Lonavala city is one of the most beautiful retreats, that takes you away from the maddening rush of the metropolises. It is located in the western part of India in the Pune district of Maharashtra. This hill station lies 96 kilometers east to the metropolitan city of Mumbai and 64 kilometers west to the modern-day Pune city. Therefore, a profound location on the Mumbai-Pune expressway makes Lonavala cater to both the cities with the smoothest connectivity through roads.
The Lonavala City is popularly called the “city of caves' ' and the “Jewel of Sahyadri”. That is because the hill station boasts of some of the most spectacular settings that include luxuriant green valleys, remarkable caves, serene lakes and stunning waterfalls. The spectacular rock-cut Bhaja and Karla caves in Lonavala have been amazing tourists with their old beams, motifs and inscriptions.
The surrounding regions of Lonavala are blessed with an unbeatable collection of waterfalls that include the Kune waterfall, Bhivpuri, Bhagirath and Jummapatti waterfalls. The refreshing ambiance of the postcard-perfect landscape of Aamby Valley, Pawna Lake and Lonavala Lake are bound to impress you. Lonavala is also famous for its natural wonders, religious attractions, and historical sites. These include the Tikona Fort, Duke’s Nose, Lohagad and Rajmachi forts.
Lonavala hosts an array of fun activities for the tourists and these include rappelling, camping at the Pawna Lake, hiking to the Tikona Fort, trekking to the Rajmachi fort and riding the Imagica slides.
Lonavala has a tropical climate but the weather is an all-time maritime one. However, all the stunning places and sites of Lonavala come alive during the winter and monsoon seasons. Thus, pack your bags and come here because Lonavala has something for everyone, from quiet time to adventure.
Entry is open from all domestic states for all kinds of travel.
The nearest airport to Lonavala is at Pune. The flights that are available for PUne are from Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kolkata and many other places.
Currently, there are are no direct trains to Lonavala. However, Lonavala can easily be reached through Pune which is the nearest operational railway station. A COVID special train is available from Danapur to Pune
The government is taking proper safety measures through its "Mission Begin Again" to resume tourism. However, Thrillophilia recommends tourists to visit any place after studying the monsoon conditions at the place.
Travellers can now travel to different districts of Maharashtra without much restrictions. However, tourists are required to present a negative RT-PCR report on arrival.
All famous landmarks and tourist attractions closed till further notice to curb the rising cases of covid-19
Hotels in Maharashtra are now allowed to reopen and function with 100% capacity.
Commercial domestic flights in Mumbai have resumed in Mumbai from May 25. All passengers arriving to Mumbai have to go through a mandatory 14-day home quarantine.
The arriving passengers will have to fill a self-declaratory form and undergo screening at the Mumbai airport. Passengers who are found to be symptomatic will be taken to the quarantine facility directly.
Visapur Fort is perched atop a lush green hill of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. It accounts for a popular tourist excursion point amongst adventure mongers and nature lovers. With an elevation of 1084 meters from the sea level, it offers some phenomenal views of the surrounding lush green hills. Marking its prominence from the 18th century, this fort forms a part of the fortification of Visapur and Lohagad. This gigantic architectural marvel features ancient caves, arches, wells, and old houses. A bit further, notice the beauty of two roofless buildings. As Hanuman was considered to be the patron deity of Visapur, you can find many temples dedicated to him. Within the Visapur Fort, there’s a famous well, which is believed to be built by the Pandavas. Somewhere nearby, you could find the presence of guns and other ammunitions belonging to the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Within its vicinity, there are also remnants of Mahadev’s shrine. Other attractions of the Visapur Fort includes few isolated caves, old house ruins, ancient water cisterns, and a huge flour mill. Trekking to the top summit of Visapur Fort is an unforgettable adventure for every single visitor. Although the climb is a rocky one, the trek is serene and tranquil. You could either start your trekking adventure from Lohagadwadi or Patan Village. You may also try a hand at paragliding activity which takes place nearby.
