Panchgani is a hill station southeast of Mumbai in India’s Maharashtra state. It’s known for the Table Land, a huge volcanic plateau. Lookouts like Sydney Point and Parsi Point offer views of Dhom Dam lake and Kamalgad Fort, used as a prison by the British in the early 19th century. To the southeast, the Rajpuri Caves are surrounded by sacred ponds and contain a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Kartikeya.

When to visit: Panchgani has a tropical climate. Mar–May is relatively dry, and it becomes increasingly hot in the build-up to the monsoon season (Jun–Sep), when there is heavy rainfall. Winter (Dec–Feb) is dry and mild. The Strawberry Festival (Mar/Apr, dates vary) at Mapro Garden celebrates the region’s strawberry production with tastings of foods like strawberry pizza, strawberry sandwiches and chocolate-dipped strawberries.