Lonavala Holiday

Places to Visit in Lonavala

2010-10-28T15:44:00.001+05:30

Places to Visit in Lonavala – an easy reference guide …

One of the primary question that a lot of people ask me (specially if they are coming to Maharashtra/Mumbai for the first time) is that they have heard of a lovely hill station called Lonavala and want to go there for a few days but don’t know exactly what places to visit in Lonavala.

Just to make life easier for you if you fit into this category or if you are just looking for more recommended destinations for your next Lonavala holiday here’s a Places to visit in Lonavala guide that I happen to come across whilst surfing. It pretty much covers most of my recommendations as well so I thought it would be easier if I just gave you a reference to it.

Keep this with you for your next Lonavala Travel and you can keep checking the items off one by one.

Here’s a list of Places to visit in Lonavala at a glance:

Koli Temple (Aai Ekvira Temple)
Karla Caves
Valvan Lake
Ryewood Park
Lonavla Lake (Monsoon Lake)
Nagphani (Duke's Nose)
Bhaja Caves
Visapur Fort
Bushy Dam
Scorpion's Sting (Vinchu Kata)
Lohagad Fort
Morvi Dongar
Tung Fort
Pawna Lake
Tikona Fort
Koregad Fort
Sausage Hills
Tungarli Lake
Fishing

I will be covering each of these areas in detail at a later point where I will be posting about the easiest way to get there, what to do there, pictures and other facts about these places. For now you can just download this guide from http://www.scribd.com/doc/40297987/Lonavala-Travel-Guide

Cheers!

Pls. don’t forget to leave me your comments and or like this post to let me know weather you like this post on Places to Visit in Lonavala

Also, just wanted to thank a dear friend Sonali for the lovely Photo that you see at the top of the post. She’s a dear friend, Lonavala enthusiast and excellent blogger.

Lonavala Resorts – The Ultimate Holiday Guide

2010-10-20T17:53:00.001+05:30

Lonavala Resorts – all you need to know for a great holiday

“Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.” - William Pollard

It was really a surprise for me to see the top 10 results that came up in Google when I searched for the phrase ‘Lonavala resorts’. ‘Why’ you ask. Well, here’s the thing, they are all pointing to websites which just believe in listing down standard data that is available to them and think that it is helpful to the all the visitors who come by because they all have the same needs.

But, is it the case? probably not … Well, not in my case at least.

Thus, as all great things have their humble beginnings as a solution to some or the other problems, this page also intends to follow suit and provide answers to some of your questions related to choosing the best resort and hotel for your next Lonavala holiday.

Personally, I would prefer a completely customised solution that best fits my needs and not to forget my wallet but, as this would be impossible to do for each and every visitor to this site I am planning on arranging the information on this page based on generic needs of individual, business, family, friends and couple travellers to Lonavala.

Now, as reviewing each and every resort personally is going to take some time and effort, for a start I am listing down a handful of resorts & hotels that I personally like in Lonavala with information on what I like about them along with a link to their official website.

But, in the future as I review more resorts and hotels in Lonavala and provide significantly more details, what you will see on this page is links to my review page for that particular resort along with a snippet describing the same.

On a general note most of the ‘Lonavala resorts’ today are quite good and provide high quality and world class amenities & facilities such as all day dining restaurants offering scrumptious and elaborate buffets with a range of Indian, Asian and Continental delights, classy looking outdoor swimming pools with attached Baby pools along with a host of other facilities for both indoor and outdoor games.

Also, amenities such as Daily Maid Service, Kitchen/ Kitchenette, Mini-Bar, Telephone, Refrigerator, Cable/ Satellite Television, Child Care, Hair Stylist, Car Rental, Currency Exchange, Gift Shop, Laundry Service, Multi-lingual Staff, Room Service & Business Centre have become a norm. Other facilities including Game Room, Health Club & Spa, Hot Tub, Swimming Pool (Children's Pool, Indoor Pool), internet, 24 hour coffee shop, In house restaurant, doctor on call, discotheque are also becoming a norm.

To end for this note for now, basically the resort in Lonavala today are designed to accommodate and achieve all your business, family and romantic fantasies provided you know where to go.

Some of my current favourite lonavala resorts are:

Fariyas Resort, Lonavla – pretty much the most luxurious resort that I have stayed in as far as Lonavala is concerned. Ideal setting for business conferences. Great buffet meals.
Kumar Resort Lonavala – could not really find their website but their USP clearly is Water Park, video games arcade and amusement park. Complete entertainment for the kids.
Biji's Hill Retreat Hotel – Again, could not find their official website but if you don’t want to strain your wallet this is a good option. Biji’s offers you most of the amenities that you would need for pleasure or business trips.
Treasure Island Resorts, Lonavala – If your a fan of the apartment style living and have an RCI membership this would be your place to go. They have a nice pool as well.
The Machan – If you are looking for something truly unique and memorable and don’t mind staying in a tree house and enjoying the pleasures of the wild then Machan is for you. BTW, I was just kidding about the pleasures of the wild, this place offers some really cool stuff. The views are to kill for.

