The short answer: a rainy weekend near Pune is best enjoyed with hot, simple Maharashtrian comfort food: poha or thalipeeth for breakfast, misal for brunch, kanda bhaji and cutting chai at 4 pm while it rains, and a full thali with bhakri and pithla for dinner. Around Satara, look out for kandi pedha. At Avior Resorts in Shirwal, 58 km from Pune, the multi-cuisine restaurant overlooks Wadgaon Lake; stays include dinner and breakfast, and day packages include breakfast, lunch and hi-tea.
A day of monsoon eating
| Time | What to eat | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Poha with lemon and sev, upma, or thalipeeth with white butter | Warm, light, and easy on a cool morning |
| 11:00 am | Misal pav | The region's favourite hearty brunch |
| 1:30 pm | Varan bhaat with ghee, a seasonal bhaji, chapati | Simple, comforting lunch |
| 4:30 pm | Kanda bhaji, batata vada, cutting chai | The monsoon ritual |
| 6:00 pm | Roasted corn (bhutta) with lime and chilli | A rainy-evening classic |
| 8:30 pm | Maharashtrian thali: bhakri, pithla, usal, koshimbir, rice, a sweet | The full, satisfying meal |
Monsoon classics explained
Kanda bhaji
Thinly sliced onions in spiced gram-flour batter, fried until crisp. Best eaten immediately, with green chutney and fried chillies.
Batata vada
Spiced potato balls in gram-flour batter, often eaten in a pav as vada pav. The state's most famous snack.
Misal pav
Sprouted moth-bean curry topped with farsan, onion and lemon, served with pav. Some versions around the region are very spicy; ask for the tarri (spicy gravy) on the side.
Thalipeeth
A multigrain flatbread with onion and spices, served with butter or curd. Filling and warming.
Pithla bhakri
Gram-flour curry with jowar or bajra bhakri and thecha (a coarse chilli-garlic chutney). The classic rural meal.
Kandi pedha (Satara)
Satara's famous caramelised milk sweet, brown and fudgy. Buy a box to take home.
Eating well at a lakeside resort in the rain
- Sit where you can see the water. Rain on the lake is half the experience.
- Order hot snacks in small batches so they stay crisp.
- Tell the kitchen about dietary needs at check-in, not at the table.
- Pre-order group dinners on busy weekends.
- Ask what's fresh: seasonal vegetables are at their best.
What's included at Avior
| Booking | Meals included |
|---|---|
| Overnight stay | Welcome drink, dinner and breakfast |
| One-day package (9 am–5 pm) | Breakfast, lunch and hi-tea or coffee |
| Corporate day package | Breakfast, lunch and hi-tea or coffee |
See current options on the packages page. For more on dining, read our lakeside dining guide.
Healthy monsoon eating tips
- Choose freshly cooked food over items left standing.
- Drink boiled or packaged water.
- Go easy on raw salads from unknown roadside stalls in heavy rain.
- Balance fried snacks with soups and dal.
- Ginger and tulsi tea are warming and soothing.
Food stops on the drive
On NH48 between Pune and Shirwal, you'll find plenty of highway restaurants and tea stalls. Stop at busy places where food is freshly made. If you're heading on to Wai, try a local thali there; see our Wai day-trip guide.
A rainy-weekend plan for food lovers
Saturday
- 11:30 am: Arrive; misal for brunch.
- 2:00 pm: Check in; nap.
- 4:30 pm: Kanda bhaji and chai while it rains.
- 6:00 pm: Roasted corn on a walk between showers.
- 8:30 pm: Thali dinner.
Sunday
- 8:30 am: Thalipeeth and filter coffee by the lake.
- 11:00 am: Check out; stop for kandi pedha if you're passing Satara, or buy local sweets on the way home.
More monsoon ideas
Vegetarian, Jain and lighter options
Monsoon menus are often heavy on fried snacks, but there are plenty of lighter choices:
- Soups: tomato, sweet corn or a simple dal shorba.
- Steamed or grilled vegetables and paneer.
- Varan bhaat with lemon and a little ghee.
- Jain versions of most dishes without onion, garlic or root vegetables, on request.
Tell the team about dietary needs when you book so the kitchen can plan.
Tea and coffee for the rains
| Drink | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Cutting chai | The classic with bhaji |
| Ginger (adrak) chai | Warming on a cool evening |
| Tulsi tea | Soothing and light |
| Filter coffee | A slow breakfast companion |
| Hot chocolate | For children (and adults) on chilly evenings |
Food-safety tips in the monsoon
- Eat freshly cooked, hot food.
- Drink boiled or packaged water.
- Wash hands before eating, especially after outdoor walks.
- Avoid raw salads from unknown stalls in heavy rain.
Make a meal of the view
Ask for a table facing the lake. Rain sweeping across the water, the smell of wet earth and a plate of hot bhaji is the whole point of a monsoon weekend.
Book a table or a stay
- Call: +91 72619 62666
- WhatsApp: +91 72619 63666
- Enquire online: contact page