Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India
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Mahabaleshwar
What is it? Hill station, smeared with strawberry jam
Where is it? Maharashtra
When do I go? November to February, August to September
For how long? Two days
STD code: 02168
Strawberry fields bloom forever, their reds peeking coyly out from under crisp green foliage. Cool breezes scour urban grit from your mind and body. At 1,372 m above sea level, Mahabaleshwar is always pleasant.
About Mahabaleshwar
History
Mahabaleshwar is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘God of Great Power’. The place has always been considered holy and from the 13th century, temples have been built here around the source of the Krishna river. Sir Charles Malet, the first resident in the Pune Darbar of the Peshwas was the first European to step on this plateau in 1791 AD.
When General Peter Lodwick came to the Mahabaleshwar hills in 1824 he wrote to the Bombay Courier, about the place. The letter got Mahabaleshwar attention and officials from the Bombay Presidency started coming here. Meanwhile, the British returned Mahabaleshwar and the Pratapgarh fort to Maharaja Pratapsinh of Satara (1818-1839), a 24-year-old descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Encouraged by the British residents, the Maharaja engineered a scheme to develop the site.
In 1828, Sir John Malcom, the Governor of the Bombay Presidency was invited to Mahabaleshwar. He fell in love with the place and in the same year, he officially announced the establishment of a sanatorium and the development of the place as a health resort. The new town was originally named Malcompeeth in his honour. It even became the summer capital of the British Presidency.
Basic infrastructure was put into place and soon Mahabaleshwar developed into a popular resort. The Public Works Department bungalow housed 120 Chinese and Malay convicts from 1834 to 1864, who had a hand in the station’s development. The convicts built roads and ground flour; introduced the cultivation of red potatoes, strawberries; and wove cane and bamboo baskets. Many of the prisoners stayed at Mahabaleshwar after they were released. In fact, some Chinese names were on the Municipal voter’s list till 1951.
The hill resort has over the period, developed into a major retreat for the residents of Pune and Mumbai.
Geography
Mahabaleshwar taluka lies 247 km southwest of Mumbai and covers an area of 145.04 sq km. At a height of more than 4000 m above sea level, it offers stupendous views of the valleys, lakes, waterfalls and thick forests, Mahabaleshwar has two rivers flowing past it – the Koyna and the Krishna. There are good motorable roads leading to all the points.
Climate
The tourist season starts from October (peaks during Diwali, Christmas) and lasts till about mid June. During the monsoons from June to October, it is difficult to approach the place due to flooded roads and mudslides. Hotels and bazaars shut, and the place becomes inhospitable. More than 100 cm of rain means thick fogs, mists and torrential showers.
Summer (March – September): 30°C–16°C
Winter (October – February): 24°C–13°C
Clothing: Woollens in winter and the rains. Also rain gear during monsoons.
Cottons during the day in the summer.
For more information on the following topics, please see our Mahabaleshwar travel guide below:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Eating Out
- Shopping
- Useful Information
- Survival Guide
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Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra Strawberry fields bloom forever, their reds peeking coyly out from under crisp green foliage. Cool breezes scour urban grit from your mind and body. At 1,372 m above sea level, Mahabaleshwar is always pleasant. Get all the information you need – getting there, getting away, excursions, sights & sounds, things to do, useful information, etc.
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