Lonavala Tourism
Beaches, Hills Valleys, Hill Stations,
Ideal Duration : 1 - 2 days
Best Time : Throughout the Year
"Misty Weekend Getaway"
Lonavala Tourism
Popular hill station close to Pune and Mumbai, Lonavla is the place to be during monsoons. With lots of waterfalls, lakes and hills around, Lonavala is frequented by all sorts of people, especially hikers and trekkers.
Lonavala, being a part of the Sahyadri hills, offers an alluring and bewitching experience of nature's most gifted region. Surrounded by dense forests, waterfalls, dam alongside lakes, Lonavala is a must-visit if you admire nature and want a gateway to having a soulful weekend or a good trip. Also, visitKhandalaandRajmachion the way to Lonavala. The tourist destination has many attractions to its name,Bhaja caves,Bushi dam,Karla caves,Rajmachi fort, Ryewood lake, among others.
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What's Great?
Pleasant climate. Beautiful scenery. Liquor banned in most places of tourist interest.
What's not so Great?
Heavy traffic on roads leading to Lonavala. Limited number of hotels.
For Whom
Situated between Mumbai and Pune, Lonavala is a perfect weekend getaway for Puneites and Mumbaikars. A popular attraction for adventure and nature lovers, biking to Lonavala is known to be a thrilling experience for youngsters.
Etymology
The name Lonavla has its roots in the Sanskrit words Len and Avali - which means a stone-carved resting place, and series, respectively. Hence Lonavli basically translates to mean a place which has a series of these carved stone resting places.
Twin Hill Station of Maharashtra
Situated in the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, at an elevation of 624 m above sea level, Lonavala is one of the twin hill stations- Lonavala and Khandala. A former part of the Yadava dynasty and a strategic point of the Peshwa Empire, Lonavala is a silent witness to the past history of the Maratha Empire, evident from the forts in the region. Surrounded by lush green forests rich in flora and fauna, Lonavala is the most visited hill station in Maharashtra and a popular destination for camping, trekking and other adventure sports. Scattered with caves of archaeological importance, Lonavala holds several mysteries which is sure to ignite the explorer in each and everyone visiting the place.
Itinerary
Day 1-Let the architecture of Karla caves and Bhaja caves leave you in awe. Pray at the Ek Vira Devi Temple and have fun at Bushi Dam. Proceed towards Tiger's point and Lion's point in the afternoon and let your eyes rejoice the panoramic view of the valley.Day 2-Take a deep breath at Duke's nose early morning and explore the Rajmachi Fort later in the day. Proceed to Lohagad post-lunch and witness the strength of the Lohagad Fort.Day 3-Enjoy a morning walk along Tungarli Lake. Visit Sunil Kandaloor's wax museum. Relax amidst flowers in the Ryewood Park in the afternoon and dig into some chikki and fudge at Lonavala Bazaar.
Restaurants and Local Food in Lonavala
Being a popular tourist destination, Lonavala is laid out with a number of restaurants offering diverse options. Other than these, it offers a number of refreshing, spicy and delicious local treasures. One should definitely try the hotMasala Chaiwith spicyVada Pav (from Golden Wada Pav) and Bhajiyasin Lonavala. The chola bhaturas at Rudra, the butter chicken of Rama Krishna, and Cooper?s fudge are popular favourites. Hotel Sainath provides the famous Maharashtrian usal, made out of curried sprouted lentils and beans. Manashakti is the perfect choice for a traditional vegetarian Maharashtrian thali. Also make sure to sample some of the sweet chikkis, pedas and other savouries from Maganlal & Sons. Also, try the pristine and cool Coconut Water. Be sure to purchase some Chikki and fudges to take back to your friends and family back home.
View 4 Restaurants in Lonavala >>
Throughout the yearis the best time to visit Lonavala
Lonavala has something to offer all around the year. The monsoon months of June to September experience heavy (almost 24-hours) rainfall, and if you don't mind getting wet, this can be a great time to visit Lonavala. All the dams and waterfalls are full to the brim, and you can lose yourself in the greenery and the foggy, misty weather. For the residents of Mumbai and Pune, visiting Lonavala during the monsoon is almost a yearly ritual.
October to February, on the other hand, is ideal weather for some sightseeing and going on short treks in Lonavala. The few weeks just after the end of monsoon offer beautiful greenery without the incessant rains, which makes it pleasant and comfortable to travel in the town.
Weather in Lonavala
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Lonavala in Summer (March - June)
Summer temperature in Lonavala varies between 25 to 35 degrees Celcius, and while that is certainly a relief from the heat in the nearby cities, it's not exactly the ideal hill-station weather. Since there is hardly any rains after the end of monsoons in September, the foliage is very dry and you don't get to see much greenery. The afternoons are quite hot, but the evenings and mornings are pleasant enough. If you are planning to visit during this time, we recommend that you book your stay in a nice hotel/resort to spend the hot afternoons indoors.
Quite a few trekking enthusiasts visit Lonavala and the surrounding areas for a few night treks - they start trekking around 9PM, reach the summit by midnight and come back early next morning.
Lonavala in Monsoon (July - September)
Lonavala receives extremely high, almost continuous rainfall during the monsoons. While a lot of people might be put off by this, if you like the rains, then this is unquestioningly the best time to visit Lonavala. The weather is gloomy throughout the day, with the sun barely showing at all, and clouds floating through the hills. The whole town and all of the surrounding hills are covered in greenery, and a number of waterfalls and seasonal rivers start flowing for this short period of 3 months. The temperature might not be very cold, but the strong winds along with the rain make it feel really cold.
If you are planning to visit during the monsoon, we suggest that you pack an extra pair (or two) of change of clothes, rain jackets and be prepared to have fun in the rain and the waterfalls.
Lonavala in Winter (October - February)
Winters in Lonavala is equipped with a chilly breeze and pleasant sunshine. The temperature in this season varies between 11 to 25 degrees Celcius and is good for sightseeing. The 2-3 weeks right after the monsoon ends are the best - with lush greenery still around and no clouds to block your views. This is the period when most people go for short hikes around Lonavala, since the weather is pleasant throughout the day.
Monthly Weather in Lonavala
Month
Avg. Minimum (°C)
Avg. Maximum (°C)
January
17
31
February
19
33
March
21
33
April
24
34
May
26
35
June
26
33
July
24
29
August
24
29
September
24
29
October
22
32
November
18
34
December
18
33

Narayani Dham Temple