Hill Stations

Lonavala

Popularly known as the jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains, Lonavala is set amongst the sylvan hills of the Western Ghats and is a popular weekend gateway from Mumbai and Pune. It also serves as a starting point for tourists interested in visiting the famous ancient Buddhist rock cut caves of Bhaja and Karla, which are located near this hill station. It also has an important Yoga center near it, for the health conscious traveler.

The best time to travel to Lonavala is between the months of October and May. Lonavala provides a panoramic view of the lush green surroundings of the Sahyadri ranges. The peaceful environs of the town provide a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city. One can take a walk along the waterfalls, the grassy abundance and hills in and around Lonavala. The mountainous terrain of Lonavala is ideal for trekking and hiking. The lakes around Lonavala - Tugauli, Lonavala, Bhushi - are worth visiting, and so is the Walvan Dam.

Khandala

Situated just 5km from Lonavala is the small but picturesque Khandala hill station. A deep valley on one side and high hills on the other side divide Khandala and Lonavala. The town provides a panoramic view of the lush green hilly environs. Travelers throng this place during weekends to forget the Big City Blues, especially from the nearby cities of Mumbai and Pune. A simple stroll amongst the scenic beauty of this place can be quite a rejuvenating exercise. For the adventurous types, Khandala has a number of trekking trails around it for exploration.

The ideal time to travel to Khandala is between the months of October and May. Bestowed with nature's undulating gifts, Khandala can be a pleasurable weekend getaway during your travel to Mumbai. Khandala abounds with calm and misty lakes. Tugauli lake, Lonavala lake and Bhushi lake are worth visiting, apart from the Walvan Dam.

Karla and Bhaja Caves, located in the hills at a distance of 16 km from Khandala, are important places to visit. These rock-cut cave temples dating back to 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest and finest examples of Buddhist rock-cut temple art in India, belonging to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.

Weather: Temperatures vary from 12 C in winter to around 36 C in the peak of summer. The annual rainfall, when the climate is very pleasant, is 450 cms. October to May is the best time to travel to Lonavala and Khandala.

Reaching Lonavala and Khandala: Pune 66 kms away, is the nearest airport. All trains from Mumbai to Pune and the South stop at Lonavala. Mumbai is 104 kms away by road, the last 20 kms of which wind up the ghats through grueling switchbacks. There are regular buses and trains to the towns from Mumbai and Pune and the journey takes about three hours from Mumbai and one hour from Pune. Buses shuttle between Lonavala and Khandala. Travelers can hire bicycles on hourly basis to explore Lonavala or to go to Khandala. Taxis and auto-rickshaws easily available in Lonavala and Khandala.

As Lonavala and Khandala are on the main railway line between Mumbai and Pune, all express trains plying between the two cities stop here. The travel time from Lonavala and Khandala to Mumbai in express train is 3 hours while it takes 1 hour from Lonavala to Pune. There is also an hourly shuttle service for Pune, which takes around 2 hours.

Hotels: There are a number of luxury and budget hotels both in Khandala and Lonavala, beside the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation runs accommodations.

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