Located about an hour's ride by boat across the Arabian Sea from the Gateway of India, lies the exotic testimony of the Konkan Mauryas, the caves of Elephanta. Anciently known as Gharapuri (fortress city), this island capital of the erstwhile Mauryas was built in the 7th century. It was the Portuguese who named it Elephanta in the 16th century, after a huge rock-cut elephant with its baby perched on the back, which originally stood on a knoll a little to the east of the Gharapuri village. Today, the caves of Elephanta are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nestled amidst the hills and valleys of the Sahyadri mountain range, Khandala is one of the picturesque and popular hill stations in the state of Maharashtra . Endowed with abundant natural beauty, Khandala is situated 101 kms southeast of Mumbai and 69 km from Pune, and is a popular gateway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Rock-cut structures are one of the most primitive forms of architecture found in several parts of India . The Karla Caves in Maharashtra are one of the finest examples of this architectural style. The caves are located high in the surrounding hills. A narrow winding path, leads up to them. Built by Buddhist monks, the caves are in keeping with the Buddhist ideas of simplicity.

A must visit excursion spot during your vacations in Mumbai are the Kanheri Caves . Situated four miles away from Mumbai, the famous caves are believed to have been carved out by Buddhist monks between the 2nd and 9th centuries and have many interesting facts related to them. Situated in the centre of Mumbai's Borivili National Park , the Kanheri caves are also regarded as one of the biggest Buddhist monastic establishment on the Konkan coast.

Located at a distance of 120 kilometers from Mumbai, Lonavla is a favourite hilly destination around Mumbai. Ideal for a day or weekend trip, Lonavla is beautiful and cool hill station decorated with gurgling streams and quiet glided walks. The waterfalls of Tungarly or trek up to the Duke's Nose will evoke a feeling of being close to Mother Nature.

One of the nearest hill stations of Mumbai, Matheran was discovered in 1850. This quaint little hill-station provides lovely views of the nearby places from the Hart point. A human buggy is the main mode of transport in Matheran. Interestingly one thing that dominates the market is chikki, a confection made of gram flour, jaggery and cashew nut. You can also buy this universally popular sweetmeat in large quantity to carry back home.