|
 Panchgani
derives its name from the five hills around it. At an altitude of 1334 m
it is just 38 m below Mahabaleshwar. These 38 m translate themselves
into a breathtaking 20 kms approach from Mahabaleshwar, that swoops
around bends with abandon, offering heart stopping views of the river
krishna on one side & the coastal plains on the other. Panchgani is the
quintessential hill station, with the Raj stamped indelibly all over it.
It can be seen in the old architecture of the old British buildings, the
parsi houses, & the boarding schools that have been for a century or
more.
Amble along the walkways,
thickly canopied by lush trees & vegetation & delights in the secrets
you come upon. The Krishna, snaking through tiny hamlets, farms &
ravines, hundreds of meters below. Visit table land, a flat mountain
peak & feast your eyes on the coastal plains, looking like miniature
water colors. Select a horse from one of the numerous stables & canter
along uncharted routes through hidden lovers' lanes, to the caves &
kamalgad fort. Or while away at the bazaar. Panchgani is one of the rare
places that doesn't crowd anyone, yet in its own unhurried way deeply
touches every visitor.
SIGHTSEEING OF VARIOUS
POINTS IN PANCHGANI AS UNDER
Sydney Point
This point is situated on a small hillock facing the Krishna Valley
.From here one can see the the glittering waters of the Dhom Dam and
Pandavgad and Mandhardeo are also easily seen.
Table Land
Situated around 60 mts high ,this flat large expanse of laterite rock is
the second longest mountain plateau in asia. There are some spacious
caves that can be seen from here and one of them is Devil's Kitchen.
Parsi Point
This windy road situated on the way to Mahabaleshwar overlooks the
Krishna valley and the blue mirror like waters of the Dhom Dam.
Devil's Kitchen
The Devil's Kitchen situated to the south of tableland, is also a place
of mythological interest. It is believed that the Pandavas stayed here
for a while and used this place to cook their food. There are some
legends regarding this, though most of them appear to be mere tall
tales. Some people claim that Pandvgadh Caves ( near Wai ) are also
built by them and bear their name.
Dhom Dam
Dhom Dam water sports is one more amazing attraction for tourists which
is 21 kms away from Panchgani. A beautiful boating spot.
Here one can enjoy with Scooter boats and Speed boats. Sporting in
Krishna river stream with the beautiful natural surrounding is a
wonderful experience in itself.
The Lingmala Falls
The Lingmala Falls in Mahabaleshwar can be reached by road. It lies on
the Mahabaleshwar-Poona road. The stream here precipitates over the face
of steep cliff, unbroken when the torrent is swollen by rain but
ordinarily divided by projecting rocks about one third of the way down
into thin silver streaks and sprays often circled by rainbows. The
forest bungalow of lingmala is also close by.
Rajapuri Caves
About 10 km from the town, the caves have a religious importance as
there is a temple of Lord Karthikeya, (Lord Shiva's son) here. A temple
of local goddess Ghatjal Devi is also in the area. A small local fair is
held at the time of the harvest season. |
