1-Night Getaways From Pune: 5 Places You Can Go Instead of Lonavala-Khandala

For Punekars, Lonavala and Khandala are practically default settings for a one-night getaway from Pune. Meeting some long-lost friends, planning a larger family get-together or hosting a corporate offsite, the Lonavala-Khandala-Karjat circuit has likely seen enough of these for you. Between traffic jams in the city, crowded viewpoints and the feeling that you’ve been here 17 times already, the destination begins to wear off its charm. At this point, for a nice weekend getaway from Pune, you’d probably drive in the opposite direction. And that’s completely valid, which is why we bring you 5 places near Pune for a 1-night stay that aren’t in Lonavala/Khandala.

Mulshi

You don’t have to say it out loud, but any idea of a holiday does expect some pretty views and a much-needed change of scenery. Get out of the two-wheeler-ridden roads of Pune to a landscape of lakes and rolling Sahyadri hills. If you love going on scenic drives, the Mulshi backwaters and countryside are worth exploring. The best part is, it only takes about an hour and a half to reach here. So if you start early, you get the entire day and most of the next one to spend here.

You can further head into the Tamhini Ghat to see some seasonal waterfalls. October-November is a good time to head here. You don’t even need to hunt for proper accommodation. Mulshi’s quiet appeal has been preserved beautifully by some private villa spaces and boutique hotels that combine local flavours to your modern tastes. Book a luxurious stay that lets you bask in the vast outdoors, play some games with your kids, spend quality time with your loved ones as you face some nature views.

From Pune, Mulshi is also close enough to make an overnight stay feel worthwhile without spending half the weekend on the road.

Wai

Wai appears multiple times on signboards for travellers who go towards Panchgani or Mahabaleshwar. But very few people make their stop there. Some look at it as a pitstop but it’s a very good destination in itself to have a 1-night stay from Pune. Depending on the traffic, you can reach Wai from Pune in 2-2.5 hours.

The town along the Krishna River is called Dakshin Kashi and has a character of its own. With a prominent history going back to the Peshwa era, it is also the ancestral home of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. People here mostly visit for the Kashi Vishweshwar Temple and Dholya Ganpati Temple. The historic Nana Fadnavis Wada, Menavali Ghat, and Pandavgad Fort are all nearby and worth visiting.

Wai makes an excellent choice for a 1-night stay near Pune if you’re travelling with your elderly parents and close relatives. For anyone with a keen interest in spiritual temple visits, ancient heritage and some outdoor adventure, you need to start looking at Wai as more than a pitstop.

Karjat

If you want a change in your balcony view and would rather laze around in a wide open hall than your own home, you can head to Karjat. Not for the sightseeing really, instead to unwind away from the city. If you choose a midweek day, you can still enjoy the quietude of Karjat, which otherwise gets crowded on most weekends.

An overnight stay works well here because you can choose your own pace. You can spend the hot afternoon indoors, enjoy a sunset from the nearby hill and go for a coffee as dusk sets in at the newer cafes in Karjat. Roots Art Cafe, Saltt, Namak, The Farmhouse Bistro are beautiful, cosy settings to add a date night to your weekend outing from Pune.

For the best experience, book a stay with a pool and garden in Karjat, BBQ dinners, indoor games and movie night setups. If you’re someone fond of the boho-chic aesthetic, you might want to check out The Zuri House in Karjat.

Click here for more villas in Karjat by Stayscape.

Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary

If you want to do something really hatke instead of just going and resting in a different landscape, you must make a trip to the Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary. Approximately 100 km from Pune, Bhigwan is a manmade wetland along a quaint fishing town on the route towards Solapur. Located on the backwaters of the Ujani Dam, it is also called the Bharatpur of Maharashtra for bird-watching.

Other than flamingos, there are over 250-300 species of migratory and local birds to see here. And winters are the best time to visit, especially for flamingo sightings. If you’re an avid nature lover and observant of the many species we coexist with, Bhigwan has to be on your list.

Don’t expect the most fancy stays to be honest, but the experience of birdwatching is something you will reminisce for months later. Take a pair of binoculars and be an audience to birds performing their routine. A lot of nature tour planners take Bhigwan birding tours if you want a proper guide and learn more about their habitat.

For an enriching 1-night stay near Pune power-packed with some great migratory bird sightings, Bhigwan is the best.

Pali

Since you’re going for a 1-night stay from Pune, you can swap crowded viewpoints for a countryside stay. Another family-friendly place, considering elderly people in the home, is Pali in Raigad district. While it is most known for Ballaleshwar Ganpati Temple, one of the 8 Ashtavinayak temples, there are a few sites around to explore. Sarasgad and Sudhagad Forts are popular trekking and trail spots.

There are also natural hot springs at Unhere Kund. The warm, sulphur water in rock-cut pools is said to be good for the skin to clear up rashes and minor skin problems. The spot is not widely developed as a tourist point, so go with modest expectations.

If you want to relax most part of the getaway, you can book the Happy Home villa in Pali. It has an outdoor pool, a small garden where you can have a picnic setup for the kids, and it is a senior-citizen-friendly holiday home near Pune.

The best time depends on what you want to do on a getaway. The Winter season will soon set in; November to February is ideal for birdwatching and enjoying the calm atmosphere at Mulshi. Wai and Pali are worth visiting through much of the year. For a one-day trip, just check for adverse weather conditions; otherwise any time of the year is good enough for a quick round trip from Pune. It is best to avoid forts and treks when the summer heat is at its peak. But for a casual stay with a change of scenery, all of the destinations above work for a nice 1-night stay from Pune.

So if you have long been planning a getaway but stuck on Lonavala/Khandala, now you have more options of where you’d rather go.

How much does a one-night getaway near Pune cost?

The cost depends on the destination, type of accommodation, group size and activities planned. A shared villa or farmhouse can make a trip more economical for a group, while birdwatching excursions, guided treks and adventure activities may add to the overall budget.

What should you look for when booking a villa near Pune for one night?

If you’re going on a villa-getaway, check the driving distance, check-in/check-out timings, meal arrangements and amenities available. If the stay is the main reason for the trip, look for features such as a private pool, outdoor seating or enough common space for your group. Look for pet-friendly or elderly-friendly spaces if you are travelling with them.

What are some hill stations near Pune?

Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Matheran are some very popular hill stations near Pune.

Where can I find one-day stays near Pune?

While there are several hotel and holiday portals, you can check our Stayscape villas if you are specifically looking for villas near Pune for one-day trips.