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Lonavla or Lonavale is a town and a hill station Municipal
Council in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is about
64 km away from the city of Pune, 96 km away from the city Mumbai. It is
famous throughout India for the hard candy sweet known as chikki and is
also a major stop on the rail line connecting Mumbai and Pune.For Mumbai
suburbs local trains are available from Karjat It is also an important
town on the Mumbai-Pune road link. Both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well
as the Mumbai-Pune highway pass through Lonavla. Lonavla comes to life
during themonsoon season as the countryside turns lush green with
waterfalls and ponds.
This has been famed as a health resort due to its unpolluted environments
and the pleasant climate all through the year. This is attracted by
thousands of tourists, domestic as well as foreign, every year. Monsoon is
the best climate with waterfalls, thriving lakes with full of water and
lush greeneries all around. Chikki, the hard candy sweet, is a specialty
item in Lonavala and is famous among the visitors to Lonavala.
How to reach
Lonavala By Air
The nearest airport is Pune airport, which is at distance of 62 km from
Lonavala town. Pune is connected to Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore by air.
Major international airport near to Lonavala is Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji
International airport. This is at a distance of 100 km away from Lonavala.
Tourist taxis cost about Rs 2000 to Mumbai and Rs 1500 to Pune from
Lonavala.
By Train
Lonavala railway station lies in the main railway line between Mumbai and
Pune. Many express trains between Mumbai and Pune stops here. Lonavala is
connected to all major railheads through Mumbai and Pune.
By Bus
State owned buses connect nearest cities with the hill station Lonavala.
Any tourist service providers arrange package tours by A/C deluxe buses to
Lonavala from Mumbai and Pune. They charge about Rs 4 per km in these A/C
luxury buses.
What to see
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Rajmachi
Point : Located around 6.5 kilometers from Lonavala, the Rajmachi
Point gives a spectacular view of Rajmachi Fort, which once belonged
to Shivaji. One can also get a panoramic view of the valley that
surrounds it. This place is a must visit when you come to Lonavala.
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Ryewood Park
and Shivaji Udyan : Another prime attraction of Lonavala, Ryewood
Park and Shivaji Udyan are beautiful gardens that have perfectly
manicured grass, tall trees, beautiful flowers and lot of place to sit
around and relax. If you are coming with your family, this place will
be ideal for you to visit. You can also explore the ancient Shiva
temple that is located in the premises here. |
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Tungarli
Lake : The Tungarli Lake is a beautiful lake that looks crystal
clear during the monsoons. This lake basically provides water to the
residents of Lonavala. It provides much peace and serenity to all
those who long to take a break from the fast city life and spend time
with nature. |
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Valvan Dam
: The Valvan Dam is another important tourist attraction here. The
catchment area of the dam has been converted into a lovely picnic spot
with a beautiful garden. The dam basically provides water to the
Khopoli power station, in order to generate electricity. |
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Lonavla Lake
: Yet another beautiful lake, Lonavala Lake is the place to be if you
are looking for peace and beauty. The lake is surrounded by natural
beauty and you can see nature at its best, over here. Though it
parches up in summers, the lake comes to life during monsoons and
remains so throughout winters. |
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Karla Caves
: The Karla caves are important historic Buddhist sites that were
built around 2-3rd century BC. The cave shrines are popular among all
tourists and are visited by everyone who come to Lonavala |
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Lohagad Fort
: The Lohagad Fort of Lonavala was the battleground of the Maratha
warrior, Shivaji. From here, you can get a lovely view of the lush
green surrounding hills and the steep valleys. |
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Bhushi Dam
: This is definitely one of the most exciting sites to visit in
Lonavala. This dam has a beautiful waterfall in the vicinity, which is
a must see. The surrounding area of the dam has been developed into a
beautiful catchment area for tourists to enjoy.
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When to go
The best time to visit Lonavala is between the months of October and May.
It is advised not to visit Lonavala in the monsoon season between the
months of June and September, as it experiences heavy rainfall during this
time.
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