Travel Guide for Panchgani
The enchanting hill station of Panchgani, located few hundred kilometers from Pune in Maharashtra, is an ideal place for nature lovers, trekkers and backpackers. Hilly terrains adorning multiple strawberry farms, walkways thickly covered with lush trees, breathtaking views of the Krishna River meandering through numerous hamlets, majestic vistas of the coastal plains from the Table Land and the architectural beauty of the age old British buildings, boarding schools and Parsi houses; is something which aptly describes the splendor of Panchgani. The tranquil and serene settings of this beautiful hill station makes it a perfect get away destination to spend some quiet time in the lap of the mother Nature. Owing to its pleasant weather and picturesque beauty, Panchgani gets a footfall of thousands of tourists all year round.
Panchgani, as the name suggests, is a small town surrounded by five hills in the Sahayadri ranges of the Western Ghats. As you drive past the roads meandering uphill to this small colonial style town, you shall be welcomed by a fresh breeze of air, dense vegetation and magnified sound of the chirping birds; most important ingredients to refresh your mind and soul. Once you are in the town, before starting with the sightseeing tour, give yourself some rest and enjoy some tea and hot snacks at your hotel room.
To start with the sightseeing tour in Panchgani, head yourself to the ‘Table Land’ or the ‘Table Top’ which is a large flat plateau overlooking the coastal plains. This is the place from where you can get breathtaking views of the surrounding Sahayadri ranges and the Panchgani town. You can explore the vast expanse of the table land either on foot or can indulge yourself in a fun horse cart ride. Various tea and chat points have been put up here by the localities where you can enjoy the lip smacking chaat, bhelpoori and bhutta.
Major highlights of the Table Land are the ‘Pandava Feet’ (site having imprints of the feet of the five Pandavas of the Mahabharata fame) and the ‘Pandava Cave’ or the ‘Devil's Kitchen’ where it is believed that the Pandavas have had a stay here for a while during their exile period.
Situated on the hillock facing the Krishna Valley, ‘Sydney Point’ is the next must visit sightseeing attraction in Panchgani. This is the place from where you can get stunning views of the city of Wai, Krishna Valley and the Dhom Dam. From the Sydney Point, the view of the Krishna River flowing at the foot of the green mountains covered with mist is a sight to behold. Sydney Point is also an ideal spot to have a dramatic view of the sunset in the evening.
Very near to Sydney Point is the 'Parsi Point' from where you can get more panoramic views of the blue waters of the Dhom Dam and the lush green Krishna River Valley. There is also a small garden with few swings where kids can have lots of fun. Parsi Point is also an ideal place to capture some memorable pictures of your trip.
Located just around 10 kilometers from Panchgani are the 'Rajpuri Caves' which houses a temple dedicated to Lord Kartikeya. Owing to this fact, these caves also hold a religious significance. Various holy kunds surround these caves and it is believed that if one takes bath in the holy waters of these kunds, he/she can get cured of all the skin ailments. The path leading to these caves passes through serene and verdant villages that will surely refresh your mind.
When in Panchgani, do not miss a visit to the famous Mapro Garden factory which is a sales outlet cum food court where you can enjoy awesome grilled sandwiches, milkshakes, pizzas, burgers, ice-creams and lot more. Mapro Gardens are immensely famous for their jams, syrups and squashes made of real fresh fruits like strawberries, mulberries, litchis etc. A fun element for kids here is the small chocolate factory where you can see the entire chocolate making process.
If you are travelling to Panchgani with kids then do not forget to visit Sherbaug which is a famous theme park here. The theme park houses beautiful and well maintained gardens with a vast collection of plants and flowers. One can have great fun here as the park also houses a small swimming pool, a waterpark and nice fountains. There is also a mini zoo inside where children can enjoy looking at some small animals. Apart from the zoo and waterpark, children can indulge in some fun activities like pot making and clay moulding.
Apart from the regular sightseeing, there are various other activities liking trekking, camping, biking, paragliding, rock climbing and rappelling that you can enjoy while your visit to Panchgani.
Do not forget to get some mouthwatering jams, marmalade, squashes and fruit concentrates as souvenirs from numerous Mapro shops in the area famous for their strawberry crushes and shakes. Bakery items, chikki and fresh honey is also a must buy while getting back from Panchgani.
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