Lonavala is the most visited destination in Maharashtra.

way to Lonavala

 Lonavala, 106km southeast of Mumbai ,caters to weekenders and conference groups coming from the big city and is promoted by the local tourist board as a 'hill resort'. This is a bit of a misnomer - there are certainly no soaring peaks in the background or precipitous drops to peer fearfully over, but the surrounding countryside is relatively pretty, if a little overdeveloped, and the air cooler and less humid than Mumbai. Lonavla is a long way off being an attractive town-its main drag consists almost exclusively of garishly lit shops flogging chikki, the rock- hard nut brittle sweet that is made in the area. But Lonavla does have one very worthwhile calling card - the nearby Karla and Bhaja Cave Temples, which after those of Ellora and Ajanta, are the best in Maharashtra.

Just down the road from Khandala is Lonavala, 96 km from Mumbai, and probably the most popular getaway for many in the Metropolis.

Places of interest:

Tata lake (Lonavala lake):-

Tata Lake

After crossing the bridge over the railway line take the road to INS Shivaji. Ryewood Forest lies to the left. This is protected forest land and there are some very old trees here dating back over 75 years. It is also home to a Shiva temple and a small park for children. A few minutes away from Ryewood forest on the INS Shivaji road is the Tata Lake. A large variety of trees can be found on the many islands in the lake.

Bushi Lake:-

Another 4 kilometres ahead on the same road is Bushi Lake. This is the property of the central railway. During and after the rains this area is especially captivating. In summer however, this lake is completely dry.

Sakur Pathar:-

From the Bushi lake you can see at a height, a flat plateau known as Sakur Pathar. There is a path leading to this from Bushi Lake. There were plans to make a hill station here but this did not materialize due to the acute shortage of water. Near the gate of INS Shivaji is a dusty road that leads to the plateau. In my opinion the plateau affoeds the best view in Lonavala- the Konkan on the one side and the Deccan expanse on the other.

Walvan Lake:-

As you leave Lonavala for Pune either by train or road it is impossible to miss the long Walvan Dam. About 2.5 km from Lonavala , this is a popular tourist spot. At the foot of the dam is an exquisite garden.

Tungarli Lake:-

In the direction of Pune , a small 2-mk approach road branches off to Tungarli, just before Walvan. The little reservoir here is quite picturesque and forms the chief source of water for the municipal area.

Shirota Lake:-

To reach this particular lake one has to follow the private rail line of the Tatas from Kamshet. One and a half times larger than the Walvan, this lake has the Rajmachi fort at its the westernmost point of the lake. It is possible to begin a trek to Rajmachi fort from this spot.

There is plenty of transport to Lonavala and Khandala from both Mumbai and Pune. Any bus or train going to Pune from Mumbai will take a halt at Lonavala. Khandala is about two and a half hours from Mumbai. Other than several private hotels there is an MTDC rest house here.

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