Water trickling down your window pane, arrival of tiny little fresh green leaves and the smell of wet mud, all so synonymous of the monsoon season. Personally I love the rains, it’s my favourite season. I love the sound of water, birds singing like they are welcoming the rain God. The sticky heat of Mumbai suddenly gets transformed into the happiness of the earth with just one shower. And this very season calls for lot of weekend masti in the lush green hills surrounding the island city of Mumbai with Garam chai & pakodas being the staple.
Monsoons transform the otherwise dull places around Mumbai into lush green landscapes which are worth heading to for a little peace & lots of rain splashes over a weekend. There are few predictable & some off-the path weekend getaways around amchi Mumbai.
The most popular weekend getaway for Mumbaikars, Lonavala is a picturesque town & hill-station located on the Mumbai – Pune expressway and is around 115kms distance from Mumbai. Though it has now become quite commercial, it is a good getaway from the hustle bustle of Mumbai. Lonavala is quite famous for its chikkis & chocolate fudge. The most popular location here is the Tiger point from where you get a good view of the valley below. Apart from the famous points there like Tiger Point, Lion point, people interested in some history can also head to the Bhaja & Bedsa caves. There are also a couple of famous dhabas here which offer lip-smacking non veg & veg food.
It is more of an industrial area located at a distance of 80 kms from Mumbai. But it houses some really good weekend villas that can be rented out to large groups looking for some family time away from Mumbai. These accommodations are replete with swimming pools & in-house cook. This place is quite famous during the monsoons for Zenith waterfall and local treks around the hills and is now famous as it houses the larger-than-life Imagica theme park. The best way is to drive down here or you could also take the train to Khopoli.
This is my personal favorite. I love Igatpuri as it is located on a hill and turns into this green garden during monsoons. Its got abundant waterfalls & spectacular views, just like I love it. This is around 130kms from Mumbai and is located in Nasik district. It is famous for its Vipassana academy. So for all you looking to cleanse your mind and enjoy a bit of non-connectivity with the world, head straight here. I have heard the Vipassana academy is one of a kind and offers a great experience. Igatpuri is also surrounded by the highest peaks of Sahyadris ,i.e the Western Ghats. It is just a drive away and is home to some amazing weekend villas & the famous Manas Resorts.
This again is a popular getaway from Mumbai and is filled with hills, rivers & greenery. It offers some respite for the weary Mumbai dwellers that are always on the lookout for stress-busting mini vacations. For the trek lovers, Karjat offers quite a few popular treks like the Bhimashankar trek, Peth fort & Kondana Caves trek. There are also a few well known resorts among which are Rivergate Resort.
This one is little farther from Mumbai (around 225 kms) but worth the effort if you are an ocean life enthusiast. Dapoli is a town in Ratnagiri district and is filled with beaches and temples. It is most famous for Dolphin watching during the early morning hours. For the early riser, there can be nothing better than watching dolphins dance around in the ocean in the early hours of the day. This activity can be easily booked once there. Though the best season to visit Dapoli is between October & February, it is also a good option to explore during monsoons if you want to just relax.
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