Need to beat the heat but have fun, balancing desire & caution this long weekend

Pune: Maharashtra Day on May 1 will usher in a long weekend and highways leading towards Lonavla and Mahabaleshwar are expected to swell with traffic by Thursday night. Residents are rethinking what a break should look like weighing long drives in temperatures nearabouts 40°C against easier, heat-conscious escapes closer to home."We're leaving at 4 am. Last year, we were stuck for three hours near Lonavala. This time, we want to beat the sun and the traffic," said Rohan Kulkarni, a Baner-based IT professional headed to Mahabaleshwar on Friday.However, not everyone is heading to the hills. The long weekend has become less about distance and more about comfort for many."We have booked a villa with a private pool. Stepping out feels like walking into an oven, so the idea of sitting in traffic for hours didn't make sense. We wanted something easy and fun that lets you cool off. We've stocked up on snacks and music, and it's basically turned into a full-blown pool party," said Neha Mahajan, who chose to relax on the city's outskirts with her group of friends.Hotels across Pune report a similar trend, with many guests calling ahead to check whether pools remain operational throughout the day.The heat is also shaping how families plan outings. Adventure parks on the outskirts, particularly around Khopoli, are seeing a steady rise in bookings. "We're for the water rides," said college student Amit Deshpande.The weekend is a careful balance between desire and caution for others. "We wanted to go to Lonavla, but the heat forecast scared us. Sightseeing in this weather is out of the question with kids and elderly in-laws. So we made sure to book a hotel with a pool where the kids can cool off and we can relax," said Sneha Patil, a mother of two.Train travel, too, is seeing its familiar long weekend surge, with routes between Pune and Lonavla among the first to fill up. Early morning and late evening trains, particularly those connecting Pune and Mumbai via Lonavla, are reporting heavy demand as commuters try to avoid both heat and peak-hour crowds."We tried booking tickets on Wednesday and were waitlisted," said Priyanka Shah, a Wakad resident. "This happens every long weekend — you either plan well in advance or you're left scrambling. Early morning trains are always the first to go because people want to reach before it gets too hot."Meanwhile, doctors advise avoiding peak afternoon travel, staying well hydrated with water and electrolytes and wearing light, breathable clothes. "People underestimate how quickly dehydration sets in during road trips," said general physician Dr Minal Joshi. "Carry sufficient fluids, take breaks and never leave children or pets in parked cars. Those heading to water parks must be cautious of fatigue setting in. Cooling off is important, but overexertion in the heat can be dangerous," she added.
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