5 DAYS TRIP FROM MUMBAI | MAHABALESHWAR & HARIHARESHWAR & ALIBAUG

Hill Station | Pilgrimage | Beach | Historical & Heritage

Photo Credit: Flickr
This trip demands considerable trekking / walking

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Trip Starting Point: Mumbai Central

Mode of Travel: Car (or Cab)

Trip Duration: 5 Days

Ideal Start Time: 6 AM:9 AM:8 AM:9 AM:9 AM

Total Places Visited: 23

DAYS

DAY 1 : TRAVEL TO MAHABALESHWAR & SIGHTSEEING

Travel from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar

At a distance of 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Mahabaleshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in the Old Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular Mahabaleshwar tourist places.

Mahabaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The temple was built by Chandarao More in 16th century and is a model of the Hemadant architectural style of South India. The Mahabaleshwar hills have been named after Lord Mahabali, whose name stands a symbol of strength.

The temple is enclosed by a 5 feet wall and is divided into two areas, inner room and outer room. The sanctum sanctorum has Shiva linga made of black stone, which is 500 years old swayambhu lingam. This self-originated lingam is in the shape of Rudraksha and is called Mahalingam.

The .....

At a distance of 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Panch Ganga Temple is a holy site situated near Mahabaleshwar Temple at Old Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra.

The Panch Ganga Temple is constructed at the confluence of five rivers, Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri. All the rivers come out from the mouth of a statue of a cow in this temple, thus the place being called Panchganga Mandir.

The temple was constructed by Raja Singhandeo, the Yadava ruler of Devgiri in the 13th Century. In the 16th and 17th Centuries, Raja Chandarao More of Jaoli and the Maratha ruler Shivaji improved upon its structure on a large scale.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and has a beautiful idol of him. The legend behind the temple is closely linked to Savitri's curse on the Trimurtis, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who flow here as Koyna, Krishna and Venna rivers. It is a major religious site and is thronged by devotees .....

At a distance of 300 m from Mahabaleshwar Temple and 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Krishnabai Temple is an old temple situated few meters away from Panch Ganga Temple in Old Mahabaleshwar. It is among the famous Mahabaleshwar tourist places.

Krishnabai Temple is supposed to be source of the Krishna River. The temple was built in 1888 by a ruler of Ratnagiri on a hilltop overlooking the Krishna valley. The temple has a Shiva lingam and a beautiful statue of Goddess Krishna. A small stream of the river flowing from a cow-face (gomukh) falls in a Kund or water tank which is the source of might River Krishna. Stone carved columns and ceilings are the special characteristics of this temple.

The temple also offers enchanting views of the Krishna valley and surrounding countryside. Behind Panch Ganga temple, there is a small and well-marked trail that leads to Krishnabai temple. It is not visited .....

At a distance of 10 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand and 5 km from Old Mahabaleshwar, Elphinstone Point is one of the famous viewpoints situated atop a hill near Arthur Seat Point in Mahabaleshwar.

Elphinstone Point discovered in 1830 by Dr. Murray and has an old mansion in its vicinity. The viewpoint got its name from Mount Stuart Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay Presidency. The mansion now lies in ruins and local authorities are planning to demolish to erect a picnic shed in its place for tourists.

Elphinstone Point is one of the highest points in Mahabaleshwar overlooking the two valleys, with rivers Koyna on the left and Savitri on the right. The lofty cliff commands a panoramic view of the Pratapgarh Fort, Koyna Valley and nearby plains. One can also admire the ravine, which lies between Elphinstone Point and Arthur Seat Point.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

At a distance of 1 km from Arthur Seat, 2 km from Eliphinstone Point and 12 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Savitri Point is a popular vantage point in Mahabaleshwar town of Maharashtra. It is one of the top places to visit in Mahabaleshwar.

Popularly called as Suicide Point, Savitri Point is situated between Eliphinstone Point and Arthur Seat Point. This place is known as the originating point of the beautiful Savitri River. Savitri Point is situated atop a hill, from where visitors can get an uninterrupted view of Savitri River and its valley. The point itself is surrounded by dense flora, which serves as a perfect backdrop for photography. Owing to its spectacular beauty, this point is frequented by both tourists and locals year-round.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

At a distance of 13 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand and 7 km from Old Mahabaleshwar, Arthur Seat Point is the most popular viewpoint in Mahabaleshwar and among the top places to visit in Mahabaleshwar.

Arthur Seat Point is located at a height of 1340 m and is surrounded by the deep Savitri gorge on one side and a lush green plateau on the other side. Popularly called as Queen of the Points, Arthur Seat Point has been named after Sir Arthur Mallet who was the first man to build a house at this point. Arthur Seat is the only point that clearly shows the geological contrast between the Konkan and the Deccan territories.

