Lonavla & Khandala
A mountain-pass hill station between Mumbai and Pune with monsoon waterfalls and seas of cloud, plus the Buddhist caves of Karla and Bhaja and Maratha hill forts nearby.
Lonavla and Khandala are twin hill towns in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, at about 620 m, roughly 85 km southeast of Mumbai and 65 km northwest of Pune. Guarding the Bhor Ghat pass between the two cities, they have been a weekend getaway for residents of both since British colonial times. The towns are about 5 km apart: Khandala sits closer to the pass and the valley, while Lonavla is the commercial centre, famous for chikki, a peanut-and-jaggery brittle. There are three kinds of things to do: monsoon scenery, at Tiger's Leap, Lion's Point, Khandala Point, Bhushi Dam and Kune Falls; history, at the Buddhist caves of Karla, Bhaja and Bedse dating from around the turn of the Common Era, and hikes to Maratha hill forts such as Lohagad, Visapur, Rajmachi, Tikona and Korigad; and leisure, with camping at Pawna Lake, Imagicaa theme park and Della Adventure Park. Best seasons: in the June–September monsoon the hills are full of waterfalls and clouds — the most popular and most crowded time — but roads are slippery, fog is thick and some spots limit visitor numbers for safety; October–February is cool and dry, ideal for fort hikes and camping; March–May is fairly hot. Getting there: trains reach Lonavla station in about 2–2.5 hours from Mumbai and 1–1.5 hours from Pune, or drive the Mumbai–Pune Expressway in about 1.5–2 hours. Sights are spread out, so hire a car or rent a motorbike, and allow 2–3 days. Monsoon weekends bring heavy traffic, so go on weekdays if you can; on hikes, watch for slippery ground and leeches, and don't take selfies near cliff edges.
Top sights
- Karla Caves – A group of Buddhist rock-cut caves carved from the 2nd century BCE, India’s largest and best-preserved early chaitya hall. The Ekvira Devi…
- Lohagad – A Maratha hill fort at about 1,030 m, with four gates climbing one above another and a “scorpion-tail” wall stretching along the ridge. It…
- Tiger's Leap (Tiger Point) – A cliff viewpoint about 650 metres high, its rock shaped like a tiger leaping off, with monsoon waterfalls and clouds surging up from the v…
- Lion's Point – A viewpoint beside the road to Amby Valley, overlooking a deep valley and the waterfalls on the cliffs opposite. It is most crowded around…
- Bhaja Caves – 22 Buddhist rock-cut caves dating from the 2nd century BCE. The chaitya halls and rows of rock-carved stupas are simple and ancient, and th…
- Visapur Fort – A high plateau fort facing Lohagad across the valley. In the monsoon the stone steps up the slope turn into streams, making it a classic ra…
- Bhushi Dam – A stone dam that overflows during the monsoon. People sit on the steps and let the water rush over them, making it the liveliest spot in Lo…
- Pawna Lake – A reservoir lake surrounded by hill forts such as Lohagad and Tikona. Tent camping on the shore and bonfire barbecues are popular weekend a…
- Rajmachi Fort – A twin-peaked hill fort reached by a hike of about 15 km from Lonavla through forest. Waterfalls appear everywhere in the monsoon, and fire…
- Imagicaa – One of India's largest theme parks, with roller-coaster zones, a water park and a snow park. It sits beside the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.
- Duke's Nose – A sharp peak near Khandala, shaped like the hooked nose of the Duke of Wellington. Locals call it Snake Head Peak, and it is good for hikin…
- Rajmachi Point, Khandala – A viewpoint beside the old road in Khandala, looking across a deep valley to the twin-peaked Rajmachi Fort and the railway at Khandala Pass.
- Tikona Fort – A Maratha hill fort on a triangular-shaped mountain. The climb takes about an hour, and from the top you get a panoramic view of Pawna Lake.
- Bedse Caves – Buddhist rock-cut caves from the 1st century BCE. The bell-shaped capitals and animal carvings on the porch of the chaitya hall are exquisi…
- Korigad – A flat-topped hill fort near Amby Valley, with walls that still encircle the entire summit. The route to the top is gentle, suitable for be…
- Kune Falls – A three-tiered waterfall between Lonavla and Khandala with a total drop of about 200 m, visible from the roadside during the monsoon.
- Della Adventure Park – An outdoor adventure park on a hillside in Kune village, offering more than a hundred thrill activities including high-altitude zip lines…
- Tungarli Lake – A small reservoir north of Lonavla town, with views over the town and valley. It is the starting point for hikes to Rajmachi Fort.
- Shree Narayani Dham Temple – A modern Hindu temple built of white marble. Its grounds are neat, and when the evening lights come on it shines solemnly.
- Kondana Caves – A group of Buddhist rock-cut caves dating from the 1st century BCE, hidden in dense forest at the foot of Rajmachi. During the monsoon, wat…
Where to eat
- Cooper's Fudges & Chikkis – A Parsi family shop across from the railway station, famous in Lonavla for its chocolate walnut fudge as a souvenir.
- Rama Krishna Vegetarian Restaurant – A long-established vegetarian restaurant in the market centre, where masala dosa and pav bhaji are the go-to breakfast…
- Hotel Chandralok Thali – A long-running hotel restaurant opened in 1962 that serves only an unlimited Gujarati vegetarian thali.
- Kinara Village Dhaba – A large village-themed roadside dhaba on the old Mumbai–Pune highway, serving North Indian food alongside play features…
Itineraries
- Western Ghats Caves, Forts & Hill Stations – Climb up the Western Ghats from Mumbai to connect Buddhist caves, Maratha hill forts, Pune's heritage sites, and highla…