Monsoon trip to Lonavala and Khandala

Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.

- Cesare Pavese

Khopoli-Khandala Ghat, popularly known as Borghat

My wish was to go to Kandala because I had heard that name in the song of the movie “Ghulam” staring Amir Khan and Rani Mukerji!

OVERVIEW:

Khandala and Lonavala are one of the favorite hill spot in Maharashtra, which attracts crowd from all over India and the most visited tourism attraction near Pune-Mumbai cities. Very popular hill stations, known for their resplendent green beauty during rains, these twin hill stations offer romantic hills, small waterfalls and the works.

ABOUT KHANDALA:

Khandala gives a good view of the rainwater fed waterfalls. The place offers a beautiful view of a deep valley on one side and lush green hills on the other.

The beautiful Khandala hills station is situated in the western part of the state of Maharashtra. Located at a height of 625 mt, it is around 101 km southeast of Mumbai and 69 kms away from Pune. Khandala is set in the hills of the Shayadri mountains and is gifted with astound natural bounty. It provides a rapid escape to the locals of Mumbai from the hustle and bustle of the city. The mystifying waterfalls and the scenic beauty of the place attract a huge crowd from all parts. It’s a land of beautiful hills, verdant valleys, huge lakes and historic forts

Tourists, who come to Khandala, don’t forget to visit lonavala as well. Comparatively, Khandala is smaller than Lonavala, but it is equally bestowed with natural beauty and bounty.

GETTING TO KHANDALA:

• By Air: Pune is the nearest airport, which about 69 Kms.

• By Rail: The closest railhead is Lonavala about 5 kms.

• By Road: Khandala is well connected by road to Mumbai and Pune.

Duke's nose

ABOUT LONAVALA:

Lonavala is a place blessed with consummate natural beauty. Lonavala is charming hill station perched on a height of 625 Mts above sea level blessed by the nature's beauty. The hill station is only 128 Kms from Mumbai and around 70 kms from Pune. The view of the deep valleys from the dizzy heights is just amazing. The lush green hills all around here look like a valorous nobleman wearing armor. The breathtaking view of milky waterfalls fills you with a sense of awe. Lonavala hill provides a panoramic view of the Sahyadri Mountains. The Sahyadri Mountains are a part of the Western Ranges.

The serene environment of this town provides a great escape from the noisy city atmosphere of Mumbai city which attracts lot of tourists to Lonavala. The tourists can take a walk along the water falls, hills around Lonavala. The mountain terrains of Lonavala are ideal for trekking and mountaineering.

With my friends: D.V.Shiva Prasad, Brahmham

Some of the places worth visiting around Lonavala are Bhushi Dam, Duke's Nose, Rajmachi Point, Kune Falls, Tiger's Leap, Rye-Wood Park, Tungarli Lake, Valvan dam, Ghanbirnath caves, Khandala Dari, Bhusir lake, to name a few.

Lonavala is famous for Chikki (made of jaggery and groundnuts) and also the chocolate fudge

GETTING TO LONAVALA:

Lonavala can be reached by road from Khandala in 15 minutes.

• By Air: Nearest airport is situated in Pune at 64 kms.

• By Rail: Lonavala is on the main railway line between Mumbai and Pune rail line of the central Railway. All express trains running between the two cities stop here. There is also an hourly shuttle service from Pune.

• By Road: Lonavala situated on the Mumbai Pune Highway. It is 104 kms from Mumbai and 64 Kms from Pune.

• Maharashtra state transport Corporation runs normal bus service every 15 minutes linking Mumbai and Pune.

Travelers can hire bicycles on hourly basis to explore Lonavala or to go to Khandala.

You can visit Lonavala and Khandala any time of the year; but according to me you shouldn’t miss the monsoon magic when the beauty of nature is in its prime.