Home » Travel » Hill Stations In Pune: 10 Top Pune Hill Station List

Hill Stations In Pune: 10 Top Pune Hill Station List

Staff Writer

August 2, 2018

Also known as the ‘Oxford of the East’, Pune is often described as the city of Knowledge. Housing more than hundred educational institutes and nine universities, Pune also has a number of complexes, shopping malls, multiplexes along with a vibrant and happening nightlife. Featuring a pleasant climate throughout the year, this city is a beautiful blend of different cultures interwoven into one, thus giving it the title of Maharashtra’s Cultural Capital. Situated by the banks of river Mutha, Pune is also famous for its Ganesha Utsav which is celebrated at a grand scale here. With its proximity to the city of dreams – Mumbai, Pune enjoys a lot of tourist attraction 365 days of the year.

10 Amazing Hill Stations In & Near Pune – 2019 List

Hill Stations Pune: Complete guide for Best Hill stations In & Near Pune 

1. Lonavla – Popular Hill in Pune

Popular among hikers and trekkers, this place is also frequented by people for social gatherings. A part of the resplendent green Sahyadri hills, Lonavla is one of the most sought-after weekend getaways located at a short distance of a one-hour drive from Pune.

Distance from the city: 66.7 km

Why Visit: Enveloped by the verdant and lively valleys of the Sahyadari hills, Lonavla houses many waterfalls, dams and lakes that overlook the scenic greenery that spreads across the hills. A true nature’s retreat, Lonavla beckons tourists from around the world.

Best Way To Get There:

By Road– Roads are one of the best ways to enjoy the trip. Stroll on the inter-connected serpentine paths while soaking in the divine view of the hills in the distance. You can travel from Pune to Lonavla via Mumbai-Pune Expressway by taking an exit from Khandala.
Cost of Driving to Lonavla: Rs.500 – 1000 (round)

By Flight – Lohegaon Airport in Pune is the closest airport located at a distance of 71.4 km from Lonavla. AirIndia, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara, AirAsia flights will fly to this airport.
Fares: Rs.3000 – 6000 (round)

By Train– Nearest Railway Station is Lonavla Railway Station.

• Goa Sampark Kranti Express (New Delhi)
• Deccan Express (Mumbai)
• Mumbai LTT – Karaikal Weekly Express (Chennai)
• Koyna Express (Mumbai)

Things To Do In Lonavla:

• Trekking
• Hiking
• Camping
• Adventure Activities

Also See: Things To Do in Lonavla

Places To Visit In Lonavla:

1. Bhaja Caves
2. Bushi Dam
3. Karla Caves
4. Rajmachi Fort
5. Ryewood Lake

Best Hotels In Lonavla:

• Lagoona Resort
• Treasure Island Resort
• Amby Valley Resort

2. Khandala – Beautiful Pune Hill Station

Situated along the Mumbai Pune route, Khandala is often visited along with Lonavla and Karjat. A common getaway  for hiking, Khandala is adorned with verdant green valleys, lush slopes, serene lakes and cascading waterfalls that make the environment at this place even livelier. Yes, it is the same Khandala that was mentioned in the popular song “Aati Kya Khandala?” from the 1998 action flick  – Ghulam.

Distance from the city: 71 km

Why Visit: Surrounded by beautiful green valleys, Khandala is a prominent weekend getaway frequented along with Pune, Lonavla, Mumbai and Karjat. Featuring a peaceful climate all-round the year, Khandala is home to a  variety of beautiful  flora that add to the mystic appeal of this place.

Best Way To Get There:

By Road– Connected by the beautiful pathways along the Mumbai Pune Expressway, the roads to Khandala offer you stupendous spectacles of the natural beauty that stretches across the hills visible on either side.

You can travel from Pune to Khandala via Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Cost of Driving to Khandala: Rs.500 – 1000 (round)

By Flight – Lohegaon Airport in Pune is the closest airport located at a distance of 75.7 km from Khandala. AirIndia, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara, AirAsia flights will fly to this airport.
Fares: Rs.3000 – 6000 (round)

By Train– Nearest Railway Station is Lonavla Railway Station.

