Being blessed with the surrounding landscape of the Sahyadris, there are plenty of opportunities for adventures near Mumbai. You get to explore the many lakes, waterfalls, rivers, and even some beaches, and with camping trips, you get to stay there for the night too. It is a great experience for nature lovers, bird watchers, adventure enthusiasts and trekkers alike.
It is one of the most easy and fun ways to go on a short adventure to any of the many locations for camping near Mumbai and a perfect way to take a break from the city crowds. Go for camping and you get to leave the city and its noise behind, and escape into the hills of the Western Ghats.
Camping near Mumbai
Although there are no options for camping within Mumbai, the hills and valleys around Mumbai have many campsites perfect for a casual getaway with friends or family. Some of the top destinations for camping near Mumbai include Lonavala, Bhandardara, Kolad, Kashid and Sandhan Valley, offering you opportunities to camp either in the middle of a forest, on the banks of a lake or a river, or inside a deep valley of Sahyadris. All you need is proper camping gear and great company, and you're good to go!
Itinerary for camping near Mumbai
Most packages for camping near Mumbai have an afternoon or evening check-in time, followed by an easy day of fun in the midst of nature. Some campsites even offer bonfire and BBQ sessions before dinner. At night, you retire into your tents and wake up the next morning to misty mornings and the gorgeous view of the sun rising over the Western Ghats. The dawn is followed by hot tea and breakfast, after which you check-out of the campsite. The trip ends here.
Camping near Mumbai: Lonavala top
This campsite is located half-way to the Rajmachi fort and it is overlooking the gorgeous valley on one side and towering hills of Sahyadris on the other. This campsite is located 8 km from Lonavala town and the best time to visit this campsite is during the monsoon as the landscape turns into a lush paradise, with the forests brewing with waterfalls, streams, natural ponds and the splendid views of massive clouds caught between the green mountains of the Western Ghats.
There are also various adventure activities in Lonavala that you can pair with your camping trip.
Camping near Mumbai: Kolad
Another great camping destination near Mumbai is Kolad, a small fishing village located on the banks of the Kundalika River. Recently, this village has become a major adventure hub. A typical package for Kolad camping near Mumbai includes a rafting session on the second day, where you get to battle Grade II and III rapids on the Kundalika River. There are also other adventure activities at Kolad like bungee jumping, kayaking, ziplining, etc. The best season to go camping in Kolad is during monsoons as during this season, the Kundalika is wild and great for rafting, and the landscape of Kolad is flourishing with lush greenery. Kolad also offers a variety of accommodation options from alpine tents, swiss tents, cottages to tree houses and villas, along with dormitories for larger groups.
Camping near Mumbai: Pawna Lake
The banks of the gorgeous Pawna Lake are another option for camping near Mumbai. Pawna Lake is located near Lonavala and offers gorgeous views of the lake and the surrounding hills of the Western Ghats. Here, you get to relax at the lakeside and wake up to the misty mornings. You can go camping at the campsite throughout the year. This campsite is the perfect choice if you want to go camping near Mumbai in summer, as it offers a relaxing and cool escape from the city heat.
Another similar campsite offering lakeside camping is Lake Arthur in Bhandardara.
Camping near Mumbai: Sandhan Valley
If you're looking for a more off-beat camping destination near Mumbai, then camping and trekking in Sandhan Valley is perfect for you. This takes you deep within the Western Ghats to a river carved valley of Sandhan. The valley is 200 feet deep and 1.5 km long, and the route to the valley takes you over cliffs, through narrow passageways and over huge boulders. This camping trip is especially perfect for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts as it involves rappelling, trekking and camping out under the stars away from civilisation.
Fireflies camping near Mumbai
Every year, just before the monsoon season, the Western Ghats get swarmed with thousands of fireflies. The narrow time-frame is the mating season for fireflies, when they rush to the folds of Sahyadris and illuminate the dark forests with their yellow glow.
During this period, many adventure lovers, nature enthusiasts and photographers head to the Western Ghats to witness this mesmerizing phenomenon. There are many locations where you can go to experience this event. There are many locations around Mumbai for fireflies camping trips, e.g. Rajmachi Fort, Bhandardara, Kondana Caves, Purushwadi and Kothaligad.
The day begins with checking-in at the campsite, followed by a short trek in the evening where you get to walk around in the woods and watch as numerous fireflies buzz all around you. Followed by a night in tents and return back to the city in the morning.
Do note that fireflies camping in Mumbai only takes place for a short duration of a few weeks during the onset of monsoon as this is the only time fireflies can be spotted in the Western Ghats.
Best season for camping near Mumbai
Camping near Mumbai is a great experience throughout the year, especially in the months of monsoon and winter. During the monsoon season, the landscape of the Western Ghats transforms into a green paradise with many ponds, streams, waterfalls, etc. This season is perfect for those wanting to explore the flora and fauna of the Sahyadris in full glory.
In winter, the experience is gorgeous with misty mornings and cold nights. It is a great escape from the city and into the cool breeze of the Western Ghats. Summer is a great season too but it is recommended that you go camping near a water-body, as the climate there is relatively cool.
What to carry
During your camping trip near Mumbai, the tour operator will provide all the camping equipment like tents, mattresses, blankets, etc. However, you should check the inclusions of the package that you're booking as some budget operators do not provide blankets or sleeping bags.
Apart from this, you need to only carry your personal essentials like a backpack, shoes, sandals, personal toiletries and med kit, sunglasses, sun-cap, etc. As for clothes, you should carry comfortable clothes including full-sleeved t-shirts and full length pants for the night to avoid mosquito bites. It is also a good idea to carry an insect repellent cream.
Treks to do near Mumbai
While camping in Mumbai, you can pair your itinerary with treks to the nearby hills, forts or forests. Mumbai, being so close to the Western Ghats, is blessed with easy accessibility to some of the best treks in Maharashtra. Here are some of the treks that you can embark on while camping in Mumbai:
Kalsubai Peak
Kalsubai is the highest peak in Maharashtra at 5,400 ft. It is often called the Everest of Maharashtra, and rightfully so. The peak can be climbed by a fit beginner. The summit showcases breathtaking scenery from the top which consists of surrounding hills and valleys of the Western Ghats.
Lohagad
Lohagad trek is one of the most popular treks near Mumbai and is easy enough that it can be done by beginners. It is a great way to explore the landscape of the Western Ghats along with the historic iron fort, which once was a battle station used by Shivaji.
Harishchandragad
If you are an experienced trekker, looking for a challenge, then Harishchandragad is the right trek for you. It provides grand views of the Western Ghats. On your way to the historic fort, you trek through a challenging trail consisting of rocky patches, steep includes with some scary drops on the sides.
Waterfall rappelling near Mumbai
If you’re camping near Mumbai and want to spice up your trip but don’t want to go trekking, then you can go for rappelling near Mumbai. There are many rappelling sites near Mumbai like Dudhiware waterfall in Lonavala, Panshet near Lavasa, and Bekre waterfall at Bhivpuri.
This activity is perfect for beginners who want to experience the thrill of rappelling but it should be noted that the only good season for rappelling in Mumbai is during the monsoon season.
Camping near Mumbai Trip Summary
- State: Maharashtra
- Nearest city: Mumbai
- Total days: 2 days
- Grade: Easy
- Season: Year round
- Avg temperature: 15 to 35 degrees Celsius
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