Journey Start Date: 10th April 2013 10:45pm-by package tour from Shiv Holidays @ Sion, Mumbai - booked through National Travel, Chembur..
Onward Travel: by KRSNA AC Sleeper 2X2, not comfortable particularly with a small child, noisy bus, No blanket provided, reached Mahabaleswar around 7:45am, timing good to proceed to Hotel. While entering Mahabaleswar at near venna lake pay rs 20/- per head for up to a week stay in mahabaleswar-local municipality tax.
Similarly when you enter Panchgani table land there also you pay rs 20/- per head - this one looks fully cheating to me as they have not done anything for visitor in Panchgani. KRSNA may be the only sleeper service available to Mahabaleswar and return of this bus is in evening 9-30 pm from Mahabaleswar.
Hotel: Blue Heaven(called Deluxe Non AC-google have impressive photo than actually it is), very ordinary with ordinary food but good gesture shown by staff. They do not have running hot water but you can get hot water bucket as many you want. Every room is having a double bed with a separate child bed and TV set with STB. The hotel price is inclusive of Lunch, Dinner, bakefast and evening tea. Since we traveled by sleeper bus we were fresh enough to start sight seeing after breakfast (just upma & tea).
Local Visit: At Taxi Association office (02168-260931) near ST Stand they have fixed rate for seven different tour program covering time 2:30 to 4:00 hrs. The rate is for full car(3+1). This is convenient as one can select his own timing. We visited Ladwick point and Kate’s Point etc. Ladwick point is ~1km away from where taxi will stop. One has to walk through a road having ankle deep dust.
Weather was also very hot that time. April is definitely not the right time to visit Mahabaleswar or may be this year it is hot in April. Just after monsoon to March 15 is suitable to visit mahabaleswar. The hills are brown instead of green and lakes are dried to half leaving half a KM brown bank on all sides. You will see everything smoky because of hot weather.
Sight seeing: by SWARA Tours(with another couple combined as per standard policy) fixed by Shiv Holidays at Sion, Mumbai. Here we were cheated. 1.5 days sight seeing was promised as Mahabaleswar local, Pratapgad and Panchgani but ended up with only two half days trip of 2.5hrs. In exchange of Pratapgad fort Mahabaleswar visit was made. Panchgani visit was made but the driver was reluctant to stop at Mapro Garden on the main road side while stopped at MALA’s factory (useless) may be for his own interest(getting commission?). On the way to Arthur Seat there is Panchganga Temple, savitri point, monkey point, caunnot Peak etc.
Arthur seat is the point where maximum time is to be spent, other point look pale in comparison with this one. The concrete steps at caunnot Peak are not in a good state - be careful. Photography is not allowed in panchhganga temple complex. Ladwick Point and Venna Lake etc was covered at extra cost. Enjoy a boat ride at venna lake - if paddle boat is not selected then rs50/- extra may be paid to take their driver’s help, which is worth paying for the row boat.If sight seeing is made by own car then one has to pay extra car entry tax at many places. During off-season there is no govt. bus service available for sight seeing.
Fruit: Enjoy strawberry, mulberries and gooseberry(small yellow tomato like) - raspberries are not good enough for the price and more over they have lot of seeds inside. Probably this is the reason why at MALA they did not allowed to taste it before purchase. Mulberries are simply best and they are seedless-purchase only black ones and not the pink, remember it will leave stain on your finger. REMEMBER their baskets are full of packing and berries are only at surface layer - true for all berries.
Mapro sales counter at market: it worth taking their free taste service but not worth purchasing since their products are available everywhere at similar discount, so why to take the pain of carrying from Mahabaleswar?
Return(14th April): by Munshi Travel AC VOLVO 2X2 video coach 9:30am -is really the best among others. Mahabaleswar to Wai(1hr journey) road is winding. Headache and vomiting may start for some, particularly in seater bus. My child started vomiting - but bus management provided small plastic bag for this purpose in advance. Sleeper bus(with lower berth) may not result into vomiting/headache problem.
While onward journey this may not be a problem for seater bus too due to slow speed during climbing - for our sleeper bus we did not face any problem during onward journey.
Recommendations:
Visit time: After monsoon to March 15
Tour: DO NOT BOOK sight seeing as part of package - it is cheating and inconvenient also.
To Carry: Water Bottle MUST while visiting Auther seat, Ladwik Point - will need it dRajeev_Vermarately after walking.
For Budget hotel: Mosquito repellent and hair drier to be carried.
Fruit: Enjoy everything available.
Non-veg food: better avoid meat/chicken if visiting during off season, egg item can be taken safely.
Sight Seeing Trip: as per package or tour scheme available, do not miss Aurther seat, Cannut Peak, Panchganga Temple, Kate’s point, Mapro Garden.