Lonavala & Big Boss Season 4 …

2010-10-07T14:53:00.001+05:30

Hi Gang,

It’s that time of the year when we get to see what happens when 13 individuals who don’t particularly know each other are thrown into a one house and have to spend the whole day together for 90 days. Yes, I am talking about Big Boss.

And, it goes without saying that Lonavala is in the limelight again thanks to this news season of the Big Boss.

BTW, are you guys watching it?

Myself, I have watched it the last couple of days and it seems to be getting pretty interesting. Interesting mix of contestants as well, former dacoits, thieves, lairs … oops I mean lawyers, MMS experts, etc. Controversy seems be the central theme to the participant matrix.

As for the house itself, I kind of liked the house this time, no separate dorms was a surprise, but it also shows that this time around they are targeting more of the metro audience who might be ok with the idea. The weather in Lonavala seems fantastic on television and is really pushing me to make a trip there on this weekend.

On a separate note, I was there last month and really had a blast; in fact I was so busy enjoying that I forgot to click any pictures or blog about it either. Well, as they say it’s probably never too late to start, so lemme just try and put in some more lovely information around Lonavala and the wonderful sights, sounds and smells that it has to offer.

Stay tuned…cheers!

This weekend will be at Kala Ghoda Festival not Lonavala…

2010-02-05T12:52:00.001+05:30

This weekend will be at Kala Ghoda Festival not Lonavala…

Hi Gang,
This is Nitesh here, firstly a big Hello to all Lonavala Holiday fans and friends. Hope all is well.
I just wanted to share something important with you. As some of you may already be aware one of our favourite art festivals “Kala Ghoda Arts Festival” is starting on Feb 06, 2010. This year for the benefit of those who cannot make it physically to Kala Ghoda Mumbai we have started a new website called Kala Ghoda Festival Now.

The main intent of doing Kala Ghoda Festival Now is to give people the ability to see, hear and feel this years Kala Ghoda Festival through us. What that means is that we are going to covering the Kala Ghoda Fair as it happens and provide you minute by minute update on major events, performance and galleria.
All you have to do is visit the Kala Ghoda Festival Now website at http://www.kalaghodafestivalnow.com/ and click on follow us or simply subscribe to the blog either via your E-Mail or via RSS to be informed as and when we update regarding what is happening at Kala Ghoda Fest 2010. Alternately you can also become a fan of our Kala Ghoda Festival Now Facebook Page or follow us on our Kala Ghoda Festival Now twitter page.
For those of you who are new to the scene, there are some excellent posts already set up at the website to get yourself acquainted with the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in general and then keep up to date with Kala Ghoda Fest 2010. You can check them out here:

kala ghoda festival

kala ghoda mumbai

kala ghoda fair

Oh BTW, the Kala Ghoda Schedule is out as well so you can check that out at http://www.kalaghodafestivalnow.com/2010/02/kala-ghoda-festival-schedule.html
I really hope that you will visit the Kala Ghoda Festival Now website and are able to enjoy the festival right where you are. And as always, your feedback is very much appreciated!
Cheers for now, I will come back with more Lonavala updates but for now this weekend is at Kala Ghoda not Lonavala.

Want to see a film star? head to lonavala for a holiday…

2009-11-26T17:18:00.001+05:30

Want to see a film star? head to lonavala for a holiday…

lonavala india has just become the no.1 one destination if you are in the mood for a little celebrity spotting and a holiday together.
Big Boss house is now pretty much a tourist attraction with people asking rickshaw and taxi-wallas to take them for a drive to see the damn house in the hopes of spotting a celebrity or their family members.
Shilpa Shetty’s wedding was another opportunity for the celebrity fans to head up to the hill station hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. Gul Panag recently tweeted that she was shooting in lonavala as well a couple of days back.

There have also been a barrage of stars including Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and others arriving at the Big Boss house in an effort to promote their respective films.
On the one hand I feel good that its giving opportunities to the locals of Lonavala with increased amount of work coming up but on the other hand the misuse of nature seems to be a foregone conclusion. I guess we only realise a paradise once we have lost it.
Most lonavala resorts are enjoying the Mullah though. lonavala accommodation is facing a very high demand suddenly quite unusual for this time of the year.
I know that your pretty confused with my rambling so I better get to something meaningful now. So apart from the celebrities what else is in news…
lonavala fariyas resort offering a 3rd night complimentary
there was this advertisement in the paper where lonavala fariyas resort is offering a 3rd night as complimentary stay, check out the ad here if your interesting in short, quick and luxurious lonavala holiday

do check out the terms & conditions before booking…something I learnt from experience.
lonavala bungalows for sale

Ok, spotted a few more listings with respect to lonavala bungalows for sale. Check out if you are interested in this 30000 sq feet bungalow for sare in lonavala here http://www.propertywala.com/properties/4944507

there is also another listing for a 2 acres commercial land availability near lonavala lagoona resort, you can check this one out here http://pune.quikr.com/c-2acres-commercial-land-for-sale-in-lonavla-next-to-lagoona-resor-W0QQAdIdZ64011841

another one for lonavala land for sale to build farm houses here http://www.clickindia.com/detail.php?id=3018647

Ok, hoping all this is useful to you.

If you are just looking for more information on lonavala and planning for a holiday you should see this post on lonavala holiday. It gives you a brief on getting to and fro lonaavala, some of the best lonavala places to stay, lonavala resturants, lonavala places to see etc.

Visit lonavala travel if you want to know more about getting to lonavala from mumbai or lonavala from pune. I have explained the whole process right from where to catch a bus to exactly the best way to reach lonavala city.

see lonavala wallpaper to get yourself a green-green wallaper.

and stay tuned more much-more lonavala latest news, lonavala photos on the best lonavala India site.

Cheers!

lonavala wikimapia

2009-11-18T17:34:00.001+05:30

lonavala wikimapia

hmm…(awkward hello). I know your probably wondering what the hell am I doing with a title like lonavala wikimapia?
Well, before I go ahead and answer that question, firstly sincere apologies for not posting that often. In case you have been looking forward to hearing from me on my favourite holiday destination Lonavala, I want to bloody assure you that you will find regular updates on lonavala holiday from now on.
Well, I am a professional blogger and some of my other blogs have been keeping me awfully busy these last few weeks hence the delay in posting. Anyway, now that I have apologised and your feeling much less betrayed we can get back to some business.

So, you heard of lonavala wikimapia?
No, Ok, well WikiMapia is a online map and satellite imaging resource. It uses both Google Maps and the wiki system. Its created by 2 Russian internet entrepreneurs to allow you to navigate and describe any location marked. lonavala wikimapia is the lonavala page on that website. Here is the url = http://wikimapia.org/557494/Lonavala.
Now, the reason I am doing this post is that a lot of people search for this and quite a few people also asked me about this. Hopefully the explanation above should do well to clear any doubts.
As promised earlier I am going to deliver on all the topics identified in the previous posts of mine to be able to give you all the best lonavala information via this blog. Primarily a lot of people search about lonavala maharashtra either to plan their visit there or to get an idea of what the place is all about. I know many of my friends from pune are very interested in travelling there over the weekends and hence I am planning to post on the various pune lonavala local train options available for them along with details on pune lonavala local timetable. I think seeing the lonavala local timetable will definitely put a smile on their faces.
I am also trying to get my hands on a good lonavala map which I can either scan and put up or attach it some way because that’s another thing people really want. And I will definitely be doing reviews very-very soon on all the best places to stay, eat and see whilst in the beautiful lonavala city.
So folks, please stay tuned to this lonavala holiday channel as I will be updating regularly from now on.
Its time for some lonavala news now
India’s first Stem Cell Therapy Laboratory was launched recently in lonavala. The lab will work on Cartilage regeneration therapy (Chondron) and bone regeneration therapy (Ossron). helping in prevention of early osteoarthritis and finally avoid total knee replacement. You can read about that here http://www.expresshealthcare.in/200911/market11.shtml
There is a listing for 3 bedroom Independent House for Rent in Nangar Gaon, Lonavala on propertywalla dot com, they are looking to lease out the houses so interested people can check this listing out here http://www.propertywala.com/properties/type-residential_independent_house/for-rent/location-nangar_gaon_lonavala/4_row_houses_on_a_plot_size_of_5000_sq_ft-8004046.html
There is also a listing for sale of Duplex Row Houses in lonavala. These row houses are located in Nangargoan area and seem to be fully furnished. Interested people see the listing here http://pune.quikr.com/c-Sale-of-Duplex-Row-house-in-Lonavala-W0QQAdIdZ64511855
BTW, if you are just joining us via this page for the first time, let me just tell you that this blog is dedicated to the beautiful hill station of lonavala. It aims to provide useful and required information to make for a really good lonavala holiday and also hopes to raise issues that concern this lovely town and all of us who love this paradise. I really suggest you start of with this lonavala holiday page which gives a very generic but overview of this beautiful town. lonavala travel gives you information on how you can to lonavala from mumbai and lonavala from pune. So do check them out.
Cheers for now, will talk to you soon.

