MAHABESHWAR - PANCHGANI - RAIGAD (FROM PUNE)

At a distance of 13 km from Panchgani, 35 km from Satara & 88 km from Pune, Wai is a small town situated on the banks of Krishna River in Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the ideal places for one day trip near Pune.

Wai has some historical prominence; two important Maratha Brahmin queens Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Rani Gopikabai, wife of Nanasaheb Peshwa were born here. Wai is the place referred to as Charanpur in the hit film Swades.

Wai is famed for its seven Ghats, including Gangapuri, Madhi Aali, Ganpati Aali, Dharmapuri, Brahmanshahi, Ramdoh and Bhimkund. It is also known for numerous beautiful temples near the ghats. Brahmanshahi ghat contains several temples including Kaunteshwar, Chakreshwar, Kaleshwar and Chimneshwar. Menavali ghat is the most popular sightseeing destination in Wai apart from the backwaters of Dhom dam and the famous Dholya Ganpati temple.

The temple of Dholya Ganapati, built .....

At a distance of 2 km from Panchgani Bus Stand, Parsi Point is a scenic viewpoint situated on the way to Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the good points at Panchgani to get a picturesque view. The point is located at the entrance of Panchgani town while coming from Mahabaleshwar.

Parsi Point offer spectacular views of the mountains, Krishna valley and the backwaters of Dhom dam. This popular picnic spot has derived its name from the fact that in earlier days, it was a favourite spot of the Parsi Community. There is small entry free at the entrance of the view the point.

At a distance of 2 km from Panchgani Bus Stand, Devil's Kitchen is situated to the south of Table Land in Panchgani hill station.

According to mythology, this is the place where Pandavas of Mahabharata stayed here for a while during their exile. This place was used to cook their food. Some people claim that Pandvgadh Caves are also built by them and bear their name. The place is now a beautiful sightseeing spot which is popular among tourists.

The place is situated in close proximity to Table Land and visitor can either take a short walk or hire a private taxi for sightseeing.

At a distance of 2 km from Panchgani and 20 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Table Land is the highest point in Panchgani and is situated at an elevation of 4550 feet above sea level. This is one of the best tourist places to visit in Panchgani.

Table Land is a vast expanse of flat laterite rock surrounded by hills hence the name Table Land. This volcanic plateau is Asia's second longest mountain plateau after the Tibetan plateau, and among the must-visit places as part of Panchgani tour packages. This place offers an aerial view of the entire Panchgani and nearby valleys.

These naturally flattened hills are a good attraction for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The place also has several activities like horse riding, merry-go-rounds, mini trains, food stalls, and a couple of game counters. Owing to its elevation, the place also offers .....

At a distance of 2 km from Panchgani Bus Stand, Sydney Point is one of the famous viewpoints in Panchgani hill station in Satara district of Maharashtra.

Sydney Point is situated on a hill that faces Krishna Valley. It was named after Sir Sidney Beckwarth, Commander in Chief, who succeeded Sir John Malcolm as Bombay's Governor in 1830.Sydney Point is famous for providing charming views of the Krishna Valley, Dhom Dam, Kamalgad Fort and the city of Wai. The hillock also offers beautiful views of the hill ranges of Pandavgad and Mandhardeo.

At a distance of 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Mahabaleshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in the Old Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular Mahabaleshwar tourist places.

Mahabaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The temple was built by Chandarao More in 16th century and is a model of the Hemadant architectural style of South India. The Mahabaleshwar hills have been named after Lord Mahabali, whose name stands a symbol of strength.

The temple is enclosed by a 5 feet wall and is divided into two areas, inner room and outer room. The sanctum sanctorum has Shiva linga made of black stone, which is 500 years old swayambhu lingam. This self-originated lingam is in the shape of Rudraksha and is called Mahalingam.

The .....

At a distance of 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Panch Ganga Temple is a holy site situated near Mahabaleshwar Temple at Old Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra.

The Panch Ganga Temple is constructed at the confluence of five rivers, Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri. All the rivers come out from the mouth of a statue of a cow in this temple, thus the place being called Panchganga Mandir.

The temple was constructed by Raja Singhandeo, the Yadava ruler of Devgiri in the 13th Century. In the 16th and 17th Centuries, Raja Chandarao More of Jaoli and the Maratha ruler Shivaji improved upon its structure on a large scale.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and has a beautiful idol of him. The legend behind the temple is closely linked to Savitri's curse on the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who flow here as Koyna, Krishna and Venna rivers. It is a major religious site and is thronged by devotees .....

