1. Krishnabai Mandir

Are you wondering what are the best places to visit in Mahabaleshwar while relaxing in one of the cozy rooms of a 5-star hotel? You can kickstart your itinerary by exploring Krishnabai Mandir. Situated in Old Mahabaleshwar, this ancient temple was constructed in 1888 by a king who ruled Ratnagiri. Tourists visit the temple from everywhere across the country and offer their prayers in front of the Shiva Lingam and the statue of Goddess Krishna inside the pious shrine.

Krishnabai Mandir

Address: XM78+P66 Krishana Devi Tempel, Old Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra 412806

Opening hours: open 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

2. Connaught Peak

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

One of the most popular places in Mahabaleshwar, Connaught Peak was once known as Mouth Olympia. As the legend goes, in 1880, when the Duke of Connaught visited the place, he was so blown away by its captivating beauty that he renamed the place.

The best time to visit Connaught Peak is during the monsoons from the month of July through September. Tourists can enjoy surreal views of the second-highest peak in Mahabaleshwar, which lies 1,400 m (4,593.18 ft) above sea level and overlooks the majestic Krishna Valley, Venna Lake, and Pratapgarh Fort.

Connaught Peak

Address: WMXC+5F5, Connaught Peak Rd, Maharashtra 412806

Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)

Price: Free

3. Pratapgad Fort

Pratapgad, a forest fort, is one of the prominent forts of Maharashtra and the Maratha Empire, situated at a tactical location with a 1,800 foot (549 meter) deep ravine and surrounded by the dense forest of Javali on all sides. In the year 1657, Shivaji became extremely powerful, abided by the rulers of Bijapur. To detain Shivaji, Afzal Khan was delegated, only to be slayed by Shivaji in a dramatic manner. The tomb of Afzal Khan exists in this fort and is built on leveled ground, on the down slope amongst the trees.

Pratapgad Fort is famous for the beauty of nature in and around it. There are two ways to reach Pratapgad Fort. One is via Mahad-Poladpur and the other via Wai-Mahabaleshwar. The journey to the fort is stunning with irregular streams and lush greenery soothing your body and soul. Parking is located outside the fort and you need to walk to reach the entrance of the fort. It is advisable to visit the fort in winter when visibility is clear and the weather is pleasant. Guides are available near the fort, who will give you the enthralling history of the place.

Pratapgad Fort

Address: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahabaleshwar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Contact: +91 9158560911

4. Elphinstone Point

The Elphinstone Point was first discovered in 1830 by Dr. Murray and is one of the highest points in Mahabaleshwar. The viewpoint received its name from Mount Stuart Elphinstone, the erstwhile Governor of Bombay. The cliff offers a panoramic view of the Pratapgad Fort, the Koyna Valley, and the nearby plains. One can also admire the gorge, which lies amid Elphinstone Point and Arthur’s Seat Point. This place is also recognized as the initiating point of the stunning Savitri River. Due to its remarkable beauty, Elphinstone Point is visited every day by both tourists and locals.

Elphinstone Point

Address: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahabaleshwar 402303, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Contact: +91 9158560911

5. Wilson Point (Sunrise Point)

Popularly known as the Sunrise Point, it is the highest in Mahabaleshwar at an altitude of 4708 feet (1,435 meters) and is about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the Mahabaleshwar Market, along the Satara Road. Wilson Point was named after Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Bombay between 1923 and 1926. The enormous picturesque plateau has three masonry platforms erected for convenience and is the only location in Mahabaleshwar that offers spectacular views of both sunrise and sunset. With the advantage of height, it also offers ethereal views of the city underneath. The best time to visit Wilson Point is at dawn, to enjoy the serenity of the place. It’s open all days of the week.

Wilson Point

Address: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahabaleshwar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 7:30 pm

6. Mahabaleshwar Temple

This is an ancient temple, located near Arthur’s Seat, and is nearly 5,000 years old. The architecture appears to be ancient and all the idols and the walls are carved from solid stone, which transports you to that era. It is supposed to be built on the source point of seven rivers namely Venna, Koyna, Savitri, Krishna, Gayatri, Bhagirath, and Saraswati. You can shop for handicraft goods sold near the temple as souvenirs. One of the most beautiful places in Mahabaleshwar, the temple takes around one hour to view, but avoid going on weekends as the narrow road becomes full of traffic.

Mahabaleshwar Temple

Address: Old Mahabaleshwar, Mahabaleshwar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

7. Arthur's Seat

Arthur’s Seat, also called Suicide Point, is also known as the mother of all points in Mahabaleshwar. It offers the most enthralling and captivating view of the impenetrable valleys of Brahma-Arayana and the Savitri River. Arthur’s Seat is a prevalent tourist location, and is named after Arthur Malet, who built the first house at this point. The point is perched at the height of 4,822 feet (1,470 m) above sea level and 1,968 feet (600 m) above the Konkan coastal strip. Arthur’s Seat is the only place from where visitors can see the geographical discrepancy between the Konkan and the Deccan territories.

