Summer is not a time you enjoy being in Hyderabad with the extreme hot weather conditions. Everyone looks for the opportunity to take a summer break and heading off to a cooler location. Me, being the wanderer, cannot be left behind. So, one weekend, I planned a trip with my mother (who has been visiting me) to the twin hill stations of Maharashtra - Lonavala and Khandala. These hill stations are very popular getaway spots for people from Mumbai and Pune, which are very well-linked with Lonavala by road and rail. Monsoons are the best time to visit Lonavala/Khandala.
We took the Shatabdi from Secunderabad station in the afternoon in an AC Chair Car. The journey was good with steady supply of snacks and finally dinner and the quality of food was great compared to railways. We reached Pune around 11.15 pm and stayed at a hotel near the station. Next morning, we got up early to take the Pragati Express to reach Lonavala Station. An auto took us to our hotel (reserved earlier) - Sunny's retreat.
After a quick shower and breakfast, we decided to start our sight seeing. Our first stop was the Bhushi Dam - one of the majestic picnic spots in Lonavala. The Dam is magnificent during the monsoons with water gushing out through the dam making exhilarating waterfalls. The Dam is located at the backdrop of scenic hilly terrains and lush green environments. Calm environment and cool atmosphere add the beauty of this site.
Next we went to see the Duke's Nose which is also another popular tourist spot. This cliff resembles the nose of the Duke of Wellington, which explains its intriguing name. It is a popular viewpoint as it offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains, valleys and forests. The place is crowded with tourists, and the scenery was beautiful.
Our next stop was Tiger's Leap which is another beautiful scenic spot. Tiger's Leap also known as Tiger's Point is a cliff-top with a sheer drop of over 650 m, giving an extensive view. When viewing the valley from a certain point at this location, one has the illusion of a tiger leaping across the valley, hence the name. The echoes caused by dropping rocks into the crevasse is another attraction.
The monsoon had rendered the valley lush green and increased the beauty of the place multiple times. We were lucky to have an overcast sky but no rain which made the tour even better.
After that, we went to the Rajmachi Garden where we were greeted by a family of monkeys. It offers a spectacular view of the surroundings. You can see the Mumbai-Pune expressway from the park.
The next place we went to visit was the Lonavala Wax Museum. The Celebrity Was Museum, modelled on the famous Madame Tussauds in London, is located only 3 km away from the railway station at Varsoli, near Toll Plaza and is a new attraction for the tourists. It is a great place (a must visit) and the entry fee is very nominal but the models you get to see are very realistic and they don't charge you extra for clicking photos. For now they have a pretty small collection of 35-36 models. As soon as you enter you are greeted by a very life-like wax statue of Shivaji. The statues of Rabindranath Tagore, Michael Jackson, Hitler & Charlie Chaplin are really nice too!
After the wax museum visit, we had lunch at KFC. Then our driver proposed to take us to the Karla Caves which is a complex of cave shrines built by Buddhist monks around 3rd to 2nd century B.C. A famous temple of Goddess Ekvira Devi is also present here. You have to climb around 100+ steps to reach the caves. Karla caves encloses Buddha viharas; where the monks used to stay during their meditation period in the caves. The cave encloses sculptures of elephants adorned with metal jewelries and ivory tusks. These caves are in a ruined state due to the absence of maintenance. As mum was tired, I went alone huffing and puffing.
It was worth the climb to see this beautiful structures, however, sad to see the absence of maintenance. Though it is as beautiful as the Ajantha & Ellora Caves, the maintenance is lot less and the place is less popular as a tourist spot. Most people come to see the temple of Goddess Ekvira Devi, however, few actually enter the caves.
Tired after a long day, we returned to our hotel by dusk and went to bed early after dinner. By that time, it had started raining heavily and I just kept praying that the sky clears by morning.
We got up early the next morning, showered and got ready. The sky was overcast, however, it was not raining. So, after breakfast, we decided to go to the Pavna lake, another popular tourist destination. Pawna Lake (Pavna Lake) is an artificial lake formed by the Pawna Dam built across the Pawna River nearby Lonavala. The lake attracts many tourists due to its imposing natural ambience and cool climate. From the dam site one can view the majestic sights of Tungi, Logagarh and Tikona forts. The way to the lake was mesmerizing with the green valley looking even greener due to the heavy rainfall of last night and there were many small streams and waterfalls on the way.
By the time, we reached the lake, it started raining heavily and we had to wait at the boat club restaurant nearby. The lake was beautiful, however, the views on the other side could not be seen due to the heavy shower. Lot of people went boating in the rain and came back drenched. However, we enjoyed the rain from the restaurant with hot pakoras and coffee.
