THE GAME OF THRONE-ESQUE DESTINATION IN INDIA- PANCHGANI

On a highway of Pune to Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, there is a bewitching hill station “Panchgani”. Away from this metropolis city Mumbai, this hill station defines nature at its best. The vivacious exquisiteness of this place is enough to numb your nerves. Surrounded by five hills, with river Krishna flowing by, lush green meadows and trees everything is soothing to your eyes. Panchgani looks like a  Game of Thrones-esque destination in India with its stunning visual appeal. The pure vegetarian is far more relaxing than anything else can give. Panchgani tour will prove to be mesmerizing and memorable to you and also your best decision because of its natural comeliness also for its restorative climate.

Panchgani along with its panoramic bloom also has winsome tourists attractions. Some of the best tourists spots in Panchgani are-

• Table land- Is the highest plateau in the Panchgani city and also a major place of tourist attraction. Here you can behold and admire the natural creation of God.
• Sydney point – Is another famous tourist spot in Panchgani. It is 3 kms away from Panchgani and give you breath taking views of Krishna valley, Krishna river,Kamalgad ford and also the city of Wai.
• Kamalgad fort- It is a mysterious fort surrounded with steep rocks, many tales and stories have been associated with this fort.
• Panchganga Mandir- is Panchgani’s very famous temple. Also a major tourist attraction, many tourist come to Panchgani especially to visit this temple.
• Pratapgad fort- is established 40 kms away from Panchgani. This fort is a memory of Marathas build by Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Venna lake- This lake is situated 20 km away from Panchgani. Anyone who wishes to do boating or fishing must not miss this lake.
• Devil’s kitchen – The caves where pandavas cooked .

Panchgani is an attractive place for tourism.Book a tour package from the best tour operator India, Japji travels. So experience the beauty of the location of game of thrones in India, that is, Panchgani!

How Panchgani got its name

The Game of Throne-esque destination in India, that is Panchgani got its name from the five villages that were situated here in the olden days. In the British era, there was no place called Panchgani. There were five small villages at the place. These villages were Godavali, Taighat, Ambral, Dandeghar, and Khingar. A British person called Lord John Chesson developed the region as his summer resort and named it Panchgani or the ‘land between five villages’.

Things to do in Panchgani

On your trip to Panchgani, you can do several exciting things. Panchgani is a favorite hill station in Maharashtra for thousands of tourists. You can go boating, trekking, sightseeing, and horse riding, besides a lot more activities in Panchgani.

• Go for boating in Venna Lake
• Learn about paragliding in Panchgani
• View the scenic Krishna River from Sydney Point
• Dine on authentic Maharashtrian thalis and home-made dishes in Panchgani
• Enjoy thrilling amusement rides and water slides in theme parks like Sherbaug
• View the cascading waters of Lingmala Falls
• Taste fresh strawberries and shop for strawberry jams, syrups, and other products at Mapro Garden
• Explore the world of space and astronomy at Space Museum
• Revisit the history of Shivaji Maharaj at Pratapgarh Fort
• Ride on a horse at Table Land
• Discover the tribal art collection at Devrai Art Village
• Feel religious vibes at Panchganga Mandir
• View the hills, mountains, valleys, and scenery of the Deccan Plateau

Adventure things to do in Panchgani

You will find it very surprising to know that Panchgani has so much to offer than just sightseeing and viewpoints. You will find plenty of exciting things to do in Panchgani that you may have never imagined.

• Explore the Rajapuri Caves
• Trek up to Table Land
• Go for strawberry picking at a local farm
• Enjoy ziplining and rappelling at Sydney Point
• Learn paragliding and view landscapes from the paraglider
• Rock climbing in Panchgani
• Trekking trip to viewpoints in Panchgani
• Kayaking and paddle booting in Krishna River
• Camping in many places in Panchgani

Panchgani – the land of strawberries

Panchgani is not just the Game of Thrones-esque destination in India. If it is one thing that is very famous in Panchgani, then it is none other than strawberry. There are many strawberry farms in Panchgani and these also offer accommodation and homestays. You can pluck ripe strawberries from the farms and taste the juicy fruit. Tourists come to visit Panchgani specially for the strawberries.

