About Mahableshwar

About eighteen miles north-west of Medha, twenty miles west of Wai, and about thirty-three miles north-west of Satara, is one of the health resorts of Maharashtra State, situated on one of the Sahyadri spurs. The height averages 1500 feet above the sea, and at Sindola ridge the highest point reaches 4710. Several spurs standing out from the north and west of the main body of the hill from promontories that command magnificent views of the precipitous slopes of the Sahyadri hills and of the valleys below. At the heads of the ravines that run between these points the streams, issuing from springs in the higher part of the hill, fall over ledges of trap rock in cascades, one of which is about 2000 feet from the lip of the fall to the bottom of the valley.

Maharaja of Pratapsinha of Satara (1818  to 1839) engineered a scheme to develop Mahabaleshwar as Health resort. Sir John Malcom, the first Governor to visit Mahabaleshwar in November 1828, established Mahabaleshwar in 1829. Sir Charles Malet, the first resident in Pune Darbar of Peshwas happens to be the first European to step on this Plateau in 1791 A.D. (and not Peter Lodwick who visited this Plateau in 1824 A.D.)

Description

Except in the east and extreme north the top of the hill is wooded to the very edge of the scrap, and though only in a few sheltered glades are there trees of any great size, the wood is so dense that it forms one vast waving stretch of rich foliage, broken by the chimneys and roofs of the higher houses and by the varieties of shade from the olive leaf of the pisa to the blue-green of the Jambhul and other fruit-bearing trees. The deep-cut roads and paths, bordered by a thick undergrowth of bracken and shaded by moss-covered trees, are like the views in a highland hill side. But the resemblance ceases with the sudden ending of road and shade at one of numerous points that overlook the ravines, perhaps 2000 feet deep, bounded on the opposite side by the steep bare wall of one of the flat-topped Deccan ridges or by the low castellated outline of a Maratha hills fort.

The hills to the south-west differ considerably from those to the south and east. To the south-west the outlines are bolder and irregular and their sides are fairly clothed with trees and brushwood. To the south and east with a lighter rainfall the sides are utterly bare, and the forms, worn only by the sun and rain, are flat-topped and monotonous. The pressure of population on the arable land has driven tillage up the sides of some of the less precipitous hills, where the wearing of the soil can be stopped by low terraces resting on stone walls, which lend somewhat of a Rhenish or Italian character to the view. In clear air before or after rain, often parts, and in rare cases, the whole of a fifty miles range of sea, shows extending from about the Shastri in Ratnagiri to a little south of Janjira. But the coast line cannot be traced except near the Savitri river. The distance to the sea along this range of view varies as the river from thirty to fifty miles.

The beauties of the hill vary much at different seasons. Most persons probably think it at its best in October immediately after the cessation of the south-west monsoon. Many spots are then carpeted with wild flowers. The wild arrowroot lily fills every glade and in numberless spots are found wild rose and sweet pea. The ferns are then in leaf. The less frequented paths and open spots are soft with turf. Every bank and stone, the rugged cliffs of the hills themselves, are dazzlingly green with moss and grass. The streams aer at the fullest. A fall of rain of tropical violence probably occurs and the Yenna falls become imposing, while the faces of the cliffs are lighted with innumerable silver rills and dazzling sprays. At this time are to be seen the most distant views. The hills, stand out against the sky in wonderful relief. In the mornings the ravines are filled with fleecy rolls of mist or with a wealth of dark blue shadow. In the evenings great clouds gather and impart endless variety of light and shade to the landscape and of glorious colour to the rays of the setting sun. Few light are more majestic than that of the great thunderstorm of this season sweeping the adjacent valleys or over the distant sea. The breezes though strong are sweet and the bracing cold of the evenings is met with a cheerful fire.

