Located in the misty green mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is an idyllic summer retreat and is blessed with some of the finest natural wonders. This place was once upon a time the most favored summer getaway for the British and one can still sense the colonial charm here. There are many interesting things about Mahabaleshwar that draw large number of tourists from all parts of India. Its scenic points, temples and a salubrious climate attract nature lovers or seekers of solitude. Touristplacesinindia is the site providing helpful inputs about Mahabaleshwar that would be of great help to those who are planning for a trip to Mahabaleshwar.

Area	150 sq km
Altitude	1, 430 m above sea level
Population	12, 736
Languages	Marathi, Hindi and English
STD Code	0091

History:
The history of Mahabaleshwar takes us to the year 1215 when it was visited by King Singhan of Deogori. Around 1350, a Brahmin dynasty took over power and gave the area harmony and prosperity. Mahabaleshwar later on was annexed by the Maratha family of Chandarao More in the middle of the 16th century which built the famous Mahabaleshwar Temple. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated Jaoli and Mahabaleshwar and constructed the famous Pratapgad Fort in the year 1656. After the end of his rule, the Peshwas ruled this place until the 19th century.

In the year 1819, Mahabaleshwar was included in the territory of the Raja of Satara and it was from 1828 that Mahabaleshwar was regularly visited in succession beginning with Sir John Malcolm and then by Arthur, Carnac, Frere and many others after whom the famous points in Mahabaleshwar are named.

Best Season, Climate and Clothing:
Mahabaleshwar has a pleasant climate all the year round. During summers, the temperature ranges between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius and it drops down considerably during the winters. As far as clothing is concerned, cotton clothing would be ideal during summer and for the winters, light woolens are advisable.

Mahabaleshwar offers a wide range of lodging options to its guests that include hotels, cottages and government run bungalows. A few of them to mention would be Fountain Hotel, Brightland Holiday Village, Hotel Anarkali, Hotel Dreamland, Hotel Panorama and Strawberry Country Resort. Moreover, Mahabaleshwar can be accessed conveniently by air, rail and road network from the all parts of India and the nearby destinations. The nearest airport and railway station are in Pune and a fine network of state and national highways makes access to Manabaleshwar quite easy.

Touristplacesinindia.com is your authentic travel guide on Mahabaleshwar and provides useful information on the hotels and tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar.