As, an Indian state situated in the western part of the country, Maharashtra is a great place to visit during the winter season owing to the beauty in its culture, its history, and its landscapes. Autumn has arrived, and the temperature has decreased, but the attractiveness of the sights and comfortable temperatures for traveling alongside bright festivals make this season one of the best for getting acquainted with the amazing Asian state. If you are interested in nature, and history or if you need to spend your spiritual time then, Maharashtra is going to fit you in all categories. When you need a transport service that will assure you of an easy ride, then you can choose to hire a cab from RCabs that have bases in both Pune and Mumbai and this will help you to move from one place to the other at your own time.
Here are 10 must-visit places in Maharashtra for a perfect winter retreat:
Mahabaleshwar
Distance from Pune: 120 km
Presumably, winter magnet, Mahabaleshwar is one of the famous hill stations located in the region of Western Ghats. In Mahabaleshwar, the winter climate is considerably cooler than the rest of the year, so it is an ideal vacation from the blistering heat of summer. Dahisar being a cool place with its lush green scenic beauty, long strawberry farms, and majestic viewpoint makes it one of the most attractive tourist places in Maharashtra during the winter.
Key Attractions: Arthur’s Seat, Wilson Point, Elephant’s Head Point, and Mahabaleshwar Temple.
The place is equally well-known for strawberries and hence a trip to the strawberry gardens is highly advised in winter.
Lonavala & Khandala
Distance from Pune: 65 km
Both Lonavala and Khandala are among the most famous weekend getaways near Pune and Mumbai since it takes only a little time to get there by car. The climatic conditions prevail in the beauty of these twin-hill stations where one can find pleasant and cool winter climates, sceneries, misty hills, and calm water of the lakes.
Key Attractions: Tiger’s Leap, Lohagad Fort, Bushy Dam and Pawna Lake. For trek enthusiasts, there are many treks one of which is the Rajmachi Fort Trek.
Again, winter fog in these areas is awesome and the cool climate makes it an excellent time to have some quality time together.
Nashik
Distance from Pune: 200 km
Often referred to as the “Wine Capital of India”, Nashik is a really good place for wine lovers, to visit at least in the winter. Winter is the best time to enjoy the vineyards and some of the finest wines that are produced in India. It also has religious interests with a number of temples and places of pilgrimage available in the town.
Key Attractions: Triambakeshwar, Godavari River and Saptashrungi, Pandavleni Caves. Do not leave the vineyards without touching the wines, have your wine tour.
Nashik City is also famous for the Kumbh Mela, which is held every twelve years – a large number of devotees join this Mela from all parts of the country.
Shirdi
Distance from Pune: 185 km
Those in search of spirituality can easily call it home since Shirdi is an ideal place to visit. Sai Baba is a holy town and attracts people from all over the globe. During winter it has small crowds and cooler weather enhancing its purpose of being a destination for meditation and prayer.
Key Attractions: Dwarka Mai Masjid & Baptistry, Chavad, etc Other places of importance are the Samadhi Mandir Museum of Shirdi.
The climatic conditions in the winter are serene hence it is appropriate for meditation and prayers.
Alibag
Distance from Mumbai: 95 km
That is why if you want to have a good time in the house and go to the sea, Alibag is the perfect winter. Alibaug, famous for its proximity to nice beaches, forts and a calm coast is even more attractive in winter as the temperatures are pleasant here, and the sea breeze cools one down.
Key Attractions: Kolaba Fort, Nagaon Beach, Akshi beach, and Mandwa beach. You can also enjoy water sports activities and be able to laze around and take things easy’.
By road, the picturesque village of Raigad is only 4 km away Alibag is well connected by ‘jeep’ taxis from Mumbai. Renting a car is also an option because there are car rentals freely available in Mumbai and Bhir.