But the favourite season for visiting is from March to June. The reason of course is the escape thereby afforded from the heat of the plains. But the grass, wild flowers and ferns are now gone and the streams and waterfalls are dry. Haze obstructs the view and the eye is fatigued by glare. Still then too the hill has its peculiar beauties. The evergreen forest are renewing their foliage and impart a fresh verdue to the landscape. There is the tawny bracken not unlovely and the nighty heights of the Ghats are perhaps more imposing than when delicately clothed as in October at many of their most rugged portions.

Towards the end of May the mists begin to creep up and thunder-storms lay the dust and cool the air. Few scenes are more fairy-like than the valleys on a May morning filled with mist, the fragments of which as it rises gild and throw into relief the finest of the surrounding peaks.  At this time too the strawberry is in full fruit and the gardens are brilliant with heliotrope, geranium and fuchsias, and roses, where cared for, do well.

At all times the hill is most attractive, and not its least attractions are the excellent drives as well as walks which give access to all its parts. In this it contrasts happily with most hill stations Ootacamund always excepted.

"The station, called Malcom Peth after Sir John Malcom, includes all lands within a radius of five miles from the Frere Hall. Most of this land is reserved for forest and is called the Five Mile Reserve. It includes the lands of sixty-five villages, fifty-six from the Javli and nine from the Wai talukas of Satara. These villages are usually from four to twenty huts surrounded by a few fields. Each village has a certain amount of land set apart for tillage and grazing the rest being covered with thick evergreen forest."

Panchgani and Mahableshwar is the paradise of Maharashtra. Jammu and Kashmir is said to be the paradise of India, but due to war and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir most of the Indian and foreign tourists turn towards Mahableshwar and Panchgani.  There is heavy rainfall. The main trees are Jamun , Oak, Fig, mango and Behada.  There  are animals like monkeys, snakes, rabbits, wild board, tiger, fox in the thick forests.

Mahabaleshwar was established as Health Resort 1829 A.D. It was a jail for Chinese and Malay convicts from 1834 to 1864. The capacity of the jail was 120 prisoners. These prisoners introduced cultivation of Red Potatoes, Strawberries and Weaving of Cane and Bamboo Baskets. Many of the prisoners stayed at Mahabaleshwar after they were released. Chinese names were on Municipal Voter's List till 1951. 

Mahableshwar is divided into two parts.  One is the city and the other is the temple area also known as Old Mahableshwar.  The distance between the two parts is about 4 km. 

The five rivers Krishna, Koyna, Venna, Gayatri and Savitri meet together at this temple area.  The rivers Krishna , Koyna and Venna flow  towards the plateau and the river Gayatri and Savitri flow towards Konkan.  There  are also other famous temples in this area.  Manikbai and Gangabai are the  two medical centers.

In Mahableshwar  there are many points to be visited, Wilson Point, Arthur’s Seat Point, Bombay Point, Kates Point, Elphinston Point  etc  are the important Points.  Lingmala, chinamen and Dhobi are the three waterfalls.  Venna lake is famous for boating.  Close to Venna Lake  is the Pratapsingh Park  where the forest ride can be enjoyed.  25 km from here is the Tapola Boat club.  Pratapgad and Makrangad  are the two historical monuments.

In the city is the Frayer Hall Library. All equipment and ameninites are available at the Mahableshwar club, Parsi Gymkhana and Hindu Gymkhana.  There are many tourist lodges, resorts, hotels , holiday homes and camps are also being developed by the government.  Tour guides are available for  guiding the tourist.  Entertainment stalls, shopping malls are upcoming in this region.  People can enjoy horse-rides in Mahableshwar.  Food items like confectionaries, cold beverages, jams, nature fresh honey are manufactured on commercial basis.

This region is beautifully decorated with Rose and Strawberry farms,  fruits (Strawberries, Rasberries, Gooseberries and Mulberries), Vegetables like carrot, cabbage, beetroot, french beans, double beans, radishes, potatoes are cultivated in the nearby villages. Horse rides, walks through the evergreen forest, honey, chikki, big chanas, walking sticks and leather goods. Boating in Venna Lake. Watching the sunrise and sunset can be very romantic.