Rain & wind swept Mahabaleshwar/Panchgani

spadival · 21st July 2007, 09:30

We (Me, my wife and sis in law) went to Mahabaleshwar for a day's visit, a couple of weeks ago. We were able to make it only to a couple of "points" as it was raining heavily. But the scenery in between the rains was breathtaking.. We liked it better than the last visit in summer.. when everything was dry and brown with patches of greenery. Though we missed the fresh strawberries and boat ride in the lake this time.

The highlight of the trip this time was Sydney point in Panchgani.. you need to drive up and around a hill on a narrow road to the hill top. We literally had gale force wind blasting at us and even shaking the car..

Visibility for driving inside Mahabaleshwar was pretty low because of the mist and rain.. everyone was driving around with headlights on and hazard lights flashing !!

Some pics from the trip..

GTO · 21st July 2007, 10:16

So close, and yet so different. Mahabaleshwar / Panchgani is a favorite with my family...especially in the monsoons. Nice pics.

scooby05 · 21st July 2007, 10:23

Its Heaven in the Monsoons! Visit Mahbi at least twice every monsoons.
Sure who evers visited realised the amount of Oxygen one breatehes in!!
Its a Total Recharge, with no crowds and hassles.
Normally Leave at 6am and am there by 10am Ready for Breakfast.
Non monsoon time have clocked 3.15 hrs Mumbai Mahabaleshwer, Mahad road, Umpteen times over the last 25 years!

humyum · 21st July 2007, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooby05

Its Heaven in the Monsoons! Visit Mahbi at least twice every monsoons.
Sure who evers visited realised the amount of Oxygen one breatehes in!!
Its a Total Recharge, with no crowds and hassles.
Normally Leave at 6am and am there by 10am Ready for Breakfast.
Non monsoon time have clocked 3.15 hrs Mumbai Mahabaleshwer, Mahad road, Umpteen times over the last 25 years!

Yeah me too 3.15 min by maruti 800 by the same route.

Had been there just before sometime and totally agree that mahabaleshwar is the place to be in the monsoons

akroy · 21st July 2007, 15:55

From the pics, it looks amazing at this point of time.... Hopefully sometime i will able to do these places of Maharashtra....

BTW, Nice pics...
Abhi

V-16 · 21st July 2007, 16:47

Mahablesshwar, oh my God. My most favourite place for a holiday. I can go there for all the chuttis I can manage. I am necessarily an outdoors person so any place like MAhableshwar is like a Magnet.
I have spent loads of quality time with my family as a Kid in Mahableshwar (who says I've grown up?). The beautiful period hotels and the old world charm. Race View which has since shut down, Fredricks, Dina (my favourite) and Fountain(my favourite again). Arguably the best Gujrati food in Mahableshwar is available in Fountain. The horse rides, treks, walks down the lakeside, the evening corn on the cob, strawberries, Hirakani gardens and now the Bagicha, wow...!! Just to add that now the time to Mahableshwar is officially 3.5 hours through Pune without stepping on the gas and without doing dangerous driving via Mahad. Via Mahad road is history. Anyone wanting to go to Mahableshwar during Ganpati Holidays...Im Game!!

moralfibre · 22nd July 2007, 11:59

I have spent 4 years of my schooling in Panchgani. Nothing beats the place for a vacation over a weekend. Great pics Spadival.

paras211 · 22nd July 2007, 12:52

my fav holiday spot too.
the ghats from the pune route are easier than the mahad ones

moralfibre · 22nd July 2007, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by paras211

my fav holiday spot too.
the ghats from the pune route are easier than the mahad ones

I agree the Ghats from Pune side are easier and shorter gives us an excuse not to take them

. I prefer the Poladpur side route because I was a Bombay resident when I did my schooling hence the drive from that side of Mahabaleshwar made a difference.

You know what my ideal route from Bombay to Mahabaleshwar will be?

Bombay (NH-17) - Take Tamhini Route to Pune (before Mahad) - Reach Satara Road - Turn right for Bhor and take Verandah ghat to Mahad - from Mahad to Poladpur to Mahabaleshwar. Total distance multiplies by three

!

spadival · 24th July 2007, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by moralfibre

I have spent 4 years of my schooling in Panchgani. Nothing beats the place for a vacation over a weekend. Great pics Spadival.

Yeah.. One thing we noticed is the lovely schools around Panchgani.. So much so, My wife decided to send our (yet to be born) kids to one of the schools in Panchgani

deepakhon · 24th July 2007, 14:26

My cousin is getting married at Pune on Sep 1. Is it a good time to visit Mahabaleshwar? Unfortunately, my wife is not game to the idea of driving all the way from Bangalore to Pune and Mahabaleshwar. I will have to end up either flying or "train"ing (how boring!). How far is Mahabaleshwar from Pune?

moralfibre · 24th July 2007, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepakhon

How far is Mahabaleshwar from Pune?

