Weekend Getaways for Mumbaikars!

Life without traveling is a sin. Don’t be rude to yourself and please move out from the hustle bustle of your chaotic life every now and then. To make your planning easy for the long weekends, here am I listing down ‘5 Must Weekend Getaways for Mumbaikars’. Say hello to serendipity and Go, travel! 

Highlight: 2015 has amazing list of weekends and if you manage to do a little strategic thinking (read, sick leaves) you have a whopping 58 days of travel! Now read on...

#1 BRT - Karnala/Vasind/Kolad/SH92

Ring in 2015 Camping with BRT!

This one's my personal favorite! :) Start the first day of the New Year on a fresh, natural note. Enjoy the last starry night of the new year in the privacy of your tent and you could wake up to catch the first rays of 2015 in a serene natural setting. There is no better way to start the New Year with a resolution to have a FANTASTIC 2015! Yes, all this at the Big Red Tent!

What's more? You get to spend the evening around the warm glow of a campfire while enjoying the an earthy coal flavored barbecue meal. And for those seeking some adventure, they have rafting and kayaking, and short treks at dawn of 2015 to catch the first sunrise! 

Each of their campgrounds also have their own unique touch,from releasing lanterns into the sky or releasing diyas into the river with a new year resolution to mark this special day. 

Note: I have been to BRT Karnala a couple of times, it is bliss!

#2 Malshej Ghat

Source: Purple leaf Holidays

One among the best drives out of Mumbai is 150 kms away to Malshej Ghat. Unadulterated charm of nature is what attracts tourists to this place.

How to go?

• Drive via NH222; 3 hours’ drive via Thane and Kalyan in the direction of Ahmednagar.
• Train: Hop on a Central line Local to Kalyan, get down and take a ST Bus for Ahmednagar, which takes about 2 hours to reach Malshej.

Safety tip: If you are driving to Malshej Ghat, make sure that the tyres and brakes are in good condition. Also, stay away from cliff sides while sightseeing.

#3 Kolad

Source: Places near pune

No sign of modern technology to haunt you here. A perfect antidote to the hustle bustle of Mumbai. Go River Rafting, Camping and enjoy the Tamhini waterfalls. A refreshing break awaits you at Kolad, 120 kms approx. from Mumbai. Either drive, take a MSRTC bus or train. In case you are driving, Kolad is on the NH17 on way to Goa.

#4 Bhandardhara

I did a weekend trip to Sula Vineyards and Bhandardhara a year back in college. Fell in love with the serenity of this place.

 

The view of Pravara River from the MTDC Resort, Bhandardhara. You can go boating or just sit down by the river and enjoy the calm beauty.

A travel secret, with less places to stay but a long list of options to lose yourself in nature; that’s Bhandardhara. I got a chance to visit this scenic beauty in the winters of 2013 (Mumbai winters, pun intended). Don't forget to visit the Umbrella waterfalls, beauty indeed!

• Bhandardhara is a 40 km drive ahead of Igatpuri, and 180 km from Mumbai.
• You have Maharashtra state transport buses from Dadar or private buses from Nashik. 
• You can even take a train to Nashik and hire a private vehicle for Bhandardhara.

Watch out for: Mount Kalsubai – Maharashtra’s highest peak. It is doable, just don’t forget your hiking shoe.

#5 Diveagar, Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar

Source: http://shrivardhankatta.com/

Spectacular sunsets by the beach and a drive to uplift your soul; Divegar, Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar is a perfect trifecta of Raigad. MSRTC offers regular buses to Shrivardhan from Mumbai Central. Divergar is 20 kms from Shrivardhan.

• Soul uplifting break, a photogenic paradise.
• Watch out for: Bankot Fort – a Maratha’s fort.

If you are planning to go to Lonavala with a big group of friends or family; one can stay at Manasi Bungalow. I have been planning to visit this myself soon. They open for NYE bookings. The villa can accommodate 45 people comfortably (Just imagine the New Year party fun!).

These are just some of the places one can head for an amazing weekend out of Mumbai. Please feel free to add to this list. I am sure there's:

• Panchagani
• Murud Janjira
• Mahabaleshwar
• Lavasa
• Della Adventure and more to be added to this list!

Be ready to explore, travel & dream more, always! :)

See you on the other side.
Wanderlust Girl

Wishful Traveler

"I am earning so that I can travel."

 "I will go there someday."

 "I dream about traveling day and night."

 "I have all these place on my wishlist."

