Of Strawberries, Stunning Views and Hidden Trails – Escape to Mahabaleswar and Panchgani

 

Moving farther from Pune, as we wound our way through the Ghats, the scenery unfolding before us was nothing short of breathtaking. The Sahyadri range sprawled gracefully beneath the azure sky, while a ribbon of bluish river meandered through the lush valley below. It was a scene straight out of a cherished childhood painting. As we drew nearer to the hill town, rows of strawberry vendors lined the roadside, offering luscious Red Strawberries. Over the next two days, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani enveloped us in their magic, treating us to stunning vistas, the freshest strawberries, captivating tangerine sunsets, and secret trails untrodden by the tourist crowd. Here is everything you need to know to plan that special trip to Mahabaleswar and Panchgani.

How many days are required for Mahabaleswar and Panchgani?

2-3 days are ideal if you are planning for both Mahabaleswar and Panchgani. Both places are hardly 15 kms apart and are like twin hill stations. So it is easier to cover both in one trip. But if you want a relaxing trip with time for sunsets, little adventures or just to soak in the views without hurrying, then I would recommend to keep 3-4 days for this trip.

Getting Around Mahabaleswar and Panchgani

Taxi is the best option to get around in Mahableswar and Panchgani. The taxi union has prices fixed for packages including a set of points and also the number of hours. But you can always customise by choosing and combining the points that interest you. Here is the rate chart we got from our taxi driver in Panchgani to give you an idea of the charges.

Things to Do in Mahabaleswar and Panchgani

Mapro Garden

A visit to Mapro Garden offers a delightful experience to visitors of all ages. Indeed I remember adding it to my wish list long back for the famed Strawberry Cream and the beautiful photo set ups. Take a stroll in their beautifully maintained garden, shop for fruit products (like jams, fruit chews, sharbat etc.) from their inhouse shop and enjoy some delicious pizza and strawberry with cream at the Cafe. Both the pizza and Strawberry with Cream were delicious, but the Strawberry Margherita was the show stealer for us. The best part is all the products used in food preparation are sourced from their own garden and are organically grown. They also have a huge restaurant that offers beautiful views of the strawberry farms and hills. While the food options are similar to those at the cafe, we personally found the cafe’s offerings to be more flavourful.

The View Points

There are a number of viewpoints both in Mahabaleswar and Panchgani that offer sweeping views of the Western Ghats. But covering all the points in a short trip is not feasible as these are located quite far from each other. So choose as per your available time and preference. I would highly recommend Kates Point and Arthur’s Seat point in Mahabaleswar as must see ones. In the vicinity of Kates Point, there is also Echo Point and Elephant Head Point (truly resembling the head of an Elephant). If you have additional time, then do check out Lodwick Point and Wilson Point. Wilson Point offers beautiful sunrise views.

In Panchgani, Sydney Point is a great option for both Sunrise and Sunset views. Apart from that, Parsi Point has lovely views of Dhom Dam and the hills.

Strawberry Garden Visit and Strawberry Plucking

If you are in Mahabaleswar during the Strawberry Season, then this unique and fun activity is a must experience for all kinds of travelers. Renowned for producing approximately 85% of India’s total strawberries, Mahabaleswar boasts of numerous farms lining its roadsides. Many of these farms welcome visitors to partake in the delightful practice of handpicking farm-fresh strawberries, available for purchase directly from the source at reasonable prices. Read More….

For more interesting places in India, do refer our other India travel blogs.