Mumbaikars enjoy the unique position of being close to hills as well as the sea. Come summer, the hills of Lonavla and Khandala invite visitors to escape from the heat and humidty of the city. The sea beckons everyone in the winter when the weather is pleasant. Here is a list of featured weekend getaways from Mumbai.

Lonavala.
Beautiful hills, calm lakes, striking green valley, historic caves, silent forts and gushing waterfalls are just the few things which describe the natural beauty of Lonavala. This place is a nature’s bounty and is full of green splendor. Lying very close to Mumbai and Pune, this polite hill town has become a prominent weekend holiday for residents in these maddening cities. Lonavala is also very famous for its history as the Marathas fought guerrilla war against the Mughals and later the British here. Discovered by Sir Elphinstone in 1811, Lonavala is situated at an altitude of 625mt from the sea level, in the hills Sahyadri Hills that lie in the state of Maharashtra. Though the word Lonavala is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Layan’, the actual meaning of this word is ‘a series of resting places’. Thus, there are plenty of tourist attractions in and around Lonavala.. Read more and plan your trip to Lonavala

Alibag. A small, idyllic town on the narrow strip of the Arabian Sea, at the southern tip of Mumbai, Alibagh or Alibaug, is fringed with tall coconut trees and golden sandy beaches lapped by the ocean. Apart from the quaint village houses, it also has farm houses of Mumbai’s affluent folk. Nearly 300 years old, Alibaug was founded in the 17th century by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, a naval chief of Shivaji’s kingdom. The Marathas made Alibagh a Taluka in 1852 and named it Shribag. Because Alibaug was not connected to the mainland by road at that time, the only way to get here was through the sea from Revas, Dharmtar or Mankule. However the construction of the Dharamtar Creek opened its doors to a wider public, connecting it to metros like Mumbai. A weekend getaway and a popular business centre today, Alibaug is frequented by affluent Mumbaiites, mostly to enjoy the beauty of the sea.. Read more and plan your trip to Alibag

Goa. Party, party, and more party. That’s not enough to describe how much you can party at Goa. The feni, the waves, the people… everything here is festive all year round, all day long. Romance on the soft sand and shop at the exciting bazaars here. Welcome to Goa. As you walk around the place, you cannot miss the colonial but recent past evident in the place, the people, the houses and, the language. Because of the Portuguese tyrants that ruled Goa, the culture of the place is different from the rest of India. The Portuguese got along their religion to Goa and forcefully converted the Hindus and Mohammedans in the area after the abolition of temples. Since then, Goa has adopted Christianity as a religion and culture. Read more and plan your trip to Goa.

Matheran. Lusting greeneries, serene environments and unpolluted ambience Matheran is a fantastic tourist destination at a height of about 2516 feet above sea level in Maharashtra state of India. Matheran, the jungle on the top, was developed by British after it was located in 1850 by the British Officer Hugh Mallet, who was the Collector of Thane. This cool eco-friendly hill station is perfectly perched at the Matheran ranges of Sahyadri Mountains and the picturesque surroundings with eye catching attractions invite thousands of tourists every year to Matheran. This hill station has the unique distinction that the vehicles are banned from entering the hill station limits, keeping Matheran as an unpolluted tourist spot. Read more and plan your trip to Matheran.

Panchgani. Nestling between five hills in the Krishna valley, Panchgani (1,334 m) is flanked by the second highest volcanic mountain plateau in Asia on one side and jagged cliffs on the other. It is a neat, colonial-style town, cradled by green coastal plains and the River Krishna. This pretty hill-station in the Sahaydri hills is close to Pune and Mahabaleshwar. Read more and plan your trip to Panchgani.