Lonavala, India: travel guide
A breezy Western Ghats hill station of cascading waterfalls, ancient Karla and Bhaja caves, and misty viewpoints above the Deccan plains.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
Top places to visit in Lonavala
Bhushi Dam
Waterfall · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h
A hugely popular monsoon spot where water cascades down the dam's stone steps and crowds wade in the spray — a quintessential Lonavala rainy-season scene.
Tiger's Leap (Tiger Point)
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1 h
A cliff-top viewpoint with a sheer drop and a tiger-shaped promontory, offering sweeping valley vistas and a seasonal echo point and waterfall.
Della Adventure Park
Activity · 4.2 rating · about 3 h · entry 500
India's largest adventure park with zip-lines, ATV trails, rappelling, bungee-style rides and go-karting — a thrill hub for families and groups.
Lohagad Fort
Fort · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · entry INR 30
A robust Maratha hill fort reached by a short trek, with the spiralling "Vinchu Kata" rampart and grand monsoon views over the Sahyadris.
Karla Caves
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry 300
A superb 2nd-century-BCE Buddhist rock-cut complex with India's largest chaitya hall, fronted by a great horseshoe window and carved pillars.
Pawna Lake
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 2 h
A scenic reservoir framed by forts and hills, hugely popular for lakeside camping, sunsets and starry nights ~25 km from town.
Lonavala Lake
Nature · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h
A tranquil lake on the town's edge, brimming and scenic in the monsoon, a pleasant spot for a quiet walk and photographs.
Bhaja Caves
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry 300
A serene group of 22 ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves with a chaitya, stupas and carved reliefs, set on a green hillside near Malavli.
Duke's Nose (Nagphani)
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 2 h
A distinctive cliff resembling a nose (named for the Duke of Wellington), a rewarding short trek and a hotspot for rappelling and valley views.
Rajmachi Point
Viewpoint · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h
A roadside viewpoint on the Khandala plateau overlooking the deep Shirota valley and the distant Rajmachi fort, lovely at sunset.
Things to do
- Lohagad Fort Trek Activity · 4 h · from INR 800 per person
- Pawna Lakeside Camping Activity · 18 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Della Adventure Park Day Pass Activity · 5 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Karla & Bhaja Caves Tour Cultural · 3 h · from INR 900 per person
Day trips and tours
- Pawna Lake Camping Overnight 20 h · from INR 2,200
- Lonavala–Khandala Sightseeing 8 h · from INR 1,500
- Forts & Caves Trek Day 8 h · from INR 1,800
Where to stay in Lonavala
- Station Road about INR 2,500 per night
Main area with hill station accommodation
Hotels
- The Machan 5-star · INR 14,000 to INR 28,000 per night
- Della Resorts 5-star · INR 11,000 to INR 22,000 per night
- Fariyas Resort Lonavala 4-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- Pawna Lake Camping 2-star · INR 1,200 to INR 2,800 per night
- Rhythm Lonavala 4-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- Hotel Chandralok 3-star · INR 2,800 to INR 5,000 per night
Where to eat
- Kinara Village Dhaba North Indian, Punjabi, Tandoor · about INR 600 per person
- Rama Krishna Restaurant North Indian, Chinese, Seafood · about INR 550 per person
- Cooper's Chikki & Fudge Sweets, Snacks · about INR 150 per person
- Sunny Da Dhaba North Indian, Punjabi · about INR 500 per person
- Guru Krupa Hotel Maharashtrian, North Indian · about INR 250 per person
- German Bakery Lonavala Continental, Cafe, Italian · about INR 450 per person
- Maganlal Chikki Counter Sweets, Snacks · about INR 150 per person
- The Bawa Kitchen Parsi, Continental, North Indian · about INR 550 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.