Hey everyone! It’s summer time and all around the world people are planning their perfect summer vacation. So, today we have brought for you a place that will make up for the best summer vacation trip ever! It includes beaches, hill stations, waterfalls, adventure and trekking, famous pilgrimage sites, some historical outings and lots and lots of delicious food! Excited yet?
Lo and Behold! We welcome you to the land of the brave Marathas, Maharashtra. Like the meaning of Maharashtra, it actually is the third largest state in India. And it has everything for your perfect summer vacation. So, without any further ado, Let’s check out the best hill stations to visit in Maharashtra!
Top Hill Stations In Maharashtra
Imagine majestic mountains and valleys, with fresh, rejuvenating air and mistcovered scenery with little sunlight streaming through. Lush greenery as far as eyes go and contentment. That’s why we love to go to hill stations.
So, there are some of the most beautiful hill stations in Maharashtra, filled with mesmerizing views that you should definitely visit this time of year.
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KHANDALA& LONAVALA
Lonavala and Khandala are twin hill stations. Situated near Pune to Mumbai highway, they are very popular in monsoon season as the best getaways in Maharashtra.
Khandala and Lonavala both are known for their panoramic beauty, majestic valleys, lush greenery, and mesmerizing waterfalls and lakes. Khandala is situated at the end of Bhor Valley and is a popular destination for hiking!Some other amazing trekking places in Khandala are Tung fort, Visapur Fort, Tikona Fort, Duke’s Nose, Rajmachi Fort, and Korigad Fort.
There are also various tourist places in Khandala and Lonavala like there are mystic caves and forts like Lohgad Fort, Rajmachi Point, Tiger’s Leap,Bhaja Caves, Karla Caves and Bedse Caves which are an example of Buddhist architecture.Then there are some scenic lakes and waterfalls like Valvan Dam, Lonavala Lake, Bhushi Dam, Kune Waterfalls, and lush greenery to enjoy.
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MAHABALESHWAR
Mahabaleshwar is referred as the Queen of hill stations in Maharashtra. The panoramic view of the plains and the peaks surrounded with lush green woods create a heavenly view to behold.
With its beautiful landscapes, and pleasant views, Mahabaleshwar is a tourist attraction to many. So, when you’re there, you can visit many scenic places such as Arthur’s Seat, Lingmala Waterfall and Pratapgarh Fort, Venna Lake, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Krishnagar Temple, Tadpole, Panchami.
Some other popular viewpoints are Bombay Point, Connaught Peak, Elephant Head Point, Kate’s Point, Wilson Point. The hill station is also famous for strawberries and mulberries.
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PANCHGANI
Panchgani is one of the most popular tourist places In Maharashtra. It is pleasant throughout the year. Also, initially it was the retirement home for the British. Later they converted into a summer resort.
The main attractions of Panchgani for sightseeingAre Table Land, Parsi Point, Kamalgadh Fort, Devil’s Kitchen, Rajpuri Caves, Sydney Point, Mapro Gardens, Dhom Dam.
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BHANDARDARA
A tiny hill station in Maharashtra situated on the banks of the river Pravara, is famous for its natural scenic beauty and its soothing ambience which rejuvenates your soul.
According to mythology, sage Agastya meditated here for a year. People visiting Shirdi or Nasik should definitely make this hill station a stop-over. It is filled with majestic waterfalls and mountains, surrounded by lush greenery, the tranquil environment takes your breath away!
Some places to visit in Bhandardara are Arthur Lake, Randha Waterfalls, Umbrella Falls, Bhandardara Dam and Amruteshwar Temple. It is also a good place for trekking, so, for those who love trekking (but not the ones who seem to go on forever), this hill station is for you. As it provides you with some of the most beautiful and scenic treks.
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MATHERAN
Matheran is considered one of the top monsoon destinations in Maharashtra. It is an eco-sensitive place declared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India.
One of the interesting facts that you didn’t know about this place is that Matheran is an automobile-free hill station. Yes, you read that right. No private auto-mobiles are allowed in the Matheran region. Tourists have to drive up to a point (Dasturi Point) and then continue their journey on foot or by hiring a pony!
For tourists there are many attractions, that will fill your eyes with happiness and wonder such has Charlotte Lake, Echo Point, Panorama Point, Louisa Point, Paymaster Park, Heart Point.
Some other amazing viewpoints are Porcupine Point, King George Point, Monkey Point, Panthers’ Caves, Rambaug Point. So, you can trek, hike, climb or you can just enjoy the most simple but wonderful pleasure of life- sightseeing of the amazing views the nature has given to you.
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AMBOLI
So, we have come to an end of today’s journey and the last stop we are going to leave you with is Amboli.A beautiful and serene hill station near Goa, Maharashtra, Amboli is the last hill station before the coastal highlands of Goa.
If you’re a fan of waterfalls in all their glory with mystic views, then Amboli is your ideal destination. Because this hill station looks like heaven on earth, in all its majestic glory in the monsoon season. The places that you should definitely visit while you’re in Amboli are The Sunset Point, Amboli Waterfall, Nagatta Falls and Shirgaonkar Falls.
Some other tourist attractions for sightseeing are the hiranyakeshi temple, the mahadevgad fort, sea view point and kavelsad point.
So, this summer pack your bags, book a tour package and make a list of all the places that you need to visit and then head off to one of your happiest summer vacations this year.
Happy Travelling!