“QUICK TRIP TO PANCHGANI, WAI AND MAPRO GARDEN”

Phone ring and call from friend that are you free on 1^st ….. ammm.. Yep I am free and its holiday …. I said. How about one day trip to Mahabaleshwar Mapro garden… From that side voice. I said why not…

Plan fixed and on early morning with my family we started journey towards Panchgani. First stop was at my friends house.. 1 hour drive from mine. Had wonderful Gajar Halwa and High tea …. All other friends with their families gathered there and we started journey from there at about 10.30 am. Its on Pune banglore highway. We had to stop at toll plaza for 10 minutes to pay the toll at Khed Shivapur. From there we started and stopped for quick breakfast at nice hotel to eat delicious Wada Pav. Very good hotel on the road and nice food.

Road to Panchgani and Mahableshwar is awesome. Highways till Surur and then you have to take right turn towards Panchgani. Road signs are visible and clear. On the Banglore highway after crossing Khabataki ghat there is village named Surur where you have to leave the highway and take the turn. Then the road thereafter is two way so our vehicle speed went down.

Driving Directions -

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Since we were not in hurry, we enjoyed road side scenery and nice drive from the Panchgani ghat. There is small village named Wai. We decided to visit famous Wai Ganesh temple while returning. Since it was 1^st January lot of traffic on the way to Mapro garden. AT once place in Panchagani ghat we took the turn at one point from where the nice scenery of hills and dam can be seen. I had visited that place before, during those days paragliding was taking place at that spot. Now you can enjoy camel ferry or enjoy the ice-cream. I came to know from local person there that Paragliding shifted from Panchagani to Saputara due to safety reasons.

Having spent some time at that point we have moved towards Mapro Garden, since we were very hungry and wanted to attack on Famous Fresh Mapro Veg Sandwitches.  There is huge parking out there at Mapro garden. We parked our vehicle there and moved to the Restaurant.  Area of Mapro garden is very huge and you can easily spend 2-3 hours there.

We then took the coupon of sandwitches, browny, mocktails like (Khujali and fresh lime) and you have to wait there until restaurant people announces your coupon number. Finally our number announced and we reached there to collect our order. Believe me, you can hardly eat a sandwich and mocktail at Mapro garden because of its size. Its too heavy.  We did not know this and ordered one sandwich per person which all of us could not finish. So be aware while ordering.

Then remained sandwich pieces we decided to give to the fishes in nearby pond and just in 10 minutes two big pieces of remaining sandwich finished. So many fishes out there, hungry I guessJ.

Then after spending some time there and shopping some edibles (like strawberry, jellies, chocolates, juices etc) we took the car out from parking and came on the main road.  To all of us surprise, when we were stuck in the traffic, next to me car on opposite side “Aamir Khan” was driving a Bentley with his Dhoom 3 cap and smile on his face. All of us who were feeling sleepy suddenly woke up and charged. Because that was the news for them to discuss with friends next day J.

Then we moved to table land point in Panchagni where we played cricket and enjoyed horse riding too. Its very nice point to visit and spend some time. 

While returning to home, we stopped at Wai Ganapati temple and saw the spot where the Hindi movies’ were shooting some scenes.  

After visiting there places all were tired and wanted to have some refreshment, so we stopped at the highway junction to have tea and decided to return to home with sweet, short and memorable trip.

I am trying to collect some photo’s of the trip from individuals which I will be updating soon.

Website - Mapro

Here are the photo's - Updated on 14 Feb 2014.

- महेश  आवटे 

Mapro Garden

Fish Pond

Outlet at Mapro Garden

View from Panchgani Shooting Point

Table Land Point Near Mapro Garden

Wai Ganesh Temple