5 Berry-Based Dishes You Must Try in Mahabaleshwar!

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A pretty spot for a small holiday with friends or family, a honeymooners' paradise, a lone traveller's muse…Mahabaleshwar means different things to different people. It is one of the few hill stations in Maharashtra which is universally popular and which has tourists all year round. The hill station was most popular with the British officers posted in the region, who liked to stay here during the summer season instead of travelling back home.

The hill station has a salubrious climate but gets quite cold in the winter season. Whatever the season, Mahabaleshwar remains one of the most cheerful, welcoming and happening hill stations in India.

Of all the scenic spots here, you must make it a point to visit the famous Venna Lake, Panchganga Temple, Krishna river, green mountainside suitable for trekking and hiking, and the markets to buy berries, honey, locally produced bags and trinkets, and streetside snacks while you walk around taking in the view.

Mahabaleshwar: India's premium berry destination

A wonderful climate, rich soil and several lush hillsides make this quaint hill station in Maharashtra an ideal destination for cultivating different kinds of berries. Apart from looking at fields upon fields of ripe berries, you can also go berry picking in some of the farms, during the months of May and June. This is a fun-filled activity that adults and children alike enjoy and remember forever. You can even buy fresh jam, compote, juices and crush made from the different berries at some farms here. Ask the concierge in your resorts in Mahabaleshwar to recommend a few good farms that you can visit and make a day of. Apart from berries, do buy fresh and organic honey produced locally at reasonable prices.

While you're salivating at the prospect of eating fresh berries and packing some to take back home, you should also make a list of places to visit in Mahabaleshwar. Once again, the concierge at your resort in Mahabaleshwar can help you plan your itinerary and shortlist the top places to visit in Mahabaleshwar on your short holiday.

Types of berries found in Mahabaleshwar

The following berries are grown at various spots in this hill station:

• Strawberry
• Blueberry
• Raspberry
• Gooseberry
• Mulberry
• Gooseberry

Berry-based dishes and recipes to try in Mahabaleshwar

1 Strawberry milkshake. This one's a no-brainer. Most street-side stalls and small restaurants make fresh strawberry milkshake, the likes of which you would have never tasted anywhere else in the country.

2 Berry pulao. A Parsi preparation that uses berries in a savoury rice, it is a wonderful and satiating dish that imparts a touch of tartness in a rich chicken or vegetarian pulao.

3 Raspberry soda. Ask a local juice seller to whip up a fresh glass of raspberry soda for you. Apart from the bubbly soda, the sweet and sour raspberries are mixed in with special spices to tickle your taste buds.

4 Berry crumble bars. Select chocolate and sweet stores in Mahabaleshwar sell berry crumble bars. These are healthy snacking alternatives to traditional milk-and-sugar chocolates, and they keep you fuller for longer as you walk around the hill station.

5 Berry shortcake. Head to a Parsi restaurant like Grapevine to savour berry shortcake and cookies. These are the perfect accompaniment to tea and coffee, or a sweet ending to a meal.

How to get there

The hill station does not have its own airport or railway station yet. The closest airport is at Pune (about 131 km away), from where you can get taxis and buses to reach Mahabaleshwar. If coming by train, alight at Wathar Railway station (about 60 km away) and cab it to your resort in Mahabaleshwar.

Why stay at Club Mahindra Mahabaleshwar

Every Club Mahindra resort promises a rich and invigorating stay, and you would be hard pressed to find a better resort in Mahabaleshwar than the Club Mahindra Sherwood resort. This premium resort in Mahabaleshwar promises a restful stay and a range of activities for the whole family. You can trek up green slopes, go on a nature trail, have a family picnic by the lake, go strawberry picking at a local farm, and savour local cuisines at the Club Mahindra resort's restaurants. If you're planning a family holiday to a hill station this year, you should head to Club Mahindra Sherwood.

How to book your holiday

Simply take a Club Mahindra membership to book your holiday at Club Mahindra Sherwood and over 100 resorts and affiliate properties in India and worldwide. Your membership entitles you to 25 years' worth of the most memorable holidays at the best resorts and most spectacular locations everywhere in India and around the world.

Visit www.clubmahindra.com. Provide necessary details like name, mobile number, etc to get in touch with a holiday expert. The holiday expert will help you with the Club Mahindra membership details and further process.