7 Things to Do in Panchgani, the Hill Station India's Boarding Schools Made Their Home

Panchgani takes its name from the five hills (panch, five; gani, village) that surround it, a hill station in Maharashtra's Satara district developed by the British in the 19th century as a retreat from the Deccan plains' summer heat. At just over 1,300 metres, and close enough to Mumbai and Pune for a weekend trip, it has kept a slower, more residential character than its larger neighbour Mahabaleshwar, helped along by the boarding schools that have operated here for well over a century. Here are seven ways to spend time in it.

1. Table Land

Often cited locally as Asia's second-largest volcanic plateau, Table Land is a vast, flat expanse of basalt rock above the town, popular for horse and horse-cart rides, kite flying and simply walking its open edges for views over the surrounding valleys. Roadside stalls sell corn, chikki and the local speciality string cheese.

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2. Parsi Point

A viewpoint historically favoured by the local Parsi community, Parsi Point looks out over the Krishna valley and the Dhom Dam, and is a quieter, less commercial alternative to some of the town's busier lookout points.

3. Kate's Point

Named for the daughter of a former British colonial official, Kate's Point gives one of the area's widest views, taking in the Dhom Dam, the valley below and, on a clear day, the road towards Mahabaleshwar.

4. Sydney Point

Another of the ridge's viewpoints, Sydney Point looks down into a gorge on the opposite side of town from Kate's Point, and tends to draw a smaller crowd, particularly early in the morning.

5. Devil's Kitchen and the Pandav Caves

A set of natural rock formations and narrow passages known locally as Devil's Kitchen, close to caves associated in local legend with the Pandavas of the Mahabharata during their exile, makes for a short, slightly scrambling detour from the main viewpoints.

6. Mapro Garden

On the road towards Mahabaleshwar, Mapro Garden is a strawberry farm turned food court, built around the crop both hill stations are known for, with jams, crushes and the strawberries-and-cream combination sold on nearly every corner in season.

7. Walk the old school campuses

Panchgani has been home to boarding schools since the British era, several occupying colonial-era buildings on wooded campuses that shape much of the town's layout and unhurried rhythm; a walk along the roads linking them gives a sense of the town beyond its viewpoints.

Traveller tips

• Pune's airport is the nearest with regular flights, roughly a three-hour drive; Mumbai is a further hour or so beyond that.
• Table Land can get crowded with horse and cart operators; agree a price before setting out if taking a ride.
• Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar are close enough to combine in a single trip, roughly half an hour apart by road.
• The monsoon (June to September) brings mist and lush greenery but can obscure the valley views from the main points.