GUNWANTI PARASTE

The monsoon is here and travel enthusiasts always wait to enjoy a perfect monsoon trip to a scenic location. Even you want to have one such trip but you are confused about which place is good for you to enjoy your monsoon outing. There are some famous and affordable places near Pune, where one can visit. Malshej Ghat, Matheran, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are such loctions where you can have a perfect monsoon trip.
Malshej Ghat: Malshej Ghat is at a distance of 134 kms from Pune and is a beautiful hill station. It is the best place where you can enjoy your perfect monsoon weekend. Malshej ghat is situated in Pune district near the border of Thane and Ahmednagar district. Malshej Ghat is an ideal location to visit during any season but you have to enjoy the rainy season in this place to watch hundreds of waterfalls. It is also a favorite destination for trekking. If you are a trekking enthusiast then Malshej Ghat is a good option and an ideal destination to enjoy trekking. Some of the popular trekking destinations in this location are Nane Ghat, Jivdhan Chawand Fort, Darkoba peak, Ajoba Hill Fort and Harishchandragad Fort.
Nane Ghat has a huge ancient cave and is a scenic place which attracts artists to sketch the scenic view on canvas.
Ajoba Hill Fort is mostly famous for the adventure tours. If you want to make your monsoon trip adventurous then Ajoba Hill Fort is an ideal location for rock climbing and trekking. Ajoba Hill Fort sight is fantastic for nature photography and also attracts lots of tourists.
One can witness a combination of adventure and history at Harishchandragad Fort which has Buddhist caves and an ancient temple. Your trip to Malshej Ghat will be incomplete without a visit to Harishchandragad Fort.
Matheran: Matheran is a hill station in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is located at a distance of around 120 kms from Pune. The most famous locations in Matheran which attracts tourists are Panorama point, King Geroge point, Louisa point, Echo point, Charlotte Lake and the Panthers cave. The toy train is the biggest attraction for the tourists in Matheran. Toy train’s journey is more thrilling when it crosses 281 zigzag turns from Neral to Matheran.
Mahabaleshwar: The place is famous for its strawberries, and if you are shopping lover also then Mahabaleshwar is an ideal place. Mahabaleshwar market is famous for a variety of items. Some of the popular destinations in Mahabaleshwar are- Mahabaleshwar Lord Shiva temple, Elephant head point and Kamalgad Fort.
The Mahabaleshwar Lord Shiva temple is very ancient and built in typical South Indian architectural style. The temple is located in the main city. One can see lord Shiva’s Trishul, Damru and Rudraksha which are 300 years old.
Another site is the Elephant head point, famous for the rock formation which resembles to the head of an elephant.
The Kamalgad Fort is a unique destination. The reason why this place is so unique is that there are no protective walls built around it, and the rocks provide natural fence.
Panchgani: A popular hill station which was discovered by the British. This place was developed by the British as a retirement place but today Panchagani is the most popular hill station in Maharashtra. The name of Panchgani means the land of five hills that surround the town. The climate is pleasant throughout the year. The fresh air, greenery, and Krishna River add to the beauty of this place. Panchgani is mostly famous for British structures and its natural beauty. Sydney point, Venna lake, Dhom dam and Bombay point are some of the attractions this place offers.