Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar, the largest hill station in the Western Ghats' Sahyadri range, was developed by the British as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency, and its strawberry farms, viewpoints and forested plateau continue to draw visitors seeking relief from the Deccan plains' heat. Five rivers, including the Krishna, are considered to originate here, and the ancient Mahabaleshwar Temple marking this source point adds religious significance to the hill station's primarily scenic appeal.

Numerous viewpoints, including Arthur's Seat and Elephant's Head Point, offer dramatic vistas over the Konkan coastal plain far below, and the town's strawberry season each spring has become a significant seasonal draw in its own right, with roadside stalls and farms offering fresh produce alongside the hill station's more conventional scenic attractions.

Developed as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency under British administration in the 1820s, Mahabaleshwar's colonial-era infrastructure and continued popularity reflect over two centuries of established hill-station tourism.

About 120km from Pune, roughly 3-4 hours by road.