When summer heat is too much to bear and you need to get away from Mumbai, there are many interesting places to visit in Maharashtra where you can spend few days or weekend perhaps.
Just 275kms away from Mumbai is
the hill station called Mahabaleshwar. The scene changes drastically and you
are transported to a cleaner air, that has sweet fragrance of plants and flowers, lush green foliage, red mud path, misty sky with extra icing of cool weather and
tasty meals.
The road leading to this place is
interesting too. There are waterfalls and narrow winding paths as you climb up
the hills to reach the city.
I went last weekend and the
weather was beautiful. Although its rainy season, we were lucky that it rained
only when we were indoors. The sky remained misty most of the time. But we had
fun walking through the market place, to some scenic spots and through
beautiful parks.
My friends did some shopping like
buying foot ware and shawls but I enjoyed nibbling on street food that was
available every few meters.
The food was excellent, specially
the Maharastrain fare of pohas, sabudhana vadas and lentils. The vegetables
used were fresh and locally grown. The stalls looked colorful with carrots and
strawberries lining the roads at market place and also at all points of
interest
The city is crowded and is become
more commercialized with more hotels mushrooming every year. There is too much
traffic too which is quite frustrating. But if you go into the interiors, it is
bliss.
