Offbeat Travel Itineraries from Mumbai

 

The city that never sleeps, otherwise known as Mumbai, is a cradle of vibrant cultural mixes, fast-paced life, and iconic skylines. There is a lot more to the metropolis than the usual chaos offers us.

Beneath the surface there is a goldmine of exotic and alternative traveling experiences. The people looking outside the typical Lonavala and Goa vacation can find a lot of hidden treasures and unpopular pathways to discover.

These are some of the eccentric travel plans available out of Mumbai that will bring the much-needed reprieve of exhilaration as well as a sort of remembrance.

1. Jawhar: The Capital of Tribal Art

Jawhar, located almost 165 km away from Mumbai, in the Palghar district, is an off-the-beaten-track hill station, which is a perfect amalgamation of natural and cultural heritage.

It is famous for its Warli arts, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes but is suitable to be visited by some tourists seeking to get a deeper cultural exposure.

A plan of the itinerary here would involve visiting the Jai Vilas Palace, visiting Hanuman Point to get the magnificent view of this area, as well as communicating with local handicraft makers and seeing the Warli painting in action.

There is also the existence of more hidden waterfalls within Jawhar, such as the Dabhosa, that only open in the monsoons. It is an ideal two-day break that will satisfy guests with the desire to relax and enrich their intellectual life.

2. Bhandardara: The Land of Stars and Waterfalls

Bhandardara, a gem in the state of Maharashtra, has remained one of the most underrated holiday destinations and is located approximately 165 km away from Mumbai.

This village is buried in the Sahyadri ranges, and beautiful crystal-clear lakes, ancient forts, and illusory stargazing are some of the features. Bhandardara is also an offbeat experience in comparison to the hustling hill stations since it is uncut.

Tourists have the opportunity to go sightseeing in Arthur Lake, Randha Falls, and the backs of centuries-old Ratangad Fort.

A good time is spent camping around the lake just under the sky on a clear starlit night during the clear months of November to March.

It is also the entry point to Purushwadi’s famous firefly festival, or enchanted image, in summer.

3. Velas: A haven of turtle conservation

Velas in the Ratnagiri district provides a one-of-a-kind experience, especially if wildlife and conservation are your hobbies.

It is a small seashore village located around 220 km north of Mumbai, and it is famous because of the Olive Turtle Festival that takes place here every year, and during the season these lightweight hatchlings that emerge swim into the Arabian Sea.

This is not a vacation visitation here about beaches, but about engaging in ecotourism processes and joining in the conservation efforts by the locals.

The program consists of several activities defined by observing turtle nests, visiting natural Velas Beach, and topping it off with even more destinations nearby, such as Harihareshwar and the Bankot Fort.

It is a seasonal itinerary, and planning of this itinerary works best between February and April.

4. Daman: Beyond the Beaches

Daman is like beaches and Portuguese forts to most people, but there is a lot more to explore when approached in a different manner.

Daman is an unusual combination of history, cuisine, and culture, located approximately 180 km away from Mumbai.

Visitors to the island can visit Moti Daman Fort and its old churches, take a day to sample seafood in Devka Beach, and pursue Portuguese-style architecture sprouted in and around narrow lanes.

Daman is more secluded as compared to Goa; this makes it a wonderful offbeat destination of choice for the traveler who still wants the beach feel and yet does not want to feel swamped by the other tourists!

5. Hidden Hill Station of Gujarat: Saputara

As someone interested in travelling beyond the state of Maharashtra, Saputara in Gujarat is an excursion of surprise.

It is the only hill station in the state of Gujarat and lies just 250 km away from the city of Mumbai.

A place consisting of misty hills, tribal life, and artistic appeal, this hill station is one of a kind.

A two-day tourist plan may involve a boating experience on the lake of Saputara, the visit of the Artist Village to learn about tribal arts, and the visit to the step gardens and the sunrise point.

Nature lovers are also able to take hiking trips on forest paths that are granted with a view of the green beauty of the Dang district.

The monsoon season is especially the best time to visit Saputara, as you find the hills in the town greenest.

6. Amboli: The Paradise Which Is Drenched In Rain

In case your heart yearns for misty forests and rain-wet hills, then the Sindhudurg district of Amboli is the ideal itinerary.

It is approximately 490 km away from Mumbai, which is, unfortunately, a longer way, but it is worth the ride.

Amboli is referred to as the Cherrapunji of Maharashtra, and it records abundant rainfall and gets converted into a green paradise during the monsoons.

The plan involves the visit to Amboli Falls, the Sunset Point, and the Hiranyakeshi Temple.

The lovers of nature also can get entertained by identifying rare species of flora and fauna that flourish in this biodiversity hotspot.

Amboli is a cool reprieve against the hot and humid city of Mumbai, and taking an extended weekend is also a nice drive.

7. Murud-Janjira: The Fort in the Sea

A 160 km detour to Murud-Janjira will be a fascinating detour for history lovers.

This place of attraction features a huge Janjira Fort located on an island and reachable only by boat.

The architecture and the stories of the fort not having been conquered ever, in spite of numerous attacks, make it an interesting destination.

Other than the fort, the visitors can relax on Murud Beach and visit the neighboring Kashid to find more quiet beaches and to live the chilled-out Konkan coastal lifestyle. This eccentric route has history, sea, and rest in a composite.

Conclusion

The location of Mumbai, close to the Sahyadris, Konkan coast, and Gujarat, effectively makes it an entry point to myriad offbeat traveling plans.

On these trips they have stargazing getaways in Bhandardara, turtle-watching in Velas, and tribal art trekking in Jawhar, and it is not the typical weekend holiday.

Each of the routes will allow experiencing something new and having once more a taste of the beauty of lesser-known parts of India.

Therefore, next time you need to take a break from the city buzz, instead of the standard solutions you are used to, attempt one of these atypical traveling arrangements.

There is just a few hours’ distance between Mumbai and adventure, culture, and peace.