Though Arthur’s Seat view point is quite far from the Mahabaleshwar town center, it is one of the most popular view points for its dramatic “Grand Canyon” comparable vistas. The drive to Arthur’s Seat is through heavily forested areas and during the monsoon, the mist makes the drive unnerving and enjoyable at the same time.

Arthur's Seat

Address: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahabaleshwar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 7:30 pm

8. Mapro Garden

Located along the way to Mahabaleshwar, the Mapro Garden is quite a landmark and easily accessible by road. Mapro Garden is an extremely popular location for tourist in Mahabaleshwar. The Mapro campus has a chocolate factory, a small nursery, a restaurant serving appetizing food, a children’s play area and retail outlet selling Mapro products. Mapro Garden also offers free strawberries to visitors during their visits.

Mapro Garden hosts its famous Strawberry Festival during the Easter weekend. More than 200 farmers from the neighboring villages partake in the four-day festival, introducing their farms to tourists. The Strawberry Festival displays raw strawberries and innovative strawberry-based products such as strawberry pizza, strawberry bhel, chocolate dipped strawberries and strawberry sandwiches among others.

Maproland

Address: 15/1B, Gureghar, Panchgani-Mahabaleswar Road, Mahabaleswar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Contact: +91 2168240112, +91 2168240199

Website: Maproland

9. Kate's Point

Kate’s Point is one of the best viewpoints in Mahabaleshwar, where the vast valley escorted by the dam delivers an overwhelming picture. Kate’s Point is located right on top of the Elephant Head Point. One needs to walk along the valley towards the left to view the Elephant Head Point right below Kate’s Point.

Kate’s Point is extremely popular with tourists due to the Elephant Head Point, best viewed from the Needle Head Point, displaying a natural hill protrusion, which appears to look like an elephant’s head with the trunk hanging down. Due to the crowd, finding a parking spot during weekends and public holidays is a task in itself.

Kate's Point

Address: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahabaleshwar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 7:30 pm

10. Table Land

Table Land is the one of the best locations to visit in Panchgani near Mahabaleshwar. This flat land on the barren hills is the second largest mountain plateau in Asia, at an elevation of 4,550 feet (1,387 meters) above sea level and surrounded by hills. For the adventurists, this place is a dual treat, where you can indulge in paragliding sports, while enjoying the astonishing view of the area. Table Land also presents the unsurpassed view of the splendid Krishna Valley and the small town of Panchgani. You can also get a clear picture of the Devil’s Kitchen and Rajpuri Caves, believed to be the shelter of the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata during their exile.

Table Land

Address: Godavali, Panchgani 412805, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm

11. Lingmala Waterfall

Lingmala Falls is one of the best places to visit in Panchgani, as it provides the best picture of the Dhobi Waterfalls and Chinaman Waterfalls. The remarkable Lingmala Waterfall lies on the road of the Mahabaleshwar-Pune highway. If you are staying in a family-friendly resort nearby, this is an ideal place for relaxation, and to admire nature with many photography opportunities. The best time to visit Lingmala Falls is during the monsoon season when these waterfalls are flooded with water and descend from the majestic cliff with a thunderous roar, heightening the experience for visitors. You can also enjoy a refreshing bath once you reach the waterfall.

Lingmala Waterfall

Address: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Panchgani - Mahabaleshwar Rd, Satara 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm

12. Venna Lake

The artificial lake was built in 1942 by Shri Appasaheb Maharaj and was built to provide water for the people of Mahabaleshwar. Indulge in some fun filled activities like boat riding or visit the amusement park which is opposite the lake. You can also enjoy horse riding and admire the lake from a different perspective, or take a nice stroll around the lake and admire mother nature’s lush greenery, a treat for the eyes.

Venna Lake is about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Mahabaleshwar Market and can be reached by car or cab. Expect the lake to be crowded during the weekends and public holidays and plan your trip to the lake accordingly. The best time to visit Venna Lake is during the month of August thru December and it is open to the public daily.

Venna Lake

Address: Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Rd., Mahabaleshwar 412806, Maharashtra

Opening Hours: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

Mahabaleshwar, a treat to your senses

Mahabaleshwar is a place that welcomes you with all its heart. The real spirit of nature can be experienced in Mahabaleshwar during the monsoon season. With waterfalls, fog and greenery all around, you will be transported instantly to an ethereal world. There are many points worth visiting and trekking, all making your visit to this beautiful hill station a treat to your senses. There are also more places to stay, including pet-friendly hotels and Airbnb vacation rentals, so take your pick.