One Day Picnic near Mumbai: the Ultimate One-day Itinerary

For those who want to visit nearby places to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Maharashtra is blessed with a plethora of spots for one day picnic near Mumbai that can refresh your body and mind. Mumbai is surrounded by many picnic spots, which are great places to visit along with family and friends. From lush green forests to hill stations, to theme parks, Mumbai is centered on various exciting places, which you can visit in just one day. Some spots of the best one-day picnic near Mumbai that can pump you up with zeal and frolic are:

Essel World Theme Park

Essel World Theme Park and its counterpart Water World are two famous picnic spots near Mumbai, which provide complete entertainment to the people visiting these places. The place offers both fun games and adventure games, which is a perfect combination in an ideal theme park. There are a few games in which children below a certain height are not allowed, the rest all the games can be accessed by children too.

The theme park is located just around 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Mumbai and you can easily plan a one-day itinerary here for spending quality time with your family or friends. To reach Essel World Theme Park by road, take the Western Express Highway and from the Gorai Circle near the Gorai Local Market, you can take the direct road to the theme park.

Borivali and Malad are the nearest railway stations to reach Essel World Theme Park by train. Bus number 272 from Malad and bus number 294 from Borivali take you to the theme park. Also, there are taxi services available from Gorai Beach.

See More: 7 Best Water Parks in Mumbai for Family with Kids

Lonavala and Khandala

Lonavala and Khandala are the famous twin hill stations, which are formed by small ranges of Sahyadri Mountains, popularly known as the Western Ghats. The distance between Lonavala and Khandala is just 4km (2.5mi). You can reach Lonavala from Mumbai by taxi, train or bus. There are many things to explore in Lonavala and Khandala, which include Bhaja caves, Karla caves, etc. Lonavala is just 85km (52.8mi) away from Mumbai, the smooth highways and connecting flyovers make it easier for people to plan their trip for one day picnic near Mumbai in this peaceful natural place, away from all the pollution and noise of the city.

From Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Dadar station, there are direct trains to Lonavala from Mumbai. Many private and government-owned buses ply between these two places. The best place to get a bus to Lonavala is Dadar Plaza. For a road trip, there are two major routes that you can take to reach Lonavala from Mumbai. These routes include Mumbai to Lonavala via Panvel and via Kolkhe.

See More: How to Go From Mumbai to Lonavala

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

For those of you planning a one day picnic near Mumbai to spot wild animals and experience them closely - Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the place that covers the largest forest area in a metropolis city of India. Sanjay Gandhi National Park is home to various species of flora and fauna, especially leopards. Visitors opting for the safari there often spot leopards in the jungle, while other wild animals are not often spotted in this park.

The ancient Buddhist temples, Kanheri Caves are located inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park. These places are definitely worth visiting. Cycling in the permissible areas of the jungle is allowed, trekking is also allowed in the jungle, with the permission of the forest officials.

The distance between Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Mumbai is around 25km (15.5mi). If you’re staying in a hotel near Mumbai airport, you can take a direct taxi from there to reach Sanjay Gandhi National Park as the park is just 15km (9.3mi) from the airport. If you are travelling by bus, make sure to check buses for Borivali as this place is near to the park. Also, Borivali railway station has direct trains to the National Park station.

Elephanta Caves

If you are interested in history and want to know more about the ancient culture and traditions of India, one day picnic near Mumbai to the prominent Elephanta Island will suffice your thirst for getting to know the rich heritage of this diverse land. Elephanta Caves are a masterpiece and are carved completely out of stones and rocks, to be a collection of rock-carved temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a place of worship for Hindus.

These caves have been declared as the UNESCO world heritage site for their unique architecture. There are ancient paintings in the caves, which provide an idea of civilization during those times. Elephanta Caves are located around 10km (6.2mi) away from Mumbai and is a worthy place to visit.

To reach Elephanta Caves, reach Gateway of India in Mumbai and from there, you can catch a ferry or a boat paying Rs. 120-150 for a return ticket. The journey takes an hour and is a fun experience for kids and adults as well. The first boat from Mumbai starts at 9 AM and the last one from Elephanta Caves departs at 5:30 PM.

Karjat

Known for its picturesque location, Karjat is a small town located 65km (40.4mi) away from Mumbai city. Karjat is surrounded by nature, mountains, Ulha Lake is also located in Karjat. There are trekking opportunities available, as many historic temples, forts, and caves are located in this beautiful location. People who like to have a photoshoot will definitely love this place. Karjat can be explored in just one day and is an ideal picnic spot near Mumbai.

To reach Karjat from Mumbai by road, one can take buses or taxis based on the suitable fare options. There are direct buses to Karjat from the major bus stands in Mumbai, however, most of these buses are managed by private bus operators. If you’re hiring a self-driving vehicle, take the Mumbai-Bangalore highway.

For those traveling to Karjat by train, reach Mumbai CST Railway Station and then board a train. The major trains from Mumbai to Karjat are 11023 Sahyadri Express, 12125 Pragati Express, 17411 Mahalaxmi Express, and 16381 Kanyakumari Express. You can also board a local train. The major local trains from Mumbai to Karjat are 95125, 95123, and 95121.

Pawna Lake

Pawna Lake is another ideal spot for one day picnic near Mumbai. Surrounded by lush green nature, Pawna Lake is an artificial reservoir that is formed by the water stored in the dam. It is beautiful to refresh your mood and spend time with your loved ones. Boating is also available in Pawna Lake, which is a must-try for the visitors coming here. Camping with friends or family is also another popular activity here. Playing sports like football, cricket, badminton is also a great option to enjoy the time here.

The distance between Pawna Lake and Mumbai is around 115km (71.5mi). For people coming from Mumbai, they can find jeeps outside Lonavala Station. The campsites in Pawna Lake are 17-22 kilometers (10.6-13.7 miles) from Lonavala.

Matheran

Located inside the forests of Sahyadri mountain range, Matheran is known for presenting the biodiversity at its purest form. The lush green forests of Matheran are the best nearby places to enjoy a one day picnic near Mumbai for nature lovers, especially during the monsoons. The place offers an exotic view of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, the famous Louisa Point.

Popular things to do here are rock climbing and photography. Tourists can also book a resort in the forest and enjoy their time in the jungle. Matheran is just 50km (31.1mi) away from Mumbai and it falls on the same route as Karjat. If you want to reach Matheran, there’s no direct train available. Take a train from Mumbai to Karjat and get down at Neral. From Neral, you can find many options like buses and taxis to reach Matheran.

Alibag

Located around the waters of Arabian Sea, Alibag is a perfect place to visit for beach lovers and beach sports lovers. Located in the Konkan region, the coastal town Alibag is famous for its beach, where visitors have a great time playing in the beach waters. Paragliding and water sports are the major points of attraction in this coastal town. Alibaug is just 100km (62.1mi) away from Mumbai, however, to reach there, you can take private buses or taxis.

If you love water, there are boat services available in Mumbai that take you to Mandwa Jetty, a place near Alibag. It takes only an hour to reach Mandwa Jetty from Mumbai and once you get down in Mandwa Jetty, you can take a bus to Alibag which is just 18km (11.2mi) from Mandwa Jetty.

See More: Best Beaches in Mumbai