Mahabaleshwar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mahabaleshwar | |
State - District(s) |
Maharashtra - Satara |
Coordinates | |
Area - Elevation |
150 sq km² - 1430 m |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Population (2001) - Density |
? - ?/km² |
Mayor | ? |
Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 412 806 - +00 91 - MH-11 XX XXXX |
Mahabaleshwar pronunciation one of the few Evergreen Forests of the world, is a hill station located in the Satara District in the Western Ghats range of Maharashtra, India. Located about 120 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km², bound by valleys on all sides. Many tourists also visit nearby Panchgani. After the construction of a new highway, it is only a 5 hour drive from Mumbai.
It reaches a height of 1438 m (4710 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point.
Mahabaleshwar, "The Queen of Hill Stations", served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj, and today is a popular holiday resort and honeymoon spot.
The area is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and is the site of the Mahabaleshwar Temple.
Mahabaleshwar comprises of three villages, Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part of the Shindola village.
The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. Present Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30 and from old records is mentioned as Malcolm Peth, but in practise today it is known as Mahabaleshwar.