Lonavla, A tiny but bonny hill station, located in sahyadri ranges, in Maharashtra. From where one can have stunning views of western ghat.

It’s my excursion story dated way back, when I was working as an Engineer in Aamby Valley, Lonavla. Being born in an travel enthusiast family, I have traveled to many destinations in India and almost all weekend destinations, hill stations in Maharashtra. But I wonder how this majestic place “Lonavla” has not come in our Radar till then. But never the late, I got to explore this “Monsoon hill city” with India’s first planned hill city “Aamby Valley” for 2 and a half years in my life.

This excursion story is not like a 2-day itinerary to this place. It’s about in-and-out of a hill city, Life over there, people, cuisine, local hang out places and many more things, overall it’s about my “two and a half” years of life lived in “Lonavla”.

My first ever explored area in Lonavla was “Indrayani bridge”. And my purpose was to collect groceries from a small food mall over there. It was for the first time then, my eyes perceived a stupendous View of “Sunset in Lonavla”. Yes “Sunset in Lonavla” is different, it’s incompatible and alluring. I stopped there for several moments, as the view catched my hold.

You get the excellent views of Sunrise/Sunset at tiger point, lion point and along the way to Aamby Valley. There are many points along the way to Aamby Valley, where you can stop by and admire the beauty of nature. From here, one can have great views of Lonavla city too.

One fine Sunday, I decided to explore Lonavla, hence started my exploration with “Narayani Dham Temple”, you can book a Auto for local sightseeing, they will take you to all major tourist attractions in the area.

“Narayani Dham”, an sculpture made up of white marble, surrounded by beautiful garden, thus making the whole view pleasing, divine. It’s a segment of “Rani Sati Temple in Jhunjhunu Rajasthan” a small division, albeit as beautiful as the main temple.
“Narayani Dham”, also have lodging facilities, one can call them or book online. You can have a delicious meal, a complete veg thali over here and that too in a price as low as Rs. 100/- Just you have to take coupons for meals in advance, at least 2 hrs before the Lunch/Dinner time. There were many times when I missed my mom made food and headed to Narayani Dham to elevate my mood. The combination of serenity and food of this place just makes the day!

Then there is a “Wax Museum”, an impressive museum of famous personalities of India as well as world. Wax statues are created with real life measurements and hence look quite real. Maintenance is impressive. It is walking distance from Lonavala railway station (just 500 meters). Thus, a must visit place when in Lonavla. Don’t forget to click amazing pictures with well-known celebrities (of wax though)

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As it’s a monsoon hill station of Maharashtra, the area becomes lush green with the fog surrounding the area, in monsoon. People come over here to just “enjoy rains”, get themselves wet in the hail of the season. Initially, I found it crazy, but eventually realised the enjoyment in it. The mistful environment and deluge makes the scene perfect, giving long-lasting memories. This is why many crave for Lonavla during monsoon.

“Bhushi Dam” is thus, overcrowded during the months June and July. But the dam is closed in August and September, when the rainfall is heavier and dam overflows, consequenctly, diminishing the crowd. Many a times, I have experienced long transit hours from aamby valley to Lonavla in this season, reason being crowd, traffic, landslides. Usually it’s a 45 min ( 25 km) drive. But in rainy season, it can take up-to 3 hrs and a very precise driving as the environment is full of mist and we even can’t see through the nearest distance.

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“Khandala”, as the name suggests, a rhyme for “Lonavla”, can’t be skipped if you’re visiting this place. Khandala ghat has some breathtaking views. One should enjoy an evening at Khandala ghat, watching the colours of sky changing at Sunset. There is also a “Monkey garden” nearby. Though not well maintained enough, one can visit this to beat the time or be at peace.

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The trekking enthusiasts can trek to “koraigad” fort near Aamby Valley. It’s better to trek here in the months of June and September, when the rainfall is relatively less and weather is mistful and nature is at its best.

This fort is like a table top, it has a small pond at the top. One can have a beautiful view of Aamby Valley and nearby areas from the top. This is here, you can come across “reverse” waterfall. The wind force here (Alt 700 m) is so immense that it let the water flowing down to run upwards. This spectacle of nature can’t be experienced every where, but here, you can, just keen observation needed.

Don’t forget to have “bhutta”,”maggi” and “tea” at the top.

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Every town has it’s own famous food delicacies. Have “Cheese maggi” and “Corn/Onion bhaji” with hot “Tea”, at 5 am in the morning, in chilling climate of Lonavla at “Lions point”. Eat “moong dal bhaji” at a small restaurant in Indrayani bridge area or “bhutta”(in monsoon) at Bhushi dam. Have lunch in hotel “Radhakrishna” on Old Mumbai -Pune Highway, Eat Vadapav at “Gupta’s” near Railway Station area, jaichand chowk. Take “Lonavla chikki” from original “Maganlal” store in Jaichand chowk (P.S: there are many Maganlal stores on highway etc. But this one is original) and “chocolate fudge” from “Cooper’s”, opposite Railway Station, Jaichand Chowk, as a souvenir for your near and dear one’s.

There is a vegetable market near shivaji putala, which serves fresh fruits and veggies. Purchase seasonal fruits from there and relish in the fresh flavor. If travelling in winter, relish on fresh strawberries of the season.

Lonavla, I felt, is also a shoppers paradise. Yes, you read it right. Not at once in my 2.5 years, I have gone to nearest metro cities (Pune or Mumbai) for my shopping needs. Jaichand chowk has some good shops. Quality and varieties are good, comparable to Mumbai.

People here are Simple, full of heart and helpy. I have gained many good friends here, whom I can call friends for life. Simplicity is the essence of people here, this is the reason this place becomes majestic to live.

There are ample of fests held here through out the year. Bike fest, Car fest, Musical bonanza, Camping fest at Pawana lake, and many more in aamby valley or adventure parks nearby.

Ganesh chachurthi here is Vibrant and Peppy. Especially gauri visarjan, I have never ever witnessed such a rollicking visarjan before in my life. Though, this festival is celebrated sprightly all over India, specially in Maharashtra, but it makes special of this place. It has a unique “fulanchi gauri”(Goddess of flower), as in the valley, during monsoon, many types of flowers blossom. To indicate this spectacle of nature, “fulanchi gauri” is celebrated here. Here, Gauri is made using 10-12 different types of seasonal flowers.

As on all hill stations, 31st December and welcoming new year is grand here, as folks come here to celebrate. Lions point is popular among the youngsters. This place is also defamed due to some notable activities. Thus it’s better to avoid this place during this time.

There are flood of back fond memories, Cold coffee dates with friends at Lthe “Water Safari” enjoyed in July at Aamby Valley, Chilly winter in aamby. Enthralling musical fountain show at Aamby Valley, getting hypnotized by the show and aura of the surrounding especially the lyrics “ye hasi vaadiyaan”. I have shared a link of Musical fountain show at Aamby Valley but watching it by ourselves, standing there, is something a great feeling. Afterall, it’s one of the biggest Musical fountain in Asia.

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I’m short of words while writing about this place. Summing up my life lived here is inexplicable. Thus, one has to visit this place, live here to know about it better.