The Intriguing History Of Mahabaleshwar

If history serves right, in the year 1215, King Singhan of Deogiri, emperor of the Yadav Empire, was the first person to have visited Old Mahabaleshwar.He built a small Krishna temple and a water reservoir at the source of the river which is now called the Krishna River. Later in 1350, it was taken over by a by a Brahmin dynasty which offered peace and prosperity. During the 16th century they were overthrown by the Maratha family of Chandra Rao More, who then became the rulers of Jaoli and Mahabaleshwar. Presumably Chandra Rao More was a descendant of the great Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya dynasty. During this period the temple of Old Mahabaleshwar was rebuilt.

The 17th century, saw the emergence of the great Maratha idol, Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle, as the founder of the Maratha Empire. He took control of the territory from the rulers of Jaoli and Mahabaleshwar and he built his indestructible fort at Pratapgad in 1656. In 1674 , at the Raigad fort , Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati under the precision of the Ganga Bhatta , a renown Brahmin from Varanasi ,who declared that Shivaji was a descendant of the Kshatriyas of Ranas from Mewar.

In the year 1680 Shivaji died due to an illness after which his son Sambhaji took over the empire. Without much delay the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb and his entourage made a move to the Deccan in 1681. After a 27 year long battle the territory had been taken under the power of the Peshwas Maratha Sardars until their collapse in the 19th century.

In 1819, the British included the hills in the territory of the Raja of Satara. Col. Lodwick (Late General Sir Peter Lodwick) stationed at Satara, in April 1824 with a contingent of soldiers and Indian guides climbed up the mountain face reaching what is now known as the Lodwick Point. Starting with Sir John Malcolm in 1828, a succession of them from Elphinston, Arthur (for whom the Point Arthur Seat is named), Carnac, Frere and many others became regular visitors.

Although this small town has gone through so much turmoil and resistance, it had never been brought to the ground by any of the above mentioned Rulers. Its beauty has been maintained and enhanced at every stage of its life .Its rich history has even helped develop culture behind the mammoth hill. Present day Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30. In old records it is mentioned as Malcolm Peth because Sir John Malcolm took the hint about the beauty, sublime and the invigorating climate and in 1828 established a sanatorium for the sick and a resort for the healthy by acquiring the land from the Raja of Satara in lieu of another territory. Boy Malcolm, as he was lovingly called, had a penchant for hunting tigers and other game so much so that the new town was originally named ' Malcolm Peth' in his honor. To him one owes the foundation of Mahabaleshwar.

Added to the scores of magnificent scenic "points", the perennial springs, streams, and waterfalls of Mahabaleshwar plateau, with its year round superb climate, drew the English and others to Mahabaleshwar like honey bees to sweet nectar. By the end of the 19th century it had become an attractive popular hill station of world renown.