side trips from Mumbai and a week elsewhere

hannahbw · May 13th, 2008, 11:42

So the semester's finally over and I'm making all my last-minute preparations for my upcoming trip to Mumbai. I'll be staying in Mumbai for 8 weeks, June 7 until August 7-ish, and want to see as much as possible while I'm there.

First question: There's a chance that I'll be working only 3 days/week and so it might be possible for me to take extended weekend trips using Mumbai as a base. If this is so, what would you recommend? I want to go to Matheran, but I'm not sure what else is within weekend-trip distance of the city.

Second question: At the end of my time in Mumbai I have 7-10 days off to travel. Should I fly to Delhi and do the Golden Triangle? Go south from Mumbai to Kerala? Go somewhere more exotic, like Leh? I realize these are the ultimate questions

but I've never been to India before and I am just overwhelmed by the possibilities. I also never miss an opportunity to have someone else make up my mind for me.

Advice much appreciated! You've all given me such great guidance so far. Thanks.

xiaojie · May 13th, 2008, 15:17

Hi there..Welcome to Mumbai.

Check out the bottom of this webpage where you will find replies to similar threads..)

AvidTrekker · May 13th, 2008, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannahbw

First question: There's a chance that I'll be working only 3 days/week and so it might be possible for me to take extended weekend trips using Mumbai as a base.

WOW !! I am sure many Mumbai folks envy your schedule and freedom. Three day work day and four day week end. WOW !!!

The possibilities are limitless. Xiaojie has given you a very good tip. Lots of good treks around as well.
.
.

hannahbw · May 14th, 2008, 01:58

Thanks for pointing me to those threads. I'm rapidly accumulating a long list of places to see. I definitely want to go to Matheran, Lonavla, and maybe Nashik. Are Mahabaleshwar and Malshej Ghat fun places to go during the monsoon? Which of the other major cities are worth a weekend side-trip (Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur)?

Another question I have is whether getting to these places might be more difficult during the summer because of the rains. I know the toy train to Matheran is up and running again, but are there other difficulties I should be aware of?

Thanks a lot. I'm so excited to be coming.

AvidTrekker · May 14th, 2008, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannahbw

Thanks for pointing me to those threads. I'm rapidly accumulating a long list of places to see. I definitely want to go to Matheran, Lonavla, and maybe Nashik. Are Mahabaleshwar and Malshej Ghat fun places to go during the monsoon? Which of the other major cities are worth a weekend side-trip (Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur)?

Another question I have is whether getting to these places might be more difficult during the summer because of the rains. I know the toy train to Matheran is up and running again, but are there other difficulties I should be aware of?

Thanks a lot. I'm so excited to be coming.

All of these are fun places. Matheran is total fun. We go climbing up as it is the best season to go drenching wet.

Try and avoid Malshej Ghat on Saturdays and Sundays ONLY during the monsoon. It has become far too popular and lots of beer swilling rowdy men spoil the perfect bliss of the waterfalls and lush jungles. Weekdays are fine and tou will have no other picnickers around. We go trekking to the mountains above, they are far from bothering us. We see them on the way and shudder to think of the popularization of this lovely spot.

The monsoon is when we trekkers go crazy and go trekking every single weekend. Its so much fun.

Welcome to Mumbai and have FUN !!

If its not something illegal

, could you educate us on how to get 4-day weekends please ??

shahronakm · May 14th, 2008, 13:49

Bhandardara in monsoons would be awesome.

Ronak.

hannahbw · May 16th, 2008, 10:52

if you work for free, it's easier to justify taking four-day weekends...

of course, then it's hardly a job, is it?

spicetrekker · May 16th, 2008, 11:56

Well if you have 4 day week-ends then there a lot of options:
Beaches
Kashid, Ali Baug, Murud, HariHareshwar, Ganpatiphule, Ratnagiri... all the way down till Vengural
Forts: Number of them - Prtapgad, Daulatabad etc
Hills: Many short treks possible: Try and get a copy of Harish Kapadia's book or join one of the many trek groups in Mumbai for eg Chakram Hikers
Other Intresting Spots: Lonar (a huge meteoric crater), Bhandarara and Konkan Kada, Ajanata, Ellora, Elephanta Caves...
Religious/Spiritual: Nasik, Shirdi, Ashta Vinayak (8 temples dedicated to Ganpati) and many more...
Try and buy the 52 weekends from Mumbai and the Harish Kapadia's book

