Mahabaleshwar, generally referred to as the queen of hill stations of Maharashtra, is a pretty and popular hill station in Satara district.

It is a source of river Krishna that flows across Maharashtra. Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The legendary source of the river is from the mouth of a cow statue in the ancient temple of Mahadev.

1st historical mention of Mahabaleshwar is found in the year 1215 when a king Singhan of Deogiri visited the source of Krishna and built a temple here. Later in the 16th century, this place became an important part of the Maratha empire.

The famous Pratapgad built by Shivaji Maharaj is located near Mahabaleshwar.

In the 1800s, during the British rule, Mahabaleshwar became the summer capital of Bombay presidency. The Britishers planted European flora and fauna, to turn the place into a Britisher's kind of landscape. Hence this place was introduced to strawberries and other amenities like lakes for water, libraries, theatres, sports grounds, etc.

The all year round pleasant climate attracted many people and Britishers here; thus, making Mahabaleshwar a popular tourist destination from the end of the 19th century.

The average elevation of Mahabaleshwar is 1,353 m. It is situated in the Satara district and is located 123 kms from Pune and 243 kms from Mumbai.

It is very well connected by road and the nearest railway station is Satara (60 kms).

Mahabaleshwar comprises of 3 villages – Malcolm peth, Kshetra (old Mahabaleshwar) and Shindola village. The climate is very refreshing in Mahabaleshwar throughout the year. The rainfall is quite heavy, but summers and winters are mild.

The best time to visit is from September to June.

From September onwards, tourists flock here to feast over the juiciest and best strawberries, as Mahabaleshwar boasts for its strawberry plantation. Strawberry and Mulberry served with whipped cream is a must-try when in Mahabaleshwar.

Mapro, a food processing company has its outlet in Mahabaleshwar. Mapro is very well known for its various fruit products like jelly, jams, squash, juices, etc.

Mahabaleshwar is a perfect weekend destination for everyone, especially for couples. The hill station has a number of tourist attraction with will soothe your with its natural beauty along with some heritage monuments. Krishnabai temple, Mahabaleshwar shiva temple, Panchganga temple are some popular religious places here.

Apart from this the Pratapgad and Morarji castle are a must-visit for history lovers. Venna lake, surrounded by beautiful mountains is a beautiful place for boating.

There are numerous viewpoints that a strategically located so that the visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of the mesmerizing valleys and mountains in Sahyadris; they are – Arthur point, 3 monkey point, Kate’s point, Needle hole/Elephant point, Wilson point, Bombay point, Helen’s point, Connaught point and Carnac point. This hill-station also houses a number of milky waterfalls like Lingmala waterfalls, Bilhar waterfalls, and Dhobi waterfalls. Tapola, also referred to as “mini Kashmir” of Maharashtra is located 25 km from Mahabaleshwar.

Tapola is known for its 90 km long Shiv Sagar lake and it’s rustic Gerbera farms. There are hostels, budget hotels and 3 to 5-star hotels and resorts to stay in and around Mahabaleshwar, which will provide you with the enthralling view of the surrounding area.