Mahabaleshwar is a hill-station, well known to all those who are the residents of Maharashtra State and for us, who are the residents of Pune, or those from Mumbai, it is destination to travel, the moment we get too tired of the routine and need a quick and a predictable place to spend a relaxed weekend. It is located in the Sahyadri Hill Ranges and actually is a vast plateau of 150 square Kms and is surrounded by valleys which give the tourists a scenic view from all around it. There are "points" which are the spots of some most scenic visuals. It is located about 200 Kms from Pune and the winding drive is always refreshing. Mahabaleshwar is also very famous for its strawberry plantations and most of the tourists savor strawberries, directly from the farms and also a variety of strawberry milkshakes, ice-creams and pulps.There are now giant manufacturers of Jams, crushes, jelly and juices in Mahabaleshwar , who send their products all over India. Mahabaleshwar is also famous for honey and mulberries.
It so happened that we went to Mahabaleshwar one weekend at the end of February to rest and relax. We reached there at about 11.30 am on saturday morning, spent some time moving around and enjoying the resort ambiance and after about 3.30 pm we went swimming. As we started swimming we realized that it was drizzling a bit and the surroundings have turned a little misty. It was a beautiful weather. We got tired after swimming and decided to drive to the market as our resort was somewhat out of the main city. The market place of Mahabaleshwar is a happening spot of the hill-station. It has many small eateries, selling fast food and also all the goodies made up of strawberries. It is also very well known for hand made leather goods like shoes and handmade bags. We reached the marketplace, strolled for a while, enjoying the hustle -bustle of the street. We did not have much to shop since we had visited the place many times. At last, we, by about 7 pm decided to drive back to the resort. It is really a very amusing aspect of the small towns of India ( even the tourist places), that the streets, barring the markets become absolutely lonely and dark after sunset. So was it, that evening at Mahabaleahwar. It had become quite densely foggy too. We started driving back and after driving for 10 mins, when the resort gate was not seen, we suddenly realized that probably we had taken a wrong road. There was fog ahead, no person to ask the directions and to add to it the head lamps our car seemed awfully weak. That time I could not help thinking that who was the stupid engineer who sold the car to us and told us that the car lights were fog lamps. We could really see nothing ahead of us. When we tried to take a turn, we realized that the road had a valley on one side without railing and dense forest and marsh on the other side and so it was dangerous to turn around, in case we would fall in the valley or get caught in the marsh, if we go back too much. We almost froze on the place. We ultimately decided that we have to sit in the car, either until we see someone or until day break. We had to even shut the car windows for the fear of wild animals like foxes and jackals. We sat for about half an hour with our parking lights on , in case some bus or truck or another vehicle comes, by any chance, it does not hit us.
But our luck was really on our side that evening, because we saw an old fellow passing close to the car and immediately stopped him. First we asked him which road we had taken. He told us that we had taken a road to Pratapgadh fort and had come about 2 Kms ahead of our resort and that man was actually a waiter from our resort. He put his torch on, and helped us turn around and finally we reached the resort. But for that half hour, we were so frightened that remembering it, still gives a chill down the spine.
It was one travel experience that had gone slightly wrong. We still visit Mahabaleshwar, still enjoy the weather and the goodies but never travel out there in the fog ....
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