You should definitely visit Maharashtra while in India! Here’s an India itinerary for 1 week covering some of the best offbeat places in India. These unusual places around Maharashtra are perfect if you want to explore undiscovered places in India as well as experiencing unique Indian experiences while you’re there!
India is a huge country and if you already visited some parts of it you might want to explore offbeat places in India next time! If you’re planning one week in India (or even more), you should check out these 5 undiscovered places in India.
Ready To Travel? Don't Go Without Travel Insurance.
I recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance, an affordable travel insurance offering automatic monthly payments that you can cancel anytime. I've been using it since 2019, and I can assure you it's the perfect solution for nomads like you and me. Learn more by reading our SafetyWing review.Here’s a quick list of the best offbeat places near Mumbai (let’s pretend you would start your journey in India from there).
Offbeat Places in Maharashtra #1: Nashik
Unexplored Places to Visit Near Mumbai: Nashik
Nashik is a holy city located in Maharashtra, north of Mumbai. Known for its beautiful temples and Godavari River, Nashik is also the wine capital of India.
The old town is quite colorful and is great if you want to explore markets and visit temples. It’s the perfect spot for photographers and the locals were super friendly around Nashik. I’d suggest you spend a few hours exploring the town and then head to a winery to taste how good the Indian wines can be. (Full disclosure: I do not drink, but my friends did enjoy the wine over there!)
Unique Places in Maharashtra #2: Aurangabad (Ellora Caves)
Offbeat Holiday Destination Near Mumbai: Ellora Caves
Aurangabad is northeast of Mumbai (East of Nashik). This is where you have to go to get to see the Ellora Caves. Imagine more than 2 kilometres of monasteries and temples! Ellora Caves are unique, pretty and huge! Right next to a cliff, you can also walk around and get a view from the top. If you want to visit the different temples you should aim for 2-3 hours in the area. Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you should definitely check them out!
Note that you will need a special permission to use a tripod over there.
Unexplored Places in Maharashtra #3: Ajanta Caves
Offbeat Places India: Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Caves are located northeast of Mumbai. If the Ellora Caves are pretty impressive then get ready for another beautiful spot: Ajanta Caves. You can count around 29 temple caves at Ajanta. Right in the middle of nature, this one is also impressive! You can walk around the temples for a while and then climb up the hill and enjoy the natural beauties in the area.
Watch out for the monkey and parrots. The area is splendid so you might as well make the most of it before returning to the busy city!
Best Cities in Maharashtra #4: Kolhapur
Offbeat Places to Visit in India: Kolhapur
Kolhapur is located southeast of Mumbai. I really enjoyed my time in this town! First, we were wearing special Kolhapuri hats, which were pretty cool! Then we had the pleasure to assist a live folk performance.
Kolhapur is a cool city if you want to do some shopping, especially if you want to buy a pair of handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals (leather sandals). We also assisted a martial art performance and walked around the colorful streets. It was one of my favorite towns as the locals were super friendly!
Best Places to Visit in Maharashtra #5: Sindhudurg
Offbeat Places Near Mumbai: Sindhuburg
Sindhudurg is located south of Mumbai (southwest of Kolhapur). It’s a charming village where you can feel a different vibe as well as admiring the unique scenery. While you’re there you should visit Sawantwadi Palace! We had the pleasure to assist a traditional dance performance while we were there which was pretty fun since they were trying to teach us how to do it!
If you’d rather go on a hassle-free trip with a hint of luxury, you should check out the Deccan Odyssey, which is a luxurious train that will bring you to these destinations (and to even more places). Read more about my experience on this luxury train in India here. Of course, some of the experiences mentioned previously were due to the fact I was on an organized trip. You can still get to these destinations on your own, but as they aren’t so popular some of them might be a bit tricky to get to.
Disclaimer: This trip was organized by Incredible India in partnership with the Deccan Odyssey.