At a distance of 300 m from Mahabaleshwar Temple and 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Krishnabai Temple is an old temple situated few meters away from Panch Ganga Temple in Old Mahabaleshwar. It is among the famous Mahabaleshwar tourist places.

Krishnabai Temple is supposed to be source of the Krishna River. The temple was built in 1888 by a ruler of Ratnagiri on a hilltop overlooking the Krishna valley. The temple has a Shiva lingam and a beautiful statue of Goddess Krishna. A small stream of the river flowing from a cow-face (gomukh) falls in a Kund or water tank which is the source of might River Krishna. Stone carved columns and ceilings are the special characteristics of this temple.

The temple also offers enchanting views of the Krishna valley and surrounding countryside. Behind Panch Ganga temple, there is a small and well-marked trail that leads to Krishnabai temple. It is not visited .....

At a distance of 10 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand and 5 km from Old Mahabaleshwar, Elphinstone Point is one of the famous viewpoints situated atop a hill near Arthur Seat Point in Mahabaleshwar.

Elphinstone Point discovered in 1830 by Dr. Murray and has an old mansion in its vicinity. The viewpoint got its name from Mount Stuart Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay Presidency. The mansion now lies in ruins and local authorities are planning to demolish to erect a picnic shed in its place for tourists.

Elphinstone Point is one of the highest points in Mahabaleshwar overlooking the two valleys, with rivers Koyna on the left and Savitri on the right. The lofty cliff commands a panoramic view of the Pratapgarh Fort, Koyna Valley and nearby plains. One can also admire the ravine, which lies between Elphinstone Point and Arthur Seat Point.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

At a distance of 1 km from Arthur Seat, 2 km from Eliphinstone Point and 12 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Savitri Point is a popular vantage point in Mahabaleshwar town of Maharashtra. It is one of the top places to visit in Mahabaleshwar.

Popularly called as Suicide Point, Savitri Point is situated between Eliphinstone Point and Arthur Seat Point. This place is known as the originating point of the beautiful Savitri River. Savitri Point is situated atop a hill, from where visitors can get an uninterrupted view of Savitri River and its valley. The point itself is surrounded by dense flora, which serves as a perfect backdrop for photography. Owing to its spectacular beauty, this point is frequented by both tourists and locals year-round.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

At a distance of 13 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand and 7 km from Old Mahabaleshwar, Arthur Seat Point is the most popular viewpoint in Mahabaleshwar and among the top places to visit in Mahabaleshwar.

Arthur Seat Point is located at a height of 1340 m and is surrounded by the deep Savitri gorge on one side and a lush green plateau on the other side. Popularly called as Queen of the Points, Arthur Seat Point has been named after Sir Arthur Mallet who was the first man to build a house at this point. Arthur Seat is the only point that clearly shows the geological contrast between the Konkan and the Deccan territories.

Arthur Seat Point area has 6 points in total, Arthur's Seat Point, Echo Point, Hunter Point, Tiger Spring Point, Window Point and Malcom Point. The barren deep Savitri valley on the left and lush green Jor valley on the right extends a mesmerizing view to the seat. Moving step .....

At a distance of 3 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Sunset Point is one of the most popular viewpoints of Mahabaleshwar and is popularly known as Mumbai Point or Bombay Point. This is the place from where people can view the magnificent sunset over the valleys below at Mahabaleshwar.

The Bombay Point is the oldest point of Mahabaleshwar and the point is named so owing to its location on the old Bombay road. The place has a large open space with a bandstand. It is an ideal place for late afternoon picnic. Sunset point is the most crowded point because of the fact that one cannot view anything at other viewpoints at that time of the day. Many activities like Horse riding, Choupati games are popular with the tourists at this point. There is a lovers point to the left of the Mumbai point.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

At a distance of 4 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Lodwick Point is previously known as Sydney Point. This point lies at an elevation of 4087 feet above sea level.

Lodwick Point area has 2 points; Lodwick Point and Elephant's Head Point. The Lodwick point was rechristened in the honor of General Lodwick, who was the first British officer to climb the hill in April 1824. To honor General Lodwick's achievement, his son erected a memorial pole of about 25 ft. At the base of this monument, the head of the General is sculptured in marble. This point offers unmatched views of the Pratapgad Fort and Elphinstone Point at a distance.

