Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani Hill Escape

Valley viewpoints, strawberry farms, Venna Lake and Panchgani's Table Land, by car from Mumbai or Pune.

Your route

1. 1 Mahabaleshwar 3 nights

1. Day 1 Mahabaleshwar

   Drive up from Mumbai or Pune, Venna Lake.

   Our driver picks you up in Mumbai or Pune for the drive to Mahabaleshwar in the Sahyadri hills, about six hours from Mumbai or three hours from Pune. The road climbs through ghats with valley views. Mahabaleshwar sits at about 1,350 metres and stays cool all year. Check in and relax, then take a boat ride on Venna Lake or try corn and strawberries from the stalls along the shore. Walk through the main market in the evening. Overnight in Mahabaleshwar.

2. Day 2 Mahabaleshwar

   Arthur's Seat, Wilson Point, old temple.

   A full day of sightseeing in Mahabaleshwar. Visit Arthur's Seat, called the Queen of all points, with deep valley views over the Savitri river, along with Wilson Point for sunrise, Kate's Point and Elephant's Head Point. See the old Mahabaleshwar temple, where five rivers including the Krishna are said to begin. Stop at Mapro Garden for strawberry treats and fresh fruit products. In the monsoon, waterfalls appear everywhere but some points may be misty. Try fresh strawberries with cream at a farm stall when they are in season, from December to March. Overnight in Mahabaleshwar.

3. Day 3 Panchgani

   Table Land, Sydney Point, strawberry farm.

   Take a short drive of about 30 minutes to Panchgani, a hill town known for its boarding schools and colonial bungalows. Walk across Table Land, one of the largest volcanic plateaus in Asia, with sweeping views of the Krishna valley. Visit Sydney Point and Parsi Point, and stop at a strawberry farm, where you can pick fruit in season from about December to March. Return to Mahabaleshwar in the afternoon and enjoy a quiet evening. Horse rides and pony carts are available on the plateau at your own cost. Overnight in Mahabaleshwar.

4. Day 4 Mahabaleshwar

   Drive back to Mumbai or Pune.

   After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Pick up strawberry crush, jams, chikki and fudge from the local shops to take home. Our driver then drives you back to Mumbai or Pune, about six or three hours respectively, with a break on the way. We recommend not booking early evening flights or trains from Mumbai, as traffic on the expressway can be heavy, especially on weekends. The ghat road can be winding, so carry motion sickness tablets if you need them. Your hill escape to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani ends here.

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