Hill stations in Maharashtra for a quick New Year getaway

When you live in metro cities like Mumbai and Pune, you will feel the need to take a breather from work and city life sooner than later. Maharashtra is blessed with some of the best hill stations in India. These hill stations are loved for their waterfalls, lush green forest cover, picturesque lakes and the constant state of being misty.

Also read: Majestic mountain ranges in India for the adventurous soul

Romantic, don’t you think so too?

These hill stations are best visited during the monsoon season, but winter isn’t so bad either. January is pretty comfortable in these destinations. Check these hill stations out!

Located in Pune district, Lonavala is just 96 km from Mumbai and 64 km from Pune city. It is one of the most popular quick weekend getaways, and we understand why. Pretty waterfalls, amazing trekking trails, rock-cut caves and lush greenery is quite common in Lonavala.

Matheran is located on the Western Ghats range, meaning, location-wise, it is one of the best destinations. But that’s not even the best part of this hill station. Matheran is a very peaceful destination. Peaceful as in, no unnecessary honking of vehicle horns!

Also located in the Western Ghats, Igatpuri is a gem of a destination. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the cities like Mumbai and Pune, Igatpuri is home to the Vipassana Academy, the largest meditation centre in the world.

Mahabaleshwar makes for a very fun and scenic self-drive holiday from Mumbai (285 km) and Pune (120 km). The roads may be winding, but they do take you to some of the best views of the Western Ghats.

Khandala is located at the top of Bhor Ghat, one of the most naturally rich places in Maharashtra. The Sahyadri range offers great trekking trails with the best of views. Rajmachi Point, Sunset Point, Kune waterfalls, Tamhini ghat, Bhaja and Karla caves, and Bhushi Lake are some of the popular tourist spots in and around Khandala.

Panchgani is surrounded by five scenic hills and because of this, there is no dearth of beautiful locations. Be it waterfalls or valleys or forests, Panchgani has got them all. Back in the day, it used to be a popular summer retreat for the British officials.

Bhandardara is one of the best adventure destinations for those who don’t mind roughing it out a bit. It is famous for Ratangad and Harishchandragad Forts, and Mount Kalsubai, the star of Bhandardara.