Honeymoon Destinations in Maharashtra: Wai Vs Vengurla

After all wedding traditions and customs are done with its time for the wedding bride and groom to take some time off from their hectic schedule and disappear in a world where they can find the right start to their new life. This is why majority of the couples today look out for better honeymoon destinations that can allow them to break free from the cultural bonds and just be themselves and enjoy the best phase of their life. While couples usually look out for international destinations where they can spend their honeymoon, there are many that also search for better deals in Maharashtra where they can find great honeymoon experience. Normally, honeymooners choose Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Matheran which are the most common honeymoon destinations in Maharashtra. However, in the last few years travelers have decided to explore new places as honeymoon destinations. Wai and Vengurla have emerged as the top two destinations when I created a poll on my blog in the top honeymoon destinations in Maharashtra article. So let’s see how they stack up against each other and why these two stand out from the rest.

Drive Time

If you have your own vehicle it will take around 4 hours to reach Wai from Mumbai. If you are in Pune, you only need half the time which is around 2 hours to reach Wai. If you are traveling by train from Mumbai you can take any Mumbai to Pune train and then look out for state transport or private buses from Pune station that will take you to Wai.

Vengurla that lies south of Mumbai on the map is around 9 hours and more if you are in your vehicle. You can choose the Mumbai-Goa Road through Kankavli that will provide you a better way to reach here. If you are in Pune you can use NH4 that allows you an easy option to reach Vengurla in almost 7 hours time period. So, in terms of drive time, Wai takes the lead compare to Vengurla which is farther down south from Mumbai and Pune.

A Little Bit of History

Wai has always managed to attract more people not only with its natural beauty, but also because of the religious temples that are located here. Wai is also usually referred as Dakshin Kashi or Virat Nagri. The temple of Dholya Ganpati, Kashi Vishveshwar Mandir, Dhundivinayak Ganpati Mandir and many others have always attracted religious people and travelers alike.

Vengurla, on the other hand, is just north of Goa and has rich cultural heritage to it. Here you will find Shri Devi Sateri Temple and the Rameshwar Mandir that attracts pilgrims and tourists from around Maharashtra. Historically, Vengurla was burnt twice in 1664 and 1812 as it was more of a trade settlement and was prone to repetitive attacks and plunders. I believe once again, Wai has the lead here because of the popular temples here that attract many newlyweds as they can take the blessings of their Gods as they take a new step in a new life as husband and wife.

Experience

I don’t have to say much when elaborating the natural landscape and beauty of Wai. The place is packed with natural landscapes that enhance the entire honeymoon experience and that alone is worth the money you are paying. You can visit the Krishna Ghat that remains the most popular place that you can visit when you are in Wai. Apart from that you can explore the locations around the Dhom Lake and Dhom Dam. If you have time on your hand, you can also visit Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar which is not too far from Wai. Lohare Palpeshwar Caves is also one of the attractions that you can checkout when you are around Wai.

Vengurla offers a Goa-like experience so if you are planning to visit Goa, but don’t want to mix up in all the rush that you usually find in Goa, Vengurla can offer you better options. Mochemad Beach in Vengurla is certainly the best place to visit when you are here but having a private vehicle helps when you are in Vengurla as some of the attractions here are a bit far from each other so using rickshaws and buses won’t exactly be convenient. Terekhol Beach is another attraction that can allow you to enjoy your honeymoon trip with your partner while you are here. In terms of experience, both Wai and Vengurla are quite different. Wai offers a mountainous rural area experience, while Vengurla is more like a close-to-the-beach experience.

Conclusion

Wai and Vengurla are two completely different places and they offer completely different honeymoon experience which actually depends on how you want to spend your time with your partner. While Wai is closer to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani you certainly get the adventure of being close to high mountains and exploring the places around and shopping when you are heading back home.

Vengurla is an ideal holiday or honeymoon destination for those who love beaches and want to stay close to water. The beaches here are clean and less crowded that give you an opportunity to be with your partner in a peaceful environment which I think is a must when you are on a honeymoon trip. While Wai has Mahabaleshwar, Vengurla has Goa in its close proximity which allows travelers to take a trip to Goa and return the same day. A normal trip from Vengurla to Goa takes around 3 hours so if you can’t find anything to shop in Vengurla you can certainly take a day off for shopping in Goa and return home.