Weekend getaways from Mumbai

14 weekend trips from Mumbai

1. 1

   Lonavala & Khandala

   85 km · 1.5–2.5 h via the Mumbai–Pune Expressway; Deccan Queen or Indrayani Express to Lonavala (2–2.5 h)June–September for waterfalls; October–February for clear viewsMonsoon drives, groups, families

   Spend one day on the Karla and Bhaja caves and the Lohagad climb, and the other at Tiger Point and Rajmachi Point for valley views. Villas with pools are the best value for groups. Local authorities often restrict access to Bhushi Dam and the waterfalls during heavy rain, and the expressway ghat section jams on monsoon Saturday mornings.

2. 2

   Alibaug

   95 km · 1–1.5 h by ferry or ro-ro from the Gateway of India or Bhaucha Dhakka to Mandwa, then 30 min by road; 2.5–3 h by road via Atal SetuOctober–MayBeach villas, couples, families with children

   Walk out to Kolaba Fort at low tide, spend a lazy afternoon on Varsoli or Kihim beach and eat at the seafood places near Alibaug town. Most stays are private villas booked through rental platforms, so check the pool and the access road in reviews. Passenger ferries usually stop from late May to August; check the ro-ro schedule separately.

3. 3

   Matheran

   90 km · 2–2.5 h by road to Dasturi via Neral; local train to Neral, then the toy train or a shared taxiOctober–May; monsoon for mist if you don't mind mudCar-free walks, families, couples

   Cars stop at Dasturi, so you walk, ride a horse or take a hand-pulled rickshaw to Panorama Point, Louisa Point and Charlotte Lake. Heritage bungalow hotels with meals included are the norm. The Neral toy train is often suspended in heavy monsoon, and the red-earth paths turn slippery, so wear proper shoes.

4. 4

   Igatpuri & Kalsubai

   120 km · 2.5–3 h via the Mumbai–Nashik highway and Kasara ghat; many Central Railway trains stop at IgatpuriJune–FebruaryMonsoon treks, villa stays

   Climb Kalsubai, at 1,646 m the highest point in Maharashtra, from Bari village (4–5 hours up and down, with iron ladders near the top), then recover at a villa or resort around the Igatpuri lakes. The Vipassana centre here runs residential courses only, not drop-in visits. Kasara ghat gets heavy fog and truck traffic; drive it in daylight.

5. 5

   Bhandardara

   165 km · 3.5–4 h via Kasara ghat and Igatpuri; train to Igatpuri, then 1 h by cabJune–September for waterfalls; late May for firefliesLakeside camping, fireflies, lesser-known pick

   Camp on the shore of Arthur Lake below Wilson Dam, see Randha Falls in full flow after the rains and walk to the Amruteshwar temple. In late May and early June, fireflies light up the forests around Bhandardara and Purushwadi; go with a local homestay guide and keep torches off. Phone signal is patchy and food options are basic outside the resorts.

6. 6

   Nashik & Trimbakeshwar

   170 km · 3.5–4 h via the Mumbai–Nashik highway; Panchavati Express or other trains to Nashik Road (3–3.5 h)November–March (grape harvest January–March)Wine tastings, temple visits

   Book a tasting at Sula or one of the smaller wineries around Gangapur and Dindori, then spend a morning at the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, about 30 km away, and the ghats at Ramkund. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is due in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar in 2027; on main bathing days, roads and hotels are overwhelmed, so check dates before booking. Trimbakeshwar queues also stretch for hours on Shravan Mondays.

7. 7

   Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani

   260 km · 5.5–6.5 h via the expressway and Satara (NH-48), or via Mahad and Poladpur; no direct trainOctober–May; many points close June–SeptemberFamilies, strawberry season, couples

   Pick strawberries at farms around Mahabaleshwar and Gureghar from December to April, boat on Venna Lake and drive to Pratapgad Fort, about 24 km away. Panchgani is quieter for a stay and has Table Land, the flat laterite plateau above town. Heavy rain from June to September closes several viewpoints, and some hotels shut for the season.

