As much as Mumbaikars love Mumbai, sometimes it’s absolutely essential to take a break from the city’s fast-paced routine. Here are 8 weekend getaway options in and around Mumbai.
Even if you’re used to the fast-paced nature of Mumbai, there’s a good chance that the humid weather and choc-a-bloc traffic can ramp up your stress levels every now and then.
But, before you blow your proverbial top, keep in mind that you can always take a break and head out of the city for a quick weekend getaway to rejuvenate your senses.
In fact, you don’t even have to venture too far for a much needed bout of rest and relaxation. We’ve put together a list of 8 incredibly enticing weekend getaway options in and around Mumbai just for you.
You can visit these places over the weekend or for a maximum of 2 nights if you’re looking for some peace, quiet and fresh air.
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Igatpuri
Igatpuri is a town and hill station located in the Nashik district in the state of Maharashtra. It is around 130 kms from Mumbai and is best visited during the monsoon season. It is surrounded by the highest peaks in the Sahyadri i.e. the Western Ghats, and is ideal for trekking and hiking as well.
Igatpuri is also a place of significance in terms of Vipassana Meditation. The International Centre for Vipassana meditation, called Dhammagiri, is located here.
The picturesque Bhatsa river valley, with its lush vegetation and majestic rock formation, can also be found here. Arthur Lake, Thal Ghat, Ashoka Waterfall and Kalsubai peak are other popular tourist attractions.
You will find a number of hotels at reasonable prices starting from Rs. 1,500 per night. If you’re looking for great discounts on your hotel bookings through MakeMyTrip, then be sure to check out our American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card.
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Khopoli
Khopoli is located at the base of the Sahyadri Mountains in Raigad district and can be found about 80 kms along the NH4, south of Mumbai.
Although it is an industrial city, Khopoli has a bunch of theme parks, namely the Imagica Theme Park, Imagica Snow Park and the Imagica Water Park. It’s the perfect spot for families with kids.
You will be able to find accommodation in Khopoli starting from Rs. 1,080 per night. With our Axis Bank Buzz Credit Card you can earn 3x rewards while you book your stay online or make any other online purchases. How cool is that?
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Khandala
Khandala gained prominence after the famous Bollywood song from an Aamir Khan movie. This hill station is located at the Bhor Ghat between the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan Plain.
About 80 kms from Mumbai, this hill station has a bunch of scenic places to visit like the Tiger’s Leap, Duke’s Nose, the Karla and Bhaja Caves and the Bhushi Lake. It is also an ideal spot for hiking.
You will be able to find a good place to stay starting from Rs. 2,500 per night. And while you enjoy the breathtaking view in Khandala, don’t forget to carry the HDFC Bank Diners Rewardz Card with you. With this card you will be able to redeem points while booking hotels.
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Malshej Ghat
Malshesh Ghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats range in the Thane-Pune district. Nestled in the lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats, this place is home to hundreds of different kinds of flora and fauna such as quails, rails, crakes, flamingos and cuckoos.
About 154 kms from Mumbai, the Malshej Ghat is the birthplace of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Shivneri Fort, Pimpalgaon Joga Dam and the Malshej falls are interesting places to visit around here.
The monsoon months of July to September are good times to visit this place if you’re keen on spotting pink flamingos. You will also find lots of lodging options like hostels and dorms starting from Rs. 900 per night.
If you plan to drive down to Malshej, you can check out our Axis Bank Miles And More Credit Card that offers 1% surcharge refund on your fuel transactions between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000 at all petrol pumps in India.
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Panchgani
Panchgani is a popular hill station located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is renowned for its many premier residential educational institutions. Situated about 285 kms from Mumbai, the ideal time to visit Panchgani is during the winter.
You will love visiting Sydney Point for its paronomic view that faces the Krishna Valley, while The Table Land is a flat, large expanse of laterite rock, which is the second longest mountain plateau in Asia. Other sight-seeing places include the Parsi Point, Devil’s Kitchen, Kamalgad and Mapro Gardens.
Accommodation prices start from Rs.1,500 upwards. Should you decide to visit Panchgani, make sure you check out our HDFC Bank Regalia Card. With this card you not only get a convenience waiver on fuel transactions, but you can also enjoy travel concierge services and redeem points for booking hotels on the HDFC Regalia website.
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Alibaug
Alibaug is a coastal town in the Raigad district, only 78 kms away from Mumbai. The main attraction here are the beaches, like the Alibaugh beach, Varsoli Beach, Akshi Beach, Nagaon Beach, and the secluded Kihim-Nagaon beach.
Alibaug also houses the 15th century island fortress called the Murad-Janjira, the Magen Avot Synagogue, the Kolaba Fort, the Korlai Fort and the famous Khanderi and Underi islands, which are off the Kihim beach.
You will be able to get yourself accommodation starting from Rs. 2,000 per night. And if you plan on getting to Alibaug on the weekend, then be certain to use your Jet Airways IndusInd Bank Voyage Visa Card, which will give you 1.5X rewards when used over the weekends.
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Matheran
Located in Raigad district, this hill station is only 90 kms from Mumbai and 120 kms from Pune. It is known for its mild climate and well-preserved colonial architecture.
There are about 38 designated look-out “points” (view points) that lets you enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding areas including the mesmerising sunrise and sunsets. The town has a large monkey population, which includes bonnet macaques and Hanuman langurs.
You will be able to enjoy the steep cliffs and deep ravines, which make this place ideal for hiking and trekking. Since Matheran has been quite commercial you’ll easily find places to stay starting from as low as Rs. 1,000 per night.
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Nashik
Nashik is an ancient holy city in Maharashtra. The river Godavari flows through Nashik, which is why you’ll find a lot of dams here. The most notable of these dams are the Gangapur dam, Chankapur dam, Girna dam and Darna dam.
Nashik also hosts one of the most famous and largest religious gatherings, known as the Kumbh Mela or Maha Kumbh. Nashik is also described as “The Wine Capital of India” because of the 22 wineries present there. The Sula Vineyards hosts the SulaFest every February and is a must visit for people who enjoy a nice glass of wine along with a wine tour.
Nashik is about 167 kms away from Mumbai and you’ll find plenty of options to stay around there with prices starting from Rs. 1,200 onwards. Should you decide to drive down to Nashik from Mumbai, you can make use of the IndianOil Citi Platinum Card with which you can redeem your turbo points for fuel at leading fuel stations across the country and also get up to 60 litres of free fuel annually!
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t have a car to get to these places? No sweat! We have amazing Car Loan offers waiting for you.