Introduction:

Lonavala is a town and a hill station in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra and is a very popular holiday destination for weekends, especially during the monsoons. It is close to both Mumbai and Pune therefore an ideal weekend getaway for relaxation. A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur. Another place of interest is the Tungi fort. Lonavla is famous throughout India for the hard candy sweet known as chikki. Lonavla comes to life during the monsoon season as the countryside turns lush green with waterfalls and ponds.

Destination Facts:

Location: Maharashtra, District Pune
Altitude: 624.00 Meters
Area: 15 sq mi
Temperature: Summer 22 to 40°C, Winter 12 to 33°C
Languages spoken: Marathi, English & Hindi

Getting There:

Nearest Airports: Pune is the nearest airport 64km from lonavala.
Main Railway Station: Lonavala is the main railway station.
Main Bus Station or Road: Mumbai- Lonavla , Pune- Lonavla Direct bus facility.

Distance of a few Major Towns from Lonavala:

Pune – 64 km, Mumbai- 89 km.

Eating Around:

One cannot miss the hot masala chai or the Vadapav (the Indian burger). One should also try the hot bhajiyas along with masala chai especially during the monsoons.
Lonavala has a number of eating joints from five star restaurants to road-side dhabas that serve everything from South Indian to Chinese fares both vegetarian and non vegetarian.

Places of Tourist Interest:

Tiger Point:
At a height of over 650 m Tiger point resembles the shape of a leaping tiger. Near the site, there is a small waterfall, which flows during the monsoon only. The site is frequented by various tourists for indulging in adventure activities like rafting, when the stream flow is medium. Perfect for trekking, this site encloses safe spots for viewing the valley and its nearby surroundings.

                                         Tiger Point - Lonavala

Rajmachi Point:
This Point is located on the way to Mumbai from Pune, just before the starting point of the ghat, which is 6.5 km from Lonavala. Located 10 km away from Lonavala, the Rajmachi Fort has deep valleys on three sides with dense jungles on the fourth. Shrivardhan and Manoranjan are two small forts located close to this historical monument.

Valvan Lake :
It is an artificial lake near the Valvan Dam. Built across the Kundali River, the Valvan Dam reservoir is the source of water for the Khopali power station. This site has a beautiful garden, which is surrounded by numerous food courts. The place is most visited from November through February. The site is located in Valvan village, about 2 km away from Lonavla market, close to the fish-breeding centre.

Bushy Dam:
This Dam is located in the backdrop of scenic hilly terrains between Lonavala and I.N.S. Shivaji. This site is sought after for its hilly terrains and natural surrounding views. Tourists come over from various places to visit the waterfalls, which are formed when the water gushes out through the dam during the monsoon months. Adventure activities such as swimming are restricted during the monsoon months.

Lohagad Fort (Iron Fort):                                                                                                                                                                                          
Fort is located 10 km away from Lonavala, along the Sahyadri region, which divides the Pavna basin and Indrayani basin. The three gates of the fort are connected to the main entrance gate, known as the 'Delhi Gate'. At the third gate, there is a small cave, which was initially used for storage of food material. All the four gates of the fort are still intact.  

                                 Lohagad Fort - Lonavala

Lonavala Lake:
This lake is located in the outskirts, 1.6 km away from the town. Constructed in the year 1876, river Indrayani is the source of water for this lake. It is popularly known as the monsoon lake, as this lake is filled with water during the monsoon months and dries up during the winter season. Different species of birds and fauna can be spotted along the banks of the lake. Additionally, visitors come here for enjoying holidays & excursions, swimming, angling and nature viewing.

Pavna Lake:
It is an artificially built lake when the Pavna dam was constructed. This place attracts many tourists because of its row boating and motor boating facilities. The boating in the lake gives you a magnificent view of the surrounding forts and the hillocks. The place is mostly cool and it is a nice place to sit and relax in the lap of the nature. The view of the forts Lohagad, Tunga and Tikona is awesome from the Pavna Lake.

Getting around the Destination:

Bus and Rickshaw facility is provided to get around the destination in Lonavala. But people usually prefer to get their private vehicle to enjoy the road trip.

Additional Things to do in Lonavala:

Lakeshore Water sport, Adventure Sports, Nature Trails, Game Arcade etc.

Shopping Areas & Entertainment

Lonavla is famous for flavored chikki, dry fruits, Indian sweet meats, and Shoe corner.

Best time to Visit:

Monsoon (June to September) & September to March is the best time to visit.

Festivals:

Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri and Diwali are some of the important festivals.