Let it Rain! Fun things to do in Pune During the Monsoons

If there is one city whose people know how to make the most of raindrops, misty fog and gray skies, it’s Pune. Our city has no short of rainy day activities for kids, all you have to do is explore. From weekend gateways and indoor fun at libraries & playcentres, toumbrella painting and watching a rooftop movie, check out the options to make the monsoons fun this year!

Enjoy a Family Stay at Monsoon Retreats

(Image Credits: Smita Omar Agrawal, The Upper Deck Resort, Machan Resort and Pavna Huts)

When it’s raining, all you want to do is to pack your bags and drive to picturesque resorts to lounge with your family for a few days. Fortunately, there is no dearth of options of kid-friendly retreats around Pune.

• Swing in the hammocksunder drizzle drops at a Splendour Country Clubnear Khadakwasla Lake or wrap yourself in the blanket of clouds at The Upper Deck Resort located at the highest point of Lonavala.

Read more about these two and other great monsoon resorts here.

• How about enjoying a scenic view of Jambulne Jungle (one of the world’s top 25 biological hotspots) from a tree house at Machan Resort in Lonavala? Or, taking a walk through rice paddy fields and indulge in a mud fight at Pavna Huts in Kamshet?

Browse through a list of more such offbeat monsoon resorts here.

Go on a Wildlife Trip

(Image Credits: Smita Omar Agrawal and Morachi Chincholi)

Usually most wildlife destinations close their gates to visitors during the monsoon season. However, the ones near Pune are an exception. Your kids will simply love to explore the exquisite variety of flora & fauna here and learn trivia about them to share with friends back home.

• Bhimashankar: Try your luck spotting Shekru (Giant Squarrel), the state animal of Maharashtra in the jungles of Bhimashankar.

• Amboli: Watch different species of frogs, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians playing hide and seek against the backdrop of lush green forests. Keep a close eye on Malabar Gliding Frog, which is famous for showing acrobats in the air!

• Phansad: Capture Hariyal, the yellow footed green pigeon, in your lenses. Also, discover various other species of animals, snakes and butterflies.

• Morachi-Chincholi: Dance with the peacocks under the rains and enjoy the rural hospitality.

• Kass Plateau:Indulge in a floral fantasy with more than 450 species of flowers which bloom only in the months of Aug-Sept at this world heritage site.

• Mayureshwar: Climb a machan (an observation tower) to spot chinkaras, hyenas, foxes and wolves.

• Ajivali — Devrai: Take a jungle walk through the rustic lanes of this green hamlet.

• Kurunji: Try your hands at rice plantation activity known as Bhatlavani. Watch how farmers plant and harvest rice saplings. You can join the upcoming Bhatlavani trip on 16th July organized by The Western Routes.

Check out how to reach and what all you can do at these wildlife destinations here.

Drive to Hill Stations, Lakes and Dams

(Image Credits: Smita Omar Agrawal)

Your children would be missing on pleasure of watching panoramic mountains, gushing waterfalls and rain drenched roads if you don’t embark on a road trip to the nearby hill stations, lakes or dams.They will be surprised to trace every imaginable shade of green that can exist in the dictionary of colours.

• Visit the popular hill stations like Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, Lonavala and Lavasa or offbeat options like Igatpuri, Karjat and Jawahar. Mycity4kids had recently curated a list of activities your children can enjoy at these hill stations. Read more here.

• Admire the beauty of Khadakwasla, Pashan and Katraj Lakes or Panshet, Mulshi, Bhushi or Temghar Dams. Munch on peanuts, sweet corn and other local delicacies.Here is the complete list of lakes and dams around Pune.

• Adventure enthusiasts (12 years and above) can experience the thrill of waterfall rappelling and zip line crossing at Lonavala. Book a tour with Rivers and Ridges on 24th July.

Trek Your Way to Hill Forts

(Image Credit: Wikipedia Common)

Pune is home to several forts such as Sinhagad, Tikona, Lohagad, Rajmanchi, Prabalgad, Shivneri and many more that still stand proud to tell the tales of Maratha and Peshwa Empires as well as other prominent events from the history. Most of these forts are nestled in the Western Ghats and hence, make breathtaking trekking destinations around this time of the year. However, just make sure that you avoid visiting during peak monsoon for safety reasons.

Click here to know the difficulty level, distance from Pune and the time taken to trek these forts so that you can prepare your child for the trip accordingly.

Catch a Movie in a Rooftop Cinema

(Image Credit: Lost The Plot)

Lost The Plot, Pune’s first open air cinema has been showcasing wonderful movies to soak in the spirit of monsoon. Wait, movies under the stars and that too in the rainy season? Before you think we are kidding, let us tell you more. To make sure that your outdoor movie viewing experience doesn’t get disturbed, Lost The Plot has arranged for an overhead covering. So, while the raindrops play a melody on the rooftop, you can enjoy the movie on the screen set against the backdrop of the city’s horizon!

To keep a tab on the line up of movies for July and the coming months, click here.

Enjoy Funsoon at Adlabs Imagica

(Image Credits: Smita Agrawal Omar)

Grab the Funsoon offer at Adlabs Imagica Theme Park and Water Park (Aquamagica)! You can save up to 35% less on the tickets! More fun for less! Club your Imagica trip with a weekend stay at Lonavala and your family can have the time of their life this monsoon.

For more information, please click here.

Get Cozy with Books &Games at Bookstores/Libraries and Playcentres

What better way for your munchkins to spend time indoors than to read a book or play with their mates? Hop into your car and head to the bookstores/libraries and playcentres in the city, where a truckload of monsoon fun awaits your kids. Join a reading club, listen to stories, attend art & craft workshops, glide through slides & tunnels or simply indulge in free play.

Bring an Umbrella to Life with Colours

Several artists and art organizations in Pune are organizing umbrella painting workshops for both children and adults. You can draw & paint the colours of monsoon on an umbrella, and make a fashion statement of your own. Let your children’s imagination unfold!

Creative Doodles is conducting two workshops this weekend — on 16th July at Enlit Kids Stores in Wakad & Baner & Bibewadi as well as on 17th July at The Learning Pod in Bibewadi.

Stay tuned to our ‘Top Picks of The Week’ for further updates on umbrella painting workshops.

Savour Your Sweet Tooth

(Image Credits:French Window and Pink Butter)

Dig into sinful pastries, cheesecakes, muffins, cookies and cupcakes with your little ones at these eat-in patisseries in Pune while listening to the pitter patter of raindrops.

Shop Till You Drop

Take your kids shopping! Monsoon sale is at its peak in most stores and malls in the city. Make the most of the discounts and offers to shop for their raincoats, apparels, toys, stationery, books and more.