Legend of Music Kersi Lord and Lonavala…

2009-11-02T18:01:00.001+05:30

Legend of Music Kersi Lord and Lonavala…

Hi,
This is Jasmin Lord and I am the co-owner of Lonavala Holiday and I hope you are enjoying the blog so far. Today I just wanted to take a little diversion (well, sort of) and introduce you to a great legend in the Indian Film Industry. (Read on…)

Everybody who loves Indian music, especially Indian music that comes from the ‘Golden Era’, the 1960s and 70s, has to have admired the unique beats of the background score for the film Shalimar (1978), the very unusual music arrangement for the film Saathi (1968), the melodious arrangement of ‘Tum jo mil gaye ho’ from the movie Hanste Zakhm (1971) and the quintessential magic lighter theme from the movie Hum Dono (1973).

These are but a few highlights of the extremely successful professional career of musician, composer, arranger, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, Kersi Lord. Kersi, also fondly known as Kersi Baba by his peers, has recently launched his own website in a bid to share his experience of the music industry with all his fans and fellow music lovers. His ever witty and intriguing personality, along with the wealth of experience he has making music with the legends of his time, makes for a fascinating read. If you want to cash in on this opportunity to hear his story, visit his website Kersi Lord.
Not many know this but Kersi Lord’s favourite hill station happens to be Lonavala. He considers this beautiful little town to be almost like a second home, enjoying the occasional visit to his bungalow there.

lonavala wallpaper

2009-10-22T17:56:00.001+05:30

lonavala wallpaper

Ok, friends as promised here is my first offering of the phenomenal lonavala wallpaper. Developed by DesktopNexus, this an awesome lonavala picture to have on your screen. (Clicking on the picture will take you to the download page)
The lonavala wallpaper shows the beautiful Tungi Hill. As you can see this scenic hill is surrounded by lush greenery, lonavala lakes and is also supposed to have a sort of a fort on top of it.
I hope you like this lovely lonavala wallpaper, I will try to post more of them very soon.

Now, Just in case you have landed on this page for the first time looking for some great lonavala wallpapers then try the one above and stay tuned to my blog called lonavala holiday as I will be posting many more beautiful lonavala pictures, lonavala photos and lonavala wallpapers soon.
Also, if you are looking out for some serious lonavala information, things to see in Lonavala City, details on how to travel to lonavala from mumbai or lonavala from pune then visit my first page lonavala holiday which gives you a brief overview of everything you need to know to a great lonavala holiday. My whole purpose of designing this blog was to be able to provide all key information like lonavala attractions & lonavala places to visit, lonavala accommodation, lonavala restaurants, lonavala real estate, lonavala chikki and other cool stuff which lonavala one of the most amazing places to go for a holiday.
Time for some other
lonavala news:

HRC's Homeopathic Institute and Research Centre is developing its learning and healing centre at Lonavala. You can read about this at Ruchi Saxena's blog Students of Homeopathy.

Also, coming soon:

Information on the days inn lonavala

The pune lonavala local timetable if it exists, or at least all the trains that can take you to lonavala from pune.

the best deals on bungalows on rent in lonavala, holiday bungalows in lonavala, and bungalows in lonavala for rent

Special, off the beaten track places for lonavala sight seeing

new, upcoming bungalow projects in lonavala that fit your wallet

And, where you can get your next dominos lonavala

lonavala travel

2009-08-18T01:03:00.001+05:30

lonavala travel

If this is the first time you have landed on this site Lonavala Holiday via this page ‘lonavala travel’ my understanding would be that you are either planning or intending to visit Lonavala for a holiday. On this page I have have provided some of the basic information required to do a lonavala travel.
If this is the first time you are visiting lonavala or planning a lonavala holiday I really suggest you visit my first post lonavala holiday which will give you a good idea of what you can expect while in lonavala. I have highlighted some aspects of lonavala city and provided some really nice lonavala trivia (trust me, it helps to know more about the place you are actually planning to go). Some of the lonavala attractions and lonavala places to visit I have mentioned about are lonavala amby valley, lonavala bushi dam, lonavala dam, lonavala tiger point and lion’s point, lonavala lake and the non-existent lonavala beach.

I have also touched upon some aspects of lonavala accommodation, lonavala restaurants and the prized lonavala chikki. I think the post will give you a fair idea about this lovely paradise called lonavala.
I just want to focus on some important aspects of doing a lonavala travel in this post. Usually people visiting lonavala only fall into 3 categories,

the weekender groups looking for some respite from the hot Mumbai or congested Pune,

the conference groups (big corporate money blowers) from MNC’s and other sectors located in both Mumbai and Pune and

foreign tourists who come in via a lonavala tour package and usually only come to visit the famous lonavala caves namely the Lonavala Karla Caves, the Lonavala Bhaja Caves and the Lonavala Bedsa Caves.

