Ditch Lavasa & Lonavala! Go On Road Trips To These Destinations Instead

Situated midway between Lonavala and Khandala, Rajmachi is a small village in the Sahyadri mountains. It is usually an ideal one-day getaway where you can trek up the fort and enjoy stunning views. You can also sample authentic Maharashtrian cuisine like rassa, bhakri and bhajjis served by the locals at the base of the fort. And, if you love to camp, set up a tent and spend the night atop the fort to wake up to a beautiful mountain view. 

A holiday resort village on the banks of the Pravara river, Bhandaradara has a number of activities that range from adventurous to relaxing. Go for a scenic boat ride at Arthur lake, trek up Mount Kalsubai (Maharashtra’s highest peak) or have a picnic by the Randha Falls. There are many budget-friendly places to stay as well like the MTDC Holiday Resort and Hotel Amruteshwar with tariffs starting at INR 1,350 per night.

If you want to go paragliding on a budget, Kamshet is the ideal place to visit. Soar above Pawna Lake and take in the scenic beauty of the lush green forests around. You can also visit the neighbouring Bhaja and Bhedse caves and soak in the history of how they came to be. For paragliding on a budget, Kamshet is the place to visit. Soar above the Pawna Lake and take in the scenic beauty of the lush green forests around. You can also visit the neighbouring Bhaja and Bhedsa caves and soak in the history of how they came to be.

Nestled in the Western Ghats, Matheran, India’s smallest hill station, has 38 viewpoints that offer a spectacular panoramic view of the surroundings made better by the monsoons. Popular activities include hiking to these various viewpoints like the Porcupine Point (don’t miss watching the sunset here!) and parasailing. If you don’t want to do all the walking, take a ride in the Neral-Matheran toy-train that zig-zags up the hill to give you a view you won’t forget! Read more about this awesome place here.

Go river rafting, camping, hiking, trekking, and enjoy various other adventurous activities in Kolad, a small village in Maharashtra. Located just 144 kms from Pune in the Raigad district, this place truly comes alive during the monsoons offering picture-perfect views and backdrops and is forever bustling with fellow nature enthusiasts. It's one of the best places to raft and the village is commercial enough to meet your basic needs. Definitely, a must-visit if you're ever considering a road trip. 

While road trips are fun, you can also decide to stay out a couple of nights at these awesome getaway resorts.