9 Best Hill Stations near Kolhapur

Perched at an altitude of 1,353 m in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar is one of the popular hill stations in Maharashtra, and among the best places to visit near Pune & Mumbai. It is about 123 km from Pune, and 243 km from Mumbai. It is one of the must include places in Maharashtra tour packages.

Known for its lovely views, beautiful landscapes, and pleasant weather, Mahabaleshwar is often referred to as the queen of hill stations in Maharashtra. It boasts of many tourist attractions including Pratapgarh Fort, Venna Lake, Mahabaleshwar Mandir, Krishnabai Temple, Lingamala Falls, and Panchgani. Several viewpoints are strategically located here to capture the panoramic views created by the majestic Sahyadri Mountains and deep valleys. Arthur's Seat, Wilson Point, Kate's Point, Elephant Head Point, and Bombay Point are some popular viewpoints you must include in Mahabaleshwar packages.

Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna River. Four other rivers also flow from here, before they merge into the Krishna; these are Koyana, Venna, Savitri, and Gayatri. Also, it is famous for the cultivation of strawberries and mulberries.

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Situated at an altitude of 622 m in the Sahyadri Range, Lonavala is a beautiful hill station in the Pune district of Maharashtra. It is one of the top hill stations you must include in Maharashtra tour packages and among the best tourist places to visit near Mumbai & Pune. It is located about 67 km from Pune, and 95 km from Mumbai.

Lonavala has several tourist places in the form of caves, lakes, forts and waterfalls. Lohagad Fort, Rajmachi Point, Bhushi Dam, Kune Waterfalls, Karla Caves, Tikona Fort, Visapur Fort, Bedsa Caves and Tung Fort are some of the best places to include in Lonavala tour packages.

The twin hill stations of Lonavala and Khandala are the most popular monsoon getaways in India. The best time to visit Lonavala and Khandala is during the monsoon, between July - September when the scenic spots become lush green and the waterfalls are in full flow.

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Panchgani or Paachgani is a picturesque hill station in Maharashtra. Situated 104 km from Pune and 254 km from Mumbai, it is one of the must include places in Maharashtra tour packages, and among the famous scenic places to visit near Kolhapur.

Situated at an altitude of 1334 m, Panchgani is nestled in the middle of five hills in the Sahyadri mountain ranges. It is one of the top hill stations near Pune & Mumbai. Mahabaleshwar was the summer resort of choice for the British, but it was uninhabitable during the monsoons. Panchgani was developed as a retirement place for the British as it remained pleasant throughout the year. It is also said that, during Vanavasa, the Pandavas spent some time in Panchgani and the cave where they stayed in the famous Devil's Kitchen, among the most popular sightseeing places in Panchgani.

Panchgani has several beautiful tourist attractions. Table Land, Parsi Point, Kamalgadh Fort, Devil's Kitchen, Rajpuri Caves, Sydney Point, Mapro Gardens, Dhom dam, etc. are some of the major sightseeing places to visit as part of Panchgani tour packages. Panchgani is dotted with British style old bungalows and Parsi houses.

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Located near the confluence of the River Krishna,and the River Venna, Satara is one of the famous places to visit in Maharashtra in monsoon and among the top places to visit near Pune.

Situated at an altitude of 2320 feet, it is a base station to several tourist destinations like Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani. The district of Satara is lined with amazing temples and forts. The Ajinkyatara Fort is the major historical fort in Satara and was built by Raja Bhoj. About 3,000 feet high, the fort was once an important line of defense in southern Maharashtra, and now among the must-visit places as part of Satara tour packages.

Satara is another popular attraction not to miss in a Mahabaleshwar packages. The Kaas Lake, Kaas Plateau, Thosegarh Falls, Gare Ganapathi Temple, Koteshwar Mandir, and the Abhayankar Vishnu Temple are some important places to visit in Satara.

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At a distance of 28 km from Mahabaleshwar, Tapola, famously called the Mini Kashmir of the West, is a rural hamlet with a magnificent Shivsagar Lake in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the famous tourist places to visit near Mahabaleshwar.

Tapola is situated at the convergence of the rivers of Koyna and Solshi. The primary attraction in Tapola is the Shivsagar Lake, a 90 km long water body infact the reservoir of the Koyna dam. The Koyna Dam is one of the biggest in Maharashtra and the Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric power plant of India. The lake offers boating, water scooter rides, kayaking and swimming.

Jungle treks from Tapola are very popular with trekkers. There are many unknown forts in the dense forest around the lake in Tapola like Vasota and Jaygad. Tapola is also the base village to the Vasota fort famous for the arduous jungle trek. Vasota located within the Koyna wild life sanctuary is cut off from civilization and can be reached only in a boat. The permit for the trek can be procured from Bamnoli.

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At a distance of 109 km from Kolhapur, 88 km from Panjim, 68 km from Belgaum, Amboli is a hill station in Maharashtra situated at an altitude of 690 m (2000 ft). It is the last hill station before the coastal highlands of Goa, and amog the top places to visit near Kolhapur.