Either ways, the entry points are always lonavala from pune or lonavala from mumbai. So, let me start off by giving some lonavala information with respect to getting to lonavala and on from there.
lonavala from mumbai
There are many methods available for you to get to lonavala from Mumbai. As lonavala mumbai distance is only about 96km its a short 2 hrs journey in most cases (Pray that it hasn’t rained so heavy that there has been a landslide else expect to spend a good 6-8 hrs travelling). Most of the weekender groups prefer to drive into lonavala in their own cars (and that’s the reason why lonavala city gets extremely packed and even chokes on weekends). Ever since Mumbai Pune expressway has been in service it is now the most preferred choice for most people driving into lonavala (not for me though, I find it expensive and useless, you miss the entire charm of the lonavala khandala ghat and believe me the views from there are breathtaking.)
Corporate usually hire their own buses and pack into the small lonavala roads and alleys adding further to the traffic problems (Corporate, get the hint!) and its pretty much similar as far as the lonavala tour package operators.
Anyway, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have your own vehicle, you have plenty of options. Most people prefer taking the bus. Now, there are both state transport buses commonly known as the ASIAD bus service and private operators like Neeta Travels. Mind you, these bus services are up till Pune and you have to inform the bus driver before hand that you would like to get down at lonavala (You get charged the Pune fare as well). As stopping at the express way is not allowed and these buses don’t take the lonavala exit it sometimes becomes quite tricky specially with traffic police around. Of lately though, as this is the most common method mumbaikars use to reach lonavala most of the operators pretty much know the drill.
Once at the expressway stop, you need to just walk down the lonavala exit and you will more often than not find an array of rickshaw’s waiting to fleece you and take you to the destination of your choice. (Point to note: Rates are fixed to different locations inside of lonavala so if you are not sure that your being quoted the right price ask a couple of rickshaws what they would take to drop you to your destination)
The easiest way to take the state transport buses is to flag a taxi while in Mumbai and ask him to take you to the ‘Dadar Bombay Pune Bus Stop’ or ‘Dadar ASIAD Bus Stop’. Once there you have a choice of taking the Air-conditioned Shivneri bus or the non air-conditioned variant called the Maha Bus. The prices change quite often but expect to pay around Rs.200 + for AC and Rs.135 + for Non-AC.
As for private operators you don’t need to go searching for them. As soon as you arrive at Dadar bus stop you will be hounded by a dozen or so of agents all trying to lure you into their buses (My experience with private operators has not been very pleasant as they tend to delay starting until all seats are taken up and will stop excessively until the bus is absolutely filled. Such is not the case with State Transport buses). The rates are usually around the same as the state transport and buses are mostly air conditioned. If you are lucky you might get to watch a movie but most of the times the TV’s and DVD players don’t work on the buses. [Note to foreign tourist: its better to check up before hand and book on private bus operators as they have pick ups at multiple locations]
Buses generally travel every half an hour to Pune from Mumbai.
The faster of way of getting to lonavala is either take a train or a taxi. You can get a taxi from exactly opposite of the State Transport Bus stop at Dadar. Again, you have a choice of air-conditioned taxis or non air-conditioned ones. There is price difference of around Rs.100 in the tickets. Taxi’s are more expensive as compared to buses as they only seat 4 passengers along with the driver and reach an hour quicker (sometimes more) as compared to the bus. The last I checked the prices were around Rs.350-400 per seat. (Makes sense to hire a full cab if you are a group of 4)
The other option and one of the best options as per me is to travel by train if you can manage to get the tickets before hand (Going unreserved is a big no-no at for me even if its just for a couple of hours ). Most of the trains going to Pune will stop at lonavala although it is always better to confirm about your lonavala mumbai trains before booking your ticket. Please keep in mind that train timings and starting points change frequently so check up before leave). Trains are comparatively cheaper than travelling via roads and tend to be faster as well. In most cases you should expect to reach lonavala railway station in a couple of hours or so. Yes, there is a quaint little lonavala railway station and it is very pretty if you ask me. Again you will have a line-up of rickshaws waiting for you as soon as you exit the lonavala railway station so moving on to your already booked lonavala guest house or lonavala resorts hotels should not be a problem.
lonavala from pune
From Pune its pretty much the same story as it is from Mumbai. The first step is to get to Pune Railway Station as all the 3 means of transport (bus, taxi and railway) operate from there. Essentially the state transport bus stop and taxi service is located just a minutes walk from the Pune Railway station. The prices are same as you would have to pay for Mumbai and as these buses, trains and taxi services travel to Mumbai you have to request the driver to drop you off at lonavala. lonavala distance from pune is around 64 km so its relatively quicker to get to lonavala from Pune than from Mumbai.
The nuances and the benefits of travelling to lonavala from pune are pretty similar to that of travelling to lonavala from mumbai so I suggest you read up the section above in case you skipped it thinking that you were going to get to lonavala only from Pune (Besides my hands are tired now from typing)
lonavala travel
Once in lonavala, it is pretty simple to get to places, you either have a choice of local rickshaws or taxi’s which most of the lonavala hotels and resorts would be happy to arrange for you. Again, always ask for the price first and only once both parties have mutually agreed to the price travel via local transport. Don’t be afraid to haggle and bringing the price down. It is what they are expecting too and hence they (rickshaw and taxi drivers) will inflate the prices before hand.
I will try and put out a lonavala city map soon for those who intend to do it on their own.
Hope the lonavala information that I have provided here-in is useful for your next lonavala trip as it is my keen desire that I am able to show you a side of this beautiful place most people miss out on. Until next time Cheers!
More to come:

