A Weekend Trip to Mahabaleshwar from Mumbai

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It was on a Friday morning that we left our apartment, tucked away in a busy corner of Mumbai, for Mahabaleshwar and its refreshing environs. The winding roads and picturesque mountain views made for an exciting road trip, and I couldn’t wait to see what the hilltop hamlet had in store for me. We covered the 260 kilometres between Mumbai and Mahabaleshwar in 6 hours and finally reached Hotel Gautam, our abode for the next three days.

When in Mahabaleshwar, Don’t Leave Before You:

1. Go Strawberry Picking: On reaching, our first stop was to a strawberry farm. I would highly recommend you visit one on your trip to Mahabaleshwar too. Mapro Gardens and Cream Corner are two of the popular ones. Walk through the strawberry farms and treat yourself to fresh strawberries for as long as you like.

2. Enjoy Boating At Venna Lake: While December to June is not the best time to see the waterfalls in Mahabaleshwar, Venna Lake’s beauty more than makes up for it. Boating here is a very peaceful experience and both paddle and row boats are available for hire. There are many kiosks selling delicious Maharashtra street food, strawberries, mulberries and more, just opposite the lake.

3. Take In Views Of The Sahyadri Hills: No matter where you are in Mahabaleshwar, you’ll always be surrounded by fabulous hill views. For more uninterrupted views, head to Arthur’s Seat Point, Echo Point, Wilson Point (Sunrise Point,) and Bombay Point (Sunset Point), to name a few.

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4. Indulge In Strawberry With Cream: No holiday is complete till you’ve tried the local food of that place. In Mahabaleshwar, it is without doubt the sinful Strawberry with Cream. Try it out at Cream Corner Restaurant on your trip to Mahabaleshwar. It is located on Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Road and claims to have introduced the concept of Strawberry with Cream in the mid-70s.

5. Shop At The Local Market: The Mahabaleshwar Main Market is your one stop shop for souvenirs like fruit crushes, wooden toys, footwear, handicrafts, decorative showpieces, and of course, strawberries. Visit New India Boot House and Ram Footwear for super comfortable Kolhapuris and buy a pair for not more than Rs. 130!

There are many Mahabaleshwar hotels located close to the major tourist attractions. Our hotel was 10 minutes away from both Venna Lake and Cream Corner. At night, we came back to the delicious multi-cuisine food and strawberry desserts (most Mahabaleshwar hotels are pure vegetarian) that the in-house restaurant served, and indulged in activities like puppet shows, badminton, table tennis and more.

My three-day trip from Mumbai was pure bliss and I crave to go back to the land of strawberries!

Insider Tips

Where to Stay? Hotel The Travellers Inn (2 star), Citrus Resorts (4 star) are some of the popular hotels in Mahabaleshwar

Budget: Rs. 8000 (per day, inclusive of hotel, car hire and food)

Distance from Mumbai: 230 kilometres (5 hours by road via NH66)

Traveller type: Families, Couples