 “I want to do a road trip, but don’t know when and how.”

"Let me Google this place for you."

"Dude, I have this destination on my mind since ages!"

If you have found yourself repeating one or all of the above more than once a week, you fall in the category of what I call now; Wishful traveler. Most of my life, I have been that. Even now.

Refraining to go out and often finding my solace in virtual traveling and reading about those stunning places. Friends taunt me, "You call yourself a Wanderlust-Girl but we hardly see you going out." Well, they are right. However, I don’t take these things too seriously; because I know what my travel goals are and I shall live all of them! I have always traveled with my family but now, would like to explore the places solo or with friends too.

If you know me well, follow me on twitter or are friends on Facebook; would know how I irritate people with posting travel related updates every day. I spend most of my day on my new Dell Venue 8 tablet, looking for destinations waiting to be explored. Putting pictures on Instagram or simply writing more about my travel plans.

 With this article, I am just trying to share what I have learnt in these days of wishful traveling. Pick up what you like and let go off what you already know. Also, don’t forget to add to it freely.

I have decided to cover at least 3 places in India starting 2015. And if possible, one International destination.

Let’s begin? Come, travel with me :)

The first step of devoting a part (or whole) of your life to travel is to make sure your family/spouse is okay with your thoughts. After all, they are the ones' who will be left behind in case you decide to set on an expedition of traveling solo. If not solo, you can always pep them up with your travel dreams and take along. I have always believed that, be it solo or group; traveling is the ultimate happiness one can gift him/herself. When I told my parents I want to travel; the first point was, you can always travel after getting married. I said, no. Before I get married. Result? I have been granted the wish to travel to at least 3 places every year. Condition? I start with my own country. Me? Happy!

 Moving on, the next comes is your wishlist. I hope you have one. Like a really-really long wishlist. There are 196 countries in the world with god knows how many places waiting for your visit. You better have a wishlist! Go, make one J

The Budget. Oh dear lord! This is where many of us get stuck. Money. Traveling requires money and planning. If you plan well, you spend well. Plan a trip well in advance. Keep yourself abreast with airline offers, hotel packages, couch surfing offers (try it at least once!), etc. Cut down on luxury expenditures. You don't need to live in expensive hotels (unless of course if the trip is sponsored). Having said that, it is a sheer delight if you stay with the locals or small hotels. These guys have some amazing travel tips and stories to share about the place. I am sure, you want to know them all.

Gather your friends along. There will be at least one friend who would do anything (just like you!) to travel. All he/she needs is a little push. Not off the cliff but a little motivation I mean. Take them along. Shared joy brings in more joy and we are talking about travel here. Just imagine the amount of stories you guys will bring back with you. Moreover, a travel partner is important. Don't you think?

Itineraries. As you are reading this, I have my itinerary being planned for 'another' trip to Rajasthan. Yes, another. One can never get enough of this place. Moreover, I missed out on a lot of cities earlier when I visited Jaipur, Udaipur, Mt. Abu and Ranthambore with family and friends. There are a lot of itineraries available online. You need not 'follow' them but do take a cue from them. It is not necessary that you want to visit the same places but they always give you an idea on what to miss and what not to. Have a wish list? Go make an itinerary.

 Next up is a few points which one may follow:

• Travel with a diary, it is an essential. I have made it a mandatory note to travel with my Dell Venue 8 tablet. It lets me save my tickets, itineraries, locate places, take pictures and even share my City Diaries on social media.
• Wanting to visit a city as a traveller? Go during off season. Less crowd, better transport rates and peace.
• Always plan to spend less on traveling to the city and keep aside more money to taste the local cuisine and travel within the city.
• A lot of people say that do not spend money on souvenirs. I would say the same. But, I am a big time fan of postcards and fridge magnets. Hence, please do spend a little money on them and get back some for yourself, friends, family and me?
• You do not need lots of beauty and personal care products while traveling. Please cut down on packaging and carry travel packs available in the market or make one for yourself. Take the miniatures with you and not the big packs.
• Please ensure that a copy of your itinerary, tickets, hotel room bookings, etc. is with someone back home. Also, save a copy of all the documents on your smartphone. Always.
• Please check on the weather and political situation of the place you are traveling to. Please.
• Lastly, let all the negative and bad thoughts go off while you travel. Because, traveling brings out the best in one! Even the thought of it :)

Before 2014 ends, make a promise to yourself. Go, travel!

See you on the other side.

Wanderlust Girl.