Arthur Seat Point area has 6 points in total, Arthur's Seat Point, Echo Point, Hunter Point, Tiger Spring Point, Window Point and Malcom Point. The barren deep Savitri valley on the left and lush green Jor valley on the right extends a mesmerizing view to the seat. Moving step .....

At a distance of 3 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Sunset Point is one of the most popular viewpoints of Mahabaleshwar and is popularly known as Mumbai Point or Bombay Point. This is the place from where people can view the magnificent sunset over the valleys below at Mahabaleshwar.

The Bombay Point is the oldest point of Mahabaleshwar and the point is named so owing to its location on the old Bombay road. The place has a large open space with a bandstand. It is an ideal place for late afternoon picnic. Sunset point is the most crowded point because of the fact that one cannot view anything at other viewpoints at that time of the day. Many activities like Horse riding, Choupati games are popular with the tourists at this point. There is a lovers point to the left of the Mumbai point.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Overnight Stay in Mahabaleshwar

DAY 2 : MAHABALESHWAR SIGHTSEEING

Resume Mahabaleshwar Sightseeing

At a distance of 4 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Lodwick Point is previously known as Sydney Point. This point lies at an elevation of 4087 feet above sea level.

Lodwick Point area has 2 points; Lodwick Point and Elephant's Head Point. The Lodwick point was rechristened in the honor of General Lodwick, who was the first British officer to climb the hill in April 1824. To honor General Lodwick's achievement, his son erected a memorial pole of about 25 ft. At the base of this monument, the head of the General is sculptured in marble. This point offers unmatched views of the Pratapgad Fort and Elphinstone Point at a distance.

Elephant's Head Point is the extreme end of the mountain range and lies beyond the Lodwick Point. The extended front part of hill looks like Elephant Head. Hence, this point is known as Elephant's Head Point. The point renders breathtaking views of the surroundings. One needs to walk almost 1.5 km from car parking place or taking a pony ride from the parking .....

At a distance of 3 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Venna Lake is a manmade lake situated in Mahabaleshwar. It is one of the popular tourist places in Mahabaleshwar.

Venna Lake was constructed in 1842 by Sri Appa Saheb Maharaja, who was the ruler of Satara. Surrounded by lush greenery, Venna Lake has an area of about 28 acres having a periphery around 7-8 km, and is fed by repeated springs. It is one of the famous places to visit as part of Mahabaleshwar Tour. Pratap Singh Garden is situated on the banks of Venna Lake.

Tourists can enjoy a boat ride in the lake or a horse ride next to the lake. Only Rowboats are available for tourists. Apart from boating and horse riding, funfair games like a toy train, merry-go-round are popular with children. Several small eateries line the banks of the lake.

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM

Entry: .....

At a distance of 7 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, Kate's Point and Elephant's Head Point are the most picturesque viewpoints of Mahabaleshwar in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is among the best tourist places in Mahabaleshwar.

Kate's Point area has 3 points in total; they are Kate's Point, Echo Point, and Needle Hole Point or Elephant's Head Point. Kate's Point is named after the then British governor Sir John Malcolm's daughter. The original name of the point is Nake Khind and is situated at an altitude of 1290 m. Dhom dam, as well as peaks of Kamalgadh, Pandavgadh, and Mandardeo, can be seen from Kate's Point. It is one of the must include places in Mahabaleshwar tour packages.

Elephant's Head Point or Needle Hole Point is another popular vantage point in Mahabaleshwar, situated next to Kate's Point. The overhanging cliffs .....

At a distance of 6 km from Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, 116 km from Pune & 252 km from Mumbai, Lingmala Waterfall is a mesmerizing waterfall located at top of the Venna Valley in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular waterfalls in Maharashtra, and among the famous places to visited as part of Mahabaleshwar packages.

Situated at an altitude of 1278 m, Lingmala Waterfall is formed by the Venna River. It is one of the prominent tourist places near Pune in monsoon. There are two waterfalls, one mini waterfall, and the main waterfall which falls from a height of 500 feet. The mini waterfall is safe & suitable for swimming and playing in the water. One has to walk for 30 minutes to reach the viewpoint of the main waterfall from the mini-falls. There is no way to get into the water at the main falls .....

At a distance of 11 km from Mahabaleshwar and 7 km from Panchgani, Mapro Garden is a garden situated at Gureghar on Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani road in Satara district of Maharashtra. A trip to Mapro Garden is one of the top things to do in Mahabaleshwar.

