Set on the banks of the Godavari River, Nashik has always been a popular destination for religious tourism. The 18th-century Kalaram Temple is one of the most visited sites in the city. Ramkund is another popular attraction surrounded by small temples. In addition to religious attractions, over the years Nashik has found a firm spot as the wine capital of India. While there are countless vineyards in and around Nashik, Sula is hands down a favorite with tourists and locals alike.
I would say that the best part about Nashik is that it is close to several getaway spots less than five hours away. Good roads and connectivity make it easy to access several destinations for a fun weekend. For instance, if you are in the mood for a spectacular sunset, you could book a boat ride at MTDC Boat Club, around 30 minutes from Nashik.
Since I moved to this city, I’ve found multiple such destinations nearby that I would recommend if you need a quick vacation. So, if you’d like to know more, continue scrolling for the top getaways near Nashik that will give you a weekend you would not mind repeating.
1. Daman
Even though Nashik is bordered by the mountains, it is possible to reach a beach within four hours. I visited Daman last year to celebrate my niece’s birthday, and we stayed there for two nights. Daman is perfect for a weekend getaway, and while there are beaches, during the summer, it is too hot to venture out during the day. Therefore, I recommend picking a nice resort where you can pass the time during the day. We had booked a stay at The Deltin, and everyone made the most of the swimming pool and the games room.
Unfortunately, during the time that we were in Daman, no water sports were being offered at the beach due to the high tide. So, we walked along the newly constructed beach promenade, rode the horse-drawn carriages and the ATVs, and watched the sunset. Several restaurants overlook the promenade and the beach, and you can hear the waves crash onto the shore as you eat. The place we picked for dinner on our first night was one such delightful restaurant.
While I was searching for a place for dinner for our last night, I found out that Daman had been a popular refuge for Persian settlers when they were escaping Iran. That led us to Cafe Farohar, a simple place a little away from the city center with delicious food. Surprisingly, it has also been reviewed by the New York Times!
The Deltin Hotel
Address: Survey number 8, Varkund village, Nani, Daman, Daman, India, 396210
Silver Waves Resort & Spa Daman, a member of Radisson Individuals
Address: Opposite government hospital Nani Daman S. No. 16/1 Kathiria Daji Ni Wadi
Mirasol Resort
Address: Devka Beach Rd, Bhimpore, Daman, India, 396210
2. Sandhan Valley and Bhandardara
This was one of the places we visited as COVID restrictions were being lifted across India in 2021. Bhandaradara, along with the nearby Sandhan Valley, is an extremely popular spot with day trippers and campers. We traveled in June, right when the monsoons were hitting the coast, so the entire route was green and filled with seasonal waterfalls. We first went to Sandhan Valley where we trekked down to the valley and walked the entire length of a gushing stream. We returned for a hot lunch that had been prepared at a local villager’s house—this is something that is preferred by most people traveling to Sandhan Valley since there are no major restaurants in the area.
Pre-monsoon Bhandarara is packed to the brim with tourists who come to see the fireflies lighting up the forest. We were lucky that even though we traveled during mid-June, we were able to see these twinkling fireflies at night. The best part was that we did not even have to venture deep into the forest to view them, since the place we were staying at was surrounded by dense greenery. We had booked a government guest house that was on the edge of Lake Arthur.
The village of Bhandardara itself is quite small, and most of the resorts and campsites are situated outside the limits around the lake boundary. It is quite important to have a private vehicle to get around the area, since I did not see any cabs during my time there. I don’t think Uber or Ola operate there either.
Anandvan Resort Bhandardara
Address: Maharashtra State Highway 44, Bhandardara, Bhandardara, India, 422604
The Hosteller Bhandardara
Address: Murshet, Post- Shendi, Tal - Akole, Dist. Ahmednagar - 422604, Maharashtra, Murshet, Bhandardara, India, 422604
Bhandardara Camping
Address: Bhandardara 5, Bhandardara, Bhandardara, India, 422604
3. Saputara
The hill station of Saputara is actually across the border in the neighboring state of Gujarat but takes just around two hours to reach from Nashik. I have crossed the city several times while traveling but never had a chance to enjoy the many adventure activities that are offered here. During the tail end of COVID, my son visited Saputara with his cousin and spent the entire day having an absolute blast at an adventure park. It included activities such as sky cycling, obstacle courses, and even zorbing.
In addition to stand-alone adventure parks, several resorts in the city have their own adventure parks. These resorts are a great option for groups or families that have small children, as they can book a room to rest.
While the day trip was more than enough for the adults, my son and his cousin wanted to stay for longer. For those of us staying in Nashik, it is easy to plan another day trip to Saputara, but out-of-towners should consider staying overnight in the city.
Hotel Lake View
Address: plot No 4, Opp Lake. Saputara, Nashik- Surat Highway, the dang, Gujarat, Saputara, Saputara, India, 394720
Ambica Valley Resort
Address: PP Swami Ashram, Saputara, Saputara, India, 394710
Club Mahindra Hatgad
Address: Saputara-Nasik Road, Saputara, Saputara, India, 423502
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Dahanu
I visited Dahanu for my birthday a couple of years ago. It was a short overnight family trip, and it was possible since this beach town is just around 3.5 hours away from Nashik. While going and coming back, we stopped at Jawhar, which is sort of like the midway point of the trip. While going to Dahanu, we visited Jaivilas Palace, which is surrounded by acres of forest land. It was quite an interesting place, but I was disappointed that it was not better maintained. It still had old toys, furniture, and chandeliers but it all desperately needed to be cleaned and set up for tourists. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes because it is quite a walk from the parking to the main palace building. The path also crosses a mini orchard.
