Maharashtra State - Lonavala/Khandala

Weekend Getaway - Lonavla/Khandala
Date of visit: 18th September 2011

Lonavla @ lonavale is a charming little hill station in Pune District, 64km from Pune City and 96km from Mumbai, seated along Mumbai-Pune Expressway via road link. It has wonderful hills, green valleys, big lakes, huge forts and nice waterfalls. After my visit, I had silly wishes to own a big house on top of the hills. I was there at the end of Monsoon season to see the countryside turns lush green with waterfalls, wild flowers and water retention ponds and that was how I ended having that thought. Lonavla and the adjacent Khandala are a twin hill stations seated at 622 m. above sea level. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 km² and are popular holiday destinations, picnic with the love one during the monsoons. Due to limited time, the following were places that I have visited:-

Above photo is a view of Mumbai-Pune Expressway seen and snapped from Khandala hill. The best route to reach Lonavala and Khandala is through the Highway. It is 104 kilometers from Mumbai and 64kilometers from Pune. The bus facility between Lonavala and Pune is good. Important to note that the rest area facilities along the Highway is remarkably clean. You can use the toilet facilities without worries of any unflush and smelly toilets. The foods served at numerous stalls are good, especially the Indian coffee and cheese pizza. Below photo is 1 of the big lake being part of Power Generation station, operated by TATA seen from the Tiger's Leap. The Lonavla lake is surrounded by natural scenery, about 1.6km from the Hill Station. The lake normally dries up during the winter months.

Tiger's Leap (in below photo) is a cliff-top with a sheer drop of over 650m, giving an extensive view. Buses are available up to I.N.S. Shivaji and the remaining distance of 1.6km has to be covered on foot. So unfortunate that I am not able to share the photo apart from the above and below photos of local's teenage group posing for a leapy natural scenery, which is amazingly beautiful. A view of long distance waterfall is captured as their background. You can also view the Lion's Point, a scenic point midway between Bushi Dam and Aamby Valley.

I cant help myself from admiring those wild flowers healthily growth on the mountainous valley of Lonavala. Thus, I just sat and get my photo in here to record those beautiful view/day which shall remain blissful forever. 

Bushi Dam is one of the majestic picnic spots in Lonavala. The Dam is magnificent during the monsoons with water gushing out through the dam make exhilarating waterfalls. The Dam is located at the backdrop of scenic hilly terrains and lush green environments. A waterfall near the dam is a popular spot between Lonavla and I.N.S. Shivaji. I was able to go up to the top of the dam and witnessing the huge lake formed by a giant heavy engineering structure as water collection point, which is worth my climb. There's a lot of people on the terrace. Below photo is the only left and found in my email that was sent to a dear friend.

Whilst, Khandala is a popular weekend getaway witnesses a huge influx of local as well as tourists especially in summers and monsoons. The origin of the site traceable from Chattrapati Shivaji, who was the founder of the first Maratha Empire, ruled the land around Khandala. Thereafter it was brought under the Peshwa rulers, who established the second Maratha Empire. This was ultimately snatched away by the British when they won against the Peshwas. I had 1 photo left snapped at the time when I was on the top of Khandala Hill looking down the hill and viewed the highway that I used long ago as 1 of a profile photo on Facebook.

Moral of the story is "always to have a back-up plan in your life", as "you don't know what is coming next", cause the next 1 coming will always full of surprises. As I was walking on a beautiful park adjacent to Khandala Hill Station, eating nuts and baked corn, the monkey on below photo came and grabbed the corn from my hand. The monkeys are adorable creature, however, I have fear for them. I gave him away as I was so scared that he will touch me again. The old lady in a colorful Saree attracted my attention. She looked so gracefully old and outstanding sitting on a children's park not far from the 1st park that I discovered. These 2 photos was in my "Sent Mail". It was lucky that I have not deleted them away. Else, I would not be able to share their lovely pose here. 

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