Panchgani / Mahabaleshwar

sk0325 · Oct 26th, 2009, 18:46

Hi

I am planning a trip next weekend. Where should I stay ? Panchgani / Mahabaleshwar - first time visit. I have shortlisted a few - MTDC, Ishwar inn, Hotel Rajesh, Hotel Gautam etc. Which one would you recommend?

Thanks

kartikiyer · Oct 26th, 2009, 18:56

Depends upon your budget and activity you want to do.

If you are planning to stay closer to the market then Rajesh is a good choice. If you want to stay closer to both lake and market with good view then Lakeview is a good choice. Both these hotels give packages with meals. I have stayed at both the places and the food is vegetarian and is good with Gujarati type thali for one meal.

If you want to be away from the market then Surya Retreat is good and has 3* amenities. At old Mahabaleshwar you have Ramsukh and Brightlands all havng 3* facilities.

Fan of India · Oct 26th, 2009, 18:59

I had a bad experience at MTDC. It is very poorly maintained and stinks of poor service.

Avoid.

sk0325 · Oct 26th, 2009, 19:10

Thanks for the quick reply. MTDC is quoting Rs. 1200 for a family room, so I was tempted to go for that. But, after the bad review, I am having second thoughts. Anything else around that budget? Also, was looking for a place away from the crowds. Is it too much pain to go sightseeing if I stay in Panchgani?

Nitinthegreat · Oct 26th, 2009, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by sk0325

Thanks for the quick reply. MTDC is quoting Rs. 1200 for a family room, so I was tempted to go for that. But, after the bad review, I am having second thoughts. Anything else around that budget? Also, was looking for a place away from the crowds. Is it too much pain to go sightseeing if I stay in Panchgani?

I recommend you should stay at Panchgani as it will be less crowed and budget wise a bit low. You can easily do sightseeing if you stay in Oanchgani. It hardly makes 1 hr difference.

kartikiyer · Oct 26th, 2009, 19:25

I am just back from Mahabaleshwar and wish to inform that the peak season tariff has commenced and hence would be difficult to get a decent accomodation at 1200 and agree that Panchgani would be a good option.

Apart from market and Lake in Mahabaleshwar there are 4 places in mahabaleshwar. These cabbies take you to a place from where you can see the same valley having 10 different points (incl arthurs seat) they charge 350 for that. The next tour is to another side of Mahabaleshwar where you see 2-3 points where you have the famous elephant head point and few temples. this too costs around rs. 350-. There is Pratapgad fort and koyna dam where there are some watersports.
OFcourse at Panchgani you have table land which will take you 2 hrs to see and mapro garden strawberry farms etc. Hope this helps in your decision.

Nitinthegreat · Oct 26th, 2009, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartikiyer

I am just back from Mahabaleshwar and wish to inform that the peak season tariff has commenced and hence would be difficult to get a decent accomodation at 1200 and agree that Panchgani would be a good option.

Apart from market and Lake in Mahabaleshwar there are 4 places in mahabaleshwar. These cabbies take you to a place from where you can see the same valley having 10 different points (incl arthurs seat) they charge 350 for that. The next tour is to another side of Mahabaleshwar where you see 2-3 points where you have the famous elephant head point and few temples. this too costs around rs. 350-. There is Pratapgad fort and koyna dam where there are some watersports.
OFcourse at Panchgani you have table land which will take you 2 hrs to see and mapro garden strawberry farms etc. Hope this helps in your decision.

thanks for sharing all this information.

sk0325 · Oct 26th, 2009, 20:05

Thanks Kartiki. I will be taking my vehicle, so what all can I pack in 3 days. Any scenic spots along that I should specifically stop at? Is the fort visit easy for my parents.

kartikiyer · Oct 28th, 2009, 19:03

Enroute Mahabaleshwar you will pass through Panchgani, there are no interesting stopovers. If you are taking your vehicle along, you can evaluate the following programme (this is a packed schedule).

Day 1 - Assuming you would reach in the morning, post lunch you can visit Panchgani table land and Parsi point. As parents are traveling with you, pls consider hiring the horsecart this will cover the table land and then you can evaluate which part you want to cover by foot. There is a board saying that these horse carts have association which has a fixed rate. Pls bargain hard these guys easily relent

. If you have kids (since you are traveling during the weekend) you can explore paragliding. You can stop over at Mapro Garden where you can pick up the customary fruit squashes (we also loved the restaurant there although it was overpriced).

Day 2 - Mahabaleshwar 1 (3 hrs) which includes tour of 3 temples (in the same complex) at old Mahabaleshwar and Arthur's seat which is situated at a distance of 12 Kms from Mahabaleshwar and is regarded as the Queen of all points here. You catch spectacular views of deep deserted Savitri River in the Konkan valley on the left and the dense forests of 'Brahma-aranya' of Deccan to the right. There would be guides who would show 6 points from the same place and give you some gyan and history and charge 60/-. Sadly there are no boards at the point (o'wise i guess there wont be any jobs for the guides)

. You can come to the market and have lunch at one of the hotels like Rajesh if you like vegetarian food. Else there are many other options in the market.
Post lunch you can leave for the other side of Mahabaleshwar (this will take 2.5 hrs) where you have the Elephant’s Head Point which is beyond the Lodwick Point. The Elephant’s Head Point is the extreme end of the mountain range in the same direction. This is a MUST SEE. You can head back to the lake where you can have some boating and feasting around the lake.
Day 3- (If your parents are not averse to some uphill walking) you can visit Pratapgad this will take half a day. Hire a guide here it is worth it. He will charge around 50/- you can negotiate.