This hill station forms the southern range of the Sahyadri Hills. The Konkan coast lies on one side of Amboli, whereas valleys are found on the other three sides. A British Colonel Westrop made a major contribution to the development of Amboli as a hill station.

Amboli is an idyllic hill station that comes alive in monsoon when the area is abounding with waterfalls and mist. Amboli is receiving an annual rainfall of about 750 cm, the wettest region in Maharashtra.

The best time to visit Amboli is between October and February when the waterfalls can be seen gushing down from the hills. The sunset point, Amboli Waterfall, the origin of Hiranyakeshi River, Shirgaonkar Falls, Nagatta falls are worth visiting. The Hiranyakeshi River originates from a cave adjacent to the Hiranyakeshi temple and flows out from the 'Kund'. The Mahadevgad Fort is about 3 km from Amboli. The Nagatta Falls is an excellent location for picnics and relaxing. Amboli has many viewpoints, like the Sea View Point, the Kavelsad Point, the Parikshit Point, and the Mahadevgad Point. Located 10 km from Amboli, the Bauxite Mines are another attraction.

Rickshaws, ...

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At a distance of 60 km from Pune,and 109 km from Lonavala, Lavasa is a picturesque planned hill resort located in the Pune district of Maharashtra. It is one of the most preferred weekend getaways for people in Maharashtra, and among the must-include places in Pune tour packages.

Spreading across 7 hills, covering an area of 25000 acres in the Mulshi Valley, Lavasa is a perfect blend of beauty and infrastructure that is being developed by HCC. The plans for this private township were unveiled by Ajit Gulabchand in 2006, and is claimed to be India's first planned hill station since independence. Modeled on the Italian town of Portofino, this modern day hill station is an enjoyable retreat for all its visitors and has a lot to offer to its tourists from picturesque sceneries to an extremely well-developed infrastructure including hotels, resorts, educational institutes, malls, residential property, IT companies etc.

Lies at an altitude of 640 m, this incomplete city has been controversial for multiple reasons including procurement of land, harm to the environment, and loans acquired through political corruption. In late 2010, the Indian Environment and Forests Ministry ordered that construction cease because the project violated environmental laws. As of 2023, a resolution plan has been approved by the National Company Law Tribunal, with Darwin Platform Infrastructure Ltd being declared as the successful bidder responsible ...

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At a distance of 57 km from Panjim, and 139 km from Kolhapur, Sawantwadi is a scenic town situated in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Situated on the National Highway (NH17) that connects Mumbai and Goa, it is one of the most scenic places to visit near Kolhapur.

The small picturesque town of Sawantwadi is situated amidst the Sahyadri Hills and the Arabian Sea. Located in the vicinity of Moti Lake, it is well known for the centuries-old traditional art of making wooden toys, Ganjifas (the name given to an ancient card game), and Laquerware. It is popular stop for people commuting to Mumbai or Goa for refreshment and rest.

The 2 storied Royal Palace of Sawantwadi is truly an architectural masterpiece that effortlessly merges the English arches with the native workmanship and the vibrant red laterite stones. The Palace has a beautiful façade square at the center covered with an immaculate lawn and is surrounded with rooms on all four sides which is now converted into a museum in 2005 by Lt. Her Highness Rajmata Satvashiladevi Bhonsle. The museum houses photographs and paintings of the Royal family, Coronation of the kings over the years, artworks by king and queen, furniture used by the family, sculptures collected by the royal family and our very own Ganjifa Playing Cards.

While in Sawantwadi, visitors can visit Chitarali to buy wooden toys as well as other handicraft items including jewellery ...

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At a distance of 61 km from Lonavala, and 79 km from Pune, Tamhini Ghat is a mountain passage located between the villages of Mulshi and Tamhini in Maharashtra, India. It is one of the stunning mountain passes in Maharashtra, and among the most scenic places to visit as part of Pune 2-Day Trip.

The Tamhini Ghat road cuts through the Sahyadri range to connect Mulshi to Tamhini, offering an enchanting route in Konkan from Pune. Spanning approximately 15 km, this captivating mountain pass is renowned for its picturesque and leisurely drives. While still a hidden gem, Tamhini Ghat is steadily gaining popularity as a weekend retreat from Mumbai and Pune.

Tamhini Ghat is celebrated for its stunning surroundings, expansive panoramic views, charming waterfalls, scenic lakes, and dense forests. This breathtaking mountain pass transforms into a lush green paradise during monsoon, adorned with numerous waterfalls and streams. Driving along the roads with sweeping vistas in the backdrop promises an unforgettable experience for visitors to Tamhini Ghat.

The captivating Tamhini Waterfall stands as the highlight of this mountain pass. Also known as the Valse, it tumbles down from considerable heights, forming a serene pool at its base. In addition to trekking, sightseeing, and picnicking, visitors can indulge in swimming or refreshing dips in the water. Andharban is one of the many viewpoints situated in the area, ...

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