The hill station of Lonavala in Maharashthra is nestled in the Sahyadri range, at an altitude of 625 m. above the sea level. It is an ideal destination to break free from the daily grinds and to spend a quiet holiday. Tourists throng Lonavala round the year to enjoy the mountain mist and the nip in the air in this beautiful destination bestowed with valleys, waterfalls and woods.
Popularly known as the jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains, Lonavala is easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune and makes a handy weekend retreat for the city folks. It enjoys a pleasant climate and is quite famous for honeymoon holidays as well. Sports lovers would find some of the best trekking and hiking options here. Feted as a health resort for its pristine climate and quiet surroundings, it is a great place to relax and unwind.
Lonavala is famous for its piping hot masala tea and the Indian burger (Vadapav), which most restaurants and roadside tea stalls serve. Hot corn is another delicacy that you cannot miss out in Lonavala.
The Lonavala Bazaar is a shopper’s delight where you can buy a wide variety of things. Cane products, carved wooden figurines, homemade snacks are some of the top picks of tourists. You can find a lot of products on sale. However the one thing which you cannot afford to miss while you are in Lonavala is the delicious chikki, which is a caramelized sweet made up of fried nuts.
To make sure that you do make the most of your Lonaval visit, you can seek the services of a tourist guide who would help you not to miss out any important tourist place in Lonavala or around.
- Amrutanjan Point: A scenic spot at Khandala Ghat, Amrutanjan point offers sweeping views of the valley and the Duke’s Nose. It can be a great picnic spot to chill out after an arduous day out in the woods.
- Koregad Fort: Koregad Fort is a solitary fort in a hillock at Ambavane village near Lonavala, which can be reached only by an hour of trekking. The fort offers spectacular views of the surroundings around. Though the fort is in ruins now, tourists make sure to visit this place for its stunning natural beauty.
- Bhaja Caves: It is a complex of 18 rock cut caves built in 200 BC on the erstwhile trade route to Deccan. Treasure trove of Buddhist inscriptions and architecture, the Bhaja caves at Karli attract a steady stream of visitors round the year.
- Nagphani: A popular picnic spot at Khandala, the cliff of Nagphani, also known as Duke’s nose is a popular picnic spot.
- Rajmachi Fort: Overlooking the Borghat valley, this impressive 17th century fort built by the ruler Shivaji sits prettily in the Shayadri hills.