Slow pace and cool air are reasons enough to get in a vehicle and drive to the hill stations that dot Maharashtra. But trips to Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, or Igatpuri often mean sitting in traffic with fellow city folk. To decongest these destinations, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has submitted a draft to develop the New Mahabaleshwar Hill Station (NMHS).

An area of roughly 1,154 sq km in the Western Ghats has been identified to be part of the development plan. This drafted plan is set to be implemented between 2024 to 2049. In the meantime, there are a handful of hill stations in Maharashtra off the usual list. You may find other tourists here, but not as many to dampen your holiday.