Trip to Saguna Baug-Neral

Many of us live in crowded city. We travel to office daily in heavy traffic. Loud horns, pollution, dust are all habitual for us by now. Even rivers that goes through City are polluted that we can’t even notice them. Hence, many of us goes to our native town to get our mind relaxed from hustle of city life.

Saguna Baug

But many people do not have their native place or event if they do have then it's too far that they can’t travel over weekend. What if you could get similar native place and village like experience that to nearby city like Mumbai or Pune ? Saguna Baug is all about that.

Saguna Baug is place of Agro-tourism which spread over 16 acers of land in Neral near Ulhas River. There are various fun activities and stay facility here.

We decided to go Saguna Baug by train. We caught Sahyadri Express from Shivaji Nagar at 7.10 am in the morning and get down at Neral railway station by 10 am. From railway station we took an auto (rickshaw) who dropped us at Saguna Baug. This place is approximate 8 km away from railway station so it took around 20 mins to reach there.

There is small office at the entrance. We took coupons for two person. One coupons cost 1000/- rupees . It includes unlimited breakfast, lunch and evening tea.

We started walking from main entrance. There was no cement concrete road inside baug but a rural village type road. you feel like you are walking in village and there are green farms on both side of small road. After 2-3 minutes of walking there was welcome drink counter. We are being served with chill kokum drink which was very tasty and sufficient to cool down ourselves during hot climate.

We continue further. Again after 5 minutes’ walk there is central place which has Registration counter and Canteen shed.

Registration desk at Saguna Baug

All local guides were available there which can guide you further on all activities to be shown and conducted for today. We registered our name there. Generally they form a group of 10-12 people and take you along with that group. Each group has tour guide.

First we had a breakfast there. We had option of Upma/ Misal-Pav and tea/coffee.

Central place of Saguna Baug and Canteen Shed

Breakfast in the morning at Saguna Baug !

Our first activity was farm tour. They have very huge farm with various trees. They take a visitors on farm tour and explain everything about farming.

Farm Tour of Saguna Baug

They also have their own dairy farm as well. In addition they also have Emu farm there.

Emu Farm at Saguna Baug

Next activity was bullock cart riding. They take you on round for 5-10 minutes around the farm. Ride on bullock cart was great experience and didn’t remember when last time I had bullock cart ride like that.

Bullock Cart Riding at Saguna Baug

Next activity is to enjoy swimming in Ulhas river. You can reach river by walking distance of 5-10 minutes. You can enjoy free swimming there if you want. It’s a safe as they have covered small water area by rope so you can’t go in deep water. There was also water buffalo riding available, where you can seat on buffalo who go inside the river water and then they incline that buffalo so you just fall in water. It's a good fun to have that ride.

Swimming At Ulhas River at Saguna Baug

Post this, it was already 2 pm so we took a break and headed for the lunch back to central area. Lunch was having Maharashtrian veg thali including Rice, Dal , Chapati , 2 vegetable dishes, Salad, Papad, Dessert and Chaas. You can also order non-veg (fish/mutton and chicken) if you want which incur additional cost. We ordered 1 kg chicken which was very tasty and homemade. For 1 Kg chicken it cost us additional 500 rs. which was worth considering quality of taste.

Interesting Wash Basin at Saguna Baug

We had some relaxation time then for one hour. There are lot of relaxation points like this where you can go and relax yourself close to nature.

Relaxation at Saguna Baug

Play Activities at Saguna Baug

Next activity was fish farming tour. There is big lake where they do fish farming. One guy goes in that lake and take out different types of live fish from lake. He then show those fish to everyone and provide information on them. Some were very unique type of fish.

Fish farming tour at Saguna Baug

Showcasing types of live Fish at Saguna Baug

Next activity was rod-fishing. They provide us with rod with which you can do your own fishing.

People enjoying fishing at Saguna Baug

After few try, I could get reeled with one good fish. But later, their guard man and I both decided to just let that fish go away in the water again. I was happy as I have done fishing like this first time and got good fish while others were just waiting and trying.

Happy with fish I caught !

Next activity was paddle wheel boating in the lake. This is also included in the package. You can select from various boating option available.

By the time we were done with activities, it was almost 7 pm. Soon we checked-in to Cottage we booked earlier. Cottages has warli design on the walls. There are Pond house (situated in the middle of lake) as well as normal cottages to stay in “Saguna Baug” overnight. Pond house is ideal for big family, but if you are only family of 2 then Cottages are best.

Cottage at Saguna Baug

Inside view of Cottage I booked

Huge Ponds to stay inside lake at Saguna Baug

Dinner was again a Veg thali with different options. We enjoyed dinner and went to sleep.

In the early morning, we came to central place where breakfast was ready. The farm also having a range of homemade pickles, preserves, and fresh vegetables for the sale. We had a breakfast and then left to railway station.

Overall great experience to stay close to nature, understand farming techniques along with tasty homemade food.

How to reach there:

1 hr 40 minutes’ drive from Mumbai and 3 hours drive from Pune.
From Mumbai you can also catch Karjat train from Dadar or Kurla and get down at Neral railway station.
Neral station to Saguna Baug by Rickshaw – 100 rs.
From Saguna Baug to Neral station by Rickshaw – 130 rs.

Click below to get complete route direction of journey and places visited

Google Map Link

Some Useful Tips during Your Visit to Saguna Baug :

Matheran is very near from this place, hardly 30 minutes. So if you wish and have time in hand then you can visit Matheran too.

If you are going to stay there then carry your own towel and toiletries.

After we reached there, we also come to know that there is free pickup facility from Neral railway station if you are coming in the big group (more than 10).

You can also plan this as one day trip if do not want to stay here. We stayed here as we do not have train to Pune after 7 pm. If you are coming with your own vehicle then you can manage one day trip as well.