Tag: Mumbai getaways

Categories
Relax Uncategorized Western India

The hidden treasures of fashion city Mumbai

Exploring the unconventional places in a city that are traditionally famous for its commerce, finance and entertainment, is another experience altogether. Apart from the common tourist spots, there a lot of other places in Mumbai those are worth visiting. They range from waterfalls and beaches to places of historical importance. One should include them in one’s Mumbai itinerary. Some of them which #ghoomophirosisters recommend is what this blog is all about.

Dana Pani Beach:

Dana Pani Beach is located at the end of Madh Marve Road in Malad. This secluded beach is surrounded by resorts thereby making it the best place to chill.

Kanhoji Angre Island – Across the Mumbai harbour:

This island is one of the places which has history attached to it. Earlier it was known as the Khanderi Island. The Portuguese had built this fort and the Marathas were held here. One can find ruins of cannons and a fully functional lighthouse. It is expected to be made into a tourist spot soon.

Arnala Fort – North of Vasai:

This island fortress is another Portuguese creation. The attractions on the island are the octagonal water reservoirs and various temples and tombs of the rulers. One will find comfortable accommodation at the resorts on the nearby Arnala beach.

Mahakali Caves – Andheri East:

These are also called Kondivite Caves. They have the oldest rock cut Buddhist monastery in Mumbai and boast of carvings of Buddha and Buddhist mythologies.

Global Vipasna Pagoda – Gorai:

Located next to Essel world, this is another place which pays gratitude to Buddhism and its teachings. It is amongst the largest dome structures in the world and also has a separate room for monks to meditate in. There is no excuse to skip it.

Vasai Fort – Vasai:

Also called Bassein Fort, the Portuguese had a strong hold over this place back in the old days. This is one spooky fort.  Because of having national importance, it is taken care of by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Banganga Tank – Malabar Hill:

One should not mistake it for a normal water tank because there is a mythological connection to it. It is believed that when Lord Rama felt thirsty, Lakshman launched an arrow into the ground and thus came out a tributary of Ganga. This is from where the name originated- Banganga Tank.

Pandavkada Falls:

Measured to be 350 metres high, Pandavkada Falls flow in Khargar, Navi Mumbai. During the monsoon time, the falls are covered by lush greenery and also they cover the Buddhist caves behind them making the view serene.

Gilbert Hill:

This structure is made up of frozen molten lava. With a height of 200 metres, it stands tall in Andheri. One will get a great bird’s eye view of the city from the top. Also one will find two temples on the top dedicated to Gamdevi and Durgamata.

Although the list of such places goes on, these are the top ones that deserve a visit!!

How to Reach Mumbai

 By Air: Mumbai has Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport with its two terminals being Santa Cruz and Sahara International airport. It is connected by domestic as well as international flights. Flight Tickets are pretty reasonable if booked early.

By Road: One can travel from Nashik which is 170 km away via Nashik-Mumbai Expressway. Buses also travel from Nashik to Mumbai within 2 hours and 20 minutes.  Mumbai is also connected via road to Pune, Aurangabad, Goa, etc It has a well-connected bus network.

 By Train:  If you’re traveling by railways, you can choose among Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, Mumbai Central, Dadar Railway station or Kalyan Railway station. It connects Mumbai with all major cities of the country.

 Where to stay:

Since this place is a famous tourist spot, there is no dearth of good Hotels in Mumbai.

Hyatt Regency: Situated on a short drive from airport, it delights is guests with the contemporary interiors and cuisine restaurants

The Lalit Mumbai: This is a great place to stay in Andheri. The highly recommended hotel as it offers a luxurious stay to its guests and staff is very cooperative.

Ramada Plaza Palm Groove: The location of this hotel makes it perfect to stay. The place offers serene views of the Arabian Sea. It is located in the plush location of Juhu and offers the luxurious stay with value for money. Its food joints, The Oriental Bowl, The Tangerine and The Deck Bar are must try.

Categories
Adventure Western Ghats Western India

Camping getaways in Mumbai that are a promising stress buster

So where are you heading this weekend? We all plan in advance to explore new things on weekends. But sometimes things get really monotonous as we indulge more often in things we have done before. If your idea of outing is to unwind yourself and breath in the goodness of pure nature, then camping is the right deal for you. So let the fragrant breeze touch your face and enjoy the warmth of bonfire in the dark chilling nights. We bring some of the hottest camping gateways near Mumbai for you. Here we go:

Blend the Warmth of Thrill and Tranquility Together in Kolad

Situated on the banks of picturesquely Kundalika river, Kolad camp is an exotic treat for travelers from around the country. It is a haven for kayaking, rafting, and boating enthusiasts. You can also trek to the hills, explore the villages, and experience the spirituality of nature scattered around. Some of the adventure activities at this spot, to boost your adrenaline are white water rafting, boating, kayaking and many others. As the night unfolds its charm, you can listen to the music of the river as you sit in the company of friends with a bonfire warming you up. You are bound to return with a handful of unforgettable memories. Kolad is at 130 km from Mumbai. If you are driving to Kolad, you can reach the destination in approximately 2 hours 30 minutes or also board a direct train.

A Night in Cave at Gorakhgad Fort

What makes this spot stand out is that you spend a night in a cave, not in your camp. The very idea of camping in a cave is thrilling and trekking to Sahyadri Mountain just adds to the fun. Touted as more than 100 years old, you can have ane experience of a lifetime as you view the world from the pinnacle of the mountain. This camping site is one of the most popular near Mumbai. Loads of people come here for camping on and off. Chanting of shlokas and music of devotional Shiva songs sung by villagers from distance in the night leaves you mesmerized.

