Parsi Point is the obvious roadside stop on the drive between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar — a small landscaped terrace looking down into the Krishna river gorge and across to the densely forested slopes that climb to the Mahabaleshwar plateau. The viewpoint is named for the Parsi community who built houses here in the early 20th century to escape the Bombay heat, drawn by the cool air and the silence.
It is a five-minute stop, but the view is genuinely fine, and the row of shops nearby sells the strawberry chikki (brittle), mulberry syrup and crushed corn that visitors take home from Panchgani. Best in the morning when the sun is behind you and the valley is full of mist.