Road Trips to Uncharted Maharashtra Destinations
Maharashtra has always captured the imagination of many people who visit this magical land in search of a relic of the past in form of old forts, verdant forest foliage and a variety of landscapes such as the sandy beaches and evergreen forests. Many of these destinations within Maharashtra are well visited and you will find plenty of tourists flocking everywhere. However, there are some rare gems which are hiding in plain sight. Some of these hidden places in Maharashtra are not remote locations which are difficult to reach but actually well accessible places through roads which make them a great option for day trips. They have all the perfect ingredients with natural beauty and pleasant surrounding for you to lose the crowd to spend some time away with just yourself or close company. If you too would like to experience these offbeat places in Maharashtra then get ready to take your pick from the amazing options below:
10 Unexplored Places to Visit in Maharashtra
- Sandhan Valley
- Bhandardara
- Diveagar
- Kundalika River
- Velas
- Aurangabad
- Morachi Chincholi
- Lonar
- Harnai – Anjarle
- Kamshet
1. Sandhan Valley
If trekking is what you have on your mind, then Sandhan Valley is a must go offbeat destination in Maharashtra for you. The travelers here are greeted by the sight of a canyon set in the midst of the beautiful Western Ghats. Also known as the Valley of Shadow, the descent of the canyon is 1500 meters. One of the best things to do here is to go for a morning trek or try rappelling here to see the spots where the narrow ravine harnesses spots where the sunrays can’t touch the ground and justifies the name Valley of Shadows.
Best time to visit: October to February
2. Bhandardara
This place will make you forget the rush of city life with lush flora and various streams giving it as pleasant atmosphere. The best part of this destination is the various water bodies here such as Randha Falls, Umbrella Falls, Arthur Lake and Wilson dam. Ratnagad fort which is about 12 km away from this place is also a worthy tourist attraction. The place is a mere 160 Km away from the metropolis of Mumbai and is a favorite amongst travelers seeking an offbeat vacation experience. This place is also known for the amazing photography opportunities that it presents.
Best time to visit: June to September
3. Diveagar
When you get too tired by the city life, the rural adventure is the best cure with a great view of the countryside. Diveagar provides you with just that and more. The tourist attractions here are the beaches in Diveagar are gorgeous and not crowded at all. The small town is 170 km drive from Mumbai and provides a great opportunity to view the culture of costal Maharashtra.
Best time to visit: Monsoon
4. Kundalika River
For the travelers who want to experience some adrenaline rush of the river rafting in Maharashtra which equals the beauty and fun of Rishikesh, Kundalika River is the place to go. The rapids of this river are perfect for water sports and you can find a lot of options besides rafting as well. This is perfect for smaller groups of up to 10 people who wish to try some of these activities.
Best time to visit: June to March
5. Velas
The reason to go to Velas is the “Velas Turtle Festival” which is one of its kinds and the best time to travel is during March to April. The eco-tourism here makes it possible as the festival takes place every year with the olive Ridley turtles. The NGO called Sahyadri Nisargmitra is mainly responsible for the conservation of these turtles along with the villagers. While here you can also pay a visit to the Harihareshwar Temple located nearby.
Best time to visit: Mid-March to Mid-April
6. Aurangabad
Named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb, this city is famous for the prehistoric caves Ajanta and Ellora which are world heritage sites. You can also steep yourself in history of the region by visiting historical attractions such as Bibi ka Makbara, and Daulatabad Fort.
Best time to visit: October to March
7. Morachi Chincholi
Escape to a peaceful place and watch peacocks at this place that you should be adding to your itinerary. The place also has a historical link as the tamarind trees that had attracted the peacocks here were believed to be planted by the Peshawas, the warlords of the Maratha Empire. Today the place houses thousands of Peacocks.
Best time to visit: June to December
8. Lonar
If you were to visit a place where a meteorite crashed thousands of years ago and made the third largest crater in the planer, then Lonar is where you need to be. The crater is a world heritage site and is said to be about 50,000 years old.
Best time to visit: October to March
9. Harnai – Anjarle
A seaside vacation in Maharashtra does not get any better than at these serene beaches. The sumptuous delicacies here definitely add to the experience and the serenity that you find here is unmatched. You can also witness the beautiful sea fort called Suvarnadurg that is located here with the opening and closing time of Sunrise to Sunset. It must also be noted that the entry fee to the fort is INR 100.
Best time to visit: November to March
10. Kamshet
The travelers can experience a variety of adventure sports activities in Kamshet including paragliding. The beauty of this place will leave anyone feeling relaxed and the mud huts provide the unique ambiance to this hill station, situated at a distance of just 16 km from Lonavala. The awesome paragliding opportunity here makes this place the Paraglider’s paradise.
Best time to visit: October to May
When embarking on these road trips to the unexplored places in Maharashtra one can expect to find some amazing destinations which provides refuge from the tourist crowd found at other popular tourist destinations. These places are varied and give you an experience of Maharashtra unlike anywhere else. If you wish to travel to these places, you can choose a great ride at affordable hourly, daily or weekly prices from car rental services by Revv. This grants you complete freedom from the taxi fare and lets you pace your trip according to your wish.
