Mahabaleshwar | History, Gallery, How to Reach and Hotels in Mahabaleshwar |

Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is very famous hill station in western side of the Satara District. It is nearly 4500 ft. above sea level high. It is situated in Western Ghats section in sahyadri mountain region. It is very famous destination among all the tourists for its exotic greenery, mountain hilly region and its cold climate. Also, it is very important place for Hindus, as there are many old temples situated in the region and origin of 5 rivers is in the panchaganga temple (Krishna, Gayitri, Koyna, Venna, and Savitri) in the old Mahabaleshwar. Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of Bombay state in British raj. It can visited any time across the year, however, March to July is best time to visit this hill station. In rainy season, Mahabaleshwar and surrounding region gets excessive rainfall so it is suggested to not visit the hill station during heavy rains as the roads can slip in ghat sections. Further, it is very famous for its strawberry farms, many tourist come here to enjoy plucking strawberries and raspberries from the farm and to eat it fresh.

By Karthik Easvur - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45516037

The climate of Mahabaleshwar is very suitable and appreciable for strawberry farming which cannot be found anywhere in the country. Mahabaleshwar and panchgani area of Satara district alone contributes to above 80 percent of strawberry production in Whole India. Mahabaleshwar have many reserved forests in the region Mahabaleshwar it one of the tehsil of Satara district.

By Rdglobetrekker - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16144724

History:

Yadav dynasty built a small temple of stone at the origin of the Krishna River. The valley of Mahabaleshwar has very important place in the history. The surrounding region which is also called as jaoli was won by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from the more. Back in Swarajya’s time, Jaoli region was ruled by the more clan of the Maratha caste. However, their rule was not mannered according to the Chatrapati’s rule. More’s behaviour was not in favour of the common people living in the jaoli region. However, even after many calm warnings given by the shivaji maharaj to the chandrarao more, he refuses to add his kingdom to the Swarajya and continued the injustice on the public of the region. He was having overconfidence on his dense forest region which is nearly impossible to win by the external powers. Tired of more’s behaviour, Shivaray decides to take jaoli into our own hands. Making the very great strategy, shivaji maharaj conquered jaoli region from the present chandrarao and chandrarao more went to the rairy fort in konkan region. Shivaray however, captured rairy fort and killed chandrarao more and renamed fort as Raigad as choose it for the new capital and gave contract to rebuild and renovate the fort to the hiroji indulkar. 

However, the time was about to change. Adilshahi asked his sardars to attack Maharaja’s territory and to place adilashah’s rule all over. Afzal khan one of the powerful statesman of the adilshah accepted the challenge to conquer swarajya and add it to the adilshahi. Afzal khan marched towards swarajya and he decided to stay in Wai region. Also, here in swarajya, Shivray decided to leave the rajgad fort and leaved for pratapgad fort because jaoli region was the shield of the swarajya to fight with Afzal khan. After many discussions happens between shivaji maharaj and Afzal khan, a meet gets decided on 10th November 1659 at the base of the pratapgad fort. While meet ongoing, Afzal khan hugs shivaji maharj and attacks his back with the weapon, however, shivaji maharaj came prepared and attacked Afzal khan with tiger claws and sword resulting in the assassination of the Afzal khan. Results, Victory of the swarajya, then armies of swarajya hidden in the forest attacked the adilshahi army and killed many of them, some escaped to the wai. This event shocked Mohmmad adilshah and Aurangzeb from inside and everyone in the India heard the new tiger roaring in the sahyadri as Chatrapati.

How to Reach:

The Hill station is very well connected with other important cities by road transport. Nearest railway station is Satara Railway station around 65 km away from the Mahabaleshwar town. Mahabaleshwar is 45 km away from Satara City, 32 km away from Wai, 124 km away from pune city and around 270 km away from the Mumbai city. The road condition is very good all across the region. Mahabaleshwar is connected via ambenali Ghat with poladpur and Mahad in Raigad district, Wai through pasarani ghat and Satara or medha through Kelghar ghat. Many local bus of government are available from all the nearest cities to the hill station.

There are various numbers of different hotels available in Mahabaleshwar from low budget hotels to very high budget hotels. Hotels must be booked in advance before visiting the place for convenience as many tourist visit Mahabaleshwar on weekend.

From Pune: Pune- Surur- Wai- Panchgani- Mahabaleshwar.

From Mumbai- Mumbai- Pune- Surur- Wai- Panchgani- Mahabaleshwar. Or Mumbai- Mangoan- Mahad- Poladpur- Mahabaleshwar.

From Kolhapur- Kolhapur- Karad- Satara- Medha- Mahabaleshwar.

Places to Visit in Mahabaleshwar:

Pratapgad Fort (https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/pratapgad-fort.html )

Old Mahabaleshwar

Krishnabai Temple

Mahabaleshwar Temple

Atibaleshwar Temple

Panchganga Temple

Arthur seat point

Elephant point

Wilson point

Helen’s Point

Mapro Garden

Sunset point

Babbington Point

Echo Point

Falkland Point

Bombay Point

Marjorie Point

Connaught peak

Strawberry Farms

Savitri Point

Elphinston Point

Venna Lake

Kate’s Point

Needle hole rock

Lingmala Waterfall

Shivkalin Village

Wax museum

Pratapsingh Park

Castle rock point

Bhilari- The village of books

Places to Visit near Mahabaleshwar:

Satara: Satara City is located 45 km away from the Mahabaleshwar hill station and medha or bamnoli village can be visited while on route.

Tapola: a very scenic and beautiful hill station in the koyna region can be visited. It is nearly 16 km far from the town.

https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/maharashtras-mini-kashmir-tapola.html

Kaas Platue: kaas Pathar is the very beautiful and scenic valley of flowers 38 km away from the Mahabaleshwar town.

https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/kaas-pathar-valley-of-flowers.html

Raigad fort: The second capital of the Maratha empire Raigad fort is located in mahad, around 90 km far from the town.

https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/raigad-fort.html

Sahyadri Tiger reserve or Koyna wildlife sanctury: it is the reserved forest spread across the shivsagar backwater of the koyna dam which is very near to the town.

https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/sahyadri-tiger-reserve.html

Forts like vasota, Pratapgad fort and madhu makrand gad are present in the surroundings can be visited for jungle trek experience and historical learnings.

"Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but memories."