Lonavala is at a 67 km distance from Pune, 95 Km from Mumbai, and 282 Km from Aurangabad. The place is a beautiful hill station in the Pune district of Maharashtra. Lonavala is at an altitude of 622m in the Sahyadri Ranges which separates the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan Coast. Let’s know the 8 Best Places to Visit in Lonavala.

Till now Lonavala is considered the top hill station in Maharashtra and also among the famous places to visit Maharashtra.

At Pune and Mumbai, there are twin hill stations namely, Lonavala and Khandala. Both of the places are extremely popular and one of the famous tourist destinations. The hill stations cover an area of 38 square Km and the name of the place is derived from the Sanskrit word “lonavali” which means Cave.

History of Lonavala

The place is named after Lonavali because of the presence of many caves around the city. Some of the caves are Lohagad Fort, Karla Caves, Valvan Dam, Bhaja Caves, and Rajmachi Point. Lonavala was founded in 1871 by Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of the Bombay Presidency.

Lonavala was a part of the Yadava Dynasty, which was taken over by the Mughals and later ruled by Marathas.

Top 8 Places to visit in Lonavala

1. Karla Caves

The Caves are at a distance of 11 km from Lonavala. The caves are a complex of ancient Indian Buddhist rock-cut temples located at Karli near Lonavala, Maharashtra. It has been believed that caves here are developed over two periods- from 2nd Century BC to 2nd Century AD. The caves are not that elaborate when compared to Ajanta and Ellora. The timings of the cave for the visitors are from 9 AM to 5 PM. The fee is INR 5 per person.

2. Lohagad Fort  

The Lohagad Fort is situated along the Sahyadri hills in the Lonavala region of Maharashtra. The place is considered to be one of the best tourist places to visit in Lonavala. In 1564 CE, Guru Govind Singh built this place to serve as a prison. The hillfort is designed in the shape of the tail of a scorpion. The fort has four entrances namely Maha Darwaja, Ganesh Darwaja, Hanuman Darwaja and Narayan Darwaja. The major landmark in Lohagad is Dargah which is located near the Maha Darwaja. The timings to visit are from 9 AM to 6 PM. The fee required is INR 30 per person.

3. Lions Point 

The point is located in the midway of Bhushi Dam and Aamby Valley in Lonavala. Lions Point is considered one of the popular viewpoints in Lonavala and the best among the tourist places. You will see dozens of small waterfalls, lush green hills, and lakes around during the monsoon season. Towards the left side of the park, you will see Shiv-ling Peak. The time to visit the place is from 6 AM to 6 PM and there is no entrance fee.

4. Rajmachi Point 

The point is located on the way to Mumbai from Pune and it is within a walking distance from the Dukes Retreat. The point has got the name of Rajmachi because of the Rajmachi Fort of the incredible Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji. Some of the attractions of the point are Monkey Point, Sunset Point, and Lions Point. The place is open for visitors from 6 AM to 6 PM and entry is not chargeable.

5. Bhaja Caves

The caves consist of a group of 22 rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC. The Bhaja Caves are situated 400 feet above the village of Bhaja on the ancient trade route. The cave is protected as National Monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The timings to visit the cave is from 9 AM to 5 Pm. The entry fee per person is INR 5.

6. Tiger’s leap

Tiger Leap is situated at the distance of 12 Km from Lonavala Railway Station and 12 Km from Tung Fort. The place is also known as Waghdari. The leap has derived its name from the resemblance to the shape of a leaping tiger. The place has an eye-catching waterfall, forest, and lush greenery. The best time to visit Tiger’s Leap is Monsoon.

7. Pawna Lake 

It is situated at a distance of 15 KM from Lonavala Railway Station and 10 KM from Lohagad Fort. It is an artificial lake formed by the water of Pawna Dam. The Pawna lake has rich greenery and this makes it best for visit. You can visit three ancient forts here, namely, Tikona, Lohagad, Tung. The entry fee for the same is INR 50 per person.

8. Kune Falls 

The Kune Falls consist of an altitude of 622 m against the stunning backdrop of the famous Sahyadri Mountains. The place has a three-tier waterfall cascading down from the height of 200 m. The Kune falls has attracted major tourist in large numbers during the rainy season. Near the Kune falls you will find Kune Church. Lastly, Kune Falls road is private property, therefore visitors are not allowed.

Conclusion

The article was all about the exquisite beauty and tour of Lonavala. We covered the history of Lonavala, top places to visit in Lonavala.

The best time to visit Lonavala is from the month of September to January when there is monsoon and winter. At this point in the month, you will experience the beauty of this hill station. Moreover, the monsoon is considered the best time to visit Lonavala because of lush green and waterfalls are in full flow. Visit in winter times will give you a cool breeze. Most of the hikes and treks are organized in Lonavala hill station during the month of October and November.