Mumbai is a perfect city because you have so much to explore with a short road trip from the city. And monsoon is an ideal excuse to get away from Mumbai's chaos. Western ghats near Mumbai are perfect for taking a weekend getaway road trip from Mumbai in the monsoon and exploring beautiful roads along the lush green hills.

Here is the list of monsoon road trips to take from Mumbai to refresh your mind and soul:

  1. Malshej Ghat

  2. Lonavala or Khandala

  3. Karnala

  4. Bhandardara

  5. Igatpuri

  6. Thoseghar Falls

  7. Mahabaleshwar

1. Malshej Ghat

Malshej Ghat | Photo: http://www.mumbaieastwest.in

Distance from Mumbai: 127 km

Malshej Ghat is one of the most amazing mountain passes in the western ghats. In monsoon, it becomes a place to watch with lush green hills and waterfalls. Malshej Ghat is also known for its natural beauty of flora and fauna. This place also becomes home for flamingos which come here from Europe at the time of monsoon. And all these things make it a perfect monsoon weekend getaway and road trip travel destination near Mumbai.

2. Lonavala or Khandala

Lonavala or Khandala | Photo: http://lonavala-guide.com

Distance from Mumbai: 82 km

Lonavala and Khandala are the twin hill stations that you can visit this monsoon from Mumbai and Pune. They are known for their scenic beauty and natural inhabitants. Here you can also see the mountains range, sparkling water of the lakes, caves, and forts and rain makes it more beautiful. It's a perfect option for a road trip from Mumbai in the monsoon.

3. Karnala

Karnala | Photo: https://fortsandtreks.blogspot.in

Distance from Mumbai: 48 km

Karnala is really close to Mumbai and perfect for a road trip from Mumbai in the rain. It's a great place for nature lovers during the monsoon. Karnala Bird Sanctuary is an amazing place for bird watching. Trekkers will love the trek to Karnala Fort which offers a beautiful view of the lush green Sahyadri Mountains.

4. Bhandardara

Bhandardara | Photo: http://www.mouthshut.com

Distance from Mumbai: 166 km

If you love waterfall then Bhandardara is a great place for you. Bhandardara is a holiday resort village on the western ghat of India. The main attractions in Bhandardara are Arthur Lake and Randha Falls. Bhandardara is a perfect monsoon getaway from Mumbai because of its lush greenery and water bodies.

5. Igatpuri

Igatpuri | Photo: https://unexplored.lonelyplanet.in

Distance from Mumbai: 121 km

Igatpuri is a small and charming hill station close to Mumbai and located in the Sahyadri Hills in the Western Ghats. In monsoon, Igatpuri provides amazing lush green valleys, mountain views, and beautiful waterfalls with rain pouring all around you.

6. Thoseghar Falls

Thoseghar Falls

Distance from Mumbai: 280 km

Monsoon is the best season to see the spectacular view of waterfalls and Thoseghar village is a paradise for waterfall lovers. This area contains waterfalls from 15m to 500m in height. It's a paradise for waterfall lovers near Mumbai.

7. Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar | Photo: http://travelmasticom.blogspot.in

Distance from Mumbai: 260 km

Mahabaleshwar is a popular hill station in India's forested Western Ghats range, south of Mumbai. It gives an amazing view of green hills and valleys during the monsoon season near Mumbai. Waterfalls in Mahabaleshwar only appear in the season of monsoon and they are the most beautiful part of the trip here.

Let me know which one of these monsoon getaway destinations is your favorite in the comments below. Also, write about any other destination I missed on the list.

Responses

Monsoon is a great time to visit these kinds of places. It will refresh you and bring you back on track. I just love to travel these hilly place on a bike with friends. It becomes memorable! In the weekends, last time I have visited Lonavala. You could get to see the raw beauty of nature there and you could feel nature is wearing the finest dress ever. Apart from that, Mahabaleshwar is a superb place to unwind, but it's too far from Mumbai. The scenic place is a treat for the budding photographers who want some amazing snaps to add to their portfolio.
Beautiful Blog and Breathtaking Pictures!