What to Wear in Mahabaleshwar

October to February

This is the cool, clear season. Days are comfortable in a shirt, but early mornings at the viewpoints and evenings at the lake call for a sweater or a light jacket. A scarf helps on the cliff tops, where the wind picks up. The trending layered looks on this page suit these months well.

March to May

Days get warm, often warm enough for cotton, but the evenings still cool down on the plateau. Carry one light layer in your bag. The sun is strong on the open viewpoints and at Pratapgad, so a cap and sunglasses are worth packing.

The monsoon, mid-June to September

Rain here is heavy and driven by wind, so an umbrella alone will not keep you dry. A proper rain jacket, quick-dry trousers and shoes with a good grip are the basics. Leave suede and canvas at home. The red earth turns to mud that stains pale shoes and hems.

Shoes for the day you have planned

Pratapgad involves a climb of several hundred stone steps, and the path to Arthur's Seat has uneven steps too. Trainers or trail shoes work far better than sandals. At temples you remove your shoes at the entrance, so slip-on shoes save time when you are visiting several shrines in Old Mahabaleshwar.

Temple and fort visits

For the Shiva temples of Old Mahabaleshwar and the Bhavani temple at Pratapgad, cover your shoulders and knees. Nothing formal is needed. A shawl or scarf is useful for both the chill and the temple.

Traditional wear

Pratapgad and the temple village are the places where the nauvari saree and the dhoti with a pheta look most at home in photographs. Saffron, white and deep green stand out against the black stone and the grey-green hills. The drape of a nauvari takes practice, so have it tied before you set out.