Visiting the amazing Lonavala on Your Next Trip

Lonavala is a popular hill station which is located very near to the cities of Pune and Mumbai. It is a rewarding place from Mother Nature with a scintillating picturesque and blissful environment. The place is home to dense forest, lakes, and waterfalls. The place is the perfect home to trekkers and hikers. Plan your next trip for the best tourist places to visit near Lonavala.

Lonavala is situated in the midst of Shayadri hills and offers breathtaking and captivating views from the hills. A tourist visiting Lonavala must not forget about Chikki. It is a mouth-watering sweet made from sugar syrup and groundnuts. The place can be the best weekend gateway for all types of tourists.

How to Reach Lonavala?

By Air: The nearest airport to Lonavala is The Pune International Airport. The airport is situated at a distance of 63 km.

By Train: Lonavala is well connected to its dedicated railway station, and every train from Mumbai and Pune has a major stop here.

By Road: Lonavala is connected to major roadways. It is situated on the Mumbai-Pune Express. Lots of buses ply from Pune, Mumbai and other major cities.

Major Attractions in Lonavala that you must visit :

• Bhaja caves
• Tungarli Lake
• Bhushi Dam
• Karla Caves
• Rajmachi Fort
• Duke’s Nose
• Ryewood Park

Bhaja Caves

Due to the presence of Buddhist monks, Lonavala is home to a number of caves. The Bhaja caves are one of them and display some of the scintillating carvings from the ancient period. It is said that the carvings were made between 200 BC on the Karli Hills. Altogether, there are almost 22 caves with intricate carvings. These caves are certainly the best examples of rich architecture and style. The caves are also a living wonder from the perspective of Indian art and sculpture.

The time required to explore: 2 – 3 hours

Distance from city: 8 kilometers

Entry fee: Rs. 5 for Indian travelers and Rs. 200 for foreign travelers.

Visiting hours: 05:00 AM to 07:00 PM

Tungarli Lake

Tungarli Lake was built by the British and is used as an artificial reservoir for storing rainwater. There is a dam across the lake along with a small reservoir that also, stores rainwater. This lake is the only source of drinking water here in Lonavala. The water is also used for irrigation purposes. The lake is situated in the midst of scenic beauty and thus, offers an exceptional view of the city from the top.

The time required to explore: 1 – 2 hours

Distance from city: 4 kilometers

Entry fee: Free for all

Visiting hours: Anytime between the day and evening

Bhushi Dam

This dam is one of the major attractions in Lonavala. Make sure to visit the place when the dam is filled to its capacity. The dam has a number of steps, and the water flows over it through the rocky terrain. It is certainly a beautiful place for tourists during the monsoon season. It is basically, a masonry dam located on the Indrayani River.

The time required to explore: 2 – 3 hours

Distance from city: 3 kilometers

Entry fee: Free for all.

Visiting hours: 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Karla Caves

The cave is dedicated to the Buddhist religion and is also one of the oldest cave temples in India. The walls of the caves are witness to history right from 2000 years back. The glorious past clearly displays some of the great viharas and beautiful halls inside the cave temple. Do not get confused if you see the name of Karla cave as Karle Caves, Karli Caves or Karla Cells. The cave temple has great importance to a particular sect of Buddhism, called Mahasamghika.

The time required to explore: 3 – 4 hours

Distance from city: 8 kilometers

Entry fee: Rs. 15 for Indian citizens, SAARC country residents, and BIMSTEC country residents. Rs. 200 for foreigners above the age of 15.

Visiting hours: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Rajmachi Fort

Rajmachi Fort is a prominent landmark for tourists, and they can enjoy some breathtaking views of the surrounding place. The fort is also a great place for trekkers and can be reached by 15 km trekking. Bikers can also reach the place and enjoy the bliss. It is a strategic location, and the ancient remains can be reached from famous hill stations like Lonavala and Khandala. There are two fortresses inside, and the entire fort is situated in the midst of a vast plateau.

The time required to explore: 2 – 3 hours

Distance from city: 9 kilometers

Entry fee: Free for all.

Visiting hours: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Duke’s Nose

This placed is exceptional and is named after the famous Duke of Wellington’s nose. The place is ideal for spending quality time, and local tourists often come here for a picnic. The site is home to incredible views of surrounding mountains, forests, and valleys. This place is also great for rock climbing with steep rises. The quaint of Lonavala is just 7 km away from this spot and is one of the famous hill stations of Pune. Locals often call this place as Naagphani, which means Cobra’s Hood due to the shape of the cliff.

The time required to explore: 1 – 2 hours

Distance from city: 4 kilometers

Entry fee: Free for all.

Visiting hours: 07:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Ryewood Park

Ryewood Park was once a botanical garden, but now it is converted to a landscaping lawn. The park is well maintained with various gardens and a children’s park. There are different species of trees which make the place an ideal spot for a picnic. The place is very close to Lonavala market.

The time required to explore: 2 – 3 hours

Distance from city: 0 kilometers

Entry fee: Free for all.

Visiting hours: 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM

There are lots of options for tourists when it comes to hotels and lodging. These hotels are available at affordable rates without compromising the luxurious feel. However, it is suggested booking the rooms in advance to prevent ill consequences after making a visit to Lonavala. Also, there is a range of restaurants that offers exceptional platters of Chinese and Continental dishes.

Happy Exploring,

#TeamFOTW