Elephant's Head Point is the extreme end of the mountain range and lies beyond the Lodwick Point. The extended front part of hill looks like Elephant Head. Hence, this point is known as Elephant's Head Point. The point renders breathtaking views of the surroundings. One needs to walk almost 1.5 km from car parking place or taking a pony ride from the parking .....

At a distance of 3 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Venna Lake is a manmade lake situated in Mahabaleshwar. It is one of the popular tourist places in Mahabaleshwar.

Venna Lake was constructed in 1842 by Sri Appa Saheb Maharaja, who was the ruler of Satara. Surrounded by lush greenery, Venna Lake has an area of about 28 acres having a periphery around 7-8 km, and is fed by repeated springs. It is one of the famous places to visit as part of Mahabaleshwar Tour. Pratap Singh Garden is situated on the banks of Venna Lake.

Tourists can enjoy a boat ride in the lake or a horse ride next to the lake. Only Rowboats are available for tourists. Apart from boating and horse riding, funfair games like a toy train, merry-go-round are popular with children. Several small eateries line the banks of the lake.

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM

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At a distance of 7 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Kate's Point and Elephant's Head Point are the most picturesque viewpoints of Mahabaleshwar in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is among the best tourist places in Mahabaleshwar.

Kate's Point area has 3 points in total; they are Kate's Point, Echo Point, and Needle Hole Point or Elephant's Head Point. Kate's Point is named after the then British governor Sir John Malcolm's daughter. The original name of the point is Nake Khind and is situated at an altitude of 1290 m. Dhom dam, as well as peaks of Kamalgadh, Pandavgadh, and Mandardeo, can be seen from Kate's Point. It is one of the must include places in Mahabaleshwar tour packages.

Elephant's Head Point or Needle Hole Point is another popular vantage point in Mahabaleshwar, situated next to Kate's Point. The overhanging cliffs .....

At a distance of 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, 116 km from Pune & 252 km from Mumbai, Lingmala Waterfall is a mesmerizing waterfall located at top of the Venna Valley in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular waterfalls in Maharashtra, and among the famous places to visited as part of Mahabaleshwar packages.

Situated at an altitude of 1278 m, Lingmala Waterfall is formed by the Venna River. It is one of the prominent tourist places near Pune in monsoon. There are two waterfalls, one mini waterfall, and the main waterfall which falls from a height of 500 feet. The mini waterfall is safe & suitable for swimming and playing in the water. One has to walk for 30 minutes to reach the viewpoint of the main waterfall from the mini-falls. There is no way to get into the water at the main falls .....

At a distance of 11 km from Mahabaleshwar and 7 km from Panchgani, Mapro Garden is a garden situated at Gureghar on Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani road in Satara district of Maharashtra. A trip to Mapro Garden is one of the top things to do in Mahabaleshwar.

Mapro Garden is very popular tourist spot in Mahabaleshwar and is known for their strawberry produce. The name Mapro is short form of Mahabaleshwar Products. Mapro was founded in 1959 by Mr. Kishore Vora and it is very popular in Maharashtra state for its processed fruit products like fruit crushes, squash, etc. Mapro has also diversified into products like chocolates, honey, gulkand and many more.

The major highlight of Mapro Garden is the chocolate factory within the premises. Visitors can also see a small nursery full of beautiful flowers and plants. There are various counters selling different Mapro products. Tourists can .....

At a distance of 26 km from Mahad, 83 km from Mahabaleshwar, 105 km from Alibaug, 118 km from Lonavala, 136 km from Mumbai, 138 km from Pune and 196 km from Ratnagiri, Raigad is a hill fort situated at Pachad near Mahad in Raigad district of Maharashtra. This is one of the most popular forts in Maharashtra and popular places for trekking near Mumbai. This fort is one of the prime places to visit on a Maharashtra tour and also one of the must include historical forts in Mahabaleshwar Tour Packages as well as in Lonavala Tour Packages.

Earlier called as Rairi, Raigad was initially under the control of Chandrarao More of Jawali and was captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's in 1656 CE. After taking over the Rairi Fort, Shivaji Maharaj got it completely renovated and renamed it as Raigad (the King's Fort). Shivaji Maharaj made it his capital in 1674 CE when he was crowned as .....