Living in Akurdi and bored on weekends? You're surrounded by some of the best short rides in Maharashtra — forts, dams, ghats, and hill stations all within 100 km. The problem? Most "bike trip from Pune" guides assume you start from Swargate or Shivajinagar. Nobody writes for the PCMC crowd.
This guide starts from Akurdi. Real distances. Real timings. And you don't need to own a bike — rent one from Boongg Akurdi starting at Rs 349/day.
7 Weekend Rides from Akurdi (All Under 100 km)
1. Kasarsai Dam — The Quick Morning Escape (15 km, 30 min)
Perfect for: A peaceful 2-hour morning outing before the heat kicks in.
Head out on the Dehu-Alandi road and you'll reach Kasarsai in 30 minutes. The dam is surrounded by hills, and early mornings (6-8 AM) are stunning. Pack breakfast — there are no food stalls. Flat, easy roads the entire way. Even an Activa handles this comfortably.
- Route: Akurdi → Dehu Road → Kasarsai village → Dam
- Road quality: Good, mostly flat
- Best time: 6-9 AM (weekdays are empty)
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 70 round-trip
2. Sinhagad Fort — The Classic Pune Ride (35 km, 1 hr)
Perfect for: A half-day trip with fort trekking and legendary food at the base.
Sinhagad is Pune's most popular fort ride and for good reason — the winding ghat road up is thrilling, the views from the top are expansive, and the pitla-bhakri (spicy gram flour with flatbread) at the base village is a Pune institution. From Akurdi, take the Khadakwasla route.
- Route: Akurdi → Kothrud bypass → Khadakwasla Dam → Sinhagad base → Fort top (park and trek 20 min)
- Road quality: Good till base, steep ghat section (low gear on scooter)
- Best time: Early morning (6-7 AM start), avoid monsoon weekends (extremely crowded)
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 160 round-trip
- Must eat: Pitla-bhakri + zunka at the fort base stalls
3. Mulshi Dam — The Scenic Lake Road (40 km, 1.5 hr)
Perfect for: A relaxed full-morning ride with lake views and breakfast at a resort.
The road to Mulshi winds through the Sahyadri foothills with views that'll make you stop every 5 km for photos. The dam area has several lakeside eateries and resorts. Take the Pirangut route from Akurdi for the most scenic stretch.
- Route: Akurdi → Paud Road → Pirangut → Mulshi Dam
- Road quality: Mixed — good highway stretches + some village roads
- Best time: Monsoon (July-Sep) for waterfalls along the route
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 185 round-trip
4. Pawna Lake — The Camping Favourite (45 km, 1.5 hr)
Perfect for: Overnight camping with friends. Leave Saturday morning, return Sunday.
Pawna is THE weekend camping destination for Pune's young crowd. Dozens of campsites line the lake with tents, bonfires, and stargazing packages (Rs 800-1,500/person including dinner and breakfast). The ride there via Kamshet is gorgeous.
- Route: Akurdi → Dehu Road → Pune-Mumbai Expressway service road → Kamshet → Pawna
- Road quality: Good highway + 10 km village road at the end
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 210 round-trip
- Camping: Rs 800-1,500/person (includes tent + meals)
- Pro tip: Book a campsite in advance on weekends. Rent a Boongg daily for 2 days (Rs 698) — cheaper than any taxi
5. Lavasa — The Hill City (55 km, 2 hr)
Perfect for: A day trip with European-style architecture and lakeside cafes.
Lavasa is a planned hill city with colourful Italian-style buildings on a lake. The ride through Chandni Chowk and Temghar Dam is scenic. Entry charges apply. Good cafes and restaurants for lunch.
- Route: Akurdi → Chandni Chowk → Pirangut → Temghar → Lavasa
- Road quality: Good with some ghat sections
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 255 round-trip
- Budget: Rs 500-800 per person (entry + food)
6. Tamhini Ghat — The Waterfall Paradise (60 km, 2 hr)
Perfect for: Monsoon rides (June-September) when the ghats are alive with waterfalls.
Tamhini Ghat is arguably the most beautiful ride near Pune during the monsoon. Waterfalls cascade directly onto the road. The dense forest canopy creates a green tunnel effect. Warning: roads get slippery — ride carefully and wear rain gear.
