So what are the places to visit in Mahabaleshwar? Mahabaleshwar is one tourist destination which has several attractions to offer to tourists visiting this place the whole year through. With abundance of Mahabaleshwar hotels to suit every budget, this place opens its welcoming arms to all types of travelers.

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station in the state of Maharashtra, often termed as the queen of the hills. This town, located in the Western Ghats region on the western part of India near the coast, offers temperate climate the whole year through. With low lying hills all around, with abundance of lakes, rivers and waterfalls nestled amidst evergreen forests, this place offers respite from the city life for people from all surrounding cities, specially Pune and Mumbai.

So what are the places to visit in Mahabaleshwar? There are several, from scenic view points to lakes, waterfalls, strawberry farms and holy places of Hindu pilgrimage. Some of the highlighted places here are as follows:

Wilson’ Point, also known as Sunrise Point, is popular as the best place to get an amazing view of the surrounding countryside at the time of sunrise or sunset. It is also the highest point in Mahabaleshwar, located at a height of 4710 feet above sea level. There are various other scenic view points which offer panoramic views of the countryside. Arthur’s seat is particularly famous for the breathtaking views of the Savitri river valley. On one side one can view striations in rock formations akin to that of the Grand Canyon. The other side offers a trek through green rocks and hidden springs from which the river is said to have originated.

There are various waterfalls to be seen around Mahabaleshwar hills, full of water nearly through the year. The more popular ones are Chinamans, Lingmala & Dhobi which are major tourist attractions.

Lake Venna is a popular tourist spot. Known for being a favorite spot for many a Bollywood film shootings, this lake offers boating pleasures for many tourists.

Tapola and Panchgani are two popular destinations close to Mahabaleshwar. Both the places offer beautiful scenery and other natural attractions on the drive to these towns.

Strawberry farms are unique attractions in Mahabaleshwar. Mapro Farms is one such place whereby tourists can savor drinks and desserts of the local produce which includes strawberries, mulberries, oranges and other delicious fruits.

On the religious front, the Mahabaleshwar temple is a must visit for all Hindus. Celebrating the powers of Lord Shiva, this temple is an ode to his divinity. Then again, the source of the five rivers also has a holy temple built on the site.

These are some of the must see places to visit in Mahabaleshwar.

Pune to Mahabaleshwar distance is a mere 150 km and hence, most frequent visitors to Mahabaleshwar come from Pune or those who are traveling by the Pune city. Even for those travelers who come from Mumbai to go to Mahabaleshwar, especially those traveling by train, find it easier to get down at Pune station. Though the Pune to Mahabaleshwar distance is 150 km while the railhead nearby Mahabaleshwar, Wather, is at a distance of 62 km, more connectivity options are there from Pune. Thus, travelers prefer to get down at Pune station and opt for a bus or taxi to get to Mahabaleshwar.

Mahabaleshwar, being a hill station nestled in the Sahyadri range, is an ideal tourist spot for cities near by such as Pune and Mumbai. It not only provides cool respite to the scorching heat of the cities, but offers picturesque landscapes, sceneries with low hills, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and so forth.

The tourist attractions in Mahabaleshwar are also numerous. From strawberry or mulberry farms where tourists can savor drinks and desserts made of these local fruits, one can also visit the sacred pilgrimage of the Mahabaleshwar temple, the origin of the Krishna river and more. Or one can simply sit back and enjoy the scenery of the hills, boating by the lakes, hikes by waterfalls and numerous other nature related adventure activities if one so desires.

Many people drive down Pune to Mahabaleshwar distance. There are various road maps available, both in print or online. Online satellite maps as those provided by Google are especially helpful in finding one’s direction while traveling by oneself. A road map from Pune to Mahabaleshwar will guide you with comprehensive directions to wherever you need to go in Mahabaleshwar. Many smart phones such as the iPhone has map applications which can track one’s device and show whether you are traveling in the right direction.

Pune to Mahabaleshwar has numerous bus and cab services as well. MTDC operates regular bus services to this city from Pune as well as there are several private bus and cab operators that one can choose from. Most of these companies are also online and have their tickets available for purchase online. Hence, one can purchase bus tickets to go from Pune to Mahabaleshwar as well as book cabs to get here. Bookings with travel agents for weekend or holiday packages including transport can also be done from Pune.

Thus, Mahabaleshwar is a popular destination from Pune and travel tips and services are numerous to choose from Pune.

Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar is a distance that is traveled quite a lot, given the fact that Mahabaleshwar is a favorite weekend destination of most Mumbai inhabitants. Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar distance is a mere 285 km which is usually covered within a time frame of 5 to 6 hours.

There are various Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar road maps available which allows many people to drive themselves to their favorite holiday destination. The highway connecting Mumbai with Mahabaleshwar is well demarcated with road signs and distance approximations. These allow people to be able to navigate the roads themselves when they want to drive down by themselves.

If you are carrying a smartphone or a laptop, you can quickly glance at the satellite maps provided by Google while you are driving to Mahabaleshwar. iPhone’s satellite map software allows one’s phone to be tracked by the satellite and one can get to know whether one’s vehicle is on the right road by the use of this iPhone application. Thus, from guide paper maps to maps online, Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar road maps are numerous and available in various forms.

There are various Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar bus services which operate on a regular basis. Numerous travel websites exist which offer tickets on various bus services which operate between Mumbai and Mahabaleshwar. From Volvo buses to sleeper buses and non AC buses, the choice is varied and one can purchase tickets and print them out directly from such online websites. Sites such as RedBus, Ticketvala, Prasanna, Travelyaari, Ticketgoose all provide tickets to various bus services at competitive rates. These provide great deal of convenience to travelers who can buy tickets as per their requirement from the comfort of their offices or homes. Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar bus services operated by the state are also numerous besides the private bus operators. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, also known as MTDC, also operates bus services as well as private cab services. Many tourists who are traveling in small groups, can hire private AC or non AC cabs to travel to Mahabaleshwar. Cabs offer more privacy and flexibility to travelers, who can opt to stop for refreshments along the way wherever they desire.

Those who want to reach Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai by train, can opt to get down at the Pune rail station which is at a distance of 120 km than Wather, which is located at a distance of 62 km from the city. This is because Pune provides better connectivity to Mahabaleshwar than Wather. Thus, due to the distances involved when traveling by train, traveling by road is a preferred option for most.

Thus, for traveling from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar, the options for a traveler are many.

Mahabaleshwar is a quaint hill station which is one of the popular tourist spots in the state of Maharashtra. For those who live in the cities like Mumbai and Pune, Mahabaleshwar weather offers them a place of cool respite, breathtaking scenery and nature activities close to the city. About 285 km from Mumbai and 150 km from Pune, this town is a popular weekend or holiday getaway for most people in these cities.

Mahabaleshwar is located in the Western Ghats and is one of the rare areas to be inhabited with evergreen forests in this country. This town is situated at a height of 1353 m above sea level. Its landscape is characterized by a wide plateau region surrounded by valleys on all sides. The highest elevation point reaches a height of 1438 m which is known as Wilson point, a popular sightseeing place.

Due to its’ height and proximity to the Arabian sea, this place experiences moderate climate throughout. In Mahabaleshwar weather, the summer season sets in from March to June during which the weather remains between 18 degrees Centigrade and can rise up to 30 degrees centigrade. Due to the moderate weather, many tourists come to visit this place during the early summer months. The month of March also sees the strawberry festivals being celebrated here due to the harvest time of strawberries. Those who come during this time can enjoy the harvesting of strawberries and enjoy the tastes of the local produce.

Late May to June usually heralds the monsoons in this area. With incessant heavy showers which last the monsoon season from June to September, the tourist visits are less during this time. However, those who are fortunate to reach this place during the rains can experience the beauty of the rain drenched hills and the wet charm of the hilly countryside.

The busiest period in Mahabaleshwar begins from October which goes on to April-May of the next year. The months of October to December-January are the busiest and the place takes on a joyous look with thousands of tourists thronging to this hill station at this time of the year. With holidays, festivities and a moderate winter of the Mahabaleshwar weather, tourists make most of the tourist attraction in this town.

There are several travel and other websites which provide reliable Mahabaleshwar weather forecast information. For those whoa re planning to travel to Mahabaleshwar, it is helpful to have information as to the weather out there at the time one is planning to visit. That not only helps one to pack clothes and travel gear accordingly, it can also help one to decide, especially when traveling during the monsoon season. Mahabaleshwar weather forecast is crucial to refer to if you are planning to travel during the monsoons since heavy rainfall might make the roads unsuitable for travel.

