Maharashtra boasts of many hill stations to rejuvenate mind, body and soul. Here is selection which are popular with the locals.

Matheran
The closest hill station to Mumbai (around 100 km away), Matheran is nestled amidst the Sahyadri range on the Western Ghats. This cozy town was discovered in 1850 by the British during their occupation of India and subsequently developed into a popular summer retreat. At height of 800 meters (2,625 feet) above sea level, this serene place provides a cooling escape from searing temperatures. With its name literally translating to “overhead forest”, Matheran is the smallest hill station in all of India, but it is extremely popular in terms of tourists looking for a short trip amid spectacular vistas and serenity. However, the most unique thing about it and what makes it so special, is that all vehicles are banned there — even bicycles. It’s a soothing place to relax away from any noise and pollution. Get there by taking the scenic toy train. As with any other hill station, Matheran is famous for its viewpoints. It has a total of 36 viewpoints from where you can enjoy alluring views of the Sahyadri mountain range, the most popular of them being Echo Point, Alexander Louisa Point, Panorama Point and Porcupine Point. Most of these points have easy trekking trails, and they offer sweeping views of the mountains, the sunrise, sunset, and everything in between! Charlotte Lake, close to Echo Point, is a very popular picnic spot where nature enthusiasts love to go and take a stroll in.

Lonavala
One of the most popular hill stations in the state, Lonavala is a perfect weekend getaway, from both Mumbai and Pune, especially during the monsoons. Mists rising from the Sahyadri hills, waterfalls cascading down from the hills to the spiral roads, pristine lakes accompanied by well-built dams and countless places to stay amid the abundance of nature—this is Lonavala for you. The place is a favourite of both nature lovers and hikers. The panoramic views of the mountains are stunning. The best time to visit is between October to May and the main attractions in the town are Tiger’s Leap, Bushi Dam, Lonavala Lake, Lohagad Fort and Karla Caves.

Khandala
Another hill station around 3 km from Lonavala and around the midpoint between Mumbai and Pune, Khandala stands in the Western Ghats on the Mumbai-Pune highway. It is a popular weekend holiday destination due to its natural charm. Residents of both Pune and Mumbai find it a convenient weekend getaway. The best to visit to get the full beauty of Khandala is between October and April. You can visit attractions like the Duke’s nose, which is a cliff shaped like a nose, overlook the ravishing valley, Rajmachi Fort, Lohagad Fort, Bedse Caves, Visapur Fort and Kune Waterfalls.

Rajmachi
Rajmachi is a small village situated in the Sahyadri mountain range of the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Rajmachi has two fortified peaks – Shrivardhan and Manaranjan forts, located near two famous hills of Lonavala and Khandala. At the base of the fort is the village Udhewadi which is another name for Rajmachi. Rajmachi has seen many change of hands from Shivaji Maharaj, Emperor Aurangzeb, Shahu Maharaj and eventually the British reign. The fort of Rajmachi is famous among trekkers and adventure enthusiasts. If you want to experience a full-fledged trek, you can start from the Kondhane caves side which will take 3-4 hours of climbing, but otherwise you can drive right upto Udhewadi village (from the Lonavala side) and then trek for hardly 20-30 minutes to the top of the fort. The simple and clearly marked trail on both the paths make Rajmachi a very popular beginner’s trek.

Lavasa
Known as India’s newest hill station, the Lavasa Corporation is constructing this private city. The city is a beautiful project, stylistically based on the Italian town Portofino. Spreading across 7 hills, covering an area of 25000 acres, Lavasa is a perfect blend of beauty and infrastructure. The place is dotted with colourful buildings, vibrant hotels, and beautiful streets that offer scenic lake views. Lavasa has a pleasant weather all year long but monsoon is an exceptional time to visit Lavasa. Located in the Western Ghats, Lavasa is around 65 km from Pune and around 200 km from Mumbai. There, you can visit the Mose River, Varasgaon Dam, Laser Animation and Musical Fountain.

Kamshet
Kamshet is a picturesque hill station in Western Ghats, renowned for paragliding and flying schools. Surrounded by Western Ghats, this place is regularly featured in the top 10 must visit destinations of India for an adventurous junkie. Located just 45 km from the main town of Pune, Kamshet is a paragliders paradise. It’s a beautiful place with small villages with natural scenery and fresh air. The area is surrounded by paddy and sunflower fields and it provides an awesome view while you are enjoying the world class paragliding facilities here. Among other important attractions in this region are the Bhairi caves, Bhedsa caves, Khondeshwar temple, Pavana lake and Shinde wadi hills. Due to its proximity to other hill stations like Lonavla andÊKhandala, one can include those places in this trip as well. October to May is the best time to visit Kamshet and