Mapro Garden is very popular tourist spot in Mahabaleshwar and is known for their strawberry produce. The name Mapro is short form of Mahabaleshwar Products. Mapro was founded in 1959 by Mr. Kishore Vora and it is very popular in Maharashtra state for its processed fruit products like fruit crushes, squash, etc. Mapro has also diversified into products like chocolates, honey, gulkand and many more.

The major highlight of Mapro Garden is the chocolate factory within the premises. Visitors can also see a small nursery full of beautiful flowers and plants. There are various counters selling different Mapro products. Tourists can .....

Overnight Stay in Mahabaleshwar

DAY 3 : TRAVEL TO HARIHARESHWAR & SIGHTSEEING

At a distance of 1 km from Harihareshwar Bus Stop, and 19 km from Shrivardhan, Harihareshwar Beach is a pristine beach located at Harihareshwar town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the popular Maharashtra beaches, and among the must include places in Harihareshwar holiday packages.

Situated on the Konkan coast, Harihareshwar Beach is surrounded by four hills namely the Harihareshwar, Harshinachal, Bramhadri, and Pushpadri. It is considered the highlight of the town and is considered one of the underrated beaches in Maharashtra. There are two beaches - one to the north and the other to the south of Kalbhairav temple. Harihareshwar, along with Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach forms a popular weekend beach destination from Pune and Mumbai.

Regarded as the must-visit Harihareshwar tourist places, the .....

At a distance of 500m from Harihareshwar Bus Stop, Harihareshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Harihareshwar town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Harihareshwar tour packages.

Harihareshwar Temple is one of the most ancient and renowned temples in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and among the most famous places to visit in Harihareshwar. The temple complex comprises two adjacent temples. One of them is a small Kalbhairav temple that needs to be visited first and the other is the main Harihareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva created Kalbhairava and blessed him with all mantras.

Built in the late medieval period, the main deity .....

At a distance of 1 km from Harihareshwar Temple, and 2 km from Harihareshwar Bus Stop, Ganesh Gully is a pilgrimage spot located in Harihareshwar, Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places to visit in Harihareshwar while holidaying in the Konkan region.

As the name suggests, Ganesh Gully is a narrow passage of about 3 feet wide. It is between two rocks, where a path is paved, leading to a sea-bed. It is said that an idol of Lord Ganesh is submerged in the water around 30 feet deep and can be seen only during low tide. Many tourists visit this place to have a glimpse of the Ganesh Idol. There are black rocks on the viewpoint which meet the sea. The sea waves collapse on these rocks enhancing the beauty of this viewpoint.

Going up there itself is an adventure and further adds to the overall experience like nothing better. To reach the spot, one has to climb the staircase of the Harihareshwar temple. As mentioned, the place is at the temple area and hence it is called Shukla .....

At a distance of 20 km from Diveaghar, and 21 km from Harihareshwar, Srivardhan Beach is a pristine beach located at Shrivardhan town in Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular weekend getaways from Mumbai, and among the must-visit places as part of Harihareshwar Packages.

Stretches about 3 km long, Srivardhan Beach is a very clean and calm beach located along the Arabian Sea coastline. The majestic black sand coastline is bestowed with striking palm groves and mango plantations. The long pristine coastline of Srivardhan is most idyllic for a break from the hectic schedules of modern life and is considered as one of the best weekend getaways from Pune, and Mumbai.

The crashing waves against the black sand are worth seeing. One can find water sports like boating, paragliding, and water surfing at this beach. Kids can enjoy horse riding, camel riding, and Buggy riding as well. It is also an ideal place for swimming as the waters are shallow. Post noon, the tides .....

Overnight Stay in Harihareshwar

DAY 4 : VISIT MURUD - JANJIRA & TRAVEL TO ALIBAUG

At a distance of 5 km from Murud, 21 km from Diveagar, 53 km from Alibaug, 84 km from Raigad Fort, 170 km from Mumbai, and 162 km from Pune, Murud - Janjira is an island fort situated near Murud in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. This is one of the top places to visit in Alibaug, and also one of the popular heritage places to visit near Pune and Mumbai.

Janjira Fort is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on all sides and is one of the strongest marine forts of India. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Alibaug tour packages. The name Janjira is derived from the Arabic word Jazeera which means island. The original structure was built in the 15th century by a Koli chief as a defense .....

At a distance of 32 km from Alibaug, 20 km from Murud - Janjira Fort, and 133 km from Mumbai, Kashid Beach is a beautiful beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea at Kashid. It is one of the popular beaches in Maharashtra and also a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.