• Goa Sampark Kranti Express (New Delhi)
• Deccan Express (Mumbai)
• Mumbai LTT – Karaikal Weekly Express (Chennai)
• Koyna Express (Mumbai)

Things To Do In Khandala:

• Hiking
• Shopping
• Exploring

Places To Visit In Khandala:

1. Shooting Point
2. Rajmachi Fort
3. The Shivlinga
4. Duke’s Nose
5. The Tiger’s Leap
6. Kune Waterfalls
7. Lohagad Fort

Best Hotels In Khandala:

• Aquilla Villa
• Hotel Chandralok
• Picaddle, The Luxury Boutique Resort

3. Panchgani – Quaint Hill in Pune

Enclosed by five hills on either side, Panchgani is a popular tourist destination mainly frequented by couples & groups. Located close to Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani is a quaint town that is perched at a height of 1334 mt above the sea level. Possessing a scenic charm, one gets to see the true beauty of nature here.

Distance from the city: 98.6 km

Why Visit: Featuring an unparalleled natural beauty and loads of strawberry farms, Panchgani has a moderate and pleasant climate throughout the year. The best time to visit Panchgani is right before the monsoon ends when the greens & foliage are at their full bloom and the air carries a sweet fragrance of the rain.

Best Way To Get There:

By Road– State transport buses from Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Mahabaleswar and Mahad ply to Panchgani very frequently. Else you can also drive to Panchgani.

You can travel from Pune to Panchgani via Jambhulwadi, Kapurhol, Sarola, Dhangarwadi and Surur.
Cost of Driving to Panchgani: Rs.500 – 1000 (round)

By Flight – Lohegaon Airport in Pune is the closest airport located at a distance of 111 km from Panchgani. AirIndia, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara, AirAsia flights will fly to this airport.
Fares: Rs.3000 – 6000 (round)

By Train– Nearest Railway Station is Pune Junction.

• Goa Express (New Delhi)
• Chennai Express (Mumbai)
• Chennai Ltt Express (Chennai)
• Bb Bjp Fast Pas (Mumbai)

Things To Do In Panchgani:

• Boating
• Paragliding
• Exploring
• Shopping

Places To Visit In Panchgani:

1. Devrai Art Village
2. Mapro Garden
3. Table Land
4. Venna Lake
5. The Sydney Point
6. The Dhom Dam

Best Hotels In Panchgani:

• Devrai Homestay
• Exotic Homestay
• SaffronStays Verandah by the Valley

4. Mahabaleshwar – Green Pune Hill Station 

A beautiful hill town situated in the Satara district of Maharashtra, Mahabaleshwar is well known for its rivers, cascading waterfalls and the glorious peaks. Possessing an ethereal background of the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is also a famous religious spot.

Distance from the city: 118 km

Why Visit: Perched at a height of 1,353m above the sea level, Mahabaleshwar has a rich heritage as the former capital of Bombay province. Featuring a pleasant climate throughout the year, this place offers scenic views of the peaks covered with a sheet of clouds.

Best Way To Get There:

By Road– Tourist buses ply frequently from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar. You can either commute with  public transport or can drive down to Mahabaleshwar.

You can travel from Pune to Mahabaleshwar via Nasrapur, Dhangarwadi, Khandala, Surur and Panchgani.
Cost of Driving to Panchgani: Rs.600 – 1200 (round)

By Flight – Lohegaon Airport in Pune is the closest airport located at a distance of 120 km from Mahabaleshwar. AirIndia, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara, AirAsia flights will fly to this airport.
Fares: Rs.3000 – 6000 (round)

By Train– Nearest Railway Station is Pune Junction.

• Goa Express (New Delhi)
• Chennai Express (Mumbai)
• Chennai Ltt Express (Chennai)
• Bb Bjp Fast Pas (Mumbai)

Things To Do In Mahabaleshwar:

• Boating
• Nature Gazing
• Bird Watching
• Exploring

Places To Visit In Mahabaleshwar:

1. Rajpuri Caves
2. Connaught Peak
3. Babington Point
4. Wilson Point
5. Mapro Garden
6. Mahabaleshwar Temple
7. Lingmala Falls
8. Pratapgarh Fort
9. Tapola
10. Venna Lake

Best Hotels In Mahabaleshwar:

• Bharat Hotel
• Evershine Keys Prima Resort
• Citrus Chambers Mahabaleshwar

5. Panhala – Historic Pune Hill Station

A beautiful city with a rich historical heritage, Panhala is situated to the northwest of Kolhapur. Located at an elevation of 754 m above the sea level, Panhala is the smallest city in the state of Maharashtra. Its history dates back to the reign of the Maratha Empire. Founded by Shivaji Bhonsle (an Indian warrior king, who later came to be known as Chhatrapati (Monarch) Shivaji of the Maratha Empire), Panhala is the only fort where Shivaji had spent more than 500 days apart from his childhood homes.

