5 Incredible Ways to Spend Your Weekends around Pune This Monsoon

Monsoons are magical and you can’t help but fall in love with rains! The joy of jumping in puddles, the pleasure of having tiny droplets of rainfall on your face and the delight of the earthy smell – all this and more during monsoons can leave you spellbound. You can either choose to stay cosy and watch the rains from your home or start planning your weekends and do some amazing things. If you choose the latter, then we’ve got you covered! Here are some incredible ways to spend your weekends around Pune this Monsoon.

# Cutting Chai and Must-Have Monsoon Foods

What happens with pouring rains? Actually, a lot of things, and we believe one of the first things is the need to head to a street café (tapri) to have some ginger-infused cups of hot piping tea (garam chai). Nothing beats tea with some savoury foods accompaniments and food sampling over the weekend can be scintillating.

Must have monsoon foods:

• Indulge in pakoras (bhajis) – onion, potato, paneer, corn, green chilli, and more.
• Enjoy corn on the cob (bhuttas), watch them being roasted and spiced up with lemon, butter, and salt.
• Dig into vada pav – a treat to die for.
• Relish samosas with some tangy sauce.

# Enjoy Long Drives

After satiating your food cravings, it’s time to hit the roads. The monsoon season makes everything look so different – the valleys wear splendid greens, the waterfalls gush out happily, and the misty clouds come down to greet you. Experience all of this on long drives! Get ready, plug into your favourite music playlist and hit the colourful roads.

Some recommended drives around Pune:

• Drive to Lion’s Point in Lonavala with your friends and enjoy the mesmerising valleys and pit stop to relish corn pakodas.
• Drive down the serpentine roads to reach Sinhagad; enjoy the adventurous pathways.
• Drive through the winding roads of the breathtaking Malshej Ghat, you’d love the nature trails, idyllic landscape, and more.
• Drive to the gem on the Konkan coast – Harihareshwar, you’d also pass through the awe-inspiring Tamhini Ghat.

# Indulge in Offbeat Experiences

The most memorable moments during monsoon comes from unique offbeat experiences like bird watching, getting up close with dolphins, trekking, and nature trails. So, when the monsoon ushers in get ready to escape from the city hustle over the weekends and indulge in some breathtaking offbeat experiences.

Awe-inspiring offbeat experiences:

• Enjoy trekking trails to Bhimanshankar, Harishchandragad, Visapur and Lohgad, Naneghat, and more.
• Soak up the serene surroundings on nature trails at Kaas Plateau, Amba Ghat, Naneghat, and more.
• Go paragliding at Kamshet, Purandar, Kanifnat, and Panchgani.
• Spend time scuba diving or dolphin watching at Dapoli, Harnai, Karde Beach, Murud Beach, etc.
• Get up close with rare species of animals and birds on a jungle safari at Amba Ghat, Dandeli, Dajipur Wildlife sanctuary, etc.

# Monsoon Photography

When the monsoon ushers in, it transforms the whole city with wondrous colours. And it is just the perfect time to shoot. The possibilities are endless – puddles, wet surfaces, people in rain, etc.

Best things to capture:

• Capture reflections in puddles; the ripples at the surface add a wonderful texture to the composition.
• Have fun capturing raindrops or rain in motion.
• Stirring waterfalls – you cannot miss the opportunity to capture the wild and rushing waters.
• Mist – add that romantic capture for your collection.
• Capture wildlife – don’t miss out on capturing bird and animals in the backdrop of the lush greens.

# Get Around the City

Monsoons are also just a perfect time to explore the city. Pune is conveniently located to some wonderful places and you could start with discovering the city.

Best things to do in Pune:

• Enjoy trekking forests at Koraigadh and Dhangad near Mulshi.
• Go rappelling or camping at Lavasa.
• Indulge in trekking from Katraj to Sinhagad.

Another weekend is just around the corner, so how do you plan to spend your weekend this monsoon? Write to us at info@aroundpune.com or Comment in the box below, we’d love to hear your story!