Exploring Mahableshwar

After leaving Panchgani and on the way to Mahableshwar is the famous Mapro Garden, outside the Mapro garden one can find plenty of stalls for fresh strawberry. Mapro garden is famous for their fresh Strawberries with ice cream, a must try. I would also recommend their classic brown bread sandwich, one of the best I have had.

After indulging in the strawberry flavors it was time to see the nature’s beauty. I quickly started my bike and headed for the next stop Echo point, from the echo point is the spectacular view of the Dhom dam at the same place is Kate’s point and needle point from where you can see the elephant’s head.

After spending some time watching furious monkey fights it was time for the next spot, Venna lake. Venna lake is a busy place with buzzing tourists, main attraction is the boating house. One can hire a rowing boat with 6-8 seater at Rs 800 for an hour. After grabbing my lunch snack and ginger tea here I headed to the next spot.

It was a short ride to Wilson point, view at this point may not be as spectacular compared to the other point, but it’s in honor of Sir Leslie Winston, who was practically the first European to set his foot on these hills. It’s the only point where you can see the sunrise and sunset.

It is now 2 pm and I have many more places to visit before sunset. The next stop is Pratapgad fort, this is historic fort of the Maratha regime, although travelling to this fort takes time, it is an energetic ride through the Ambenali ghats for any bike rider with curvy roads and hilly plateau towards the side, and it is never exhausting. Looking at the Maratha flag hoisted high on top of the fort one can imagine the struggle of soldiers protecting this outpost. Scene from the fort gives a panoramic view of the valley and the prime location of the fort.

It was time to go back before Sunset, reached my next spot the Bombay point otherwise the Sunset point, I have to say I was little bit disappointed having reached there by 5 pm so early (the sunset was at 6:20 pm), had a bit of snack as I was very hungry and then decided to head for the final view point. The Sunset point doesn’t mesmerize you; nevertheless you can enjoy a short horse ride through the tiger trek path.

Before heading to my next point which was Arthur's seat, I was a bit anxious to reach there before sunset, it was a 30 min ride to the Arthur seat point, the ride takes you through beautiful forest with curvy roads, it was a blissful ride through out. On the way to Arthur seat you can stop by at various points 3 monkey point, Castle rock point, Marjorie point and Savitri valley.

Reaching Arthur point in time before sunset, you are awestruck by the magnificent view from the edge. The photographs don’t do justice to the actual view, it was never ending valley under the back drop of sunset. The view is a treat to the eyes, no wonder it’s called the queen of viewpoints.

After watching the sunset it was 6:45 pm and was getting dark and cold, the climate throughout the day was fabulous, in spite of clear sky and sunny weather, the climate was chill and never dehydrating giving you a pleasant experience. The entire trip was wonderful and having traveled 150 KMs throughout the day it was never tiring. It was the journey through the hills, valleys and forests that gives more satisfying experience than the destination.