Mhaismal, is a hill station located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in India. Mhaismal is a small village situated at an altitude of 1067 meters, and is located about 12 kms from Khuldabad and about 37 kms from Aurangabad city. Importance of Mhaismal, is that it is located on the way to Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar Temple and Devgiri Fort; all of which are located in the same district near to each other. Mhaismal attracts visitors mostly during monsoons when it is covered in greenery. Mhaismal was formerly called Maheshmal, thanks to the queer village of the same name within the vicinity of the hill station.
Mhaismal is a beautiful, unexplored hill station tucked in the Sahyadri mountain ranges. Also called the ‘Mahabaleshwar of Marathwada’, Mhaismal is a perfect blend of the undefiled nature and the breathtaking terrains. It is famous for its temples, gardens, valleys, caves and forts in its vicinity all adding to its inherent natural charm. The pristine ambience of the place is a treat for the tired urban eyes looking for a quiet weekend getaway from Mumbai, Aurangabad or Pune. It is part of the eastern limits of the beautiful Sahyadri ranges, which give it a very different mountain topography. The plateau here is spread out evenly on the protruding land formations in all the four directions.
The hill station is full with lush greenery, hills and forest cover which is a natural paradise that photographers and nature lovers seek. It is also famous as a Botanical Workshop for the wide variety of flora and fauna it has in store, which mesmerizes the tourists. Mhaismal, although offbeat, is slowly getting popularity because of the greenery that is it adorned with during the monsoons, the wide range of flora it has in store, the bamboo brown forests and the queer village. During the monsoon, that is from the month of June to September, the best time to visit; when the hill station looks enhanced with greenery and the landscape views of the neighbouring valleys and hills become even more incredible.
Apart from the natural beauty of the hill station, there are several attractions in Mhaismal, including :-
- Ranjangaon Ganpati temple, one of the Ashtavinayaka reputed for maintaining cleanliness.
- Bhadra Maruti temple, a pilgrim hotspot with Lord Hanuman’s sleeping idol.
- Old Jain Temple, a must-visit for its amazing display of art.
- Devagiri Fort, a significant imposing attraction.
- Bani Begum Bagh, Mughal style garden known for its rejuvenating beauty.
- Pitalkhora Fort, surrounded by green valleys, some mystic caves and more as well.
Mhaismal is well connected by roads, rail and air through Aurangabad with Mumbai and Pune. The hill station of Mhaismal in Maharashtra, is a place where nature is very close to mythology and it creates an ambiance which is very unique in every sense of the word. Khuldabad to begin with, formerly termed as Rauzaa is now coined as Abode of Eternity or Valley Of Saints, courtesy to the ancient saints of the 14th Century who is once said to have resided there besides the tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
The hill station is known for extremely hot summers and cool and comfortable monsoon and winter. There are numerous resort, hotels and lodges that provide luxurious, mid-range to budget accommodation. The restaurants here serve delectable Marathwada cuisine at reasonable prices. Especially well known is the spicey non veg dish Naan Khaliya. The hill station is especially well known for its stunning sunset and sunrise.
A hub of architecture, established by the Rashtrakuta dynasty, Ellora caves is one of the famous places to see around Mhaismal that is home to Buddhist, Jain and Brahmanical caves and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, the Ajanta caves, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the vicinity; are worth visiting. On their way from Aurangabad to the hill station, tourist can also visit the marble mausoleum of ‘Bibi Ka Maqbara’. Built as a homage of love to the wife of Aurangazeb, also called ‘Taj Mahal of South India’, it deserves a detour and is adorned by the intricate patterns of Char Bagh.
There is something for nature lovers also enroute to the hill station in the form of Salim Ali Lake and Bird Sanctuary. A birdwatchers’ paradise the lake also called Salim Ali9 Talab, it is located near Himayat Bagh, in Aurangabad city; it is named after one of the greatest ornithologist, Dr Salim Ali.
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