Mahabaleshwar
Located near the cosmopolitan hubs Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar is a picturesque hilly resort in the lap of majestic mountain range of Western Ghats.
Named after Lord ‘Mahabali’, Mahabaleshwar in Sanskrit means ‘God of Great Power’.
Founded in 1828 AD by Sir John Malcomm, Mahabaleshwar was established as a health resort in 1829 AD by Maharaja Pratap Singh of Satara and later served as a jail for Chinese and Malaysian convicts from 1834-1864.
Once the summer capital of the old Bombay Province, Mahabaleshwar still bears the traces of British Raj in the form of the British buildings, cemeteries etc.
Mahabaleshwar is blessed with pleasant climate and offers delightful views and invigorating ambience. Besides picturesque hills, rivers and lakes, Mahabaleshwar is endowed with rare evergreen forests and various medicinal trees and plants. Its fertile soil and suitable climate make Mahabaleshwar rich in strawberries and mulberries and ideal for cultivation of myriad vegetables.
Mahabaleshwar is almost shut during monsoons as it receives heavy rainfalls and to ward off the damage from the torrential rains the buildings here are cladded with ‘kulum’ grass. However the reward after the rains is simply breathtaking lush green landscape.
Things to Do in Mahabaleshwar
Boating
Golfing
Angling
Trekking
Photography
What to Buy and Where in Mahabaleshwar
Cane handicrafts and Mahabaleshwari chappals for ladies can be picked up from the Main Market.
Honey, fruit products like squashes, jams, pickles, jellies and gulkand from MAPRO.
Must Try in Mahabaleshwar
Strawberries with cream
Squashes and shakes
Cinnamon tea at MAPRO
Mahabaleshwar Fast Facts
Best Period to Visit Mahabaleshwar: Sep-May
Distance to Mahabaleshwar: 245 Km from Mumbai
Altitude of Mahabaleshwar: 4500 Ft above sea level
Around Mahabaleshwar
Panchgani (23 Km)
Tapola (50 Km)
