Day 1 - 30 May 09
Old Mahabaleshwar Temple
Mahabaleshwar derives its name from Lord Mahabali (Lord Shiva), who is enshrined in the form of a naturally occurring (swayamboo) lingam in the shape of a Rudraksha seed. This lingam is considered more sacred than the 12 jyothirlingams. It is also called Trigunatmaka as it is believed to represent Brahma, Vishnu as well as Shiva.The Panchganga temple is believed to be the site of origin of five rivers. There is a legend connected to this origin. On this site long ago Lord Brahma along with the Vishnu and Shiva performed a Yagna (religious ritual). Brahma’s consort, Savitri was not present. Brahma forgot to wait for Savitri. Since the presence of his wife was essential for performing the rites, Lord Brahma hastily married a local maiden Gayatri. When Savitri arrived she got enraged and in her fury transformed Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Gayatri into rivers. They also retaliated, turning Savitri into a watercourse as well. Thus, Brahma became the Venna river, Gayatri and Savitri became the rivers of their own name, Lord Vishnu became the river Krishna and Lord Shiva got transformed into river Koyna. "
Arthur Point
A fun feature of this destination is that any item, like a straw hat or a handkerchief, when tossed down from this spot, never falls directly but floats in the air like a spread out parachute.The main tourist destinations around Mahabaleshwar, Elphinstone Point and Arthur's Seat are not destinations you want to miss out on. Go here for a truly elating and invigorating experience, especially if you’re looking to get away from the maddening crowd in the cities
Back to the Lunch
After having light lunch we planned to move towards some historical place. And what would be better than the Fort of "Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj" if you are in Maharashtra. So next is...
Pratapgad - The Great Shivaji Fort
"Pratapgad Fort is a mountain fort built by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The fort is at a distance of 24 km ghat road from the hill station of Mahabaleshwar. The fort holds a sturdy view of coastal Konkan. The Bhavani Temple and Afzal Khan's tomb are other places of interest. Pratapgad consists of two forts - an upper fort built on the top of the hill and a lower fort immediately below on the south and the east. Surrounding areas can be easily taken guard from the fort on almost all the sides. The southern side is rocky while the eastern side has a strong outwork ending in the Afzal Buruj. The famous minister More Tirmal Pingale on the command of Shivaji Maharaj to control the rebellious satraps of the surrounding Javali Basin built Pratapgad Fort in 1656. It is believed that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja was blessed with a shining sword at the temple of Goddess Bhavani here. The historic battle between Chatrapati Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate fought here. Bhavani Temple and Afzal Khan's Tomb are major attractions where are situated near the fort."

Wilson Point, located at the highest point in the city of Mahabaleshwar, is a vast plateau, which also goes by the name Sunrise Point. Essentially a vast bare rock with three observation towers erected at different spots, Wilson Point offers the most spectacular view of the sunrise. One can view the sunrise from any of the three masonry round platforms. The second platform, which is about 1 km away from the market area of Mahabaleshwar, is the ideal place to view the sun rise. This particular platform is perfectly located at 4,735 feet above sea level and is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar. Like several other sunrise or sunset points across the country, Wilson Point is also tremendously popular with tourists and even the locals from nearby. Known for its splendid view of the sunrise, it’s not until a visit to this place that one realizes the sheer magnificence of the sigh. It’s not uncommon to find crowds of tourists huddled together in the wee hours of the morning to spot the first ray of sunshine, as the sun makes its way up to the very top of the sky. An utterly breathtaking view, this place is ideal for a quiet moment with your special someone. Do visit!


Water fall
The Lingamala Waterfall is a fantastic sight to watch. It presents an enrapturing view of cascading water. It disperses from the top of a steep cliff. The water falling down looks like thin silver streaks. It encircles with rainbow colors. The tourists and the visitors admire the Lingamala waterfall’s beauty. The Lingamala Waterfall is a glittering waterfall. The water drops into the Venna valley of Mahabaleshwar. The best season for visiting the falls is the rainy season. The water level during the monsoon rises and cascades down. The water which launches from a height of 600 feet from the drop-off extends the most effervescent visions.
How its look like in rainy season
Panchgani is situated 20 kms East of Mahabaleshwar and spreads out over five hills. The name actually means 'five lands' and in this very popular hill station, that bears the Raj stamp all over it, you can have some excellent views of the flat surroundings. It is also famous for its boarding schools, its Parsee Bungalows, the fresh air, tasty strawberries and the rich Indians who like to spend some time here. Picturesque Panchgani has served as the background for several films. From Mahabaleshwar, it takes only twenty to twenty-five minutes to reach Panchgani. It can also be easily visited from Poona or Bombay.
Table Land
"Situated around 60 mts high ,this flat large expanse of laterite rock is the second longest mountain plateau in asia. There are some spacious caves that can be seen from here and one of them is Devil's Kitchen"
So that was the our last point. After that we move towards Mumbai and through out the way i was thinking... wapis se mumbai ki humidity and garmi, oh my god :( . But yes i have the 2 memorable days that i spent with nature.
I suggest to visit at least once MAHABALESHWAR!!!




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