Weekend getaways near Mumbai

Panchgani is christened based on 'Panch" as it is surrounded by five hills of sahyadri, and "Gani" meaning settlement. This all season hill station elevated at 1305 meters above sea level and beaing an area of 6 sq. km is located 18 km eats of Mahabaleshwar on Mahabaleswear Wai road on the heavy rain and fog.

Sprawling languidly at an altitude of 800 metres is Matheran - an undulating hilltop cloaked in green.
The cliffs of Matheran with incredibly steep drops to the plains below offer stunning viewing points. These panoramic vistas, by day and night, leave you feeling light headed. Standing at Hart Point in pitch darkness you get a breathtaking glimpse of the lights of busy Bombay. Matheran abounds in such quixotically named points. popular sites for picnics and fireside revelry.

Soaring peaks, breathtaking valleys. Lush flora. Cool, crisp mountain air. This is Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra’s most popular hill station, and once the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj.

The twin hill resorts of Khandala and Lonavala have a special attraction for the Mumbai crowd seeking a convenient weekend holiday in the hills

Located in northern Maharashtra, Dahanu is a beach town with a colonial past. It is also famous for its known for its plantations of chikoo or sapodillas. The word 'Dahanu' is derived from the word 'Dhenu gram' meaning villages of cows.

It is a popular weekend getaway for tourists from Mumbai.
The beach is about 8 kilometres long. Although not a very famous tourist attraction, the beach is overcrowded with local tourists during weekends,

Tikuji-ni-wadi is an amusement park, water park, and a resort near Mumbai and inside the Indian city of Thane.
The Water Park has pools and water slides. The amusement park includes go-karts, roller coasters, giant wheels and a 7-story zip-line and many more. Additionally, there is a Shiva temple and marriage halls as a part of the resort. During Shivarathri, they make Shiva replica out of ice. The park remains open during the rainy season. A recent addition is realistic dinosaur park. There are ATV Motor cars.

Located in the North of Mumbai, the Gorai Beach is a short ferry ride from Marve beach (Malad West) or Gorai creek (Borivali West).This beach has long wide coast with sun baked sand shore. Known for its night parties, during the day Gorai beach is besieged by picinic groups and couples waiting to catch a glimpse of a vivid sunrise/ sunset.

Peaceful stretch of Alibaug Beach, is a refreshing Mumbai getaway. It's possible to enjoy Alibaug in a day. However, if you can, take the extra time to relax and unwind there, and go beach hopping. Alibaug isn't just a well known beach destination. It's also got quite a bit of history behind it. Established in the 17th century, there are numerous old forts, churches, synagogues, and temples all waiting to be explored. Kolaba Fort is the main attraction. Most of the time, it's surrounded by ocean. However, you can walk out to it during low tide, or go in a horse pulled cart. Otherwise, take a boat. Kanakeshwar Temple, on a hill near Alibaug, is also worth visiting. Those who can climb the 700 steps to the top are rewarded with the sight of colorful conclaves of smaller temples and miniature god statues.

Lush green vistas, soaring mountains, waterfalls, quaint old forts and salubrious climate make Igatpuri a favourite weekend destination from Mumbai. Igatpuri has also become popular with those seeking spiritual rejuvenation at the Vipassana International Academy. Situated in Nashik district of Maharashtra, the hill station is surrounded by Western Ghats.

Multi-hued butterflies flirt with the sunrays that penetrate the canopy. The fluty notes of the shama break the stillness of this green hideaway. The notes of the feathered musician, the Malabar Whistling Thrush spin their own magic through the towering branches. A male Paradise Flycatcher with its beautiful silvery-white tail glides across the thick foliage. Shaheen Falcons shriek their domination as they use thermals to survey the landscape below. Bright pink begonias, purple Clerodendron serratum and yellow glory lilies light up a winding rocky path that leads to a historic fort. This is a forest truly for the birds and butterflies.

4 hours from Mumbai, situated in the Dang District, Saputara is home to numerous attractions like national parks, temples, gardens and museums. Located at an elevation of 1,000 m above sea level, Saputara has a number of viewpoints that offer beautiful views of the entire town. Saputara is the only hill station in Gujarat located on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. This makes Saputara a popular tourist’s destination for travelers from both Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Daman & Diu, the second smallest union territory is situated on the west coast of India. These twin islands were under the control of the Portuguese for a period of 450 years. The massive forts, magnificent cathedrals, and other impressive monuments of Daman & Diu exude the subtle old world charm of its colonial era. Daman & Diu is renowned for its natural splendour. The white sandy secluded beaches are quite inviting and offer many opportunities for water sports. Owing to its favorable climate, scenic location and serene surroundings, Daman & Diu is the most popular weekend gateway for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

Silvassa is situated in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and is in fact its capital. The surroundings of Silvassa are enriched with Portuguese heritage and a distinctive Indo-Portuguese ethnicity. Due to such a background, many Roman-Catholic churches are there in this town. The city is renowned for the serenity of its natural surroundings especially the gardens. You can know more about the tourist spots of the place from the Silvassa travel guide. Tourists can go for its latest deer refuge and lion safari.