Peaks, dams, lakes, waterfalls, forts, caverns, you name it. Lonavala has all of it! It is a charming hill station, located just 83 km from Mumbai. The name Lonavala is derived from 2 Prakrit words Len and Avali which equates to "a series of resting places sculpted out of stone", in simple words, it describes caverns.
Khandala is another hill station, settled right prior to this beautiful town, and is almost constantly synonymous to Lonavala These two hill stations, cuddled in the lofty Western Ghats, produce an ideal weekend getaway location, with their stunning landscape and natural deposits that are boosted by mystic environment.
Chikki, a hardened sweet candy usually made of peanuts, is a well-known snack of Lonavala Enjoy hot and delicious Vada Pavs and Masala Chai paired with the scenic charm of Khandala and Lonavala!
Finest Time to Visit Khandala and Lonavala
The two hill stations have much to use. If you wish to witness lakes, waterfalls, and dams teeming with water, then go to throughout the monsoon months of June to September, when there are heavy, relentless rainfalls.
Nevertheless, if you simply wish to see the enchanting nature or choose a trek, then the winter season of October to February is the perfect time to go to. You can conveniently travel and the rain-fed rich greenery will be spectacular to see.
Path From Mumbai To Lonavala
Chedda Nagar - Bangalore-Mumbai Highway - AH 47 in Khandala - Lonavala.
The route from Mumbai to Lonavala is rather basic. Khandala comes right before Lonavala, so you may stop here initially. It takes simply about 1 h 40 minutes to complete this 83 km long journey.
Drive Through The Highway
Since the range between Mumbai and Lonavala is rather short, there isn't really much to see on the method. Nevertheless, the city of Navi Mumbai comes on the method, which has a few locations that can be visited like the Wonders Park, Pandavkada Waterfalls or Parsik Hills.
Apart from that, the changing vistas of city traffic and buildings to rich plant while driving through the expressway is an enthralling experience.
Peaks And Viewpoints
Tiger's Leap is the most popular peak that is located in Lonavala. It is perched at a height of 2,100 feet and offers a magnificent scenic view of both the hill stations. During monsoon an active waterfall can likewise be seen nearby.
Lion's Point is a cliff situateded between the Bushi Dam and Aamby Valley, that gives a total view of the Tungarli Lake. Duke's Nose is also viewpoint, that was given the name due to its similarity to the Duke of Wellington's nose.
Amrutanjan Peak remains in Khandala, which provides a fantastic view of Duke's Nose along with the entire town of Khopoli.
Travelling And Camping
For all the adrenaline junks out there, Lonavala is filled with innumerable locations to trek. To reach the perspectives like Duke's Nose, Lion's Point and Tiger's Leap, you require to travel. These treks are reasonably easy, one-day treks that are ideal for novices.
Apart from the perspectives, routine can be undertaken to the many forts of Lonavala like Lohagad Fort trek, Korigad trek, Ghangad and Tailbaila Fort trek, Rajmachi Fort trek, among others. In truth, Lonavala is filled with around 10-15 locations to trek! All these treks can be concluded with a night's outdoor camping at the base of the path or on the top of these peaks.
Kune Waterfalls
Located about 2 km from Khandala, Kune Falls is perched at an altitude of 2000 feet making it the 14th greatest waterfalls of India. With the rich green Western Ghats as the background, the Kune Falls offers a spectacular view that can not be forgotten!
The waterfall is particularly marvelous throughout monsoon because it will be rain-fed and gushing with full speed.
Dudhiware Waterfall Rappelling
With an elevation of 135 ft, Dudhiware Waterfall is known for its daring waterfall rappelling. Rappelling is an experience activity which includes descending the rocky slopes through which the waterfall cascades, with the assistance of a security rope.
You may examine the many local services or adventure groups that frequently plan such activities at Lonavala.
Cave Exploration: Bedsa Caves
These ancient caverns date back to the 1st century BC. It was preserved up to 1861 by regular painting and cleaning of the location, to facilitate the British officers who enjoyed spending their time in the caverns.
It includes 2 main caverns, one understood as Chaitya or the prayer hall, while the other is the Vihara or abbey. These caverns are embellished exquisitely with carvings that reflect the art of the Buddhist period.
Cave Exploration: Karla and Bhaja Caves
The Karla and Bhaja Caves are royal rock-cut Buddhist caves that have actually been built from the 2nd century BC to 5th century BC. The caves are a safeguarded monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Karla Caves are discovered on the ridges of the Western Ghats, that is, it's built into a rocky hill with big cut windows. The prayer hall or Chaitya is lined with lots of pillars that have inscriptions; the caverns also have stunning carvings on the walls.
The Bhaja Caves are a group of 22 caves that share architectural styles just like that of the Karla Caves. The carvings in Bhaja Caves show that the Indian instrument Tabla was used 2000 years back! The 2 caverns are 7 km apart.
Rajmachi Fort
Rajmachi Fort is a complex of two castles, specifically, Manaranjan and Shrivardhan Forts. Historically, the Rajmachi Fort was used as a tactical place to manage the Borghat, which is the passage in between Khopoli and Khandala.
A number of temples can also be discovered in the fort. In addition to that, generous gateways, strong walls, tanks and other such units can likewise be found within the fort. The two forts of Rajmachi are popular for their architectural splendor. The fort stays open from 9 AM to 6 PM on all days.
Apart from the fort, Rajmachi is house to a Wildlife Sanctuary where you might find exotic and uncommon plants and fauna. While trekking upto the fort, bird-watching can likewise be done.
For more information on Maharashtra tours from Delhi and any other holiday packages contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.
