Mahabaleshwar
Tourism
This popular hill resort, in the state of Maharashtra, was once the summer
capital of the Bombay Presidency, during the days of the British. Situated at
an altitude of 1372 metres, Mahabaleshwar has splendid panoramic views of the
scenic valley, and of the sea, which is quite visible on clear days.
Like other hill stations, Mahabaleshwar closes during the monsoon season. During
this period, from mid-June to mid-September, the local buildings are covered
with kulum grass to prevent any damage from the torrential rains. During this
period, the region receives about 6 metres of rain!!
Places to See in Mahabaleshwar
Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Kate's Point, Bombay Point are some of the
famous lookout points. There are also some beautiful waterfalls, a short distance
away, that are worth a visit, like Chinaman's (2.5 km), Dhobi (3 km), and Lingamala
(6 km). Arthur's Seat, 12 km from Mahabaleshwar, looks out over a tremendous
drop of 600 metres, to the coastal strip of Konkan.
Also a site to be visited, is the historic Pratapgad Fort (24 km), built in
1656, by Shivaji to control the rebellious Satraps of the surrounding Javali
Basin. Legend has it that Shivaji was blessed with a shining sword at the temple
of Goddess Bhawani here. It was the site of the famous battle between the Maratha
chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate.
A major attraction in Mahabaleshwar is the Venna Lake, which has good fishing
and boating facilities.
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