Weekend Trips from Pune to Khopoli-Pali
Planning weekend trips from Pune to Khopoli and the Pali corridor? Here are one and two-day plans that go beyond Lonavala to theme parks, waterfalls, forts and a famous Ashtavinayak temple, all on the near side of the Expressway.
- Khopoli is about 80 km from Pune, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway via Lonavala.
- Lonavala is about 25 km from Khopoli, so it is an easy stop on the way in or out.
- The headline stop is Imagicaa, a 130-acre theme, water and snow park near Khopoli; the Zenith Waterfall is an easy monsoon walk.
- Down the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93), about 35 km on, sit the Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple at Pali and the Sarasgad and Sudhagad forts.
- The monsoon (June to September) is the most scenic season; winter is best for fort treks and temples.
What can you do on a weekend trip from Pune to Khopoli-Pali?
A weekend trip from Pune to Khopoli-Pali can combine Imagicaa’s theme and water parks, the Zenith Waterfall near Khopoli, the Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple at Pali, and a fort trek to Sarasgad or Sudhagad — all reached in about 80 km via Lonavala and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
For Pune, the Khopoli-Pali corridor is the near side of the Expressway, just past Lonavala. That means you pass one of Maharashtra’s best-known hill towns on the way in, then drop into a quieter belt of theme parks, waterfalls, forts and a famous Ganpati temple. It is close enough for a day trip and rewarding enough for an overnight.
How far is Khopoli-Pali from Pune, and what is the drive like?
Khopoli is about 80 km from Pune, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway via Lonavala, and Pali is about another 35 km on along SH-93. Lonavala sits about 25 km from Khopoli, so it is an easy stop on the way.
The Pune approach is scenic: the Expressway climbs through the ghats and past Lonavala before descending toward Khopoli. The Expressway Missing Link, opened in May 2026, has smoothed the ghat section and trimmed time on busy days. From Khopoli, the Khopoli-Pali road (State Highway 93) runs about 35 km south to Pali in roughly 40 minutes.
What does a one-day trip from Pune cover?
A one-day trip from Pune comfortably covers one highlight plus a Lonavala stop: either a full day at Imagicaa, or the Zenith Waterfall and the Ballaleshwar temple at Pali, with Lonavala’s viewpoints on the way back. Keep each leg to about 1.5 hours and start early.
Because Pune is a little closer in time than Mumbai, a day trip has slightly more room. Even so, one big attraction plus a short stop is the realistic limit if you want to be home by evening. Families lean to Imagicaa; others pair the waterfall and temple and break the return at Lonavala for chikki and a viewpoint.
What does a two-day weekend from Pune look like?
A two-day weekend from Pune lets you split Lonavala and the Khopoli-Pali corridor: day one around Lonavala and Imagicaa or the Zenith Waterfall, and day two driving the 35 km down SH-93 to Pali for Ballaleshwar, Sarasgad fort and the Unhere hot springs.
| Plan | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| One-day (pick one) | Imagicaa, or Zenith Waterfall + Pali temple, via Lonavala | — |
| Two-day classic | Lonavala viewpoints + Imagicaa or Zenith Waterfall | Drive SH-93 to Pali: Ballaleshwar, Sarasgad, Unhere springs |
| Two-day trekker | Lonavala + Zenith Waterfall | Sudhagad or Sarasgad fort trek, then Pali darshan |
When should you plan a weekend trip from Pune?
The monsoon, June to September, is the most scenic for a weekend from Pune, when Lonavala, the Zenith Waterfall and the Sahyadris are at their greenest; winter, November to February, is the most comfortable for forts and temples. Summer is warm and best suited to the Imagicaa water park.
The Pune side gets the full drama of the ghats in the monsoon, which is reason enough to time a trip for the rains if you enjoy mist and waterfalls. Winter is easier for fort climbs and long temple days. In summer, the heat pushes most visitors toward the water park and early starts.
Why choose the Khopoli-Pali corridor over the usual Lonavala stop?
Pune visitors often stop at Lonavala and turn back, but carrying on about 25 km to Khopoli and down SH-93 to Pali adds a theme park, a famous Ashtavinayak temple and real hillforts to the same weekend. Some who make the extra drive a habit end up looking at plots along the corridor.
Lonavala is lovely but crowded, and most of its visitors never see what lies just beyond it. The Khopoli-Pali road opens up a quieter belt of the same hills — forts, a temple town and waterfalls — that rewards going a little further. For many Pune families, that short extension is what turns a routine Lonavala run into a proper weekend.
FAQ
How far is Khopoli from Pune for a weekend trip?
Khopoli is about 80 km from Pune, which is roughly a 1 to 1.5 hour drive on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway via Lonavala, depending on traffic. Pali is about another 35 km on along the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93), so the corridor is an easy weekend from Pune.
Is Khopoli-Pali a good weekend trip from Pune?
Yes. The corridor sits just past Lonavala on the Pune side of the Expressway, so you can combine Lonavala with Imagicaa, the Zenith Waterfall, the Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple at Pali and forts like Sarasgad and Sudhagad in one or two days.
Can you do Khopoli and Pali in one day from Pune?
You can cover one highlight in a day from Pune, such as Imagicaa or the Zenith Waterfall with the Pali temple, plus a short Lonavala stop. To add a fort trek and the Unhere hot springs, plan a two-day weekend with an overnight stay.
When is the best time to visit Khopoli-Pali from Pune?
The monsoon from June to September is the most scenic, with green ghats and full waterfalls, though roads and trails are slippery. Winter from November to February is the most comfortable for forts and temples, and summer suits the Imagicaa water park.
Is Lonavala on the way from Pune to Khopoli?
Yes. Lonavala sits on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway about 25 km from Khopoli, so it is a natural stop on a weekend trip from Pune and easy to combine with the Khopoli-Pali corridor.
What is there to do near Pali on a weekend from Pune?
Near Pali you can visit the Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple, trek Sarasgad fort beside the town or Sudhagad fort a short drive on, and relax at the Unhere sulphur hot springs. The Amba river and Konkan plains views add to a monsoon weekend.
The Khopoli-Pali road is an easy habit for Pune families – and some who keep coming back for the forts, the waterfalls and the temple town end up wanting a plot of their own here. If that is you, Lords of the Lands knows this corridor well and can show you around.
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.
- Places to visit around Khopoli-Pali – the full corridor sightseeing map.
- Imagicaa theme park, Khopoli – the big family day out near the Expressway.
- Family days out in Khopoli – easy outings for all ages.
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
Distances and drive times from Pune to Khopoli and Pali – public route and travel listings; confirm live traffic before you set out. Imagicaa park composition, Zenith Waterfall, Lonavala, Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak, Sarasgad and Sudhagad forts and the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93) – as described in the Lords of the Lands corridor guide. Tickets, timings and seasonal access change frequently – confirm on official channels before you travel. This guide is general travel information, not an endorsement or a booking service.
