Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar – A Weekend Gateway To Enjoy Scenic Beauty

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the Sahyadri mountain range. It is a blend of spiritual aura, enchanting ambience, sky hugging mountains, breathtaking valleys and picturesque views. At an elevation of 1372 meters above sea level, Mahabaleshwar bids a panoramic view of the surrounding land with magnificent peaks and deep green woods.

Mahabaleshwar is the perfect base to explore the rich destinations around. Monuments and Forts are plenty in Mahabaleshwar and each one has a story to tell. Forts like Rajgarh, Pratapgarh, Purander, Kamalgarh and Korna are some important tourists hotspots near Mahabaleshwar. Almost all of these forts were built in the fifteenth century by Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

You can anchor yourself in Mahabaleshwar and find the soul-chilling “Venna Lake”. The lake is spread across 28 acres of land and is known for boating and other fun activities. A number of small eateries line the banks of the lake. Moreover, horse riding on an easy pace along the beautiful outdoors of Venna Lake, makes it more beautiful.

Apart from Venna lake, Wilson/Bombay points are another tourist attraction. These points are located atop of the mountains and provide a scenic view of the beautiful flora and fauna of Mahabaleshwar. It is also called “Sunset Point”. It is a site to witness different hues of the setting sun. There are some other points such as echo point, Karnach point, Karnayak Point and Sasoon point.

Being a spiritual hill station, Mahabaleshwar is known for Mahabaleshwar Temple. This shrine is said to be the residence of Lord Shiva, who takes the form of a dark black stone lingam. The look and feel of this temple will certainly set your spirits high for the rest of your day. Panchganga Mandir is another holy temple in this town. Constructed at the confluence of five rivers, Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri, it is a site of major religious importance and is thronged by devotees all through the year. The temple has a beautifully carved Gaumukhi, out of which the waters of the five rivers flow. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and has a lovely idol of him.

Travel Tip:
Mahabaleshwar trip is incomplete without treating yourself with delicious strawberries
at Mapro Gardens and Cream Corners.

Mahabaleshwar is best accessible by road from Maharashtra to explore and enjoy the scenic beauty, serpentine roads and chilly weather. It is also well connected with buses and trains. If you wish to travel by train, then simply hire an auto to Dadar Railway Station, board a train to Lonand and then hire a taxi from Lonand railway station to Mahabaleshwar. For people who prefer bus over train, the best route from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar is to board a bus from Mumbai Bus Stop to Panchgani and then hire a taxi to Mahabaleshwar.

Mahabaleshwar has a wide choice of hotels and beautiful resorts. For eg. Evershine Keys Prima Resort, Bella Vista Resort, Forest County Resort. There are heritage hotels also (Pratap Heritage, Citrus Chambers and the like) and also very calm and clean Ashram Guest Houses for the spiritual seekers.