An
Overview :
Situated at an altitude of 1,372 meter Mahabaleshwar was established in
1829 as a health resort and today one of the most popular hill resorts of
Maharashtra. Its cool climate with picturesque surroundings make it one of
the favorite destinations for honeymooners and families who want to spend
some pleasant time away from their hectic lifestyle. According to legends,
the hill station has derived its name from the temple of Lord Mahadev,
another name of Lord Shiva. It flourished as a hill resort under British
rule, who came here to escape the summer heats of the planes and made it the
summer capital. Its scenic beauty and splendid views of valleys and sea make
it one of the most visited tourist destinations in Maharashtra.
Climate of Mahabaleshwar :
The climate of Maharashtra is extremely damp and wet during rainy
season(mid June to mid September). The city is little warm in summer and
fairly cold in winters. Its summer temperature varies between 16 and 20
degrees C and during winter it falls even further. The hill station
generally becomes crowded during vacations like Christmas, Diwali and in
summers. The best time to visit the hill station is from October to May.
Tourist Attractions in Mahabaleshwar :
There are a number of popular tourist points in the hill stations.
» Mahabaleshwar Temple - Dedicated to Lord Shiva,
the present temple is surrounded by 5 feet high stone wall. The temple
houses one of the twelve important Jyotirlingas The whole temple complex has
divided into two main apartments, the inner room, which is the God's chamber
and the outer room which is the central hall. It is the temple from where
the city got its name.
»
Waterfalls - The hill station has three cascading waterfalls namely the
Venna Falls, Chinaman's Fall and the Dhobi's Fall. These can be best viewed
during the rainy season.
» Mount Malcolm - Built in 1829, it is an excellent
example of ancient architectural brilliance. It attracts tourists on a large
scale to have a glimpse of this famous building.
» Catholic Church - This Roman Catholic church is
another must visit place in Mahabaleshwar. Its stained glass windows are
worth observing.
» Veena Lake - Spreading over an area of 25 acres,
this picturesque lake offers boating facilities. It was built by the King of
Satara to supply water to Mahabaleshwar.
» Mahabaleshwar Club - Built in 1881, the club is
popular for its jogging park, rose gardens and golf course.
Wilson Point, Connaught Peak, Lover's Point, Helen's Point are some of
other places that tourists love to visit.
Accommodation in Mahabaleshwar :
The hill station provides ample accommodation options in various luxury
hotels, holiday resorts and tourist bungalows of every budget. The
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation(MTDC) also offers lots of
accommodation facilities. Following are some of the well known hotels and
resorts:
» Lake View
» Surya Retreat
» Brightland Holiday Village
» Sherwood Resort
» Hotel Dreamland
» Strawberry County Resort
» Regal Hotel
Getting to Mahabaleshwar :
» By Air - Pune Airport is the nearest one
at a distance of 120 kms.
» By Rail - Nearest rail head is at Wather which is
at a distance of 62km, but Pune Railway Station(120km) is the major one well
connected to most of the cities of India.
» By Road - The State Transport bus services link
the city with other important cities and towns of Maharashtra and other
western India states.
