10 Places to visit near Pune this monsoon

Pune is known to have best weekend getaways in India

Here is list of Top 10 Places to visit near Pune this monsoon for all punekars

Take a plunge into these exciting destinations that offer nature, beauty, history and more. Here’s a list of 10 fascinating places to visit near Pune this monsoon..

1. Mahabaleshwar

The strawberry capital, Mahabaleshwar with its picturesque sights, misty cascading waterfalls, hidden trails and lovely farms growing berries, this hill station forms a paradise for nature lovers.

Distance:

From Pune to Mahabaleshwar : 120Kms approx

Things to do:

Trekking at Connaught Peak and Arthur’s Point, Wilson Point
Boating at Venna Lake
Enjoy stunning scenic view from 11 different peaks
Visit Mapro Garden, Pratapgad Fort
Enjoy eating fresh strawberries and shopping at local bazaar
Stop by Khandala and Panchgani peak points (Recommended)

2. Kolad

Kolad is a perfect escape for water sports. It is a perfect idea of a weekend destination as it promises everything from adventure to natural beauty, historic caves and forts, temples and monasteries.

Distance:

From Pune to Kolad: 120Kms approx

Things to do:

Enjoy water sports such as rowing, kayaking, rafting, camping, river crossing, rappelling. (Recommended)
Explore the Tala fort & Ghosala fort, famous for their architecture.
Visit the Kuda caves which are a group of 13 rock caves built by the Buddhist.
Bhira dam and the Dholwal dams is a great stopover to spot some migratory birds.
Tamhini Fall promises a picturesque view, Kansai Waterfalls and hot springs at Uddhar are also located nearby

3. Bhimashankar

Bhimashakar is a popular destination for road trip lovers for its scenic and most gorgeous routes. Bhimashankar which is the home to one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples of Lord Shiva. Other than Bhimashankar being a pilgrim center, it is also bestowed by breath-taking natural beauty.

Distance:

From Pune to Bhimashankar: 127 Kms

Things to do:

Visit Bhimashankar temple which is dedicated to the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples of Lord Shiva.
Visit the Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary to witness some of the most endangered species such as the Giant Indian Squirrel.
Plan a trek from the Shidi ghat to Ganesh ghat which is most enjoyable and adventurous during monsoon season. (Recommended)
Relish the most spectacular waterfalls and the spouting streams.

4. Rajmachi

Rajmachi in rains is a lush greenery with waterfalls and small streams making it a not-to-be-missed holiday spot. Located in the Sahyadri ranges this fort is quite popular among hikers

Distance:

From Pune to Rajmachi 74 Kms approx

Things to do:

Trekking
Camping (Garudmachi) (Recommended)
Hiking
Photography

5. Sinhagad

Its one of the best monsoon destinations near Pune for a weekend retreat and a great place to explore historic reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Distance:

From Pune to Sinhagad-37.4 Kms approx

Things to do:

Trekking
Camping
Photography
Exploring fort and the scenic views (Recommended)

6. Harishchandragad

Harishchandragad is also known as trekker’s paradise as rappelling, rock climbing & valley crossing can be done simultaneously in one trek itself. It is also famous as the best fort in Maharashtra for camping. There are nearly 9 caves in total inculding 2 big caves on Harishchandragad which can accomodate around 100-150 campers.

The Pachnai route is the simplest route but it is very charming. Breath-taking in all the way, the route will leave you awe struck by its spectacular beauty and appeal. Away from the hands of commercialisation, you will surely be amazed by the enthralling beauty of the star studded sky.

Distance:

From Pune to Harishchandragad 160 Kms approx

Things to do :

Trekking
Photography
Temple Exploration
Camping (Recommended)

7. Matheran

India’s smallest hill station, Matheran is frequented by residents of both Mumbai and Pune during long weekends and holidays. Since it stands at an elevated location, it has nearly 38 viewpoints from where one can get a panoramic sight of the region.

Distance:

From Pune to Matheran 126 Kms approx

Things to do:

Enjoy sunsets and sunrises along with stunning sights seen from the various viewpoints.
Matheran also has two lakes, parks, and a few temples which are likely to interest visitors.
Hiking and walking up to the viewpoints, ride on the Neral-Matheran toy train, paragliding and parasailing for adventure buffs.

8. Lavassa

The first and only private planned city in India, Lavassa also proves to be a salubrious getaways from Pune.

Distance:

From Pune to Lavasa fort- 59 Kms approx

Things to do :

Enjoy scenic views, sit beside lake and relax or enjoy different attractions and water sports.
Roam about the plains of Lavassa on bikes or hike up the different hills.
Camping with the Xthrill academy, Relax in the Swiss AC tents.

9. Purandar fort

Purandar Fort figures repeatedly in the rising of Shivaji against the Adil Shahi Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughals. Purandhar fort stands 4,472 ft in monsoon it is a busy attraction for trekking and site seeing.

Distance:

From Pune to Purandhar fort- 56 Kms approx

Things to do :

Hiking
Photography
Explore historic facts about the place
Trekking (consider visiting near by forts as well) (Recommended)

10. Tikona fort

The Tikona fort is a great trekking destination for the ad venturous tourists. One can get the eye catching views of the Pawna Dam and the forts at Visapur, Tung and Lohagad. The fort encloses a lake, Satvahan caves and the temple of ‘Trimbakeshwar Mahadev’. The fort was built during the Silhara dynasty. There is a temple on top of the peak. The view of the Pawna dam, Kathingad and valleys from the top is breath-taking.

Distance: