Weekend Getaways from Mumbai | Top Tourist Places to Visit near Mumbai

For any human being its very important to unwind a bit from his/her daily busy work life and enjoy life with friends and family. Especially in a city like Mumbai which is practically turning into a concrete jungle, with hundreds and thousands of people coming in to find a way to earn their livelihood, things get cramped.

Let's have a look at some of the best spots to see near Mumbai:

Picnic Spots Near Mumbai

Everyone needs a break from their study, work or monotonous life schedule and the best way is to take a day off solely for self. A place to enjoy the lush greens and soothing environment away from the hustle bustle of the city, pack your picnic basket and move ahead to the following places.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Tiger cubs at the park

Location: 40 Kms north of city center, Borivali
Best time to visit: Monsoon time is best to enjoy greenery and freshness, while birds can be spotted from November to February.

How to reach:

Train- Mumbai to Borivali takes 30 km on Western railway Route.
Road- On taking the Mumbai - Ahmadabad Highway, Borivali is located near Mumbai Octrai post.
Airport- 15km away from Mumbai Airport

Timings- 730Am to 630PM, Monday to Sunday

This park has a enormous area of 104 sqkm and a varied bio diversity with 1000 species of plants, 40 species of mammals , 251 kind of birds and many amphibians and reptiles too. The park also has Kanheri caves which reflect Buddhist era with colossal figures and colonnades.The park also has two lakes amidst the varied lush green.

Read more about the Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Aarey Milk Colony

setting the cage for capturing leopards

Location: Goregaon East Mumbai
Best time to visit- Throughout the year
How to reach- Easily accessible by road
Timings- Throughout the day

Spread over an area of 16sq km, this area is known for its world's most modern milk colony, Aarey colony is favored by all. Bollywood which organizes shooting calling it the 'Chhota Kashmir' to many who find the roads worthy of a running track.Many tours are also organized for dairy tours which are both educational and fascinating.

Elephants Caves

Location- Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbor, 10kms to east
Best time to visit- November to March is considered ideal.
How to reach- Ferry takes off from Gateway of India from 9 AM to 530 pm in evening. Its an hour long journey.

Timings- Monday Closed

The top of the island, known as Cannon hill can also be accessed. The shocking part is the hand carved caves out of humongous rocks.

Alibaug

Location-110 km South of Mumbai
Best time to visit- November to February
How to Reach- A private boat or ferry from Gateway of India. 45 mins journey to Mandwa Jetty and another 45 min journey from Mandwa Jetty to Alibaug.

Murud Janjira as seen from Alibaug Beach

Its a favorite picnic spot known for its 17th century dated forts, churches and synagogues. The main attraction being Kolaba Fort which is surrounded by ocean. The laid back area of the beach, Akshi, Nagaon and Kihim is popular for its birds and natural beauty. Beach side activities like Volleyball etc are played and the nets can be seen on sale.

Tikuji-ni-Wadi

Swinging away at Tikuji-ni-Wadi

Location- Valley of Manpada Chitalsar, 40 km from Mumbai, Thane
Best time to visit- Open throughout the year, water park closed in winters.
How to reach- By road, its situated on the Godhbunder / Thane road or Eastern Express highway from Sion Circle or Western express Highway from Mahim.

This entertainment park is best for a day out with kids, friends, family or colleagues. Click here to read more about Tikuji-ni-Wadi

Esselworld

It's swing time at Essel World

Location- Borivali West, Gorai, Mumbai
Timings- 11AM to 7PM(Monday to Friday), 10AM to 7Pm (Weekends and bank holidays)

How to reach- By road, Western Express Highway to Kashimira and Mira-Bhayander.

By train- Western Railway train to Mala or Borivali, BEST bus no.272 to Marve beach or BEST bus no. 294 to Gorai Creek. This 64 acre park of full entertainment with a water kingdom and known as India's largest amusement arenas. Read more.

Resorts Near Mumbai

Mumbai is surrounded with several beautiful resorts equipped with all the modern facilities. These resorts differ in rates and amenities. Some of these are water resorts where you have the option of playing various water sports, some of these are jungle resorts that offer an enjoyable jungle safari experience, some offer amazing spa therapies while few of these are just perfect for a family holiday.

Here is a comprehensive list of these resorts.

Luxury Resorts Near Mumbai

Beach Destinations Near Mumbai

Mumbai is, for many, the city of dreams; the ultimate ‘Mayanagari’. Apart from being the heartbeat of the Indian finance, the city is the hub of culture. The Arabian Sea licks its western coast and gives the city a beautiful coastline. From the lush green hill tops to pristine beaches veneered with clean white sand, the towns around Mumbai can come close to being the perfect holiday destinations for you and your family.

Five of the most popular beach destinations around Mumbai have been mentioned below.

Alibaug

Located just south of Mumbai, this small town attracts throngs of visitors for its idyllic beauty. Apart from a beautiful long beach that stretches for nearly 17 kilometers, Alibaug has a number of other places of interest. There is plenty of natural beauty all around Alibaug. Besides, the Khanderi and Underi islands, a few kilometers offshore are ancient fortifications worth a visit.

