Alibag

Alibag is a coastal town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Located just 95km from Mumbai and 142Km from Pune, Alibag is flocked by tourists desperate for a breather away from the hustle bustle of the cities.

Alibag was named after a healthy Muslim trader Ali who built a number of gardens and wells in the area the town was known for. However the town became a stronghold of Marathas after Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji’s bravest Admiral Kanhoji Angre came and established a strong Maratha base here.

Samadhi of Kanhoji Angre was restored here a few years ago and is visited by scores of tourists.

A 17^th century sea-fort, called Alibag Fort or Kolaba Fort, built by Shivaji to fight the Siddis of Janjira and the Britishers is another attraction. The fort is accessible by foot during low tide and becomes an island during high tide.

There are a number of beaches along the coastline from Alibag to Kashid. The main beach of the town is Alibag Beach. Alibag beach has black sands and offers a nice view of Kolaba Fort. One can go for a long walk along the coastline.

One can also visit other beaches, like Nagaon Beach, Varsoli Beach, Kihim Beach, Kashid Beach etc., each with its own beauty.

There are quite a few eating joints of all ranges in Alibag offering traditional local food.

How to Reach Alibag

By Ferry

One can take a ferry from Gateway of India or Mandwa.

By Road

Alibag is well connected to Mumbai by MTDC as well as private tourist buses which take about 2 hrs to reach. There are a no. of restaurants or ‘dhabas’ enroute.

By Rail

Nearest Railway Station: Panvel(45Km) is well connected with Mumbai and other cities.

 Igatpuri

Igatpuri is a lovely hill-station located about 130Km from Mumbai.

Igatpuri is blessed with bountiful nature which becomes even more mesmerising after the monsoons as the flora becomes lush green and the waterfalls are revitalised.

Located in Sahyadri ranges, surrounded by Western ghats, Igatpuri offers wonderful views of the surrounding vistas and its salubrious climate enchants one and all making it a favourite destination of holidayers.

Situated in Nashik district of Maharashtra, one of the holiest regions of Hindus, Igatpuri has a few ancient Hindu temples which are revered and frequented by devotees.

The presence of the forts, Tringalwadi Fort and Ratangad Fort, nearby indicate that Igatpuri was located strategically at a vantage point. The forts today are popular tourist spots.

There is more to Igatpuri than its natural beauty. Its sky-high mountains offer range of adventure sports like rock climbing, trekking etc.

To add another glorious feather to Igatpuri’s fame is Dhamma Giri, an international centre for Vipassana, an ancient form of meditation. Vipassana Meditation Academy Igatpuri offers ten day meditation courses.

Igatpuri’s serene environment indeed provide perfect ambience for those looking for a peaceful holiday meditating in the lap of nature.

How to Reach Igatpuri

By Rail

Igatpuri Railway Station is directly connected to Mumbai. Major railhead is at Karsat which is well connected with all major cities.

By Road

Several MTDC buses ply on Igatpuri Mumbai route. Many private buses also run on this route for the tourists.

By Air

Nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport at Mumbai from where one can take direct cabs.

Morachi Chincholi

Distance From Mumbai : 179 Km (3 hours and 30 min)

Distance From Pune: 55 Km ( 1 hour and 30 min)

Morachi Chincholi, also known as Chincholi Morachi, is a small village popular as  a weekend getaway from the metropolitan cities of Pune and Mumbai.

Morachi stands for peacocks and chincholi means tamarind, and the name of the village says it all! The village is flocked by peacocks and is dotted with numerous tamarind trees.

This beautiful bird is the national bird of the country and lures the visitors to this village who come here for a quiet time away from the daily chores close to the nature.

The village’s economy is dependent on tourism and agriculture. Here, the tourists get a first-hand view and real feel of the rural life and taste of authentic and traditional Marathi food. The villagers maintain cottages for the tourists and offer them homemade food.

One can go for a tractor or a bullock cart ride and also request for a puupet or magician show. One can also go and check out the temples around. The peacocks are seen moving around early mornings or evenings, so one must time other activities around it.

Morachi Chincholi is being developed with Government support as a Peacock, Nature, Rural and Agro tourist spot. However, it is important to remember that this is a rural village and the luxuries and comforts of the urban hotels and resorts cannot be expected here.

Morachi Chincholi is a good place for a day or 1 day and 1 night stay.

Lonavala & Khandala

Two charming little hill-stations, only 6 km apart, situated between Pune and Mumbai in the western ranges of the Sahyadris, Lonavala and Khandala are very popular with Mumbaikers as weekend getaways.

These twin hill-stations come to life during the monsoon season as the countryside turns lush green dotted with waterfalls and ponds and are hence best-visited during or right after monsoon.

Blessed with the nature in bounty with beautiful valleys, heavenly hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery and pleasant weather throughout the year, Lonavala and Khandala have salubrious climate, popular health resorts and a plethora of tourist attraction. Read more...

Mahabaleshwar

Located near the cosmopolitan hubs Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar is a picturesque hilly resort in the lap of majestic mountain range of Western Ghats.

Named after Lord ‘Mahabali’, Mahabaleshwar in Sanskrit means ‘God of Great Power’.

Mahabaleshwar is blessed with pleasant climate and offers delightful views and invigorating ambience. Besides picturesque hills, rivers and lakes, Mahabaleshwar is endowed with rare evergreen forests and various medicinal trees and plants. Its fertile soil and suitable climate make Mahabaleshwar rich in strawberries and mulberries and ideal for cultivation of myriad vegetables. Read more...

Matheran

Matheran is probably the smallest hill station in India. Located just 90 km from Mumbai and 120 km from Pune, Matheran is one of the popular weekend getaways amongst those looking for a respite from maddening routines of the daily lives in concrete jungles.

Matheran is a plateau perched atop a hill at a height of about 2625 feet above sea level. It’s cool breezy environs, pristine and serene surroundings, lush greenery, blue lakes and delightful waterfalls, lure hundreds of tourists every weekend.

For nature lovers, this is a place to be in! Bird watchers will have a terrific time sighting some rare birds like Malabar Whistling Thrush, Pied Hornbills, Malabar Trogon, parakeets etc. Leopards are not so unusual to come across and monkeys and langurs are so commonly seen! Read more...

Panchgani

A magnificent hill-station located in the Sahyadri mountain ranges of the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra, Panchgani derives its name from the five hills and the settlements that surround it.

Discovered by the British in 1863, Panchgani still harbors old world charm and has quite a few British buildings and Boarding schools. Panchgani is home to many western plants like Poinsettia and silver oaks, which were originally planted by the British. 

A quiet and relatively non-commercialised hill-station, Panchgani is picture-perfect with wide expanses carpeted with lush green vegetation and river Krishna meandering through farms, ravines and hamlets. Read more...

Goa

The state of Goa is located on the Western coast of India, on the shores of Arabian Sea.

Popularly known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Goa is famous all over world for its numerous exotic beaches and attracts millions of local and foreign tourists throughout the year.

Goa is well-connected by air as well as good motorable roads with all the major cities in India.

Earlier, Goa was a Portugal colony and was ruled by Portuguese for good long 450 years until it was taken over by India. A fascinating blend of Indian and Portuguese culture is prevalent in the lifestyle of the locals.

With warm and friendly locals and their rich and lively culture, Goa is one of the favourite tourist destinations in India. Its Bohemian charm, exotic beaches, joyous carnivals, thrilling nightlife and adventure sports… make Goa an ideal destination for fun n’ frolic! Read more...