8. 8

   Murud-Janjira & Kashid

   150 km · 3.5–4.5 h via Atal Setu, Pen and Alibaug, or ferry to Mandwa then 2 h by roadOctober–MayBeaches, sea forts, seafood

   Take a sailboat from Rajpuri jetty to the island fort of Janjira, which held out against repeated Maratha sieges, then spend the afternoon on Kashid beach and eat Koli-style fish thalis in Murud. Stay in Murud or the small resorts behind Kashid. The sea off Kashid has strong currents; swim only where lifeguards are posted, and never in the monsoon.

9. 9

   Dahanu & Bordi

   140 km · 2.5–3 h via NH-48 towards Gujarat; Western Railway trains from Dadar or Mumbai Central to Dahanu Road (2–2.5 h)November–MarchLesser-known pick, slow weekends, Parsi food

   Chikoo orchards, Parsi and Irani households and a long, quiet casuarina-lined beach at Bordi make this the calm alternative to Alibaug. Stay at a farmstay or a Parsi-run guesthouse and ask for dhansak and fresh chikoo. A chikoo festival is usually held at Bordi in January or February; otherwise there is very little nightlife and few restaurants.

10. 10

    Tarkarli & Malvan

    510 km · 9–10 h via NH-66; Konkan Railway to Kudal or Sindhudurg (7–9 h), then 45 min by roadNovember–May (watersports stop June–September)Snorkelling, scuba, seafood, long weekends

    Snorkel or try a short discover-scuba dive off Sindhudurg Fort, stay in an MTDC cottage or a Malvani homestay on the Tarkarli–Devbag strip, and eat Malvani fish curry with sol kadhi. Underwater visibility is best from December to March. This is a long-weekend trip: take a Friday-night Konkan train and return on Sunday night.

11. 11

    Ganpatipule & Ratnagiri

    340 km · 7–8 h via NH-66 (Mumbai–Goa highway); Konkan Railway to Ratnagiri (5–7 h), then 1 h by roadOctober–May; April–May for Alphonso mangoesBeach temple, Konkan food

    The Swayambhu Ganpati temple sits right on the beach; visit at dawn, then drive the coastal road via Aare-Ware for sea views. MTDC's beach resort is the classic stay, with village homestays for less. The Mumbai–Goa highway has had long-running widening works, so check road status and allow extra time.

12. 12

    Harishchandragad

    180 km · 4–5 h via Kalyan, Murbad and Malshej Ghat to Khireshwar or Pachnai base villagesJuly–FebruaryTrekkers, overnight camping

    Trek up from Khireshwar via Tolar Khind (4–5 hours) or the gentler Pachnai route, see the Harishchandreshwar temple and the Kedareshwar cave, and watch sunset from Konkan Kada, a sheer concave cliff. Go with a registered trek group that handles forest-department rules and food. Monsoon fog can hide the cliff edge entirely, so stay well back.

13. 13

    Shirdi

    240 km · 4.5–5.5 h via the Samruddhi Expressway or Nashik; trains to Sainagar Shirdi, including a Vande Bharat from CSMT at the time of reviewYear-round; avoid Thursdays and festival days if you dislike queuesSpiritual trips, parents

    Book a darshan or aarti pass on the Shirdi Sansthan's online system before you travel; the free queue can take four hours or more on weekends. Stay in Sansthan accommodation or a hotel within walking distance of the temple. Add Shani Shingnapur, about 70 km away, on the second morning.

14. 14

    Bhimashankar

    210 km · 4.5–5 h by road via Pune and Manchar, or trek up from Khandas village near KarjatJune–FebruarySpiritual trips, monsoon trek, wildlife

    The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga sits inside a wildlife sanctuary that protects the Indian giant squirrel (shekru), Maharashtra's state animal; look for it early in the morning on the forest trails. Fit groups trek up from Khandas via Ganesh Ghat (5–6 hours); others drive via Pune. Mondays in Shravan (July–August) bring very heavy crowds and long parking queues.

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