Distance from the city: 237 km

Why Visit: Featuring a pleasant climate throughout the year, this city boasts of its untouched beauty, virgin greenery, quiet valleys and rich historical heritage.

Best Way To Get There:

By Road– Tourist buses ply frequently from Kolhapur to Panhala. You can either commute from public transport or can drive down to Panhala yourself.

You can travel from Pune to Panhala via Khandala, Kashil and Karad.
Cost of Driving to Panhala: Rs.600 – 1200 (round)

By Flight – Lohegaon Airport in Pune is the closest airport located at a distance of 250 km from Panhala. AirIndia, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara, AirAsia flights will fly to this airport.
Fares: Rs.3000 – 6000 (round)

By Train– Nearest Railway Station is Kolhapur Railway Station.

• Koyna Express (Mumbai & Pune)
• Rani Chennamma Express (Bangalore)

Things To Do In Panhala:

• Exploring
• Sightseeing

Places To Visit In Panhala:

1. Panhala Fort
2. Sunset Point
3. Parashar Caves
4. Bhairavnath Mandir
5. Botanical Gardens
6. Rankala Lake

Best Hotels In Panhala:

• Hotel Diamond Villa
• Bunglow @ Panhala
• Mahalaxmi Resort

6. Malshej Ghat – Famous Hill in Pune

Adorned with resplendent greenery and vibrant landscape, Malshej Ghat is a mountain pass located near the Thane-Pune Road of Maharashtra. Located in the magnificent rugged hills in the Western Ghats range, this place is right out of the fantasies. A home to numerous species of flora and fauna especially the avifauna like flamingos and cuckoos, Malshej Ghats offer a clean and not-so-crowded spectacles of the green cover and hills visible at a distance. Apart from offering scenic views of the nature, Malshej Ghats has a lot of things in its store that will keep you occupied and enthralled throughout your trip. You can enjoy trekking or relax near the gushing waterfalls, watch the birds that come swooping here during the months of July and September.

7. Karjat – Serene Pune Hill Station 

Located at a short distance of 99.7 km from Pune, Karjat has the charm of a quaint village. The originating point of the Ulhas River, this village also houses some numerous caverns, amazing treks and historical sites for you to visit and explore. Connecting Pune and Lonavla stations to Mumbai, Karjat is the last station in Thane district, Maharashtra.

8. Raigarh – Historic Pune Hill Station 

A historically rich site, Raigarh is situated in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Formerly known as Kolaba district, this place was renamed after the Raigarh fort which served as a capital of the Maratha leader, Shivaji Bhonsle. Bound on five sides by Mumbai Harbor, Thane, Pune, Ratnagiri and the Arabian Sea, this place enjoys the status of a tourist spot because of its road connectivity to Mumbai via Sion Panvel Expressway.

9. Jawhar – Beautiful Hill in Pune

Located at an altitude of 518 m, in the Thane district of Maharashtra, Jawhar is a perfect nature’s retreat to enjoy a relaxing holiday. Offering beautiful spectacles of the green backgrounds and a lively cultural heritage, Jawhar is famous for its Warli Art, a traditional form of tribal art. Once here, you can marvel at these beautiful traditional paintings depicting basic geometrical shapes which symbolise different elements of nature, trek your way up to the hills, visit Kal Mandavi Waterfall, Dabhosa Waterfall, Khad-Khad Dam or experience the neo-classical architecture of the Jaivilas Palace.

10. Amboli – Remote Pune Hill Station 

Situated on the Sahyadri Hills, Amboli is a beautiful hill town having a quaint charm. Unscathed by the ever escalating commercialization, this place retains the natural beauty at its best. Home to  a variety of flora and fauna, this beautiful old-school town is known for its eco-friendly atmosphere and calm environment. With vibrant green forests stretching across its lands, Amboli also houses scenic mountains and beautiful cascading waterfalls.

Other Hill Stations in India

• Gujarat Hill Stations
• Delhi Hill Stations
• Maharashtra Hill Stations
• Tamilnadu Hill Stations