BENGALURU: Mahabaleshwar never fit the description of my ‘offbeat getaway’.
It is overexposed and thronged by crowds. Everyone is here. From excited groups of young bikers to big, loud Indian families. When I finally decided to go, I chose the first week of January, right after the New Year buzz and I pretty much managed to beat the crowd and find some interesting things to do in Mahabaleshwar.
And no, they do not include a visit to Mapro Gardens
Sample fresh strawberries and corn
Simple pleasures are the most delightful. Take the taste of strawberries and steamed corn for instance. Enjoy these incredible and inexpensive joys and make memories of a lifetime.
Morning boat ride at Venna Lake
If you want to beat the crowd, it is best to go boating in the morning, not evening.
Lunch at Bright land Resort & Spa
They have several restaurants within the small resort, but ask them to serve you lunch at Over The Edge Bar. You could choose to eat food from any other restaurant. We picked Italian from The Olive Garden. The alfresco dining looks straight out into the valley of Sahyadris and the backwaters of Dhom Dam. It is a lovely place to spend your afternoon with some drinks and food.
Bring out the child in you at the village fair
I admit, I was apprehensive about visiting this village fair near Venna Lake in Mahabaleshwar. But once there, I picked up an air gun and shot quite a few balloons! I also messed around with a hoopla and played that game too where they throw a ball on a pyramid of steel glasses. I even won a chocolate bar and a tiny box of mints!
Dinner at The Grapevine
This is a Parsi restaurant that also serves little bit of Thai and Chinese food. It is a cosy little place with white walls and wrought iron furniture, making it look a bit Mediterranean. They have a great selection of breakfast items and served us some really tasty dhansak and salli murgi for dinner along with some sweet strawberry wine. A must try.
Give meal-inclusive hotel packages a miss
Seriously, they are a big no-no. You end up getting stuck inside these over-priced hotels, unless that is what you intend to do.
These are two medium-budget options in Mahabaleshwar that I liked.
(More details at: https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/602144)
The writer blogs at http://travels-and-stories.blogspot.in/