For this trip we booked our stay at Hotel Mahabaleshwar Fragrance, Panchgani. (To book call on 77190 86555 and mention my post to get discount).
From Katraj (Pune) we drove around 9 am in the morning. Our first stop was Temple city - Wai. As soon as we entered in Mahaganpati temple everyone was stunned, very tall idol of lord Ganesh was next to us. There are few more small temples on same ghat and one major temple in right side of temple. We spent 10 min at each temple and left for Menavali ghat.
You might have noticed this menavali ghat many times in most of Bollywood movies as well as in Marathi movies. Menavali ghat having two temples on bank of Krishna River. This beautiful temple is really treat to eyes and little greenery at back of temple adds colors to site. Next to temple you will find locals washing their cloths and swimming. It's quite normal on any of ghats in India but because of this water bodies get polluted and water smells a lot near ghat. After spending more than hour on ghat we sat beneath of huge banyan tree near steps leads to Nana Phadanvis wada. If you have gujju or jain friend while traveling then you don't have to worry about food. They carry entire kitchen in their bag (dedicated food supply bag). All of us were hungry a lot as we all left hour homes early in morning for trip. We eat bread with nuttela and chutney. While shraddha unpacked crunchy chakali, chocolates and so many things from bag.
From Menavali ghat one should walk for 5 minutes to visit Nana Phadanvis wada. . This beautiful wada built in year 1780 by Nana Phadanvis, who was influential minister and statesman of the Maratha Empire during the Peshwa administration in Pune, India. Prime attraction of this wada is most of things which used in old days are still preserved and maintained very well. In 2018 this wada has been renovated and now a days there is staff and guides to give all information. Every room, varandah, admin staff quarter area, gallery and sitting area is really amazing and gives royal feel. Architecture still amazed me a lot and hats off to ground staff to keep this historical place so neat and clean. Also they make Rangoli next to main entrance door with mini water tubs. If you love historical places and architecture then you should never miss this place.
Next was drove direct to our stay location at HOTEL MAHABALESHWAR FRAGRANCE. Rooms were clean, everything was so neat and perfect. We got freshen up in no time as we were hungry, we placed our order over and in 20 minutes something everything was next to us. We enjoyed our meals with views of valleys. One thing which I still remember and that marked in my heart is the fragrance of food. That aroma coming from hotel kitchen is something I never forget in my life. I really enjoyed every meal from their kitchen.
Around 8pm manager called us & asked to gather at lawn. As usual temp was low that night so staff from hotel has already made arrangement of bonfire. Karaoke started, many guest started singing for there loved ones and most of the time they singing wrong lyrics. We sat by bonfire while enjoying the karaoke and spicy warm starters. One guest really sung so good and set the party mood and two of my team mates started dancing like monkeys like no one is around them. Sometimes few people teach you so many things without saying a world. True meaning of Freedom and confidence these two things I learned in different ways each time when I travel. We ate delicious food that night, literally I had no space in stomach for anything.
Around 5.55 am we were all set to go for sunrise. Sidney point was just 15 min driving distance from our hotel. Sydney point is one of the best thing to visit in Panchgani/Mahabaleshwar. To be honest Sydney point is my favorite spot for sunrise in Panchgani. Sydney point is situated on hill from where one can see krishna valley and dhom dam, also table land, parsi point can be easily spotted from top. When we reached to Sydney point, there was little haze and sun was above the horizon. I saw shimmering light, felt cool breeze through my hair, the sounds of birds and surroundings felt like earth is singing a song. We spent more than 1 hour at hanging wooden bridge on hilltop and felt so refreshing even when no had bath that morning.
A trip to Mahabi is incomplete is you miss to visit any of Strawberry farms. Next we drove back to hotel as we had to visit strawberry farm too. I have been to Mahabi many times but never got a chance to visit strawberry farm but thanks to our hotel manager who invited us to visit farm. We walked for 10 mins and passed by old wells, forest like area and small pond where I noticed common sparrows were bathing in cold water. When we entered to strawberry garden I sensed a very strong aroma of strawberries. I plucked and ate dozens of sweet, juicy strawberries like there is no tomorrow.
We were so hungry and we got freshen up in no time as soon as we reached back to hotel. Pohe, Chole bhature and Jam sandwich were waiting for us. Again Hotel Mahabaleshwar Fragrance never failed to amaze me with food taste and service. We decided to rest ourselves in afternoon as we had to go for two points in the evening.
Next we went to Lingmala falls and wilson point for sunset. The one thing which I didn't liked is forest department doesn't allow DSLR with telephoto lense as it comes under forest area. I don't know why the hell everything is allowed in forest area apart from DSLR. The people whom we call literate do littering blindly at most sensitive places and behave like idiots on points. And at same time forest department have problem with photographers. Let it be, I loved small trail leads to water streams before it connects to main waterfall. We were lucky enough witness beautiful Malabar Giant Squirrel who is also state animal of Maharashtra. And best thing was that squirrel was playing on trees from one to other. At one point that squirrel stopped to taste the berries on trees. Next we walked to main waterfall, due to off season water stream was quite low but still water stream was enough to caught attraction.
