Rain drops keep falling on my head!

Rain drops keep falling on my head!

As a child one of the most frequented poems while getting ready during monsoon season used to be,' Rain Rain go away come again another day' but now the antithesis dominates the desire list.
With rains hitting Kerala yesterday it has already begun its descent towards Mumbai.
The petrichor, little new green grasses, parched land tracts soaking the water gush, rush of greenery, nature trails and the joy of jumping and dancing under the waterfalls, the western ghats, a new lease of life for the flaura and faunna and ofcourse for us too.
I will enlist some destinations which needs one time check box in your travel list if you are in Bombay!
The most common names being-

1.Matheran-early june-walk walk and keep walking. It’s not the road less travelled so avoid it if you are looking for less crowded place.

2.Malshej Ghats- during July. Once you reach Bhiwandi and take the right to Malshej the roads are a driver's dream. Empty roads without potholes and greenery all around. Don't stop at the MTDC resort and come back but take the pain go right till Lenyadri temple and see the abundance of pilgrimage to farming to a beautiful overflowing river.
Fill your petrol or diesel tank, even though there are petrol pumps on the ghat sometimes they don't have reserves or ATM slots. Don't take risk!

3. Lonavala-Khandala- Aamir Khan sang,'Ati kya Khandala?' Yes. Indeed. It’s one place every Mumbaikar visits every year and shall continue to do so for the simple fact that it looks more beautiful with every passing year.

4. Kolad- White water rafting-Kayaking-Flying Fox and other activities. As clock strikes 8 and water from the dam gushes through the Kundalika River and rain pouring endlessly expect average rapid of 3 to sometimes 4 or more. It’s thrilling, exihilarating and an experience you take home with much pride. Though Hrishikesh is the best place for rafting, this can be considered as the best learner ground. Please don't say that you did this in Coorg because that's hilarious. Don't insult rafting.
There are various packages available on groupon and other sites. Rafting usually costs Rs 1200-1300 per person and each raft can carry maximum 8 people. Go in large groups.
Overnight tent and camping and normal hotel stays are available.

5. Beyond Amby Valley: Okay so I don't really know the name of the place but take the road that goes parallel to Amby valley's airport strip and keep going straight and after crossing fields, empty villages to mountain ranges you will end up being on Kolad which is on the Old Mumbai- goa highway. Kolad to Mumbai is 3.30-4 hours journey on a clean stretch.
I saw a few trekkers making their way to the mountain but couldn't ascertain the name but it’s a fantastic stretch. If you figure out let me know.

6. Nagaon, Kashid, Revdanda, Mandwa, Murud-Janjira- they all fall in the Alibaug region. Avoid Alibaug per se but try these places.

8. Igatpuri-Nashik-Kasara- Drive safely, click pictures abundantly and come back home rejuvenated and in a mode that's called Freshly.

9. Bhandardhara, Jawhar, Ganpatipule, Amboli Ghats, Kankavli, Durshet Forest, Guhagar, Malhar Machi- haven't been but research shows worth a visit!

10.Lavasa- good roads but feels like you are a compass making circles for hours since you hit the first patch of road which HCC has made- the entrance of Lavasa project. I am not a fan some of my friends are and it is a 5 hour drive from Peddar Road to Fortune hotel at Lavasa- just one way! I will avoid it but from Pune its 65kms.

11.Karnala Fort- there are two roads that take you up ..one on the left- the easier one and the one that's right infront of you as you cross the little lake. Take the road on the left it’s not that easy too. Should take around three hours to go and come back with ample break time.

12. N ofcourse the array of mountains Rajmachi, Harishchandragad and many more. I am not a trekking fan so will skip this part. Also don't forget to cycle around close to 21 kms inside the Borivili National Park.
With all these recos I am hoping even rains will dazzle us this year with some little extra MM's...
Have a great and safe trip with loads of chai breaks and garam bhuttas :)