Mahabaleshwar is a charming hill station surrounded by the great mountain ranges of Western Ghats. It is full of lush green forest, beautiful orchards and wildlife. It is situated at an elevation of 1372 meters and provides panoramic view of the surrounding area with spectacular peaks and splendid greenery.
With Mahabaleshwar just few hours away from Pune, Puneites love to take a short trip to this magnificent hill stationby hiring one of the Pune to Mahabaleshwar cabs.
Things to do
Mahabaleshwar is a perfect place to seek peace and inhale fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle of big city.The walk around the mulberry and strawberry orchards is a blissful experience. Whenever you visit Mahabaleshwar, make sure you do not miss out on its prominent attractions like:
- Venna Lake : Enjoy the boat ride in the sparkling and clear waters of Venna lake
- Waterfalls: Make sure to visit the beautiful cascading waterfalls at Lingmala, Chinaman and Dhobi
- Arthur’s seat : It’s called Grand Canyon of India and offers majestic views of surroundings
- Wilson point: It is also known as a sunrise point and has the highest elevation among all points. It provides panoramic views of Sahyadri mountain ranges.
- Mahabaleshwar temple: This ancient Shiva temple is a must visit for spiritual travelers
Apart from the mentioned sites, other important sightseeing spots are Echo point, Elphinstone point, Majorie point and Connaught peak
Best time to visit
Although Mahabaleshwar is visited by travelers all through the year, every season gives a different feel.
If you want to visit Mahabaleshwar in the summer months of March through June, you will enjoy the pleasant weather which is perfect for roaming round the hill station. However, during this time the place is flooded with large number of tourists which could be inconvenient for travelers looking for a peaceful trip.
Mahabaleshwar faces heavy rains during the months from June to September. If you like rains pouring down on you, you will enjoy the lush green landscape and misty surroundings of the area. Monsoons are particularly favored by couples on a honeymoon since the rains make the whole ambience romantic and there is not much tourist inflow during that time.
Winters which start fromNovember and stay till February are pleasantly cold. You just need to take few extra woolen clothes.
Festivals in Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is famous for two festivals. You can participate in the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in September and the Strawberry festival is held in the month of March. Strawberry Festival is a unique festival where you can enjoy the most delicious strawberries while learning about its cultivation.
How to reach Mahabaleshwar
The closest airport to Mahabaleshwar is the Pune Airport which is located at a distance of 80 kms. Mumbai’s International Airport, ChatrapatiShivaji is at a distance of 160 kms. You can hire taxi from the respective airports. Pune to Mahabaleshwar taxi is easily available on Savaari.com, a reliable service provider of cabs in Pune.
You can reach Mahabaleshwar via train as well. The nearest station Satara is located at a distance of 47 km and there is another station located at Watharat 60 km distance. Pune railway station is well connected to all parts of India and many people get off at the Pune and catch a taxi for Mahabaleshwar.