By Girish Chhalwani, Co-Founder, Lords of the Lands · 8 min read · Last updated 2 October 2026

The best places to visit around Khopoli and Pali, from the theme parks and waterfalls near Khopoli to the Ashtavinayak temple and the forts at Pali – all strung along the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93) in Raigad.

What are the best places to visit around Khopoli and Pali?

The best places to visit around Khopoli and Pali are Imagicaa, the Zenith Waterfall and the Gagangiri Ashram near Khopoli, and the Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple, Sarasgad fort, Sudhagad fort and the Unhere hot springs near Pali – all linked by the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93) in Raigad district.

Khopoli and Pali sit at two ends of the same corridor, about 35 km apart on State Highway 93. Khopoli, just off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, brings the big-ticket fun – a theme park, a monsoon waterfall and a riverside ashram. Pali, deeper into the Konkan plains, brings pilgrimage and trekking – an Ashtavinayak temple below a hillfort, with a second fort and a set of hot springs close by. Together they make an unusually varied short trip.

Where are these places on the map?

Khopoli is in Khalapur taluka, just off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, while Pali is about 35 km south in Sudhagad taluka on the Khopoli-Pen highway. State Highway 93, the Khopoli-Pali road, links the two, with Lonavala about 25 km from Khopoli.

Picture a line running south-west from the Expressway. It starts at Khopoli, where Imagicaa, the Zenith Waterfall and the Gagangiri Ashram cluster near the highway and the hills. It then follows the Khopoli-Pali road for about 35 km into the greener Konkan country around Pali, where the Ballaleshwar temple, Sarasgad and Sudhagad forts, and the Unhere hot springs sit within a few kilometres of each other. Lonavala, about 25 km from Khopoli in the other direction, can be added to the same loop.

Which places suit families, and which suit trekkers?

For families, Imagicaa, the easy Zenith Waterfall walk and the Ballaleshwar temple are the easy wins. For trekkers, Sarasgad fort above Pali (about a 2-hour climb) and the larger Sudhagad plateau fort are the main draws, with the Unhere hot springs a gentle reward afterwards.

The corridor divides neatly by energy level. Families and first-time visitors tend toward Imagicaa for a full day of rides, the short Zenith Waterfall trail in the monsoon, and calm, low-cost stops like the Gagangiri Ashram and the Ballaleshwar temple. Trekkers come for the forts: Sarasgad rises steeply above Pali with four pinnacles and a Shiva temple at the top, while Sudhagad offers a broad plateau popular for day and overnight treks. A soak at the Unhere springs makes a natural end to a fort day.

How do you plan a two-day Khopoli-Pali trip?

A simple two-day plan is to spend day one around Khopoli – Imagicaa or the Zenith Waterfall and the Gagangiri Ashram – then drive about 35 km down SH-93 to Pali on day two for the Ballaleshwar temple, a fort, and the Unhere hot springs. Stay overnight in the corridor or at the Imagicaa hotel.

Because everything sits on one road, the logistics are easy. Day one can be a theme-park day at Imagicaa, or, in the monsoon, a waterfall-and-ashram morning followed by an easy afternoon. Day two shifts to Pali: an early darshan at Ballaleshwar, then a climb up Sarasgad or a gentler visit to Sudhagad, finishing with the warm pools at Unhere. Those wanting a slower trip can swap a fort for the Amba riverside. An overnight stay – at Imagicaa or a corridor homestay – keeps the driving short.

Why do Khopoli and Pali work well as one trip?

Khopoli and Pali work well together because they offer completely different experiences – theme parks and waterfalls versus temples and forts – within about 35 km on the same highway, both an easy half-day from Mumbai and Pune.

Few short trips from Mumbai or Pune pack in this much variety. In one weekend you can ride roller coasters, walk to a waterfall, sit quietly in an ashram, take darshan at a revered Ashtavinayak temple, climb a Sahyadri fort and soak in a hot spring. The Khopoli-Pali road ties it all together, and the Expressway keeps both ends within a comfortable drive. That mix of fun, faith and nature on a single corridor is exactly why the area draws repeat visitors.

When is the best time to visit?

The monsoon (June to September) is best for waterfalls and green hills around Khopoli and Pali, winter (November to February) is most comfortable for temples and fort treks, and summer is when Imagicaa’s water park is busiest.

The corridor rewards every season differently. Monsoon brings the Zenith Waterfall and the Amba river country to life and makes the drive beautiful, though forts are better admired than climbed. Winter is ideal for combining the theme park, the temple and a fort trek in comfort. Summer suits the water park and early-morning sightseeing. Whenever you come, the position on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway keeps Khopoli and Pali within easy reach for a weekend.

FAQ

Related reading

Plan your trip

• Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple – the devotee-named Ganpati shrine at the heart of Pali.
• Sarasgad fort trek – the turban-shaped hillfort rising straight above the town.
• Sudhagad fort trek – the big plateau fort a short drive on, good for an overnight.
• Trekking near Khopoli-Pali – the wider trail list across the corridor.
• Fort-hopping itinerary – how to string the area’s forts into one trip.
• Unhere hot springs – warm sulphur rock-cut pools near the Pali temple.
• Amba river nature – the quiet Konkan river country around Pali.
• Hidden gems of Pali and Sudhagad – lesser-known stops beyond the main sights.
• The Ashtavinayak route via Pali – fitting Ballaleshwar into the eight-temple circuit.
• Things to do in Pali – the temple, forts and springs of the Pali side.
• Things to do in Khopoli – the busier, Expressway end of the road.
• Imagicaa theme park, Khopoli – the big family day out near the Expressway.
• Family days out in Khopoli – easy outings for all ages.
• Waterfalls near Khopoli – monsoon cascades within easy reach.

Getting there

• Mumbai to Khopoli-Pali – routes and drive times from the city.
• Pune to Khopoli-Pali – the Expressway approach from Pune.
• Khopoli to Pali drive times – how long each leg of SH-93 really takes.
• Khopoli-Pali to the Navi Mumbai airport – distance and time to NMIA.

Land & investment nearby

• The complete Khopoli-Pali road land guide – the SH-93 corridor, survey by survey.
• Buying land in Pali in 2026 – prices and checks on the Pali side.
• Land near Ballaleshwar and Sarasgad – plots around the temple town.
• A weekend home on the Khopoli-Pali road – building a second home here.
• Khopoli land in 2026 – the Expressway-end land market.
• Weekend villa plot costs on SH-93 – what a build-ready plot really runs to.

Sources

Imagicaa park composition (theme, water and snow parks and on-site hotel) – Imagicaa official information and public listings. Zenith Waterfall and Gagangiri Ashram – public travel listings for Khopoli, Raigad. Ballaleshwar temple, Sarasgad and Sudhagad forts, and the Unhere hot springs – Maharashtra Tourism and public travel listings for Pali. Distances on the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93) – as described in the Lords of the Lands corridor guide. Tickets, timings, waterfall flow and trail conditions change frequently – confirm on official channels before you travel. This guide is general travel information, not an endorsement or a booking service.