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Distances: Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar via Mahad is 220 kms Mumbai (7hrs) to Pune is 180 kms& further Pune to
Mahabaleshwar is 120 kms (3hrs). Panchgani to
Mahabaleshwar is 20 kms.
How to reach: By Road approx 7hrs
(via panvel) By Train nearest station is
Pune (180 kms approx) or Wathar (62kms) or by air
nearest airport is Pune.
 Area: Vast green plateau of about 150
sq. kms.
Height: 4500 feet above sea level.
Climate: Never too hot because of
the heights. Never too cold bacause of the nearness to the arabian sea.
Duration of higher temperature is short.
Seasons: October, Diwali &
X'mas holidays & summer. Hotels are open round the year even during the
rainy seasons.
The jungle of
Mahabaleshwar is thick & produces many commercial as well as medicinal
trees & plants. The wild life is limited
to foxes, jackals, & wild boars. Deers & bisons are found in the
brahma aranya area. Panthers are rare. The famous bird in the urdu poetry,
Bulbul is found everywhere in the plateau. The weather of Mahabaleshwar &
healthy & contains an ideal of 20% oxygen which is often agumented in
foggy weather of late summers & early monsoon, when the pleateau is
covered by thick mist. The water contains a meager percentage of iron which
helps to increase hemoglobin in the blood.
SOME FACINATING
INFORMATION:
Mahabaleshwar was established as a health resort in 1829 AD.
 It was a jail for chinese &
malay convicts from 1834 to 1864. The capacity of the jail was 120 prisoners.
These prisoners introduced cultivation of red potatoes, strawberries &
waeving of cane & bamboo baskets. Many of the prisoners stayed at
Mahabaleshwar after they were released
Short History
Maharaja Pratapsinha of Satara (1818 to 1839) engineered a scheme to develop
M'war as a health resort. sir John Malcolum, the first governer to visit
Mahabaleshwar in 1828, established M'war in 1829. Sir Charles Malet, the
first resident in Pune darbar of the Peshwas in 1791 happens to be the first
european to step on this plateau.
Novelties of Mahabaleshwar
An evergreen vast plateau with long beautiful roads, horse rides & foot
paths along forest. Honey & chikki, channas, waling sticks. Fruits like
strawberries, raspberries , goose berries & muberries. Vegetables like
red potatoes, french beans, beets, salad, carrots, raddishes. Boating in
Venna lake.
Recreations
Sir B. D. Petit library. Hindu Gynkhana. The Mahableshwar Club. Parsi
Gymkhana. Horse Riding. Photography. Walking. Boating in Venna lake. Bird
watching. Study of Botony.
SIGHTSEEING OF VARIOUS POINTS AS UNDER
Wilson Point
Also called as Sunrise
point. The highest point. 4710 ft above sea level. It is  a vast plateau. There are three
masonry round platforms to see the sunrise. You are advised to see sunrise
from platform no:2. You can see sunset also from this point.
Connaught peak
The second highest point. Presents panoramic view of a green carpet. You can
see sunrise as well as sunset from this point.
Elphiston point
The first point of M'war/ Overlooking two valleys, koyna on the left &
savitri on the right.
Marjorie
Point
Shoes several ranges of the Sahyadri range.
Castle Rock
On the way to the Arthur's seat shows savitri valley.
Arthur's Seat
Queen of all points. Some compare the stractification of rocks on southern
side to the world famous stratification of rocks of the Grand Canyon of
Colarado. USA.
It is facinating to see the barren deep valley Savitri on the left &
shallow green valley on the right. It is more facinating to know that
Arthur's seat is the only place showing geographical distinction of kokan
& Desh (Deccan), two territories of
Mahabaleshwar, so clear & so near. If you go by the steps you come across
a spring known as Tiger's spring which is supposed to be the source of the
river Savtri. Immidiately below the seat is window point. You have to go deep
by steps to reach the window point.Kates Point: Offers breathtaking view of
krishna valley & deep waters of the dhom dam. From southern side it looks
like an elephants head. There is also an echo point.
Baghdad
Point
A very beautiful point. It
goes past village Moleshware on the way. You see a superb scenic view of the
back waters of koyna dam on your left, river solshi in front of you with tiny
villages as if sqatting on river banks & vast green slopes of M'war
plateau on your right.
Babington Point
Presents a view of saddle back & Koyna valley.
Northcote Point
Presents koyana valley view & saddle back.
Falkland Point
Below it the Artists Point also called as lovers point by some nature lover,
presents beautiful koyana & valley below you.
Carnac Point
On the same way of falkland point.
Fitzgerald Point
Same view of Bombay
point.
Bombay Point
Very popular sunset point. Shows the sahyadri range koyana valley &
pratap garh.
Gaolani Point
At a distance of about 7 kms from ST bus station, by Tapola road you will
meet the junction of road which will lead you to village Maharola From
Maharola with little inquiry or following the map it should not be difficult
to find this point. after reaching the point you will find yourself standing
over a pass known as Zolachi Khind & enjoy the scenery of two valleys on
the two sides. If you walk by gaolani ride you will enjoy the scenery of
koyana valley on your right hand at many spots.
Lodwick Point & Boars Head
Protruding towards pratapgardh from M'war plateau you will see the
surrounding scenery with awe.
The Lamington Plateau
You can go to by a foot path from ganapati mandir. If you follow the map
correctly you will reach the plateau safely.
Panchgani Point
Shows the tableland of panchgani on the eastern side.
Helen's Point
River solshi starts from this point with a small fall
near her origin. Poetic blue valley will be in front of you.
