Phaltan: Maharashtra’s brand new weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune

Get past Matheran and Mahabaleshwar. Maharashtra has a brand new holiday spot!

Maharashtra never ceases to surprise even the most seasoned travelers. And the state is a lot bigger than you’d like to think (ever traveled inland from the coast?) Indeed, Maharashtra is as diverse as India with its cuisine and landscape changing by almost every hour. One moment you are looking at traffic jams on city roads and the very next you are on a forest road flanked by tall trees. Sometimes you are driving through a plain vast grassland and the very next instant you find yourself twisting and turning on a ghat. One instant you are facing the wrath of heavy rains and just a few minutes later, you enter a dry, rain shadow area with dry roads. During the monsoon, Maharashtra treats you with natural beauty like no other state in the country. From serene lakes amidst vast stretches of greenery to cloudy skies with mesmerizing horizons, every landscapes seduces you and brings you closer to nature. One such place tucked away in the interiors of Maharashtra is Phaltan. (ALSO SEE Weekend getaways from Mumbai)

Located 50 km from Satara city, Phaltan is a small city in the Satara district in south central Maharashtra. While Satara receives heavy rainfall during monsoon making it extremely difficult to enjoy any tourist attractions, Phaltan is quite different. While Phaltan enjoys cloudy skies and pleasant weather, it does not rain too heavily here making it the perfect monsoon getaway. A drive from Mumbai will get you to Phaltan in 4-5 hours while Pune is just a convenient two-hour drive.

Things to do in Phaltan

Phaltan is synonymous with natural beauty and pleasant, soothing atmosphere. While here, you can enjoy nature at its very best. The best way to make your visit memorable is to stay with Jakson Inns, the only three-star hotel in this region which actually offers you a luxurious stay similar to five-star properties elsewhere in the country.

Jakson Inns also plans tours for you to explore the nearby tourist attractions which are not to be missed. These include:

A visit to the nearby pomegranate farms

You can take a walk and check out tons of pomegranate produce on the vast farms. A local farmer associated with Jakson Inns is kind enough to give you a tour and also invite you to his home. They will also send you back with some fresh pomegranates.

A slice of history at the Rajwada Palace

Home to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s first wife Sai Bai, the Rajwada Palace or Mudhoji Manmohan Rajwada is short 30-minute drive from Jakson Inns. You can take a tour inside the palace and admire the marvelous architecture with long corridors and huge balconies. The furniture, chandeliers, carpets and paintings will take you back in time.

A picnic amidst nature at Pussegaon windmills

About an hour’s drive away from Jakson Inns are the amazing Pussegoan windmills where you can stand under these mammoth structures and see how big they really are. The location is such that you will see vast stretches of greenery with the wind blowing in your hair. The Jakson staff will pack a picnic basket for you so you can make a day out of your trip to this spectacular location. (CHECK OUT Weekend getaways from Pune)

Get amazed by the gushing Thosegar waterfalls

Photograph courtesy: Jakson Inns

If you like waterfalls, then you will love Thosegarh! One small and one huge waterfall awaits you at Thosegar which is a fairly popular tourist attraction in the region. It takes you 2 hours to get to The falls from the hotel but it is totally worth it as the drive is simply stunning. You will pass through lush green hills and when you finally reach the falls, you will blown away by the sheer magnificence of the sight. Add to that the sound of water falling from such a height and you feel scared and astonished at the same time.

A drive to Kaas plateau, Maharashtra’s valley of flowers

Photograph: Jakson Inns

One of the most scenic drives in Maharashtra is the one that leads to Kaas, Maharashtra’s own valley of flowers. The twisting and turning roads amidst beautiful green grass lands and a weather that just refuses to let you leave will make your Kaas visit memorable. And of course there are the flowers which, when in bloom, are a stunning sight by themselves.

Apart from these, you can also visit the nearby Sajjangadh and Ajinkyatara fort for a great view of the city.

Gaurav Kavathekar/Creative Commons

Why visit Phaltan

Photograph: Jakson Inns

When you think of weekend getaways from Mumbai and Pune, you think of places like Lonavala, Khandala, Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, Alibaug and a few others. Most of these places have become too commercial and crowded thanks to their growing popularity. They now fall under the category of cliched holiday spots. However, Phaltan is a name not many have even heard of. It is relatively unexplored and deserves your attention. It has all the makings of a fantastic holiday destination where you can have a rejuvenating experience amidst nature away from the hustle-bustle of the city. And with an option like Jakson Inns that offers a comfortable stay and memorable experience at such an affordable price (starting Rs 3500 per night exclusive of taxes), you can certainly put Phaltan on your weekend holiday bucket list!

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