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June Mendez has shared:
Things to see in and around Khandala and Lonavala
Most of the ‘touristy’ places to visit are closer to Lonavala. Khandala too has a few scenic
places.
The Duke's Nose is a cliff named after Duke Wellington - it is said that this cliff resembled
his nose! One can visit the place by approaching from INS Shivaji and Kurwande Village.
The spot is a vantage point for observing the scenic views around. This is also a great rock
climbing area for the avid outdoor lover.
Rajmachi Park is about 2 kms from St. Mary’s villa. Sitting at the start of the Khandala Ghat,
the park area also comprises a restaurant and a temple. There are two towers of Rajmachi
Fort on the eastern side of the park. From the park, tourists can avail a regular bus service to
Lonavala Bus Station. Within the precincts of the site is also located a children's park.
Located at a distance of 12 km from Lonavala town, the site lies just before the starting
point of the Ghat. From the site, tourists can avail view of Shivaji's famous fort, and the
surrounding valley. At the park is also located the Vaghjai Dari.
The Rajmachi Fort is about 15 kms from Lonavala. It is usually a good trekking destination
but can also be reached by a four wheeler (a good four wheeler as the road is tricky in
parts).
There are plenty of other forts aound Lonavala - Manoranjan Fort, Shrivardhan fort,
Visapur Fort, Lohagad Fort and the Tungi Fort.
Bushy Dam about 6kms from Lonavala is a favoured tourist spot during the monsoon. When
the water levels of the dam rises the water spills over and manifests into a small waterfall
and picnickers like to sit on the steps and feel the cool water gushing over them. If one
has seen pictures of it in the monsoon it will be quite dry around Feb so would be a bit of a
disappointment.
There is also the Tungarli Dam (the one we visited in the monsoon) and Valvan Dam (one
has to trek down to this dam). Further away from Lonavala is the Pavna dam where there
are water sports.
Tiger's Leap near INS Shivaji is a curiously shaped cliff - a sheer 650 m drop into the valley.
Legend has it that Shivaji was being chased by a tiger and jumped into a ditch at the edge
of a cliff while the tiger leaped to its death. From the top one gets sweeping views of the
sylvan landscape around. It’s a good drive to the top about 15 kms from Lonavala. Further
ahead is Aamby Valley city. To visit one needs to get prior permission from the office in
Mumbai....however it’s worth a visit.
About 10 kms away from Lonavala towards Pune are the Karla Caves. These caves made
in or around 160 BC and are the biggest ‘Chaitya Caves’ (prayer halls) here. The caves
with viharas (monasteries) were excavated for the Buddhist monks who came here during
the monsoons. The interiors have lion pillars, huge elephant forms, carved representations
of Gautam Buddha and dancing couples. The entrance gate is in the shape of a "Peepul"
leaf through which one enters the huge Chaitya griha or hall. This large hall is full of smooth
stone pillars, which are carved with elephant and human forms and the roof is high and
semicircular. However quite poorly maintained as compared to the caves in Ajanta and
Ellora.
The Bedsa Caves are close to the Mumbai Pune Road near Kamshet between the towns
of Kadde and Bedsa. Huge pillars, lions and humans forms and a large Chaitya hall with
resting rooms is a speciality of these caves. A vaulted roof supported by 2,000-year-old
woodwork and a big skylight provides lighting for the entire cave with the sun's rays falling
straight on the inner sanctum.
Apart from sightseeing
Della Adventure Park has a lot of interesting things to do like zorbing, paintball, para
gliding, ATV rides etc. However, one needs to carry a fair amount of cash to this place as
some of the sports are quite highly priced. www.dellaadventure.com
Kumar Resort on the highway has a fairly good water park www.kumarresort.co.in, and so
does Fariyas hotel. MTDC in Karla has a water park too.
There is also a go karting track at the Whispering Woods Resort.
If one can’t get to Madam Tussauds in London, Lonavala has its own wax celebrities to
stand beside at the Wax Museum. The Indian politicians and stars are quite realistic.
www.celebritywaxmuseum.com
June Mendez has shared:
Things to see in and around Khandala and Lonavala
Most of the ‘touristy’ places to visit are closer to Lonavala. Khandala too has a few scenic
places.