Mahabaleshwar
With its breathtaking waterfalls and majestic peaks, Mahabaleshwar is a serene escapade for people in Maharashtra. This erstwhile summer capital of the Bombay Presidency located in Satara district is a quaint hill station located in the Western Ghats and famous for its mesmerising natural beauty that is blessed with beautiful lakes, dense forests, charming valleys and many ancient temples. It is also famous for its gorgeous strawberry farms and offering a variety of delicious foods. October to June are the best months to plan a trip to Mahabaleshwar where you can see attractions like Wilson Point (Sunrise Point), Mumbai Point (Sunset Point), Arthur’s Seat, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Babington Point, Kamalgad Fort, Chinaman’s Falls and Elephant’s Head Point

Panchgani
Deriving its name from the five hills surrounding it, Panchgani is a popular hill station near Mahabaleshwar, famous for its various sunset/sunrise points and scenic valley view. With a pleasant climate throughout the year, it appealed to the Britishers who established this place as a summer retreat and it continues to lure tourists to date. Panchgani is located around 1,334 meters above sea level and the picturesque backdrop of hills on one side and coastal plains on the other makes for an amazing view. In the British era, the place was treated as a summer resort and hence many colonial period establishments can be seen here. Mahabaleshwar is like a twin city to Panchgani. The best time to visit both Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani is between September and February. Attractions in Panchgani include Sydney Point, Lingmala Falls, Kamalgarh Fort, Rajpuri Cave, Kaas Plateau, Wai and Devil’s Kitchen

Kaas Plateau
Declared as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012, Kaas Plateau in Panchgani is a magical place with landscapes with lakes, flowers and butterflies all around. The Kaas Plateau is a biodiversity hotspot situated at an altitude of 1200 metres and is a major biodiversity hotspot owing to the many varieties of endemic flowers and butterflies that are found here. Housing about 850 species of beautiful wildflowers, the 1000 hectare area of the plateau is now a reserved forest which is famous for its natural beauty and flora, Kaas Lake and how it turns into a valley of flowers during monsoon. To preserve the virgin charms of this location, the number of visitors have been restricted to 3,000 per day. State Transport buses ply from the parking area to Kaas Plateau and cost INR 10 per person each side. The months beginning from August to October witness the Kaas Valley transforming into a blooming beauty of endemic flowers such as Anjani, Paner, Sonki, Kondal, Deepkadee and Kaasa. The sheer variety of colours, shapes and sizes is a delightful sight to behold and makes Kaas Valley an undeniable hit among scientists, naturalists and adventure lovers alike. The many blossoms of the valley stand in stark contrast to the azure of the sky with numerous delicate butterflies fluttering their way through this kaleidoscopic maze. Other attractions in the area include the Kaas Lake, Vajrai Waterfall, Banmoli, Thoseghar Waterfall and Sajjangad Fort

Maval
A gorgeous and rustic hamlet, Maval is located along the beautiful green and dark ranges of the Sahyadris. The village is also one of the most prosperous biodiversity regions in Maharashtra. Here, you can not only spot vegetation but also wildlife in all its glory. While the awe inspiring ranges of the Sahyadris add a good measure of beauty and diversity to its backdrop, the quiet and clutter free life of the villagers presents for a getaway in the arms of nature. The best time to visit is during the months of October and May. Attractions near and around Maval include Mangarul Fort, Adesh Green House, Bhaja Caves, Sinhagad Fort, Shivneri Fort and Saras Baug

Bhandardara
Bhandardara, a hill station nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra, has all the nature’s blessings a place can get. The lush greenery, the humble waterfalls and surrounded by high mountains makes for the perfect holiday spot for city dwellers. Situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, Bhandardara is 117 km. from Mumbai and is easily accessible through roadways. Attractions in Bhandardara include Wilson Dam, Umbrella Falls, Kalsubai Peak, Randha Falls and Arthur Falls.

Chikhaldara
The scent of coffee enchants you as you enter the hill station city of Chikhaldara in Amravati district. Being the only coffee growing area in the region, Chikhaldara also boasts of beautiful lakes, breathtaking panoramic viewpoints and exotic wildlife. Featured in the epic of the Mahabharata, this is the place where Bheema killed the villainous Keechaka in a herculean bout and then threw him into the valley. It thus came to be known as Keechakadara—Chikhaldara is its corruption. The sole hill resort in the Vidarbha region, it is situated at an altitude of 1118 m with highest vairat point 1188m. It abounds in wildlife, such as tigers, panthers, sloth bears, sambars, wild boar, and rarely seen wild dogs. Close by is the famous Melghat Tiger Project which has 82 tigers. The scenic beauty of Chikhaldara can be enjoyed from Hurricane Point, Prospect Point, and Devi Point. Other interesting excursions include Gavilgad and Narnala Fort, the Pandit Nehru Botanical Gardens, the Tribal Museum and the Semadoh Lake.

Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar, located about 100 km from Pune and 223 km from Mumbai, is a popular temple town. It is located in the village of Bhorgiri in the ghat region of the Sahyadri range at around 3,250 feet above sea level. It is among one of the twelve traditional ‘Jyotilingam’ shrines of Lord Shiva in India. Legend has it that the name Bhimashankar was originated from the river Bhima which evaporated due to the generated between the war of Lord Shiva and the demon Tripurasura. It is considered to be one of the holiest places in India because of the jyotirlinga. Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is another important reason why people come here.