As for the question towards the end of your stay what do you do with the 7-10 days you have - frankly it depends on what you like. My suggestion though is that in the time you have during your work week (and I am sooo jealosu of your weekends

) that you can see a lot of Maharashtra and may be even a shorttrip to Goa, so you should either go to Delhi and spend sometime doing the Golden Triangle which will give you a very different experience compared to Maharashtra/Goa. The other option is you pick-up a few destinations in South of India.

BTW for Maharashtra see this site http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/

May 13th, 2008, 11:42	#1
hannahbw Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7	side trips from Mumbai and a week elsewhere So the semester's finally over and I'm making all my last-minute preparations for my upcoming trip to Mumbai. I'll be staying in Mumbai for 8 weeks, June 7 until August 7-ish, and want to see as much as possible while I'm there. First question: There's a chance that I'll be working only 3 days/week and so it might be possible for me to take extended weekend trips using Mumbai as a base. If this is so, what would you recommend? I want to go to Matheran, but I'm not sure what else is within weekend-trip distance of the city. Second question: At the end of my time in Mumbai I have 7-10 days off to travel. Should I fly to Delhi and do the Golden Triangle? Go south from Mumbai to Kerala? Go somewhere more exotic, like Leh? I realize these are the ultimate questions but I've never been to India before and I am just overwhelmed by the possibilities. I also never miss an opportunity to have someone else make up my mind for me. Advice much appreciated! You've all given me such great guidance so far. Thanks.

May 14th, 2008, 13:49	#6
shahronakm Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,448	Bhandardara in monsoons would be awesome. Ronak. __________________ My Picture Gallery

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May 13th, 2008, 15:17	#2
xiaojie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: China Posts: 86	Hi there..Welcome to Mumbai. Check out the bottom of this webpage where you will find replies to similar threads..)

May 14th, 2008, 01:58	#4
hannahbw Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7	Thanks for pointing me to those threads. I'm rapidly accumulating a long list of places to see. I definitely want to go to Matheran, Lonavla, and maybe Nashik. Are Mahabaleshwar and Malshej Ghat fun places to go during the monsoon? Which of the other major cities are worth a weekend side-trip (Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur)? Another question I have is whether getting to these places might be more difficult during the summer because of the rains. I know the toy train to Matheran is up and running again, but are there other difficulties I should be aware of? Thanks a lot. I'm so excited to be coming.

May 16th, 2008, 10:52	#7
hannahbw Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7	if you work for free, it's easier to justify taking four-day weekends... of course, then it's hardly a job, is it?

May 16th, 2008, 11:56	#8
spicetrekker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 297	Well if you have 4 day week-ends then there a lot of options: Beaches Kashid, Ali Baug, Murud, HariHareshwar, Ganpatiphule, Ratnagiri... all the way down till Vengural Forts: Number of them - Prtapgad, Daulatabad etc Hills: Many short treks possible: Try and get a copy of Harish Kapadia's book or join one of the many trek groups in Mumbai for eg Chakram Hikers Other Intresting Spots: Lonar (a huge meteoric crater), Bhandarara and Konkan Kada, Ajanata, Ellora, Elephanta Caves... Religious/Spiritual: Nasik, Shirdi, Ashta Vinayak (8 temples dedicated to Ganpati) and many more... Try and buy the 52 weekends from Mumbai and the Harish Kapadia's book As for the question towards the end of your stay what do you do with the 7-10 days you have - frankly it depends on what you like. My suggestion though is that in the time you have during your work week (and I am sooo jealosu of your weekends ) that you can see a lot of Maharashtra and may be even a shorttrip to Goa, so you should either go to Delhi and spend sometime doing the Golden Triangle which will give you a very different experience compared to Maharashtra/Goa. The other option is you pick-up a few destinations in South of India. BTW for Maharashtra see this site http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/

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