West
India Travel Guide
Mahabaleshwar Tourism
This popular hill
resort, in the state of Maharashtra, was once the summer capital of the Bombay
Presidency, during the days of the British. Situated at an altitude of 1372 metres,
Mahabaleshwar has splendid panoramic views of the scenic valley, and of the sea,
which is quite visible on clear days.
Like other hill stations, Mahabaleshwar
closes during the monsoon season. During this period, from mid-June to mid-September,
the local buildings are covered with kulum grass to prevent any damage from the
torrential rains. During this period, the region receives about 6 metres of rain!!
Places
to See in MahabaleshwarElphinstone Point, Babington Point, Kate's
Point, Bombay Point are some of the famous lookout points. There are also some
beautiful waterfalls, a short distance away, that are worth a visit, like Chinaman's
(2.5 km), Dhobi (3 km), and Lingamala (6 km). Arthur's Seat, 12 km from Mahabaleshwar,
looks out over a tremendous drop of 600 metres, to the coastal strip of Konkan.
Also
a site to be visited, is the historic Pratapgad Fort (24 km), built in 1656, by
Shivaji to control the rebellious Satraps of the surrounding Javali Basin. Legend
has it that Shivaji was blessed with a shining sword at the temple of Goddess
Bhawani here. It was the site of the famous battle between the Maratha chieftain
Chhatrapati Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate. A
major attraction in Mahabaleshwar is the Venna Lake, which has good fishing and
boating facilities.
