A striking statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj astride a horse with sword held high welcomed us as we entered the verdant hill resort of Mahabaleshwar. The history of Mahabaleshwar can be traced to the days of Shivaji, who visited a sacred spot here in 1653 which symbolised the source of the Krishna river. It was in an ancient temple of Goddess Bhavani in Pratapgad that Shivaji’s mother, Jeejabai, gifted him a sword and wished him success in tackling the formidable tasks that lay ahead.
History records that the daring duo first visited old Mahabaleshwar to offer their prayers. . .
