Pānchgani

Panchgani, the town in the midst of five hills, is an eternally beautiful hill station, a favourite escape clause for the Mumbai-weary. Panchgani is perennially fresh and inviting; its bracing climate complements the verdant surroundings. Flanked by tableland and craggy cliffs, Panchgani is 1334 m; just 38 m lower than Mahabaleshwar.

The drive up to the town winds past red roofed hamlets and a patchwork quilt of neatly laid out fields and orchards. As the road meanders uphill, the vegetation becomes greener and denser, the tree canopy widens and bird sounds are magnified. And then finally, you arrive at a neat, colonial-style town, with a birds' eye view of emerald green coastal plains on one side and the River Krishna on the other.

Panchgani is the archetypal British-in-India hill station, with grand old bungalows and buildings with the Raj stamped all over. The town is known for its English style boarding schools and old Parsi houses that front the forests.

While in Panchgani, hike across to the Rajpuri caves in the temple of Swami Kartikeya or to Kamalgad Fort. A trip to Panchgani is complete only after a visit to the famous Pratapgad Fort, 24 km from Mahabaleshwar. The fort, built in 1656 by Shivaji, witnessed the momentous confrontation between the Maratha rebel and Afzal Khan. Nearby are the temple of Goddess Bhavani and the dargah of Afzal Khan.

A genteel place, Panchgani doesn't really pander to commercial tastes, as does Mahabaleshwar. Here, holiday pastimes include walking, riding on one of the numerous ponies that canter around town, or simply unwinding at home in the cool of the veranda or drinking tea on the lawns. And if you feel energetic, amble down to the bazaar to shop for very reasonably priced shoes and slippers, preserves and squashes made from fresh strawberries and raspberries.

Making tracks

Panchgani is 270 km from Mumbai via Pune and 266 km via Mahad. The closest airport is at Pune, 98 km from Panchgani. The nearest railhead is at Wathar, 45 km. It is convenient to come to Panchgani via Pune. There are regular buses, taxi services and car rentals between Mumbai and Panchgani. Within Panchgani, you can move around on horseback, taxis, rickshaws, and cycles or on foot.

Best time to go

Panchgani is inviting at any time of the year, particularly between September and May. The town is at a height of 1334 ft. Average summer temperatures are 35° C and winter is 16° C.

Room with a view

There are a number of hotels, guesthouses and resorts with excellent facilities to cater to all budgets at Panchgani. The MTDC has middle and low budget accommodation.