Mahabaleshwar Hill Resorts

Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra is a beautiful green hill resort, which is popular with residents of Mumbai who want to getaway for a weekend holiday. It has gained popularity with holiday travellers from across the country and abroad. At a height of 1372 metres, Mahabaleshwar offers stunning views of the green valley, and of the Arabian Sea, on clear days.

Built as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency, during British colonial rule, this hill station closes down to holidaymakers in the monsoon. The heavy rain in this hill station makes house owners cover their buildings with locally available grass to prevent rain damage.

Holiday Attractions in Mahabaleshwar:

Viewpoints: There are a number of popular viewpoints, which offer scenic views of the green valley and hills. These include Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Kate's Point, and Bombay Point. Arthur's Seat, a spectacular viewpoint, located 12 km from Mahabaleshwar, looks out over a precipitous drop of 600 metres.

Waterfalls: The beautiful waterfalls are also a sight worth seeing on your holiday. The waterfalls include Chinaman's (2.5 km), Dhobi (3 km), and Lingamala (6 km) near Mahabaleshwar.

Pratapgad Fort: The historic Pratapgad Fort (24 km) was built by the Maratha chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1656, to control the rebellious rulers of the nearby Javali Basin. According to legend, Shivaji was blessed with a shining sword at the temple of Goddess Bhawani located here. It is also the site of the famous battle between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, ruler of the Bijapur Sultanate.

Venna Lake: which offers fishing and boating facilities to tourists, is also popular with holidaymakers to Mahabaleshwar.