Scale the heights of the Western Ghats as you survey nature at
its best around you. Get away from the madding crowds as you
sink into an ocean of tranquility, one that is filled with
gurgling brooks, gushing waterfalls, refreshing grasslands, deep
valleys, majestic forts, placid lakes, mystical hillocks, cool
winds and the little township that has sprung up in the midst of
all these. Wake up in the morning to the glazed picture of
sunrise, the sounds of birds chirping, the soft blanket of fog,
the nip in the air – and for a brief moment, you would be left
wondering where you are.
You are at the Jewel of the Sahyadri mountains – Lonavala,
located a little over 100 kms from Mumbai. And you are left
wishing you had a one-way ticket into this place and didn’t have
to go back. The enchanting smells of nature’s flora add to the
nip in the air as it reminds you that you are 625 m above sea
level. Add to this, the sweet smells of various kinds of chikki
- a delicious sweet made of groundnuts and jaggery – wafting
around and enticing you, and you know why the residents of the
nearby Mumbai and Pune find every conceivable opportunity to
rush to Lonavala for the weekend or on holidays.
The magical transformation that this hill station undergoes
after a spell of rains is to be seen to be believed. Families,
honeymooners, office gathering, college gangs, school excursions
– Lonavala is the universal favourite for all those who are
looking for an extended moment of peace and quiet, or just wish
to spend hours trekking and hiking to explore nature’s myriad
wonders.
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Want to know what to carry with you to Lonavala?
Weather information
The weather in Lonavala is pleasant through the year, with mild
summers, cool winters and refreshing monsoons that turn the
place into a paradise of green. However, it is advisable not to
visit Lonavala during the peak of monsoons (that’s between June
and September) – but do make a trip immediately after to see the
magical effect they have had on the place.
Summers are from April to June when the temperature can go up to
the mid-30s (Celsius). So regular cottons with perhaps a
windcheater for the nights would be preferable. But winters –
typically from the month of November to February - can get
pretty cold with the temperature dipping to 12C or sometimes
lower. So light woolens are recommended.
The best time to visit Lonavala? That would be between October
and May.
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Want to know how to get to Lonavala?
Getting to Lonavala
How do you wish to get to Lonavala? By train,
by air or by road?
Take your pick.
Because of its proximity to Mumbai and Pune, Lonavala can be
easily accessible by any mode of transport - air, road or rail.
By Train
Most trains going to Mumbai would have to stop at the Lonavala
station, as it is prominently located on the main railway line
between Pune and Mumbai. That makes trains a very convenient way
of accessing Lonavala. Some of the trains that shuttle between
Mumbai and Pune and hence cover Lonavala are Indryani Express,
Deccan Express, Deccan Queen, Sinhagad Express and Pragati
Express.
It would take you roughly three hours by express train from
Mumbai to Lonavala and around an hour from Pune to Lonavala. You
could also use the hourly shuttle service that connects Lonavala
to Pune. The railway station in Lonavala is in close proximity
to the fruit market.
While Lonavala is a destination you can look forward to after a
journey, the train ride to Lonavala is equally enjoyable. As the
train winds and unwinds through the Western Ghats, it passes
through myriad tunnels and offers splendid views of the Ghats,
with its dense greenery, sheer gorges and exotic valleys.
By Air
The
nearest airport from Lonavala is in Pune, around 65 km away. You
could fly in to Pune and reach Lonavala by rail or by road. In
case you are flying in from outside the country, the nearest
international airport is in Mumbai, which is roughly 110 kms
away. So you could alight at Mumbai and take a train or hire a
cab to take you to Lonavala.
By Road
Lonavala is well-connected by an extensive road network to the
rest of Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Pune as it lies on
the Mumbai-Pune Highway. Most buses plying between Mumbai and
Pune stop at Lonavala. While the bus service takes roughly two
hours from Pune to Lonavala, it takes twice that time from
Mumbai. There are also regular bus shuttles between Lonavala and
Khandala – the trip last approximately 15 minutes to cover the 5
kms stretch.
