Page 475 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

M AHAR ASHTR A  473

became known as the Indo-
Saracenic style of architecture.
The palace is today the Shahaji
Chhatrapati Museum and displays
a collection of royal memorabilia,
including garments, hunting
photographs and one of Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb’s swords.
The Town Hall, another
structure designed by Charles
Mant, has a small museum
with a number of artifacts from
nearby excavation sites. Kolhapur
is also famous for its hand-
crafted leather slippers, known
as Kolhapuri chappals. Panchgani, with spectacular views of the Krishna river
P Old Palace in Panhala as well, including that (870 miles), stretching from this
Open daily. of the famous Indian singer Lata spot to the Bay of Bengal on the
Mangeshkar (see p507). east coast. The temple has a
P New Palace
Open daily. & Shahaji Chhatrapati venerated, naturally occurring
Museum: Open Tue–Sun. Shivalinga, and a small tank. There
5 Mahabaleshwar are two other temples here,
Environs Satara district. 115 km (71 miles) dedicated to Hanuman and
One of the most important SW of Pune. * 13,400. Rama. There are also several berry
forts in the Deccan is at Panhala, @ Cycles available. farms close by, where visitors
a hill station 19 km (12 miles) can help to pick strawberries,
northwest of Kolhapur. Situated The largest hill station in raspberries and mulberries.
on a steep hillside, the fortress Maharashtra, Mahabalesh-war
is well protected by three is situated 1,372 m (4,501 ft) Environs
impressive double walled gates, above sea level. In 1828, Sir John The hill station of Panchgani,
and 7-km (4-mile) long ramparts. Malcolm, Governor of Bombay, 18 km (11 miles) east of
Within its walls stand two chose this beautiful spot as the Mahabaleshwar, is surrounded
temples, one dedicated to Amba site for the official sanatorium. by five hills. The town is the
Bai and the other to Maruti, the Soon after, the wooded slopes starting point for many scenic
Wind God. The most interesting were covered with typical trekking trails (see p477). It
monuments are the huge stone colonial structures, is also dotted with some
granaries, the largest of which, among them Christ charming old British and
Ganga Kothi, covers 948 sq m Church, Frere Hall, Parsi bungalows, some
(10,204 sq ft). Established in the Government House of which can be visited.
12th century by Raja Bhoja II, (which was the grand The majestic hill-top
the fortress fell successively residence of the forts of Pratapgarh and
to the Yadavas, the Adil Shahis governor), the Raigad, 18 km (11 miles)
of Bijapur, Shivaji, Emperor Maha baleshwar Club, west and 70 km
Aurangzeb and the British. and the ever-popular Water spout, (43 miles) northwest
There are many private homes polo grounds and Krishna Temple of Mahabaleshwar
race course. respectively, were both
Due to its high altitude, Maratha strongholds. They offer
the town has a cool climate commanding views of the
and offers many pleasant walks. surrounding countryside.
There are also several lookout About 111 km (69 miles) south
points such as Mumbai Point, of Mahabaleshwar is Chiplun,
from where the sea can be seen lying on the banks of the
on a clear day, and Arthur’s Seat, Vashishti river, whose waters
which affords panoramic views supply Koyna Lake, a large man-
of the Konkan Coast. Venna made reservoir. The town is well-
Lake has facilities for boating. known for its irrigation scheme,
In the old town is the sacred developed in the 1980s, that
Krishna Temple, supposedly provides water to the coastal
built on the legendary site of the fringe between the Sahyadri
Panchganga, or source of five Hills and the sea. This quiet
rivers – the Koyna, Savitri, Venna, place offers splendid views
Panhala Fort in the picturesque Sahyadri Gayatri and the mighty Krishna. of the Vashishti river as it winds
Hills, after the monsoon The latter covers some 1,400 km through the hills.

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