Pune to Mahabaleshwar by Road – Distance, Time and Useful Travel Information

A sneak peek into the authenticity of Indian tourism can make you know the wonders the country has treasured beautifully through the ages. There's no reason to believe why the country was earlier titled the 'Golden Bird'. The invasion by outsiders into the Indian territory led to a change in Indian culture and traditions.

The espionage into our very own Bharat's treasury led the country to become a house of different castes and religions. Since I got to my senses, I have not seen anyone having no desire to travel to India. Considered to be rich in heritage and wealth, our country has many beauties to its credit. There are many distinctive places in India where you can put rest to your wandering thirst. 

Look no further than self-drive car rental in Pune. With the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, self-drive car rentals offer an unparalleled experience for both locals and tourists alike. Pune, known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra, is a city bursting with history, art, and delicious cuisine. From iconic landmarks like Aga Khan Palace and Shaniwar Wada to bustling markets and serene hill stations, Pune has something for everyone. 

Pune to Mahabaleshwar travelling is one of them. There are many conveyances to travel from Pune to Mahabaleshwar. Many times, it happens that we lose our mental calmness and get frustrated by happenings around us. To get our mind diverted from such tedious situations, the only remedy is travelling. It rejuvenates your mind. Travelling helps you to reduce your frustration and worries. You will become more positive and endurable. It also teaches us creativity and innovation. When we meet different types of people, we learn many things from them, keeping ourselves sane. 

Why travel from Pune to Mahabaleshwar?            

Pune to Mahabaleshwar is the shortest path to reach. The route is about 120 km. It takes to cover this distance almost three hours. The best way to reach Mahabaleshwar from Pune is Thane – Panvel – Mangaon – Indapur – Poladpul - Mahabaleshwar. 

The most popular way of travelling from Pune to Mahabaleshwar is via New Hampshire - 48, known as the Mumbai - Bangalore Highway. 

This is the shortest and the most convenient path to reach Mahabaleshwar from Pune. You have to be timely updated by maps and through a mobile app because there is a lot of traffic on this road. Another path to reach Mahabaleshwar is Pune – Kasurdi – Kapurhol – Khandala – Surur – Wai – Panchgani - Mahabaleshwar. 

While covering these routes, you come across some eminent and picturesque monuments.

1. Nanded Fort, Nanded

Nanded Fort was founded by Mohammad Bin Tughluq, who encroached on Nanded from 1318 to 1358. The fort was controlled by Mohammed Shah I in the Bahmani Sultanate. There are many attractive sites in Nanded, like Isapur Dam, Kaleshwar Temple, Shrikshtra, Mahurgadh religious sites, Siddeshwara temple and Sahastra Kund waterfall. 

It is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. It is well known for its ancient forts, Gurudwara and distinctive saucer shipboats.

2. Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad is a hill fortress situated 49 km Southwest of the city of Pune. This fort is mainly popular for Bal Gangadhar Tilak's freedom struggle from here. Mahatma Gandhi also met Tilak here.

The Mughals won Sinhagad by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj encroached on Kondana in 1647 by defeating Siddi Amber.

3. Satara Ghat

Satara Ghat is also named Khambatki Ghat. It lies on Sahyadri Mountain Range National Highway 48 between Pune and Kolhapur. 

It is situated west of the confluence of the Krishna Venna Rivers, southeast of Pune. 

Satara is eminent for the Kaas plateau and its peculiar natural surroundings. Kaas Plateau is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO WHS.

4. Mapro Garden Wai

This garden is located on Wai-Surur Road. Mapro was founded by pharmacist Kishore Vora and his nephew, Mayur Vora, who extended it. It is a processed food industry which produces fruit syrups, jams, crushes, squashes, desserts, ketchup, fruit jelly, chocolates and snacks. Mapro is the brief name of Mahabaleshwar products. It is one of the renowned tourist places. It supplies luxurious, organic products. 

Mapro Garden was set up in 1959 by young Kishore Vora. The main aim of Kishore Vora was to assist farmers in producing strawberry jams.

5. Wai Village

Wai Village is on the Krishna River, well-known for its diverse ghats. The main attraction is Dholya Ganpati Temple on Ganpati Ghat. Kamalgad Fort is a square hill fort in Wai Taluka in Maharashtra. Several Bollywood and Marathi films are shot in Wai Village. It is also prominent for its temples and is called the town of temples. The must-visit places are Dholya Ganpati, Mehwali Ghat, Sydney Point, Devrai Art Village, Dhom Dam, Tableland, Harrison's Folly, etc.

6. Panchgani

Panchgani is the second-largest plateau in Asia. Panchgani is a picturesque Hill Station in the western ghats of Maharashtra. If you like greenery and a natural environment, this place is the right choice. The road is very smooth, and there is no difficulty in reaching Panchgani by any transport. This is a charismatic place for tourists. Most tourists come here to perceive the true beauty of Panchgani.

If you want to reach Mahabaleshwar from Pune by train, two trains are available, which run twice a week. The first train is Gondia-Kolhapur SCSMT. It covers the distance in about 2 ½ hours. The nearest railway station is at Wathar, 60 Km from Mahabaleshwar. The distance between Pune and Mahabaleshwar is about 120 km.