It's a fun filled 140 kms drive from Pune with some nice divided four lane highways for atleast 70-80 kms.

lohithrao · 24th July 2007, 15:17

WOw Heaven!

Reminds me of Charmadi, bisle

shrivz · 24th July 2007, 15:44

Time for a drive to Mahabi!!!

Nice pics there!

mobike008 · 24th July 2007, 18:01

Lovely pics, Mahbi is best visited during monsoons to enjoy that greenery and peaceful atmosphere with less tourists. For that matter, even goa is a favorite of mine during monsoon, the drive is superb !!!

21st July 2007, 09:30	#1
spadival Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, AU Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	Rain & wind swept Mahabaleshwar/Panchgani We (Me, my wife and sis in law) went to Mahabaleshwar for a day's visit, a couple of weeks ago. We were able to make it only to a couple of "points" as it was raining heavily. But the scenery in between the rains was breathtaking.. We liked it better than the last visit in summer.. when everything was dry and brown with patches of greenery. Though we missed the fresh strawberries and boat ride in the lake this time. The highlight of the trip this time was Sydney point in Panchgani.. you need to drive up and around a hill on a narrow road to the hill top. We literally had gale force wind blasting at us and even shaking the car.. Visibility for driving inside Mahabaleshwar was pretty low because of the mist and rain.. everyone was driving around with headlights on and hazard lights flashing !! Some pics from the trip.. Last edited by Rehaan : 21st July 2007 at 12:05. Reason: Images fixed. Please use "thumbnails for forums (1) " in the future
	() Thanks

21st July 2007, 10:16	#2
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	So close, and yet so different. Mahabaleshwar / Panchgani is a favorite with my family...especially in the monsoons. Nice pics.
	() Thanks

21st July 2007, 10:23	#3
scooby05 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,145 Thanked: 192 Times	Its Heaven in the Monsoons! Visit Mahbi at least twice every monsoons. Sure who evers visited realised the amount of Oxygen one breatehes in!! Its a Total Recharge, with no crowds and hassles. Normally Leave at 6am and am there by 10am Ready for Breakfast. Non monsoon time have clocked 3.15 hrs Mumbai Mahabaleshwer, Mahad road, Umpteen times over the last 25 years!
	() Thanks

21st July 2007, 15:55	#5
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 2,423 Thanked: 85 Times View My Garage	From the pics, it looks amazing at this point of time.... Hopefully sometime i will able to do these places of Maharashtra.... BTW, Nice pics... Abhi
	() Thanks

21st July 2007, 16:47	#6
V-16 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 4,594 Thanked: 950 Times View My Garage	Mahablesshwar, oh my God. My most favourite place for a holiday. I can go there for all the chuttis I can manage. I am necessarily an outdoors person so any place like MAhableshwar is like a Magnet. I have spent loads of quality time with my family as a Kid in Mahableshwar (who says I've grown up?). The beautiful period hotels and the old world charm. Race View which has since shut down, Fredricks, Dina (my favourite) and Fountain(my favourite again). Arguably the best Gujrati food in Mahableshwar is available in Fountain. The horse rides, treks, walks down the lakeside, the evening corn on the cob, strawberries, Hirakani gardens and now the Bagicha, wow...!! Just to add that now the time to Mahableshwar is officially 3.5 hours through Pune without stepping on the gas and without doing dangerous driving via Mahad. Via Mahad road is history. Anyone wanting to go to Mahableshwar during Ganpati Holidays...Im Game!!
	() Thanks

22nd July 2007, 11:59	#7
moralfibre Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MH-12 Posts: 8,451 Thanked: 13,973 Times	I have spent 4 years of my schooling in Panchgani. Nothing beats the place for a vacation over a weekend. Great pics Spadival.
	() Thanks

22nd July 2007, 12:52	#8
paras211 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 646 Thanked: 108 Times View My Garage	my fav holiday spot too. the ghats from the pune route are easier than the mahad ones
	() Thanks

24th July 2007, 14:26	#11
deepakhon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,441 Thanked: 65 Times	My cousin is getting married at Pune on Sep 1. Is it a good time to visit Mahabaleshwar? Unfortunately, my wife is not game to the idea of driving all the way from Bangalore to Pune and Mahabaleshwar. I will have to end up either flying or "train"ing (how boring!). How far is Mahabaleshwar from Pune?
	() Thanks

24th July 2007, 15:17	#13
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	WOw Heaven! Reminds me of Charmadi, bisle Last edited by lohithrao : 24th July 2007 at 15:18.
	() Thanks

24th July 2007, 15:44	#14
shrivz BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pune, MH12 Posts: 604 Thanked: 96 Times View My Garage	Time for a drive to Mahabi!!! Nice pics there!
	() Thanks

24th July 2007, 18:01	#15
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,705 Thanked: 14,865 Times View My Garage	Lovely pics, Mahbi is best visited during monsoons to enjoy that greenery and peaceful atmosphere with less tourists. For that matter, even goa is a favorite of mine during monsoon, the drive is superb !!!
	() Thanks