cistern below. On the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Road, Lake Venna is the ideal place for an evening outing after covering all places mentione above.
Accommodation: Due to the incessant inflow of tourists all the year round, Mahabaleshwar offers many lodging options. The Mahabaleshwar hotels are located close to the major tourist attractions and allow the nature enthusiasts to observe it from very close quarters. It is wise to make a prior booking since the last hour rush could spoil the joy and excitement of travel.
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Mode of transport: Nearest airport is Pune and the nearest railway station is Satara (65 kilometres). It is also well connected by road from Pune and Mumbai.
Related links:
• City information: http://www.mahabaleshwar.com
• Information: http://www.mahabaleshwar.in
See also (nearby places): Tapola, Panchgani, Pratapgarh Fort,
Mapro Garden, Old Mahabaleshwar, Lingmala Waterfalls, Mumbai and Pune
