A trip to the urban metropolis of Mumbai, the focal point of Indian financial and industrial enterprise, remains incomplete without a stopover at the nearby picturesque places. There are several Mumbai gateways that are swarming with tourists all through the year.
In order to break out of the humdrum of every day life and introduce a splash of excitement, tourists can go for a short trip to Pune, an idyllic blend of urban life and charming scenery. The Lal Devai synagogue, pretty as a picture Bund Gardens, the Osho International Commune, the ornate and majestic Aga Khan Palace, the commemorative cenotaphs of Shindyanchi Chhatri, the stately university buildings and several cavernous caves, cascading waterfalls and sylvan lakes add to the city’s bag full of accolades.
Apart from Pune, the quixotic, picturesque hill station, Mahabaleswar is an ideal weekend retreat for nature lovers. Nestled among jungle-clad hills and laced by the rippling cascades of beautiful waterfalls sightseers opt for Mahabaleswer as a quick weekend getaway from Mumbai. Aficionados of the charming hill resort keep returning to the Arthur's Seat, the Krishnabai Temple, Connaught Peak, Kate's Point, Venna Lake, Pratapgad Fort and the Lingmala, Chinaman and Dhobi Waterfalls.
The exquisite twin hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala, widely popularized by Bollywood films are also a rage among tourists. Apart from the panorama of the hills sprawling over the Deccan Plateau and adorning the Konkan coastline, the Rajmachi Point, Tungarli and Lonavla Lake, Valvan Dam, Duke's Nose, Tiger's Leap, Lohagad Fort and Bhushi Dam are also popular sightseeing destinations around Lonavla and Khandala.
A comprehensive list of all the gateways in an around Mumbai is provided for all those citizens and tourists bores by the monotonous tedium of city life. Tourists can visit:
- Pune
- Mahabaleshwar
- Nasik
- Panchgani
- Margao
- Aurangabad
- Amravati
- Kolhapur
- Igatpuri
- Matheran
- Lonavala
- Khandala
- Panjim
