(NITN): Brown and dry for most of the year, the hills of Maharashtra turn into a verdant vista during the monsoon, the hill sides dotted with innumerable waterfalls. If you are the adventurous kind, you will enjoy trekking through the hills and explore some of the forts perched high. Naturalists will find the hills home to varieties of insects, frogs and snakes.
Here are five top monsoon destinations which you may explore from Mumbai. Maharashtra Tourism is also planning to hold monsoon festivals in some of the destinations.
Igatpuri
Sprawling verdant hills with mists nestling in their hollows, the leaves glistening from moisture deposited by the pouring rain, rain clouds travelling overhead – are some of the monsoon images which await you at Igatpuri.
Better known for its Vipassana Meditation Centre on Dhammagiri (a hill), it is also the base for exploring nearby attractions such as the 11th century old Amruteshwar Temple (can be reached by road or by a boat ride from Arthur Lake), Girisagar Waterfalls (located inside Jamunda hill), Tringalwadi Fort (a popular trekking trail), Ghantadevi Temple and the string of five waterfalls near it, Myanmar Gate and Buddha Park, etc.
Getting there: Igatpuri is about 130km by road from Mumbai and 45km from Nashik. It is also connected with Mumbai and other cities by the Central Railway.
Bhandardara
An array of waterfalls rushing down the hills and the brimming lakes turn this village by the Pravara River into a picturesque destination.
Some of the must visit attractions here include the Umbrella Falls, the Randha Falls, Arthur Lake, Wilson Dam, Agastya Rishi Ashram, etc.
Getting there: Bhandardara is about 165km from Mumbai by road and about 75km from Nashik. It can also be combined with a trip to Igatpuri (which is also the nearest railhead) about 50km away by road.
Lonavala
A popular tourist attraction round the year, it is during the monsoon that the waterfalls put up their best show – the silver cascades tumbling down the green hill slopes.
Popular attractions in and around Lonavala include Bhushi Dam, the ancient Buddhist caves of Karla and Bhaja, treks to Rajmachi and Lohagad forts, etc. And do not miss sampling the ‘chikki’ (a sweet usually made from groundnut, jaggery and ghee), which is a specialty of this hill station.
Getting there: Lonavala is about 100km by road from Mumbai and 65 km from Pune. The hill station lies on the Mumbai-Pune rail route. You may also include a visit to Khandala if time permits.
Malshej Ghat
Perched at a height of almost 2300 feet, Malshej Ghat offers a panoramic view of the green hills surrounding it and the many waterfalls which gush down the slopes – some jumping down in single torrents, some breaking into multiple cascades.
If insects and moths are your areas of interest, a visit to Malshej Ghat during monsoon is likely to be a rewarding experience. There are also chances to catch sight of Indian Giant Squirrel and Malabar Whistling Thrush.
Getting there: Malshej Ghat is about 130km by road from Mumbai and 120km from Pune.
Amboli
Tucked inside the Sahyadri hills, this small town wakes up to a rush of waterfalls during the monsoon. Many are located along the highway that connects Maharashtra with Goa and Karnataka.
The spectacular Amboli waterfalls are visited by many. Hence expect a crowd of people and cars. Although many visitors choose to get drenched in the torrents falling across the stepped hill slope, the rocks are slippery and it is better to be cautious. Visit early in the morning or avoid weekends if you want to stay away from the crowd. If you are a naturalist, the hills of Amboli – home to many kinds of frogs and snakes – may be of interest to you. Some of the species you are likely to find here are Malabar gliding frog, the fungoid frog, the bicolour frog, the Amboli bush-frog, the Amboli toad, Beddome’s Cat Snake, Ceylon Cat Snake, Green Vine Snake, Malabar Pit Viper, etc.
Getting there: Amboli is about 500km by road from Mumbai. It is more convenient to travel to Sawantwadi or Kolhapur by train and then travel onward by road.
