Day Trips

View from MTDC cottage

magiceye

Matheran (the forest at the top) is an idyllic town that time forgot. Cars are not allowed here - the only way to get there is on a narrow-gauge train that meanders its way up the hills at a leisurely pace. Alternately one can drive to a nearby point and ride a carriage or hike the rest of the way. This is a perfect getaway from the hustle-and-bustle of Mumbai and offers stunning views of the city below and the nearby hills. Best time to visit is during the monsoons when the hills are verdant and waterfalls abound. Except the temperature to be about 10 degrees lower that in the city.

Khandala: Situated enroute to Pune, Khandala is perched high on the cliffs of the Western Ghats. This tiny town benefits from the cool coastal breezes that roll in from the Arabian Sea, bypassing the pollution and heat of the city below. Activities include hiking, nature walks and just plain relaxing.

Lonavala: Located adjacent to Khandala, Lonavala marks the beginning of the Deccan plateau. It also enjoys a relatively cooler climate, while offering the benefits of a small town. Places to see include nearby Bushee dam, and Karla caves.

The Maharashtra coast is lined with numerous unspoilt scenic beaches. Just north of Mumbai begins almost a continuous stretch of beaches that are off the beaten track. A good sampling can be found at Dahanu - a small coastal town about 100km north of Mumbai, famous for its fruit orchards. The local speciality is "chickoo" - don't forget to try some.

The following are multi-day trips but definitely worth the time.

Many travellers leave Mumbai to pay a visit to the Ellora and Ajanta Caves. They are often named together, but they are two groups of caves, the Ajanta caves being even older than the ones at Ellora. However, both groups display old rock carvings and frescoes. Both the Ajanta and Ellora Caves are declared World Heritage Sites.

Ajanta is 100 kms from Aurangabad and the caves were discovered in 1819 by a group of British Officers. They were built between the 2nd century and the 7th Century. Until the 19th century, these caves were hidden from the public. The carvings and frescoes represent Buddhists thoughts and features several Chaityas and Viharas. ITDC, MTDC and MSRTC operates conducted tours on this route.

Ellora Caves are just 30 Kms from the main city Aurangabad. The complex consists of a total of 34 caves. Twelve of these caves are Mahayana Buddhist caves, there are 17 Hindu caves, 5 Jain caves and over 22 caves dedicated to Lord Shiva and that were not discovered until recently. The Buddhists believes that the Buddha returns after every 5000 Years, so cave No. 12 has got seven images of Buddha showing seven incarnations.