Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. A popular town, with an air of unspoilt beauty, it meanders leisurely for 5 kms. at an altitude of 1372m.

While away the hours boating or fishing at the placid Venna Lake. Explore the walks or the thirty points that offer panoramic views of the valley and the sea. Bathe in the crystal waters of the numerous waterfalls.

Discover Pratapgad Fort 24 kms. away, where Shivaji dramatically bested General Afzal Khan. And the gorgeous ninehole golf course built on the edge of a cliff! Or simply idle through the tiny lanes of the bazaar, shopping for everything from shoes to luscious strawberries, blackberries, jams and jellies.

Taxis and rickshaws are easily available though a bicycle, which you can hire by the hour or for the day, is the best way to get around.

Temperature vary from 13oC in winter to 29 oC in summer with a yearly rainfall of 663 cms.

The best time to visit is October to June.

Getting there:
Pune is the nearest airport, 120 kms. away. Pune is also the most convenient railhead, though Wathar at 62 kms. is the nearest.

Mumbai is 290 kms. away by road via Pune and 247 kms. via Mahad.

Panchgani derives its name from the five hills around it. At an altitudes of 1334m. it is just 38m. below Mahabaleshwar. These 38m translate themselves into a breathtraking 18 km. approach, that swoops around bends with abandon, offering heart-stopping views of the River Krishna on one side and the coastal plains on the the other.

Panchagani is the quintessential residential hill-station, with the Raj stamped indelibly all over it. It can be seen in the architecture of the old British buildings, the Parsi houses and the boarding schools that have been around for a century or more.

For glimpses of a vanished era, special visit to some of the old British and Parsi houses is also important. Amble along the walkways, thoisckly canopied by lush trees and vegetation and deleight is the secrets you come upon.

The Krishna, snaking through tiny hamlets, farms and ravines, hundreds of meters below. (Visit Table Land, a flat mountain peak and feast your eyes on the coastal pplains, looking like miniature water colours.)

Select a horse from one of the numerous stable and canter along uncharted routes through hidden lovers' lanes, to the caves and Kamalgad Fort. Or while away time at the bazaar.

Panchagani is the one of those rare places that doesnot crowd anyone, yet in its own unhurried way deeply touches every visitor.

Taxis are easily available, though here too, bicycles (and horseback) are recommended for traveling long distances.

Temperatures vary from 16°C in winter to 35°C in summer, with an annual rainfall of 216 cms.

September to May is the best time to visit.

Getting There:
Pune 98 kms. away, is the nearest airport and the most convenient railhead. Oanchgani via Mahad is 266 kms. There is an alternative route via Pune.

Lonaval and Khandala are two charming little hill stations on the western slopes of the Sahyadris, 5 kms. apart, that straddle the Mumbai-Pune highway at an altitude of 625 m.

Quite popular as health resort, there are a number of sanatoria dotting the hills in the towns.

Khandala is smaller and calmer of the two, though browsing through Lonavala's bazaar could yield some wonderfull surprises. Both towns offer scenic views of the surrounding hills and in the monsoon, with a myriad waterfalls, it can be enchanting.

Karla about 12 kms. from Lonavala, is the site of the largest Chaitya caves in India, built in 89 B.C. Amongst the best-preserved Buddhist temples in India, they represent the zenith, in terms of design purity, of this style of temple architecture.

Taxis and auto-rickshaws, easily available in Lonavala and Khandala, are the best way of getting to and from Karla.

Temperatures vary from 12°C to 36°C throughout the year with an annual rainfall of 450 cms.

October to May is the best time to visit.

Getting there :
Pune 66 kms. away, is the nearest airport. All trains fro Mumbai to Pune and the south stop at Lonavala. Mumbai is 104 kms. away by road, the last 20 kms. of which wind up the ghats through gruellinmg switchbacks.

Matheran is an undulating hilltop cloaked in shady trees, that sprawls languidly at an altitude of 800 m. The journey involves an adventurous two hour ascent in a toy train.

With food and drink vendors and monkeys jumping on and off, as the valley glides by sedately! Or a tough 11 km. Hike through thick and shady forests.

Matheran's cliffs with incredibly steep drops to the plains below create stunning viewing points. These panoramic vistas, by day and night, leave you feeling light-headed. The Hart Point offers a view of the lights of Mumbai at night!

All of Matheran is a series of such quixotically named points that are popular, if isolated, sides of picnic and fireside revelry at night. Charlotte Lake, the Panther's Caves and Paymaster Park are other attractions, especially for children. The old world charm of the British and Parsi homes is an irresistible draw.

The main bazaar offers a variety of items such as cane and leather articles, hats, chappals and the sinfully sweet speciality - CHIKKI!

Vehicles of any kind are not permitted in the town, which makes it a very quiet, serene place.

Temperatures vary from 16°C in winter to 32°C in summer, with an annual rainfall of 524 cms.

October to May is the best time to visit.

Getting There:
Mumbai, 100 kms. away is the nearest airport. Neral 21 kms. away, is where you transfer to the toy train. Mumbai is 108 kms. away by road, via Karjat and Neral. Pune is 120 kms. away.