Panchgani

Locates very close to the city of Pune, Panchgani is an ideal getaway from Mumbai and Pune to find comfort and peace in the lap of nature. The hill station was discovered by the British superintendent John Chesson in 1860's and hence it has great influence of British in its markets and architecture. Panchgani is a land of nature's wonder.
Table hill spread over an area of 95 acres, it one of the astonishing beauty of Panchgani, it is the second largest mountain plateau in the whole of Asia. Not only it is a wonder in itself, the top hill also offers the great view of Panchgani hills. Other viewpoints of Panchgani are- Sydney point, Kate Point, and Parsi point. When in Panchgani do not miss one of the enthralling experience that this small hill town has to offer. Paragliding above the lush green hills of Western Ghats is the must do activity in Panchgani.

Panchgani was discovered during the British Raj and was tagged as their summer capital. British superintendent, in the name of John Chesson, can be credited for the improvement and grooming of the hill station during the 1960s. He planted several plant species from the western world, including silver oak and poinsettia, to beautify the place. Initially, Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of the British, but they could not retire there during the monsoon. Later, they decided on Panchgani for the same as the town remain pleasant throughout the year. History goes to say that John Chesson was assigned the task of finding a suitable spot for the summer vacation retreat. He finally settled on the scenic area between five villages- Dhandeghar, Godavli, Amral, Khingar, and Taighat. Post discovery of the beautiful region, John was made superintendent, and the place was named Panchgani. Chesson then, improvised the infrastructure and appointed tailors, butchers, dhobis etc. to inhabit the place and that’s how Panchgani came to be as a town. Other than the verdant green valleys, soothing environment; the red, juicy strawberries are a major attraction of Panchgani hills. Rightly known as the ‘strawberry garden of India’, the farms of Panchgani are full of enchanting views of luscious berries, especially during February and March. And we have nobody but the British to thank for bringing these beautiful berry plantations from Australia.

Panchgani does not really have a unique local cuisine but is famous for its strawberries. One must definitely try the fruit and maybe even take some home. Other than that, the area, true to the nature of the state, sustains a huge variety in the cuisines available here. One can choose from Gujrati, Parsi, Continental, Chinese, Moghlai, Punjabi, South Indian and Marashtrian menus along with countless options for desserts. Those interested in non-vegetarian delicacies will also find a lot to indulge in from a rich Biryani to various chicken and mutton preparations.
View Top Restaurants in Panchgani

Day 1- Arrive at airport or railway station in Pune. Travel to Panchgani from Pune in a cab in the evening. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2- Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Tableland, which is the second longest mountain plateau in the whole of Asia. A vast plain land on the top of the hill is sprawled over an area of 95 acres. Then, visit the Sydney point, overlooking the Krishna valley and offering the astonishing views of the hills. Later visit the Kate Point and Parsi point, do not miss a view of a sunset from here.
Day 2- Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Rajpuri caves, the historic caves that provided shelter to Pandavas during their period in exile. Then, visit the nearby Devrai art village, which offers the beautiful artefacts of the preserved art. In the evening, enjoying paragliding above the hills of Panchgani.
Day 3- Breakfast at the hotel. Head to Mahabaleshwar and enjoy the various tourist destinations- Venna Lake, Mapro Gardens and Elephant’s head point.

The top things to do in Panchgani are Kaas Plateau, Table Land, Mahabaleshwar, Kate's Point, Paragliding in Panchgani, Mapro Garden. You can see all the places to visit in Panchgani here

Once you are in Maharashtra, connectivity to Panchgani is not an issue. Even though Panchgani does not have an airport or a railway station, the closest ones are within 100 km radius.
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Does not have its own airport and railway station.

The top places near to Panchgani are Mahabaleshwar which is 14 km from Panchgani, Lavasa which is located 62 km from Panchgani, Pune which is located 67 km from Panchgani, Mumbai which is located 160 km from Panchgani, Goa which is located 269 km from Panchgani

Perfect place weekend trips from Mumbai and Pune. Can be visited by adventure enthusiasts and nature seekers.

Panchgani does not really have a unique local cuisine but is famous for its strawberries. One must definitely try the fruit and maybe even take some home. Other than that, the area, true to the nature of the state, sustains a huge variety in the cuisines available here. One can choose from Gujrati, Parsi, Continental, Chinese, Moghlai, Punjabi, South Indian and Marashtrian menus along with countless options for desserts. Those interested in non-vegetarian delicacies will also find a lot to indulge in from a rich Biryani to various chicken and mutton preparations.
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Lot of activities to do here, apart from sightseeing. Close proximity to Pune and Mumbai makes it an ideal weekend getaway.

Nestled in the middle of the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges, Panchgani is a perfect winter destination. Its altitude and the densely vegetated forests on the mountain ranges also make it an apt escape from the scorching summers in Maharashtra. It is, therefore, best visited between October and April. The weather remains pleasant almost throughout the day making it a perfect time to explore the hill station and go sightseeing. The captivating mountain views attract tourists in large numbers. Owing to its location, many resorts and hotels are located amidst nature ensuring a lovely and rejuvenating experience for the tourists. The time between July and September is the Monsoon season in Panchgani. This is when the entire region is covered with lush greenery. The skies are cloudy most of the day, and climate remains damp, misty and cold. This sometimes affects sightseeing, but there is nothing to stop the offbeat travellers and monsoon lovers who often visit Panchgani for its unique charm and beauty.

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There are 160 in Panchgani which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Panchgani are Pan Hill Hotel, Climb Villas, Vibhuti Villa, Swarnam villa and rhytham vila, Kadam Villa, Chocolate Villa Mahabaleshwar. You can see all the hotels in Panchgani here