Strawberry fields forever !! 🙂
All of us like the fresh, pink, juicy strawberries. And eagerly await the strawberry season. But alas, strawberries are delicate fruits. And after export, plucking, packaging as these strawberries reach our home from the supermarkets, often they loose their freshness. So, what if I told you there is a way to enjoy fresh strawberries right out of a strawberry farm, And what’s more – you can pluck the strawberries yourself from a strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar – would you believe me?
Well, we just had this awesome experience of Strawberry picking at a strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar on our road trip to Maharashtra. And we literally feasted on baskets of these fresh strawberries while staying in Mahabaleshwar. Let me give you all the details here so that you can also plan for your own strawberry picking at a strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar.
Table of Contents
How can I go strawberry picking at a strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a popular hill station in Maharashtra. It is full of lush green valleys, mesmerising views of mountains, enchanting waterfalls and beautiful lakes and temples. But did you know, Mahabaleshwar is also like the “Strawberry capital of India” just like how Nashik is the “wine capital of India”. And luckily, I happened to visit both Nashik Vineyards and Mahabaleshwar Strawberry farms on my Maharashtra road trip this time. And this definitely made for an offbeat experience in Mahabaleshwar and a unique thing that I had never tried before.
There are numerous Strawberry farms in Mahabaleshwar. And during the season, they get covered with plump red and pink strawberries, ready to be picked and eaten. Most of these farms allow visitors to do their own strawberry plucking.
In fact, strawberry farms of Mahabaleshwar are just like the spice gardens of Kerala – something very unique to that place.
Strawberry picking farm Mahabaleshwar timings
Most of the strawberry picking farms operate from 8:00am to 7:00pm
Strawberry picking farm Mahabaleshwar price
Some farms have a nominal fee for strawberry picking. Like INR 100 per person (both adults and kids are charged). While some other small scale farms might let you do the same for free.
Strawberry picking experience
Before you start on your strawberry picking in a strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar, the volunteer at the farm will debrief you on the picking process. You must follow the technique of picking the strawberries such that the stem or the rest of the plant is not damaged. It took us a couple of attempt to get it right 😀
After explaining the process they will hand you a punnet (a basket or cardboard box) to collect the picked strawberries and also help you through the process.
Once you are done with your strawberry picking at a strawberry farm, you are going to buy those strawberries. This commitment ensures you cautiously pick the most ripe strawberries as you are going to consume them afterwards. Ask the price of strawberries before you start picking and decide how much you want to pick.
Strawberry farms in Mahabaleshwar for strawberry picking
Laxmi Strawberry Farm – the most popular farm for strawberry plucking in Mahabaleshwar. The Laxmi Strawberry farm is an all organic farm that is proudly hosting strawberry picking since 1975. Apart from strawberries, in other seasons, they also let visitors pluck carrots, radish and other berries grown on the farm.
Bhilare Farms on Panchghai Mahabaleshwar Road is another farmer’s farm where you can pick strawberries and collect them into cardboard boxes. And then enjoy them.
Green Valley Farm near Club Mahindra Mahabaleshwar – This one also has a huge variety of veggies, strawberries and blueberries available for picking and tasting by the visitors.
And then there are many others. Our cab driver that we had hired for one day of sightseeing in Mahabaleshwar, took us to a farm of one of his acquaintances. Although the strawberry farm was small. But they didn’t charge us an entry fee. And the strawberry picking experience was as authentic as anywhere else. So, even if you see a random small strawberry farm, don’t be afraid to enquire around if they will let you go strawberry picking.
What is the right season for strawberry picking in Mahabaleshwar
October to December and then April – May are two distinct seasons for strawberry picking at strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar. Strawberries are at their full bloom in November. And that is the best time to go picking strawberries from the farms. When we visited Mahabaleshwar end of December, there were only a few ripe strawberries remaining on each plant. But enough for us to learn and enjoy the art of strawberry picking … ha ha!
