Raigad

Raigad Fort is approx 125km from Pune. Raigad is perfect for those who want to enjoy the blend of a hill station and a fort together. It is situated on a hill midst the Western Sahyadri Ranges. From Pune you can take the route through the Tamhini Ghat which is full of natural beauty. 
The Fort is approx 2700ft above the sea level. There are 2 ways to go up the hill, one is trekking (i.e. walking all the way up) and other is via the Rope Way. The Raigad Fort is famous for the "Rope Way" i.e. Cable Car. Those fond of trekking can take the walking route but a ride in the Cable Car is very exciting and thrilling. The District Raigad is full of natural beauty which can be beautifully seen from the Cable Car. 

The view from the Cable Car is thrilling and beautiful. It is approx 5 min ride up the hill through the rope way.
Being a fort of Shivaji Maharaj, Raigad gives us a great deal of information about him.
If you plan on staying back, there is a MTDC rest house at the top of the hill where you can stay for the night. A walk through the fort in the morning is very refreshing and beautiful.

There are various eateries at the foot of the hill from where the cable car starts which serve you very good malvani style food. There is also an restaurant at the top of the hill which offers tea and snacks.





If you wish to take the Rope Way then book your tickets the moment you reach there as there might be a waiting of an hour or so if there is a lot of rush. Do the same when you reach up hill. So by the time you see the fort and come back, its your turn to go down.
If you wish to have a short but exciting one-day picnic then Raigad is just the right place. 
Click here for Raigad Album

Dapoli

If you are planning to go to a retreat where you want to find shimmering sands and silent private beach, then you must opt for Dapoli. Dapoli is approx 260km from Pune off the Panvel-Goa Highway.
The beach here is very clean and serene. The best part is just watching the sea in the evening as the Sun sets. It is one of the most refreshing retreats I have ever come across. Dapoli offers some very nice resorts by the sea side like the Sagar Savali and the Sagar Kinara with cottages giving you the direct view of the sea. You can get the food and snacks of your choice as the Restaurant has a variety of items both veg and non-veg on its menu. If you do not get accommodation here, there are number of other resorts as well as private families offering A/c, non-A/c rooms with food facility. These houses are built in coconut grooves and hence appear to be abound by natural beauty.

There are lot many places nearby to be visited and seen. You can get the maps and guidance in booklets available in the town. Summers can be hot and humid but the dip in the sea water is refreshing. 

Sea food lovers can get to eat the sea food cooked in the local spices by the private families as well as some known hotels in the town.

Away from the humdrum of the city, Dapoli is really a solace. 

There are places worth visiting in and around Dapoli which include the Swaymbhu Chandika Devi Temple, The Dabhol Project, The Suvarnadurga Fort (Harnai-17km from Dapoli), The Kadyavarcha Ganpati Temple and so on.                    
Click here for Dapoli Album

Diveagar

If you are a beach lover and want to enjoy yourself in a place which has a beach that is not full of rush like Goa, and is very clean and fresh, then you must go to Diveagar. It is approx. 170km from Pune off the Panvel-Goa Highway about 47km from Mangaon. If you are going through the Tamhini Ghat from Pune the entire route is full of natural beauty. Although Diveagar is also fast becoming a place of tourist attraction, it still has the natural rural touch to it.

There is plenty of accommodation available as many resorts with well maintained rooms are available like the Mauli Resort, Oasis Resort, Pearl Resort, Pinakin Resort, Maitray Resort, Prathmesh Resort etc. Besides, some local residents also offer homely accommodation with the facility of homely cooked breakfast and food. If you are a fish lover, you can eat at any of these places. Vegetarians also get Malvani style cooked veg food.
This place is famous for the Swarna-Ganesh Temple. The Ganesh Idol in pure Gold is said to be found by a local farmer while digging her field. (It is very sad that recently the Swarna Ganesh Idol, I have spoken of, was stolen by some greedy thieves and have also been caught but alas! they had already melted the idol. The Photograph given below is now an eternal memory.)

Besides enjoying on the beach in the early morning and evening and drinking a lot of  "Nariyal Pani" (coconut water), in the day time you can visit Hari-Hareshwar Temple which is approx. 35km from Diveagar via Shriwardhan. While going you can take the route which goes along with the beach for about 10 kms. 
Click here for Diveagar Album

Amba Ghat

This place is located between Karad and Ratnagiri. It is approx. 233km from Pune. (You can refer to Google Maps for more information on the route plan). It is a beautiful, serene retreat for those who are looking out to relax in the lap of nature for a couple of days.

There are some very nice resorts like The Vanashree Resort, Pavan Khind Resort, Manali Resort, Amba Resort etc. We had stayed at Vanashree Resort which belong to Mr. Deshpande of Kolhapur. It is a very well maintained, hygienic, clean and economical place to stay. It is just 1 km away from the jungle adjoining the State Highway. The people at the resort are very  nice and hospitable. You can get good breakfast and food at this resort, both veg and non-veg as per your choice.

The best part of visiting this place is the night jungle safari for which you have to pay Rs. 800 a trip per vehicle. If you are lucky you will definitely see Bison, Wild Cat, Sambar, Jungle Fowl, Hares, Porcupine etc. which are the known animals of this region. There are leopards too but visible sometimes only to the very lucky ones. Besides, the birds and flowers found in this area are also very interesting. The ride through the forest in the day as well as night is a memorable experience. If you go to the jungle early in the morning, just before sunrise, you can feel the fog and also get to see the Jungle Fowl. If you are going in the month of December-January carry plenty of warm clothes as the weather can get very chilly.

You must visit the Waghzhara Point, Konkan Point, Amba Dam, Pavan Khind  Point, The ancient Shiv temple near Vanashree Resort and have a cup of warm tea from the stalls on the Amba Ghat while viewing the beautiful valley beneath and enjoying the pleasant breeze as you watch the Sun set. You will only know what I am saying when you experience it yourself. So if you are looking for a breakthrough from your busy urban life, just take a break and go to Amba. 

Click here for Amba Ghat Album