You could also drive down to Lonavala by car. Taxis are also
available to take you to Lonavala, both from Mumbai and from
Pune.
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Want to know how far Lonavala is from the
nearby towns and cities?
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Want to know what are the important places that should be on your
not-to-be-missed list?
Places to see
The romance of nature, the drama of the past, the peace and
solitude of the hills, the healthy ambience, the adventure of
the Ghats – everything you would expect from a hill station is
available to you at Lonavala.
What catches your fancy as you alight at Lonavala is the
breath-taking 360 view of greenery and the fantastic Sahyadri
range. The mountain terrains, lakes, forts, nearby places and
excursion spots are what make this place the most sought-after.
From strenuous trekking to leisurely walks, the place supports
any activity you might have in mind to unwind.
|
Khandala |
Lakes |
Caves |
Forts |
Other Attractions |
 |
Khandala
This little hill station is a mere 5 km away from Lonavala and
can be reached by road in a matter of minutes. Like Lonavala, it
has also been favoured by nature and hence bestowed with
absolute beauty – picture-perfect green settings, the mountains,
valleys |
|
and ghats as an exotic backdrop and quaint little picnic
spots where you can unwind. |
Lakes
While the ghat sections of Lonavala are breath-taking, equally
mesmerizing are the lakes that you will find here, like Tugauli,
Lonavala and Bhushi. No trip to Lonavala is complete without a
serene moment by these lakes.
Tungarli Lake
A
central lake that supplies water to Lonavala City, this lake is
located in proximity to the Tungarli village.
|
Lonavala Lake
This lake is believed to be the birthplace of the river
Indriyani and offers the perfect spot for tourists.
|
 |
Walvan Lake
This lake boasts of a beautiful dam, a picturesque garden and a
Pisiculture Center, is equally popular amongst the tourists.
Pauna Lake
This is a sparsely populated lake, possibly because not too many
people know of it. It is located by the Pavna Dam and offers you
the perfect spot for a quiet picnic.
 |
Bushi Lake
The Bushi lake presents the perfect picture of harmony, with a
lush green hill on one side and tiny waterfalls on the other. It
gets crowded during monsoons. |
Caves
When
there are mountains around, can caves be far behind? Lonavala
has its share of exotic caves.
Travel 10 km from Lonavala into the hills and you will find
yourself near a group of exotic caves, some of which are
actually rock-cut cave temples – amongst the oldest and best
examples of Buddhist rock-cut temple art in India, dating back
to the second century, BC. It is said that some of these caves
were created as far back as 200 BC.
Karla Caves
Amongst these, the Karla caves need to be singled out for
special mention as they are the location of a Buddhist stupa
that is believed to be 2,200 years old. The Karla caves have a
temple for Ekvira Devi, besides lions and elephants that have
been carved on pillars and at the entrance.
|
Bhaja Caves
Between the Lohagad Fort and the Visapur Fort is located the
Bhaja caves, accessible from the Malvali station. A smaller
version of the Karla caves, these caves are privy to the rays of
the setting sun and have representations of Gods and Goddesses
sculpted inside.
|
 |
Bedsa Caves
These caves are located near Kamshet and resemble the Karla
Caves in size, their huge lion pillars, smooth surfaced pillars,
resting rooms and other architectural features.
Forts
Lohagad Fort
Lose yourself to a splendid piece of history as you walk through
a magnificent entrance guarded by huge gates and visit a huge
cave that was used in the past to store grain. The Lohagad Fort
dates back to Shivaji’s era, during the 16th century and is
located roughly 10 kms from Lonavala. The fort also has a water
tank attached to it.
 |
Tunga Fort
This fort is surrounded by the Pavana Dam and has a Mahadeo
temple inside it. Be very careful when attempting to climb this
fort, for it has slippery roads and narrow paths. |
Rajmachi Fort
This fort is located in such a place, near a garden, that can
only be accessed on foot. The thrills of an adventurous walk is
evident from the fact that you will find deep valleys on three
sides and a thickset forest on the fourth as you approach the
fort. The fort is quite ancient – as is evident from its
Buddhist caves - and is located 10 kms away from Lonavala.