Rosamond Rock
The grandeur of its celestial beauty surpasses all the limits of
descriptions.
Water Falls
Chinamans, Lingmala & Dhobi waterfalls, flow in abundance only during the
rainy season.
Polo Ground
Often been used as a helipad, also used for learning car driving.
Bee keeping centre
Educational displays on the manufacture of honey by bees.
Famous Places in the
vicinity of Mahabaleshwar
Pratap Gadh
 At a distance of 25 kms from Mahabaleshwar stands
the majestic Pratapgadh housing the tomb of Afzalkhan at the toe of the fort.
There is a temple of bhavani mata, the idol of worship of King Shivajiraje
Bhosle. There is a statue of Shivaji Maharaj inside the fort called Bale
killa.
Table land
Largest in Asia. A small plane can land
here.
Short Note on Old or Kshetra Mahabaleshwar
Panchaganga Mandir
As per the hindu mythology five holy rivers krishna, venna, koyna, Savitri
& gayatri show their token appearance here in five springs flowing
closely. They are seen flowing in five stone conduits & joining in one
horizontal half channel leading to the Goumukhi cowface spout. Though the
Gaomukh it falls in the cistern below. On the northen side there is a similar
conduit through which the holy 'ganga' appears every twelve years. From the
conduit on the southern side flows the holy saraswati when the following
astrological times come together, namely, Bhadrapad month, shasthi (6th day)
,Tuesday sun in hasta nakshatra, Rohini nakshatra in predominance &
Vyatipat. This miraculous yoga (coincidence) is known as the "Kapila
Shasthi Yoga", which is believed to be very auspicious occassion as per
the Hindu faith.
Shri Shankar Mandir
The Mahalinga of the lord Shiva is of Rudraksha shape & believed to be
'self-bodied' (swayambhoo) It is called Trigunatmaka meaning
Brahma-Visnhu-Mahesh are on it for ever. On the head of the mahalinga you see
the marks of the five holy rivers (Panchaganga) & their waters never
loose their level. Mother Jeejabai was weighed by gold by Raje Shivaji in
this temple & then the gold was distributed in charity. This Mahalinga is
considered to be superior to the twelve jyotirlingas.
Shri Krishnabai Mandir
This is also an old temple. The carving in the stones of the columns &
the ceiling is attractive. You can also see the grand view of krishna valley
from the temple.
GENERAL FACILITIES
Banking
1. State bank of India Tel: 260297
2. Bank of Maharashtra Tel: 260290
3. Union Bank of India
Tel: 260413
Law & Order
1. Tahsildar & Taluka Majistrate. Tel: 260229
2. Police Station Tel: 260333 / 260217
Other Important Offices
1. Muncipal office Tel: 260220
2. Panchayat Samiti Tel: 260249 / 260284
3. Water supply Tel: 260315
4. MSEB Tel: 260292
5. Holiday Camp
Tel: 260318
6. Tourist Bureau Tel: 260271
7. Forest Office Tel: 260281
8. Post Office Tel: 260231
Places of Worship
1. In the bazar area six hindu temples of lord Rama, Shiva, Hanuman, Datta.
2. Three masjids
3. One RC church
4. Two Protestant Churches.
5. Shri Saibaba Mandir in the compound of Anand Bunglow or The Executive Inn
hotel.
Gardens
Makharia Garden
. Pratap Sinha park.
Medical Aid
1. Dr. P. B. Thoke Tel: 260330
2. Dr. M. M. Raddi Tel: 260298
3. Dr. R. B. Dabhade Tel: 260298
4. Health Officer Tel:
260247
Liquor Shops
1. Imperial Stores 2. Sanjay Wines 3. Treacher & Co.
Petrol Pumps
BPCL & HP
Go Top
Sydney Point
This point is situated on a small hillock facing the Krishna Valley .From here one can see the the
glittering waters of the Dhom Dam and Pandavgad and Mandhardeo are also
easily seen.
Table Land
Situated around 60 mts high ,this flat large expanse of
laterite rock is the second longest mountain plateau in asia.There are some
spacious caves that can be seen from here and one of them is Devil's Kitchen.
Parsi Point
This windy road situated on the way to Mahableshwar
overlooks the Krishna valley and the blue
mirror like waters of the Dhom Dam.
Devil's Kitchen
The Devil's Kitchen situated to the south of tableland,
is also a place of mythological interest. It is believed that the Pandavas
stayed here for a while and used this place to cook their food. There are
some legends regarding this, though most of them appear to be mere tall
tales. Some people claim that Pandvgadh
Caves ( near Wai ) are
also built by them and bear their name.
Dhom Dam
Dhom Dam water sports is one more amazing attraction
for tourists which is 21 kms away from Panchgani. A beautiful boating spot.
Here one can enjoy with Scooter boats and Speed boats.
Sporting in Krishna river stream with the
beautiful natural surrounding is a wonderful experience in itself.
The Lingmala
Falls
The Lingmala Falls
in Mahabaleshwar can be reached by road. It lies on the Mahabaleshwar-Poona
road. The stream here precipitates over the face of steep cliff, unbroken
when the torrent is swollen by rain but ordinarily divided by projecting
rocks about one third of the way down into thin silver streaks and sprays
often circled by rainbows. The forest bungalow of lingmala is also close by.
Rajapuri Caves
About 10 km from the
town, the caves have a religious importance as there is a temple of Lord Karthikeya,
(Lord Shiva's son) here. A temple of local goddess Ghatjal Devi is also in
the area. A small local fair is held at the time of the harvest season.
Route
map to Mahabaleshwar
Route
Map to Panchgani
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