Is roadtripping totally your scene? You know, wind in your hair, looking out the window, awesome playlists and the likes? Then we’ve got your back. Whether you want to travel for adventure, food or for the journey itself, this list is the ultimate guide!
Adventure, Food & Scenic Routes: Best Road Trips For Your NYE Getaway
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Ten-Second Takeaway
For Adventure Seekers
Bungee Jumping in Lonavala
Della Adventure in Lonavala is an extreme adventure sports park where you can take the plunge {literally} and try bungee jumping. When it comes to bungee jumping, you don’t want to take a risk, but Della Adventure is known as one of the few safe places in India to take up the activity.
The height they suspend you from is 150 feet, and they have trained professionals and the appropriate harnesses you need before jumping. In fact, apart from just bungee jumping, the entire adventure park has other activities such as rappelling, swoop swing, ATV, and more.
Price: INR 2,500
Time on the road: Two hours
Hot Air Balloon Ride in Talegaon
Crossing off ‘hot air balloon’ from your bucket list is as easy as driving through the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Book an experience online, and post reaching Talegaon {which is 30km ahead of Lonavala}, you will be greeted by a flying crew, the other passengers and some beverages. It’s an early morning ride which starts at 6am.
Price: INR 10,190 from Mon–Thurs, INR 11,755 from Fri–Sun
Time on the road: 2.5 hours {approx}
Canoeing and Rock-Climbing at Camp Lakeside
Drive down to Nilshi, where they have a day or two of adventure sports and activities by the lakeside and staying in a tent. The activities that you can do over here are rock-climbing, canoeing, archery, rope obstacle course and treks.
Check out more details in our recommendation here. Check their website here.
More of such road trips here.
For Food Lovers
Parsi Da Dhaba Trip
Head to Talasari to eat at Parsi Da Dhaba, an iconic restaurant along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. This is an easy drive, and we also like heading to the isolated Kurze Daam for a post-lunch snooze. Parsi Da Dhaba is best enjoyed on an empty stomach, so we usually opt for a very light breakfast. The two-and-a-half hour drive to Talasari is a straight one via the NH8. They operate between 7am and 11pm.
Crazy Crab Day Trip
The Crazy Crab Restaurant in Dahanu is worth our time. It’s a great drive which culminates in a sea-facing restaurant. The crab, obviously. The serve alcohol as well. Bonus: they have a pretty impressive vegetarian spread as well. A post-lunch visit to the Dahanu Beach is totally worth it. Dahanu is a two-and-a-half hour drive away along the picturesque Sahyadri mountain ranges. They operate between 11am and 4pm for lunch.
Konkan Food Odyssey
Explore the cuisines of Malvan, Sawantvadi and Kolhapur regions, try everything from fresh seafood to mutton cooked to spicy gravies. Hotel Opal, right off the highway, should definitely be your first stop. Solankis nearby is famous for the cold milk drinks. For typical Maharashtrian fare, we have the famous Shyam’s Vada Pav {call on +91 97304 01366} or the missal pav at Phadtare’s. Dinner is usually at the Padma Guest House, the restaurant of which has acquired local celebrity status.
For The Journey
Varandha Ghat
A mountain passage situated on the crest of the Western Ghat mountain ranges, it’s known for its
scenic waterfalls, lakes and dense woods. The stretch is 10 kms long and will have you pining for more, till you reach Shivtharghal, a famous tourist place.
Malshej Ghat
Known for its misty ranges, Malshej ghat is a popular drive for many. The rugged mountains of the Western Ghats invite you to stick your head out of the window.
Tamhini Ghat
Tamhini ghat is famous for Mulshi dam and Tamhini ghat waterfalls. It connects Pune to the Konkan region and is sort of a tourist attraction for people.
Amboli Ghat
Located in south Maharashtra, it’s right before Goa and lies on the Sawantwadi-Amboli-Belgaum route. it overlooks the forest and valley for you to cherish. May we suggest not taking pictures and instead actually enjoying the moment?