Where To Stay In Mahabaleshwar
The question of where to stay in Mahabaleshwar has 2 aspects to it. First is which area to stay and second is which hotel to stay.
Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani destination can be divided into four areas for choosing area to book the hotel. The areas are as below
- Mahabaleshwar
- Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Road
- Mahabaleshwar Market
- Panchgani
1. Where are the most number of tourist attractions?
Most of the must-visit and popular tourist attractions are in Mahabaleshwar or closer to Mahabaleshwar than Panchgani. Few sights like Mapro, Velocity Park, Strawberry farm are on Mahabaleshwar Panchgani road.
2. Do you have your own vehicle?
If you have your own vehicle, you can stay away from city center (Mahabaleshwar Market). But if you don't have your own vehicle, it makes more sense to stay close to city center.
3. Which place has traffic or is crowded?
As most of the sights are in Mahabaleshwar, Mahabaleshwar is more crowded. Generally, there is possiblity of heavy traffic during evening time. Sunset point, Venna lake and Shivaji chowk in Panchgani are the places where you observe traffic jams. But it does not mean you should prefer Panchgani to Mahabaleshwar as you still need to go to Mahabaleshwar to visit the sights.
4. How long are you in Mahabaleshwar?
If you are staying for say 5 day trip or more, you will visit less number of sights per day and cut the traffic during rush hours. In which case you can consider staying in Panchgani.
5. What is your budget?
This is obivious question for any trip. Your budget will decide the hotel you will stay. But in Mahabaleshwar there are no areas which are more expensive than others. Hotels rates are not dependent on areas.
Which area to stay
1. Mahabaleshwar or Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Road
Mahabaleshwar or Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani road are the best areas to stay in Mahabaleshwar simply because most of the tourist attractions are in this area.
- You can find many good hotels in these two areas.
- If you do not have your own vehicle, hotels arrange for sightseeing taxis having pickup and drop at hotel. But travellig to Venna lake, Mahabaleshwar Market is less convinient.
2. Mahabaleshwar Market
Mahabaleshwar Market area is city center. Area has ST stand, many restaurants and market for shopping. Obiviously you can imagine that this place is very convinient for tourists. If you don't have your own vehicle, you should stay in this area.
Pros:
- Although, this area is crowded, you can find few good quiet hotels in nearby area in walking distance of 5-10 mins.
- Convenient for the tourists not having own vehicle and budget traveller.
- Some mid price range hotels are also good and are popular with the tourists.
- This area has some good low and mid range restaurants.
- Can easily take a stroll in the evening in Mahabaleshwar Market.
Cons:
- Tourists having own vehicles (and higher budget) have more choices when it comes to quality hotels in other parts of Mahabaleshwar.
3. Panchgani
Panchgani has few good hotels mainly because tourist attractions
in Panchgani are fewer in number than in Mahabaleshwar.
One problem you may face sometimes is that of traffic. If you
start from Mahabaleshwar to your Panchgani hotel in the evening,
you might get stuck in traffic at 2 places, one at Venna lake and
one at Shivaji Chowk (Panchgani). It may take 1 hour to travel 25
km and you might fell exhausted on a trip, you want to relax.
I would still recommend staying in Panchgani as one can find
few good hotels. However, preferred stay would still be at
Mahabaleshwar or Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani road.
Which hotel to stay
Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani has many good hotels and I hope by now you have decided
which area to stay in Mahabaleshwar.
All Best hotels in Mahabaleshwar with area: I have researched and shortlisted the best hotels in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani (all areas). Area is mentioned along with Hotel details. Please learn more and book from our hand-picked 5-Star, 4-Star, 3-Star, 2-Star and Budget hotels.