[v12]

We finally did our Mahabaleshwar trip last weekend - 24th-26th July 2009. Thanks to all those who provide their valuable updates on this thread.

This was a 2-family 2-car trip which included my and my cousins famliy and 2 cars - Qualis and Swift. The trip / drive was supposed to commence at 3 PM on Friday 24th July for 2 main reasons - to escape the evening traffic on the WE highway AND to reach Mahabaleshwar early in the night so we can have an early sleep. But things did not go as planned and we finally left at around 5:30 PM. Here is a pictorial log of the whole trip. Enjoy!

Stickering the Qualis


What we feared the most! The WE traffic.


Meeting up with Car No - 2 in Chembur @ 6:30 PM


Fuel stop at the Expressway Food Mall @ 8 PM


Dinner stop at Pune @ 10:30 PM

[v12]

We reached Mahabaleshwar - MTDC Resorts at around 1:30 AM. This because of the heavy rains and fog where the visibility was reduced to 50 metres and 30 kmph driving on the twists and turns. Brother was using Google Maps to locate the place but with the fog around us we couldn't even read the signboards. We even managed to enter MTDC without knowing we have reached

MTDC Resort @ 10-30 AM


Early morning visitors. They turned up right in time for breakfast.


Stickering the Swift


The resort workers advise us to visit Pratapgarh Fort first before visiting the other places. They informed us the lakes would be closed and there would be no boating during the rains. We were a bit disappointed. We were initially planning to take a guide along but were informed that Pratapgarh Fort is a straight drive and we would not need one.

So we set off to conquer Pratapgarh Fort at 12PM!

Waterfalls on the way!

[v12]

We reached Pratapgad Fort at around 1 PM. The view was a disppointment. There was so much heavy rainfall and fog that we could not get an actual view of the Fort. We entered the Fort area and the locals there informed us that you have to climb around 500 steps to reach the top of the fort.

We barely climbed halfway and realised that it would be useless since we would not be able to see anything except the fog. So we climbed back down. Although we did have a good look at the stuff on the way. Many parts of the fort have been re-built and there are various signs asking tourists "Not to litter" "Preserve the Heritage" blah blah. Whereas on the other hand, certain areas of the fort are "rented" out to the locals to open small hotels / stalls. Where is heritage preserved if we have stalls and hotels inside a Fort?

Anyways, I'll stop cribbing and go on with the pics.

The way to Pratapgad(rgh) Fort.


The rebuilt watch-tower from the parking lot.


The giant steps.


The entrance to the Fort.


It would be fun to see the look on the enemy's face if the cannon were actually installed here.


The watch-tower.


A cement mixer (?)

[v12]

After this we stopped for lunch at Sahayadri Dhaba and Restaurant. The place is good for its food and service. Post-lunch we proceeded back to Mahabaleshwar, refulled both the cars and picked up a guide.

The guide charged us around 200 bucks to show us a few points around Mahabaleshwar. But we just visited a few cos there was nothing much to see in the fog.

Sahayadri Hotel


The roads. You'll often see these signs.




The view from Kates Point. Dhom Dam can be seen in the pic.

[v12]

Finally the best view was from Panchagani when we were on our way back to Mumbai on Sunday.

I guess this is Table Top point, but please correct me if I am wrong. The whole view from this place is amazing. A panoramic pic would have cptured exactly what I'm trying to tell you.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Nice pics.

1] The dam shown in the pic from kates point is not dhom dam.
There is another small dam behind dhom dam on krishna river. I don't remember the name but it is not dhom dam.
2] It is not table top. It is parsi point near panchagani and you had taken pics of backwater of dhom dam. From that point, you can see kamalgad and pandavgad fort and raireshwar plateau.
3] The sahydri dhaba is at parking lot of pratapgad fort. There is one more very good hotel/dhaba named Cold point at the start of ambenali ghat. Food is excellent.
4] At mtdc mahabaleshwar, one can see giant squerrel.

[v12]

Thanks for the correction Ashish. I guessed as much I got most of the places wrong.

Anyways here are some pics of the drive back.

[Rudra Sen]

Nice stuff Allen. This area is best during monsoon. Green looks almost unreal. Reminds me of our Panchgani trip.

[ambivalent_98]

@v12....very beautiful pics.

I have driven to Mahabaleshwar to from Pune as I live in Pune , but how is the road between Mumbai and Poladpur ? I have driven up the ghat from Kokan ... its one experience to be had....

Nice pics allen , The swift looks awesome when she is wet

[zen91]

Reminds me of my trip to Mahabaleshwar in Oct 2008.

If I am not wrong then the waterfall is on the road which takes you to Pratapgarh fort. Had a good time near this waterfall with hot cup of tea from a tea stall(bandi) just opposit it.

The corn pakoda's at Venna lake were another highlight of this trip. Would like to visit this place soon.

[yogeshnagpal]

Hi..even I did a Mumbai - Panchgani - Pune - Mumbai on 1st and 2nd July...... the travelogue is still pending...........would be up shortly

[SDP]

Nice pics and details! I am planning a visit this July.

@V12/AshishPallod -> The waterfall in the pic looks really tempting. You had mentioned that it is on the way from Mahabaleshwar to Pratapgadh. Is it just next to the road and could not be missed OR should I be aware of a nearby landmark and possibly trek a little to reach the fall?