If Pratapgad is not possible then split Mahabaleshwar 1 and 2 on different days. For your info. Everytime you enter Mahabaleshwar from Panchgani you have to pay Rs. 15 per person as toll.

Have a good time...

Oct 26th, 2009, 18:46	#1
sk0325 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: sk Posts: 4	Panchgani / Mahabaleshwar Hi I am planning a trip next weekend. Where should I stay ? Panchgani / Mahabaleshwar - first time visit. I have shortlisted a few - MTDC, Ishwar inn, Hotel Rajesh, Hotel Gautam etc. Which one would you recommend? Thanks

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Oct 26th, 2009, 18:56	#2
kartikiyer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 39	Depends upon your budget and activity you want to do. If you are planning to stay closer to the market then Rajesh is a good choice. If you want to stay closer to both lake and market with good view then Lakeview is a good choice. Both these hotels give packages with meals. I have stayed at both the places and the food is vegetarian and is good with Gujarati type thali for one meal. If you want to be away from the market then Surya Retreat is good and has 3* amenities. At old Mahabaleshwar you have Ramsukh and Brightlands all havng 3* facilities.

Oct 26th, 2009, 18:59	#3
Fan of India Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 142	I had a bad experience at MTDC. It is very poorly maintained and stinks of poor service. Avoid.

Oct 26th, 2009, 19:10	#4
sk0325 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: sk Posts: 4	Thanks for the quick reply. MTDC is quoting Rs. 1200 for a family room, so I was tempted to go for that. But, after the bad review, I am having second thoughts. Anything else around that budget? Also, was looking for a place away from the crowds. Is it too much pain to go sightseeing if I stay in Panchgani?

Oct 26th, 2009, 19:25	#6
kartikiyer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 39	I am just back from Mahabaleshwar and wish to inform that the peak season tariff has commenced and hence would be difficult to get a decent accomodation at 1200 and agree that Panchgani would be a good option. Apart from market and Lake in Mahabaleshwar there are 4 places in mahabaleshwar. These cabbies take you to a place from where you can see the same valley having 10 different points (incl arthurs seat) they charge 350 for that. The next tour is to another side of Mahabaleshwar where you see 2-3 points where you have the famous elephant head point and few temples. this too costs around rs. 350-. There is Pratapgad fort and koyna dam where there are some watersports. OFcourse at Panchgani you have table land which will take you 2 hrs to see and mapro garden strawberry farms etc. Hope this helps in your decision.

Oct 26th, 2009, 20:05	#8
sk0325 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: sk Posts: 4	Thanks Kartiki. I will be taking my vehicle, so what all can I pack in 3 days. Any scenic spots along that I should specifically stop at? Is the fort visit easy for my parents.

Oct 28th, 2009, 19:03	#9
kartikiyer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 39	Enroute Mahabaleshwar you will pass through Panchgani, there are no interesting stopovers. If you are taking your vehicle along, you can evaluate the following programme (this is a packed schedule). Day 1 - Assuming you would reach in the morning, post lunch you can visit Panchgani table land and Parsi point. As parents are traveling with you, pls consider hiring the horsecart this will cover the table land and then you can evaluate which part you want to cover by foot. There is a board saying that these horse carts have association which has a fixed rate. Pls bargain hard these guys easily relent . If you have kids (since you are traveling during the weekend) you can explore paragliding. You can stop over at Mapro Garden where you can pick up the customary fruit squashes (we also loved the restaurant there although it was overpriced). Day 2 - Mahabaleshwar 1 (3 hrs) which includes tour of 3 temples (in the same complex) at old Mahabaleshwar and Arthur's seat which is situated at a distance of 12 Kms from Mahabaleshwar and is regarded as the Queen of all points here. You catch spectacular views of deep deserted Savitri River in the Konkan valley on the left and the dense forests of 'Brahma-aranya' of Deccan to the right. There would be guides who would show 6 points from the same place and give you some gyan and history and charge 60/-. Sadly there are no boards at the point (o'wise i guess there wont be any jobs for the guides) . You can come to the market and have lunch at one of the hotels like Rajesh if you like vegetarian food. Else there are many other options in the market. Post lunch you can leave for the other side of Mahabaleshwar (this will take 2.5 hrs) where you have the Elephant’s Head Point which is beyond the Lodwick Point. The Elephant’s Head Point is the extreme end of the mountain range in the same direction. This is a MUST SEE. You can head back to the lake where you can have some boating and feasting around the lake. Day 3- (If your parents are not averse to some uphill walking) you can visit Pratapgad this will take half a day. Hire a guide here it is worth it. He will charge around 50/- you can negotiate. If Pratapgad is not possible then split Mahabaleshwar 1 and 2 on different days. For your info. Everytime you enter Mahabaleshwar from Panchgani you have to pay Rs. 15 per person as toll. Have a good time...