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Mahabaleshwar
 Location
: In the state of Maharashtra in the western coast of India.
Major Tourist Attractions
:
Mount Malcolm, Catholic Church, Mahabaleshwar Club, Morarji Castle, Pratapgad Fort, Panchgani
Best Hangout
:
Panchgani
Best Activity
:
Roam around
Mahabaleshwar was the erstwhile summer capital of the old Bombay Presidency, which despite the increasing crowds that come there, still retains its quintessential charm. Numerous majestic mansions built during the days of the British, still stand as monuments of the Raj.
It is a fairly big town with several good hotels and lodges for tourists. For variety of activity you can paddle around the Venna lake or explore the various viewpoints. The bazaar here is also fairly popular, with leather goods and tribal trinkets for sale. There are several small-scale home industries that make rather good jams and jellies.
At both Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra Tourism has accommodation that caters to the needs of all categories of tourists.
Getting Around
:
 Taxis and rickshaws are easily available though a bicycle, which you can hire by the hour or for the day, is the best way to move around.
Weather
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Temperatures vary from 13 C in winter to 29 C in summer, with a yearly rainfall of 663 cms. The best time to visit is October-June.
Places to Visit
:
Panchgani ,Derives its name from the five hills around it.The beautiful hill-station is just 38 metres below & 19 kms away from Mahableshwar.
Mount Malcolm
Mount Malcolm used to be the most famous building in the olden days. It was built in 1829 with superb architectural skills. Unfortunately, today it has lost a lot of its old charm.
Catholic Church
A visit to the old Roman Catholic Holy cross church is worth a detour. Although the church is practically falling apart, its stained-glass windows are still a sight to behold.
Mahabaleshwar Club
Built in 1881, the club is still flourishing and well-preserved. Only members of the club are allowed to stay here. It is very popular for its well-tended roses and lovely jogging track.
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. It is said that, 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.
Panchgani
Tucked away in Satara district, just 19 kms east of Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani is also amongst the most frequented hill resorts in India. The name is derived from the fact that it is located at the centre of five hills ("Panch" means five, "Gani" means hills). The place is well known for trekking and other adventure activities.
Getting There
Air : Pune is the nearest airport both for Mahabaleshwar (120 km and Panchgani (98 km)
Rail : The nearest railhead is Wathar (62 km) but Pune (120 km) is the convenient railhead. For Panchgani, the nearest railhead is Wathar (45 km). Mumbai-Wathar via Pune (312 km). Pune-Wathar (120 km)
Road : The State Transport buses ply from Mumbai and Pune to Mahabaleshwar. MTDC operates daily bus services except during the monsoon, between Mumbai-Mahabaleshwar-Mumbai.
Accommodation
Both Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani have reasonable priced bungalows. MTDC run holiday resorts and hotels. The accommodation available offer good line of facilities and services, as per the expectation of the tourists.
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