One of the best stress-busting destinations of Maharashtra, the hill station of Lonavala falls along the Mumbai -Pune Highway. The place is laden with diverse geographical as well as historical wonders, some of which are located nearby and easy to cover in a single trip, provided you are traveling in a rented or private car.
Rajmachi Fort
Consisting of two citadels, Manaranjan Balekilla and Shriwardhan Ballekilla, this fort is located in a large plateau, at the Sahyadri Mountains. Overlooking the Shitora Dam backwaters and Bor Ghat (the path between Khandala and Khopoli) that used to be an important commercial route in the past, this fort is listed as one of the heritage sites of Lonavala.
Lohagad Fort
This fort, having witnessed both the Maratha and Mughal periods, literally means the “Iron Fort” and is nestled on top of the Sahyadri Mountains of the Western Ghats. Dividing the Pavana and Indrayani river basins, the fort located 1,033 meter off sea level, gives you a quaint view of the entire area, including the Pavana reservoir.
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Tikona Fort
Alternatively known as Vitandgad, this pyramid shaped fortress consists of the Satvahan caves, old water tanks, and a Lord Shiva (Trimbakeshwar Mahadev) Temple. It is one of the four major historic forts within the Konkan coasts and the Western Ghats, (the other three being Lohagad, Tung, and Visapur) that was used for the safeguard of the entire region.
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Bushi Dam
Located on the Indrayani River, this masonry dam was constructed as a source of water for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway steam engines. The accident prone watery steps have witnessed several unfortunate incidents, mainly due to people’s own recklessness. The Lonavala Police strictly watch over tourists’ activities and swimming is not allowed here.
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Ryewood Park
Since it was originally a botanical garden, this 25-acre park houses various tall and decades old trees and flowering plants. The park got its name from Mr. Rye, an English officer, who spent a considerable part of his life here.
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Karla Caves
This protected Buddhist cave complex, consisting of the “Great Chaitya”, “Ekveera Temple” and fifteen other caves, exhibits intricate architecture of the second century BC. The rock-cut complex contains detailed carvings of human and animal figures. Presently, it is under supervision of the Archeological Survey of India.
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The caves, being a hilltop destination, call for an uphill journey to reach which might be quite strenuous for elder people and children. You need to climb around 350 steps from the hill base to reach the caves, but if you come via cabs or private cars, it is around 200 steps from the parking lot.
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Pawna Lake
Nourished with the water of Pawna Dam, this artificial lake is a source of water for the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad. The nearby forts including Tung, Lohagad, Visapur and Tikona overlook the vast lake that is home to a diverse flora and fauna.
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The charming beauty of Lonavala mesmerizes tourists from all over the world. So, during your Mumbai or Pune visit coming to the beautiful Lonavala is a must, to indulge the nomad that you are at heart.