Panchgani

Panchgani, Satara-Mahrastra


                        Panchgani is a hill station, you will found on the way to Mahabaleshwar, from pune.
As it sounds ,the name derived from five things existence here in bunch, from five villages around, from five mountains and from five rivers.
It is famous for its scenic ponts. You also feel Panchgani more cool than  Mahabaleshwar.
This is a place now a days famous for exicutive Boarding schools, rest-houses and hospitals.This place is also famous for bollywood film shooting, recently shoot films are, Agent Vinod  and Taare Zameen par .
Former student of panchgani convent school is a well  known star of bollywood, Kajol.
Nevertheless, at this place you can feel in the warm arm of nature.
If you plan for two or three days trip , then stay here, so you can give one day to Panchgani ,as it deserve, and also move to Mahabaleshwar for next day.


What To See -
                                        As it is a hill station and mountains surrounds it, in Panchagani there is many scenic points as below,

• Glider Point - 

                                     It is at just entrance to Panchgani, where para-gliders enjoy paragliding. You can also enjoy here horse riding and camel riding.View from this place is good and can realx for some time.

• Sydney Point -

                                     This point offers you a amazing view of Krishna valleys with pictorial beauty.

From here you can also see view of Pandavgad and Mandhardeo. Glittering water view of krishna river at Bhor dam make  this place a real view point.

• Table Land -

                               This is a volcanic plateau, which is second higest plateau in asia after the Tibetan plateau.This area is a part of Deccan plateau, raised by pressure between the earth plates.This area has high seismic activity,with an epicenter near koynanagar.

To see all Table land you need three to for hours by walk. Horse riding also available here ,whom can ride you all table land.

On Table land there is point to see ,

Devils Kitchen

Pandav cave ( These are not Pandav gad caves)

Small Lakes.

• Mapro Garden -

                                       Mapro is a food product company, known for finest quality strawberry production . They formed  garden here, having combination of their products mall Strawberry fields and garden, so it is Mapro garden.

As there is a canteen als,o you can enjoy your breakfast, or snacks lunch with tea or cofee.

• Wax Museum -

                                      This place is exact opposite to Mapro Garden. Here you can take pictures with wax statues of celebraties.

• Parsi Point - 

                               This is another scenic point, which offers you a pleasant view of krishna valleys and Dhom Dom.This is a cool place ,where you can relax for some moment, and take a nice photos.

From this point you can take view of farthest point with telescope there.
History -
               As Panchgani remained pleasant throughout the year, British wants to developed it as retirement place. For this John Chesson was palced as a incharge of this hill station. John Chesson along with Mr. Rustomji Dubash finalize this particular area, and as it is surrounded by five villages ,five mountains, five rivers so it was named Panchgani, in 1860s.
John Chesson is burried in graveyard of St Peters Church. Villagers and schools ,gather here together in a ceremony to remember founder of Panchgani.

How To Go -
                              It is 45 km from Satara, 100 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai.The very convenient way to go Mahabaleshwar is by own or rented four wheeler from Pune or Satara. There is private luxary and government (ST) buses also available .

The nearest railroad is Satara around 60 km.

The nearest airport is Pune international airport.

Near by Places - 

                         - Wai
                         - Mahabaleshwar
                         - Pratapgad
                         - Mapro garden and company
                         - Koyna dam
                         - Koyna wildlife sanctuary
                         - Kaas pathar (plateau)
                         - Dhom Dam
                         - Pandavgad Caves
                         - Mandhardeo