Lonavala

Lonavala
Location: 96 kms from Mumbai, Maharashtra
Attractions: Karla Caves, Ryewood Park, Tiger's Leap etc
Altitude: 625 metres
Best Time to Visit: October to May
How to Reach: One can easily reach Lonavala by hiring private taxis or by boarding buses from Mumbai.


Lonavala is a picturesque hill station, often called the 'Jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains' in India. Located in the Pune district of Maharashtra, Lonavla is much preferred hill resort to the Mumbaikars, especially since it is only 96 kms from Mumbai. Both Khandala and Lonavla are beautiful twin hill stations, at an altitude of 625 meters above sea level. In 1871, these hill stations were discovered by Sir Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay Presidency during those times. Lonavala is a lovely hill station that offers pleasant respite from the turmoil of cities.

The term 'Lonavala' has been originated from the Sanskrit term 'lonavli', which suggests numerous caves. Perhaps the nearby caves like Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa serve as the answer to resort's name. Travel and tourism has always been great at the hill station, indeed due to its beauty. During monsoons, the natural splendor of this place gets doubled, especially when rain showers wash the entire region, developing ponds, while greenery looks all the more appealing. Besides nature's magnificence, Lonavala is also famous for the hard candy sweet, Chikki.

Tourist Attractions
The foremost sightseeing destinations include Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves along with the two fortresses - Lohagad and Visapur. Rajmachi Point is another place where you could take the breathtaking view of Rajmachi Fort and the valley down below. Ryewood Park and Shivaji Udyan are two wonderfully laid-out gardens that are dotted with unusually tall trees. If you want to go for sheer pleasure, go for boating in the clear waters of Tungarli Lake and Lonavla Lake.

Nearby Bhushi Dam, there is a striking waterfall that makes the most exciting spot in Lonavla. Midway between Bhusi Dam and Amby Valley, Lion's point is a great place to go for a drive. Tiger's Leap or Vaghdari is a cliff-top that offers panoramic view of the valley. Here echo-point is the most famous one and you can easily trek to this place. Khandala Dari is a nice place to go for trekking and hiking. One can trek through Monkey Hill to reach Gambhirnath Caves, an additional site to visit.

Accommodation
Being a famous hill station, Lonavala never faces dearth of tourists. People from nearby cities like Pune and Mumbai, frequently visit this beautiful place on weekends and holidays. Due to such popularity and response of tourists, many hotels, guest houses and lodges have cropped up in and around the town. The Lagoona Resort and Farias Resort are among the best 5 star hotels in Lonavala where as Kailash Parbat, Sahil Spa and Resorts & Swiss Resorts are popular 3 star hotels in Lonavala. According to budget and requirements, one can choose his/her type of accommodation. Along with all other facilities of the hotels, the marvelous vista of the surroundings would definitely enchant you to the core.