Loads of lonavala photos, lonavala pictures and those special lonavala pics that will blow you off your feet and make you want to come to lonavala right now.

Some super cool lonavala wallpaper to remind you that fun trip you had on your weekend.

Information on lonavala pune local trains & lonavala pune local train timetable

A lonavala road map & a lonavala detailed map.

A complete lonavala train schedule

More information on lonavala tourist spots & the most hidden and special lonavala sight seeing locations that you will not find on any map.

More on films shot in lonavala or as I call it lonavala films

More unknown, unheard of and unseen lonavala sight seeing locations.

Question for you: is there a lonavala yoga institute, a lonavala yoga center ?

Pictures used under a Creative Commons license. Pictures belong to vm2827 & digitalclickclick

Lonavala Holiday

2009-08-10T02:28:00.001+05:30

Lonavala Holiday

As this is my first post I just wanted to give you a heads up on what this blog is all about. Naturally as the name of blog suggest it is about my favourite holiday destination Lonavala City but more than that it is about desire to let people see a different side of lonavala and most importantly not with the eyes of a week-end tourist but that of a lover of beauty and life.

I will not only be highlighting some of the most interesting things about lonavala which you can use as a lonavala travel guide but also some of the negatives that we as tourist have created in recent times with this hope that after reading this blog at least some of us will start to take more responsibility show more care the next we visit this paradise.

If you are expecting some technically perfect website with statistical information about lonavala, a few links and rate cards then please turn back as this blog is my eyes to a place that I have come to love and care about. Its people are now my friends who I know by name and share a relationship with.

Another purpose of creating this blog is also to demonstrate to my good friend Namz here the power of blogging. So hope you will join me and Namz on this is beautiful and timeless journey to our very own paradise called lonavala.

Lonavala City

Lonavala City was once a quaint little hill town surrounded by the Sahyadri ranges that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast. Situated 622 m. above sea level it has some absolutely breath taking sights. (Lonavla got its name from the Sanskrit word lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla.) In the monsoons it has a carpet of lush green fields and is decorated with waterfalls and ponds by nature itself. It is easy to understand why it attracts the likes of many artist and film makers during this time.

With easy accessibility via road and rail from nearby cities like Mumbai and Pune lonavala has unfortunately changed from a small hill town to a party heaven for the young and restless Mumbai-ites and Pune-ites. A week-end getaway for most it has now become a place for some to show off their excess wealth by building the most extravagant houses in the valley. (OK, I am ranting now…)

In spite of all the crap and restlessness of the week-enders if one goes a little deeper (which is where I intend to take you with this blog) it is easy to re-discover the natural beauty and freshness of what might have been in a different time.

lonavala and khandala are often confused by many due to their proximity but in reality Khandala is adjacent to Lonavala and slightly below it as far as statistics are considered. Lonavala and Khandala are some times also referred to as the ‘twin hill stations’ a point that I can never understand. Lonavala has a very distinct personality to Khandala and anybody who has ever bothered to look carefully will easily notice that.

Some Lonavala trivia:

The population of Lonavla is around 100,000 as of 2009.
The lonavala hill station is all of approximate area of 38 km²
Lonavla and Khandala were discovered in 1871 by Sir Elphinstone, the Governor of the Bombay Presidency or so they say…blah!
Lonavla got its name from the Sanskrit word lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla.
As per the 2001 census Lonavla had a population of 55,650. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%.
Lonavla has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%. In Lonavla, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

lonavala hill station

I pretty much know lonavala city in and out but for the benefit of readers who are planning to visit soon or the first time I will in my further post be posting lonavala city map to make it easier to navigate through the crowded alleys and streets.

lonavala from mumbai

lonavala distance from Mumbai is 96 km and it is quite easy to reach here with either road or rail travel. While most week-end tourist prefers to drive in their cars, there are plenty of other options available in case you want to take a break for driving. All major services that go to Pune (State and Private Bus operators, Pvt. Taxi, Trains) readily stop at lonavala to drop you off (Keep in mind that it’s a still fare to Pune that you end up paying).