Mahabaleshwar, a quaint small city nestled in the low lying Western Ghats region in Maharashtra, is a bustling hill station. This city, which was justly the summer capital of the Bombay Province during the rule of the British in India, is one of the cities which lie on the Western Ghats hills and is inhabited by evergreen forests and low lying hills all over. Such greenery and landscape makes the views of this city with its rivers, lakes and temples, as picturesque and pretty as a postcard.

Little wonder then that Mahabaleshwar tourism is bustling in this town. Close to cities like Mumbai and Pune, this city serves as a great holiday destination for most people residing in the nearby cities. Given the growth of well connected highways, hotel accommodations and tour packages, Mahabaleshwar tourism is the most important business for the occupants of this town.

Mahabaleshwar is about 150 km from Pune and less than 300 km from Mumbai. Given the well connected roadways, it is only a few hours drive from these cities which allows more people to find it as one of their favorite weekend getaways.

Then again, the hospitality industry in Mahabaleshwar is booming. Range of hotels, from modest accommodations to five star luxuries, retreats to resorts, you can find experiences as per your tastes. Mahabaleshwar hotels can range from four star to budget hotels. Resorts in mahabaleshwar are luxurious fro those who believe in indulging in spa like experiences while coming here for a holiday. For those who want a luxurious holiday experience, there are exclusive resorts which offer five star living accommodations, tour packages, in dining facilities and so forth. And for those students who troop down with their friends for a short weekend, can still find cheap and affordable accommodation as well as take part in activities like boating, hiking, touring around and so forth.

Many people even have their own bungalows here. With a booming real estate, it is little wonder that city people are investing in owning their own bungalows in a place like Mahabaleshwar – scenic, cool climate and a few hours drive from the cities.

Tour packages are also well developed and offer diverse experiences. You can opt for all inclusive tour packages which include stay, fooding, sightseeing, pickup and drop and so forth. Then again, for those who like to explore, there are hiking or walking tours through the countryside. Visits to the strawberry or mulberry farms with cafes offering drinks and shakes of these local fruits, are a big attraction of this place.

Thus, Mahabaleshwar tourism has several attractions and the weather amidst the heat of the plains offers a welcome respite to most of the city people coming from the nearby cities as well as adjoining states.

Mahabaleshwar being a favorite tourist spot for many, especially in the state of Maharashtra, has several tourist attractions to boast of. Being quoted as queen of the hills in the Western Ghats region, this picturesque hill town is surrounded by low lying hills in the Sahyadri region. One of the hilly areas to be covered by evergreen forests, this town provides picturesque scenery and other tourist attractions such as various hilly points as well as lakes, waterfalls, rivers, temples and so forth.

Wilson point, also known as the Sunrise Point, is located at the highest point in Mahabaleshwar – at a height of 4710 ft above sea level. The main attraction of this point are the breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset that one can experience from here.

Connaught peak is the second highest point in Mahabaleshwar which also offers panoramic views of the countryside.

Arthur’s Seat is known to be the best of all view points here. It shows a breathtaking view of the Savitri river valley. On one side are bare, striated rocks leading down to a bare valley below while the other side is covered by greenery. Many compare the striation of rocks here to be similar to those of the Grand Canyon in USA. There are steps leading down to the valley and if you follow the steps, you will come across a spring called Tiger’s spring, known as the source of Savitri river.

There are close to 25 view Points in Mahabaleshwar, each providing a different scenery of a river valley, the surrounding countryside, forests and waterfalls. Besides the points mentioned above, other points worth seeing are Babington Point, Lodwick Point, Kate’s Point, Bombay Point (Sunset Point) and Elephant’s head Point.

Amongst the waterfalls which provide breathtaking views, Chinamans, Lingmala & Dhobi waterfalls are the most popular, which flow with abundant water during most seasons, especially during the monsoons.

Lake Venna, which has been a popular sight for shooting movies through the ages, is a scenic lake which most tourists enjoy by boat riding.

Tapola, a place located about 50 km from Mahabaleshwar, provide scenic view points on the way as well as several strawberry farms. Tourists usually enjoy the drive to Tapola by stopping at these various points. Also, Tapola, known as mini Kashmir, has beautiful lakes where one can enjoy boating.

Panchgani, 20 kms from Mahabaleshwar, is another beautiful hill destination. This place is known as a summer resort destination with its wide table land geography, surrounded by beautiful valleys and scenic view points.

