Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, INDIA

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Mahabaleshwar

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Mahabaleshwar is situated among the lush green hills and the farms of strawberries with awe-inspiring scenery. It is one of the highly visited tourist spots of not only Maharashtra, but also the country, especially during monsoons.
Mahabaleshwar is located in Satara district of Maharashtra amidst the Western Ghats. It is in close vicinty to Pune and Mumbai. It boasts several attractions that are tourist hotspots such as Venna Lake, the Mahabaleshwar temple, Pratapgad Fort and over 25 mesmerizing and adventurous points such as Arthur’s Seat, Babington Point, Lodwick Point etc. with exotic views of this lovely hill station.
The nearest landmark to Mahabaleshwar is Panchgani which is also known as “Old Mahabaleshwar”.

History

The word Mahableshwar has been derived from the word Mamleshwar which means “God of Mavalas”, who is Lord Shiva. The origin of Mahabaleshwar can be trailed back to the year 1215 and it is said that King Singhan, the ruler of Deogiri, built a small temple with a water tank near to the Krishna River in Old Mahabaleshwar. Then, a Brahmin dynasty ruled the city during 1350. The city came into stature around 16th century when this dynasty was defeated by Chandarao More. During this time, the old temple was reconstructed.
The historical Pratapgad fort was constructed in 1656 under the reign of great Maratha warrior, Shivaji Maharaj, when he captured Maharashtra and Javli. During the British rule, the district of Satara came into the territory of Raja of Satara. Mahabaleshwar was a place often visited by army troops and soldiers. The famous point Arthur’s Seat was named after Sir Arthur Mallet. The current hill station of Mahabaleshwar, however, came into actual existence around 1829. This place was also referred as Malcolm Peth as per the old records.
By the end of the 19th century, it had become one of the most attractive hill stations of the world. Raj Bhavan, the summer residence of the Governor of Maharashtra, is also situated here. The mighty river Krishna which flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka originates from Mahabaleshwar.
Mahabaleshwar is undoubtedly the “Paradise of Maharashtra”.

Major Attractions

Arthur’s Seat
Kate’s Point
Needle Hole Point/Elephant Point
Wilson Point
3 Monkey Point
Pratapgad Fort
Venna Lake
Chinaman’s fall
Dhobi Falls
Lingmala Falls

Fast Facts

Taluka: Mahabaleshwar District: Satara
State: Maharashtra Languages: Marathi, Hindi, English
Best Time to Visit: July-March Weather: 13°C to 35°C (Max.)
STD Code: 02168 Pin Code: 412806

How to Reach

By Air

Pune Airport, is the nearest one, 130 km away and is well connected to major cities of India and abroad.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is at Satara, which is just 60 km away. It lies on the Mumbai-Madgaon rail route and is well connected to all the major cities of India.

By Road

MSRTC and various private travels operate regular buses that ply to Mahabaleshwar from the major cities of state. The best way to here is by your own means of transportation like car or private taxis.

Distance from Nearby Cities

Pune – 120 km
Kolhapur – 179 km
Mumbai – 231 km
Panjim – 380 km