As India gears up for a mild winter in the coming weeks, plans for a year-end vacation are already being made. But before you plan to head north to enjoy the snow and the chill yet again, have a look at the list below!

Several places near Mumbai come alive as the temperatures drop, calling out to travelers for a short visit at the very least. We’ve rounded up some of the best destinations near the city to enjoy the west coast’s soothing weather.

Panchgani

For travelers who: Love scenic beauty

Distance from Mumbai: 250-300 kilometers

What to see/do: Trekking and Biking, Strawberry farms, Mapro Garden, Kamalgad Fort, Pratapgad Fort, Sydney Point, Mount Malcom

Kamshet

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For travelers who: Seek an adrenaline-pumping adventure sport

Distance from Mumbai: 100-120 kilometers

What to see/do: Paragliding, Karla Caves, Bedsa Caves

North Goa

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For travelers who: Want to experience the best of India’s Christmas festivities

Distance from Mumbai: 500-600 kilometers

What to see/do: Midnight mass at Basilica of Bom Jesus (Old Goa); Water sports and nightlife at Calangute, Anjuna and Vagator; Anjuna’s weekly flea market, New Year’s Eve fireworks in Panaji

Nashik

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For travelers who: Want to explore India’s wine scene

Distance from Mumbai: 160-170 kilometers

What to see/do: Wine tours and tastings at Sula Vineyards, York Winery and Tasting Room, Soma Vine Village and Chateau d’Ori

Lavasa

For travelers who: Want a luxurious winter weekend

Distance from Mumbai: 180-200 kilometers

What to see/do: Nature trails, Watersports at Warasgaon Lake, Adventure sports at Xthrill Adventure Academy, Segaway rides, Spa and reflexology treatments

Aurangabad

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For travelers who: Enjoy heritage destinations and architecture

Distance from Mumbai: 330-400 kilometers

What to see/do: Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki and Darwaza, Gul Mandi Market, Paithani Silk Weaving Center

Igatpuri

For travelers who: Want a lazy weekend away with family and friends

Distance from Mumbai: 130-150 kilometers

What to see/do: Tringalwadi Fort Trek, Ghantadevi Temple, Camping, Rappeling and Ziplining

Mount Abu

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For travelers who: Have a long weekend to spare

Distance from Mumbai: 750-800 kilometers

What to see/do: Mount Abu Winter Festival, Dilwara Jain Temple, Achalgarh Fort, Nakki Lake, Guru Shikhar, Trevor’s Tank, Peace Park

P.S. Igatpuri, Panchgani and Lavasa have exclusive JenJon Holiday Home properties. Click here to find out more.

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. Images have been attributed to their sources. 

Locals, as well as experienced tourists unanimously write-off the idea of traveling in India during the months of June through August. Peak monsoons don’t exactly scream “holiday” especially if you live in a city that feels like it’s on the verge of a breakdown – but we beg to differ! As the rain Gods render all their focus to the subcontinent at this time of the year, several places in India take on greener hues and call for undivided attention.

So, here’s us, convincing you to take a break this monsoon with our top five reasons to gift yourself a getaway this season –

Lesser crowds and tourist activity

A major perk of travelling during the monsoons is that most destinations end up having the least tourist activity. Travel agents avoid organizing large tours to the tourist hot-spots as they would during the summer and winter months. Places that are otherwise prone to long queues, waiting lists and people photobombing your selfies empty out between June to September leaving you with ample time on your hands to explore at your own pace.

Cheaper deals on hotels and airfares

With foreign tourists giving India a miss during the monsoons, the most luxurious hotels and overbooked private resorts are completely open to you. Hotel rates and airfares drop dramatically during this period, leaving you with a strong incentive to embark on a relaxing vacation. Monsoons are undoubtedly the best time to enjoy quality hospitality on a budget.

A call to appreciate Mother Nature’s grandeur

If weekend getaways are your thing, it’s strongly recommended that you drive down to the nearest hill station to witness the region’s flora, fauna and roaring waterfalls in all its glory! Places like Coorg, Munnar, Matheran, Musoorie, Darjeeling, Panchgani and Igatpuri truly come alive with the onset of this season.

