Best places to visit from Mumbai: Picturesque locations to explore

Mumbai, known as the “City of Dreams”, has major tourist attractions worth visiting. However, for a great weekend getaway, you can plan a 3 day trip from Mumbai To any of the destinations mentioned in the well-arranged list below. Choosing any of these places will be a break from your monotonous life. There are plenty of sightseeing options in these destinations that are serene, beautiful, ancient and symbolic. Some tourist attractions also offer engaging activities that will keep you entertained. Read on to know the details.

6 Best Places for 3 Day Trip from Mumbai

Here is a compiled list of the best options for a 3 day trip from Mumbai. You can select any of the mentioned places and plan your itinerary accordingly.

1. Aurangabad

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Aurangabad, officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, is situated in a hilly area on the river Kaum. The city houses Bibi Ka Maqbara, a replica of the Taj Mahal, which is the mausoleum of Rabia-ul-Daurani, the wife of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. One can visit Gul Mandi for retail therapy and buy the famous Himru shawls. To spend quality time with the family, one can plan a picnic at Siddharth Garden, which also has a zoo and an aquarium in its premises.

When tourists are in Aurangabad, they like to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites- Ajanta and Ellora Caves, which are near Aurangabad, on their 3 days trip from Mumbai by car. An important difference between the two caves is that the Ajanta caves are predominantly Buddhist sites, whereas the Ellora caves are a mix of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sites.

Best time to visit: November to February
Distance from Mumbai: 325.5 km
Must try: Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisine
Other Attractions: Daulatabad Fort, Grishneshwar Temple, Aurangabad Caves, Salim Ali Lake

Must read: 42 Best Resorts Near Mumbai For A Quick Relaxing Vacation

2. Lonavala & Khandala

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Located in the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, Lonavala and its twin Khandala are picturesque hill stations in Maharashtra. The cozy hill stations are surrounded by lush green valleys, cascading waterfalls, ancient caves and enchanting lakes, which make you feel close to nature. Both the hill stations are worth visiting during the monsoon season, where one can enjoy local street food while getting drenched in the rain.

There are a lot of sightseeing places where you should visit such as Rajmachi Fort, Tiger Leap, Bhaja and Karla Caves, Bhushi Dam, Duke’s Nose, Kune Waterfalls, Lohagarh Fort, Bedsa Caves and Shooting Point. Apart from these breathtaking places, one can visit religious places like Shingroba Temple, Ekvira Devi Temple, Bhairavnath Temple, Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple and Narayani Dham Temple. Lonavala and Khandala can be easily visited together in a 3 day trip.

Best time to visit: september to january
Distance from Mumbai: 95 km and 91 km respectively
Must try: Vada Pav, Bhajiya, Meethi Chikki
Other Attractions: Pavana Lake, Adlabs Imagica, Aamby Valley

3. Matheran

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A quaint hill station in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, Matheran literally means “forest on the forehead.” It is an ideal weekend holiday destination for the people of Mumbai and Pune. Explore beautiful places like Charlotte Lake, Monkey Point, Dhodani Waterfalls, Louisa Point, Panorama Point, Shivaji Staircase, Echo Point and Porcupine Point. One can take spiritual halt at Pisharnath Mahadev Temple and Ambernath Temple. The ancient forts of Matheran include Irshalgarh Fort, Vikatgarh Peb Fort and Prabal Fort. All these places can be visited on a 3 day trip from Mumbai with family.

The Neral-Matheran toy train which connects Neral to Matheran runs twice daily. It offers spectacular views of the mountains. However, train services remain suspended during the monsoon season, i.e. from June to October.

Best time to visit: April to May and October to January
Distance from Mumbai: 65 km
Must try: Kokum Sharbat, Vada Pav, Kebab
Other Attractions: Paymaster Park

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4. Shirdi

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Shirdi, situated in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, is a spiritual place for pilgrims. It is known as the home of Sai Baba, affectionately known as the ‘Son of God’. This holy place has many religious places like Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple), Lendi Bagh, Dwarkamai, Gurusthan, Khandoba Temple, Abdul Baba’s Kutiya, Samadhi Temple and Chavadi. There are many shops nearby selling photographs, paintings and sculptures of Sai Baba, which can be taken home as souvenirs.

Apart from the religious sites, there is a Sai Heritage Village, which is an artificial village with life-like statues depicting scenes from Sai Baba’s lifetime. A devotional theme park dedicated to Baba, known as Sai Tirtha, features a mini-train temple ride to India’s ten most important temples as well as robotic, laser, acrobatic and 5-D shows.

Best time to visit: October to February
Distance from Mumbai: 240 km
Must try: Langar at Sri Sai Prasadalaya, which includes a solar-powered kitchen
Other Attractions: Shani Shingnapur

5. Kolhapur

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Located in the south-western part of Maharashtra, Kolhapur is famous for Kolhapuri slippers, jaggery, masala and saj (necklaces). It is known as the “Kashi of the South” as the city has many temples like Sri Mahalakshmi Temple, Jyotiba Temple, Kopeshwar Temple and Binakhambi Ganesh Temple. People interested in history can head to the ancient Panhala Fort which has a serpentine structure, due to which it is called the “Fort of Snakes”.

To know the history of Kolhapur in depth, one can visit the Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Museum, which exhibits various items owned by the Kolhapur rulers. The picturesque Rankala Lake, often called the “Marine Drive of Kolhapur”, offers boating and horse riding facilities. Bhavani Mandap is a major historical site within the limits of Kolhapur, which houses a life-size statue of Shahu Maharaj and a temple of Goddess Tulja Bhavani.

Best time to visit: November to February
Distance from Mumbai: 376.8 km
Must try: Kolhapuri Misal, Zunka Bhakri with Thecha, Rajabhau Bhel
Other Attractions: Radhanagari Dam, Kaneri Math, Vishalgarh Fort

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6. Ganpatipule

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Ganpatipule is a picturesque town located along the Konkan coast in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The destination is famous for its beaches and temples. The name of the town comes from a folktale that the elephant god Ganapati shifted his residence from Gule to Pule, hence it was named Ganapatipule.

Ganpatipule Beach is a beautiful place, famous for its breathtaking sunset and activities like paragliding, motorboat and paddle boat rides, water scooters and camel rides. The famous Swayambhu Ganapati temple houses an idol of Lord Ganapati, said to have originated from himself, seated on a lion. The ancient Jaigarh Fort is now in ruins but some of the architecture has stood the test of time and is a must-see. The complex has temples of Lord Ganesha and Hanuman, the palace of Kanhoji Angre and a lighthouse near the fort.

Best time to visit: October to March
Distance from Mumbai: 337.6 km
Must try: Modak, Kokum Kadi, Fish Curry
Other Attractions: Hedavi Ganesh Temple and Beach, Velneshwar, Malgund, Pavas

read ahead: 22 monsoon trekking destinations near Mumbai and Pune

Now that you have a list of places to visit on a 3 day trip from Mumbai, bookmark it for your next trip. Pack your bags and visit any of the above mentioned places with your loved ones soon! If you are not in Maharashtra, check out our Mumbai tour packages and plan a longer trip that can cover the film capital of India and places around it.

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FAQs About 3 Day Trip From Mumbai

Where should I go for a 3 day holiday from Mumbai?

Some of the best places for a 3 day trip in India from Mumbai are:
1. Aurangabad
2. Lonavala & Khandala
3. Ganpatipule
4. Kolhapur
5. Shirdi
6. Matheran

What are the major festivals celebrated in Shirdi?

Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashami are the major festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm in Shirdi.

Which is the best hill station near Mumbai?

Lonavala is considered a favorite hill station near Mumbai among the locals and tourists.

Where to stay in Lonavala?

Some of the accommodation options in Lonavala are:
1. Farias Resort Lonavala
2. Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa
3. Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala
4. Mizal Exotica Lonavala
5. Nostravilla

Which is the best place to visit near Mumbai in monsoon?

Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Igatpuri, Matheran and Panchgani are some of the best places to visit near Mumbai during monsoon.

What places can be seen in a 3 day trip from Mumbai for couples?

Couples can visit Matheran, Lonavala, Khandala, Satara, Mahabaleshwar, Karjat, Lavasa and any other delightful hill station.

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