Panchgani
Hilltop Trips India

State Maharashtra Near by Places Mahabaleshwar - 18.3 Km Pune - 97.6 Km Mumbai - 238 Km Best Time to visit All Seasons Elevation Panchgani - 1334 meter. Coordinates 17.919616,73.791733 Panchgani Map Panchgani Reviews Mouthshut.com Other Langauge Names Hindi: पंचगनी Marathi: पांचगणी

Photo by : MichelleVolz in webshots More Panchgani images ...

Panchgani is a magnificent hill station located in the Sahyadri mountain range of the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra in India. The hill station is topped by a splendid volcanic plateau or tableland which has the distinction of being the second highest plateau in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. Part of the Hindi film 'Taare Zameen Par' was shot on this volcanic plateau. The beautiful River Krishna can be seen from the plateau meandering its way through Panchgani.

Panchgani is a seat of learning with many reputed schools. Trekking enthusiasts can trek through Panchgani's verdant forests and valleys. Walking, cycling, pony rides and picnics are some of the other popular activities. Taxis, horses and bicycles are available for commuting.

Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Panchgani Map

Hill Resort

The beautiful hill station of Panchgani is at an altitude of 1334 meter and is the perfect getaway for a quiet and relaxing holiday. Hill Resorts in India offers online booking for hotel accommodation and tour or travel packages to Panchgani, so you can inquire about a suitable holiday package for yourself and enjoy a great time in Panchgani, Maharashtra.

Shopping

The pulse of Panchgani is the bazaar,full of quaint shops that are certain to catch your fancy. The Buddha -Ka - Bazaar that happens every Wednesday offers local produce at rock bottom prices. Every thing from organically grown fruits and vegetables to pots and pans and even chicken can find its way in this market.

Stomach Teasers

There are no gourmet restaurants in Panchgani. But the real fun is to indulge in street cuisine and the very best rose ice-cream to be found anywhere. One can have the best patties and scones at the old fashioned Roach Bakery and keema pao and tea at New Lucky Moon. There are two tiny places that serve excellent pao bhaji, one such restaurant is Akbarally. There are several places where on can relish faithful old Gujarathi thali.

Activities

Panchgani offers loads and loads of adventurous activities to all the tourists. At the hill resort you may indulge in activities like boating, fishing, horse riding, trekking et al. One can also enjoy scooter boats and speed boats in Dhom Dam.Pony rides and toy train rides can also be enjoyed. Tourists can enjoy a network of nature walks through the woods, thickly canopied by lush trees and vegetation.

Fruitful Walks

Tourists can walk through the lovely wooded landscape and enjoy the beauty of the coastal plains at its best, witness the Krishna Valley and watch the serenity of the from the distance. The magnificent sights of the surrounding hills seems to mesmerize you till the bottom of your heart. Have a look at the old British buildings and the Parsi houses.

Poni Ride

You can even enjoy the enchanting beauty of Panchgani, by taking a poni ride through the pristine oak forests. The small ride through the small hemlets, and farms can never fail to enchant you. Enjoy the lush greenery of the forests and the exotic view of the valleys on the way. You can even hire the bicycles and taxis to take a sightseeing tour of Panchgani.

Water Sports

The most exciting destination to visit at Panchgani is Tapola, where you can enjoy the numerous water sports activities. Take a ride on scooter boats and speed boats. Apart from that you can enjoy eating strawberries with cream, served at various joint on the Panchgani Mahabaleshwar road.

Elevation

Panchgani is located at an altitude of 4,378 ft or 1,334 m.

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Location Details

The beautiful Panchgani is 16 Km from Mahabaleshwar. It is situated in the Western Ghat and is easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune.

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How to Reach There and Distances

By Air

The airport closest to Panchgani is in Pune, and is at a distance of 98 Km form the hill station.

By Rail

The railway station is at Pune, which is about 98Kms from Panchgani. The closest railway station to Panchgani is close to Wathar.

By Road

By road, one can easily reach Panchgani, since it is well linked to Pune and Mumbai.

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Best Season to Visit/Weather

Panchgani has a pleasant weather all through the year. Though the monsoons in Panchgani see a lot of rain. The best time to visit Panchgani, is from September to May.

Climate's Hide & Seek

Panchgani has a salubrious, cool and comparitively dry climate. This hill resort does not experience major temperature variations. The annual rainfall hardly exceeds 70 inches. The average winter temperature hover at 16 degree C with mean temperatures of 30 degree C in summer.

