Travel Guide Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar takes its name from the presiding deity, Mahabali, whose altar at the old Mahabaleshwar temple attracts devotees and tourists alike. Nestled in the mountain ranges of Maharashtra's Western Ghats, in the Satara district, the cool, misty tourist resort of Mahabaleshwar is far from the crowds and noise of the city. With a population of 12,740, this quiet, refreshing high-altitude resort is an ideal vacation destination. We go here to escape the heat of the plains.Mahabaleshwar is easily accessible from Pune. It's perhaps the only place in Maharashtra where you can enjoy so many different activities: canoeing, fishing, horse-riding, trekking and a sumptuous nine-hole cliffside golf course. Overlooking the Krishna and Koyna valleys, Mahabaleshwar, at an altitude of 1,372 m, offers a whole world of pleasures. With its unspoilt beauty, it's a paradise for nature lovers and peace-lovers, as well as film-makers and producers. The summer capital of the former Mumbai Presidency, Mahabaleshwar retains much of its charm despite the crowds that are increasingly pouring into the city. Numerous mansions, built under English rule, stand majestically as monuments of the state.