While most people and services prefer to take the new the Mumbai-Pune Expressway I still prefer to either take a train ride or the old Mumbai-Pune highway for the sheer beauty that I miss out on if I take the expressway. I will explain this in detail in a future post as in this case I feel the journey is as beautiful as the destination.

lonavala from pune

lonavala distance from pune is around 64 km and its pretty much the same way as you would travel to Mumbai except that you miss the excitement of the very-very scenic western Ghats. Being so close to Pune it has become a popular one day picnic destination for the residents of Pune city.

lonavala attractions & lonavala places to visit

Although there are no fixed tours to take you around lonavala like a complete lonavala darshan (OK, I picked it up from our local Mumbai Darshan trips) most hotels and resorts will happily arrange taxi’s for your convenience that take you to and fro to any destination of your desire. You can also use the local rickshaws if you don’t have your own vehicles but be sure to fix a price mutually agreeable before you board them, and YES you have to bargain and then bargain some more to get to them down to a realistic price. I do plan to put up a relative rate card (not official obviously) to give a certain benchmark idea of the prices.

Some of the most popular destinations in recent times are:

lonavala amby valley

Also known as the lonavala sahara city it is a place where the rich and famous show their might. Known to be beautifully built from the inside but inaccessible to the common man it’s become more of a mystery and information only trickles in through hear-say. If we are lucky I might just be able to get you the real deal in my future post so stay tuned to this channel.

lonavala bushi dam

By far the most popular tourist destination at this point. It’s also the most crowded and over-rated if you ask me. But, nevertheless people seem to enjoy waterfall near the dam when they come for their day trips. Unfortunately it results in massive traffic jams and ugly cover of dirty shacks trying to make buck out of the tourist while they are there. I will write more how this is taking its toll on lonavala and has caused much destruction to natural hill side already.

lonavala dam

Valvan Dam has a garden at its foot, and is a popular evening spot 2 km from the town. The dam supplies water to the Khopoli power station at the foothills of the Sahyadris for generating electricity. The Kundali River feeds into the dam's reservoir.

lonavala tiger point and lion’s point

This is a scenic point midway between Bhushi Dam and Aamby Valley. A must see during the monsoons as the views of the valley can be absolutely spectacular. Will cover this topic in detail in my future post.

lonavala lake

I was heartbroken on my last trip when I saw the state of the Tungarli Lake and Dam on last trip (a week back). This lake and Dam used to come to life during the Monsoon season but not this time. May be its nature giving us the signs.

The dam was built during the British era and features a serene surrounding. An excellent place for back-pack Camping.

lonavala beach

Ok, this one does not exist. This probably the one thing lonavala does not have (quite naturally its lonavala hill station remember?). You never know though some rich resort might build its first and very own lonavala beach.

There are many other destinations and attractions which I intend to write own soon, some more famous ones like Rajmachi Point, Ryewood Park & Shivaji Udyan, Duke's Nose & Karla Caves and others yet only known to those who dare to go beyond the known path.

lonavala accommodation

As far as accommodation goes there is something for everyone in lonavla. While I don’t really know if there is any lonavala five star hotels but there are the more famous ones of the many lonavala hotels and resorts. They include the lonavala avion, lonavala days inn, lonavala lions den hotel, lonavala rainbow retreat, lonavala upper deck, lonavala sterling resorts, lonavala dukes retreat & lonavala dukes resort (more known simply as the lonavala dukes), lonavala fariyas hotel & lonavala fariyas resort (known simply as lonavala fariyas – a hot favourite with most corporate folks, they just relish having those long conferences here….wonder what goes on). Lonavala kumar resort is another of the popular day break places with a very own lonavala water park. (I just hated the frequency with which they advertised on local cable…almost swore never to go there). Lonavala treasure island is a another popular time share destination (Oh! Just love the pool there, had the time of my life)

There are also the usual lonavala cheap hotels & lonavala budget hotels if your on a budget. Hiring a lonavala bungalows for rent is a good idea if you are coming in a large group. (I kind of prefer these when travelling with family and friends as it gives us just the privacy and the luxury we require to enjoy amongst ourselves without disturbing the rest of the guest which would have been the case had we been staying in some lonavala resorts and hotels. They tend to be spacious as well giving plenty of room for fun and games)

Lonavala day rooms are another popular option these days specially after spurt of growth in youngsters and families visiting lonavala from Mumbai and Pune only for a day. The main idea is to come for a short break to places like bushi dam, have your fun, change up, do some shopping and go.

