Points & Waterfalls:

Mahabaleshwar is known for its many points which offer panoramic views. There are as many as 30 viewpoints, named after notable Britishers within close range. Accessibility of these points is largely by foot or vehicles.  Some of the most popular points you could visit are:

Lodwick Point

Located at an altitude of 1,240 m, it is named after General Lodwick, who is said to have been the first to set foot on this point in 1824. A monument has been erected there in his memory by his son.

On your way to the next point, you can even stop to see the beautiful cascading waters of the Dhobi Waterfalls.

Elphinstone Point

Arthur's Seat, another famous point, and considered to be one of the best, is located at an altitude of 1,348 m and captures a beautiful view of the Jor Valley.  It has been named after Arthur Malet and one can catch the two territories of Mahabaleshwar very distinctly set apart Kokan and Desh.

There are other points also that you will come across such as the points of Marjorie, Savitri and the Castle Rock Point, all rising from the Valleys of Konkan, and on your way to Arthur's Seat.

A kilometer away from here is a small spring called Tiger's Spring, said to be the source of the River Savitri, which leads you, by way of steps, to a small ledge right beneath Arthur's Point, called The Window and offering an absolutely enthralling view.

Another great point is Kate's Point, located at an altitude of 1,290 m and overlooking the Krishna Valley. Near this point is the Echo Point, where you can hear your voice echo.

A great waterfall to visit is the Lingmala Waterfall, flowing from the valley of Venna.

Wilson's Point, is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar, thus offering you the best view, at an altitude of 1,435 m. With three observation towers erected here, it is the best place to catch the sunrise, and hence has also been called the Sunrise Point.

The second highest point is the Connaught Peak. Between it and Wilson's Point are other minor points such as Helen's Point, Gaolani Point, and Babington Point. To the south of Babington Point is the Chinaman waterfall, followed by Falkland, Carnac and Bombay Points.

Temples:

For some religious sightseeing, visit the famous Krishna Temple also called Panchaganga Temple. Panchaganga means five rivers, which according to Hindu mythology are the holy rivers of Krishna, Venna, Koyna, Savitri and Gayatri, which flow nearby. While the shrines situated here date back to the prehistoric period, the temple itself was built in the 13^th century by a Yadav King, and was further restored in the 16^th century and then in the 19^th century.

The other temple to visit is the Hanuman Mandir, nearby. This temple also has the Samadhi of the 16^th century sage Sant Rama Dassa.

The other temples to visit are Sri Rama Temple and Mahabal Temple in Old Mahabaleshwar.

Other Historical Monuments:

Catholic Church

This church is not a place of architectural significance and is in ruins, yet it is worth a visit for its magnificent stained glass windows.

Mount Malcolm

This is another building of significance from the early 18th century, primarily due to its architecture, unfortunately it has lost much of its charm today.

Morarji Castle is where Gandhiji stayed for a while in 1945.

Other Activities:

Boating

To do some boating head to the Venna Lake, 25 acres in size and a favourite place for some fishing too.

Outdoor Activities

Bird watchers can spend hours in the open with their binoculars and bird books. Horse riding is another excellent outdoor activity, as is trekking and hiking in the forest.

Shopping

The market at Mahabaleshwar offers you a wide variety of items ranging from clothes to footwear and food. The one thing the region is famous for is its pure unadulterated honey. The fruits and vegetables grown here are no less enticing; strawberry jam and preserve being another favourite buy.

Excursions:

Pratapgad Fort

About 25 km from Mahabaleshwar, this 16^th century fort was built under the great Maratha ruler Shivaji's reign. It houses the tomb of Afzal Khan, the brave general of Bijapur who was slayed by Shivaji in this very fort. There is also a temple which is worth a visit, the presiding deity of which is Bhavani Mata.

Panchgani is another hill resort just 19kms from Mahabaleshwar. You could go here for a day trip and enjoy views from Sidney Point, Parsi Point and the Graves Point, and have lunch at one of the excellent Parsi restaurants there. Alternately you could visit one of the strawberry farms there and buy fresh fruit and jams.

Tapola

Well-know for its scenic beauty, it's a great place to picnic. You can see the panoramic meeting point of the Koyna and Solshi rivers and the immense Koyna Dam.

This picturesque hill station, also known as the Queen of Maharashtra's hill stations, is located in the Western Ghats, cradled in the Sahyadri ranges. An altitude of 1,372 m gives it the distinction of being the highest hill station in Western India. Its popularity is not only as a honeymoon spot and a great weekend getaway, but also because of its historical and religious significance.

Mahabaleshwar, is named after Lord Shiva also called Lord Mahabali, enshrined at the Gokarna temple in the form of a self-originated lingam, shaped like a rudraksha, and considered to be the most sacred amongst the other twelve jyothirlingams.

Historically, while the region is said to have been discovered by the British, its origins can be traced back to as early as 1215, during the reign of King Singhan of Deogiri. However, what we do know is that the British developed this place as a health resort. Sir Charles Malet, was the first to set foot on this magnificent highland in 1791 and in 1828, the governor Sir John Malcolm built a sanitarium here. In the British times it was also known as Malcolm Peth, named after the Governor.

A number of residential bungalows, churches and clubs grew around the sanitarium and a jail was also established where Chinese and Malay prisoners were held. The prisoners were made to cultivate strawberries, and weave cane and bamboo baskets, a tradition that still continues here.

The entire region is a plateau, covering an area of 150 sq kms, and covered by evergreen forests, which is the source of many commercial and medicinal products.

Mahabaleshwar is divided into the Old and the New Mahabaleshwar, with the old part being an important pilgrim center, housing the sacred temples of Lord Krishna and Shiva. The new part is the favoured destination for holidays and getaways. It is home to three main villages of Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and the Shindola village.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation

Opposite LIC Building

Madam Cama Road

Mumbai - 400 020