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Reach Mahabaleshwar in the morning. You will
have wait for some time for the check-in. Rest of the day will be at
leisure.
After an evening tea, you can visit- Venna Lake (The natural
springs in the rocky area where the lake is situated today were
strongly recommended to be converted in to a fresh water by Dr.
Murray, as he advocated the concept of the lake maintaining the
climate of Mahabaleshwar cool during the summer by the warm and cold
air current circulation due to its appropriate location and most
important of being able to overcome the water shortage especially
during summer and thirdly easy cultivation on the silt lands
surrounding the lake sides. In 1842 the lake was finally constructed
with a dam being made on the eastern side of the lake under the
supervision of sir james Rivet Carnac measuring an area of 28 acres
and an average depth of 10feet. The eastern overflow of the
tributary of the lake flows don as the venna river merges at mahuli
near Satara with the Krishna river that further at karad merges with
the koyna river. The venna lake is today a popular picnic spot and
an entertainment junction. Visitors spend time walking on the lanes
besides the lake eating a variety of food stalls or boating on the
sparkling waters of the lake or gaming and horse riding getting very
popular here now). Night halt at Mahabaleshwar. |
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After breakfast, leave for Mahabaleshwar
darshan and visit- Old Mahabaleshwar (Kshetra Mahabaleshwar).
Considered, as the most pious Tirth Kshetra in Maharahstra due to
the various holy sites here is known to be in existence since the
prehistoric times and was a place of pilgrimage to one of the most
renowned saints who were being terrorized by two dreadful demons
namely Mahabli and Atibali. As legends say lord Vishnu pleased by
penance of the priest who requested relief from the dreadful demons
to him. In a furious combat killed the younger demon atibali that
angered the elder demon further who was not easily surmountable to
Lord Vishnu and had to seek the assistance of Lord Shiva. Mahabali
on the contrary being a worshipper of lord shiva was not ready to
fight against the lord and accepted death by wish (ichhamaran) and
in return asked the Gods to attach his name to the Lords and the
place to be known by it and so the term Mahabaleshwar was coined.
Many holy rituals and holy offerings that were in the from of hom
and havan in the presence of lord Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh marked
vistory over demons. These celebrations as legends say, were
responsible of transforming the three gods into solid rock as seen
on the swayambho shivling and the arising of lord brahmas wife
Gayatri in the liquid form here due to the curse and counter curse
of the later to the former for having commenced the holy
celebrations in her absence. Visit- Shiva
Temple (this temple was built by Raja Sighana of Devgiri in
about 1215 A.D further by Krishnaji Baji More in 1578. then followed
by Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A large fair at Mahshivratri (birth
of Lord Shiva) takes place here), Panch Ganga Temple
(according to history it is also known as the origin of the five
Rivers they are Krishna, Koyna, Venna, Savitri, and Gayatri.
Panchganga Temple was built by Chandrarao More of Javali),
Thereafter visit- Arther Seat point (Artur seat point is the
deepest precipices in the region giving a heart throbbing view of
the konkan valley below & towards the eastwards side lays an old
raod used by the maratha warriors during the attack by chattrapati
shivaji Maharaj on Afzal Khan. The area between Kshetra
Mahabaleshwar and Arthur seat point are known as Brahma arayna a
place used by prehistoricsaints for peneance and religious
obligations the soil here is grayish in colour that is considered as
the ashes or the bhasma of the religious yagnas(pious offerings made
with vedic chants to the fire). The caves of these Rishi still in
the vicinity), Eco- Point (this place offers an echo of 3 to
5 reflexes. Seen from here is the scenic beauty overlooking the joar
valley and the balkawadi dam on the backwater of the dhom dam on the
Krishna valley), Kate’s Point (towards east side of the
Eco-point is Kate’s Point. This is located off the road to Panchgani
is this spur of land that overlooks the Krishna valley is a major
center of tourist attraction. On the west side is the Echo point
that The actual point came to be known as kate's point after sir
James Malcolm's daughter Kate's made a liking for the same and spent
hours enjoying the scenic beauty of the point. Seen from Kate’s
point towards the west is the Kshetra Mahabaleshwar from the the
foothills which is seen the serpentine streaming of the Krishna
river from its origin above at kshetra mahabaleshwar. Seen eastwards
are the kamalgadh fort and the sangam of the walki river and the
Krishna river. Seen eastwards the great cuboids pandavgadh in the
back hills of which lies the historic temple of the great deity
Mandhardevi. Eastwards seen is the historic city wai and towards the
west is the dhom dam and eastern hills nesting another hill resort -
Panchgani), Needle Hole Point (while travelling eastwards
away from kate’s point one comes to a spot known as needle hole with
gigantic opening in the posterior end of the kates point which
resembles the threading end of a needle hole, on even closer
observation of the same it also appears to resemble the trunk of the
elephant with huge ears and its trunk running down the hill side).