Mahabaleshwar temple in Old Mahabaleshwar is an important religious site to visit for all Hindus. Tribute to the Lord Mahabali or Shiva, this temple is a celebration of his power in Hindu divinity. The Krishna temple is built around the holy source of the five rivers which originate from Mahabaleshwar –Krishna, Venna, Koyana, Savitri and Gayatri.

Mapro Farm is a popular destination whereby one can savor the shakes, drinks and other concoctions of the local fruits such as strawberry, mulberry and other fruits which are produced locally in these hills.

Thus, Mahabaleshwar has several tourist attractions which bring people throughout the year to this scenic hill station.

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located close to Mumbai and Pune. Known as the queen of the hills in the western Ghats region, this picturesque town is surrounded by evergreen forests, low lying hills on all sides as well as scenic lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Besides being rich in natural beauty, this hill station also has great religious significance for Hindu pilgrims.

Those who are religiously inclined, Mahabaleshwar is a great place to visit to witness age old shrines and some sacred places such as the origin of the river Krishna. The source of this river is held sacred by the Hindus and the site of origin of this river is kept sacred in the form of a temple known as the Krishna temple. This temple is located in Old Mahabaleshwar and is known as Panchganga.

The origin of the river is demarcated in the form of a sacred bull with the mouth signifying the source of the river. Legend says that not only one but the origin is of five rivers which represented the Gods Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva who were cursed by Parvati who also turned into one river along with a maiden who Brahma married, Gayatri. However, the five rivers do not maintain separate courses and Krishna remains the main river till today.

The main temple that devotees from all over the country and abroad come to see is the Mahabaleshwar temple. The temple of Lord Shiva, also known as Lord Mahabali or Lord of great strength, is the God after whom the hills are so named. The Mahabaleshwar temple is surrounded by a five feet high stone wall and consists of two chambers – the outside chamber being a visitors’ hall while the inner chamber is where the God resides. Lord Mahabali or Lord Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of a “lingam” or a black stone which embodies the God.

Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple is another temple which celebrates the power of Lord Shiva. Located in Gokarna, Karnataka, the Mahabaleshwar temple signifies the popularity of Lord Shiva in South India.

Amongst the Mahabaleshwar temples, besides the Krishna temple and the Mahabaleshwar temple, there are many more small temples. Sri Ram temple, Mahabal temple, Hanuman temple are other places to visit, each having their own religious story to tell.

Thus, Mahabaleshwar temples prove to be yet another tourist destination for those who are religiously inclined. For devotees of Lord Shiva, this place embodies his power, his strength and glorifies his presence and might in the Hindu religion. In the midst of breathtaking views and panoramic countryside, many come to pay their tribute in the famous Mahabaleshwar temples to have their prayers answered and to pay homage to one of the religious sites in the country.

Mahabaleshwar is a favorite hill station destination for the people of Maharashtra and even of the neighboring states. Those who live in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nasik and others, Mahabaleshwar is a quaint hill town only a couple of hours drive from these cities.

Thus, for honeymoon couples, this place offers the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Those who do not want to travel far and have just a few precious days for their honeymoon after their wedding, can avail of various honeymoon packages that are on offer for Mahabaleshwar.

Mahabaleshwar honeymoon packages are several. From honeymoon suites which are available in almost every hotel in Mahabaleshwar, there are even honeymoon packages in Mahabaleshwar which plan out the itinerary involving travel, food, stay and sightseeing for groups of honeymoon couples.

For instance, a website like unlimitedindia.com offers a Mahabaleshwar honeymoon package from Mumbai which includes overnight stay at Mahabaleshwar as well as at Panchgani, the quaint hill resort close to Mahabaleshwar. This tour includes travel, stay and sightseeing which are all included in the tour itinerary cost. Such tours can be booked online by Indians as well as foreigners who are traveling to India.

exotic-indian-weddings.com is another website which provides comprehensive information and links to all aspects of planning an Indian wedding. Alongside, they offer honeymoon packages to any destination in India of your choice. Mahabaleshwar honeymoon package from Mumbai features in one such package for seven nights which includes tour of Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani.

Besides such sites, one can find honeymoon packages in Mahabaleshwar amongst the various hotels and tour operators for the town. You can book a honeymoon package in a hotel of your choice online or by visiting their regional offices; again, private tour operators can offer honeymoon packages which include all aspects of your stay such as hotel booking, sightseeing, meals, transport and so forth. Beside group honey packages, one can also avail private honeymoon tours tailored as per the wishes of the couple.

