LOCATION

Mahabaleshwar is located in India at latitude 17º55' N and longitude 73º40' E, about 245 Km (147 miles) from Mumbai and 115 Km (69 miles) from Pune. This hill town is perched on a plateau of the Western Ghats at a height of about 1372 metres (4500 feet) above sea level, and overlooks the valleys of the nascent River Krishna and its tributary, the Koyna.

For a Google Map of Mahabaleshwar, click here and for an old-fashioned sketch map, click here.

TRAVEL

Air:  The nearest international airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Mumbai, which is served by many major interational airlines and almost all domestic carriers. The nearest domestic airport is at Pune.

Rail: The closest railway station is at Satara, but very few trains will stop there. Mumbai and Pune fall on major trunk routes and it is better to come via one of these two major cities, where all trains will stop.

Road: Mumbai and Pune are connected by a busy six-lane expressway. Mahabaleshwar is also connected to Pune by an expressway for all but the last 40 Km (24 miles), for which one has to take a narrow mountain road.

You can get to Mahabaleswar from Mumbai or Pune or Satara in any one of the following ways:

1. By hired car from Mumbai (around 4-5 hours, cost around INR 6800, USD 150) or Pune (around 1.5 hours, cost around INR 2500, USD 55). Participants are advised to pre-book their vehicles from one of the approved agents of the conference, and ask to be picked up at the airport. A list of approved agents will be put up on this page soon.

2. By luxury bus (Volvo) from Mumbai (around 6 hours, cost around INR 650, USD 15 per person) or from Pune (around 2 hours, cost around INR 350, USD 8 per person). These buses leave Mumbai from Dadar East (near the Swaminarayan Temple) . You can take a pre-paid taxi from the domestic/international airport to the bus terminus. There are also cheaper buses (e.g. Asiad), which are not so comfortable. In  Pune, you can get regular buses from the Swargate Bus Stand.

3. By local bus or hired car from Satara (47 Km), which can be reached by train. This route is not advisable for foreign participants and not even for national participants, unless you are of the adventurous kind.

Please note that driving (even in a hired car with an expert chauffeur) by night on the mountain road near Mahabaleshwar is NOT advisable because the roads are narrow and not in the best of condition. It is best to cross the mountain road near Mahabaleshwar during daylight hours.

Those who are not used to driving on Indian roads are strongly advised NOT to try it when coming to WHEPP-XII.

VISA ISSUES

All participants who are not Indian citizens will require a valid visa to enter India. Indian visas should be obtained from the nearest Indian embassy/consulate in the participant's home country before embarking on travel to India.

Please note that Indian visas cannot be obtained at the airport on arrival.

INSIDE MAHABALESHWAR

Inside Mahabaleshwar, you can get around by taxis or three-wheelers or simply by walking. You can book a taxi from the reception at Fountain Hotel.

TOURISM

For a list of tourist attractions in and around Mahabaleshwar, click here or here

Tourist attractions in India which are reasonably close to Mahabaleshwar are:

  1. The neighbouring hill station of PANCHGANI , distance 10 Km (6 miles)
  2. The mega-city of MUMBAI , distance 245 Km (147 miles)
  3. The old Maratha capital city of PUNE , distance 115 Km (69 miles)
  4. The fabulous beaches of GOA , distance 400 Km (240 miles)
  5. The ancient Buddhist caves at AJANTA and ELLORA , distance 280 Km (168 miles)
  6. The old Islamic capital at BIJAPUR , distance 308 Km (185 miles)

For a general overview on tourism in India, the Lonely Planet guidebook is probably the best known. Actual prices may be somewhat higher than those printed in the last edition. 

WHEPP-XII BUS SERVICE

WHEPP-XII will run a free bus service for participants according to the following tentative schedule:
January 01, 2012:  TIFR via Mumbai airport to Fountain Hotel, Mahabaleshwar
January 08, 2012:  Fountain Hotel to TIFR via Mumbai airport
January 08, 2012:  TIFR via Mumbai airport to Fountain Hotel, Mahabaleshwar
January 15, 2012:  Fountain Hotel to TIFR via Mumbai airport

Exact timings will be announced later. Participants will be required to pre-register for these bus trips in order to be assured of a place in the event of overcrowding.