5 Lesser Known Tourist Destinations Near Mumbai
Skip the mainstream Lonavla, Khandala, Lavasa and the likes of it, for a few off-beat destinations, to go on a weekend, from Mumbai
Bhandardara
Distance: 164 kms
Known as the holiday resort village, Bhandardarat is situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. This blessed land is situated on the banks of the River Pravara. Offering exquisite experiences, this place has a lot of tourist attractions, like, the Bhandardara Lake, Randha Falls, Wilson Dam and many more. The latest attraction that has now been added, that further enhances the attraction of this place as a tourist destination is, the fireflies camp. If one is fond of adventure, then there are small climbs that can be made to witness amazing views.
Mulshi
Distance: 169 kms
Mulshi is a valley in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is just 169 odd kms away from Mumbai, which makes it a quick weekend escape destination for the city dwellers. With amazing roads, Mulshi makes for a perfect bike trip. One can easily rent a bike in Mumbai and head towards this peaceful location to enjoy its breath-taking view. This small place, comes to life during monsoons. The rain drops pattering on lush green lands is a sight to look forward to. Away from all the hustle of city life and technology, and closer to nature, this place is just the perfect place to rejuvenate and unwind.
Panchgani
Distance: 244 kms
Encompassed by 5 hill ranges in the Sahyadri mountain range, Panchgani stands true to its name. This hill station is situated in Maharashtra, surrounded by 5 villages namely – Dandeghar, Khingar, Godwali, Amral&Taighat. The mountain ranges on one side and plains to the other further reinforce its beauty. After having stayed away from the shutterbugs for a very long time, Panchgani is now growing in popularity as a tourist location and attracting a large number of tourists than ever, which is in turn leading to over commercialization of the area.
Shirdi
Distance: 240 kms
The place Shirdi is predominantly associated with Guru Sai Baba. It is said that Sai baba made this place his home for almost 50 years, where he preached the word of god and believed that there is only one god for all. A large number of visitors from across the globe, come to Shirdi looking for peace and tranquillity. This small town has a divine aura about itself, catering to the different needs of its many visitors. The followers of Sri ShirdiSaibaba, flock the town as they have a chance to look into the life of their guru. Places of tourist interest in Shirdi
The Dixit Wada museum
Gurusthan
Chavdi
Samadhi Mandir
The stretch from Mumbai to Shirdi can be best covered on road by renting out a bike. The road conditions are pretty good and the ride is going to be a joyous one. It’s very easy to get a bike on rent at Sukuto.com.
Kolad
Distance: 122 kms
Kolad a small village belonging to the Raigad district of Maharashtra, lying on the banks of the river Kundalika. Mostly popular as a river rafting destination in Maharashtra, this place is a scenic beauty, offering a spectacular view of its green surroundings of the Sahyadri which is untouched and raw. It has a large number of waterfalls all around the village. It has stayed away from shutterbugs and is now seeing an increase in tourists off-late. Enthusiastic bikers make this trip by renting bikes from bike rental companies in cities nearby.
