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Although Maharashtra is generally considered to be a hot and humid state, the western part of the state has a lot of appealing hill stations. These hill stations manage to attract tourists throughout the year and especially during the summer season. They are perfect for family getaways and trekking expeditions. Most of these hill stations were founded by the Britishers in the colonial era. All these Maharashtra tourist places, including the popular locations such as Lonavala and the lesser-known places such as the five hills in Panchgani, are mentioned below.
List of Hill Stations of Maharashtra
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is one of the most popular hill stations in Maharashtra. It is often referred to as the ‘Queen of hill stations in Maharashtra’. In the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is located at a height of approximately 1350 m. The place is 123 km away from Pune city, and this place is close to 250 km away from the city of Mumbai. This place attracts tourists because of its breathtaking landscapes and amazing weather. This place has tourist attractions such as Mahabaleshwar Mandir, Pratapgarh Fort, Lingamala Falls, and others. Alongside that, several viewpoints are there from where you can capture breathtaking panoramic views of the Sahyadri mountains and their valleys.
Lonavala
Lonavala is perched at the height of 622 m in the Western Ghats Sahyadri Range in the district of Pune. The place is 67 km away from Pune and 95 km from Mumbai. Popular tourist attractions of Lonavala include lakes, forts, and waterfalls. In the Rajmachi Wildlife Sanctuary, people can enjoy the wildlife from up close. Pawana lake, Bhushi Dam, Tikona Fort, Bedsa caves, and Lohagad Fort also attract tourists. Pune International Airport is the closest airport.
Igatpuri
Located in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, Igatpuri is not far away from the Mumbai-Agra National Highway. One of the highest located hill stations is Igatpuri as it is located approximately at an altitude of 1900 feet. Amid the dense forests on the walls of Western Ghats, one can spot years-old temples, waterfalls, and lakes. Some of the most notable places to visit in Igatpuri are Camel Valley, Ghatandevi Temple, Tringalwadi Fort, Vaitarna Dam, and others. To reach the hill station Igatpuri, the closest airport where you can land is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.
Panchgani
The hill station of Panchgani was founded by the British Superintendent near Pune and Mumbai, and Panchgani is probably the best hill station. This hill station is famous as it is situated right in between 5 hills and there are also 5 villages. The names of these villages are Dandeghar, Amral, Taighat, Khingar, and Godwali. The hill station is quite high compared to most other hill stations in Maharashtra. People mostly visit the hill station to see the attractions such as Kamalgad Fort, Parsi Point, Sydney point, Devil’s Kitchen, and others.
Amboli
Residing in South Maharashtra, Amboli is one of the popular hill stations of the Sahyadri Hills, famous for its ecological diversity. The tourist places in Amboli include the Amboli falls, Nangarta Falls, and Hiranya Keshi Temple.
Matheran
Matheran is not only popular for being one of the nearest hill stations to Mumbai but also for its prohibition on motorized vehicles. Despite being a beautiful place for tourism, this policy has not allowed the place to be polluted. Among many reasons, the toy train ride in Matheran makes it a great place to visit. However, during monsoons, the ride remains closed. Tourists usually go on treks to reach the coziest and quietest places on this hill station.
Gaganbawda
Situated in Kolhapur, Gaganbavda has been the beautiful hill station in the background of many Hindi and Marathi films. Along with the perfect serene view of the Konkan coastal region, it is also a popular trekking destination. The tourist places include the Gagangad fort and the temple of Gangangiri Maharaj.
Some of the other hill stations that attract tourists all across the year are – Khandala, Malshej Ghat, Jawhar, and Rajmachi.
Ideal Time to Visit Hill Stations of Maharashtra
The best time to visit any one of these hill stations is somewhere between October and February. That is during winters. During this time, the mean temperature remains close to 13 degrees Celsius in the hill stations located close to Pune. On the other hand, in the hill stations that are situated in close vicinity to Mumbai, the average temperature remains somewhere between 22 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. But in some hill stations where the main attraction is the waterfalls and lakes, the best time to visit them is in the monsoon season.
Conclusion
In the hill stations of Maharashtra, the climate remains almost the same throughout the year. In the summer months, i.e. between March and May the temperature can range from as low as 23 degrees celsius to 35 degrees celsius. Monsoon hits the hill stations in the middle of June. During this season, the temperature remains somewhere between 19 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius. During the winter months, between October and February, the temperature hardly crosses the 15 degrees Celsius mark. With a variety of options in terms of weather and environment, the hill stations of Maharashtra are equally exciting for vacations and exploring nature in its purest form.
