Escape to these serene stargazing spots near Mumbai for peaceful nights
If you stay in a metropolitan city like Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore or any other major Indian city, probably you have forgotten the last time you gazed at the sky and counted stars. In these cities, stars are not visible due to excessive pollution. You crave to see the stars sometimes. So, let's dig deeper to know about the best places for stargazing near Mumbai.
New Delhi: If you stay in a metropolitan city like Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore or any other major Indian city, probably you have forgotten the last time you gazed at the sky and counted stars. In these cities, stars are not visible due to excessive pollution. As a child, stargazing was your favourite pastime while sitting with elders, listening to stories or as a heartbroken youth, you found solace in those twinkling stars. Reason for cherishing stargazing moments may differ, but the love for this activity is still the same.
The stargazing experience turns more exciting with astronomical events if they coincide with your plans. Fortunately, on August 21, a close pairing of the crescent Moon and Mercury can be seen before sunrise. On August 23, the Moon will be completely invisible, making this the darkest night of the month, perfect for deep-sky stargazing and astrophotography. Apart from these, you can catch late Perseids or other faint meteors. So, let’s dig deeper to know about the best places for stargazing near Mumbai.
Best places for stargazing near Mumbai
1. Mahuli village
Mahuli village offers plenty of open flatlands where you can comfortably lie down to watch stars. Easily accessible from Asangaon station by rickshaw or bus, this quiet spot makes for a nice star hop not so far away from Mumbai. It takes about 2-3 hours from the city.
2. Dehene village
Dehene village is only a 2-hour drive from Mumbai. Situated in the foothills of the Sahyadris, this village offers open fields and scenic sunsets against a backdrop of hills.
3. Bhandardara dam
Bhandardara dam is generally popular for monsoon drives and treks in the nearby areas. But one can enjoy stargazing by lying on a patch of grass near the lake. Locals with a boat can take you to smaller islands in the middle of the lake.
4. Pawna Lake
At Pawna Lake, which is close to a reservoir in Lonavala’s hills, a stargazer can enjoy kayaking or explore forts at daytime and the stunning sunset in the evening. In lucky moments, tiny bioluminescent organisms light up the shorelines. You can enjoy that too. It takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach there from Mumbai.
5. Vasind
Vasind is a calm riverside retreat where kayaking and fishing can fill your day, and the reflection of the Moon on its water can calm your heart. And the most interesting part is, you can relive the childhood moments of listening to stories under the open night sky by lending ears to folktales narrated by the locals. It is only a 1-hour drive from Mumbai.
The spots are easily accessible from Mumbai. So, you can certainly escape from the monotony of city life to these serene stargazing spots near Mumbai for peaceful nights!