Khandala

Nestled amidst the hills and valleys of the Sahyadri mountain range, Khandala is one of the picturesque and popular hill stations in the state of Maharashtra. Endowed with abundant natural beauty, Khandala is situated 101 km southeast of Mumbai and 69 km from Pune, and is a popular gateway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Khandala is a small hill station. 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 popular hill station of Lonavala is only 5 km from Khandala. Lonavala also has the same geographical settings as that of Khandala. A deep valley on one side and high hills on the other side divide Khandala and Lonavala.

Attractions

Bestowed with nature's undulating gifts, Khandala can be a pleasure for any one planning to travel to Mumbai. Khandala abounds with calm and misty lakes. Tugauli Lake, Lonavala Lake and Bhushi Lake are worth visiting; so is 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.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Khandala between the months of October and May. During the monsoon period - between June and September - it pours heavily in Khandala and is not a good time for a visit.

Where to stay

Being a small hill station, Khandala does not boast of high rising star category hotels, but there are fairly good number of resorts to cater the demands of tourists. Most of the resorts in Khandala have decent views of Western Ghat and located in the green meadows for which Khandala is known. Mumbai and Pune are the ideal points from where Khandala e