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Mahabaleshwar Hill Station
Information:
Mahabaleshwar is famous hill station of Maharashtra. This hill station is 4,500 feet above sea level. Mahabaleshwar experience an average of 200 to 300 inches of rainfall a year. The best period to visit this hill station is between October to May and it is best to avoid this hill station during the rainy season.
One person named Colonel Lodwick(later he became a General), was one of the first European to climb these hills. Lodwick felt so exhilarated by the invigorating cool climate and scenic beauty of Mahabaleshwar that he sent a letter extolling these points to the "Bombay Courier",thus bringing this hill station into focus. He was rewarded for extolling these features of Mahabaleshwar with a monument aptly called "Lodwick Point".
Old Mahabaleshwar nestles around the source of the Holy Krishna River,with a temple dedicated to Krishna' locally known as "Panchgana" (meaning "Five Rivers" - i.e. Krishna,Konya,Yenna,Gayatri and Savitri). The earliest shrines here date back to pre historic period,but this Krishna temple in its present form is attributed to Singhan,a Yadav King ruling from Devagiri in the 13th century. It was later restored first by Chandra Rao then Jaoli in the late 16th Century and later by the Great Maharatha Shivaji himself in 1635,then by Sahu (1670-1709) and lastly by the 19th century banker Parashuram Angal.
Attractions:
- Points Worth Seeing :
- Elphinstone Point
- Babington Point
- Kate's Point
- Bombay Point
- Waterfalls :
- Chinaman's (2.5 km)
- Dhobi (3 km)
- Lingamala (6 km).
- Venna Lake :
A major attraction in Mahabaleshwar is the Venna Lake,which has good fishing and boating facilities.
- Arthur's Seat (12 km) :
Arthur's Seat,12 km from Mahabaleshwar,looks out over a tremendous drop of 600 metres,to the coastal strip of Konkan.
- Panchgani (18 km) :
Panchgani derives its name from the five hills around it. At an altitude of 1334 m,it is just 38 m below Mahabaleshwar. These 38 m translate themselves into a breathtaking 18 km approach,that swoops around and bends with abandon,offering splendid views of the river Krishna on one side,and the coastal plains,on the other. Panchgani is the quintessential hill station. It can be seen in the architecture of the old British buildings,the Parsi houses,and the boarding schools that have been around for a century or more. Amble along the walkways,thickly canopied by lush trees and vegetation,and delight in the secrets you stumble upon. The river Krishna snakes through tiny hamlets,farms and ravines. Select a horse from one of the numerous stables and canter along unchartered routes through hidden lovers' routes,to the caves and the Kamalgad fort.
- Pratapgad Fort (24 km) :
The historic Pratapgad Fort (24 km),built in 1656,by Shivaji to control the rebellious Satraps of the surrounding Javali Basin. Legend has it that Shivaji was blessed with a shining sword at the temple of Goddess Bhawani here. It was the site of the famous battle between the Maratha chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji and Afzal Khan,the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate.
Best Time to Visit:October TO June
Travel Information:
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By air :
Pune is the nearest airport,120 kms away.
- By rail :
Satara Road is the closest railway station but Pune / Mumbai is the normal departure point for Mahabaleshwar,
- By road :
State Transport buses run from Pune and Bombay. There are also MTDC / private luxury buses,that plies daily in either direction between Bombay and Mahabaleshwar.
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