Kashid Beach is tucked between two hillocks and is known for its clear waters, white sand and casuarina groves that line the shore. The 3 km long white sand beach is the most beautiful and alluring in the Konkan region. Kashid Beach is a quiet and soothing place and a perfect getaway from the busy city life. Kashid is not as commercially popular as most other beaches in the state. Most tourists stop over at Kashid en route Alibag or Murud.

Kashid Beach is also perfect for surfing with waves rising as high as six feet almost throughout the year. However swimming is not recommended at Kashid. Kashid is also a popular destination for water sports like water scooters, parasailing and banana boat rides. The .....

At a distance of 5 km from Korlai, 18 km from Alibaug and 15 km from Kashid, Revdanda Fort is an ancient Portuguese fort located at Revdanda in Raigad district of Maharashtra. The fort is located at the mouth of the Kundalika River.

Revdanda Fort, also known as Revdanda Aagarkot, was built by Portuguese Captain Soj in 1558 CE. In 1740 CE, Revdanda along with the Korlai Fort came under Maratha kingdom as per the treaty signed by the Portuguese. Angres defeated the fort in 1817 CE but it came under the British Raj in 1818 AD.

The periphery of the fort is around 5 km. The entire fortification has two main doors one from north and the other from south. Of which the northern gate was for land connection and the southern gate was used as a passage to the sea. This route opens to the main sea through the Revdanda creek. Portuguese built a dock over here which had become non-existent over time. The north and south gate is connected directly by a long road made of stones. Now, only .....

Overnight Stay in Alibaug

DAY 5 : ALIBAUG SIGHTSEEING & TRAVEL TO MUMBAI

Start Alibaug Sightseeing

At a distance of 1.5 km from Alibaug Bus Stand, Alibaug or Alibag Beach is a serene beach situated at Alibaug in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It is one of the top tourist places in Alibaug, and among the prominent beaches to visit as part of Lonavala packages.

Alibag Beach is the main beach of the town, and is well known for its clean coastline. The beach has primarily blackish sand and a lot of rocky stretches. Alibaug Beach is one of the most popular beaches with the sight of Kolaba Fort providing the perfect view during sunset as part of Alibaug Packages.

The beach is very lively with bathers in the morning and many food stalls in the evening. The beach has no facilities for water sports like boating, diving, or snorkeling. Walking and sunbathing, riding in the six seated horse-driven .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Alibaug Beach and 3 km from Alibaug Bus Stand, Kolaba Fort or Kulaba Fort is an old military fortification situated in the Arabian Sea near the shores of Alibaug in Maharashtra. It is one of the must include places in Alibaug Tour, and among the famous heritage sites near Mumbai.

Kolaba Fort was built by Maratha warrior Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1680 CE after the entire south Konkan came under his control. In 1662 CE, he strengthened and fortified Kolaba fort to make it one of his chief naval stations. The command of the fort was given to Darya Sagar and Manik Bhandari under whom Kolaba fort became the center of the Maratha attacks on British ships. It is one of the prominent places of sightseeing in Alibaug.

Later in 1713 CE, Kolaba Fort along .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Alibaug Bus Stand 11 km from Kihim Beach, Varsoli is a beautiful beach situated at Varsoli village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. This is one of the popular beaches in Maharashtra and also one of the top places to visit in Alibaug.

Varsoli Beach is located on the outskirts of Alibaug at Varsoli, which is a small hamlet. The beach is 2 km long and is more beautiful than Alibaug Beach. It is clean and less crowded beach in Alibaug region. Though this beach serves as a naval base, tourists can enjoy the white sand and clean water. Moreover, the beach is dotted with numerous coconut and casuarina trees.

Varsoli Beach is a popular tourist spot for those who want a quiet and serene atmosphere. At this wonderful beach, there are many water sports available both for adults .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Akshi Beach, 8.5 km from Alibaug and 12 km from Revdanda Fort, Nagaon Beach is a scenic beach situated at a small hamlet of Nagaon in Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is the best places to visit in Alibaug and also one of the popular weekend getaways from Mumbai and Pune.

Nagaon Beach is a 3 km long flat beach with soft fine mixture of white and black sand. The beach is mainly a sandy beach unlike most other beaches in Alibaug and is lined with Casurina trees which give romantic atmosphere to the beach. Nagaon Beach is a quiet and secluded beach compared to Alibaug and Kashid Beach.

Nagaon is the hub of water sports in Alibaug with the highest number of water sport operators functioning at the beach who also offer parasailing in the Sea. Visitors will find parasailing, jet skies, motor boat rides, banana rides and .....

Travel from Alibaug to Mumbai