Ideal temperatures in Northern India

Rajasthan under the scorching sun and Himachal blanketed in snow are extreme weather conditions that may make traveling difficult, contrary to popular belief. The monsoons make it a good time to visit these places since the temperatures are cooler and the rains are much lighter there – thereby giving you enough opportunities for comfortable holidaying.

An opportunity to take a break

Enjoying the monsoons on a lazy weekend away from home is an ideal vacation for the mind and body. Driving away from the mad rush of the city, renting a beautiful villa and enjoying the rain with your friends are family are the simple joys of life that you shouldn’t miss out on this monsoon. Instead of playing spoilsport all the time, it actually gives you a chance to take a breather from the tiring routine of daily life.

So, if the city’s rain-induced traffic has been harassing you these past few weeks, maybe it’s time pack your umbrellas and take that relaxed vacation to enjoy the glorious Indian monsoon the way it’s meant to be!

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. Images used in this post are taken under the Creative Commons Licenses. 

For city folk, the fascination with hill stations never cease to diminish. The sudden burst of green around you is happily welcomed when one isn’t too busy navigating his way to work and back – where the red taillights of hundreds of cars and rickshaws on the road almost always trigger a comment about the city’s pitiful state of affairs. For the average upper middle class Mumbaikar, the organised chaos of the city is reason enough to want to get away from Mumbai every once a while – and the calm of a hill station makes a strong case for it.

Tucked away in the expanse of the Western Ghats, Igatpuri is a quaint hill town located in the Nasik district of Maharashtra. For Mumbaikars who battle the combined forces of heat and humidity for most part of the year, they breathe a sigh of relief in lieu of the climatic perks of a higher altitude. This charming hill station may not see a quantum of visitors like Lonavala or Matheran do, but it is a verdant destination for those who seek a break from the pseudo-civilization.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the town is the dense green hills and valleys   surrounding it – Mother Nature is in all her glory here. Igatpuri stands proud as a hotspot for hikers, river rafters and adventure seekers. Bollywood filmmakers,   who love an exotic locale or two, often flock to Igatpuri to capture a stunning backdrop for the silver screen

While the best time to visit Igatpuri is between October and March. However, in   the months of June through August, when the unpredictable monsoons are in full force, this hill town witnesses a significant influx of travellers and pluviophiles who drive up to enjoy the abundance of pristine waterfalls and lakes around the Thal Ghat and Bhatsa River Valley.

If you happen to be a lover of history and architecture, the Tringalwadi Fort, now in ruins, sits at a height of 3000 ft. and is surroundedby the Sahyadri hill range, housing a small temple of Lord Hanuman. Similarly, the rusty Trimbakeshwar and Amruteshwar Temples and the Ghantadevi Mandir, each with their own old-world charm, are not to be missed. Devotees and photographers often throng to these sites for its scenic splendour.

Exotic locations, tranquility, mediation and soul-searching are all synonymous with each other – and Igatpuri rightly bears witness to it. The Vipassana International Academy, a.k.a., the Dharmagiri Meditation Centre, has taken Igatpuri as its home and draws in visitors from all over the world who enrol themselves in rigorous short and long term courses to learn the ancient Indian art of meditation. The backdrop of the Sahyadri hills against the stunning architecture of the Vipassana centre brings with it a certain oriental, mystical charm. The Academy is one of the world’s largest centers for the practice of Vipassana, very   aptly making use of the restfulness of this little town.

Sometimes, just breathing in some salutary air can alter your mind and body – and a hill station is a great destination for a gadget-free, family-friendly hiatus from the routines of the daily city life. Regardless of what your travel style or preferences are, the experience of a simple nature trail, a long drive to and fro, or even watching the sunset from the comfort of your hotel room, villa or private holiday home is multiplied two fold with nature’s exuberance surrounding you.

Igatpuri is in no means a developed tourist spot, although it does have a potential to be one. However, when you’re away from the mindless construction and commercial shadows of the city-sphere, you hope that the town’s simplicity is preserved the way it is.

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. All images are the property of JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd.