7 Weekend Getaways From Pune You Can’t Miss

Pune, the city that often gets called the Oxford of the East, wakes up with university mornings, chai stalls, and late-night hostel talks. But it’s also buzzing with office calls, traffic jams, and people chasing big dreams in one of India’s busiest tech hubs.

Yes, the city has its own charm. Cafés, old forts, evening hangouts. But the best part about Pune is this: drive an hour or two and it all fades. You leave behind the noise, and suddenly, you're surrounded by hills, lakes and waves. You start to breathe a little easier.

These aren’t just weekend getaways near Pune. They’re small escapes that remind you how good it feels to pause. And maybe even get a bit lost on the way. Here’s a list of roadtrips from Pune. Quick drives that somehow feel like much more than just a weekend.

To start the list, a classic serves the best. It has to be Lonavala. It is indeed Maharashtra’s favourite hill station. Lonavala is wrapped in green, especially during the rains, and is perfect for weekend comfort with a dash of thrill. Watch the waterfalls roar at Bhushi Dam, trek to Karla or Bhaja Caves, or take in the sweeping views from Tiger’s Leap.

Craving more? Spend the day at Della Adventure Park for ziplining, ATV rides and glamping. And when it’s time to wind down, Bloom Hotel - Lonavala Khandala is the stay that fits right into the mood. Hill-station calm, and comfort that feels earned after a day of adventure.

Also, never leave without a roadside bhajiya that feels extra delicious during good weather.

Just off the Lonavala route, Lohagad Fort is one of those treks that gives more than it asks for. It’s an easy climb with misty forest paths and slippery stone steps. The top greets you with moss-covered ruins and winds that carry stories.

From the ramparts, you’ll see Pavana Lake stretching far below, silver and silent. Once used as Shivaji’s treasury fort, Lohagad is less a hike and more a slow walk into history, one that you'll love every step of.

Twin hill stations that feel like they’ve stepped out of a storybook. Start in Panchgani with its wide Table Land, one of the largest plateaus in Asia. Then glide through strawberry farms, sip mulberry syrups, and head into Mahabaleshwar for misty corners, breathtaking viewpoints like Elephant’s Head, and the sweet scent of Mapro Garden.

These places are perfect for couples, families, or just a solo reset. Calm, cloudy, and made for slow mornings and longer evenings.

The road to Malshej Ghat is a monsoon dream. Foggy curves, waterfall streaks, and roadside monkeys that demand attention. When the clouds lift, the views are endless.

Catch reverse waterfalls, where gusts of wind blow streams skyward, or stop by Pimpalgaon Joga Dam, a huge lake that reflects the changing skies. Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj, is nearby if history calls you.

This one is for those who want stillness, stars, and the kind of views that make you put your phone away. Deep in the Sahyadris, Bhandardara is all about lakes, waterfalls, and open skies. Visit Randha Falls, Umbrella Falls, and let Arthur Lake quiet your thoughts. Trek to Ratangad Fort or brave the climb to Mount Kalsubai, the tallest peak in Maharashtra. If you go during pre-monsoon, the fireflies will keep you company at night, making you nostalgic for a time when fireflies felt like an everyday magic.

A view straight out of a postcard? This is a lesser-known route that’s pure drama in the rains. Tamhini Ghat weaves through hills drenched in green, where waterfalls appear out of nowhere and the fog feels like a movie set.

Stop by Mulshi Lake — wide, still, and perfect for a roadside chai break. There’s nothing loud or curated here. Just wet air, forest silence, and the occasional eagle flying low.

The name itself is something you’ve probably heard in films, even if you haven’t been. And when you start craving sea salt over mountain mist, Alibaug is your coastal calling. You can either drive down or hop on a ferry from Mumbai. Once you arrive, time starts to slow. Walk along Kashid Beach, visit Kolaba Fort during low tide, or just sit by the water with a fish thali in front of you and the sea in your ears.

Want something different? Try a yacht ride along the Alibaug coast. It’s a fun way to see the shoreline and feel the Arabian breeze. It’s not Goa. It doesn’t try to be. It’s quieter, more personal. And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of escape you need.

These weekend trips from Pune shake you out of the usual. City noise becomes mountain stillness. Deadlines make way for slow sunsets. Meetings get replaced with moments that don’t need a clock. They aren’t just about where you go. They’re some of the best road travel experiences in the country, winding through the Western Ghats and showing you Maharashtra in its truest form — wild hills, quiet lakes, ancient forts, and beaches that ask nothing of you.

And honestly? What makes them stick with you isn’t just the places. It’s the fog curling around your car. The chai that hits different at a nameless stall. The playlist that somehow feels just right. The laughs, the silences, the feeling that for once, time moved your way. This is what a proper 2 days trip near Pune can do. In just a weekend, you come back a little lighter. A little clearer. Like your weekend gave you more than you thought it could.