After lunch, visit Panchgani and visit- Parsi Point (Parsi
Point is a renowned picnic spot lies on the Mahabaleshwar road in
Panchgani. It offers panoramic views of picturesque Dhom Dam
backwaters and the lush green Krishna valley. Sydney point is
another breathtaking beautiful spot near Parsi Point. The grandeur
view of Wai village from these points are mind blogging and eye
catching. This is a spot in Panchgani which is blessed with all
worthy natural beauties. One can spend many hours in this calm and
cool ambience enjoying the fragrant breeze emerging out from the
hilly ranges), Table Land (Tableland has been credited with
the privilege of being Asia’s second longest mountain Plateau. This
is a wide expanse of laterite rock and this place offers the
grandeur view of Panchgani hill station itself. One can get
breathtaking views of Rajpuri caves and the place known as “Devil’s
Kitchen” from here. Tableland provides a natural protection for the
Panchgani from strong winds, heavy rains and it helps Panchgani to
keep its ambience enjoyable for tourists. Table land serves as a
great sports and games place for children and young), Lingmala
Waterfalls (the major attraction of Mahabaleshwar on the Venna
river is visible from the Kalghar Ghat on the Medha Satara road, and
offers an awesome spectacle from the Met gutad villages Makharia
point. One can also see the actual point of the water falling from
Shreyas Bungalow or Saj Resort at Met Gutad but one has to be very
cautious while moving around these places. The spectacle of this
fall is visible during the monsoon) Strawberry Garden and Jam
factory (due to the red soil /mud in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani,
Strawberry, Raspberry, Mulberry, Gooseberry are grown in abundance.
The jam factories are located in Panchgani. The Britisher's
brought these strawberry plantations from Australia and planted in
Panchgani and Mahableshwar and today these strawberries etc are
exported to various countries. Lovely Mahabaleshwar strawberries are
well known for their taste and are sent out in packages to different
places). In the evening, you can roam around
market area for shopping. Night halt at Mahabaleshwar. |
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After breakfast, leave for Pratapgad
sightseeing and visit Pratapgad fort (on the radtondi ghat
and up the dhorpia built by the great Maratha Warrior Chattrapati
Shivaji Maaharaj lays the historical fort of Pratapgad. Going a few
hundred yards towards the eastwards is the temple dedicated to the
Bhavani Mata the present priest of the temple is a lineal desendent
of viswanath Bhatt had apppointed by Moropant Pingale. The northern
eminences are the inner fort or the Balekilla as known with a
smaller palace or the gernanace hall of the king which is entered
through a smaller but a even stronger gate on the prior to which
towards the right hand side one passes a hanuman temple worshipped
by the guru of chattrapati shivaji maharaj: Samarth Ramdas Swami.
Entering the Balekilla towards the left hand side are seen the
remains of what used to be the court at the fort and opposite to
which is the kedareshwar temple the guardian deity of the fort. The
western side of the fort with the steepest precipices descending in
to the konkan valley below is the punishment point or what is known
as kadelot point. Sighted from Pratapgad eastwards is Mahabaleshwar
and southwest is seen the saddleback shaped Makarandgad at a height
of 4045 feet above sea level and was dwelt by the Pandavas during
their exile for 14 years to the forests) Visit- Bhawani Mandir
(this temple was built by Shivaji Maharaj in 1661, because he
was unable to visit the famous temple of Bhavani at Tuljapur due to
torrential rains. The temple is on the eastern side of the lower
fort. It consists of a hall and a shrine. The hall has wooden
pillars and the shrine is made of black stone. The roof of the
temple is flat inside, outside is a leaden cover put by Maharaja
Pratap Singh of Satara, also there is a small spire or 'Shikhar'
over the shrine). Kabar of Afzalkhan. This is the tomb where
Afzal Khan's head was buried beneath the tower bears his name, Afzal
Buruj. A Dargah of Afzal Khan is constructed away from the fort to
the southeast of the Afzal Buruj, where an Urs (fair) is held
annually in the month of January or February) Return back to hotel
for lunch. After lunch, proceed for Tapola
(optional tour). Just around 30 Kms. away from Mahabaleshwar
is Tapola. Tapola is fondly referred to as ‘The Mini Kashmir’ all
thanks to its virgin beauty with rivers, dams, forests and hills
which is reminiscent of Kashmir-Heaven on Earth. It’s a riverside
area, an ideal picnic spot and a perfect abode for nature lovers.
One of the biggest dams of Maharashtra- the Shivsagar dam is housed
in this place. It’s the place where two rivers Koyna and Solshi
meet. Nature blossoms in Tapola and is perhaps will give anyone the
much-needed change from a busy city life. You can visit-
Shivsagar Dam (it’s the biggest dam in Maharashtra. One should
try out boating here. Motorboats, scooter rides and speedboats are
available for reasonable charges in the lake here. The splendid
Sahyadri hill range, the surrounding forest area and the view of the
distant forts makes the boating here prominent in the ‘must do’
list), Triveni Sangam (where Kyona, Solashi and Kandati
rivers meet), You can also visit- Bamnoli point and
Shooting point here. Return back to
Mahabaleshwar. Evening time will be free to discover the richness of
this beautiful land. Night halt at Mahabaleshwar. |
