Lonavala is a hill station town in the state of Maharashtra. It is also known as the "Jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains".It is present in the Sylvian Hills of the Western ghats. Lonavala is a prominent gateway from Mumbai and Pune, also a popular weekend destination trip. It is lying about 64 km west of Pune city and 96 km east of Mumbai. The Lonavala and Khandala hill stations were discovered by Lord Elphinstone in 1871. He was the Governor of Bombay presidency at the time.
Lonavala does not have an airport. Lohegaon Airport in Pune is the most accessible airport. Apart from the domestic airport, the nearest international airport is in Mumbai.
The main railway line between Mumbai and Pune passes from Lonavala. There are various train options available for all train travellers like Intercity Express, Koyna Express, Deccan Express, Indrayani Express etc. Lonavala has its railway station and many express trains crossing Mumbai Pune railway line stops in Lonavala.
Travelling by road to Lonavala is the most beautiful experience you can discover. By car, you can use the Mumbai Pune Expressway to arrive at Lonavala. If you want to avoid the toll, you can use the old Mumbai Pune NH4. Thus, Lonavala is accessible by all modes of transportation.
If you are a foodie, you can try some local Maharashtrian cuisine like Missal pav, bhel puri, Pitaal Bhakri. Other than that, if you have Sweet tooth, then Lonavala offers you a variant of famous Chikkis. It is a traditional Indian sweet which is made generally from nuts and jaggery or sugar. They are brittle. Different varieties of Chikkis that you can find exclusively in Lonavala are rose, desiccated coconut chikki, pistachios and many other forms of chikkis.
Another savoury item that you should try while in Lonavala is its fudge. They come in different flavour strawberry, almond, and the most famous is chocolate walnut fudge. Once you taste it, you would not hesitate to devour it. When you come here do not forget to try these out.
There are several places to visit in Lonavala. You will be left amazed by its natural beauty. That is not all, Lonavala has forts for all history lovers. One of them is the Visapur fort. It is present 15 km from the heart of the city.
This was constructed by the first Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. This fort has stunning carved arches, a few old water reservoirs, old houses and caves.
There is an ancient Koli temple here, visited by many devotees. When you go up to the fort, you will be amazed by the beautiful views surrounding it.
The lisit for places to visit in Lonavala is unending.Another historical site that you should visit is Umberkhind. It acquires a significant place in Maratha history. In this area, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated a large army of raiding Mughals led by Kartalab Khan. It has now become a popular trekking place for the tourist. Visit this pace in monsoon where lush greenery on the way would leave you awestruck.
You should visit Tunga fort if you want to go hiking. You can enjoy the historic as well as natural beauty. This tower was built by the Adilshahi dynasty and acted as a watchtower.
Later it was captured by Shivaji. It has a steep climbing trail that is suitable for beginners who are trying their hand at hiking. Other historic places to satisfy your curiosity with beautiful scenic beauties are Korigad Fort, Trikona Fort, Karla Caves, Rajmachi forts etc.
If you are fond of natural beauty, there are several places that you could visit. Amrutanjan Point is a beautiful view that you should go and enjoy. This enchanting place is present at the beginning of the Khandala Ghat.
Every nature enthusiast, adventure lover or advent photographer needs to visit this gorgeous Bhimashankar trail in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It has moderate climbing with dense forest covered with exotic flora and fauna. This pathway is a treat to your eyes.
Like Tiger's Leap, Lion's point is also the most visited tourist spot in Lonavala. The prefered time to visit this place is during the monsoon season. At that time, you can see small waterfalls gushing all over. Greenery covers the whole area. The Sunrise and the sunset is the most angelic view of this place. A handful of other natural sites are also present in Lonavala - Kunke waterfall, Bhushi Dam, Duke's Nose, reverse fall, Katldhara falls.
One of the unique places that you can travel to in Lonavala is Aundoli. It is a getaway place from the hustle-bustle of city life. Aundoli is a wondrous and exciting campsite that brings you a step closer to nature. There are a variety of joyful and indulging activities that you can enjoy - horse riding, trekking, rock climbing, nature walks etc. You want to learn more about horses then, you can be part of the grooming, training and feeding programme of horses.
There are several programs conducted specially for children. Some professionals train them. Children are given training in reading maps, surviving techniques, treasure hunts, and outdoor sports. After enjoying a full day of playful activities, you can relish the home-cooked food around a bonfire under the gleaming skies.
There are some recreational places present here. Adlabs IMAGICA is one of the finest amusement parks that has attracted the crowd from all over the country. It has hot- wheels rides that are both exciting and scary at the same time.
Della Adventure Park is another thrilling amusement cum waterpark. It has some remarkable rides like swoop swing that will pump your adrenaline. The last one on the list for you is Wet N Joy water park. Go and relive the child inside you.
The climate in Lonavala is delightful. Summers (April-June) are soft and warm, while winters (November-February) are mild. It receives heavy southwestern monsoon rainfalls between June and September.
The best time to explore Lonavala is between October and May. It is not advisable to go to Lonavala in the monsoon season, as it receives the record breaking heavy rainfall.
