Places to Visit in Monsoon near Pune
To beat the Heat in Pune you can pack your bags and move to enjoy the rains & weather during the monsoons. Punekars cannot think to move out during the day because of the Heat & Dry Weather. So when rainy season starts, punekars move out to take a break from the daily office routine, daily life. Youngsters prefer to travel on their Bike and enjoy the rain, whereas family plan their to hire a vehicle or take out their own cars.
Here are the best places to visit in the Monsoon season in and around Pune:
1) Khandala / Lonavala
2) Kamshet
3) Panchgani
4) Kolad
1) Lonavala
Lonavala is a hill station between Mumbai and Pune. The average temperature doesn’t goes above 29 Deg. Celcius during the monsoon. Its also famous as a ‘City of Caves’. Lonavala comes to life during the monsoon season as the countryside turns lush green with waterfalls and ponds. Lonavala offers a panoramic view of the lush green hills of the Sahyadri ranges. With it’s natural beauty like green valleys, beautiful waterfalls and the pleasant cool climate, Lonavala is rightly called as the “Jewel of Sahaydri”
By Road: Its 65 to 68 kms from Pune. You can travel through NH4 Via Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
All Major buses Shivneri, Shivashahi, Neeta Volva and other private buses have a halt at Lonavala.
Places to see in and nearby Lonavala: Tiger`s Leap, Bhaja Caves, Karla Caves, Bhushi Dam, Duke`s Nose, Tikona Fort, Pawna Lake, Lohagad Fort, Valvan Dam, Rajmachi Fort, Narayani Dham Temple, Reverse Waterfall, Bhimashankar Temple, there are many Wax Museums too.
2) Kamshet
Kamshet is called the Paragliding capital of India. Its surrounded by Western Ghats and decked with Sahyadri Ranges. Kamshet is a fairyland with rich flora and fauna. It has a quaint vibe coupled with a rich cultural heritage, and you will get enchanted with its ever-captivating beauty. The gurgling waterfalls, monasteries, beautiful temples, and magnanimous hills are an emblem for serenity. It is a paragliding paradise that has been featured in the top ten must visit destinations of India for an enthralling expedition. Hence, it is dotted with many flying and paragliding schools. Kamshet is one of the best paragliding spots in India owing to its perfect weather and highly suitable topography. There are some of the best paragliding spots here like Shinde Wadi Hills, Tower Hill, Shelar and Kondeshwar Cliff.
By Road: Its 45 kms from Pune and 15 kms away from Lonavala. All Buses from Pune Halt at Lonavala from there you can take a local rickshaw / cab towards kamshet.
Places to see in and nearby Kamshet: Pawna Lake, Shindewadi Hills, Bhandara Dongar, Bedsa Caves, Kondeshwar Temple, Vadivali Lake, Uksan Village for its natural beauty.
3) Panchgani
Panchgani is a hill station in district of Satara. Located at an altitude of 1,334 mts, Panchgani is also known as Paachgani as the five hills that form the Sahyadri mountain ranges offer Panchgani its name. The picturesque backdrop of hills on one side and coastal plains on the other makes for an amazing view. In the British era, the place was treated as a summer resort and hence many colonial period establishments can be seen here. Mahabaleshwar is like a twin city to Panchgani.
By Road: Its 101 Kms from Pune. There are regular ST, Semi Luxury Shivashahi & Private Buses plying regularly between Pune to Panchgani.
Places to see in and nearby Panchgani: Table Land, Pratapgad Fort, Kaas Lake & Plateau, Sydney Point, Mahabaleshwar, Parsi Point, Devrai Art Village, Rajpuri Caves & Wai.
4) Kolad
Kolad is a small town in the western coast of Raigad District. This is famous for adventurous activities & river rafting is one of the most important activity. It is also called the Rishikesh of Maharashtra. The village boasts of numerous scenic valleys, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mist-laden hills and dense evergreen forests. The verdant greenery, clear streams and a peaceful ambience add to the beauty of this quaint hamlet. Kolad experiences a typical tropical climate, with pleasant weather throughout the year. While the summers here are a little humid as compared to the other seasons, the monsoons are the best time to enjoy a river rafting experience in Kolad. Furthermore, the rains during this time make the entire region come to life, with the waterfalls and rivers flowing at their full speed, the forests and valleys experiencing the blooming of flowers and plants and an overall soothing and calm atmosphere.
By Road: Its 115 Kms from Pune (via Tamhini Ghat). You can take your car or rent a car. There are no buses available plying between this route.
Places to see in and nearby Kolad: Tamhini Ghat, Bhira Dam, Plus Valley Trek, Devkund Waterfalls, Tala Fort, Kuda Caves, Ghosalgad Fort, Kundalika River, Sutarwadi Lake.
Hope you travel to any one of the above locations and enjoy the rains, and have fun with your family or friends.
