Mahabaleshwar and neighbouring Panchgani are a favourite family escape from Mumbai and Pune: think viewpoints, strawberries and cream, and boating on Venna Lake.
Highlights
- Arthur’s Seat and other viewpoints
- Strawberry farms (winter to spring)
- Venna Lake
- Pratapgad Fort
- Panchgani’s Table Land
What to eat
- Strawberries and cream
- Corn pattice
- Maharashtrian thali
Where to stay
Resorts in Mahabaleshwar or Panchgani.
Getting there
About 3 hours from Pune and 5-6 hours from Mumbai by road.
Tips
- Strawberry season is roughly December to March.
- Heavy monsoon rain closes many viewpoints.
- Combine with the Kaas plateau flower season (Sept).
Best time to visit
Oct-May. See what else is good in October and our best time to visit India guide.
Places to see in and around Mahabaleshwar
31 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Panchgani Hill station, 17 km
- Rajgad Fort Fort, 36 km
- Pratapgad Fort, 9 km
- Torna Fort Fort, 40 km
- Kaas Plateau World Heritage Site, 28 km
- Venna Lake Lake, 2 km
- Gandharpale Caves Caves, 33 km
- Kamalgad Fort, 10 km
- Shirwal Caves Caves, 39 km
- Mandhardevi Kalubai temple Temple, 27 km
- Vasota Fort Fort, 29 km
- Wai Caves Ancient site, 23 km
- Varandha Ghat Mountain pass, 24 km
- Madhe Ghat Waterfall, 32 km
- Vajrai Waterfall Waterfall, 29 km
- Rohida Fort Fort, 26 km
- Mangalgad Fort, 17 km
- Chandragad Fort, 10 km
- Vairatgad Fort Fort, 28 km
- Mahipatgad Fort, 19 km
- Rasalgad Fort, 23 km
- Shivthar Ghal Caves, 26 km
- Suamargad Fort, 20 km
- Pandavgad Fort, 23 km
And 7 more on our Maharashtra map.
Food to try in and around Mahabaleshwar
Named after Mahabaleshwar: Mahabaleshwar Strawberry. The rest are Maharashtra favourites.
- Mahabaleshwar Strawberry GI: fruit
- Vada pav
- Pav bhaji
- Puran poli
- Ukadiche modak
- Sabudana khichdi
- Kanda poha
- Shrikhand
- Sol kadhi
- Kolhapuri sukka mutton
- Pandhra rassa
- Kunthalgiri Khawa GI: sweet
The full food passport, state by state.
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