Tapola, also known as the mini-Kashmir of Western India, is a scenic delight this time of the year. With lush greenery all around and the sweet smell of flowers growing in the wild, it is an experience like no other. When you reach there, you will be greeted by beautiful strawberry fields and friendly locals. Tapola by itself is incredibly relaxing for people who want to simply marvel at the silence and the scenery all around, but for the explorers, there are also various sightseeing spots nearby, that makes it a great tourist attraction.

I went there during the first weekend of September, with two of my friends. We decided that the best way to go from Pune to Tapola was to drive there, as we wanted to explore not only Tapola but also its surroundings. After some research, we shortlisted all the places we wanted to visit. We visited the Shivsagar Lake, which is the main attraction in Tapola. It is a 90km long lake, with many options for water sports that make for a fun time. It is preferable to go there after 5 p.m, as the area tends to be very sunny before that. We had a great time motor boating and kayaking for a couple of hours. The jungle trek was highly recommended to us by a friend, and it was indeed a beautiful experience, with lovely flora and fauna around. We visited the Kaas Plateau, as this is the season for the flowers to be in full bloom. It is about an hour’s drive from Tapola. The car park was quite far away from the plateau, but the view when we reached was worth the tiring walk. On our way home, we visited the Chalkewadi Windmill Farm, which I had gone to before, and the Thosegar waterfalls, which are magnificent.

Since we wanted to visit as many spots as possible in the short time we had, there were definitely some places I wish we spent some more time in. I plan to go there very soon and visit some of those places again. The jungle trek at Tapola was incredibly fun, and also a great exercise, along with the water sports at Shivsagar Lake. Since this is the perfect season to visit the Kaas Plateau, I would love to go there again and see all the different varieties of colorful flowers in bloom. It is an experience like no other.

Tapola is a hidden gem that more people should definitely visit. The Shivsagar lake is beautiful, and one of the largest lakes in the area, far outrunning the Venna lake, which is also incredibly popular. There are also options for camping at Tapola. The clear sky with bright stars is a delight for stargazing. For people who are adventurous, the jungle trek is a great experience. Tapola is a wonderful place for nature lovers to explore. The months of September and October are the best time to visit Tapola, as the weather is beautiful, with the lush green scenery.

There are a few buses that travel between Mahabaleshwar and Tapola. However, it is preferable to drive there by yourself. Cab services are not widely available, which could prove to be problematic for people who want to go sightseeing around the area. Since the roads are not always in the best shape, it is good to have a car that can handle any uneven terrain. We decided to rent a car, as the cars we own are quite old.  After doing some research, we found Pune Tours, which is an affordable car rental service. We had the option to choose the car we wanted. The car was clean, comfortable and in great condition, which made our weekend trip fun, without any hiccups.