While our resort was right across the beach in Dahanu, we visited the beach at Bordi, the next town over, on our first day. Luckily when we were there, it was a low tide, so we were able to walk quite a distance away from the coast during sunset. We explored the beach in Dahanu on the second day during a morning walk as the sun came up.
We started on our return journey to Nasihk after breakfast and stopped at Jawhar, this time to see a waterfall. Although the waterfall is a bit away from the main road and takes quite a thrilling trek to reach, there were quite a few people there. I would recommend stopping at the falls if you are in the mood for some adventure and are not scared of heights. The path is not defined or secure, but you find your footing as you go down. I think we spent a couple of hours here before resuming our journey back home.
SEAWOODS BEACH HOTEL
Address: Opp. Dahanu Beach, Ganga Ashram Wadi, Agar, Dahanu, Maharashtra. Seawoods Beach Hotel
Hotel Monarch Center Point near Dahanu Beach, Bordi
Address: Sagar plaza, Sagar Naka, Malyan Dahanu, Maharastra, Dahanu, Dahanu, India, 401602
Hotel Beach Classic
Address: Opp. Forest Office, Near Dahanu Beach, Dahanu West., Dahanu, Dahanu, India, 401601
Nashik Tour Guide
Narender Kumar
I have been a tour guide/ escort for more than 10 years and have guided tourists pan India to historical and cultural heritage sites, national parks & bird sancturies, monuments places like- Delhi , Agra, Jaipur, Khajuraho Exotic Temples, Ranthambore National Park, Mumbai, Nashik , Aurangabad ( Ajanta Rockcut Caves & Ellora Rockcut Temples ), Goa etc. I am proficient in English, Rus... Read more
Tours by Narender
5. Malshej Ghat
Although I have never personally stayed overnight at Malshej Ghat, I have stopped by several times on the way to Ahmednagar. I remember stopping by once a couple of years back at a viewpoint and looking down at the deep valley. There are a lot of monkeys along the ghat, so remember to never carry any food when you are exploring. There are even a couple of forts nearby that can be explored if you wish to step out of your resort or campsite.
Since it is not exactly a city but more of a mountain pass close to a dam and surrounded by forest land, it is the perfect place to take a break and enjoy nature. There are some fantastic resorts and campsites by the Pimpalgaon Joga Dam, and the dam is open to tourists. Several operators offer boating and kayaking services.
While it was previously popular during the monsoons, off late, it seems to be attracting visitors year round. This might be the reason I have not been able to secure a booking for any long weekends.
Saj By The Lake, Malshej Ghat
Address: Karnjale, Malshej Ghat, Taluka Junner, Dist Pune
Capital O 67056 Mybhumi Agro Resort
Address: Mybhumi Agro Resort, Bankar Phata, Maharashtra, Maharashtra, India, 412409
6. Shirdi
While Nashik is a major spiritual and religious city in its own right, the nearby city of Shirdi is just as popular. The last time I visited Shirdi was several years ago, but I know friends who visit Shirdi every year.
While many people choose to walk to Shirdi, I have only ever traveled by car. It takes less than two hours to drive to Shirdi from Nashik. We left home at around 2pm and reached Shirdi by approximately 4pm, with a break in the middle. However, we had to wait three hours in line before we even had the chance to enter the inner sanctum. By the time we were done paying our respects, it was too dark to explore the temple grounds.
Shirdi can easily be done in a day, but I would suggest leaving early in the morning so that you can spare some time to experience the vast temple complex. No matter what time you are visiting, be ready to wait at least a couple of hours in line. However, the waiting areas are covered, well-ventilated, and under CCTV surveillance.
Alaukik Hotel
Address: Vijaya Bank Ln, Shiv Nagar, Shirdi, India, 423109
Sun N Sand Shirdi Hotel
Address: Village Nighoj Shirdi , Shirdi City Center, Shirdi, India, 423 103
7. Matheran
I have been living in Mumbai and Nashik for the past 12 years, and surprisingly, I only made it to Matheran for the first time last year. The city is most popular during the monsoons when the surrounding valley is lush with greenery. If you happen to forget raincoats like us, ponchos and hats are readily available for 30 INR (0.36 USD) a set.
What fascinated me about Matheran is that no vehicles are allowed within the city. We had to park our cars in a huge open-air parking space and then make our way into the city. While I drove there with my family from Mumbai, it is also possible to drive down from Nashik. It is approximately a two-hour drive from Mumbai and takes around four hours from Nashik. Since this is a hill station, there are several steep bends to encounter as you drive up.
There is a toy train that runs between the parking lot and Matheran, and we were lucky to secure seats going up. Once you are in the city proper, there are multiple viewpoints that you can walk to and stop by for Maggi and snacks along the way. Unfortunately, it was too foggy at most of the viewpoints during our visit.
If you are driving from Nashik, I would recommend that you spend a night and explore the city at various points throughout the day. We spent a few hours walking around and then trekked down to the parking lot. There are a lot of monkeys on the trek route, so just make sure to not carry any visible food or you will be attacked. Otherwise, they are harmless.
Westend Hotel
Address: Acharya Atre Road Next To Police Station
SaffronStays Parsi Manor, Matheran
Address: Keki Lodge, Next to Byke resort, Matheran
Lords Central Hotel
Address: 144/145 M. G. Road Matheran
Plan a trip to explore Nashik and the surrounding areas
Nashik offers something for everyone and there are countless places to explore in and around the city. A trip to Nashik can also be extended to visit some wonderful towns and cities nearby as well. When you are in the mood for a short break, pick from these top getaways near Nashik.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to