Magic Mountain has an amusement park has thrill rides divided as per their difficulty level and into various categories. There are high thrill rides, mid thrill rides, and family rides. Some of these include Top Spin, Giant, Delta Hoppla, Space Trainer, Turbo Force, and Z force. Out of all, Top Spin remains to be a favourite of most.The park also has restaurants that serve a variety of delicacies and make sure to take care of all hungry souls. The park has additional paid services like medical bay, parking, shuttle services, street magician, toy shops and much more.Location: Old Pune Mumbai Highway NH - 4, at Mundhaware, Post - Takve, PuneTimings: 10:30 AM to 6 PM on all daysEntry fee: Tickets start at INR 799 per head, rates differ for corporate and college student bookings
One of the oldest amusement parks in Lonavala, Kumar Resort is a water park along with a resort that takes care of your accommodation needs. The water park has 6 swimming pools, 11 water slides for all adults and children, rain dance and also live music around the pool. The resort has packages of various kinds - deluxe, honeymoon suite, duplex suite, family suite, and also Maharaja suite. These options provide amenities and facilities of the best quality along with great hospitality by the staff. The amusement park also invites corporate groups to take off from the mundane routine and enjoy some time splashing water!Location: 02B, Old Mumbai - Pune Highway, Gautam Park Society, Rao Colony, Lonavala, MaharashtraTimings: Open 24 hoursEntry fee: INR 490 + taxes, Entry with Veg food - INR 790 + taxes , Entry with Non Veg food - INR 890 + taxes
Della Adventure Park is India’s largest adventure park, which is located in Kunegaon, Pune. Sprawling across an area of 5 acres, this is a one-stop luxurious destination for entertainment and recreation of mind, heart, and soul. Cloud-hugs, exciting activities, and picturesque landscapes of Della Adventure Park makes it a perfect weekend getaway for people from Pune and Mumbai. Homing to more than 70 activities, Della Adventure Park is a perfect way to release your routine life cobwebs. Swoop Swing, Longest Flying Fox, Sky Cycling, Paintball, Buggy Ride, Rappelling are some of the activities to enjoy here. These activities are spread across six zones. Whether you are a solo visitor or in a group, this adventure park has adventure activities for all.Besides the adventurous fun, Della Adventure Park offers excellent facilities such as resorts, board rooms, banquets, and training room facilities. Café 24, Parsi Dhaba, Crème Della, PNF Restaurant & Bar, and Sports Bar are some multi-cuisine restaurants here for a perfect dine out. Here, you can savour some delicious and mouth-watering Indian and International cuisines.
An amusement park consisting of water rides as well as thrill rides, Wet N Joy has a number of attractions for visitors. The water park comprises of rides and attractions like the Royal Castle, Rain Dance, Crazy River, Thunder Waves, and Fungama. On the other hand, the thrill park comprises of rides like the Cyclone, Nightmare, Whizzard, Mat racer, Sky fall, Master blaster, Extreme Volcano, Boomerango, Tornado, and Freefall. The park has other facilities like shuttle services, medical emergency and digital payment modes available for the ease of visitors. Moreover, the park also actively provides various offers for different kinds of groups - like corporate groups or college students.Location: Wet N Joy Waterpark, Old Pune Mumbai Highway, NH – 4, at - Mundhaware, Post - Takve PuneTimings: Monday to Sunday 10 AM to 6 PMEntry fee: Children - INR 799 and Adults - INR 999
Tikona Fort is a dominant hill fortress of Konkan’s Pawan Maval region. This is Maharashtra’s popular one-day trekking spot. Locally, it is famous by the name Vitandgad. Situated on top of the Tikona peak, this fort has an altitude of 3633 feet from the sea level.If you take a look at its present-day geography, it resembles a triangle and thus named as Tikona. Large fortifications, seven water tanks filled with crystal clear water, large doorways, and spectacular surrounding views from its bastion sums up the beauty of this place. Sahyadri’s green hillocks are just like cherries on the cake!Many Maratha dynasties have marked their presence here in the past and also, Tikona Fort was known as the centre for Pauna Mawal’s primary activities. Tikona Fort’s entrance itself represents beauty with sophistication. As soon as you pass through it, you will witness the presence of Buddhist and Satavahana Caves within. Both types of caves have great significance in Indian history. Besides, there’s a small Trimbakeshwar Mahadev temple inside which revives the spiritual beliefs of the first residents of this fort.With no wonders, Tikona Fort is blessed with some stunning landscapes attracting heaps of trekking enthusiasts and those who love Mother Nature. The moment you trek to the topmost summit of this fort, you have the liberty to enjoy the panoramic view of the vastly stretched Maval region. Tung Fort, Bhatrashi Hill, Jambhul Hill, Lohagad, Fagne dam, and Visapur are some sightseeing delights from the topmost position of this Tikona Fort.
