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Lonavala
and Khandala are two charming little hill stations
on the western slopes of the Sahyadri's, Lonavala,
Maharashtra, India 5-km apart, that straddle
the Mumbai - Pune highway at an altitude of
625m, quite popular as health resorts. Blessed
by the nature in bounty, the hill resorts have
plethora of places of Tourist Attraction in
Lonavala & Khandala - Beautiful Hills, Deep
Green Valleys, Huge Lakes, Historic Forts, Waterfalls,
etc.
Lonavala
and Khandala offer breathtaking views of cascading
waterfalls during the monsoon, and the surrounding
mountains of the plains spread out to the horizon.
A trip to these holiday resorts can be combined
with that on the Karla, Bhaja, and Bedsa
caves, which are very near from Lonavala.
Lonavala
is located in the western part of the state
of Maharashtra. It is set amongst the slopes
of the Sahyadri mountain range. Also known as
the "Jewel of The Sahyadri",
Lonavala is a place of this region where nature
is present in its entire splendor. It has become
famous because of nature's gift of beautiful
valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lush greenery,
and pleasant cool winds.
Khandala
being the smaller of the two is relatively calmer
and is the pride of the Sahyadri Mountains.
It is endowed with abundant natural beauty and
like Lonavala, Khandala also provides a popular
gateway from the hustle and bustle of cities
of Mumbai and Pune. The lush greenery of the
mountains especially during the monsoons and
the misty paths attract tourist like honeybees
here. The silver waterfalls amidst the lush
greenery are extremely magical. Lonavala's
bazaar is filled with surprises. The beauty
of this place is a refreshing experience.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Location:
Situated On Mumbai-Pune Highway, Maharashtra
Lonavala Is Known As: Jewel Of The Sahyadri
Houses: Many Lakes And Caves
Best Time To Visit: October To May
PRIME
ATTRACTIONS
There
are numerous lakes around Lonavala and Khandala.
Lakes such as Tugauli, Lonavala and Bhushi are
worth a visit; so is the Valvan lake, which
has a beautiful dam, a garden as well as a Pisiculture
centre.
Karla
& Bhaja Caves
Karla
and Bhaja Caves, located in the hills at a distance
of 11-km from Lonavala, are important places
to visit. These rock-cut cave temples dating
back to 2nd century BC and are amongst the oldest
and finest examples of Buddhist rock cut temple
art in India, belonging to the Hinayana sect
of Buddhism. Adventure seekers can try their
hand at rock climbing at the Duke's Nose peak
and other locations in the Karla hills, near
Lonavala.
PLACES
OF INTEREST
*
Satayam Shivam Sundaram
* Bhushi Dam
* Lohagad Fort
* Kaivalya Dham Yoga Center
* Bhairavnath Deva Sthan
BEST
TIME TO VISIT
Though
one can enjoy the beauty of these places through
out the year, the best time to visit Lonavala
and Khandala is from October to May.
HOW
TO GET THERE?
Air:
Nearest airport is situated in Pune at 64-km.
Rail:
Lonavala is on the main railway line between
Mumbai and Pune. All express trains plying
between the two cities stop here. There is also
an hourly shuttle service for Pune.
Road:
Lonavala situated on the Mumbai Pune Highway.
It is 104-km from Mumbai and 64-km from Pune.
The bus service between Lonavala and Pune is
good. Buses shuttle between Lonavala and Khandala.
Travelers can hire bicycles on hourly
basis to explore Lonavala or to go to Khandala
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