Mahabaleshwar: ‘Needle Hole Point rock formation’ And The Most Beautiful Views Of The Deccan Traps

Needle Hole Point is a natural rock formation with a hole in between that looks like an elephant’s trunk. It is famous for some ecstatic views of Deccan traps. Beautiful Needle Hole Point located 7 km away from the Mahabaleshwar, near Kate’s point. A very much known tourist point. The specialty of this place is its natural rock formation which gives it a unique structure of a needle hole and that of a standing elephant with a prominent trunk. It is also called the Elephant Head Point. From here one can get a stunning view of the Sahyadri mountain ranges.

Deccan flood basalt sequence exposed in the escarpment at Mahabaleshwar contains nearly fifty individual lava flows. The sequence is capped by a regionally extensive laterite blanket several tens of meters thick.

Mahabaleshwar is a small town and a municipal council in the Satara district in Maharashtra, India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus because the Krishna River has its origins here. The British colonial rulers developed the town as a hill station and served as the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British rule.

 

Mahabaleshwar has an average elevation of 1,353 meters. Located about 120 km southwest of Pune and 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km² bound by valleys on all sides. It reaches a height of 1,439 at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson Point. Surrounded by several splashing rivers, evergreen forests, alluring hills, and mountains, Mahabaleshwar is one of the very few evergreen hill stations in the country.

Wilson Point

Wilson Point in Mahabaleswar is also known as the Sunrise point, which stands tall at a height of 4710 ft above sea level. There are three stone platforms here that are built for tourists to sit on and admire the beauty of the rising sun and the pristine nature. Wilson Point is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar and is named after Sir Leslie Wilson who was the governor of Bombay during British rule. The place has three watchpoints from where visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of the hilly retreat.

Venna Lake

Venna lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mahabaleshwar. Venna Lake is a manmade lake and not a natural lake. It was constructed in 1942 by Chhatrapati Shri Appasaheb Maharaj who was the descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.  Surrounded by lush greenery, Venna lake has an area of about 28 acres having a periphery of around 7-8 KM. The lake was constructed to cater to the water needs of Mahabaleshwar City.

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3 Monkey Point

The point comes to fame as the result of the natural formation of structures that resemble three monkeys, sitting adjacent to each other. This point is portraying 3 Monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi. The point lies on the route to Arthur Seat Point.

Arthur Seat

One of the most popular places to visit in Mahabaleshwar is Arthur’s Seat which is also known as Queen of Points. Situated at a height of 1470 m, the place is surrounded by the deep Savitri gorge on one side and the lush green plateau on the other. Arthur’s Seat is the only place where one can clearly distinguish the geological contrast between the Konkan and Deccan regions.

Kamalgad Fort

Kamalgad fort is located at a distance of about 16 Km from Mahabaleswar. The fort is surrounded by a steep rocky area and the structure is built in a very unconventional way without any protective walls around it. The place is a paradise for those who love adventures; it is a destination for trekking and camping.