2 DAYS TRIP FROM PUNE | MAHABALESHWAR - PRATAPGAD

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.

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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 20 km from Mahabaleshwar, 140 km from Pune & 221 km from Mumbai, Pratapgad, also known as Pratapgarh, is a large hill fort located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the best heritage places to visit near Mumbai, and among the popular attractions not to miss as part of Mahabaleshwar packages.

The fort lies at an altitude of 1080 m and is built on a spur that overlooks the road between the villages of Par and Kinesvar. Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj had commissioned Moropant Pingle, his prime minister, to commence the construction of this fort to defend Nira and the Koyna River banks, and also to guard the Par pass. It is one of the most scenic places to visit in Mahabaleshwar. The construction of the fortress was completed in the year 1656. The .....

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, 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