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Tomb atop Lohagad Fort

Weekend getaways

Weekend getaways from Pune

Mahabaleshwar, Kas Plateau, Bhigwan, Kolad, Velas, Ellora and 8 more weekend trips from Pune, with ghat traffic tips, seasons and 2-night budgets.

Fact-checked 5 min readBy the Elitech Travels editorial desk
14 trips50–260 km away
Rangan Datta Wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

For hills, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are three hours away; for monsoon drives, Tamhini and Mulshi; for adventure, rafting at Kolad or the Rajmachi trek; for wildlife, flamingos at Bhigwan in winter; for heritage, Ellora near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Leave before 6 am on Saturday to beat the Katraj, Hinjewadi and expressway jams.

14 weekend trips from Pune

  1. Tomb atop Lohagad Fort1

    Lonavala & Lohagad

    65 km · 1–1.5 h via the expressway or old NH-48; Pune–Lonavala local trains (about 1.5 h)June–FebruaryMonsoon drives, fort walks, families

    Climb Lohagad (an easy 1–1.5 hour walk on steps) and neighbouring Visapur, see the 2,000-year-old Buddhist chaitya hall at Karla and stop at the Bhaja caves. From Pune, a Saturday-morning start reaches Malavli before the Mumbai crowd arrives. Karla's steps are packed with Ekvira temple pilgrims on Sundays and festival days.

  2. A view of the Pawna reservoir and water body2

    Pawna Lake

    55 km · 1.5–2 h via the expressway and Kamshet or Lonavala; no train to the lakeOctober–May; monsoon for views, not campingLakeside camping, groups, paragliding

    Camp on the shore with Tikona, Tung and Lohagad forts on the skyline, then climb Tikona (about an hour up) the next morning. Kamshet, nearby, has paragliding schools from October to May. Campsite quality varies widely, so choose one with proper toilets and tents on raised ground, and do not swim in the lake, which has claimed several lives.

  3. This is a photo of ASI monument number3

    Rajmachi

    75 km · 2 h to Lonavala, then a 15 km trek or a rough 4x4 track; or trek up from Kondivade near KarjatJune–February; late May–early June for firefliesTrekkers, fireflies

    Walk from Tungarli near Lonavala across the plateau to Udhewadi village and climb the twin forts of Shrivardhan and Manaranjan. Village homestays serve simple Maharashtrian meals and let you sleep beneath the forts. In firefly season, go with a local guide, keep torches off and stay on the trail.

  4. Mulshi Lake in Maharashtra4

    Tamhini Ghat & Mulshi

    50 km · 1.5 h via Chandni Chowk and Paud; no trainJune–October for waterfalls; winter for lake staysMonsoon drives, lakeside resorts

    Drive past Mulshi dam into Tamhini Ghat for roadside waterfalls in July and August, then stay at a lakeside resort near Mulshi. On monsoon weekends, police often restrict stopping and close some falls; respect the barricades, as people drown here every year. The ghat road continues down to the Konkan, so it pairs well with Kolad or Diveagar.

  5. Kundalika river from the fort5

    Kolad

    120 km · 3 h via Tamhini Ghat; Konkan Railway trains stop at KoladMainly June–October; ask operators about dam-release days in other monthsWhite-water rafting, groups

    The Kundalika river gets morning water releases from an upstream hydro plant, giving short Grade II–III rafting runs that are among Maharashtra's best. Riverside camps bundle rafting, kayaking and zip-lines into one package. Pick operators with certified guides and full safety gear, and book a morning slot, as releases do not run late in the day.

  6. A view from Arthur's Seat, Mahabaleshwar.6

    Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani

    120 km · 3–3.5 h via NH-48, Wai and the Pasarni ghat; MSRTC buses from SwargateOctober–MayFamilies, strawberries, viewpoints

    Climb the Pasarni ghat to Panchgani for Table Land at sunset, then continue to Mahabaleshwar for Venna Lake, Arthur's Seat and fresh strawberries and cream at the farm stalls. Mapro Garden is a stop on the way back. On long weekends the Wai–Panchgani road backs up for hours, so arrive before 10 am.