Go for wilson point only if you get have covered all points in Mahbaleshwar/Panchgani. Even at this point one forest officer came and asked to pack our camera bags and leave the site.
When we reached our hotel we were very tired and I was half dead after having awesome day. But, life sometimes offers you so much when you don't expect. We went to lawn as it was empty and only four of us were there at moment. Manager of our hotel played friends songs playlist for us, panner chilly and chicken 65 was lip smacking and the vibes were just beyond words. Soon guests from hotel arrived one by one and once again we rock and rolled. We ate around 11.30 at night and sat next to bonfire again for another hour while chit chating old memories of travels.
As it was our last day of trip we woke early. I was the one who woke up before ringing alarm bells of phone. It was 5.15 am when we left our hotel and we reached our destination in just 20-25 mins. For the very first time in past few hours we reached our planned place very early than expected. It was so dark that no one steeped out the car for first 10 mins then at east little yellow shades I noticed and went outside to explore. Near Krishnabai old shiva temple there is unnamed place for sunrise. Soon shades started to dance on beats of rising sun and valley looked so appealing to me. The beauty of this place is really I can put in words. We sat there only for the reason that we felt strong connect with the moment and it felt like heaven. Then one villager told us to follow the trail and we reached one of best place I ever been to. Trust me I was literally on cloud nine and surprised with the beauty of sahyadris.
And do you know that we ate one of the most expensive Poha at old mahabaleshwar. One big mistake we did before placing our order was we didn't asked prices for one plate of poha. And when we asked him bill he said RS 60 per plate for poha and RS 25 for tea. We were in coma for moment but it was our mistake that we asked menu after finishing meals.
I read one large board next to Krishnabai temple "Photography strictly not allowed(to be specific prewedding/commercial/dslr etc)" but there was no mention of mobile photography. Many times I have seen people clicking photographs using phones and DSLR before but the so called pandit didn't allowed me to click picture of temple from outside. He cleaned his hands, washed his legs and did kulla from water falling through Gomukh(cow face) which falls in water tank and then connects to krishna river. Allow many claims this water as origin of krishna river. Sadly no one cares the purity of water and staff itself behave like illiterate instead following basic rules of place as defined by ASI. I would recommend this place to visit for sunrise as krishna valley looks stunning from this point. The main attraction of this temple is stone carved columns, ceiling and temple architecture. Shiva lingam and Krishna goddess idol is also main attraction of temple.
Next we drove through thick forest covers of old mahableshwar and reached to one of most photographed place in Mahableshwar. Arthur's seat point and Savitri Point both are side by side but still they give different views of valleys. Arthur's seat point is also known as suicide point and it is considered as Queen of all the points in Mahabaleshwar. It is named as Arthur's Point after Arthur Malet whose wife and daughter drowned in the Savitri River. He used to sit at this point and stare at the river below. From Arthur's seat point one can easily notice the geographical contrast between konkan and the deccan territories. Deep valley, river flowing through forest and weather makes this place so perfect and dreamy. The barren deep savitri valley at left and lush green forest cover of Jor at right is really treat for eyes. Tiger spring is small water source which is one of source of Savitri river. That day weather was so clear and only blue skies with very little clouds we seen. Also this point offers mesmerising views of valleys, mountain layers and views of historical locations like Pratapgad, Raireshwar and Koleshwar.
While traveling to our next point we stopped by graveyard as beautiful light rays we noticed. I took some really good photographs there but I was surprised by videos made by Shradha. This small yet horror type graveyard looked so attractive to me and really felt like active movie seen for moment. By 11 sun was so hot and our bodies got tanned due to walking in under direct sun. At kates point we just spend few mins and decided to head back to hotel.
There is very different and relax feel after getting hot shower after tiresome wandering. Without wasting much time we packed our bags and as usual sat for lunch. We knew that we had to wander a lot in evening too HUM TUTH PAD GAYE KHANE PE... And then we had to finish the strawberry shake too. Before leaving the hotel we thanked to all the staff who really took care of us, specially chef and the manager. I never thought before coming to this hotel that we would enjoy this much at such a relaxing place.
Points to Not to be missed-
Sydney point, Parsi point, Table land, Wilson point, Lingmala waterfall, Ludwick point, Elephants head point, Authers seat point, Krishnabai temple, Kates point, Dhom dam.
Stay Recommendation - Hotel Mahabaleshwar Panchgani
(To book call on 77190 86555 and mention my post to get discount).