Where can I try delicious strawberry delicacies in Mahabaleshwar
When the strawberry season comes, Mahabaleshwar is all about strawberries. You can eat it like a fruit, or enjoy it in other forms. Most of the restaurants will have strawberry milkshake with fresh strawberries available. Strawberry with cream is other wonderful delicacy to try. Wherein layers of strawberry and cream are repeated in a tall glass to make for an indulgent dessert. Also, there is another variant of it – strawberry with cream and icecream. Apart from this you can enjoy your strawberries on pancakes and enjoy a strawberry-cream sandwich.
And you can always carry freshly produced strawberry jams, jellies, candies and other items from Mahabaleshwar to enjoy strawberry in different forms all round the year.
Mapro Gardens Mahabaleshwar
“Mapro” stands for “Mahabaleshwar Products”. Mapro Gardens is a vast outlet where you can get a lot of locally produced organic products, including different strawberry delicacies. They also have a strawberry farm on the premises.
Timings of Mapro Garden Mahabaleshwar – 8:00am to 8:00pm
It gets pretty crowded as the day progresses.
And why not. It is a like a whole world in itself. Within their premises they have a kids play area, gardens to relax by, chocolate outlet, a retail outlet, a bristo cafe with vast sitting area which still seems small as tourists pour in. The cafe has many strawberry delicacies, and other food items like sandwiches, pizza ,burger and what not to feast on. But on top of everything else, their strawberries with whipped cream stands out as an exquisite offering.
Mapro Garden also organises daily cultural events. And hosts the annual strawberry festival in Mahabaleshwar.
Is Strawberry picking available at a farm outside of Mahabaleshwar
Strawberry picking is fast catching up in other parts of India as well. Definitely inspired by strawberry picking at strawberry farms in Mahabaleshwar. One can now experience strawberry picking in Bangalore, Karnataka. Near Chikkaballapur and Dodaballapur where there are strawberry farms. H V Farms, Global Rabbit Park and Wholesome Farm are some of the places near Bangalore where one can experience strawberry picking.
What are other things to do in Mahabaleshwar
There are a lot of things to do in Mahabaleshwar and places to see in Mahabaleshwar apart from Strawberry picking from Strawberry farm. Some of these include –
- Visiting a cheese factory, to go on a tour to learn cheese making process and taste a wide variety of cheese.
- A chocolate factory or outlet to buy organic chocolates and also understand chocolate making
- Visiting the old temples of Mahabaleshwar like the Krishna Temple
- Trekking to some of the enchanting waterfalls of Mahabaleshwar
- Boating on Veena Lake
- Enjoying mesmerising views of mountains from view points like Arthur’s seat
Where to stay in Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar has some very luxurious resorts like Le Meridian and Courtyard by Marriott as well as some very budget accommodation like Zostle. We stayed at Mountain Breeze Resort in Mahabaleshwar. And had a pleasant stay. If you opt for Mountain Breeze Resort , don’t go for the 2 BHK suite. The ground floor rooms have a verandah that open in the hotel lawn. And I felt they were the best to sit and enjoy the views. While the first floor rooms have balconies. All rooms face towards the valley. So, views are really nice.
You can browse this complete list of accommodation in Mahabaleshwar to choose one suitable to your budget and needs.
I recommend staying a little farther from the main town, on the outskirts. Or, in a hotel with great valley views.
General tips on strawberry picking from strawberry farm
- Only pick the ripe ones
- Use the right technique to pick strawberries so that the stem or the rest of the plant is not damaged
- Pick as much as you can consume to avoid wastage
- Only wash the strawberries before consumption otherwise they will spoil fast
- If you have purchased the strawberries in closed boxes, open the boxes to let air circulate otherwise the strawberries will spoil fast.
- While picking the strawberries, beware of your footsteps. Don’t step on any other neighbouring plant and don’t crush any other plants or their parts accidentally.
Wish you a happy strawberry plucking. Do share with me how was your experience going strawberry picking from strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar or anywhere else.