India Tourism » Lonavala Travel

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A Romantic Rendezvous
The high mountain range, cascading waterfalls, mesmerising sunsets and sharp valleys make a perfect getaway from the concrete jungle. As you go up the winding ghats of the Sahyadri hyadri in Western Maharashtra you will discover beautiful hills, deep green valleys, lakes, historic forts, waterfalls, etc.

This picturesque ride leads you to Lonavala, a popular hill station. Situated at an altitude of 625 m from sea level, Lonavala is 104 kms from Mumbai and 64 kms from Pune by road. All the express trains plying between Mumbai and Pune halt here. It is also known as the ‘Jewel of Sahyadri’ since nature showers its bounty on this hilly terrain throughout the year.

The hill station derives its name from the Sanskrit word “lonavali”, which means surrounded with caves. It is also a favourite monsoon retreat and one of the best picnic spots to visit during this season. The views of cascading waterfalls and towering mountains are awesome. Before you begin your tryst with the ghats by road, you will come across the Rajamichi Park. On the east side of the park are the two towers of Rajamachi Fort and a huge valley at the bottom of the park. To experience a breathtaking view of the fort, you can visit the Rajamachi Point. The Vaghjai Dari located nearby adds to the attraction of this spot.

Another beautiful sight you can enjoy on your way from Mumbai to Pune is the Kune Falls. It is on the way after the last tunnel before reaching Lonavala. It is a breathtaking waterfall in the heart of Lonavala-Khandala valley. The waterfall is divided into two sections and each part is around 100 meters high. Kune missionary church is a good landmark and you will have to leave the MumbaiPune Expressway at the Lonavala bypass and take the old Mumbai-Pune highway for around 10 minutes to reach this place. There are many caves around Lonavala like the Karla caves, Gambhirnath caves, Bhaja caves and Bedsa. The Karla and Bhaja caves are located in the hills at a distance of 11 kms from Lonavala.

These rock-cut cave temples date back to the 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest and finest examples of Buddhist rock cut temple art in India. Karla caves were carved out by some monks and artisans who tried to imitate the carvings on wood. Light filters enter the cave through the sun window and a wooden umbrella protects the Dagoba or representation of Buddha. There are 37 pillars which are the circular aisles and the figures of kneeling elephants are carved on the top of these pillars. A Stambha with four lions, back to back, stands proudly outside the cave. This pillar is associated with’Ashoka and is believed to have been placed here later.

The Bhaja caves are older and peaceful than the Karla caves. Out of the 18 Bhaja caves, 10 are viharas and one is an open chaitya. Interestingly, some history is attached to every cave. But it is the Gabhirnath cave which is famous with trekkers. You have to climb a narrow path on the hill to reach this place. Once inside the cave, your skin will crawl as it is pitch dark here.

Ryewood is a huge garden situated near Lonavala. Majestic tall trees make it a hugely popular romantic spot. There is an old Mahadec, temple in this park. There are two versions as to how the garden got its name. Some say it got its name from an English officer named Rye who stayed in this place for quite some time. Others believe it is an adaptation of the Marathi word “Rai” meaning “thick forest”. There is lot more to explore in the hills of Lonavala like the Duke’s Nose peak, named after Duke Wellington - the cliff supposedly bore a strong resemblance to his nose. It also resembles the hood of a snake, which is why it is also known as “Nagfani”. You have to visit this serene site to experience the bounty of nature.

Another interesting site is the Tiger’s Point, which is also known as Vagdari. This place gives you a fascinating view of the valley on one side and a bird’s eye view of the town on the other side. If you observe the valley carefully from this spot, it appears as if a tiger is leaping info the valley.

You can also view the valley from the safe confines of a huge hole that has been made at the spot. If you throw a stone down the hill, it would ricochet at many places. You can even visit Echo Point, which is in close proximity to this site. The Reversing Station point that is located 7 kms from Lonavala is famous for its panoramic view of the railway line that passes through a tunnel on one side and Duke’s Nose on the other. Adventure seekers can try their hand at rock climbing at the Duke’s Nose peak and other locations in the Karla hills near Lonawala.

There are numerous lakes around Lonavala. The Tungarli lake retains deep waters till January and is a favourite monsoon spot.The Pawna lake, Lonavala lake and Valvan lake are astonishingly scenic and considered to be popular picnic spots. There is a beautiful dam, a garden as well as a pisiculture centre at the Valvan lake. Another interesting water outlet, Bushi Dam is a hit among visitors during monsoon. The dam starts overflowing during this season and water gets collected at the staircase like structure on the dam.

The mountainous terrain of Lonavala is ideal for trekking and hiking. People often go on excursions to the 18th century forts of Lohagad and Visapur. A 45-minute trek near Peth-Shahpur village from Lonavala to Korigad Fort offers some spectacular views of the netrby areas including the Amby Valley. Another attraction close to Lonavala is the Bhairavnath Dev Stan which is known for its deep valleys, thick forests, monkeys and peacocks, streams etc. Since vehicles are banned near the temple, one has to be careful while taking the slippery steps carved out of a rock.

The Kaivalayadhama Yoga hospital attracts lots of tourists who come here for yogic healing. It is two kms from Lonavala and conducts various courses in yoga along with a research center and a training college. Lonavala is also famous for chikki and chocolate fudge. There is a plethora of hotels and resorts around the other locations in the Karla hills near town to make your visit comfortable and Lonavala. pleasurable.

SIGHTSEEINGIN LONAVALA
• Bhushi Dam
• Lohagad Fort
• Kaivalya Dham Yoga Center
• Lonavala Lake
• Dukes Point
• Ryewood F’ark
• Tiger Point
• Karla and Bhaja caves
• Tungarli Lake

AROUND LONAVALA
• Rajamichi Point
• Valvan
• Khandala
• Korighat Fort
• Vaghjai Dari