11 Best Hill Stations in Maharashtra for a Rejuvenating Break

A famous state in the western region of India, Maharashtra is renowned for its hill stations and natural beauty. Away from the fast-paced urban life, the hill stations in Maharashtra nestled in the Sahyadri ranges give you a chance to refresh your mind and soul! Maharashtra is the only state where you can observe the foothills approaching the seashore.

Moreover, the hill stations of Maharashtra are easily accessible on weekends from nearby cities Mumbai and Pune. You can indulge in various fun-filled activities like camping, trekking, hiking, and birdwatching while enjoying a vacation at hill stations. Here is a list of famous Maharashtra hill stations where you can reconnect with nature and enjoy a refreshing environment.

Checkout some most famous hill stations to plan with family Or friends.

• Khandala
• Matheran
• Lonavala
• Malshej Ghat
• Bhandardhara
• Jawahar hill station
• Lavasa
• Panchgani
• Mahabaleshwar
• Amboli
• Chikaldhara

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1. Khandala

Adjacent to Lonavala, Khandala is a popular hill station near Lonavala, which is located in the western ghats of Maharashtra. The main reasons to make Khandala a popular hill station near Mumbai are beautiful points like Amrutanjan Point, Duke’s Nose, Bhushi’s Lake, and Tiger’s Leap. These are some points that should not be missed in the Khandala trip. From getting the panoramic view to exploring some famous attractions, Khandala is one of the best choices for a vacation.  

[ Check out our Khandala tour packages. ]

• Distance from Mumbai to Khandala – 79 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Khandala – 96 Km.

2. Matheran

Matheran is a popular weekend gateway among the urban residents of Maharashtra. Located at an elevation of around eight hundred meters in the Western Ghats, it is the smallest hill station in Maharashtra. The excursion of Matheran is filled with a visit to various tourist spots or points like lakes, parks, worship places, and a huge racecourse.

[ Choose from our best package for Matheran. ]

Matheran has places like Alexander Pt, Rambagh Pt, Echo Pt, Celia Pt (a waterfall mouth), Panorama Pt, Porcupine Pt, Charlotte Lake, and many more to offer to its tourists. Apart from the attractions in the lap of nature, the region’s proximity makes Matheran the best hill station around Mumbai.

• Distance from Mumbai to Matheran- 83 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Matheran- 121 Km.

3. Lonavala

Located on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, hill station Lonavala sprawls over an area of about 38 sq. km in the Sahyadri ranges. Lonavala is a popular hill station for an outing from Mumbai, as the region is flushed with deep green valleys, beautiful hills, and historic forts. A full-fledged tour of the Lonavala hill station includes sightseeing visits to Karla caves, Bhaja caves, and Bedsa caves.

[ Plan your trip with Lonavala Tour Packages Now!! ]

Magnificent fortresses like Visapur Fort and Korigad Fort are a must-visit while exploring Lonavala. Like Mumbai, one can easily commute to Lonavala from Pune. Attractions like Duke’s Nose, Korigad Fort, and Tiger’s Leap make Lonavala the best hill station to visit from Pune in Maharashtra.

• Distance from Mumbai to Lonavala- 84 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Lonavala- 67 Km.

4. Malshej Ghat

Nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra, Malshej Ghat is a mountain pass favorite among trekkers and adventure lovers. Serene mountains, tranquil lakes, and waterfalls add to some of the best views one can have while exploring the region. In addition, the place provides a home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna, which includes quails, rails, cuckoos, crakes, and the very famous orange & white flamingoes. Besides the wildlife, Malshej Ghat is also famous for its historic forts. The birthplace of the legendary king Shivaji, Shivneri Fort, is close to the region. Buddhist caves, Harishchandraghadh, Ganesh temple, and Shiva temple add to the attractions of this place. Thereby making Malshej Ghat one of the most popular hill stations in Maharashtra.

• Distance from Mumbai to Malshej Ghat – 127 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Malshej Ghat – 120 Km.

5. Bhandardhara

Flourishing from the waters of the Pravara River, Bhandardhara is an exotic holiday resort in the Western Ghats of India. A perfect blend of tranquility, invigorating climate, and scenic natural beauty, the Bhandardhara is one of the best hill stations to explore around Mumbai. Apart from its pristine ambiance and surroundings, this hill station is quite famous for its forts, lakes, dams, and temples. One can climb up to the magnificent Ratangad and Harish Chandragad forts. Besides, climbers can also make their way toward Mount Kalusbai, which is the highest peak in the whole of Maharashtra. The Wilson Dam on the river Pravara and the scenic Umbrella Falls during the monsoon period draw much attention.