  7. Kas plateau7

    Kas Plateau, Thoseghar & Bamnoli

    130 km · 3 h via NH-48 and Satara; trains to Satara, then 45 minLate August–early October for flowersWildflowers, monsoon waterfalls, lesser-known boat ride

    The Kas plateau, part of the Western Ghats World Heritage Site, is carpeted with wildflowers for a few weeks after the monsoon; entry is by online booking with limited daily slots, so book as soon as the season opens. Add the Thoseghar waterfall and a boat ride on Shivsagar lake from Bamnoli. Weekends sell out, and a Friday visit is far calmer.

  8. A beautiful view of temple8

    Bhimashankar

    110 km · 3 h via Rajgurunagar and Manchar; MSRTC buses from ShivajinagarJune–FebruarySpiritual trips, forest walks

    One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, set in a forest sanctuary known for the Indian giant squirrel. Go early on a weekday for a shorter queue, then walk to Gupt Bhimashankar and Nagphani point. Shravan Mondays and Mahashivratri bring huge crowds and long walks from the parking.

  9. Bhigwan, Maharashtra, India.9

    Bhigwan

    105 km · 2 h via NH-65 (Solapur highway); no useful trainDecember–March for flamingosBirding, photographers, lesser-known pick

    Greater flamingos, painted storks and other waders gather on the Ujani backwaters in winter; hire a boat with a local boatman at Kumbhargaon at sunrise. Kumbhargaon has simple homestays and a few resorts, and fresh river fish is the local speciality. Water levels decide where the birds are, so ask before you book.

  10. Harihareshwar beach10

    Diveagar & Harihareshwar

    170 km · 4–4.5 h via Tamhini Ghat and Mangaon; no direct trainOctober–MayKonkan beaches, home-cooked food

    Stay at a family-run homestay in Diveagar or Shrivardhan for modak, sol kadhi and fresh fish, walk the long beaches and drive to the Harihareshwar temple on its rocky headland. The coast road between them is quiet and scenic. The sea is rough from June to September, and the rocks at Harihareshwar are dangerous at any time.

  11. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation11

    Velas

    200 km · 4.5–5 h via Tamhini or Varandha ghat, Mahad and MandangadFebruary–April for the turtle festivalTurtle hatching, lesser-known pick

    Olive ridley turtles nest on this small Konkan beach, and in hatching season volunteers release the hatchlings at dawn and dusk under a community conservation programme. Stay in a village homestay arranged through the festival organisers. Hatchings are not guaranteed on any given day, so plan for two mornings.

  12. View of Kalbhairav pinnacle taken from the left flank edge of Konkan Kada of Harishchandragad12

    Shirdi & Shani Shingnapur

    185 km · 4 h via Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar); MSRTC buses from ShivajinagarYear-roundSpiritual trips, parents

    Book a Sai Baba aarti or darshan pass online, visit the Samadhi Mandir and Dwarkamai, and drive about 70 km to Shani Shingnapur, the village known for houses without doors. Thursdays and festival days are busiest. The Pune–Ahilyanagar road jams around Shikrapur and Ranjangaon on weekend mornings, so start early.

  13. Courtyard and Mahabharata Reliefs at the Kailasa Temple, Ellora 0113

    Ellora & Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

    260 km · 5–5.5 h via Ahilyanagar; trains to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), then 45 minOctober–March; July–September for green surroundingsHeritage, history buffs

    Give Ellora's Kailasa temple, carved downward from a single rock, a full morning, then see the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga next door and Daulatabad Fort on the way back. Ajanta is about 100 km from the city, so it needs a third day. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays and Ajanta on Mondays.

  14. Mahalaxmi Temple, Kolhapur, Maharashtra14

    Kolhapur & Panhala

    230 km · 4–4.5 h via NH-48, Satara and Karad; the road is faster than most trainsOctober–FebruaryTemples, food, forts

    Visit the Mahalakshmi temple early, eat Kolhapuri misal and tambda-pandhra rassa, and drive 20 km to Panhala Fort for the ramparts and Sajja Kothi. Add the Jyotiba temple on its hill and buy Kolhapuri chappals from the workshops in town. NH-48 near Satara and Karad has toll and service-road jams on long weekends.

How do you beat the Friday-evening traffic out of Pune?

Pune's exits are narrow and well known: Katraj and the rebuilt Chandni Chowk interchange towards Satara and Tamhini, Hinjewadi and Wakad for the expressway, Kharadi and Wagholi for Ahilyanagar, and Hadapsar for Solapur. On Friday evenings, Hinjewadi alone can eat an hour. Leave by 5.30–6 am on Saturday, take the Katraj tunnel rather than the old ghat, and cross the Khed-Shivapur toll before 3 pm on Sunday. Expect Mumbai cars on the same roads to Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala.

Train, bus or self-drive?

Pune trips are mostly road trips. Local trains reach Lonavala and Malavli, and the Konkan Railway stops at Kolad, but MSRTC Shivneri and Shivshahi buses from Swargate and Shivajinagar cover Mahabaleshwar, Shirdi and Kolhapur well. For Kas, Velas, Bhigwan and Tamhini you need your own car or a hired cab, because public transport stops well short of the places worth seeing.

What does a two-night weekend cost?

Trip2 nights, per person (twin sharing)
Diveagar or Velas homestay with meals₹3,500+
Kolad riverside camp with rafting₹4,500+
Mahabaleshwar or Panchgani, self-drive, 3-star₹5,500+
Ellora and Sambhajinagar with a private cab₹7,000+

Prices are starting land costs and rise on long weekends. Ready options are on our weekend getaway packages page.

Long weekends worth planning around

Republic Day falls on a Tuesday in 2027, so a Monday off gives four days, which is enough for Ellora with Ajanta. Good Friday (26 March) falls in Velas's turtle season. Maharashtra Day (1 May) and Independence Day both land on weekends in 2027. Ganeshotsav brings road closures within Pune itself, so plan exits around the immersion days. See our 2027 long weekends guide.

Monsoon safety on Sahyadri ghats

From June to September, the Tamhini, Varandha and Malshej ghats see landslides, and district authorities often ban entry to waterfalls, dams and forts on heavy-rain days. Check IMD and district alerts, drive the ghats only in daylight, stay out of flowing water and never stop under rock cuttings. For month-by-month ideas, see where to go each month.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best monsoon getaway from Pune?
Tamhini Ghat and Mulshi, about 90 minutes away, give the most waterfalls for the least driving. Lonavala's forts, Bhimashankar's forest and the Kas plateau in late August–September are the other monsoon favourites. Check district orders before you go, as waterfalls and dams are often closed on heavy-rain days.
When is the best time to see the Kas Plateau flowers?
Usually from late August to early October, with the peak bloom often in mid-September, depending on that year's rain. Entry needs an online booking with timed slots, and weekend slots sell out. Go on a weekday morning, stay on the marked paths and do not pick flowers.
Where can I see flamingos near Pune?
Bhigwan, about 105 km away on the Solapur highway, is the main spot. Flamingos usually gather on the Ujani backwaters from December to March, depending on water levels. Take a sunrise boat from Kumbhargaon with a local boatman, and carry binoculars or a long lens.
Is Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala better for a weekend from Pune?
Lonavala is closer, at about 65 km, and is best in the monsoon for waterfalls and fort walks. Mahabaleshwar is three hours away, cooler, and better from October to May for strawberries, viewpoints and lake boating. Many Mahabaleshwar viewpoints close in heavy rain, which is exactly when Lonavala is at its best.
Can I do Ajanta and Ellora as a weekend trip from Pune?
Ellora fits comfortably into a two-night trip; Ajanta, about 100 km beyond the city, needs a third day. Remember that Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays. Use a long weekend to see both, staying two nights in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.