Mumbai is not a city. It is a way of life! The cinema, big businesses, the gastronomy, the tourism lets this city never sleep. However, the hustle and bustle of this ever vibrating and ever pulsating city can sometimes get on to your nerves and you may want to spend a few moments away from the electrifying city, in the lap of MOTHER NATURE!
So what are you waiting for? Got a few days? Craving for some peace, surrounded by peaks? Or are you on a visit here? Are you done with your hotel booking in Mumbai? It is time to explore the beauty of these hill stations, a quick drive from any hotel in Mumbai.
1. Lonavala
Lonavala boasts of ancient caves, beautiful lakes, historical forts, lush greenery and last but not the least the famous Indian sweet, chikki. This exquisite hill station enveloped by the Sahyadri Mountains, also serves as an ideal destination for mountaineering and trekking. History lovers must visit Rajmachi Fort, Tikon Fort, Shreevardhan Fort, Visapur Fort, Koregad Fort, Lohagad fort, Tunga fort, Karla Caves and the historical Bhaja. You must visit Bushi dam, Valvan Dam, Tungarli Dam, Lonavala Lake and Tungarli lake to make your travel experience priceless! Offering a plethora of man made entertainment is Adlabs Imagica,Celebrity Wax museum and innumerable other resorts and retreats. Last but not the least, do not miss the city shopping and laying your hands on the best chikkis, jams and juices!
2. Matheran
An auto mobile free landscape. A ride to this small hill station in the lap of Sahyadris in the Neral-Matheran toy train is unadulterated bliss. Witness the most beautiful sunrise and sunset,a bunch of naughty monkeys goofing around, romantic scenarios for the honeymooners and breathtaking spectacular picnic spots at Rambag point, Little chowk point,monkey point,one tree hill point, Honeymoon point, Hart Point,Alexander point,Panorama Point,Echo Point,Loisa point. These points are not only an ideal destination by themselves but they also help you get a spectacular view of the city, a majestic play of beauty, grandeur and history.If history enthralls you then, wrapped in a historic charm, the Prabalgadh Fort is highly recommended. Olympia is another hotspot that houses a horse race course.If you wish to challenge your trekking skills then The Shivaji’s Ladder is what you must walking on.Charlotte lake is an amazing attraction that must be visited.Be ready to fill your shopping bags with Kolhapuri chappals,chikkis, handmade articles etc on the Mall road.
3. Mahabaleshwar
The biggest hill station in Maharashtra is awe-inspiring. It comes with picturesque beauty points, which can be travelled to from any of the hotels in Mumbai. Elphinstone point, Wilson Point of Sunrise, Lodwick Point, Arthur's Seat, Helen's point, Bombay Point. Some spectacular waterfalls you may witness are Chinaman’s falls, Dhobi waterfalls and Lingmala falls.The Mahabaleshwar temple is all you need to dive deep in devotion.
4. Karjat
Located between the Sahyadri range and the Konkan shoreline,this town is a bliss for people who are on a look out for adventurous activities to make their vacations wholesome! Hiking, Trekking, rock climbing, river rafting and many more adventurous attractions is what this hill station has to offer! It is recommended that you frequent this town during the monsoons and ensure you visit Bhor Ghat, Peth Fort, Kondana Caves, Bahiricave, Kondeshwar temple and Ulhas valley.So head to this serene destination and munch on some local wada pav. Ensure your hotel booking in Mumbai is done such that you definitely visit Karjat.
5. Igatpuri
Located amidst the Western ghats,Igatpuri is an ideal location for trekkers,nature lovers,meditation enthusiasts and the religiously inclined. Some places to visit and activities to do are enlisted here-Bhatsa River Valley,Arthur Lake,Camel Valley,Trek to Kalsubai, Vipassana Centre,Ghatandevi temple,Tringalwadi fort,Bitangad trekk and Kulangad trekk.
6. Malshej Ghat
Book any of the hotels in Mumbai and travel easily to the serene Malshej Ghat. The mountain passes and the dark forests are the prime attraction. The forests are home to many species of birds and animals.Malshej Falls, Bird Graveyard, Pimpalgaon Joga Dam, Shivneri Fort are some of the attractions you cannot resist.
7. Bhandara
This beauty is situated in the Western ghats and is a prime attraction for tourists because of the rivers,lakes,waterfalls,lush green surroundings, hills and the forts that it houses. Not just the rich flora and fauna but the other attractions here are - Bhandardara lake, Wilson dam, Umbrella falls, Randha falls, Amruteshwar temple, Ratangad fort, Harishchandragad fort, Kalsubai temple, Alang Fort, Madan Fort, Kulang Fort.
8. Jawhar
Jawhar is well known for its Katya Maruti temple. Apart from Warli painting, it is also the home to many other tourist attractions like Shirpamal, Sunset Point, Hanuman Point, Jaivilas Palace, Dhabosa-Dadarkopara falls, Khadkhad dam, Kalmandavi waterfall & Jai sagar dam.
9. Khandala
Khandala is a popular hill station located at a height of 1800 feet in the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra. If you wish to experience the real charm of the paradise that is Earth, then this place is an ideal weekend getaway for those living in Mumbai. located at an elevation of 550 meters above mean sea level amidst the lush green hills of the Western Ghats, this place offers you everything beautiful a person can visualize about which includes stupendous natural views and lustrous valleys. This beautiful hill station is also one of the most popular hiking and trekking destination. Khandala houses some beautiful attractions including Tiger’s Leap, Duke’s Nose, Karla and Bhaja caves, Bhushi Lake, Ancient Jail and Amrutanjan Point which one should not miss.
10. Amboli
Mumbaikars if you wish to break the monotony of the sweltering Mumbai heat you must head to this relatively unexplored hill station Amboli located in the state of Maharashtra in the Sahayadri Hills. A popular eco-hotspot Amboli is a place which is so full of life with its abundant and unique flora and fauna. The hill town is situated at an elevation of 690 meters above the mean sea level this place is best visited when showers hit the place yes we mean during the monsoons.
Ranging from Waterfalls to misty mountains this hill station has one of the best attractions that can be witnessed during the monsoons. Sea-View Point, Mahadevgad Point, Purvicha Vas, Nagatra falls, Hiranya Keshi and Narayangad etc. are some of the major attractions that can be enjoyed while you are this place.