Are you trying to find a good place to visit for a short trip? Mumbai residents do not have to travel much farther! Probably, you already guessed it! Nestled within the heart of the Sahyadri hills, lovely Lonavala is a pleasant weekend destination from the city. Starkly contrasted with the metropolis mood, this laidback verdant hill station puts new life into weary urban senses.

Seasonal Travels

Anyone visiting Maharashtra should not miss this serene natural destination. If you are at Pune, then coming here is literally an obvious choice. There are many attractions to explore, so keep sufficient time in your itinerary. Do you know that these ancient hills carry the heritage of many thousand years old Buddhist legacy? These rocky enclosures give the place its very identity, as the Sanskrit word Lonavli means caves.

The moment you enter here, your mind transpires to the timelessness of silence. Other attractions include an old fort, Buddhist shrines, and the pristine wildlife sanctuary. The place welcomes travelers all the year-round. Not only from India but also tourists from all over India comes to this charming place. Adventurous travellers suggest visiting during the rains to explore the true, wild beauty of the forests. Of course, the decision is up to you when to come here, but do make a visit!

It can be somewhat practically inconvenient because of the heavy showers. However, it is still a very special experience — nature blossoms in her vibrant fullness, nourished by the rains. The rivulets trickling in the dry Indian summer get new life as they sparkle, flowing rapidly down the vales. Glistening greenery surrounds you as you feel the fragrance of the wet earth fills your senses. Mark your calendar between June and September if you intend to visit during the rainy season.

The span of October to February remains busy as the peak season and is the best time to visit lonavala. Winter is very comfortable in the hill station. Christmas camping is a popular recreation. Many seasonal flowers also bloom at this time, transforming the valleys into heavenly recluses. However, hotel fares tend to be at their highest as well, so plan advance booking to get a comfortable room.

March to June is the span of summer in Lonavala. It is no mystery that Indian summer is very hot. However, being a forested area, it is definitely much more comfortable visiting here. If you are lucky, you can even get an occasional rare summer shower. Another aspect of summer is the drying of the water bodies, especially the waterfalls. It is still a great destination for seeking relief from the typical humidity of the surrounding urban areas. Rock climbing is a popular summer sport, and many enthusiasts gather here. During this season, weekend picnics are common in this area. On this point, do remember to adapt personal responsibility and avoid littering the place with plastic packets and other rubbish items.

At the end of a tiring day of expeditions and adventure sports, you must be hungry! The chikke is a local dairy delicacy that you should try. Visitors can find affordable and quality dining anywhere you go in Lonavala.

A Different World

A major plus side of such a rain-time trip is the slashed hotel rates one can avail in the off-season. Yet another well-known advantage of the unseasonal trip is the happiness of enjoying lightly, without crowds. Just imagine visiting those ancient cave relics by your own solitude and compare it to jostling with impatient weekend trippers in standing in a queue. Summertime is also relatively solitary and is perfect if you are making a historical tour to the caves. Winter is just perfect for everything!

Travel, along with good people echoing your sentiments about traveling and natural heritage. A delightful aspect of Lonavala is its popularity among couples seeking an intimate weekend getaway. Getting a good room is hassle-free, and without a lot of personal questions to answer. It becomes especially smooth with facilities like Oyo (on your own) coupons. That said; of course, both relationships and traveling must involve personal responsibility. Now that you have your lodgings secured explore the wonderful beauty all around.

Majestic Nature

Go for a hilly hike to the famous ‘Tiger’s Leap,’ located 650 meters above the sea level. Experience the most blissful intimacy with floating clouds as you really begin to feel yourself at a heavenly place. It offers truly spellbinding sunset and sunrise views. Lonavala is famous for its many view-points offering breathtaking glimpses of surrounding nature. There is a Lion’s Point as well, where you can reach following a brief drive of only 12 km from here. This famously windswept view-point opens the eye to a lush landscape of rich greenery, interspersed with pure white waterfalls. It is a popular point for night-time trekking.

Such enticing sceneries are so common in and around that one soon forgets all the humdrum of traffic, going to the office on time, workplace worries, and so on! All these things tend to seem to belong to a faraway reality that has only a distant relation to this timeless world of trees, hills, waterfalls, and birdsong.

Another magnificent place to enjoy the solitude of the surrounding hills is the Rajmachi fort. This is a historical place and once was the territory of the magnificent Maratha warrior King Shivaji. The immortal legends of his valor, courage, righteousness, and love for his people still resound silently in the valleys of Lonavala. Let your imaginations travel to that faraway time when the forests were home to the brave soldiers who lived and died by the eternal code of honor and truth, resounding in the mantra of Satyam ShivamSundaram. The solitude of these hills is indeed humbling.

Ancient Spirituality

Speaking of religiosity, the ancient Buddhist shrines and caves inspire awe. Let the grandiosity of the Karla and Bhaja caves purify your soul. The grave solemnity of intricate carvings, figures of heavenly beings, the meditative Lord Buddha seeking Moksha, and the demons of the mind that test the tenacity of meditation, all strike one as an extraordinary feeling. The spiritual realization of standing inside an ancient cave-shrine (even older than the birth of Christ) is so dense that it is difficult to even find the right words to express such feelings.

The timelessness of faith, the reality of an omnipresent God, and the mystery of the surrounding dark forests enrich the senses to memories for forever. Reywood Park is a well-maintained picnic spot. Your camera would be busy. Even amateur photographers can click wonderful images such is the surrounding magical wonders of nature!

Other natural attractions include the beautiful lakes. These are not just picnic spots, but places to return to nature in all its beautiful serenity. The Tugaril and Pawna Lakes are the most popular. The Kune waterfall is the fourteenth largest such natural wonder of India. Monsoon visitors can enjoy the water sports of waterfall rappelling. This involves climbing up the rock cliff against the force of the waterfall! In fact, many of the popular cliff-climbing spots of summer turn into rappelling points in the rains.

Enjoy your stay, and have a great trip!