Shrivardhan Fort
Shrivardhan Fort is located to the east of Rajmachi Fort. The
fort has strong signs of both Buddhist and Maratha styles of
architecture. The entrance to the fort is not just interesting,
but also not easy to locate at first go, with its unique
semicircular shape.
Manoranjan Fort
This fort is located near the Bhairavnath temple, and a lake
that offers fresh water across the year. The fort also offers
and excellent view of several other scenic spots, besides the
Khandala railway station.
|
Visapur Fort
To the east of Lohagad fort is a large plateau that has
magnificent fort, with exquisite designs, strong protective
walls and a turret. A semicircular pass is present between Visapur and Lohagad forts.
|
 |
Other Attractions
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
This is a beautiful manmade waterfall that also has a pool near
it. Needless to say, a beautiful excursion spot or a place for a
quiet walk.
Bhushi Dam
Yet another popular picnic spot for tourists and visitors. It is
located roughly 5 kms from Lonavala and has become the
sought-after spot for those who want to take a shower under the
mighty waters.
Bhairavnath Devasthan
An enchanting spot that displays all of nature’s works of art in
one place - thickset forests, deep valleys, colorful peacocks,
chattering monkeys, gurgling streams, etc.
Rajmachi Park
Majestic hills on one side, placid lakes on the other. And a
beautiful garden in the middle of it all! The Rajmachi Park is
located in close proximity to the Ghat section and offers a
splendid view of the place around. The Rajmachi Fort is located
near the Park, with tall, imposing towers bordering along the
eastern side of the park.
 |
Duke’s Nose
While the place got its name because of its resemblance to Duke
Wellington’s pointed nose, it is also referred to as Nagfani,
meaning the hood of a snake, because some thought it looked like
one! Rock climbing is a popular pastime here. |
Tiger’s Leap
Any place that looks like a tiger leaping into the valley has to
be experienced. The rocky outlines of the mountain regions have
made a large-sized opening through which one can get a great
view of the valley below. Some even throw stones into this
opening, just to hear the ricochets that the stone makes on its
way down!
Ryewood Garden
Imagine walking into a sprawling garden full of greenery, laden
with the morning’s dew drops and surrounded by statuesque trees.
Visit the Mahadeo temple in the park or watch the children play
in the garden. Ryewood Garden is a place with never a dull
moment.
Monkey Hill
A favorite picnic spot for tourists, this place is close to the
Borghat reversing station where all the trains coming down from
Khandala halt for brake testing.
Yoga center
Holiday is not the only way to unwind. Yoga could also play a
major role in keeping the body healthy and the mind relaxed.
Keeping this in mind, scores of travelers visit the
Kaivalyadhama Yoga Hospital, located about 2 Kms from Lonavala
on a pretty hill near Walvan Lake, for yogic healing. You can
enjoy the benefits of yoga by joining one of its many courses on
yoga.
[-]
Want
to know what are the various activities you can indulge in while
at Lonavala?
Things to do
While the mountainous terrain of Lonavala offers the perfect
setting for trekking and hiking, there are several other
activities that you can try your hand out at Lonavala.
If you seek active adventure, try out rock climbing at the
Duke's Nose peak and other locations in the Karla hills, near
Lonavala. Or you could go for long walks along the waterfalls or
the green hills in and around Lonavala.
Another thing you can do at Lonavala is shop for chikki - a
sweet preparation made of jaggery mixed with peanuts, cashew
nuts or sesame seeds. Lonavala is also famous for its jams.
Know more about the Sterling Resort at Lonavala?
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Sterling Resort - Mayur Lonavala [Leased Property]|