Gorakhgad fort is an ideal place for those friendly bonfires with beers and ghost stories. Kalyan station is located at the central line of Mumbai Local system. One can easily get an ST bus from outside the Kalyan station and reach Murbad in about 45 minutes. From Murbad, one has the option to board another bus to Dehri village or one can hire a tum-tum (local transport).

The Barbecue World at Pavana

Right in the heart of Lonavala, this place is a rage amongst the youth of Mumbai and Pune. They throng this camping site on weekends to escape the monotony of a fast paced life in cities. This place also makes for a great barbecue site. You can gaze at the clear sky, experience the beauty of the open vast lands, and enjoy the breeze. Forts like Lohagad, Tikona, and Tungi are also in the vicinity of the site. You can explore and have your share of some history.

The driving distance between Mumbai and Pavna lake is 109 kilometers and it takes about 3 hours to cover the distance between Mumbai and Pavna. One can follow Sion-Panvel Expressway and Mumbai – Pune Expressway to NH4 in Khandala, Lonavala. Next take an exit from Khandala-Lonavala exit ramp from the highway and continue on to NH4 to arrive at your destination in Kol.

In the Heart of Green Hills at Karnala

A few kilometers away from Mumbai, it is every Mumbaikar’s dream gateway to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It is also a bird sanctuary where you can listen to their exotic music or simply watch them in their natural habitat. Karnala sanctuary is a popular destination for amateur bird-watchers and ornithologists. People who decide to camp at this destination do indulge into some bird watching for a delightful break. You can trek to Karnala fort and also enjoy a waterfall during monsoon. Karnala is located at a driving distance of 60 Kms from Mumbai and it takes 1.50 hours to reach here.

A Trip Down the Orchards of Strawberries in Panchgani

Panchgani is one of the most popular gateways near Mumbai. You can spend some really good time trekking into the wilderness without any feeling of guilt. The place takes you back to the old British era in no time. You can explore the strawberry gardens, hit some stores to shop for jams and jellies, lay back and enjoy the pleasant view of this gorgeous hill station and explore the wonderful trekking trails that this town has to offer. Visited by a large number of tourists, it Panchgani makes your camping experience a blissful one. The road distance between Mumbai to Panchgani is 259 km, and also there are 7 direct buses plying between Mumbai to Panchgani.

These camping sites jotted with nature’s beauty also offer mind blasting activities for adventure junkies which add to the fun factor.

Categories
Corporate Outings Rejuvenate Western Ghats Western India

Lonavala – The Family Getaway for Mumbaikars

Everybody should make a Lonavala trip once in a lifetime. The resort town of Lonavala in the Sahyadri Mountains is Mumbai’s most popular weekend getaway. Numerous waterfalls that plummet and trickle through thickly forested hillsides are good to escape the madness of the busier lifestyle. Lonavala is a popular holiday destination and a luxe way to enjoy the vacation amidst the cool green valleys which delight the eye. Lonavala is also called the Jewel of the Sahyadri Hills.

It is a hill station which happens to be located at about a 3 hours distance of 64 kilometres from Pune and 96 kilometers from the state capital Mumbai. The expressway running through it is quite an easy way to reach here and the railway is also there to make it a bit faster and easier to reach. Like every other gorgeous hill stations, there are many points on the hills here where you can have a great visual of the entire valley and soothe your senses. There are many small villages which are seen tucked in between and this offers a great visual experience to the visitors. A few kilometers away is a point that gives a great of the fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji known as Rajmachi. The place is a great tourist spot and known as the pride of Maharashtra.

And as is happens to be the case, there is absolutely no dearth of eateries in probably the best holiday destination in Maharashtra. Restaurants like Hotel Chandralok and Cafe 24 and various roadside dhabas will make the foodies go crazy. The cuisines are the impeccable mixture of Gujarati and Maharashtrian food items. And how could one forget the famous sweet, Chikki? Lonavala happens to be one of the biggest exporters of the Indian sweet that has got the entire country drooling over it.

For the picnic, there is the very famous Ryewood Park in Lonavala known for its great views and services. The park is full of tall trees and occupies a great deal of space. There also happens to be a very old and grand Shiva temple in the middle of the park, which is a good place for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Valvan dam is also a very popular tourist spot in the area that attracts a lot of people from all over the country each year. About 12 kilometers away from the mainland Lonavala, is the Duke’s nose. The place is quite popular among the most adventurous of the tourists and is quite a lot of popular among the hikers.

During the visit to Lonavala, one can choose to stay at Fariyas Resort Lonavala that also has a nice banquet venue for partying. For a luxurious stay, one can opt to stay at Aamby Valley City known for its excellent location, great hospitality, and great food.

Being one of the most popular tourist destinations, there is no dearth of places to stay in the hill station. There are five-star hotels, some good lodges among other places where the tourists can have a good stay.

Tiger’s point is one other wonderful place to see in here, which sometimes is also known as Tiger’s leap. Just beside it, there happens to be the wonderful waterfall that only remains active during the monsoon season and is dry for the the most part in the year.

The ancient caves of Karla and Bhaja are other attractions about the place. It gives the tourists a great peak in the ancient history of the Indians about how they lived when the world was devoid of any sort of technological stuff. The very popular caves date back to about 1st century BC and are as beautiful as they get.

Lonavala is to Mumbaikars what Haridwar and Rishikesh are to Delhiites. Most of the people living and working in these two metropolitans do need some time off, and they are lucky to have these places at a few hours’ distance.

Exit mobile version