Situated at a height of 4500 ft, the actual town of Mahabaleshwar spreads across a vast green plateau over an area of 150sq km.

Getting there: For Mahabaleshwar, the nearest airport and railhead is at Pune, 120 km away, though the closest railway station is Wather, 63km but that isn’t as well connected as Pune is. State Transport buses run from Pune and Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar. Taxis, buses and mini buses take travellers up to Mahabaleshwar and are available outside the Pune Railway Station. Mumbai is 290 km away by road via Pune and 247 km via Mahad. MTDC organises regular tours from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar.

Accommodation: The MTDC run hotel, exclusively vegetarian guesthouses, tourist lodges, resort hotels and private apartments for families cater to outstation visitors and span the entire gamut of price and budget options.

Climate: The climate tends to be damp and extremely wet during the rainy season, warm in summer and fairly cool in the winter months. Weather pundits say of Mahabaleshwar that it is never too hot, thanks to its height and never cold, thanks to its proximity to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea! Except for the rainy season, Mahabaleshwar is packed with people and honeymooners looking for a cool getaway. But the cognoscenti swear that Mahabaleshwar has its own particular charm and magic during the monsoons. So give rainy Mahabaleshwar a try. High season is during the festive months of October and December and during the summer vacation in May-June. The surrounding forests produces many commercial varieties of medicinal herbs, trees & plants. Local wild life is limited to foxes, jackals, wild boars, deer and Indian bison found in the Brahma Aranya forest area. Even the odd sighting of panthers have been reported though that is rarity.

Beekeeping and the production of different varieties of honey, some with medicinal properties is common in these parts. The climate and soil is conducive to the cultivation of fruits and an enormous variety of soft fruit like strawberry, raspberry and mulberry is available here. As you drive up to Mahabaleshwar, the road passes by farms that put up stalls selling fresh fruits, ice creams, jams, jellies and crushes – definitely a must have for all visitors.

Sights to see: Visitors to Mahabaleshwar can spend a few hours checking out the local sights, which basically consist of different views and perspectives of the valley below. Wilson Point or Sunrise Point has the highest elevation at 4710 ft and from its vantage position, sunrises and sunsets look absolutely spectacular. Three masonry platforms extend onto the valley and are perfect places to see the sunsets or just look at the expanse of the valley stretching out below. Connaught Peak and Elphinstone Point named after the Viceroys of India, Lord Connaught and Lord Elphinstone look down on the valleys of the Rivers Koyna and Savitri, Marjorie Point offers panoramic views of the Sahyadri Ranges.

Arthur's Seat is justifiably called the prince of all points looking down upon breathtakingly panoramic views of awesome canyons and cliffs comparable to the world famous stratification of rocks of the Grand Canyon in Colorado. The deep Savitri Valley on the right flanks sheer cliffs and layered stratifications of rocks that tell the geological story of the area. Arthur's Seat is the only place showing geographical distinction between coastal Konkan & the plateau of the Deccan. A short climb down the steps lead to the source of the River Savitri at Tiger's Spring. Other scenic attractions in and around the vicinity of Mahabaleshwar include many cascades and waterfalls like the Chinaman, Lingmala and Dhobi Falls. An hour’s drive away stands the imposing fortress of Pratapgadh; within the fort lie the grave of Mughal commander Afzal Khan, a statue of Shivaji and the temple of the patron deity of the Marathas, Bhavani Mata. A number of old temples are also part of the local attraction with the Panchganga Temple considered the source of five important rivers of the region.

For a more leisurely vacation, go down to the market and sit drinking coffee or fresh fruit juices at the roadside cafes, admire the seasonal flowers in the park, amble off on gentle mountain ponies, go for a boat ride on Venna Lake or shop for locally made shoes.

The main thoroughfare Dr Sabane Road popularly known as Main Street is the place to go for shopping, eating out, chemist shops and pharmacies, Police Station, banks with exchange facilities, the General Post Office and telecommunication centres. The tourist office of the MTDC is located at the MTDC Holiday Resort, 2km from the bus station at the west end of the main street. Local health facilities are limited to a rural hospital, general practioners and physicians who run private nursing homes. Pune is the closest place for full-fledged medical treatment and care. The local health officer in Mahabaleshwar can be contacted at 60247.