6 Road Trips That You Can Take Over The Weekend From Mumbai This Monsoon!

While this lovely monsoon weather calls for chai-pakodas, it also calls for long drives! And what better than a road trip to fulfil this monsoon wish? We aren’t talking about the usual Mumbai-Lonavala or Mumbai-Goa road trips. This list is full of unique and unexplored destinations that you can drive on to!

1. Pelhar Dam 

Given the fact it’s a dam, it’s an ideal spot to drive down to in the monsoon season. Just 3 km away from Vajreshwari, this is a great place for a weekend picnic with family and friends. The reservoir is surrounded by the Tungareshwar mountain range and is known for lush green forests which are rich in wildlife including foxes, wild boars, hare, and leopards. You can also visit the Vajreshwari temple and Nityanand Mandir which are quite nearby. 

Where: Pelhar Dam Road, Opp Pelhar Tabela, Pelhar
Distance: 59 km, from Mumbai
Travel Time: 1.5 to 2 hours approximately

2. Rann Of Kutch 

This place is absolutely divine! White desert till your eyes can see. It’s the perfect place to experience the sunrise and sunset if you can manage to reach at those timings. You can take a moonlight camel safari into the desert. You can also camp near the Rann of Kutch, but it requires certain police permissions (as it’s quite close to our border). If you love old palaces, do visit The Grand Laxmi Vilas Palace which is an architectural wonder! 

Where: Rann of Kutch, Kutch, Gujarat
Distance: 992 km, from Mumbai
Travel time: 14 hours approximately (We suggest breaks at Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Dasada, and Bhuj)

3. Dandeli 

Love white water rafting? Take a road trip to Dandeli. Not only is the location picturesque but so is the ride. Located in North of Karnataka, this place is ideal for family as well as for a group of friends. You can check the cava limestone caves, visit the Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve and Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, and enjoy a water rafting ride while you are here!

Where: Dandeli, Karnataka
Distance: 583 km, from Mumbai
Travel time: 10 hours approximately 

4. Kaas 

A little ahead of Mahabaleshwar, there is this scenic spot of Kaas that nature has kept hidden from us. While the best time to visit is usually just after the monsoon, we suggest you can take a trip down in August when the crowds are less, the flowers are just blooming and yet you get your monsoon trip in! 

Where: Kaas plateau, Bamnoli, Satara
Distance: 278 km from Mumbai
Travel time: 5 hours approximately 

5. Aurangabad 

If you want to do a little sightseeing on your monsoon road trip, Aurangabad is the place to be. You can visit the Tomb of Aurangzeb, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi ka Maqbara, Shivaji Museum, and Sunheri Mahal – all in Aurangabad. 

Where: Aurangabad city, Maharashtra
Distance: 335 km from Mumbai
Travel time:  7-8 hours approximately 

6. Diu

While the distance might put off some, the road trip will not. The journey to Diu is quite scenic as you cruise through NH-8. You won’t find a huge traffic jam like Lonavala, so you can simply roll down your window and enjoy the view! You can visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Nani Daman Fort in the nearby Daman area

Where: Diu, Daman and Diu
Distance: 822 km from Mumbai
Travel time: 16 hours approximately