The capital of the state of Maharashtra, Mumbai, also known as Bombay, is the city of dreams for everyone. It is also called as the City of Seven Islands, on which it is based. The wealthiest city in India, Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. It’s a perfect mixture of traditional and modern lifestyle.  We bring you the list of three main Weekend getaways around Mumbai, which should not be missed if you are living in Mumbai.

From specialty food items to the famous Juhu Beach, Mumbai has every possible aspect to make it the most talked about city of India. While, Mumbai is fascinating to one and all in itself, there is a lot more to be dazed about when you look at the beautiful places surrounding it. Yes, nature has been kind on this city, by bestowing it with serene locations and hill stations that will make you gape in awe.

While we are on the topic of serene locations, mentioning a few that are unavoidable on a road trip would be – Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. The best time to visit these places is after monsoon and a two day trip is the perfect way to cover these destinations, unless you plan on relaxing every inch of your body with a prolonged break from the busy, chaotic world. So, here is how, with a small bag of necessities, you can embark on a journey to these four absolutely gorgeous locations.

1. Lonavala

On the first day, an early start would be the best way to make the most of your trip and stay on schedule, as these places, even though offering immense natural beauty, are worthy of being enjoyed in broad daylight itself. So, the ideal itinerary for the first day would comprise of Lonavala, Khandala and a night halt in Pune to gear up for the next day.

The first stop on the journey is the town of Lonavala. It is located 96 kilometers from Mumbai and has a very leisurely, hassle – free drive via the Mumbai – Pune Expressway. The drive on the highway is an experience in itself, with some breathtaking views of valleys and hills recurring frequently. Also, the prime construction of the roads and ample exit points for locations of choice makes it a very smooth trip. Once in Lonavala, the small town takes everyone by surprise and gives a vague first impression. This is where prior knowledge about how to proceed, helps as navigating to the many attractive spots is a not-so-easy task. Some of these main spots include – The Rajmachi Point, which is 6.5 kms from the main town and offers a view of Shivaji’s fort Rajmachi and Tiger’s Leap, which is a cliff top having a drop of 650m and a waterfall active in the rainy season. Other places also worth a visit are Valvan Dam and Ryewood Park. The best way to enjoy these places is with hot food, a glass of ‘cutting chai’ and amazing company.

2. Khandala

After Lonavala, the next Weekend getaways around Mumbai is Khandala. It is located 3 kilometers away from Lonavala and at 100 kilometers from Mumbai. It is reached by rejoining the Expressway for a short while before taking the first exit that leads to this beautiful destination. Due to the ease of accessibility from nearby cities, Khandala is a common area for hiking. Along the lines of Lonavala, Khandala also has a few notable must-visit spots like – Amrutanjana Point, which gives a great view of the adjoining towns and places from the top, The Duke’s Nose, which is a cliff shaped like the nose of the famous Duke Wellington and the Bhushi Lake, which is a serene spot to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature.

A short stay at each of these places in Khandala and Lonavala is enough to take in the beauty. Hence, wrapping up by late evening would be the ideal thing to do. Once all the locations are ticked off the list, take the Expressway to Pune and spend the night peacefully recovering from the jaw-dropping scenes, only to be prepared for what is going to be on offer the next day.

3. Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani

After a quick breakfast and gathering stuff needed for a relatively longer time on the road, one is all set to visit  next Weekend getaways around Mumbai, which are, Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani. For this, the National Highway – 4 offers a decent ride, with much more sights all along the way.

The first stop is the small, mildly populated town of Panchgani. This hill station is 100 kilometers from Pune and 18 from Mahabaleshwar. Panchgani gets its name from the fact that it is located between five hills of the Sahyadri Range. The main places to be visited here comprise of – Sydney Point, which offers a heavenly view of the river flowing through the valley, and Table Land, which is the second largest plateau in Asia made of laterite rock. While it may be a quick stay in these places to adorn the beauty and enjoy some nice food, it is bound to stay in your memories for long.

Mahabaleshwar is the next Weekend getaways around Mumbai that arrives after a 18 kilometer drive from Panchgani. It is one of the most popular hill stations in the region and also a famous honeymoon spot. It is the source of the legendary Krishna River which, as legend has it, flows from the mouth of a very old temple. While Mahabaleshwar as a Weekend getaways around Mumbai is rich in scenic spots, a few ones worthy of being highlighted are – Three Monkey Point, which has natural cut-out rocks in the shape of three monkeys sitting next to each other, the Arthur’s Seat which is a beautiful place to view the valley from a height of 1340 meters, and Wilson Point, which is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar offering a beautiful view of the sunrise and sunset.

After this, it would be time to get back on a long trip back to Mumbai or Pune as per your preference, which would mark the end of a tiring but, unforgettable journey to these places which definitely fall under the category of ‘Heaven on Earth’.

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