Weekend Getaways from Mumbai

You have a long weekend coming up and want to escape from the mundane routine life? Here is a small guide to show you the way. Picnic spots and quick getaways in and around Mumbai to beat the heat of the city. Read on...

Lonar: 14 Kms from Mumbai. The town is famous among both tourists and pilgrims alike, because of the presence of an ancient temple and the Lonar Crater which was formed due to the collision of a meteorite on the surface of the region around 52000 years ago.  
Panvel : 38 Kms from Mumbai. Locally called as the gateway to the Konkani region, Panvel is a old historical place and the earliest known settlement in the region was around 3000 years ago. Other important tourist destinations nearby are The Elephanta Caves, Haji Malang, Karnala and Karjat
Karnala : 50 Kms from Mumbai. Karnala is the best picnic spot for bird lovers. The Bird Sanctuary iis best after monsoons, when the forest is green and pristine. An easy trek to Karnala fort through thick forest is invigorating.
Dueshet : 58 Kms from Mumbai. Blessed with a vast coverage of dense forest, Durshet, in the lap of the majestic Sahyadris offers a pleasant and tranquil atmosphere. A perfect blend of calmness and beauty intertwined with the sparkling water of Amba river, Durshet paresents the nature at its best.

Vajreshwari : 70 Kms. Mumbai > Virar > Vajreshwar  Ganeshpuri is a natural hot spring. Just a Kilometre from Ganeshpuri is the famous temple at Vajreshwari.  The existence of 3 rivers Tejsa, Tansa and Surya in the vicinity adds to the tourism value of the place.
Matheran : 100 kms from Mumbai. It is a tiny hill station with clean and crisp air. Free from pollution as automobiles are banned within the hill station Lusting greenery, serene environments and unpolluted ambience Matheran is a fantastic tourist destination at a height of about 2516 feet above sea level .
Kamshet : 110 Kms fromMumbai. Kamshet is synonymous with Paragliding. Many operators offer joyrides and paragliding courses.
Jawahar 115Kms from Mumbai. A hill station popular for its scenic environment and Jai Vilas palace, the palace of Warlis and Bhopadgad Fort are the nearby attractions. Unspoiled and mostly unexplored waterfalls are the prominent tourist attractions in Jawahar. Dadar-Kopra falls and Palusa are the two scenic waterfalls placed perfectly amidst lush greeneries

Lonavla and Khandala : 120 Kms from Mumbai. Lonavala and Khandala are popular weekend getaways from Mumbai. During Monsoons, it comes alive with numerous waterfalls, mist and carpet of greenery. Try easy treks to Koregad and Lohagad. Do not forget to taste Chikkis
Malshej Ghat : 120 Kms from mumbai is magical during Monsoons - covered in mist with numerous waterfalls. Head to Pimpalgaon Joga dam during winters to catch thousands of pink Flamingos.
Kolad : 120 Kms from Mumbai.Kolad is popular for Kayaking and river rafting on Kundalika river.Kolad is famed for plenty of waterfalls, its rugged topography and Rocky Mountains. The trekking trails in Kolad offer medium challenges to adventurous trekkers and the trekking during the Monsoon has a special charm, making it a unique feature of Kolad
Lonavala and Khandala are popular weekend getaways from Mumbai. During Monsoons, it comes alive with numerous waterfalls, mist and carpet of greenery. Try easy treks to Koregad and Lohagad. Do not forget to taste Chikkis

Bordi : 140 kms. Popular weekend beach destination near Mumbai. The backdrop of Casurina trees and Chikoo orchards makes the beach beautiful.
Kashid :165 Kms from Mumbai. It is a small picture perfect beach with silver white sands.A fast emerging, wacky destination, Kashid’s spotless water, awfully clean beach makes it the most beautiful spot in the nearby areas. A drive through this coastal belt is the perfect way to catch the awesome rustic beauty of rural India.  Nearer to Kashid beach is the famous Janjira fort.
Bandhardhara: 165 Kms from Mumbai.Bandhardhara and surrounding areas gets magical during Monsoons. Try treks to Ratangad and Kalsubai mountains.
Elephanta Caves : Heritage Located in an island approx 11 Kms north-east of Mumbai. It has to be reached thru a ferry. Elephanta caves is a world heritage site