• Distance from Mumbai to Bhandardhara – 165 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Bhandardhara – 162 Km.

6. Jawahar hill station

Gifted with exotic valleys and dense forests, the hill station of Jawahar is undoubtedly one of the most visited hill stations of Maharashtra. Situated in the Thane district of Maharashtra, the hill station is famous for its vibrant Warli paintings. The place serves best as a famous hill station to visit with family in Maharashtra. Moreover, as Jawahar hill station is one of the few tribal regions of Maharashtra, it offers tourists an excellent opportunity to get close to the tribal culture and way of life. Besides these, there are other tourist attractions, including Dhabosa Waterfall, Kalmandvi Waterfall, Jai Vilas Palace, Hanuman Point, and Sunset Point.

Distance from Mumbai to Jawahar Hill – 180 Km.

7. Lavasa

A planned hill station in the western ghats, Lavasa is a famous landmark for the tourists of Mumbai and Pune. One of the best hill stations to plan from Mumbai city, Lavasa is a sprawling hill station of around 100 sq. km. The region has been put into place by the private developing groups.

[ Plan your short trip to Lavasa from Pune with Indian Holiday. ]

Owing to this, Lavasa has turned out into a luxurious getaway for the urban residents of Maharashtra. The hill station of Lavasa is also popular among bike cruisers as one can quickly get the sight of motorbike riders riding hard through the valley.

• Distance from Mumbai to Lavasa – 186 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Lavasa – 58 Km.

8. Panchgani

Founded by Lord Chesson in 1860, Panchgani is a surrounded settlement of five hills in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra. One of the famous hill stations to visit with family in Maharashtra, the region of Panchgani has an invigorating climate for almost all year. Tourist Attractions in Panchgani, like Sydney Point, Table Land, Parsi Point, Mapro Garden, and Devil’s Kitchen, make Panchagani the best hill station for leisure activities in Maharashtra. It’s not only the breathtaking attractions that make the headlines; Panchgani hill station is also famous for its strawberry festival. Tourists can also catch the Strawberry Festival of Panchgani held in the summer.

• Distance from Mumbai to Panchgani – 244 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Panchgani – 101 Km.

9. Mahabaleshwar

Termed the summer capital of the Bombay province during the British Raj, Mahabaleshwar is among the best hill stations of Maharashtra, which has a breed of evergreen forests. Located around 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is also one of Maharashtra’s most visited hill stations. This popular holiday resort has attractions like Arthur’s Seat, Kate’s Point, Needle Hole Point or Elephant Point, Wilson Point, and the Three Monkey Point.

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Surrounded by trees on both sides and drawing a lot of tourist population is the Venna Lake. Accommodation facilities are also quite convenient here as budget hotels offering a panoramic view of the mountains are abundant.

• Distance from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar – 260 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Mahabaleshwar – 117 Km.

10. Amboli

The Amboli is one of the most visited hill stations in Maharashtra, encapsulating a whole new variety of flora and fauna in itself. It is situated amidst the Sahyadri hills, the last hill station before the coastal lands of Goa. The place is a flourishing Eco Hotspot, and it gets at its best during the monsoon period. With numerous waterfalls, temples, dense forests, and steep mountains, Amboli serves as the best hill station around Mumbai. It has Hiranyakeshi Temple, Nagarata Falls, Mahadevgad, Narayangad, and Kawalesad to draw tourists.

• Distance from Mumbai to Amboli – 491 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Amboli – 348 Km.

11. Chikaldhara

The best-visited post-monsoon, Chikaldhara is a prominent hill station in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. It is situated at 1118 m and has some of the best sightseeing for nature enthusiasts. The prime attractions like Sunset Point, Mozari Point, Shakkar Lake, Pancha Dhara Waterfall, and Gawligad Fort make Chikaldhara one of the best hill stations in Maharashtra from Mumbai. Besides the scenic beauty, Chikaldhara hill station is also famous for its wildlife treat. The Melghat Tiger Reserve in the close vicinity of Chikaldhara resort suits best for this purpose.

• Distance from Mumbai to Chikaldhara – 700 Km.
• Distance from Pune to Chikaldhara – 593 Km.

Conclusion

Hill stations of Maharashtra offer plenty of ways to make your vacation unforgettable. In addition, the monsoon seasons are considered the best time to visit hill stations. The above list of hill stations in Maharashtra reflects natural beauty and chances to create long-lasting memories with your close ones. You can cover these holiday destinations through our tour packages to enjoy a vacation like never before.

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