Best Time to Take a Road Trip from Pune to Mahabaleshwar

The monsoon weather is the best time to visit Pune to Mahabaleshwar. The environment becomes green and cool. This is the time when the lush green surroundings attract your attention. If you want to travel on a road trip from Pune to Mahabaleshwar, there are many sightseeing sites where you can stay and take some rest and also view wonderful places, like Phoenix Market City, Aga Khan Palace, Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Ganpati Mandir, Darshan Museum, Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Shaniwar Wada, Shri Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple etc.

Travelling from Pune to Mahabaleshwar By Car

Travelling to Mahabaleshwar from Pune by car takes around two hours and 48 minutes to cover 122 km. You can take the route one via New Hampshire 48. The traffic is not too much every day. But when there is some national holiday, it can be crowded with traffic jams. Sometimes, this traffic gets long, and it becomes very hard to manage.

If you have your car and can drive yourself, there is no problem, but if you want to hire a car, there are some car rental services which provide you with class car models. One among them is RenTrip. We offer you the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Tata Punch, Mahindra Thar, Toyota Innova and Toyota Innova Crysta, five-seaters with AC. If you hire a car from Pune to Mahabaleshwar, it is the safest, most convenient, affordable and comfortable option. 

Travelling from Pune to Mahabaleshwar by bike

Mahabaleshwar is 120 kilometres from Pune. If you want to travel by bike, you can choose from various cruisers or sports bikes in Pune. You can begin your journey from Pune and detect the towns of Wai, Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar.

• First, visit Wai, located on the banks of Krishna River. 
• The next site to visit is Dhom Lake. The Dhom Lake bewilders everyone who comes here. Some Bollywood movies, like Singham, Rab ne bana di Jodi, Swadesh and Chennai Express, are shot here.
• Harrisons Folly is the next sightseeing site, a barren land, where precautions for a smooth drive are to be taken.
• Sydney Point is the site that gives marvellous views of Dhom Dam, Krishna Valley and Kamlagad Fort. The alluring sunset view amazes the mind of the sightseer.
• Ghatjai Mandir is the next venue for us while driving the bike. The temple has many deities of Goddess Ghatubai and Goddess Jaibai.
• Followed by the above is Table Land, which is considered Asia's second-largest mountain plateau and is positioned at a height of 4500 feet above sea level. Sunrise and sunsets are worth seeing from the Tableland.
• Parsi Point is another distinctive site offering lush green, panoramic views of Krishna Valley and the crystal sky-blue waters of Dhom Lake.
• Mapro Garden is where you can find mouth-watering and flavoursome fruits, jams, crushes, ketchup, desserts, squashes and chocolates.
• Kate Point is an amazing site to feel the natural environment. Kate Point, Eco Point, and Needles Hole viewpoints are also sightseeing.
• Sunset Point, Bombay Point, is the best site to perceive the sunset in Mahabaleshwar. The charismatic view of the sunset, where the sun disappears into the valley, is astounding. After visiting Wai, Panchgani, and Mahabaleshwar, you can also visit old Mahabaleshwar.
• Wilson Point of Sunrise is where you can see wonderful sunrise from Wilson Point.
• Lodwick and Elephant Point is where you can view the magnificent Pratapgarh Fort. The Elphinstone Point and the deep valleys Dhobi waterfall is another site for sightseeing.

Popular Routes to Travel from Pune to Mahabaleshwar

The best route to reach Mahabaleshwar is NH-48. The road is very smooth, and it doesn't take much time. This is the shortest and fastest route from Lal Bahadur Shastri Road and the Narveer Tanaji Malusare Road, Sinhagad Road to New Hampshire 4 in Kudale Baug. After leaving New Hampshire 4, take the Wai – Surur Road, then Panchgani, and at last, you'll reach Mahabaleshwar Road. 

There are three routes to reach Mahabaleshwar.

• Pune – Surur – Wai – Mahabaleshwar (111 kilometres)
• Pune – Kapurhol - Wai - Mahabaleshwar (113 km)
• Pune – Satara - Mahabaleshwar (149 km)

There are three options available for travel. 

• Drive from your car or hire a car from Pune. Travelling by car is better than any other because you can stop anywhere.
• Private bus from Swargate (MSRTC buses stand) is also available. You can get semi-luxury or luxury buses from Pune. This will be a cheaper and safest option for you. 
• You can ride a motorcycle and cover the scenic route. We have a wide range of bikes to rent in Pune for you to choose from. You can view the all-around scenery and talk to the surroundings whenever and wherever you desire.

There are many restaurants and hotels where you can stay and relax. Some eminent restaurants are Khed-Shivapur, Toll Plaza, etc.

Conclusion

The trip to Mahabaleshwar from Pune is exhilarating. You will never despair travelling. If you visit this unique place, you can see everything like hills, valleys, strawberry waterfalls, Mapro garden, etc.

There are many options to travel, whichever you like or prefer most. You can also travel by train. The nearest railway station is Wathar, which is 60 Km from Mahabaleshwar. The fastest train is Gondia – Kolhapur SCSMT. It takes two and a half hours.

Pune and Mahabaleshwar are both stunning locations for an exotic trip. You can spin unforgettable memories for a lifetime. Destination is not what one dies for. It's the journey that gives pleasure and harmony to one's self. Give your busy schedule a hold and move forward on a journey to relive the best times of your life.