If there is any frequently visited places for weekend getaway, it has to be Panchgani- Mahabaleshwar. Be it any season- summer, rainy or winter season this town will always keep you mesmerized by its scenic beauty and greenery around! This town never fails to amuse you with its scenic beauty, the exotic climate and many more things to do. This was my very first trip after the lockdown and it was as special as this place is.
During the colonial era, Mahabaleshwar used to be the summer capital of the Governor of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. It is roughly 120 km from Pune and nearly 290 km from Mumbai. It is very easy to reach this place through state buses and with some private luxury buses ply from Pune and Mumbai regularly multiple times a day. But since the lockdown it had been difficult to travel. Considering the safety of oneself I travelled from a private bus that dropped me to wai-surur road. From this diversion one can easily find the route to travel further to Panchgani. Usually, it is very easy to reach to reach the hill stationary even if you don't have your own vehicle. Panchgani is merely 25 km to reach from wai-surur road and can be reached in 20-30 mins depending upon the traffic.
Out of all the seasons, when in Panchgani monsoon is the best time to visit as you would feel you are in heaven. It is the most beautiful and picturesque place all its season but in monsoon it is heaven on earth. The fog, mist, clouds and the lush green rolling hills and valleys would drive you crazy and make you fall in love with this beautiful town. With the climate being at 19 degrees I would recommend you to certainly visit this place for a quick break.
My first stop was at Mapro Food Park, Shendurjane. As soon as I entered, the staff gave me a warm welcome, took care of the hygiene which they always do, but this time it was even better considering the current covid situation. As only takeaways are allowed I quickly order their very famous sandwiches and milkshake. Meanwhile the order was being prepared I quickly took a short tour of the Park and made me realise it has so many things to do! One can enjoy the factory tour, the restaurant, the food park, the photo booth, etc. I quickly collected the parcel and headed towards my destination.
Soon I reached to Panchgani. It was around 10.30 AM. Panchgani is usually known as the educational centre as there multiple boarding schools and I'm glad that I was a part of one of the best schools in Panchgani- Sanjeewan Vidyalaya. To add more this places also have farmhouses of the bollywood celebrities. As soon as I reached Panchgani, I visited one of the famous spot known as Sydney point. The view was delightful and divine. Although now as the tourist spots are shut I had to stay down and enjoy this fascinating scenery. I had my breakfast enjoying the amidst the green lush grassland and it just made me feel welcoming and peaceful.
Now as you enter you can see a number of hotels, resorts and hostels offering rooms with a view of the valley. I would recommend you to stay in Panchgani explore the different attractions this place has. If compared to other places the hotels in Panchgani would actually give you rooms with the best suitable prices and you would feel it worthy.
