I visited Panchgani thrice; in 2000, 2001 and 2007. First time I was with a group of friends. I liked the place so much that I took my family in 2001. This place is large spread of a vast land, a great view of the valley and idiotic but interesting guide! It was a very good experience.
I went back to Panchgani after a long 6 years gap in May 2007. Well this time I was shocked!!!
To start with they asked money (Not sure whether they were local goons and authorized collectors, because I did not see any Govt stamp anywhere) at the entry of Panchgani (Rs10 per head + Rs40 for car). I was slightly disappointed but thought it might be a good way; to ask tourists to pay for what they are using! but wait, the roads are pothole filled, broken; the approach is congested. We thought "never mind, potholes are everywhere". We went ahead to the tabletop.
Here again couple of guys started asking for money for car parking! I said "but we already paid for the car"! they said, that was to allow us to use car but not for parking. Well we paid that too. We then reached the table- top. Here my mom and my wife wanted to use toilet. well there in NONE in THE WHOLE TABLE TOP. When I asked couple of local guys they pointed behind a big tree!! We entered into tabletop, the whole place is filled with horse’ shit! whole area stinking like hell! I don’t understand, if there is arrangement for toilets (the minimum in a tourist spot), roads are bad and no arrangement for cleaning, then what they are doing with money the are collecting from us. somehow we ignored the whole thing and went ahead!
The view from top was really nice and cool breeze in hot summer was very soothing! but when are just sitting and relaxing one ice-cream vendor came and pursue to buy something from him. We said "no we don’t want ice-cream", that guy started abusing us. Well he was not alone, same thing happened couple of times while entering in to tabletop and going back!! We are so frustrated that we decided to came back!!
My take on panchgani is - if you are batch of friends going to spend a day or you want to increase your count on what are the place you have seen in your lifetime, its not that bad a place. But if you are looking a weekend gateway and want to chill out, DONT GO TO PANCHGANI!