Imagine taking a break from everyday life and planning a getaway to a location that is surrounded by majestic peaks, lush green dense forests, picturesque vistas, awe-inspiring cascades, and breezy weather. Imagine waking up to a view of the beautiful hills and valleys that will surely make your heart skip a beat.
Imagine being in the lap of Mother Nature every time you step out of your room to explore the frequently visited tourist attractions. Imagine enjoying a mix of both the leisure and recreational world. Imagine connecting with your loved ones on a deeper level and creating memories that will last longer. You can make all your dreams come true with a visit to Mahabaleshwar, which is also known as “The Land of Strawberries”.
Nestled in the picturesque Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar is a famous hilly area that provides a delightful treat to tourists of all kinds, whether you’re a nature admirer, a wanderer, a sightseeing explorer, a foodie, or a thrill seeker. The amazing combination of the serene waterfalls, lakes, and vantage points make it an ideal destination for couples to spend some quality time together and the laid-back atmosphere encourages avid travelers to head to this location at any time of the year.
Don’t forget to bring your camera along to click some fabulous pictures that will surely increase your followers on social media profiles like Instagram if uploaded at the right time. Here you can also relish the traditional Maharashtrian cuisine along with hogging on the dish of your choice – thanks to its local eateries, roadside food vendors, and world-class restaurants.
If all this tempts you to get ready for experiencing a wonderful trip in Mahabaleshwar, you can browse our all-inclusive Mahabaleshwar tour packages that are designed to fulfill your varied holiday needs. We at Mahabaleshwar Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA, strive to offer the best of our services to our diverse clientele. Our all-inclusive packages can be altered along with the itinerary depending on your holiday duration. You can also leverage the benefits of travel deals and discount coupons to enjoy your Mahabaleshwar tour at reasonable prices. Please fill out the Contact Us form to get in touch with our team soon.
History of Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar has an interesting tale attached to it. It is said that the history of the town takes us back to the 11th century when a Jadav King of Devgiri visited the place in the year 1215 and constructed a small temple on the banks of river Krishna.
Later, in 1350, when the rule of the Brahmin dynasty began, he granted peace, prosperity, and growth to the area. After that, the Maratha Family took over their control in the 16th century and became the rulers of Mahabaleshwar. During their reign, the ancient temple of Old Mahabaleshwar was rebuilt.
In the 17th century, Mahabaleshwar came under the powers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He wished to free his country from foreign invaders and hence constructed Pratapgarh Fort in 1656. Then, the Peshwas ruled the town for some time and remained in power until their downfall in the 19th century.
In the year 1819, the Britishers made it a part of the territory of Raja of Satara. Later, when Col. Lodwick stayed at Satara for a long time, he used to visit Mahabaleshwar several times. During that period only, he took the help of soldiers to climb to a point, which is today renowned as Lodwick Point. That’s how the town of Mahabaleshwar came into the picture.
After him, this hilly area became a summer retreat for many Britishers and each visitor gave a new viewpoint to the town where you can soak in the serenity of nature and attain peace of mind in utmost tranquility.
Slowly and steadily, Mahabaleshwar started gaining the attention of people from all over the world and by the end of the 19th century, it was counted among the list of popular hill stations to explore in India.
Places to Visit in Mahabaleshwar
Whether you’re in Mahabaleshwar for a day or a complete week, you’ll find a plethora of tourist attractions that are worthy of your time. Among all, the most popular one is the Mahabaleshwar Temple which traces its history back to the 16th century and features a stunning South Indian Hemadanta style of architecture.
The next destination that is a must-visit is the Chinaman’s Falls. Widely renowned for offering a calm and relaxing ambiance to everyone, this waterfall offers a perfect weekend treat to all looking to spend some time in tranquility. Some of the other popular points of tourist interest that draw the attention of nature buffs in large numbers are Dhobi Waterfall, Arthur’s Seat, Elephant’s Head Point, Wilson Point, Tapola, Elphinstone Point, Lingmala Falls, Bombay Point, Lodwick Point, and Helen’s Point.
Places like Veena Lake, Connaught Peak, Morarji Castle, Tiger’s Spring, Krishnabai Temple, Mapro Garden, Panchganga Temple, Tableland, etc., can also be explored in Mahabaleshwar if time permits. In addition to all this, one can also choose to trek to the Pratapgarh Fort to add some more fun and adventure to their trip.
For shopaholics, this hill station boasts a local market where you can stroll around to buy fresh strawberries and raspberries for your loved ones back home. A few of the other items that this town is known for are home jellies, jams, honey, leather products, handicrafts, and much more.
How to Reach Mahabaleshwar?
As a popular hill station in Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar maintains great road connectivity to its neighboring cities and hence, can be easily accessed by people via all modes of transportation.
For example, if you’re planning to travel by air, you can board a direct flight to Pune International Airport, which is approximately 128 km away. Outside the airport, there are many private and rental taxis available to take you to your desired destination in your utmost comfort. Alternatively, book a cab from the list of top car rental companies in Mahabaleshwar for hassle-free traveling.
The next option is via train. Although Wathar Railway Station is the nearest railhead to this little hamlet, due to its less connectivity to the other cities, many tourists prefer catching a train to the Pune Railway Station. From Pune, one can opt to travel in a state-owned bus to get to Mahabaleshwar at pocket-friendly prices.
Lastly, if you like road journeys, you can simply catch the bus from either Mumbai or Pune. From Mumbai, it takes nearly 5-6 hours to cover the required distance and from Pune, Mahabaleshwar is 2 hours and 50 minutes away. One can also choose to self-drive in their private vehicle to explore the surroundings at ease.
