Maharashtra is a major state of India as well as a beautiful state. Surrounded by beaches and mountains, this state also hosts millions of domestic and foreign tourists every season. There are many such beautiful places among the beautiful hills of Maharashtra, India, where there is a different fun of visiting in the monsoon. Therefore, we are going to tell you about some beautiful places in Maharashtra where you can enjoy the monsoon to the fullest.
Arthur Lake
Arthur Lake is very beautiful. This lake is formed by the water of the Pravara River. It is mainly a reservoir of Wilson Dam. The lake is surrounded by hills and forests. Due to this, it becomes an excellent camping spot for tourists. Here tourists can enjoy boat rides and can also do nature photography.
Wilson Dam
Wilson Dam is a popular tourist spot in Bhandardara. It is one of the oldest dams in the country. This dam is built on the Pravara River at an altitude of 150 meters above sea level. This spot is a great picnic spot for tourists where you can have a picnic with your family and friends.
Mount Kalsubai
Mount Kalsubai is the highest peak in Maharashtra. This peak is located at an altitude of 1646 meters. For this reason, it is also called the 'Everest of Maharashtra'. It is a popular spot for trekkers. By trekking to its peak, tourists admire its panoramic views from here. However, this track is not that easy. Trekking here requires a lot of hard work.
Kalsubai Temple
When you visit Mount Kalsubai, do not forget to visit the Kalsubai Temple. This temple is dedicated to a local deity of the same name. An annual fair is also organized near the temple and locals and tourists come here to pray.
Malshej Ghat
When it comes to visiting Maharashtra during monsoon, Malshej Ghat is mentioned first. Situated at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, this place is best for monsoon and is also very popular for trekkers. During monsoon, Malshej Ghat is full of greenery everywhere. The mountains present here are covered in clouds during monsoon. Amidst the cold winds, you can also see beautiful waterfalls in many places. You can also visit beautiful places like Malshej Waterfall, Ajobagad Fort, Pimpalgaon Joga Dam, and Konkan Kada in Malshej Ghat.
Dahanu
You must know about Dahanu in Maharashtra, if you do not know, then let us tell you that Dahanu is a small town located in the Palghar district, but in terms of beauty, it is no less than any place. Monsoon is considered the best time to visit Dahanu, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Dahanu is surrounded by small and big mountains. This is a place that attracts a large number of tourists for trekking and cycling during the monsoon. In Dahanu, you can explore the best places like Dahanu Beach, Mahalaxmi Temple, Bordi Beach, and Dahanu Fort.
Matheran
After Malshej Ghat, when it comes to visiting Maharashtra in monsoon, Matheran is named. This is one such hill station in the state, whose real beauty is seen only when it rains. Situated in the lap of the Sahyadri mountain range, Matheran shows the most amazing and breathtaking views during the monsoon. When water falls from the big mountains in the monsoon, it becomes worth seeing. Toy train rides are also very popular in Matheran. You can also explore the best places like Charlotte Lake, Monkey Point, Shivaji's Staircase, Panorama Point, and One Tree Hill Point in Matheran.
Panchgani
Panchgani Hill Station is a very beautiful and popular place surrounded by five hills in the Sahyadri mountain range. Being surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain range, its beauty is at its peak during the monsoons. Panchgani hill station especially attracts nature lovers and adventure lovers during the monsoons. This beautiful hill station was also used as a summer resort during the British rule. You can explore the best places in Panchgani like Table Land, Sydney Point, Bhilar Falls, Parsi Point, and Rajpuri Caves.
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a major tourist destination in Maharashtra. Attractions include several hillside look out points with views of the surrounding hills, valleys, and forests like Bombay Point, Arthur's Seat, Kate's Point, Lodwick-Wilson Point, and Elphinstone Point. Wilson Point is the only place in Mahabaleshwar where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. The city also has a man-made lake called Venna Lake dating back to the British era. The lake is popular for boating. It is surrounded by a market and food stalls which are popular among tourists. Other attractions include the Lingamala Falls. Old Mahabaleshwar is a pilgrimage destination with its Mahadeva temple. The temple is the source of five rivers Krishna, Koyna, Venna, Savitri, and Gayatri. Being a relatively cool place, many temperate zone crops such as strawberries, raspberries, and mulberries are grown in Mahabaleshwar and the surrounding hills. The main among these crops is the strawberry. Strawberry plantations and the produce they offer are also a popular tourist activity. Mahabaleshwar strawberries were granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2010. As a popular tourist destination, Mahabaleshwar has hotels and accommodations to suit various budgets.
Lonavala and Khandala
Lonavala and adjacent Khandala are twin hill stations 622 meters (2,041 ft) above sea level, in the Sahyadri ranges that border the Deccan plateau and the Konkan coast. The hill stations are spread over an approximate area of 38 square kilometers (15 sq mi). Tourism peaks during the monsoon season. The name Lonavala is derived from two words 'leni' which means caves and 'avali' which means chain. That is a chain of caves' which is a reference to the many caves near Lonavala like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves, and Bedsa. A trip to Lonavala and Khandala can be combined with sightseeing of Karla, Bhaja, and Bedsa caves and two forts Lohagad. Another place is Tungi Fort, which is one of the forts captured by Malik Ahmed near Karjat village and was known for its natural strength. Andharban Trek starts from the village of Pimpri, through dense forests.
Igatpuri
Igatpuri is surrounded by the highest peaks of Sahyadri i.e. Western Ghats, most of these are forts built in the Satavahana dynasty. It is heavenly for trekkers and hikers, most of the Indian (Hindi) movie outdoor scenes especially songs are shot in the Igatpuri area. Igatpuri is an important place from the point of view of Vipassana meditation. The International Centre for Vipassana Meditation called Dhammagiri, supposedly the largest Vipassana center, is located here. The region includes mountains which can be reached by trains going from Mumbai CST to Kasara and Igatpuri. Local trains go only to Kasara and do not climb the Thal Ghat from Kasara to Igatpuri. So to go to Igatpuri one has to either catch a long-distance train or reach Kasara by suburban train and then catch a bus for the climb.
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