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A remarkable hill station, Panchgani in Maharashtra is snuggled between the 5 hills of Sahyadri Mountain ranges in the Satara district. This hill station in Maharashtra is bounded by charismatic views and ideal weather. Whether it is lakes, mountain peaks, or verdant landscape, Panchgani has everything for you so that you can make the most from your trip. The best thing that you will love about this calm place is the Krishna river’s view that flows through the little hamlets and farms. The gorgeous beauty of this place is sure to satisfy your vacation lust to perfection.
This ultimate summer resort is well-known for its untouched environment and scenic beauty. Endowed in nature’s virgin beauty, Panchgani is encircled beautifully by five dainty hamlets namely Amral, Khingar, Taighat, Dhandeghar, and Godwali. Sitting at an elevation of 1334 m, this hill station in Maharashtra is famous for its beautiful views. This famous weekend getaway of Panchgani to complete calmness and serenity is a favorite among those love birds looking for nature’s essence in each breath.
Panchgani was found during British Raj by the British as a wonderful summer resort. In 1860, John Chesson, a superintendent, was made the in-charge of this hill station. He is known to have planted many different plant species in Panchgani like poinsettlia and silver oak. Since then, they have largely flourished in the area. The British later developed Panchgani as the retirement place since it has salubrious weather all through the year. With Rustomji Dubash, John Chesson surveyed the hills of this area and finally chose this nameless region that lived in the vicinity of 5 villages namely Amral, Dandeghar, Taighat, Khingar, and Godavali. Hence this place was named Panchgani and John Chesson was appointed the Superintendent.
Various professionals were encouraged by Chesson to create infrastructure and settle in Panchgani. After the death of John Chesson, he was buried in St. Peter’s Church graveyard. Since Panchgani has pleasant weather all through the year, it was settled by the retired Britishers originally. But soon other people also started to settle here. In the 19th century, made attempts were made to develop and start schools here and hence Panchgani flourished as a huge educational town.
It is due to the British only that Panchgani is also known as the “Strawberry Garden Of India.” They were the ones who brought the beautiful and luscious berry plantation in India from Australia.
Panchgani, a spellbinding hill station, has everything that is needed by an everyday traveler. The best places to visit in Panchgani include:
Paragliding: Paragliding in Panchgani has gained a lot of fame and has become one of the best activities in Panchgani. Bewildering hills, scenic valleys, clear sky and favorable winds, makes it a wonderful destination for paragliding.
Boating: Venna Lake in Panchgani is quite popular for the adventurous activity of boating. Surrounded by green trees, the lake offers you the chance to soak yourself in stunning verdant views.
Taste Fresh Strawberries: You can also taste the fresh produce of strawberries by visiting the Mapro Garden. Sitting in the nice-looking hill, this garden is a famous tourist spot.
Camping: To enjoy the great natural beauty of Panchgani, camping is a perfect option. Spend your vacation in solace and immerse yourself in nature by setting up for this adventure.
Shopping: Your tour won’t be complete if you don’t go shopping in Panchgani. Shivaji Circle Market of Panchgani is the best market, well-known among both tourists and locals. It is famous for its unlimited shopping, high-quality, and exclusive designs.
Sightseeing: Many sightseeing points in Panchgani will surely take you close to Nature. Some of them boast of clear blue sky and huge mountains and are perfect for those looking to spend some time between quiet and peace.
Panchgani is located at a distance of 98 km from Pune, 19 km from Mahabaleshwar, 159 km from Lonavala, and 242 km from Mumbai. It is well-connected to all the nearby cities via road. Pune Airport located nearly 100 km away is the nearest airport to Panchgani. The nearest railway station is the Wathar railway station.
So, get ready to plan a trip to this marvelous weekend getaway and small wonder in the state of Maharashtra.