Panchgani
Distance from Pune: 100 km
Panchgani is a small hill station and an excellent place for a quiet and serene vacation; Table Land is a popular tourist spot where one get an overview of the valleys and hills around Panchgani. Late into the year is the best time to visit this sleepy town especially when the climate is cool and the grass is green.
Key Attractions: It consists of Table Land situated at Sydney Point, Mapro Garden, and Panchgani Hill. It is also an area that is blessed with beautiful trekking trails for those who love adventure.
During this period, the town is not crowded hence, visitors can take time and walk around, and breathe the cool mountain air without having to worry about aggressive pedestrians or overcrowded places.
Matheran
Distance from Mumbai: 80 km
Matheran is exotic and different from other the tourist places because it is an eco-sensitive hill station for vehicles free zone. As such, it is a quiet and environmentally free spot, particularly during winter as the cold, crispy air and a site with winding mists can make one dream. It is only a small hill station that provides majestic views and a considerable number of long beautiful trails.
Key Attractions: Some of the points of interest are; Panoramic Point, Echo Point, Charlotte Lake, and the Toy train of Matheran.
There are beautiful areas for strolling in forests or taking a glimpse of the union-painted toy train.
Khandala
Distance from Pune: 60 km
Khandala, one of the must-see places very close to Pune is also blessed with a cool and pleasant climate in the winter season for a weekend trip. Located in the vicinity of the Sahyadri range of mountains, this place is perfect for nature lovers and photographers.
Key Attractions: Others include Bhushi Dam, Rajmachi Fort, Kune Waterfalls, and Duke’s Nose. Khandala also has some magnificent lakes & some nice viewpoints to visit It is a very good place to visit by a day tour to Pune or Mumbai.
The temperature during this time is quite low, and this can make it an ideal location for a quiet vacation, or a thrilling, nature-filled trip.
Tungarli Lake (Lonavala)
Distance from Pune: 70 km
It is a freshwater lake called Tungarli Lake around 45 KM from Lonavala and free from the normal tourist population. The lake bounded by rolling hills is quiet with no rush of a rapid current good for relaxing in the colder months.
Key Attractions: The Chinchwad, Tungarli Dam and garden, Lohagad Fort, and the nature treks in and around the facility of the Tulsi Lake.
If you would like to have a quiet time taking a walk, taking photographs, or even just walking bare and in nature then you should not miss it.
Bhandardara
Distance from Nashik: 70 km
Being offbeat, it is close to Nashik and, in many ways, offers some of the most stunning locations in Maharashtra. Located at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range, it is a place for hiking and natural beauty with lakes and waterfalls. With the winter weather approaching the climate is cool and the skies are clear making this serine village all the more stunning.
Key Attractions: Arthur Lake, Randha Falls, Mount Kalsubia, Bhandardara Dam. The region also has trekking routes for trekking people and one of the toughest is the Kalsubai Peak trek.
It is the right place for nature lovers and anyone who wants an end to experiencing the thrill.
Top Cab Services that will help you Explore Maharashtra
To further ease your vacation process to these beautiful locations one can always avail of a trustworthy cab service like RCabs of Pune or Mumbai. They have one-way and return tours for you to enjoy the many areas of interest without the woes of public transportation or self-driving. This is particularly true when you want to go to the beautiful and cool hill stations of Mahabaleshwar, and Lonavala or even go to the religious city of Shirdi or the beautiful beaches of Alibaug, all this is made possible by a taxi service. RCabs guarantees you safe, comfortable, and stylish rides with well-maintained cars from a team of polite drivers.
Conclusion
Maharashtra offers its tourists a lot of options, and winter is the best time to explore it. Regardless of whether the weekend trip to Khandala is being planned, or a longer trip to Mahabaleshwar or Nashik the cool climate adds beauty to these places. There is nothing easier than choosing RCabs or any other local cab services to travel around the state comfortably. With its beauty of the hill stations, picturesque lakes, historical forts, and important pilgrimage places Maharashtra can be easily said to be a must-visit destination of India for every kind of traveler.