Hence, if you are a newly wed couple planning your honeymoon in Mahabaleshwar, there are various Mahabaleshwar honeymoon packages available and you can choose one of your choice by visiting the various online sites or getting in touch with a reliable travel agent.

Mahabaleshwar is a scenic hill station located in the state of Maharashtra. Nestled in the low lying hills of the Sahyadri region, Mahabaleshwar is a favorite weekend or holiday getaway for most of the city people of Mumbai and Pune.

From the year 1820s the British proclaimed Mahabaleshwar as the summer capital of the Bombay province. And with good reason. With fresh air of the hills and the rich evergreen forests surrounding this town, it serves as a perfect place for ailing people to rejuvenate as well as stressed city people to unwind.

For the numerous travelers who go to Mahabaleshwar and seek accommodation there, there are various ways to do Mahabaleshwar hotel booking. There are various private as well as MTDC hotels in Mahabaleshwar. From four star hotels, resorts to budget accommodations, one can make every type of Mahabaleshwar hotel booking within Mahabaleshwar as well as from cities like Pune and Mumbai.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation or MTDC offers Mahabaleshwar MTDC booking at its various regional offices in Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Mahabaleshwar and other towns. MTDC has its own resort in Mahabaleshwar for which one can make booking as well as there are several bed and breakfast schemes or bungalows which are MTDC approved. One can make reservation for such properties as well through Mahabaleshwar MTDC booking.

Mahabaleshwar hotel booking is available for its private hotels through various travel agents as well as online travel websites including sites of the hotels themselves. mshwar.com is one such website which offers tour packages as per the hotel of your choice. You can view the tariff plans online as well as enquire for reservation through their online forms. indiahotelreview.com also has comprehensive information of the various hotels and resorts in Mahabaleshwar, the various amenities found, overall ratings received from experienced travelers as well as online reservation request forms.

hotelinmahabaleshwar.com is another website dedicated to providing information to those who wish to do Mahabaleshwar hotel booking. With ratings, comprehensive information on all hotels in Mahabaleshwar, this website also offers tour packages of varied types such as weekend packages, honeymoon packages, corporate packages and so forth.

Given the heavy demand in Mahabaleshwar especially during in season time from October to March as well as during mid season time from April to June, it is advisable for those who are planning to travel to Mahabaleshwar, to make their Mahabaleshwar hotel booking in advance.

Mahabaleshwar is one of the popular tourist destinations in the state of Maharashtra. Nestled in the Western Ghats region, the Mahabaleshwar hills surround this small town which is rich in natural heritage.

MTDC, short for Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, is the state tourism department responsible for promoting tourism in the state. Mahabaleshwar being one of the popular tourist destinations in the state of Maharashtra, MTDC has several facilities to promote tourism in this area.

MTDC offices regularly operate bus as well as taxi services to Mahabaleshwar. To obtain information on travel arrangements, one can visit the MTDC website online or visit their regional offices in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Ratnagiri or Aurangabad.

MTDC has comprehensive tour packages as well. MTDC Mahabaleshwar has comprehensive tie ups with individual property owners who provide bed and breakfast accommodations at modest prices; again, MTDC has its own sprawling MTDC Mahabaleshwar resort which offers state of the art accommodation in the form of deluxe rooms, cottages as well as dormitory facilitates for group stay.

Mahabaleshwar being one of the hot favorites of city people like Mumbai and Pune, gets pretty crowded during the months from October to March, and till June when the rains start. To accommodate the growing demand on tourist accommodation, MTDC Mahabaleshwar resort is not enough and hence, MTDC has tied up with several private property owners to provide bed and breakfast and even bungalow accommodations to tourists. Comprehensive information regarding these property owner’s names, locations, addresses, number of rooms available, related links to sites as applicable, may all be found on MTDC website.

MTDC website has a host of information of all places worth visiting in the state of Maharashtra. From hill stations, trekking trips to Deccan odyssey, a heritage journey by train, MTDC offers information as to the various tourism packages available. Booking can be done at regional offices directly or with registered tour or sales agents whose list is also provided on the website.

This, MTDC Mahabaleshwar helps to provide much needed guidance to tourists so that they can have all the information required and not be misled by spurious private tour operators.

If you are planning to visit Mahabaleshwar, it would do you well to look up the MTDC Mahabaleshwar website which will provide you with lots of information as to how to plan your travel, stay, sightseeing and so forth.