Mahabaleshwar! On hearing this name, our brain starts imagining a divine and religious place. Mahabaleshwar full of temples can actually be called a pilgrimage place for Hindus. Along with this, it is also a very picturesque hill station, whose height is about 1372 meters above sea level.
Mahabaleshwar is a broad plateau surrounded by valleys on all sides. The lofty mountains and lush green valleys of Mahabaleshwar attract all those tourists who want to spend some moments of bliss by coming to a quiet place away from the noise and pollution of metros like Mumbai and Pune.
Although Mahabaleshwar is popular with tourists for its picturesque landscapes, chikki and delicious strawberries, it also attracts many pilgrims. Flowing through Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Krishna River originates from the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar. Mahabaleshwar is also the source of the four tributaries of Krishna. Many travelers from far away come here with the desire to visit Krishna river and Mahabaleshwar temple.
Mahabaleshwar is located at a distance of about 120 kilometers from the city of Pune. It is very accessible and convenient to reach Mahabaleshwar by road. You can easily reach here by road while enjoying the natural beauty.
History of Mahabaleshwar
The history of Mahabaleshwar is special. Historians believe that Mahabaleshwar originated in the early years of the 12th century. When King Singhan of Devagiri visited ancient Mahabaleshwar, he built a small temple and a water tank at the origin of Krishna river. Shivling was established in the temple. Since Lord Shiva is also known as Lord Mahabali, the city was named Mahabaleshwar.
Mahabaleshwar was a Hindu pilgrimage site because of the Mahabaleshwar temple and the origin of the Krishna river. The British also developed this idyllic region as a tourist destination. Under the leadership of General Peter Ludwig and Bombay Governor Sir John Malcolm, a Sanatorium was also established here in 1828. In that period, Mahabaleshwar was considered as British occupied area. Even the name of this area was changed to ‘Malcolm Peth’ for some years.
The British government had done many things to develop this area as a tourist destination. All the facilities from roads to rest houses were constructed in a planned manner. In the 19th century, an open prison reformation center was established here. The prisoners of China and Malaysia were kept in these prisons. In the free prison, the convicts were not locked in the cell forever. Rather, they were allowed to work throughout the day so that they could move on the path of reform and earn some money. Under this scheme, they were employed in many works like working as laborers in road construction projects, preparing flour by grinding maize, cultivating potatoes and other vegetables in the gardens of English rest houses. Today there is a bungalow of the Public Works Department in place of this jail. Mahabaleshwar soon acquired the title of summer capital of the Bombay Presidency.
Popular places to visit in Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar Temple
Mahabaleshwar Temple is one of the ancient temples of Maharashtra. This is a Shiva temple. This temple was built by the Chanda Rao More dynasty in the 16th century. There is a 1.5 meter high rock wall around this temple. The temple has two parts, the sanctum sanctorum and the assembly hall. There are many objects related to Lord Shiva in the temple premises, such as Damru, Trishul etc. Apart from the Shivling, there are also beautiful idols of Lord Shiva, the sacred bull Nandi and Kalabhairava. Popularly known as Mahabali, this Shiva temple is visited by devotees throughout the year. You will find the atmosphere of this temple calm and spiritual.
There is also a famous Mahabaleshwar temple at Gokarna in Karnataka.
Elephant Head Point
It is one of the most visited and popular attraction of Mahabaleshwar. It is a rock formation that looks like the head and trunk of an elephant. It is also called Needle Point because the hole in the middle of the rocks reminds of a sewing needle. It is one of the best observation points in Mahabaleshwar. From here one can see an amazing view of the green valleys and mountains.
Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is a unique experience to stand at a height and enjoy the calm atmosphere. Monsoon or rainy season is the best time to enjoy the exquisite landscapes here as at this time all the rocks and valleys become full of greenery and their beauty multiplies. As soon as the winter season starts after the rains, the environment here becomes very pleasant with being green.
Venna Sarovar
Spread over an area of 7-8 km, this beautiful lake is surrounded by greenery. Many activities are organized here for the enjoyment of tourists, such as boating in the lake, horse ride around the lake, miniature train for children, swings and carousels etc. It is said that this lake was originally built for the purpose of supplying water to the locals of the city.
