Why Mahabaleshwar is the Most Popular Honeymoon Destination in Maharashtra?

My thoughts on honeymoon have always been different from most of my friends and in general as well. For me honeymoon experience is very much like an escape plan away from the urban cacophony and technologies that interject my romance. So, even if I don’t get a chance to spend like a huge amount of money on my honeymoon trip, I make sure I at least get some privacy and quality moments that I can spend with my wife that I usually miss out when I am working. With many friends around, I always heard that Mahabaleshwar is the best honeymoon destination that one can look out for. In fact, I have three very best friends in my life and out of that two actually enjoyed their honeymoon experience in Mahabaleshwar and that got me thinking about why Mahabaleshwar is the most preferred honeymoon spot for many people around Mumbai and Pune and probably also for many other people from different parts of Maharashtra and other states.

When I got married in 2011, I had no plans on where I would like to go for honeymoon. I wanted less of travel and more of quality time so I finally picked Mahabaleshwar which I had not explored earlier. Since I had already spent a lot on my wedding and reception event, I wanted to keep things simple and low cost.

So, after lot of research and browsing on the internet, I came across this small farm house right outside Mahabaleshwar in Bhose which is like 18 kilometers from the Mahabaleshwar city towards Panchgani. It was an awesome deal for me as I got this luxurious room for only Rs. 800/- per day then. Although, it won’t match the luxuries of some of the top class hotels in Mahabaleshwar, but it was far better than any city hotel rooms that I found online. The only problem for here was that there were no hotels around for lunch and dinner and that we were far from Mahabaleshwar city.

The first day was hectic mainly because of travel and the second day I decided to take tour of some of the locations and attractions that Mahabaleshwar is popular for. To be honest, there is so much that Mahabaleshwar has to offer although, you get to see the same kind of mountains, waterfalls, curvy narrow roads and greenery across Maharashtra.

The weather in Mahabaleshwar also creates the right mood which is important for those who are more interested in spending time together rather than looking out for locations. I believe you should avoid going to Mahabaleshwar especially after mid-March to September because the heat factor is too much during March, April and May while the rainy season that starts in June is a risky affair considering the kind of roads you need to travel through to reach Mahabaleshwar. From October to February the climate is cool and pleasant so it’s the right time to explore the locations here.

If you like checking out some of the locations and sceneries, Mahabaleshwar can offer you with so much to see. You can explore the Wilson’s Point, Elephant’s Head Point, Marjorie Point, Lodwick Point, Kate’s Point, Arthur’s Seat, and Venna Lake that can offer you so much to experience and if you are passionate about clicking pictures you can get your creativity going and take some awesome shots of the landscape. However, let me inform my readers that you will need to rent a car that can help you to quickly tour through these attractions so find someone that won’t charge you more for the tour service.

The next best thing about Mahabaleshwar is the kind of accommodation that you find. I think it does not really matter what your budget is you will still find hotels and resorts here that fit your budget. You can probably find hotels that range from thousand bucks per day and above depending on how much you want to spend for your honeymoon experience.

While most people like to stay in the city close to the market, I would recommend looking out for hotels on the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani link road which are better and they offer more privacy that you need. You can always catch the local state transport bus that run between Wai and Mahabaleshwar every 15 minutes rather than going for local taxis that suck out all the money you got. In 2011, the bus fare from Bhose to Mahabaleshwar one way fare for two people cost me Rs. 40/- while taxis charge Rs. 150 for the same 22 minutes route, so that tells the story.

Food is another reason why Mahabaleshwar manages to be among the top honeymoon destinations in Maharashtra. You will find here all kinds of cuisines so you can explore different Indian and international cuisine as well. There are some Parsi and Irani restaurants as well here when you head towards Panchgani, so if you want to try that you can go ahead.

You can also try out some delicious Maharashtrian thali at many restaurants here. When you are done with your food head to Mapro Garden and enjoy delicious Strawberry Milkshake here. They also offer pizzas, mocktails, slushes and hot beverages. You can also checkout Mapro Chocolate factory in the same premises.

Couples love to roam around and shop and that would be another reason why I believe Mahabaleshwar tops the honeymoon destination chart in the state. The bazaar is packed with so many household items that couple can checkout and buy. I found some items expensive compared to the rates that I find here in Mumbai, but there are some items that are cheaper and you can always buy them at the right price and bargain as well. I guess the best thing that you can bring back home is strawberries, jams and sweets and confectionary items. I would recommend that you look out for factory outlets of Manama and Pure Berry that are close to Bhose and you will find some great deals here rather than buying it from Mahabaleshwar city market.