You should make a trip plan to Panchgani so that you can arrive here at the time of the Strawberry Festival. You can do a whole lot of exciting things that revolve around strawberries and other things. The festival takes place for 4 days. You can participate in so many events around this time such as the ones given below.

• Take a leisurely walk on the strawberry farms and gardens.
• Taste freshly plucked strawberries directly from the strawberry plants
• Enjoy products and food that use strawberry sauce, jams, syrups, and other things
• Enjoy different varieties of strawberries such as KamaRoza, Sweet Charlie, Interdown, and others.
• Enjoy the Lezim folk dance of Maharashtra by folk dancers of Maharashtra
• Live orchestra with Bollywood songs and dance
• Watercolor tattoo and mehendi artists can make beautiful designs on your hand.
• Strawberry Festival begins in April and is a 3-4 day event.

Shopping in Panchgani

Panchgani is a hill station where you will enjoy shopping and having strolls in the market. You can buy so many interesting items in Panchgani and take home artifacts and eatables. Some very popular places to shop and things to buy in Panchgani are given below.

• Mapro Garden – You can buy fresh fruit juices, fruit jellies, jams, syrups, fruit crushes, chocolates, snacks, and souvenirs, and also taste the fruit products.
• Devari Art Village – You can buy tribal handicraft items like paintings, sculptures, wooden items, metal artworks, lamps, flower vases, beer casks, and art jewelry.
• Rajesh Chana & Chikki – You can buy freshly homemade chikkis and chana.
• Madhusagar Honey Centre – You will get excellent quality honey and you can choose from different brands of honey at affordable rates.
• Zahi Butik – You can buy woolen garments like shawls, and stoles, as well as ladies’ bags, purses, wallets, and belts.
• Panchgani main market – This is the main market in Panchgani and you will find footwear, strawberries, vegetables, readymade garments, ethnic wear, and other things to buy.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk – You will find shops selling handicrafts, spices, ethnic wear, shoes, honey, bakery, strawberries, food items, footwear, bags and purses etc.
• Buddha-Ka-Bazaar – This is a weekly market in Panchgani every Wednesday and you will find fruit jelly, jams, syrups, honey, aromatic candles, and various food items.

Panchgani – a favorite Bollywood movie location

The Game of Thrones-esque destination in India, that is Panchgani is obviously a favorite of Bollywood movie makers. The spectacular scenic beauty of hills, valleys, mountains, waterfalls, and gardens in and around Panchgani forms the best panoramic movie shoot locations. Some movies and television serials that were shot here in Panchgani are:

• Raja Hindustani
• Taare Zameen Par
• Mela
• Main Aurr Mrs Khanna
• Yarana
• Bol Bachchan
• Freddy
• Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani

Places to visit near Panchgani

You can visit many scenic places near Panchgani. All of these places are very easy to reach and are very famous tourist destinations in Maharashtra.

• Mahabaleshwar
• Kaas Plateau
• Wai
• Pratapgad Fort
• Dhom Lake

How to reach Panchgani

Panchgani is a hill station and you will get many travel modes to reach this hill station. Mumbai and Pune are the nearest cities to Panchgani. You can reach Panchgani by rail, roadways, and by flight in the following ways:

• By Flight: Pune Airport is 98 km from Panchgani, and Mumbai Airport is 250 km away from Panchgani. You can reach Pune by flight and then take a cab or bus to reach Panchgani.
• By Road: You can reach Panchgani via direct bus from Mumbai and Pune. You will get Deluxe, Superfast, Volvo, Luxury, AC, Non-AC, Sleeper, and State-owned buses to reach Panchgani.
• By Train: You can get express trains to Pune, which is 98 km from Panchgani. Pune Junction Railway Station is a stop for many trains.

What is the best time to visit Panchgani?

If you want to visit Panchgani, then you should plan a trip in the winter months. The months from October to February are very good to do sightseeing, shopping, and adventure activities in Panchgani.

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Conclusion

Panchgani is a favorite hill station for people who are staying in Mumbai and Pune. The fresh air, gorgeous valley, and mountain views, waterfalls, shopping, and boarding schools are the reason why tourists love to come to Panchgani. Another reason is the easy accessibility and transport options. Panchgani is not only a relaxing getaway but an adventure sports destination. This hill station is very close to Mahabaleshwar and Pune, which are two of the famous places in Maharashtra.