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Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar

hill station · Maharashtra

State
Maharashtra
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Mahabaleshwar sits at 1,353 metres on a broad plateau ridge of the Sahyadri range in Satara district, the highest and most extensive hill resort in Maharashtra, with dense evergreen forest, steep river canyons and terraced fields on every side. The town has kept its old colonial character, and the viewpoints step out over the valley in tiers — Arthur's Seat is the one to walk to. Venna Lake, at the centre, is artificial. The soil around here is famously fertile and grows fruit on a commercial scale, including nearly 85 percent of the country's strawberries.

When to go

October to March for the cool winter, March to May for the strawberry harvest.

Why visit

The strawberries are a real crop here rather than a gimmick, and the season runs roughly January to March. Pratapgad, half an hour out, is a better outing than any of the numbered viewpoints.

Cultural notes

Sir John Malcolm, the British Governor of Bombay, established the hill station as a summer sanatorium in 1828, and it was later made the official Summer Capital of the Bombay Presidency. At the Panchganga Temple the water runs from an old carved stone cow's mouth; five sacred rivers, the Krishna among them, are held to rise here.

How to reach

The closest airport is Pune International Airport, 120 km away. The nearest railhead is Wathar, though Satara and Pune are the broad-gauge stations most people use. The road in is a winding mountain route branching off NH 48.

Mahabaleshwar in 2 days

See the full itinerary

2 days in Mahabaleshwar

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Arthur's SeatDay 1

Day 1

Arthur's Seat

The ledge where the Deccan plateau stops: on one side the Savitri valley drops away towards the Konkan, on the other it is flat tableland. The soil on the two sides is visibly different, which is the real thing to notice.

Day 1

Wilson Point sunrise

Wilson Point sunrise

Venna Lake

Day 1

Venna Lake

Man-made, dug in 1842 to supply the town with water and now given over to pedal boats and pony rides. Crowded and commercial, and perfectly good for an hour with children.

Day 1

Mapro Garden

Mapro Garden

Pratapgad FortDay 2

Day 2

Pratapgad Fort

Pratapgad is a mountain fort in Satara district, Maharashtra, standing 1,080 m above sea level and divided into a lower and upper fort with two main entrances and several watchtowers. It is famous as the site of the decisive 1659 Battle of Pratapgad between Shivaji Maharaj and Bijapur general Afzal Khan.

Day 2

Strawberry farm visit

Strawberry farm visit

Day 2

Panchgani & Table Land day trip

Panchgani & Table Land day trip

Mahabaleshwar guide & itineraries

Mahabaleshwar is perfect for

familycouplesnature

What & where to eat

bhutta

Market

bhutta

Hill-station snacks

Vada Pav

Market

Vada Pav

Hill-station snacks

Corn patties

Corn patties

Market snacks

fudge

fudge

Market snacks

Strawberries

Mapro / market

Strawberries

The town's signature treat

cream

Mapro / market

cream

The town's signature treat

jams

jams

Fresh Mapro produce

Strawberry crush

Strawberry crush

Fresh Mapro produce

Maharashtrian thali

Maharashtrian thali

Local meals

Nearby getaways

Panchgani

~30 min

Pratapgad

Pratapgad

~1 hr

Things to do

How to spend your time in Mahabaleshwar.

Mapro Garden & strawberry farms

Mapro Garden & strawberry farms

Strawberry picking and fresh produce

Wilson & Elphinstone Points

Wilson & Elphinstone Points

Sunrise and valley viewpoints

Frequently asked questions

What is Mahabaleshwar famous for?

Cliff viewpoints, Venna Lake, and its strawberries and Mapro produce - a top Sahyadri hill station.

Best time for Mahabaleshwar?

October to June; strawberries peak in winter-spring and the monsoon is misty and green.

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