Lonavala gets pretty packed during the weekends with the notorious Mumbai Pune crowd (they sometimes can be a nuisance if ask me but..) so I really suggest you do lonavala hotel booking ahead of time in case you are very particular as far as the place of stay is corned. Weekdays are pretty relaxed (and also a better time to see lonavala away from the mad rush of crowd) so it should not be much of an issue. Most hoteliers and guest house owners would welcome you readily for even half the rates sometimes as crowd on a weekday is just a bonus for them.

While most lonavala hotels rates & lonavala hotels tariff’s are available on the internet it would still be a better idea to call them up and check up the current rates as I find quite a few of the sites don’t update that often and as a result the rates they put up are quite old or irrelevant. It is also a good opportunity to ask for any special deals and discounts if you are in the off-season.

Stay tuned with this blog as there will be more on lonavala best hotels and I will let you in on some of the best places to stay while on a holiday in my future posts.

lonavala restaurants

Well, what can I say, lonavala today boast of a number of restaurants & eaters but most people only contend with the ones on the main road (all vegetarian – irritating!) and fail to visit the gems inside. Some of these wonderful places are now slowing becoming famous but most of them are hidden from the weekend crowd. I can think of quite a few places at the top of my mind right now but I would really to explore this topic in detail giving you the ultimate choice as far as eating in Lonavala is concerned.

BTW, did you know there is a Smokin Joes and Dominos outlet in lonavala?

lonavala real estate

With the boom in the economy and people’s purses in near by Pune and Mumbai it was quite natural that the effects would be visible in the lonavala real estate market as well. It was not uncommon for a affluent few to have their lonavala properties, lonavala bungalows & lonavala farm house which were their weekend retreats and a place to show their might and wealth but off lately the scenario completely changed. In the last couple of years there has been a sporadic and what I can only term as “UN PLANNED” growth in lonavala apartments, lonavala cottages and . It has resulted in an unhealthy growth in the lonavala property with property prices shooting off the roof. Lonavala became sort of become the choice location for anybody and everybody staying in in Mumbai or Pune who wanted to have a second home. (holiday home).

Recently though, the effects of recession were quite visible on my last trip ( a week ago) with the number of lonavala bungalows for sale boards and sights of incomplete projects all around the place.

lonavala chikki

Just love the awesome lonavla chikki, they come with various ingredients and there’s always something for everyone. I tend to love the dry fruit mix and the classic peanut chikki while my dad loves the ‘til’ one. There are too many brand names and too many people who are into this business so quality has been severely affected but, if you keep coming back I will reveal to you some of the best brands and where you can get them in lonavala. Oh! What I would give to get that lonavala chikki recipe.

The perfect lonavala holiday

When should you holiday in lonavala? Well, all year round I guess (nah, pretty hot for me in summers). Lonavala in summer gets very hot so I generally avoid getting up there during the heat. While lonavala in February is pleasant I can hardly bare the heat of lonavala in march. Monsoons and winter would be my pick for the time to visit. So, pack you backpacks, come with friends and family and enjoy this lovely paradise.

Have I managed to convince you for a trip to lonavala on your next week-end?

I guess not yet. I am not that great a writer yet. But, seriously consider it.

Coming soon…

Loads of lonavala photos, lonavala pictures and those special lonavala pics that will blow you off your feet and make you want to come to lonavala right now.
Some super cool lonavala wallpaper to remind you that fun trip you had on your weekend.
Information on lonavala pune local trains & lonavala pune local train timetable
A lonavala road map & a lonavala detailed map.
A complete lonavala train schedule
More information on lonavala tourist spots & the most hidden and special lonavala sight seeing locations that you will not find on any map.
More on films shot in lonavala or as I call it lonavala films
More unknown, unheard of and unseen lonavala sight seeing locations.

Pictures used under a Creative Commons license belong to sudeep1106 & Ben Reierson

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lonavala fariyas resort offering a 3rd night complimentary

lonavala bungalows for sale

lonavala wikimapia

lonavala wikimapia

So, you heard of lonavala wikimapia?

Its time for some lonavala news now

Legend of Music Kersi Lord and Lonavala…

Legend of Music Kersi Lord and Lonavala…

lonavala wallpaper

lonavala wallpaper

lonavala news:

lonavala travel

lonavala travel

lonavala from mumbai

lonavala from pune

lonavala travel

More to come:

Lonavala Holiday

Lonavala Holiday

Lonavala City

Some Lonavala trivia:

lonavala hill station

lonavala from mumbai

lonavala from pune

lonavala attractions & lonavala places to visit

lonavala amby valley

lonavala bushi dam

lonavala dam

lonavala tiger point and lion’s point

lonavala lake

lonavala beach

lonavala accommodation

lonavala restaurants

lonavala real estate

lonavala chikki

The perfect lonavala holiday

Coming soon…