Mahabaleshwar

This is the largest hill station of Maharashtra and is situated at an altitude of 1372 metres. Away from the busy life of the cities, this hill station provides a fantastic escape for the nearby city people. This hill resort was the summer capital of Bombay Presidency during the British rule. Mahabaleshwar is famous for its scenic beauty and the splendid views of the valleys and the sea, which is quite visible in clear days pony rides on the lanes of Mahabaleshwar are quite thrilling. Youngsters enjoy cycle rides atop the scenic points in Mahabaleshwar. It also houses a splendid lake called Venna Lake where boat rides and fishing are exhilarating experiences.
Some of the famous lookout points here are Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Kate's Point, and Bombay Point. Waterfalls also adorn this hill station. Some of them are the Chinaman's (2.5 km), Dhobi (3 km), and Lingamala (6 km). The most spectacular one is Arthur's Seat, 12 km from Mahabaleshwar which looks out over a tremendous drop of 600 metres, to the coastal strip of Konkan.Venna Lake is a major attraction of Mahabaleshwar which provides good fishing and boating facilities. Pratapgad Fort Which is 24 kms, away is a place worth visiting. It was built by Shivaji in 1656. It was built to control the rebellious Satraps of the surrounding Javali Basin. Legend has it that Shivaji was blessed with a shining sword at the temple of Goddess Bhawani here. It was the site of the famous battle between the Maratha chieftain Chhatrapati Shivaji and Afzal Khan, the commander of the Bijapur Sultanate.
Mahabaleshwar can be reached easily by air, rail or road. The nearest airport is located at Pune which is 120 km away. Nearest railhead is Wathar and is 62 km away. You can also trvel by roads. The state transport corporation provides buses from Pune to Mahabaleshwar.