Mahabaleshwar

Mahabalewshwar is the highest hill station falls in Western Ghats of Maharashtra. It is situated at 1,372 meters above sea level. During the period of British Raj, it was the summer capital of Governor of the old Bombay Presidency. It is of about 120 Kms from Pune by road. The heroic Maratha warrior king and Shivaji Maharaja are connected with the history of this area. This place is crowded in the vacations like Diwali, Christmas and especially in summers. It is pilgrimage site for Hindus, and honeymoon spot.

Mahabaleshwar surrounded by valleys on all sides. Lord Mahabali temple is situated in old Mahabaleshwar of about 4 Kms from the city. So this place is called as Mahabaleshwar. This is the origin of the 5 holy rivers called Krishna, Venna, Koyana, Savitri and Gayatri.

Weather: The minimum and maximum temperature range varies from 16 to 20°C.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit this place is from September to May.

Route Info:

By road:

Pune –-> Wai –-> Panchagni –-> Mahabaleshwar.

Pune --> Satara highway --> Panchgani –-> Mahabaleshwar.

By Bus: For every 30mins you will get ST buses from Pune Bus stand to Mahabaleshwar.

Road Type: Good.

Shopping Info:

Honey and strawberry crushes and jams are very famous in Mahabaleshwar. It is also famous for wide variety of Chikki (Sweet).

Mahabaleshwar Slideshow

Major attractions:

Venna Lake

It is the major attraction of Mahabaleshwar. This lake is spread around 25 acres, the water supplied to the Mahabaleshwar from this lake itself. Here you can enjoy boating. This lake was built by king of satara. The other places near Mahabaleshwar are Race Course and Golf Course.

Wilson Point

Wilson Point is situated at the highest peak of the mahabaleshwar at 4710Ft above sea level.

It is also called by the name Sunrise Point. It is near to Mahabaleshwar market.

Connaught Peak

This is the second highest Point at Mahabaleshwar, it was known as Mount Olympia. It is of about 1400 meters height, and 7 kms from market of Mahabaleshwar. From this point u can see Kamalgadh, Torana, Panchgani, pasarani Ghat, Ajinkyatara, Pratapgadh, Elphinston point and Kshetra Mahabaleshwar.

Arthur’s Seat

It is situated at the height of 1473 meters and distance of 13 Km from main market of Mahabaleshwar. It is called as Queen of the all points. The name Arthur Malet was the one who first built the house in Mahabaleshwar. So it is called by his name itself. You can see the geographical distinction between konkan and the Deccan territories of Mahabaleshwar from this place.

Kate’s Point

From Venna Lake it Is about 5 Kms towards Panchgani. From this Point you can the beautiful view of Dhom Dam and Krishna Valley.

Bombay Point

The oldest point in Mahabaleshwar is the Bombay point. You can enjoy the view of beautiful sunset from this point.

Lodwick Point

It is also called by the name Sydney Point. After rising the monument in the name of General Lodwick this place was renamed as Lodwick Point. You can enjoy the beautiful view of Pratapgadh, and it is also called as Elephant’s Head.

WaterFalls

The Lingamala Dhobi and Chinaman are the three main waterfalls which are of about 6 Km and 4 Km respectively from the Mahabaleshwar. These falls are situated in a beautifully sequestered hook looking straight at the south side Elphinston Point. These falls look beautiful in rainy season.

Tourist Info:

Accommodation: You will get good accommodation in Panchgani.

Matheran

Matheran is tiny hill station with exceptionally striking pastoral beauty. It is set in the mountainous region in between Mumbai and Pune. The term 'Matheran' suggests "forest on top". Amidst the green Jumbo forest, it is indeed the most impressive and notable hill station in Maharashtra.

Hugh Poyntz Malet, who was the collector of Thane district, discovered this pretty resort in 1850. During camping around the village, he came across a spring and it still bears his name.

Location:

It is located at an altitude of 803 meters. It is situated about 108 kms from Mumbai City, in the Karjat Tehsil of Maharashtra.

Matheran Slideshow

Tourist Attractions:

Its 8 sq. kms cover a hilltop in the Sahyadri Hills, and its proximity to Mumbai ensures its' continued popularity for weekend getaways.

There seems to be an obsession with unusually named lookout points; Matheran has 33 such points from where you can feast your eyes on the Sahyadris and the valleys below, and admire rosy sunrises and sunsets.

Matheran does not have any internal motorized transport, making it all the more special. The only modes of transport are horses, donkeys, by foot or a ''Taxi'' which basically is a cart pulled by a guy.

Charlotte Lake is the prime attraction of Matheran, owing to its greenery and picturesque surroundings. The hoary charm of British and Parsi homes still allures people from both far and near. Malet Spring draws everyone's attention with its scenic setting and clear waters. Panthers' Caves and Paymaster Park are big attractions for children. One can take a wonderful view of the Towers of Bhivpuri Power House, Karjat Palasdari Lake, Borgaon Village and Rambaug Point from the renowned Alexander Point.

Declared an Eco-sensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry, Matheran is an exceptionally beautiful place, in the company of sightseeing places like Mount Berry, Luisa Point, Echo Point, One tree Hill, Garbut Point, Olympia Racecourse and Hart point. A large number of medicinal plants and herbs thrive in the region. The red laterite earth here completes the vision of the bucolic and unscathed hill resort.

How to Get There (Route Info.):

Matheran is 100 km from Mumbai and 26 km from Neral, from where you can get the toy train to Matheran, a journey of 1½ hours. You can get to Neral on a local train on the Mumbai-Pune line, a journey of 2 hours from Mumbai Central. The drive via Karjat and Neral is 108 km.

By Air
The nearest airport, Mumbai, 100 km, is well connected with national and international flights. From there, you'll need to switch to train or road.
By Rail
The rail journey to Matheran is half the fun of your trip. Neral, the nearest railhead (21 km), is connected to Mumbai, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. From here, a special, narrow gauge "toy train" gets you up, puffing and wheezing all the way. Except during the monsoon season (June-September), there are several trains a day on the mountain railway. These take 2 hours to cover the climb to their destination. Stations on the way have names like Water pipe and there is also the famous One Kiss Tunnel. During the monsoon, the service is restricted to one train a day and during heavy rains even this can be cancelled due to landslides.
By Road
State Transport buses regularly ply from Mumbai and Pune. A taxi from Neral to Matheran takes about half-hour to reach. Taxis stop about 2.5 km from the center of the hill station.
After parking the car at the base of the hill, You can

go to the top on horse.

Accommodation
Regarding places to stay, this serene place has a few ancient bungalows that have been turned into Hotels and guesthouses. Here, you can avail all basic facilities. Since this place falls under environment friendly region, construction is not allowed here. Probably that's why Matheran has maintained its lovely charisma. Thus, come to Matheran and see yourself, the beauty and splendor that have been bestowed upon it by Mother Nature.

From simple lodges to luxury resorts, an MTDC bungalow to pure vegetarian guesthouses, Matheran has accommodation options to cater to all budgets.

Best time to visit: Though Matheran is a year round destination, the best time to visit is from October to May. Average temperatures range from 16° C in winter, to 32° C in summer.

Nearby spots: Panvel, Karnala, Lonavla, Poona and Mumbai.

Weather: Temperatures in Matheran range from

12.35 to 36.35 (Celcius)

Rainfall in Matheran varies from 0.0 to 828.0 mm/month.

Entry Fee: There is an entry fee of Rs.25 per head, which you need to buy to enter Matheran. These tickets are sold at the small ticket window at the entry of the main gate and have a map behind it.

Getting There:

NightLife: There is no nightlife in Matheran.

Tourist Info: Carry light woollens for winter. Walking-sticks.

Shopping Shop for Chikki, honey walking sticks, and custom-made leather footwear. Matheran is a foot freak delight and the more you bargain the more you will get