Lonavala Tourism

Popular hill station close to Pune and Mumbai, Lonavla is the place to be during monsoons. With lots of waterfalls, lakes and hills around, Lonavala is frequented by all sorts of people, especially hikers and trekkers.

Lonavala, being a part of the Sahyadri hills, offers an alluring and bewitching experience of nature’s most gifted region. Surrounded by dense forests, waterfalls, dam alongside lakes, Lonavala is a must-visit if you admire nature and want a gateway to having a soulful weekend or a good trip. Also, visit Khandala and Rajmachi on the way to Lonavala. The tourist destination has many attractions to its name, Bhaja caves, Bushi dam, Karla caves, Rajmachi fort, Ryewood lake, among others.

Etymology

The name Lonavla has its roots in the Sanskrit words Len and Avali – which means a stone-carved resting place, and series, respectively. Hence Lonavli basically translates to mean a place which has a series of these carved stone resting places.

Twin Hill Station of Maharashtra

Situated in the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, at an elevation of 624 m above sea level, Lonavala is one of the twin hill stations- Lonavala and Khandala. A former part of the Yadava dynasty and a strategic point of the Peshwa Empire, Lonavala is a silent witness to the past history of the Maratha Empire, evident from the forts in the region. Surrounded by lush green forests rich in flora and fauna, Lonavala is the most visited hill station in Maharashtra and a popular destination for camping, trekking and other adventure sports. Scattered with caves of archaeological importance, Lonavala holds several mysteries which is sure to ignite the explorer in each and everyone visiting the place.

Restaurants and Local Food in Lonavala

Being a popular tourist destination, Lonavala is laid out with a number of restaurants offering diverse options. Other than these, it offers a number of refreshing, spicy and delicious local treasures. One should definitely try the hot Masala Chai with spicy Vada Pav (from Golden Wada Pav) and Bhajiyas in Lonavala. The chola bhaturas at Rudra, the butter chicken of Rama Krishna, and Cooper’s fudge are popular favourites. Hotel Sainath provides the famous Maharashtrian usal, made out of curried sprouted lentils and beans. Manashakti is the perfect choice for a traditional vegetarian Maharashtrian thali. Also make sure to sample some of the sweet chikkis, pedas and other savouries from Maganlal & Sons. Also, try the pristine and cool Coconut Water. Be sure to purchase some Chikki and fudges to take back to your friends and family back home.

Itinerary

Day 1- Let the architecture of Karla caves and Bhaja caves leave you in awe. Pray at the Ek Vira Devi Temple and have fun at Bushi Dam. Proceed towards Tiger’s point and Lion’s point in the afternoon and let your eyes rejoice the panoramic view of the valley.
Day 2- Take a deep breath at Duke’s nose early morning and explore the Rajmachi Fort later in the day. Proceed to Lohagad post-lunch and witness the strength of the Lohagad Fort.
Day 3- Enjoy a morning walk along Tungarli Lake. Visit Sunil Kandaloor’s wax museum. Relax amidst flowers in the Ryewood Park in the afternoon and dig into some chikki and fudge at Lonavala Bazaar.