Pune, the cultural capital city of Maharashtra, is known for its pleasant weather, delectable cuisine, and amazing tourist locations. Not only in Pune, but there are also many weekend getaways nearby this city that one can explore. People living in Pune or passing through this city should take out some time to explore these wonderful destinations. If you are seeking a few perfect weekend getaway destinations close to Pune that you can visit with your family and friends, you have come to the right place. We have handpicked for you some of the most popular travel destinations near Pune that you shouldn’t miss

Lavasa is a beautiful city in Maharashtra that’s encircled by the majestic Western Ghats. It is the first privately planned city in the country and is situated along the Warasgaon lake. Lavasa is extremely beautiful, calm and serene and experiences wonderful weather all year long. The city is owned and developed by the Hindustan construction company, and has been designed while taking inspiration from the beautiful Italian city of Portofino. There are so many things to do and see while visiting Lavasa. Some of the popular tourist destinations here are the Promenade, Tikona fort, Ghangad fort, and Temghar Dam. Kayaking, paragliding, trekking and jet skiing are just a few of the activities available here for adventure sports enthusiasts. Lavasa is also a popular pick amongst newly engaged couples as their pre-wedding shoot picture destination

Lonavala is a popular tourist attraction destination near Pune that’s known for its scenic beauty. This hill station has so much to offer its visitors including majestic waterfalls, lush green valleys, clear lakes, and ancient forts and caves. The city is brimmed with tourists throughout the year, hence, has a good variety of hotels and lodging facilities that can meet your budget easily. Lonavala is the perfect city for you if you wish to take a quick break from your hectic lifestyle, escape the noise and crowd of the metro city and enjoy some peace and tranquillity. While the weather here is beautiful all the time, the best time to visit Lonavala is during monsoon as the beauty of this hill station is significantly increased. Some of the most popular tourist spots in Lonavala are the Bhaja caves, Bhushi Dam, Duke’s nose, Kune falls, Lion’s point, Pawna lake, Della adventure park and Rajmachy fort.

Located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, Karjat is an ideal weekend getaway destination near Pune city. This hidden gem promises its visitors pleasant weather, beautiful waterfalls, luscious green beauty, posh farmhouses, and fascinating caves. Karjat is well-connected to Pune city and can be reached via road as well as railway easily. There are so many wonderful places to explore in Karjat such as Peth fort, Kondana caves, Ulhas valley, Kondeshwara temple, and Bhivpuri waterfall. Karat is also home to ND’s film world, the film studio spanning over 43 acres, where popular Bollywood movies such as Bajirao Mastani, Prem ratan dhan payo, and Jodha Akbar were filmed. Adventure enthusiasts can visit Karjat for activities like trekking, mountain climbing, zip lining, and paragliding.

Khandala is a beautiful and popular tourist destination near Pune frequented by tourists from all over the country. Lonavala will make an ideal weekend getaway because of its beautiful landscape, lush green meadows and crystal clear lakes. Khandala is also visited very close to the popular hill station of Lonavala, just a distance of 3 kms. If you want to take a break from your monotonous city life and just unwind in the lap of nature, Khandala is the perfect destination for you. While this hill station is blessed with pleasant weather throughout the year, its beauty knows no bounds during monsoon. The city is easily accessible and can be reached via road and railways. Some of the popular tourist spots in Khandala that you must visit are Lohagad fort, Bhaja caves, shooting point, reversing station, Bedsa caves, Shingroba temple, and Rajmachi fort. One of the things that make Khandala really popular amongst tourists is the rock formations found here. The shivlinga rock, also known as Swayambhu, is a good example of it which attracts tourists in large numbers.

Panchgani is our final choice for the best weekend vacation spots nearby Pune. Panchgani, a hill statikn in Maharashtra’s Satara district, is encircled by five Sahyadri hills. This charming hill town, which is surrounded by the grandeur of nature used to be the British people’s summer capital. Parsi Point, Kaas Plateau, Table Land, and Sydney Point are a few of the well-liked tourist destinations in Panchgani. This city is a perfect place to catch a break and unwind and relax for the weekend.

Going on a weekend getaway is the perfect way to rejuvenate yourself and prepare yourself for the upcoming week. While there are many places close to Pune where you can spend a quick vacation either alone or with family and friends, the five destinations are our top picks.