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Tourist places near Panchgani

Sites to Visit

If you are on a tour of Panchgani, try exploring the town, riding on the back of a pony. You can ride through little villages and farms and imagine yourself touring the countryside, quite like Don Quixote. On a serious note though, if you really wish to see the scenic beauty, then pony ride is a good option or else you can take a taxi or rent a bicycle. Do not forget to check out the enchanting River Krishna while you are there.

Panchgani is quite famous for good educational institutes. There are some of the best boarding schools in this beautiful hill station. Panchgani has many old buildings of the colonial era and Parsi houses that are worth a look.

While you are on your tour to Panchgani, do not forget to try delicious local food at the food stalls, which offer a wide array of dishes.

Bhilar Falls

The beautiful Bhilar Falls cascading down from a height of 4,500 ft is on the route from Mahabaleshwar to Panchgani. Devil's Kitchen Devil's Kitchen is a cave located at the southern end of the table land. The Pandavas of the Mahabharat epic are believed to have stayed here for a while.

Fort Kamalgad

Fort Kamalgad (translated to lotus fort) also known as Kattalgad is situated about 10 Km west of Wai and is 4,511 ft high. The fort is surrounded by lush thick forests. One can hire horses to go to the Fort.

Fort Pratapgad

The magnificent Fort Pratapgad is situated at an altitude of 3,543 ft at a distance of 22 Km from Mahabaleshwar. Fort Pratapgad is divided into an upper fort and a lower fort with 4 enormous bastions in the 4 corners of the fort. The Bhavani Temple and an equestrian bronze statue of the great Maratha King, Chatrapati Shivaji are found inside the fort. The dargah of Afzal Khan, the famous general, is near the fort. At the foothills of the fort are the rivers Koyna and Nira.

Harrisons Folly

Harrisons Folly is a viewpoint from where one can have mesmerizing views of Panchgani and Wai. Paragliding is available for adventure sports lovers.

Mahabaleshwar Hill Station

The picturesque hill station of Mahabaleshwar is located at a distance of 18 Km from Panchgani. Its attractions include Mount Malcolm, Holy Cross Church, Mahabaleshwar Club, Fort Pratapgad, Chinaman's Falls, Dhobi Falls and Lingmala Falls. Famous view points with spectacular views include Wilson Point, Carnac Point, Helen's Point, Elphinstone Point, Babington Point, Bombay Point, Falkland Point, Kate Point and Lodwick Point.

Parsi Point

Located on the route to Mahabaleshwar, Parsi Point offers splendid views of the Krishna Valley and the waters of the Dhom Dam.

Rajpuri Caves

Rajpuri Caves are at a distance of 7 Km from Panchgani and famous for the Swami Karthikeya Temple. There are several ponds around these caves whose waters are believed to have medicinal properties.

Sherbaug Park

Sherbaug Park is a theme park located near Parsi Point in Panchgani. Its attractions include cactus plants, a rose garden and a children's park. It holds a collection of eggs, nails and teeth of dinosaurs. One can also find rabbits, swans, ducks and turkeys here. The park has fun activities like clay molding and pot making for children.

Sydney Point

Sydney Point is a scenic view point located on a hillock overlooking the Krishna Valley, on the way to Wai. Magnificent views of the waters of the Dhom Dam, the Pandavgad Caves and the Mandhardeo can be had from here.

Table Land

This flat tableland, composed of laterite rock is the second longest mountain plateau in Asia with a length of 4.5 Km. The "Devil's Kitchen" caves can be seen from here.

Tapola

The pretty place of Tapola is at a distance of 25 Km from Mahabaleshwar. The Shivsagar Dam is found here. The Rivers Koyna and Solshi meet at Tapola. Very popular as a picnic spot, Tapola is a must visit place for tourists. Boating is another attraction at Tapola at the Shivsagar Dam. Motor boats and water scooters are available for hire.

Wai

The temple town of Wai is situated about 14 Km from Panchgani. Chakreshwar Temple, Chimneshwar Temple,Kaunteshwar/Harihareshwar Temple, Kaleshwar Temple, Vitthal Temple, Ganpati Temple, Rameshwar Temple, Ramkund Temple and Chilavali Devi Temple are some of the important temples in this ancient town.

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Accommodation and Hotels at Panchgani

There are many good hotels in Panchgani. You can even opt to stay at the hotel run by the MTDC, which offers comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price.

Hill Resorts in India offers online booking for accommodation and travel packages to Panchgani. So you may book a holiday or tour package online and enjoy a great holiday in the beautiful hill resort of Maharashtra.

Book Online - Prospect Hotel	From Rs.4,488/-
Book Online - Cliff Inn Resort	From Rs.2,420/-
Book Online - Panchgani Health Resort Pvt. Ltd	From Rs.2,475/-
Book Online - Mount View Heritage	From Rs.1,485/-

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