Ganapatipule

Ganapatipule is almost 380 kilometers away from Mumbai. The Velneshwar, a hamlet of a few hundred people can provide respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. On top of that, the ancient Jaigad Fort overlooks the entire rustic habitations and the surrounding areas.

Bordi

Bordi lies around 180 kilometers north of Mumbai. The beach is the prime attraction of this miniscule town, stretching almost 17 kilometers. The fine white sands are much less littered than most other beaches in India. While there, do not forget to try out the local delicacies.

Daman

Daman was a Portuguese colony till 1961. The architecture and the ways of the people would take you to another era. Some parts of the mainland have been left in appalling conditions by the vigorous growth of the pharmaceutical industry.

Kashid

This beach destination is 140 kilometers from Mumbai. What really draws people here is the lack of excess crowd. You can always try the Phansad Bird Sanctuary some 20 kilometers away. Many of these find themselves in desecrate state due to wastes left behind by passing tourists. Still, these places can be a treat for city dwellers and others looking for a bit of adventure.

Monsoon Destinations Near Mumbai

If you are and ardent traveler and a keen observer of daily life, it's needless to mention the jubilation that encompasses the entire length and breadth of India, with the arrival of the monsoons in June-July every year.

And any talk about monsoons must surely include Mumbai – the commercial capital of the country – for it is the only metropolis in the country that has traditionally enjoyed the privilege of being bestowed with the best of all the three seasons.

Mumbai, especially, has always been intricately intertwined with fascinating tales of the monsoon season – witnesses by people from all over the world in its fully fascinating form in places like Marine Drive.

Lonavala

The hill station of Lonavala is primarily known for the mesmerizing beauty of its many hills and hillocks. This place, however, acquires an altogether different form when the monsoon rains come knocking at its doors.

A vast array of gigantic waterfalls intersperse the verdant greenery of the hillsides, which is enhanced manifold by the copious rainfall. Lions Point is one of the top tourist spots in this region – offering a breathtaking view of the entire Lonavala valley, and the sight of the Tungari Lake and Lonavala Lake meandering across the green valley.

Khandala

Immensely popularized by one of the hit Bollywood songs of the 90s, Khandala is often referred to as the twin hill station of Lonavala. Located on the outskirts of Mumbai, and on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Karala and Bhuja – two Buddhist caves – located in this region constitute the topmost rung of Khandala’s tourist attractions. Besides, Duke’s Cliff, Bhushi Lake and Tiger’s Leap are also well known traditional tourist spots here.

Matheran

Talk about monsoon destinations in Mumbai and you can never miss the credentials of Matheran – a hill station located more than 2500 feet above sea level and at a distance of about 100 kilometers from the heart of Mumbai.

The most unique feature of this hill station lies in the fact that it is completely freed from the din created by motorized vehicles, as they are strictly not allowed within the periphery of the place, in keeping with its ‘eco-sensitive’ status.

Hill Stations near Mumbai

With breathtaking views and mesmerizing scenic beauty hill stations on the Western Ghats of India will make you fall in love with these places.

Panchgani

Panchgani lies in the Satara District of Maharashtra and is located in the middle of five hills of the Sahyadri Mountain ranges. The major tourist attractions of Panchgani are, Sydney Point, Mapro garden, Parsi point, devil's kitchen and table land and is also famous for it's nearby Ganesh Mandir in Wai, 10 km from Panchgani. It is 285 km from Mumbai and 100 km from Pune and the nearest railroad is Wathar, 45 km from away and the nearest airport is the Pune airport, 98 km away.

Mahabaleshwar

A famous holiday resort, honeymoon spot and an important pilgrimige for Hindus, Mahabaleshwar has become a major tourist attractions in the Satara Disrict in Maharashtra in the Western Ghats ranges. This place is also famous for the strawberries and honey produced here, also known for points the key tourist points in Mahabaleshwar are- Arthur's seat, Kate's seat, Needle hole point, Wilson point and 3 Monkey point.

Mahabaleshwar is 285 km from Mumbai and 120 km from Pune and the nearest railway junction are Pune (120km), Miraj (170km) and Sangli (165km) and the nearest airport is the Pune International airport, 120 km from Mahabaleshwar.

Khandala

Located in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and just 3 km from Lonavla, Khandala is again an alluring hillstation to visit with your loved ones with natural lush green area surrounding it. Amrutanjan point, the rock cut Kalra and Bhaja Caves, Duke's nose also known as Nagfani, Bhushi lake and the ancient jail built in 1896 are some of the famous tourist places to visit in Khandala.

Bhandardara

At the banks of Pravara river is Bhandardara village located in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra with mountains, waterfalls and greenery all increasing the charm of this beautiful place is a must go for the tourists and for locals looking for a calm weekend gateway.

Pilgrimage sites and nature's scenic beauty, both are present in Bhanardara in form of it's key tourist attractions which are- Bhandardara lake, Randha falls, Ratnagad Fort which is known to be King Shivaji's favourite fort, Amriteshwar temple, Agasti Rishi Ashram, Arthur lake and Ghatghar.

It is 185km from Mumbai and 191km from Pune, the main link by road is the Mumbai - Pune Expressway and the nearest airport is the Chatrapati Shivaji Internatinal airport and the nearest rail way station at Pune, 45 km away.