Weekend getaways, journeys of discovery,
chill-out breaks. Take your pick!
Take on the
monsoon!
Sign up for a monsoon trek in Igatpuri,Maharashtra
Encircled by the highest peaks of the loftySahyadrisat 2,000ftabovesealevel,
Igatpuri checks all the boxes for a lovelyweekendgetaway– in themonsoons,
it’s a welcome relief from daily city-lifetravails.HeadwestwardforTringalwadi
Hill Fort, the area’s crowning glory at3,000ft.Enroute,you’llspottheornate
pagoda of the famous Dhamma Giri VipassanaCentrein thedistance.
After traversing through several freshly-ploughedfields,you’llcomeacross
the Pandav Leni Jain caves – the overcastskylendsa hauntingatmosphere
to the derelict pillars, broken statues andchippedcarvings.Whileit’saneasy
climb, be careful as you follow the narrowpaththatleadsupto theintriguing
fort entrance. From the vantage of thefort’sruins,youhaveincredibleviews
of the Kulang and Kalsubai mountainrangesshroudedin mistandshadow,
as well as of Tringalwadi Lake. Take yourtimemarvellingat thebeauty,
and, when you retrace your steps backdown,indulgein somesweettea
anda bigpileofbhajjias,as youwatchthehillsblurbehinda wallof rain.Out of
MUMBAI
(120km)STAY:HotelAshwin(www.hotelashwim.com;from`1,500[monsoonrate]);
RainForestResortandSpa(www.rainforestigatpuri.com;from`5,000).
PHOTOGRAPHS: MAYANK SONI (IGATPURI), VINOBHA NATHAN (MYSORE) & HASHIM BADANI (BURHANPUR)Take on that last-minute monsoon
trek in Igatpuri – a cold drizzle
adds plenty to the adventure
Facing page:
1 & 2. From typical South Indian
delicacies to hardcore non-
vegetarian fare – you’ll find
both expats and locals enjoying
all that Mysore has on offer- Mumtaz Mahal’s hammam
at Shahi Qila is a stunning piece
of construction
4 & 5. In Mysore, find time
to indulge in decadent breakfasts
of samosas and malpuas
and strike conversation
with the warm, friendly locals
WEEKEND PLANNER