- Route: Akurdi → Chandni Chowk → Mulshi → Tamhini Ghat
- Road quality: Good but wet/slippery in the monsoon. Avoid after dark.
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 280 round-trip
- Must see: Tamhini Waterfall viewpoint, plus 5-6 unnamed falls along the ghat road
7. Malshej Ghat — The Flamingo Trail (100 km, 3 hr)
Perfect for: A full-day expedition. Leave at 5 AM, return by evening.
Malshej is further, but worth the ride. During the monsoon, thousands of flamingos visit the nearby lake. The ghat road has 20+ hairpin bends with cloud-level views. Pack snacks — limited food options on the route.
- Route: Akurdi → Chakan → Rajgurunagar → Junnar → Malshej Ghat
- Road quality: Good highway till Junnar, then ghat road (well-maintained)
- Fuel cost: ~Rs 460 round-trip
- Best time: August-September (flamingo season + misty mountain views)
Which Bike to Rent for Each Ride?
| Ride | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kasarsai (15 km) | Activa / Jupiter | Flat roads, short distance |
| Sinhagad (35 km) | Activa / Jupiter | Ghat section is fine on automatic |
| Mulshi (40 km) | Activa / FZ | Longer ride, either works |
| Pawna (45 km) | FZ / Splendor | Village roads + luggage for overnight |
| Lavasa (55 km) | FZ / Pulsar | Ghat riding is better on a bike |
| Tamhini (60 km) | FZ / Pulsar | Wet roads need good tyres + control |
| Malshej (100 km) | Pulsar / RE Classic | Long distance, ghat bends, comfort matters |
All available at Boongg Akurdi. Scooters from Rs 349/day, bikes from Rs 499/day.
Rental Cost for Each Trip
| Trip | Duration | Boongg Rental | Fuel | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasarsai Dam | Half day | Rs 349 | Rs 70 | Rs 419 |
| Sinhagad Fort | Half day | Rs 349 | Rs 160 | Rs 509 |
| Mulshi Dam | Full day | Rs 349 | Rs 185 | Rs 534 |
| Pawna Camping | 2 days | Rs 698 | Rs 210 | Rs 908 |
| Lavasa | Full day | Rs 499 | Rs 255 | Rs 754 |
| Tamhini Ghat | Full day | Rs 499 | Rs 280 | Rs 779 |
| Malshej Ghat | Full day | Rs 499 | Rs 460 | Rs 959 |
Compare that to splitting an Ola for 4 people to Pawna: Rs 3,000+ return. Two rented scooters for 4 people: Rs 1,816 total. You save Rs 1,200 AND have the freedom to stop wherever you want.
Safety Checklist Before Every Ride
- Helmet always — Boongg provides one free. No-helmet fine is Rs 1,000.
- Check tyre pressure before ghat rides — Boongg maintains fleet, but a quick check takes 30 seconds
- Carry rain gear for monsoon rides — Rs 200 poncho from any Nigdi shop
- Phone mount + charged power bank — Google Maps is your co-rider
- Start early — 5-6 AM starts mean less traffic and better views
- Tell someone your route — share live location with a friend
- 200 km daily limit: Even Malshej (200 km round-trip) fits within Boongg's limit. No overage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a Boongg rental bike outside Pune city?
Yes. All 7 destinations listed are within the allowed riding area. Just stay within the 200 km/day limit.
What if the bike breaks down on a ghat road?
Boongg provides roadside assistance for monthly and daily rentals. Call the support number — help is dispatched.
Is an Activa good enough for the Sinhagad ghat?
Yes. Thousands of Activas go up to Sinhagad every weekend. Use low gear (pull the brake gently while accelerating) on steep sections. If you want more power, rent an FZ or Pulsar.
Can I rent for just one day?
Yes. Rs 349/day for scooters, Rs 499/day for bikes. Pick up in the morning, return by 9 PM. Zero deposit.
Rent a Bike in Akurdi — From Rs 349/day
Zero deposit. Free helmet. Near Akurdi Railway Station.
Akurdi · Pimple Saudagar · Hinjewadi · Wakad