MTDC’s Water park is also a resort that offers great views of the Sahyadri range. It is located right next to the water sports center. The water park is also called Karla water park and has a number of slides for children as well as adults to enjoy. It has a dedicated area for rain dance along with a wave pool. The water park offers water sport activities such as jet-skiing, paddle boat, motorbike, water scooter which is absolutely safe for enthusiasts of all age groups to indulge in. Visitors to this water park can choose to spend the night at MTDC’s resort for a relaxed experience and may also visit the nature park which is located on the same premises.Location: Lonavala Road, KarlaTimings: 11 AM to 5:30 PM on all daysEntry fee: For children under 4 feet - INR 200 per head, for guests residing at the MTDC Karla resort and entering water park -INR 300 per head, for outsiders - INR 350 per head.
If you are looking for any historical yet exciting location to visit in India - Bhaja Caves is for you. Bhaja Caves are located at Lonavala, Maharashtra, that are dating back to 160 BC. These 22 groups of rock-cut caves are considered to be subsisting from the second to the first century BC. The Caves were developed during Satavahana's rule and are the biggest Hinayana Buddhist temple in India. Adorned with the classic Indian rock-cut architecture of the era, the architecture of these caves narrates the actual culture and tradition of India and the ancient Indian period. The topmost captivations of these caves are the Stupas, which have the caves carved profoundly outside and inside both.Furthermore, lush greenery all around the caves creates a spectacular aura that pleases many eyes. Also, there is a magnificent waterfall close to the cave that offers you a chance to take a delightful dip into it. The visitors will discover an unusual cluster of 14 stupas, nine in exterior, and five in the interior of a smaller cave. Thus, Bhaja caves are the go-to destinations for all those who are history enthusiasts. It will prove to be an amazing sightseeing trip to the past glory of mythological India.
The best time to visit Lonavala is between October-May. During this time, the weather is pleasant and you do not have to tolerate the mad heat of the sweltering summers. The June-September period is also a great time to visit Lonavala because of the cool climate and you can enjoy all the sightseeing locations thoroughly.
1. Lonavala Bazaar: Open during Sundays but closed during Fridays, the Lonavala Bazaar offers striking Maratha souvenirs at affordable costs to tourists. You can also buy groceries and items of home needs here.
2. Triose Plaza: Those visiting or returning from the Bushi Dam must enter the classic-looking Triose plaza that has a modern infrastructure inside. This plaza is a great place to buy toy items, stationeries, and gifts. You can also fill your tummies with the best food that is served here by leading chains of restaurants.
3. Maganlal and Sons Main Shop: If you desire to taste, buy the original nutty chikkis then you must come to the Maganlal And Sons Main shop. This shop has the busiest shop in Lonavala owing to its popularity for being the most authentic chikki manufacturers. You must come here to pack a bag of chikkis as souvenirs for friends.
Bonding by the campfire is one of our favourite activities and Lonavala won’t deprive you of the opportunity. Listed below are camping sites in Lonavala:-
1. Camping By Pawna River - Book at INR 1250 Only
2. Camping in Bandardhara - Book at INR 1200 Only
3. Camping Experience near Shirota Lake - Book at INR 2,725 Only
4. Camping at Korigad Fort - Book at INR 1200 Only
5. Camp at Aundoli - Book at INR 5225 Only
