Panchgani derives its name from the five hills surrounding it. The hill station is located 19 kms from Mahabaleshwar. It has the stamp of the British Raj, with old British buildings, Parsi bungalows and a number of boarding schools.
This place is best visited between September and June.

Tourist attractions

Krishna River: The River Krishna, winding its way through ravines hundreds of metres below, is a sight to behold.
Tableland: The second largest mountain plateau in Asia, it is a large flat expanse of Laterite rock.
Kamalgad Fort: Worth a visit, it can be reached on foot or horseback.

Getting there

By Road: This place is best approached from Pune. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has regular bus service from Mumbai, except during monsoons. State transport and private luxury buses also ply on a daily basis.

 Chikaldara 

This pretty little hill-station lies in the Satpura range and is replete with references in Hindu mythology. It is the only hill station in the Vidarbha region that derives its name from Kichaka, who was killed by the mighty Bheema (one of the Pandava bothers) for daring to insult Draupadi. The valley, initially called Kichak Bara, is now known as Chikaldara.

Nearly 1,118 metres above sea level, this region is the only coffee-growing area in Maharashtra. It holds endless fascination for wildlife enthusiasts, with panthers, sloth bears, sambars and wild boars in abundance.

The best time to visit Chikaldara is from October to June.

Tourist attractions

Melghat Tiger Reserve: Famous for the Melghat Tiger Project, it has 82 lakes and a Tribal Museum.
Other places of interest are Hurricane Point, Prospect Point, Devi Point, Monkey Point, Panchbol Point and Ballentine Sakkar.

Getting there

Nearest Airport: Nagpur (230 kms).
Nearest Railway Station: Badnera, Amravati on Central Railways (100 kms).
By Road: State Transport buses are available. Mumbai to Chikaldara is 763 kms by road.

With its dense greenery and natural waterfalls, Malshej Ghat is an ideal getaway for adventure lovers, hikers and trekkers. Rich in flora and fauna, this region is home to exotic pink migratory flamingoes during the monsoon season. The Buddhist caves here date back to the 3^rd Century.

Tourist attractions

Shivneri Fort: It is the birthplace of the legendary Shivaji.
Bhimashankar: A pilgrimage centre, it houses one of the five Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra.
Harishchandragadh: An interesting climb at an altitude of 1,424 metres.

Getting there

Nearest Airport: Mumbai (154 kms).
Nearest Railway Station: Kalyan on Central Railways.
By Road: Malshej Ghat is around 154 kms from Mumbai.