Strawberry Country – Mahabaleshwar

Captains Log; Star Date 09102008

After a long journey through the night via Pune, Wai and Panchgani, the Neeta Volvo rolls into Mahabaleshwar at about 700 hrs. As the morning chill hits us, we hope that our rooms at the MTDC Resort are well equipped with blankets.

Get a cab to drop us off at the MTDC Resort, which is about 2 Km. from the Mahabaleshwar bus stand. The Resort is spread over a large area, about 40 acres and is surrounded by thick green cover. The room, at the resort, is scrubby but equipped with necessities like a clean bed, blankets and a geyser.

The restaurant at the resort is good only if you order basic stuff like idlie’s, dosa, chai, bread-omelet, chicken tikka, dal and rotti.

But what really sets the resort apart from any other is it’s location. Being 2 km from the city, it’s quiet, and is surrounded by a thick tree cover. You actually have monkeys jump down from trees onto the tin roof foraging for food in the morning and lazing and grooming in the afternoon.

The view from the garden a little beyond the cottages is superb. You have a green carpet laid out in front of you, clouds floating in the valley far below, and the sun chipping in with all its magnificence when it rises and sets.

After breakfast we head to town, ignore all the taxi guys on the way, browse through some curio stores and settle down at Imperial Stores for a Strawberry Shake.

We decide to head to the Mapro Garden about 15 Km. away on the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Road. Ignore the taxi guys again and take a state transport bus from the bus stand.

More than any thing else I am delighted to see all the flowers in full bloom in the garden.



Elephant Head, as seen from the Mapro Garden.


By the time we finish our sandwiches and coffee it starts to pour really hard.



The rain eases up a bit by the time we’re through with the luscious strawberry cream. Quickly pick up some strawberry crush and chews from the sales counter and head back to the resort.

Captains Log; Star Date 10102008

After breakfast we head to Pratapgad Fort which is about 20 Km from Mahabaleshwar on the Mahabaleshwar-Poladpur state highway.


Pay our respects at the Bhavani Temple and head to the Shivaji statue on top.
The view from atop the fort is superb.

Evening, I am waiting at the MTDC garden. Waiting for the sun to come out from behind the clouds so that I can catch the sunset in all its monsoon glory.

Captains Log; Star Date 11102008

Load up and walk up to the Bus-stand to catch the morning Volvo back home.

Catch three para gliders floating atop the Panchgani table top.
The Volvo glides down the state highway.