Mahabaleswar 2 days trip from Mumbai August 15, 2023

Mumbai-Lonavla-Pune-Wai-Mahabaleswar

Mode of travel: Own Car

Route: Mumbai – Lonavla -Pune – Wai – Mahabaleswar

Trip meter (round trip): ~600 kms.

Date: 13th , 14th August 2023. (I wanted my daughter not to miss Independence day celebrations, back home)

Toll one-way: 470 Rs. (Expressway (Rs 320 odd) + one toll in Pune-Wai (Rs 120 odd) + Rs 47)

Places of interest: Temples, view points, water-fall, strawberry, chiki, camping (near dam).

Places of interest in Mahabaleswar, Panchgani: It is mostly view points

Best Time to visit: There are 3 shades of Mahabaleswar: (a) Peak monsoon (b) Monsoon break (c) Winter. Each has it’s own charm.

Peak monsoon (July-August): Lush green, full of waterfalls. But challenge will be driving around, low visibility. No view from view points, as all is covered with clouds.

Monsoon break (August-September-October): Lush green, temporary water fall will vanish, visibility from view points will be random, depending on cloud cover. In my opinion, this is best time to visit. Air is free of pollution.

Winter (November to February): All is dry now. Green Mahabaleswar changes to yellow. Water flow is major waterfall also drops considerably. Perfect time for long visibility from view points (although fog factor is there). Air Pollution layer will be visible.

How to reach?

Air: Nearest airport is Pune, which is well connected by Buses/Taxis.

Road: Just 50 odd kms from National highway (Mumbai-Bangalore). Well connected by buses from Pune, Satara, Kolhapur.

Train: Nearest major railway station is Satara.

For sight seeing in Mahabaleswar, local taxi or own vehicle is must. Having own vehicle, is a big advantage.

Tourist infrastructure:

There is no shortage of hotels, restaurants, that too available for all range (Rs 1000 – Rs 1 lac even/ night).

ATMs, toilet, taxi, medical, mobile network, internet – all facilities are available.

Challanges:

1. Roads quality will be an issue in Monsoon. Bad roads, rain & visibility will be a challenge for driving.
2. Traffic: Bad and narrow roads, Holiday season results in traffic jam in all view points. Be an early bird.
3. Taxi: Negotiate well, get to finer details with drivers like timing, parking charge, places to visit, time spend in a particular place, breaks etc.

Other points:

1. There are entry fee for Panchgani (must to pay as it is enroute to Mahabaleswar)
2. Entry fee for Mahabaleswar.

I guess, I paid Rs 250 at each place for 4 + car.

Places to cover:

Major attractions are the numerous view points. In fact, there will be fatigue developed by continuously seeing one, especially on cloudy days, when visibility is very poor and thus all will look same. However, notable ones to visit are Harrison folly (first to come when one is going from Wai side).

Kate’s point, Savitri point, Arthur Seat are beautiful points with different kind of views.

Mahabaleswar temple, Panchgani Temple, Krishna temple are important pilgrimage place of interests for Hindus, as this is the place of origin on 2nd Longest life giving river of South India- Krishna. All these temples are in same complex in old Mahabaleswar and best covered in early morning, 6-7am type. Ritual is to take water from Panchgani temple and offer in Mahabaleswar temple.

Mapro garden in Panchgani is most visited place, because of it’s strawberry garden and associated market & restaurant with it. It has free parking facility. Restaurant and market attached is worth a visit.