Mahabaleshwar - On A Rainy Day

A hill station is not the first thing that would come to your mind on a rainy day but apparently, you cannot imagine the endless possibilities of leaving for Mahabaleshwar on a pouring holiday.

You can catch a bus, train, drive, ride or even hitchhike your way to Mahabaleshwar..The distance of 250kms from Mumbai would not take you more than 3 -4 hrs. Reach there as early as possible and settle down at a hotel of your choice, as there are quite a few really good options available. Now that you’re ready to explore the queen of the hill station find yourself a map or gather enough info on how to get around.

In my opinion the right place to head first would be the Venna Lake , about 4kms from Mahabaleshwar .This boat ride will help you cover three places, Triveni Sangam ,Island Point and Datta Mandir.You can easily spend half your day there lazing around the lake in a boat or you can even try your luck at fishing .Along the lake you’ll find yourself surrounded by vendors trying to sell you all sorts of things , mainly Channa , Bhutta, Chaat , Sugar cane juice, not necessarily a part of your normal routine , but neither is Mahabaleshwar,you can never go hungry here. Now that you’re done killing time, you should head to the rest of the hill, to capture its beauty at the right time. You can start at some of the sight seeing points if its still day, otherwise I would suggest you start early next day. There’s nothing like a horse ride, to enjoy the pollution free climate, so include that whenever possible.

You can start your tour at Wilson point capturing a breathtaking sunrise followed by Elphiston which is the first point that overlooks the two valleys Koyana on the left and Savitri on the right. Next stop, Arthur’s Seat. Its showcases the geographical distinction between Kokan and Desh (Deccan)the two territories of Mahabaleshwar.A little deeper from here you will run into Tiger springs ,the origin of river Savitri,and Kate’s Point which offers an incredible view of Krishna valley and the deep waters of the Dhom Dham.

The Chinaman, Lingmala and Dhobi waterfalls are considered as Mahabaleshwar’s pride, but can be seen in full flow only in the rainy season. If time allows you must try and include a visit to the Polo grounds and the Bee Keeping Centre, which can add some more value to your journey. Some of the other points that can make your trip more eventful include Bombay point, Goalani point, Lamington Plateau, Helens point and Rosamond Rock. For years, photographers and filmmakers from all over have been coming to the hill to capture its splendor, as it provides them with an array of picturesque landscapes.

After a hard day of admiring the nature, you definitely deserve some time off for yourself. You can stray into the market at Dr.Sabane road where at the far end you will find Imperial stores ,once under the control of the British Empire ,now known for their pizzas , burgers , sandwiches and other snacks .Some other prominent eateries at the market include Meghdoot , for its Gujrati , Mughlai and Chinese dishes and Poonam for its exquisite non-vegetarian cuisine .Shopping here , can be a real experience . Mahabaleshwar is known for the different kind of berries it produces, such as strawberries, gooseberries and raspberries. You can not only buy these from here, but also get jams, preserves and marmalades that are simply out of this world. The bazaar here is very popular for its leather goods and tribal ornaments. These exotic pieces can be taken for friends as souvenirs or gifts.

Well I guess before you know it your journey would be over and you would be on your way back home but it won’t be long before your back, like all the others who have been blessed by the God of Great Power: Mahabaleshwar.