Maha Paryatan Utsav, Mahabaleshwar | Rangan Datta

Exploring Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani

Also see: FAM Trip of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani

Maha Paryatan Utsav, Mahabaleshwar (or Great Tourism Festival, Mahabaleshwar), was held from 2 to 4 May at Mahabaleshwar and Panchagani. The three-day festival aimed to blend traditional heritage with modern experiences and turn Maharashtra into a globally recognized tourism hub. The festival also served as a vital platform for dialogue among tourism stakeholders, promoting sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready tourism development.

The three-day festival featured diverse cultural and tourism activities, including aero-sports like paragliding and paramotoring. Laser and drone shows were also part of the activities. Visitors were kept busy with cultural parades and strawberry farm visits.

Tent City (Google map location): The guests were hosted in tented accommodations located between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar. But these were no ordinary tents, but luxurious tents complete with all modern conveniences. They come in with a drawing and bedrooms, along with attached western toilets and bathrooms with running hot and cold water.

Tent City, Maha Paryatan Utsav, Mahabaleshwar

The entire area is converted into a tented city complete with a reception area, dining hall and kids’ zone, all of which are operated from massive tents. This is no ordinary camping, but glamour camping and is popularly known as glamping.

Sunset at Tent City

But the greatest advantage of the tent city is its location. It provides a great bird’s eye view of the Dhom Lake, created by a dam on the Krishna River. It is surrounded by towering hills with sheer vertical rock faces. Finally, the tent city offers great views of the sunset.

Street Parade: A street parade in Mahabaleshwar was another star attraction of the Maha Paryatan Utsav. It consisted of several cultural performances by a group of local artists. Everything happened on the road, which was beautifully decorated with colourfull rangolis.

Street Parade, Maha Paryatan Utsav, Mahabaleshwar

Wilson Point, Yoga & Sunrise: Wilson Point (Google map location) is the highest point of Mahabaleshwar, standing at 1439 m. Named after Leslie Wilson, the governor of Bombay Presidency (10 Dec 1923 – 8 Dec 1928). A morning Yoga session, a part of the Maha Paryatan Utsav, was held at Wilson Point. The vantage point comes in with a couple of newly made bastions, which serve as watch towers. The vantage point offers a great view of the sunrise.

Wilson Point, Yoga & Sunrise

Mahabaleshwar Temple Tour: The Old Mahabaleshwar houses several temples. These include:

• Mahabaleshwar Temple
• Atibaleshwar Temple
• Panchaganga Temple
• Krishna Temple

Apart from the Krishna Temple the rest three are located in a single complex (Google map location)

The temples date back centuries before the colonial period and are topped with pyramidal spires. The entire complex is heavily encroached with makeshift stalls selling items of worship. Photography is restricted in the interiors of the first three temples.

Krishna Temple is located a few yards away (Google map location). It is also an active temple but totally free of encroachment. It marks the source of the Krishna River.

Sadly, the temple is in ruins, but it does have a commendable appearance. The temple complex offers a grand view of the valley below, complete with the adjoining towering cliffs.

Strawberry Farm visit: Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani region accounts for 85% of strawberry production in India. Strawberry cultivation was introduced in India from Australia during the colonial period. In 2010, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry got a Geographical Identification (GI) tag.

Strawberry Farm

The strawberry season in Mahabaleshwar region starts from October–November and continues till April–May. The mother plants come from USA and Italy and over 11 varieties of strawberries are grown. Sweet Charlie and Winter Dawn are the two most popular varieties. The strawberries get spoiled when they come into contact with the ground. The ground is covered with plastic sheets. Seeds are planted through holes punched in plastic sheets.

Mapro Garden (Google map location): Mapro is a leading brand in the food processing industry. An initiative of Kishore Vhora, they started with the humble strawberry jam under the brand name of Vhora Jams. Over the years, it grew in leaps and bounds and led to the formation of Mapro, known for its jams, syrups, spreads and fruit chews.

Mapro Garden

The Mapro Garden is a garden that unfolds the story of the evolution of Mapro. It has large stores selling a variety of processed food products. The area also has an open space for several kids’ activities. There is a cafe and an ice-cream stall.

Strawberry Wine: Strawberry Wine is another sought-after souvenir of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani area. Containing about 12% alcohol, these locally made wines have a sweet taste. The wines are made from Sweet Charlie variety of strawberry. A 750 ml bottle of Strawberry Wine costs about ₹600. Wine shops in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani also sell mulberry, raspberry, chocolate, mango (alphanso), kiwi, peach, pineapple and plum wine.

Note: Just Chill Beer & Wine Shop (Google map location) in Panchgani is an ideal place to buy strawberry and other wines.

Fresh Strawberries: From October–November to April–May, the entire stretch of road between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar is lined up with makeshift stalls selling fresh strawberries. Mulberries are also on sale. Prices vary according to variety and season, but are subject to heavy bargaining.

Makeshift stalls selling fresh strawberries and mulberries

Note: During my visit in early May, one Kg of strawberries cost ₹500 (organic) and ₹400 (non-organic). Mulberry was ₹800 per Kg. This was the end of the strawberry session, so it was not of very good quality.

Strawberry Cream: Strawberry cream may remind on of Wimbledon! But closer home, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani have their own share of strawberry cream. From fine dining restaurants to roadside stalls, it is sold throughout the region. The dessert consists of fresh cream combined with slices of strawberry. It is topped with a scoop of strawberry ice cream. Finally garnished with strawberry slices and a dash of strawberry syrup. There are other seasonal options where the strawberry is replaced with other seasonal fruits like mulberry and mango. The chocolate cream is available throughout the year. Price: ₹160 for a medium-sized strawberry cream.

Devrai Art Village (Google map location): Devrai Art Village in Panchgani is the birth place of stone Dokra. The ancient metal art of casting brass following the lost wax process has been given a new art form by fusing stones with metal.

Different types of Dokra art at Devrai Art Village

Not only stone Devrai Art Gallery has blended dokra with other metals, stones, wood and even paintings. At Devrai Art Gallery the age old art goes through constant evolution of new designs and new processes while staying rooted in our tradition.

Sydney Point (Google map location): It is a popular viewpoint in Panchgani, offering unobstructed views of the Dhoom Lake and the Krishna River valley. It is named after Thomas Sydney Beckwith, commander of the Bombay Army. He died in Mhabaleshwar in 1831.

Sydney Point, Panchgani

The viewpoint is beautifully laid out, complete with meandering pathways leading to several pavilions. There is also a hanging bridge and seats with solar-powered charging points. There are great views of the Dhom Lake and the surrounding hills, including the Komalgarh Fort. Paragliders can be seen floating over the endless valley.

Views from Sydney Point, Panchgani

Table Land (Google map location): Table Land is a large flat plateau overlooking Panchgani. It is approachable by car and is the most hapenning part of the town. There are options for horse and horse carriage rides. There are toy train rides and other activities for kids.

Table Land, Panchgani

It is a great place to hang out, with a large number of food stalls. The Table Land is also a vantage point for great sunset.

Table Land Sunset

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