The Duke's Nose is a cliff named after Duke Wellington - it is said that this cliff resembled
his nose! One can visit the place by approaching from INS Shivaji and Kurwande Village.
The spot is a vantage point for observing the scenic views around. This is also a great rock
climbing area for the avid outdoor lover.
Rajmachi Park is about 2 kms from St. Mary’s villa. Sitting at the start of the Khandala Ghat,
the park area also comprises a restaurant and a temple. There are two towers of Rajmachi
Fort on the eastern side of the park. From the park, tourists can avail a regular bus service to
Lonavala Bus Station. Within the precincts of the site is also located a children's park.
Located at a distance of 12 km from Lonavala town, the site lies just before the starting
point of the Ghat. From the site, tourists can avail view of Shivaji's famous fort, and the
surrounding valley. At the park is also located the Vaghjai Dari.
The Rajmachi Fort is about 15 kms from Lonavala. It is usually a good trekking destination
but can also be reached by a four wheeler (a good four wheeler as the road is tricky in
parts).
There are plenty of other forts aound Lonavala - Manoranjan Fort, Shrivardhan fort,
Visapur Fort, Lohagad Fort and the Tungi Fort.
Bushy Dam about 6kms from Lonavala is a favoured tourist spot during the monsoon. When
the water levels of the dam rises the water spills over and manifests into a small waterfall
and picnickers like to sit on the steps and feel the cool water gushing over them. If one
has seen pictures of it in the monsoon it will be quite dry around Feb so would be a bit of a
disappointment.
There is also the Tungarli Dam (the one we visited in the monsoon) and Valvan Dam (one
has to trek down to this dam). Further away from Lonavala is the Pavna dam where there
are water sports.
Tiger's Leap near INS Shivaji is a curiously shaped cliff - a sheer 650 m drop into the valley.
Legend has it that Shivaji was being chased by a tiger and jumped into a ditch at the edge
of a cliff while the tiger leaped to its death. From the top one gets sweeping views of the
sylvan landscape around. It’s a good drive to the top about 15 kms from Lonavala. Further
ahead is Aamby Valley city. To visit one needs to get prior permission from the office in
Mumbai....however it’s worth a visit.
About 10 kms away from Lonavala towards Pune are the Karla Caves. These caves made
in or around 160 BC and are the biggest ‘Chaitya Caves’ (prayer halls) here. The caves
with viharas (monasteries) were excavated for the Buddhist monks who came here during
the monsoons. The interiors have lion pillars, huge elephant forms, carved representations
of Gautam Buddha and dancing couples. The entrance gate is in the shape of a "Peepul"
leaf through which one enters the huge Chaitya griha or hall. This large hall is full of smooth
stone pillars, which are carved with elephant and human forms and the roof is high and
semicircular. However quite poorly maintained as compared to the caves in Ajanta and
Ellora.
The Bedsa Caves are close to the Mumbai Pune Road near Kamshet between the towns
of Kadde and Bedsa. Huge pillars, lions and humans forms and a large Chaitya hall with
resting rooms is a speciality of these caves. A vaulted roof supported by 2,000-year-old
woodwork and a big skylight provides lighting for the entire cave with the sun's rays falling
straight on the inner sanctum.
Apart from sightseeing
Della Adventure Park has a lot of interesting things to do like zorbing, paintball, para
gliding, ATV rides etc. However, one needs to carry a fair amount of cash to this place as
some of the sports are quite highly priced. www.dellaadventure.com
Kumar Resort on the highway has a fairly good water park www.kumarresort.co.in, and so
does Fariyas hotel. MTDC in Karla has a water park too.
There is also a go karting track at the Whispering Woods Resort.
If one can’t get to Madam Tussauds in London, Lonavala has its own wax celebrities to
stand beside at the Wax Museum. The Indian politicians and stars are quite realistic.
www.celebritywaxmuseum.com
A wild idea! - do you know if it would be the strawberry season around the time of the IHC? If yes, then would you know of any strawberry farms where we could go strawberry picking?! We would love that!
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know Lonavala doesn't have any strawberry farms (I could be wrong). They don't grow that well in these parts (we've tried growing them a couple of times) Mahabaleshwar is where the strawberries are.
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