One of my favorite and the most peaceful place I’ve been to in Maharashtra, Panchgani. Spent 3 days here last December @ the Prestige resort located @ the base of the famous Table top.What an awesome experience it was

Scenic Panchgani was discovered by the British during the British Raj as a summer resort, and a superintendent named John Chesson was placed in charge of the hill station in the 1860s. He is credited with planting many plant species from the western world in Panchgani, including silver oak and poinsettia, which have flourished since then in Panchgani. It is nestled amidst five hills in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, and the Krishnā River flows nearby.Situated at an altitude of 1334m, it gets its name from the The five plateaus that surround it, Panchgani – Panch(five) gani (plateaus).

Panchgani is about 16 kms from Mahabaleshwar, 98kms from Pune & about 248 kms from Mumbai.

Panchgani displays architecture of Old British buildings and Parsi houses. Horses are the best mode of travelling, which will gently gallop you through the thick, lush green trees, to unmarked routes, to the caves and the Kamalgad fort. The bazaar is also a place worth visiting. For long distances though taxis are available, bicycles and horses are the best mode of transport.Adventure sports like para gliding is a current craze out there.

Tourist attractions

Sydney Point:  This point is situated on a hillock facing the Krishna Valley. One can see from here the glittering waters of the Dhom Dam, and Pāndavgad and Mandhārdeo.

Table Land:  This flat large expanse of laterite rock is the second longest mountain plateau in Asia. Some spacious caves including the “Devil’s Kitchen” are visible from here.

Parsi Point:  This scenic point is situated on the way to Mahabaleshwar, and overlooks the Krishna valley and the blue shiny waters of the Dhom Dam.

Devil’s Kitchen:  Situated at the south of the table land, the Devil’s Kitchen has a mythology associated with it: It is believed that the Pāndavas of the Mahābhārat epic had stayed here for a while. Pāndavgad Caves (near Wāi) are also said to be built by them then.