Mahabaleshwar
Hill Station Of The Sahyadri; Former Summer Capital Of The Bombay Presidency · Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
A hill station on a plateau in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra, at about thirteen hundred metres, which the British developed as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency and which is still the classic getaway for Mumbai and Pune. It is known for its viewpoints over the deep valleys of the Western Ghats, such as Arthur's Seat, Wilson Point for sunrise and Kate's Point, for boating on Venna Lake, and above all for strawberries: the area grows most of India's crop, and in season the roadside stalls, farms and cream shops are part of the visit. Old Mahabaleshwar has an ancient temple at the source of the Krishna river. Pratapgad, the hill fort where Shivaji killed the general Afzal Khan in 1659, is a short drive away, and Panchgani, with its table-land plateau and boarding schools, is next door. The monsoon here is among the heaviest in India, so much of the town shuts from June to September; weekends in season are crowded with city traffic. It is not a place for solitude, but it is a pleasant, green break from the coast.
Main Market, Mahabaleshwar, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, 412806, India
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The usual pattern: viewpoints are open in daylight from sunrise, and Wilson Point is visited from before dawn. Venna Lake boating runs roughly from morning to sunset. Temples in Old Mahabaleshwar open early and close in the evening. Pratapgad is open in daylight. From roughly June to September many hotels, restaurants, boating and some viewpoints close for the monsoon. THE TRAPS: arriving at the viewpoints late in the morning when mist has filled the valleys, driving up from Pune on a Friday evening, and booking a monsoon trip to a hotel that is shut. Confirm times before travelling.