Strawberry Fields are Calling

How to find pockets of peace in an otherwise noisy and crowded holiday destination. Here's the lowdown on Mahabaleshwar.

If you thought Mahabaleshwar was an example of the worst sort of polluted tourist destination, think again! If you want a quick, peaceful getaway from Mumbai then Mahabaleshwar and Panchagani still remain tops. It's strawberry country complete with rugged hills, gushing waterfalls, and flowing streams. 

No, the tourist menace has not come down. Mahabaleshwar at most times is swarming with tourists busy horseriding, gokarting when not stuffing themselves with strawberries and icecreams. But, it's up to you to find ways to escape the merry melee. For starters, check in either at the MTDC resort or Frederick's. The MTDC resort, like most MTDC resorts, is located in one of the best spots in Mahabaleshwar with the best views.

Frederick's also faces the Venna lake. In fact, there is a muddy trail from the resort to the lake that you can use to escape the crowded road to the lake. Frederick's is a charming, old-worldly string of cottages that are over 80 years old and is on the India Heritage list. It is currently being run by the three Frederick sisters who have done a fantastic job of retaining the old world magic of the resort. 

Once you check into the cottage style rooms, you can unwind on the deckchairs provided outside. The service is informal yet extremely professional. You can ask for meals to be part of the tarrif if you have a yen for colonial style meals (very, very non-veg!)---mutton cellestine rounded off with the original strawberries and cream. The Frederick sisters do not believe in cold storage so all the meals are fresh and seasonal.

You can trek down to the Venna lake early in the ealy morning to avoid the hordes that descend on the lake in the evening or all through the day. Points like Kate Point, Arthur's Point etc are avoidable during the day and in the evening. You can make it a point to visit them in the early mornings if you must see them! As far as I'm concerned, the vista looks the same from all points and I'd rather spend the day curled up in my deckchair with a book.

On the other hand, if it's shopping that you want to do then apart from jams, jellies, and crushes, you can also buy excellent, trendy footwear, bags, walking sticks, and wicker products. Just make sure not to hit the markets in the mornings and evenings. So the trick is to beat the crowd by staying out of their way and generally doing the opposite of what everyone else does in Mahabaleshwar. 

Facts about Mahabaleshwar

Initially developed as health resort by Maharaja Pratapsinha of Satara in 1829, Mahabaleshwar , the highest point in the Western Ghats, is situated around Lake Venna at an altitude of 1,372 m. Renowned for its wealth of berries like strawberries, gooseberries and raspberries and delicious jams and preserves, Mahabaleshwar entrances you with smooth lakes, cascading waterfalls and forests which offer some lovely walks and treks. If you’re looking for a peaceful and healthy getaway, then Mahabaleshwar is definitely the place for you. 

How to Get There

Mahabaleshwar is 245 kms form Mumbai. You can get there from either the route through Pune, Shirwal and Panchgani or through NH17 through Pen, Mahad, and Poladpur.

The journey time is around 6.5 hours by road.

There are also many buses to Pune and trains from Mumbai CST.

Weather

Temperatures vary from 13° C in winter to 29° C in summer.

The best time to go is between October and June. It gets quite hot in the summers but the evenings are chilly. Monsoons are beautiful but roads are treacherous.