After spending a couple of hours watching the lake and enjoying the rain, we started on our way back to Lonavala. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful Temple (I have forgotten the name). The temple is a beautiful marble structure - well maintained and serene. As the rains had stopped, I could manage to get some photographs.
After spending some quality time in the temple and the surrounding garden, we decided to head back. Before returning to the hotel, we went to the market for the famous "Maganlal Chikki" and purchased chikki and walnut fudge. Any visit to Lonavala is incomplete without these delicacies. And the walnut fudge was mouth watering - you would definitely want to go back for more.
The two days spent in these beautiful place was awesome. Lonavala - Khandala a place where nature is present in all its splendor. Entire region has been blessed with valleys, hills, Milky Waterfalls, Lush Greenery and pleasant cool winds. Words are not enough to describe the beauty for this place - its a must visit!!
We took the Shatabdi from Secunderabad station in the afternoon in an AC Chair Car. The journey was good with steady supply of snacks and finally dinner and the quality of food was great compared to railways. We reached Pune around 11.15 pm and stayed at a hotel near the station. Next morning, we got up early to take the Pragati Express to reach Lonavala Station. An auto took us to our hotel (reserved earlier) - Sunny's retreat.
After a quick shower and breakfast, we decided to start our sight seeing. Our first stop was the Bhushi Dam - one of the majestic picnic spots in Lonavala. The Dam is magnificent during the monsoons with water gushing out through the dam making exhilarating waterfalls. The Dam is located at the backdrop of scenic hilly terrains and lush green environments. Calm environment and cool atmosphere add the beauty of this site.
Our next stop was Tiger's Leap which is another beautiful scenic spot. Tiger's Leap also known as Tiger's Point is a cliff-top with a sheer drop of over 650 m, giving an extensive view. When viewing the valley from a certain point at this location, one has the illusion of a tiger leaping across the valley, hence the name. The echoes caused by dropping rocks into the crevasse is another attraction.
The monsoon had rendered the valley lush green and increased the beauty of the place multiple times. We were lucky to have an overcast sky but no rain which made the tour even better.
After that, we went to the Rajmachi Garden where we were greeted by a family of monkeys. It offers a spectacular view of the surroundings. You can see the Mumbai-Pune expressway from the park.
The next place we went to visit was the Lonavala Wax Museum. The Celebrity Was Museum, modelled on the famous Madame Tussauds in London, is located only 3 km away from the railway station at Varsoli, near Toll Plaza and is a new attraction for the tourists. It is a great place (a must visit) and the entry fee is very nominal but the models you get to see are very realistic and they don't charge you extra for clicking photos. For now they have a pretty small collection of 35-36 models. As soon as you enter you are greeted by a very life-like wax statue of Shivaji. The statues of Rabindranath Tagore, Michael Jackson, Hitler & Charlie Chaplin are really nice too!
It was worth the climb to see this beautiful structures, however, sad to see the absence of maintenance. Though it is as beautiful as the Ajantha & Ellora Caves, the maintenance is lot less and the place is less popular as a tourist spot. Most people come to see the temple of Goddess Ekvira Devi, however, few actually enter the caves.
Tired after a long day, we returned to our hotel by dusk and went to bed early after dinner. By that time, it had started raining heavily and I just kept praying that the sky clears by morning.
We got up early the next morning, showered and got ready. The sky was overcast, however, it was not raining. So, after breakfast, we decided to go to the Pavna lake, another popular tourist destination. Pawna Lake (Pavna Lake) is an artificial lake formed by the Pawna Dam built across the Pawna River nearby Lonavala. The lake attracts many tourists due to its imposing natural ambience and cool climate. From the dam site one can view the majestic sights of Tungi, Logagarh and Tikona forts. The way to the lake was mesmerizing with the green valley looking even greener due to the heavy rainfall of last night and there were many small streams and waterfalls on the way.
By the time, we reached the lake, it started raining heavily and we had to wait at the boat club restaurant nearby. The lake was beautiful, however, the views on the other side could not be seen due to the heavy shower. Lot of people went boating in the rain and came back drenched. However, we enjoyed the rain from the restaurant with hot pakoras and coffee.
After spending a couple of hours watching the lake and enjoying the rain, we started on our way back to Lonavala. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful Temple (I have forgotten the name). The temple is a beautiful marble structure - well maintained and serene. As the rains had stopped, I could manage to get some photographs.
The two days spent in these beautiful place was awesome. Lonavala - Khandala a place where nature is present in all its splendor. Entire region has been blessed with valleys, hills, Milky Waterfalls, Lush Greenery and pleasant cool winds. Words are not enough to describe the beauty for this place - its a must visit!!
Pawna Lake camping was fantastic! Pawna Campers' comfortable accommodations and stunning lakeside views made for an unforgettable vacation.
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