Mahabaleshwar is situated in the middle of the Sahyadris, about 120 km south of
Pune. It is regarded as the queen of hill stations in
Maharashtra and lies at an altitude of 1372 m. Once, it was the summer capital of Bombay Presidency during the British rule. During 1834 to 1864 it was used as a prison for Chinese and Malay offenders. Mahabaleshwar is the origin of the five rivers - Krishna, Koyna, Venna, Savitri, and Gayatri, and got its name from the
Mahableshwar Temple. The area is rich in springs, waterfalls and lush green valleys. Sir B D Petit library and Morarji Castle are worth visiting here. Tourists can enjoy boating or fishing on the
Venna Lake. The
Panchgani Hill Station is a nearby attraction.
The nearest airport is at Pune and the nearest railhead is Satara, 47 km from Mahabaleshwar.
