Mahableshwar is a popular hill station, located in the Satara district of Maharashtra, about 120 km from Pune. It is a picturesque destination, nestled between the Sahyadri Mountains and the Western Ghats. It is more frequented by tourists from Mumbai and Pune, offering a much-needed break from the hectic city life. Situated at an elevation of 4,718 feet, the climate in Mahableshwar is pleasant most of the time during the year, only getting colder in winters.
Except monsoon, any time of the year is suitable to visit Mahableshwar. Although the flora and fauna are at their peak with lush green forests and rolling hills, heavy rains can make the experience difficult. Some tourist places worth visiting in Mahableshwar are The Sunset Point, Arthur’s Seat, Lodwick Point, Connaught Peak, Venna Lake and Lingmala Falls. One should also not forget to visit the strawberry gardens and the historic Pratapgarh Fort, which is located at a distance of 25 km from Mahableshwar.
Due to the large number of tourists visiting the hill station, many hotels and resorts have sprung up in Mahableshwar in recent times. By popular request, some of them have a purely vegetarian kitchen. Some of the most popular are:
Lake View Hotel
Hotel Lake View is a cottage complex about 1KM from the main market area. Located not far from the lake, this hotel consists of a group of cabins spread over a total area of 3 acres. Surrounding the cabins are lush green lawns and trees. It has a pure vegetarian cuisine. It also has a state-of-the-art swimming pool, said to be one of the best in Mahableshwar. Rates range from Rs 12,000-18,000 per couple for two nights. A jacuzzi and the option of indoor games are some of the extra attributes.
Saj Resort
It is located about 2 km from the Venna Lake of Mahableshwar. It is spread over 5 acres and offers spectacular views of the hill station. It has all the amenities required for recreation such as a swimming pool, playground, spa and massage facilities and a small disco. It also has garden areas and lawns for holding banquets, dinners and weddings. The food is strictly vegetarian. It has a cafeteria and a restaurant that specializes in serving Gujarati and Rajasthani food.
Heritage Pratap Hotel
This is a heritage hotel located on Valley View Road, very close to the main market area. It has a total of 30 rooms, with an overnight capacity of 125 people. The hotel restaurant serves pure vegetarian food. Along with all the basic amenities of a good hotel, it also offers facilities for sightseeing. Like other large hotels, it also has a swimming pool. The rates are quite reasonable. The hotel also organizes car rental.
