The city of dreams, Mumbai, is notorious for its bustle and stress. To deal with it, every now and then the Mumbaikar takes a quick break from the city. Now, with the availability of top class companies like Zoomcar providing car rental in Mumbai, road trips are a common choice for such breaks. The presence of excellent destinations within driveable distances makes road trips desirable to Mumbaikars. Here is a list of some awesome destinations close to Mumbai for a wonderful road trip.
1. Lonavala and Khandala
Dotted with a number of historic forts, valleys, lakes and waterfalls, these beautiful twin cities are a great destination to take a road trip to. The journey through the Mumbai-Pune Expressway alone is worth the whole effort. Even though Monsoons are a good time to visit, these twin destinations are a great idea all year around. The trek to the Rajmachi fort is a popular activity available in the city. So rent a car as Lonavala is roughly 85 Km from Mumbai city.
2. Alibaug
Filled with lovely beaches, extending shores and the mesmerising views of Kolaba fort, the road trip to Alibaug is an exhilarating experience. Located on the Mumbai-Goa highway, the place is often referred to as a romantic getaway. The recommended time to visit the place is from November to June. The journey from Mumbai to Alibaug is nearly 90 km long.
3. Kashid and Murud
If you need a road trip to a secluded beach with a scenic view, Kashid is your best choice. This white sand beach gives you a relaxing vibe and rejuvenates. Another 40 km from Kashid will take you to Murud where you can enjoy the Murud-Janjira Fort which is one of the strongest marine forts in India. Kashid is located around 120 km from the Mumbai city.
4. Mahabaleshwar
The amazing view en route the Mahabaleshwar makes up for the last 50 Km climb up the hill. The trip is ideal for those who love mountains and lakes. The popular tourist attractions such as Wilson Sunrise points, Needle Hole Point and Three Monkey Point are located here. For the adventure lovers, paragliding is available in Panchgani, a place close to here. The drive which goes through the Golden quadrilateral is around 250 km long.
5. Igatpuri
Located in the Wine Capital of India – Nashik, Igatpuri is a small yet beautiful hill station. During the monsoon season when the Western Ghat is at its best, Igatpuri offers a splendid landscape to the visitors. Various adventure activities such as trekking, camping expeditions, zip lining, rappelling etc are available here. The place is situated 120 km from Mumbai city.
6. Malshej Ghat
Popular for its bounty of flora and fauna, Malshej Ghat is a gorgeous mountain pass in the Western Ghats. Along with the destination, the route to the place also serves a perfect experience for the nature lovers. Several bird species including the cuckoos, the flamingos, and the quails can be found here. The striking waterfalls and fascinating rock formations in here adds to the beauty of the place. From Mumbai, it is a 130 km drive to the place.
Nice post.
These are some good recommendations, M. Visited few of them. Make for perfect weekend getaways with family and friends.
I grew up in Mumbai, even though I have not lived there in the past decade, so I have been to most of these places, and I agree with you – they are perfect for quick retreats from Mumbai. The one place I am yet to visit is Mahabaleshwar.
I love road travels, beautiful way to exploring new city or visiting local areas. Car rentals are a great idea, thanks for sharing with us M.
I don’t live in Mumbai but this is certainly a very informative post for those who do. I’ve been to Alibaug for a wedding and it was lovely.
Yay!! I was in Pune before and we had been to Lonavla and Mahabaleshwar(from this list). Divegar is also a good place to hang out and is close to Alibaug.
That’s a wonderful list. Out of this, we missed out Murud . Loved being at Mahabaleshwar the most, when we took Maharashtra road trip.
I still have to visit igatpuri. Staying so close to it and yet never visited.
This is a complete list for any Mumbaikar, would like to atleast visit one place if I visit the city.
Cheers
MeenalSonal from AuraOfThoughts
Thank you for providing such a beautiful list, out of all the places listed, I would love to visit the Malshej Ghat for sure!
Khandala and Mahabaleswar are on my list. Just what I needed to plan a weekend gateway. What about the best season for Khandala?
Alibaug, Lonavala, and Khandala really amazing location for roaming with family and friends in weekend days.
lonavala is one of my favorite place, i love lonavala, it is so beautiful. thanks for sharing this awesome post.