Maharashtra’s Mahabaleshwar beckons visitors to experience first-ever ‘Honey Bee Tourism’

The hill town of Mahabaleshwar has decked up to offer visitors an experience in beekeeping as part of ‘Honey Bee Tourism’, a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Maharashtra government as part of the Maha Tourism Festival 2025.

The three-day event by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) began on May 2.

The tour will include visits to the Honey Directorate of Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board in Mahabaleshwar, where tourists will learn about the state’s modern beekeeping operations dating back to 1946. At the Apiculture Institute in the hill town, a key player in the beekeeping industry in the state, tourists will get hands-on experience with live honeycomb demonstrations. They can also register for guided tours of the State Honey Directorate, the MTDC said in a statement.

The Apiculture Institute, established on May 1, 1954, has been conducting training, research, and honey processing.

“This initiative showcases our commitment to promoting sustainable tourism while highlighting Maharashtra’s lesser-known industries,” said Manoj Kumar Suryavanshi, Managing Director of MTDC.

As part of Honey Bee Tourism, which is aimed at providing awareness on apiculture and nature-based experience, tours have been arranged to Honey Park, Madhuban (bee garden), a museum, and a modern honey processing unit. At the Honey Park, visitors can explore informative displays about beekeeping as a livelihood, officials said.

The Madhuban section offers a chance to see live honeycomb colonies, and allows tourists to take selfies while holding honeycombs. The museum showcases honey production techniques and bee biology, while the processing unit demonstrates how raw honey is transformed into the final product.

Another key feature of the initiative is a visit to Manghar village, also known as the ‘Honey Village, ‘ located nine kilometres from Mahabaleshwar on the Tapola road. This model village features bee-friendly plants along the approach road, personal beekeeping operations run by villagers, and the North Court Point, which offers scenic views of Makarand Gad, Pratapgad, and the Koyna River.

The segment also includes educational components, with experts demonstrating honey purity testing and explaining the health benefits of organic honey.

‘Maha Tourism Festival 2025’ is being organised under Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai and Indranil Naik, Minister of State for Tourism, and Atul Patne, Tourism Secretary. Those interested must register in advance through the official website, officials said.

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