Mapro Garden
Mapro Garden is not just a garden. It is a multipurpose complex within which a large area is cultivated for strawberries. The complex also houses a chocolate factory, a large open-air restaurant, a children’s play area, a nursery and a retail outlet selling all Mapro products. Mapro Gardens hosts an annual Strawberry Festival each year during Easter weekend. Through this festival, they try to encourage the cultivation of strawberries in the region.
Strawberries feature prominently in the variety of dishes available at the restaurant. You can relish delicious dishes like Strawberry Pizza, Strawberry Bhel, Strawberry Shake, Strawberry Crush Cream and many more.
Wilson Point
It is also called sunrise point or sunrise observation site. Its height is about 1435 meters above sea level. This is a special attraction of Mahabaleshwar. From here one can see an amazing view of sunrise. The rising sun spreads a unique aura. It is the highest point of Mahabaleshwar. It is a broad plateau area with three observational forts at three different places. From there you can have a bird’s eye view of entire Mahabaleshwar.
Arthur seat
This place is called the queen of attractions of Mahabaleshwar. From here one can have a breathtaking view of the dense valleys of Savitri river and Brahma Arayan. The Savitri River is one of the five rivers that originate in Mahabaleshwar. Arthur’s Seat is famous for flinging light objects into the air. If you throw a light object like a plastic bottle cap into a valley, it will fly back to you due to the pressure of the air present in the valley.
The story behind the name Arthur Seat is a sad one. It is named after its first resident, Sir Arthur Malet. People say that he lost his wife and daughter in a boat accident in the Savitri river. It is said that after that accident he used to sit on the bank of the river every day and look at the river with a sad heart.
Connaught Peak
Connaught Peak is the second highest peak of Mahabaleshwar. Its height from the mean sea level is about 1400 meters. Initially its name was Mount Olympia. Later it was renamed Connaught Peak as the Duke of Connaught fell in love with the place. This place is very popular for observing the unique views of Venna reservoir and Krishna valley. The view of the sunset from here will also mesmerize your mind. You must come here.
Chinaman Fall
Chinaman Falls is one of the most attractive waterfalls in Maharashtra. A trip to Mahabaleshwar is incomplete without visiting this waterfall. The water of two different water bodies converges to form a waterfall. The view of this waterfall is amazing in the rainy season. Also, the greenery of the valley is at its peak during the rainy season.
Table Land
Table Land is a broad flat plateau region above the mountain, about 1385 meters above sea level. Spread over an area of 95 acres, this plateau is made of laterite rocks, on which a thick sheet of grass is spread. It is considered to be the widest mountain plateau in Asia. This place is a tourist attraction point. Unobstructed panoramic view of sunrise and sunset is available from here. The peerless views of the grand valleys from here will mesmerize you. This place is famous for many activities like horse riding, trekking, paragliding, merry-go-round, arcade games and mini rail. It would not be an exaggeration to call this place a unique expression of nature.
Velocity Entertainment
Velocity Entertainment is the largest theme entertainment venue in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani in particular. Go-karting track on top of any mountain is only here in whole of India. There is a plethora of games and activities to be done both indoors and outdoors. There is definitely something or the other event available for tourists of all ages.
These activities include dashing cars, gyroscope, go-karting, basketball, air hockey, zorbing, merry-go-round, etc. Also, there are many types of eateries available here where you can enjoy South Indian, Punjabi, Chinese, Italian and many other types of cuisine. You can easily spend a whole day here enjoying it.
What to buy from Mahabaleshwar?
Shopping in Mahabaleshwar is a unique experience in itself. The narrow streets here are dotted with shops selling a wide variety of items, from apparel to Kolhapuri chappals and various leather goods. There is a huge demand for various leather items available here. Tourists don’t leave without buying it. The unique artefacts created by handicrafts and handicrafts will hypnotize you. Along with this, many types of berries and jam, honey, jelly etc. made from them are also available here.
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