Kolari Fort :120 Kms. On Mumbai Murud Highway Picnic Spot Secluded beach and a Portuguese fort. Villagers at Korlai speak Creole, a language of Portuguese origin
Rajmachi : Located some 20 km away from Lonavala, Rajmachi is a scenic trek to the twin forts named Manaranjan and Shrivardhan. The proximity to Lonavala has added to the convenience of taking a day trip to Rajmachi. An ideal weekend getaway from Mumbai, Rajmachi is great for those looking for a slice of adventure and scenic beauty. 
Igatpuri : Located 2000 ft above sea level, on the Mumbai - Nashik route, Igatpuri surrounded by the highest peaks of the Sahyadri ranges is a heaven for adventure lovers as well as for those looking to rejuvenate and recharge their batteries. What make this place even more special is that Igatpuri is far cooler than the famous Lonavala–Khandala - all the more reason to head towards it for a weekend escape.
Raighad Fort: Nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range at an altitude of 2851 feet above the sea level is Raigad - the former capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Meaning the ‘the king’s fort’, Raigad is a mountainous terrain famed for its breathtaking natural beauty as evident from its canyons, deep gorges and lush vegetation. The beauty of the place is further enhanced by the crisscrossing rivers of Gandhar and Kal that rushes down through the beautiful valley.

Panchgani : 100 Kms from Pune , 258 from Mumbai.  Named after the five hills that surround it, Panchgani is a  paradises one would love to visit again and again. Located some 4400 ft in the Sahyadri ranges, the hill station has more to it than just the famous boarding and residential schools it has. With its quaint and charming colonial cottages, sleepy hamlets, towering hills, verdant valleys and gurgling rivulets, Panchgani no doubt makes for an excellent weekend holiday
Shirdi : Shirdi was the home of Sai Baba, the great saint of the 20th century. The whole village and every corner of it have some association with the great saint. His Samadhi is visited by thousands of tourists everyday. 
Mahuli Fort : Located at the convergence of beautiful rivers Krishna and Yenna, Mahuli, a tiny locale in the Thane district of Maharashtra is also called as Sangam Mahuli. This town is famous for the fabulous temples, ancient forts, and of course for its mountainous terrain. 
Sajan : Sajan is surrounded by dense forest from all the sides and has a liberal growth of Mango and Chikoo (Sapota) plantations. The plantation owners have mostly converted their beautiful areas into multi use Farm houses thus it’s a dream come true for all those nature lovers to actually reside in a tree house or just pitch up a tent and enjoy the vast greenery and winding river running along it. 

Kamshet : One of the favorite spot for paragliding activities, Kamshet is a renowned hill station located at a height of about 2200 feet above sea level. It is a picturesque tourist destination in the Western Ghats enclosing small villages with thatched traditional houses. 
Palghar : Though Palghar is an industrial city with all facets of growing cosmopolitan, it is still greenish with farms with palm trees, coconuts and rice cultivation. Blessed with many serene lakes, soft sandy beaches, historical forts, and unique temples like Ram Mandir, Palghar attracts many tourists to its lap.
Khodala : Khodala, a fascinating village with a quiet and calm ambiance, is located at an altitude of 1800 feet. This is a dense woody place in a hilly environment and is really an amazing picnic spot to roam in. A visit to Khodala offers a wonderful experience of adventurous sports like trekking, mountain biking, waterfall rappelling. The Amala wildlife sanctuary that houses an array of rare reptiles and other species of the animal kingdom is a fabulous place for a stopover.
Daman : Daman is a tiny little area sandwiched between the State of Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Arabian Sea.Daman prides itself on its rich and varied historical heritage covering more than 2 millenniums. tranquil seashores, heavenly beaches makes it a tourists hot spot.

Trimbakeshwar : Trimbakeshwar is famous for one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples in India dedicated to Lord Shiva. The holy Jyothirlinga circuit will be complete with the visit to this sacred Shiva temple. The Linga in the temple is in the form of a three faced structure consisting Tridev, Brahma, Vishu and Shiva. 
Mahabaleshwar : A picturesque hilly resort nestled in the lap of majestic mountain ranges of Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar offers panoramic view of the plains with the imposing sloppy peaks and surrounding woods at an altitude of 1372 meters. This prettiest hill station is often referred as the queen of hill stations in Maharashtra. 
Bhimashnakar: 128 Kms from Pune and 270 km from Mumbai.It appeals to both the religiously inclined and the one in love with nature It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India and hence a revered spot for the Hindus. Bhimashankar is a good place to take a break in the lap of nature. It is a paradise for nature lovers, trekkers, jungle lovers and bird watchers.