By Lambe Lamis 
Pune is an Indian metropolitan town, surrounded by the Sahyadri Mountains and the Western Ghats. It is also in shut proximity to quite a few tiny rivers that meander their way all-around the mountains and circulation down into the valleys. There are several riverside spots together the banks of these rivers that have now turned into vacationer places. Some well-known kinds are:
1. Karjat
Karjat is a weekend getaway about 100 kms from Pune. It is available by the Mumbai-Pune expressway. It is a single of the most frequented riverside tourist spot and is frequented by travelers from Mumbai and Pune. It is the ideal vacation spot for mother nature enthusiasts with lush greenery, hill trek paths and rivers. The river Ulhas has its origin near Karjat in the Western Ghats. In shut proximity to Karjat, lie the Kondana Caves, housing ancient Buddhist sculptures and carvings and also other Buddhist architecture these kinds of as stupas and chaityas. Karjat is also household to lots of temples this kind of as the Jain Temple, Kondeshwar Temple and the Khandoba Temple. Travellers can indulge in adventure athletics like rappelling, rock climbing and bungee leaping that are run by private corporations.
2. Kolad
Kolad is a tiny village in Raigad district, about 120 kms from Pune. It is along the financial institutions of the Kundalini River. The primary attraction in Kolad is white water rafting on the Kundalini River. It usually usually takes 2 several hours to raft on the 14 km prolonged river. Every single weekend, tourists from Mumbai and Pune head out to Kolad mostly for the rafting experience. Apart from this, there are lots of forts of historical significance in the region such as Tala Fort and Ghosala Fort. A couple kilometers from Kolad are the Kuda Caves, an instance of Buddhist architectural excellence. There are historical inscriptions and paintings on the partitions of the caves, about the teachings of the Buddha they advise Buddhist monks will have to have resided in them all over the 1st-2nd century B.C.
3. Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar is a pilgrimage middle about 103 km from Pune. The Bhima River, which flows for a length of 847 km and later merges into the Krishna River, originates right here. Bhimashankar is famed for the Bhimashankar Temple one of the most well-liked shrines of the Hindu God Lord Shiva in the place. Amongst other sights, the Machan and the Bhima trekking path are notably common amid trek fans from Pune. The scenic and lush environmentally friendly hills and the crisp and clean air make these trails as favorites among the trekking enthusiasts. The Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary homes the Giant Indian Squirrel between other species of animals and birds. Bhimashankar doubles up as a pilgrim-cum-picnic vacation spot for holidaymakers from Pune. It is great for a weekend getaway. The very best time to stop by is submit the monsoons and before the onset of summer.